Monthly Archives: January 2024

Book Review: Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm

Title: Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm

Written by: Siobhan McDermott

Illustrated by: Yuzhen Cai

Published by: Hodder Childrens Books

Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm is a greatmagical fantasy adventure that had me gripped from the start. Twelve-year-old Zhi Ging was born under mysterious circumstances. From the start the reader has the impression that she has an important destiny. She grows up feeling different from everyone else in her village Fei Chui and not understand why. Her grandmother Aapau has been sent by the Lead Glassmith to the roaming tower for her final year meaning Zhi Ging has nowhere to live and will have to work in the treacherous post pipe to make a living. On top of this she is being picked on by the Lead Glassmith’s daughter, Iridill, who falsely accused her of summoning the spirit of Fui Gwai.

Zhi Ging believes her only escape would be to go to the magic training school, Hok Woh, to learn the skills to become a Cyo B’Ahon. But when she doesn’t pass the entrance exam Zhi Ging makes one final desperate bid to be accepted but her plea is interrupted by the appearance of the prowling spirit of Fui Gwai and not the whole village believe Iridill that she summoned the spirit. Now Zhi Ging has to escape the village more than ever. Through sheer determination and stubbornness she receives an acceptance lantern which allows her entry into Hok Woh where she has to succeed in twelve trials to pass her Silhouette year.

The characters are well rounded and believable. Zhi Ging’s character has been extremely well thought-out and her back story has significant repercussions for the plot which was good to see.

The world building was magnificent throughout the book. Siobhan McDermott uses all the sense to create stimulating descriptions to provide the reader with an evocative picture of the floating market, the dragon boat races and I could imagine the corridors and various classrooms of Hok Woh vividly. The map really does not do it justice but is a useful addition to help get ones bearings.

Events happen really fast especially as we reach the climatic ending. I hardly had enough time to breath. For some this may be overwhelming but for me I thought it was brilliant. I like the feel I am in the thick of the action and do get bored when reading meandering prose, so The Fight for the Hidden Realm was ideally paced for me.

The character name explanations at the back of the book made me laugh. I was impressed at the amount of thought Siobhan McDermott had put into it. However, I believe it has confirmed my suspicions on who the other conspirator is. Now I have to read the second book int the series to see if I am right.

Ideal for readers who love fantasy adventure.

You can buy copies of Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm by Siobhan McDermott from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

I have previously reviewed this book on NetGalley.

Blog Tour – The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor

It is my turn on the blog tour for The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor by Stephanie Parks.

Here is the blurb:

Amy has been sent to live with her aunt at Meadow Hill Manor in Belper, Derbyshire, to help her ‘recover’. Rumours abound that the house is haunted, but Amy doesn’t care. It’s just another place to live and Amy is determined not to care about anything. What would be the point?

Amy’s obsession with shutting the world out is interrupted when she hears strange noises in the house. Here she finds herself drawn to a mysterious, magical power hidden within the building. Should she ignore it, or should she face her fears and embrace this strange, new magic?

Heart-warming and unique, The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor is a moving fantasy fiction which sensitively weaves themes of grief and anxiety along with friendship and discovery to deliver a truly magical story.

Blurb for The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor by Stephanie Parks.

Stefanie Parks was born and raised in the beautiful county of Derbyshire which became the inspiration and setting for her stories. She trained as a teacher at Derby University and after working locally for five years, decided to explore the world with her husband.

Together they worked their way around a handful of countries and are currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand. Stefanie has written consistently during her travels; her stories always linking her back to her homeland.

My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.

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Title: The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor

Written by: Stephanie Parks

Published by: The Book Guild Ltd 

The atmosphere and setting of The Butterflies of Meadow Hill Manor is set from the very first page drawing you into this spooky tale. The descriptions were beautiful.

Twelve year old Amy moves to Belper in Derbyshire on Halloween to live with her Aunt Wilhelmina (aka Weirdo Wilma) at Meadow Hall manor, a creepy gothic-looking house with gargoyles peering down from the eaves and no wi-fi. Not that Amy wants wi-fi as she is mute after a traumatic experience.

The plot had me intrigued but it took too long to answer important questions that may have helped me warm to Amy sooner. I liked the way the butterflies were used to help the story unfold adding a touch of mystical magic to this emotional story of loss and coping with grief.

On the whole it was a captivating read suitable for higher middle grade.

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To check out the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule:

I would like to thank Kelly Lacey from Love Book Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising an e-book copy for me to read. Thank you.

Book Review: The Serpent’s Eclipse

To celebrate the release of Saviour Pirotta’s latest book published by Maverick Books, I am posting a book review.

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Title: The Serpent’s Eclipse

Written by: Saviour Pirotta

Illustrated by: Jo Lindley

Published by: Maverick Books

It is always sad when we come to the end of a series with characters we have grown to love and this is how I felt after reading the final episode of The Nile Adventures by Saviour Pirotta.

The Serpent’s Eclipse sees the return of the evil Paser who we met in the first and second books of the series who has been joined by Merit and The Jackal, the antagonists from the third novel.

Paser has ramped up his goal in this final saga – not only does he want to get rid of the Pharaoh he has set his sights on killing the god Amun-Ra, so all of Kemet will descend into chaos allowing him to conquer all the land and make himself a god. It is up to the brothers, Renni and Mahu, to defeat him with the help of their friends Prince Khaem and the Fenkhu Princess, Balaal.

Again the chapters are written from the point of view of brothers, Renni and Mahu with each section beginning with an introduction from the point of view of Paser who has disguised himself with a serpent mask. The four friends split into two groups of two whose journeys take them on different paths but meet up in Per Bast and the Temple of Baslet. The final climax see the revealing of who The Jackal really is, which came as a bit of a surprise to me.

There is as usual, a useful map at the beginning of the book to help the reader find their bearing and get an understanding of where things are in relation to each other and also a glossary at the end of the book as well as some very interesting information about the significance of cats in Egyptian legends. I love the way Saviour weaves Egyptian mythology and real historical figures into the story.

Another exciting well-paced and beautifully illustrated adventure. The whole series is perfect for all young readers who have a fascination with mythology, especially in Ancient Egypt.

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To read my interview with Saviour Pirotta about the writing of The Nile Adventure series take a look at: Special Guest Q & A with Saviour Pirotta.

You can follow Saviour on X @spirotta and on Threads as @saviour2858 and on Instagram as saviour2858.

To read my reviews of the previous books in the Nile Adventure series take a look at:

You can buy Saviour Pirotta’s books from any good bookshop. They’re available online at amazon but also direct from the publishers where you can often get great discounts. Here’s the address https://maverickbooks.co.uk/junior-fiction/.

Blog Tour: Eye Spy by Tessa Buckley

Today I am taking part in the Book Birthday Blitz for Eye Spy by Tessa Buckley.

Tessa Buckley was an inveterate scribbler as a child, and spent much of her time writing and illustrating stories. After spending fifteen years working for architects and interior designers. She took up writing again when her young daughter complained that she couldn’t find enough adventure stories to read.

This led, in 2014, to the publication of  Eye Spy, the first in a series of detective stories for 9-12 year olds, designed to encourage reluctant readers. The second book in the series, Haunted, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2017.  She lives with her husband and a large white cat called Pippa in a town on the Thames estuary, which inspired the seaside setting for the novels. She also writes about family history, which has been her passion for many years.

Her book Eye Spy is a middle grade detective story.

Over the course of ten days, the lives of thirteen-year-old Alex Macintyre and his twin sister Donna will change forever.

When Alex and Donna set up Eye Spy Investigations and start looking for a valuable missing dog, they soon have an interesting assortment of suspects. There is the mysterious man in the fur hat; a gang of bikers who hang out at the Starship Café; and Crazy Kath, the bag lady, who may know more than she’s letting on.

But as they struggle to make sense of the evidence, the twins begin to uncover an even bigger mystery in their own family. As events spiral out of control, can Alex resolve a family crisis, save Donna from imminent danger, and return the missing dog to its rightful owner?

Blurb for Eye Spy by Tessa Buckley

I will be celebrating the Book Birthday Blitz with an author interview.

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Tell us a little about yourself and the inspiration for your book Eye Spy. Why did you decide to write a spy mystery for children?

The genesis for this story came a long time ago, when my daughter, an avid reader, was ten. She told me she couldn’t find enough mystery stories to read in the library. What she seemed to be looking for was a Famous Five type story, but with modern technology. I remembered howI’d spent much of my childhood writing and illustrating stories which were heavily influenced by Enid Blyton’s books. I had always wanted to be a novelist. Now I had the incentive to prove I could do it.

Talk us through your writing process.

I usually start with a setting rather than a character. Writers are often told ‘Write what you know.’ We live in Leigh-on-Sea, a town on the Thames estuary, so I chose to set my stories in a small seaside town. My main character, Alex, just popped into my head one evening after supper, and I immediately sat down and wrote the first page of Eye Spy, where he talks about his dad, who is an eccentric inventor. The story evolved slowly from there, with much trial and error.

How do you ensure you keep children turning the pages?

I know how important this is, particularly for boys, who tend to leave books behind at about eleven, in favour of all things digital. All the books in the series are narrated in the first person by Alex, and are fast-paced and action-packed. The language is straightforward so everything is easy to understand. And hopefully the desire to solve the mysteries will also keep the reader interested.

What are the underlying themes of Eye Spy?

Money is tight in the Macintyre family, and twins Alex and Donna have few luxuries. Sadly, this is a situation many children are familiar with today, and there is also a key character who is homeless. Eye Spy also explores the way that hidden family secrets can impact on the lives of the children.

Is there a particular place you like to write?

I am lucky enough to have my own study, where I can shut myself away and write in peace and quiet, with only our large white cat, Pippa, for company.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

I’ve visited Bath, and Lyme Regis, which appear in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and Poldark country in Cornwall.

What writing advice would you give to people aspiring to write a children’s detective novel?

The writing process is a lot quicker if you can, plan as much as possible in advance. This is especially useful in a detective story if you want to plant red herrings along the way. Alas, I’ve never been a planner, so the plot of Eye Spy and many of the characters evolved as I wrote, and I didn’t know until the end who the ‘baddie’ was. However, I think it’s a more interesting story because of that.

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about your Eye Spy and the rest of the series?

Both Haunted and Lady in Red were inspired by real buildings. Haunted features an old priory, similar to the one near where I live, which is now a museum. The artist’s home in Lady in Red, and the derelict house next to it, are based on the old Edwardian house I lived in as a child, and the deserted house next door whose garden I used to play in. I love old buildings, and they have always been an inspiration to me.

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You can purchase a copy of Eye Spy by Tessa Bukley on Troubador and Amazon

You can find out more about Tessa Buckley and her books on her website:  www.tessabuckleyauthor.com and follow her on Facebook at @Tessa_Buckley-Author.

I would like to thank Rachel for Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to take part.

Book Review: Libby and the Manhattan Mystery by Jo Clarke

Title: Libby and the Manhattan Mystery

Written by: Jo Clarke

Illustrated by: Becka Moor

Published by: Firefly Press

In the third adventure of the Travelling School Mysteries, Libby and her Aunt Agatha Mousedale’s travelling school are based in New York where they meet Libby’s best friend’s godmother, actress Eloise Fitzwilliam and her companion Count Alverez. There is also another new teacher at the school, Miss Khatun and a new girl, Anastasia who to Libby’s disgust has to share a room with her and Connie.

This is another well plotted book and it was good to be able to join the believable and relatable characters again. In Libby’s Manhattan Mystery we discover a few new things about their backgrounds. The illustrations were the perfect match gorgeous the text helping to bring the diverse range of characters to life. I also liked the map of New York and vignettes of the main characters at the front of the book.

The clues to the mystery take them to many of the iconic landmarks in New York including the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Times Square, Central Station and Central Library. I was totally immersed in the setting, reminding me of my own visit to New York especially as I was also lucky enough to ride in a helicopter.

The ideal book for all young cosy crime readers who love finding out more about major international cities. A great addition to primary school libraries.

I have also reviewed this book on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon.

You can read my review of Libby and Parisian Puzzle on my blog here: Book Review: Libby and the Parisian Puzzle and my review of Libby and the Highland Heist here: Book Review: Libby and the Highland Heist.

Blog Tour: The Rat King by Emma Miles

I am shining a spotlight on The Rat King: The Rats of Letniv Volume One by Emma Miles as part of her blog tour.

The Rats of Letniv is a prequel to the Fire-Walker saga and Land Beneath the Sky companion books. This young adult, fantasy was published on 31st October 2023.

Blurb

Being the son of a Coven Lord is a far and desperate cry from luxury and safety. Every day Rothfel must prove he is worth the food his father puts on the table, and avoid the notice of Lord Atise’s brutal bodyguard, Bicken. When his only friend, a lowly slave, is cruelly taken from him, Rothfel finds himself alone in the sprawling, chaotic city of Letniv.

Yearning for friendship, love, and approval, he is offered a hand from the unlikeliest of places…

But who is really worth his loyalty?

Akimas Atise, his distant, cold, and terrifying father?

Golghen, the mysterious chameleon of Letniv city; king of liars, king of thieves?

Gentle, brave Leida; slave, concubine, descendant of the free women of the north?

Or Zephyr? Ghost, murderer, and devoted follower of the King of Rats.

Rothfel is only ten, but his choices, his love, his loyalty… will change the Land Beneath the Sky.

Blurb from The Rat King by Emma Miles

A Word from the Author

I often get asked when I knew I was a writer; the answer is always. A writer is what I am, it’s in my soul. There have been times in my life when I couldn’t write, and times when my writing has been the only thing that kept me going. I think I always longed for something deeper from life, something more meaningful, and I found it in my imagination and in the music of words.

It was poetry which first caught my attention, and whilst my younger cousins called for ghost stories it was animals I first wrote of. I think I gravitated toward fantasy because of the freedom it gives, I could create my own worlds and decide my own rules. My Wind’s Children trilogy was born from an image that came to me whilst daydreaming, of a young man sitting alone below a bridge. I didn’t know who he was; it turns out neither did he, but we found out together.

I’m now working on my seventh book and love writing more than ever, it’s an addiction, an obsession, but one I now share with my wonderful writing family. My beta readers, my editor, and you, my readers, having you with me on my journey means the world to me.

I write as much as I can around work, but I also try to squeeze in a ridiculous amount of hobbies! I’m a wildlife photographer and do a little archery. I paint, sculpt with clay, withies and driftwood, preferring to be outdoors if I can. I still have a love for the theatre, having started out in life studying backstage crafts, and a great love for language. I speak a little French, Romanian and Italian, ma non molto bene!

Thanks for reading this. If you read any of my books and love them, please come say hello and tell me, you’d be surprised at how much that means to an author.

Take care of yourself.

Em x

You can read reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

I would like to thank Dave from The Write Reads for inviting me on tour to Noly for designing and creating the banner.

Blog Tour: War of the Wind

Today I am on the War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson blog tour. My stop on the tour is a book review.

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Title: War of the Wind

Written by: Victoria Williamson

Cover design by: Sadie Butterworth

Published by: Neem Tree Press

War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson was published by Neem Tree Press in September 2023. It is another well-written eco-thriller by Victoria Williamson, which leaves you thinking and highlights how technological initiatives can be misused and manipulated.

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other — even stranger — changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. They must find a way to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

Blurb from War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson

It felt very realistic that the government persuaded the islanders to accept the wind turbines with the promise of mobile phones and internet access. But when the wind turbines arrive on the island, the animals start behaving oddly: cows stop producing milk, dogs become aggressive, sheep huddle together, the seagulls no longer visit and a carpet of black bats lay dead on the rocks. Soon all the people become bad tempered and start to argue and fight. Max believes he has not been effected as he can’t hear the noise emanating from the wind farm substation.

As usual with a Victoria Williamson novel, there is a wide range of diverse fully-rounded characters who have been portrayed with empathy and understanding. Each have their own problems to overcome, such as Max, the main protagonist, who is coming to terms with becoming deaf after a boating accident; Beatrice (Beanie) Lewis who has Down Syndrome and is coping alone when her aunt becomes seriously ill; highly intelligent David who is unable to communicate until he gets his new speaking computer and Erin who was deaf from birth and harbours a lot of pent up hostility to the way people treat her.

I particularly liked Max’s character arc and how he starts off being angry at his predicament of losing his hearing to the point he rejects everyone’s offers of help seeing it as sympathy and disappointment. He blames them for his isolation as feels they are not doing enough to include him. Finally he recognises his own behaviour has been a major contribution to his isolation as he has rejected their offers of help, such as refusing to join in and not communicating his feelings to the teachers or his parents.

One thing that really niggled me was the cover as it says in the story there are three wind turbines but in the illustration there are four. I felt this should have been spotted before the book went to print.

As with most of Victoria’s books she has donated 20% of her royalties to a charity. This time it is the British Deaf Association in order to support their work campaigning for equal rights for Deaf people and empowering Deaf people to achieve access to their local public services. The BDA also did a sensitivity read to ensure the characters show a realistic representation of those living with hearing loss.

Another great book by Victoria Williamson that I would highly recommend. Suitable for KS2 and higher.

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About the Author

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK.

Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Her previous novels include The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, and Hag Storm. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com

You can buy copies of War of the Winds by Victoria Williamson from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.

To follow the rest of the tour check out the schedule below:

You can read reviews of War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62027879-war-of-the-wind and Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Wind-Victoria-Williamson/dp/191110750X/

You can read my reviews of a few of Victoria Williamson’s books here:

You can read my interview with Victoria Williamson about the writing of Norah’s Ark here: The Write Reads Ultimate Blog Tour – Norah’s Ark by Victoria Williamson.

You can see my spotlight on The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson published by Scotland Street Press here: Blog Tour – The Whistlers in the Dark by Victoria Williamson.

You can view my spotlight of The Haunting Scent of Poppies by Victoria Williamson published by Silver Thistle Press here: Blog Tour: The Haunting Scent of Poppies by Victoria Williamson

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com and follow her on X @strangelymagic

I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this ultimate tour. Thank you.

Book Review: Call the Puffins! Tiny’s Brave Rescue

Title: Call the Puffins! Tiny’s Brave Rescue

Written by: Cath Howe

Illustrated by: Ella Okstad

Published by: Welbeck Publishing

Another fantastic early reader from one of my favourite authors. Cath Howe always manages to make me think and Call the Puffins! Tiny’s Brave Rescue is no exception. This fun, entertaining adventure incorporates themes of empathy, perseverance and team work. The short chapters and larger font makes the book highly accessible to children who are becoming more independent with their reading.

This excellent sequel to Call the Puffins! is written from Tiny’s point of view. I like how all the way through we see the world through Tiny’s eyes, a bit blurry at first but he gets there in the end. It was a lovely touch the puffins call humans ‘long legs’. A very apt description.

The gorgeous black and white illustrations compliment the text perfectly showing the puffin’s distinct characters and subtle differences. I like the fact a map of the Island of Egg has been included at the beginning of the book. I think this would have been more useful if the key landmarks, such as the Wings and Things supplies store, the winding track, the windmill, the beach where the bucket could be found and the burrow were labelled. This fantastic addition would then help further comprehension and understanding.

Tiny must overcome his doubts on whether he is good enough to become a Rescue Puffin as he believes he is too clumsy and slow to be a success. But Flight Officer Faroe recognises potential in Tiny and explains sometimes puffins need a little extra kit to help them. with a little guidance Tiny discovers he can be just as good as the other puffins. There is such a splendid and inclusive last line too.

At the back of the book there are some puffin facts with black and white photos to inspire young readers to find out more about these amazing creatures.

Tiny and Muffin are most definitely a dynamic duo. I look forward to reading the next instalment with Call the Puffins! Muffin and the Shipwreck released in March 2024.

I have also reviewed this book on NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.

To read my review of the first book in the series, Call the Puffins! Take a look at: Book Review: Call the Puffins.

I have also previously interviewed Cath Howe about her teacher resource, Let’s Perform for Writers’ Forum. You can find out more about this interview here: An interview with… Cath Howe.

You can buy copies of Call the Puffins by Cath Howe and Ella Okstad from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org.

Book Review: Maggie Blue and the White Crow

Title: Maggie Blue and the White Crow

Written by:  Anna Goodall

Illustrated by: Sandra Dieckmann

Published by: Guppy Books

Maggie Blue and the White Crow is full of mystery and intriguing characters. It was great to be able to return to this well-orchestrated world with a fascinating history. The front cover is just memorising.

Maggie Blue is adjusting to a quieter life, back living with her aunt Esme and hanging out with friends Ida and Will as well as her beloved Hoagy the cat. She tries to forget about the events of the previous year – but she’s being watched, and one day a small white crow appears won’t it leave Maggie alone. Little does she know that the Dark World is waiting for her to return… and when her mum is kidnapped and taken there, Maggie only has no choice but to go back. With the help of some new friends by her side, Maggie must go back to the place that she never wished to see again, if she’s ever to see her mum – or gain control of her own life – again.

Blurb from the PR statement

Each character had their own pros and cons and I was quite taken with Oz and wanted more scenes with him in. In contrast I found it difficult to warm to Maggie as much as I had done in the first book, Maggie Blue and the Dark World, which was shortlisted for the 2021 Costa Children’s Book Award, the Sheffield Book Award and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Maggie has become more sullen and bitter than previously and I found her attitude to her mother’s mental illness quite unsympathetic. This may have been of design as a reflection of Maggie’s age as she reaches her teenage years.

The way we got different points of view as we travelled through the chapters giving us first-hand information of what was happening in the real world and the Dark World was well instigated. The significance of the shape shifters in the trees watching Maggie was a joy to discover. Instead of Hoagy she is accompanied on her adventure by the white crow. The action took a long time to pick up but there was a lot of deep character building that made you think. I never quite trusted the over-enthusiastic Jean and I reckon she has her own agenda. In fact, all the way through I got the distinct feeling I did not know who to trust and which side was actually the right side. Destroying a whole world, even if it is corrupt felt like a misguided goal.

It was evident from very early on that this book was going to leave me wanting more and end on a juicy cliff hanger. Although, I was disappointed that the novel was not a complete story in itself but rather a long introduction to Book Three.

Brilliant world building and riveting characters who make you want to read more.

I have also reviewed this book on Amazon, NetGalley and Goodreads.

To read my review of Maggie Blue and the Dark World by Anna Goodall take a look at: Book Review: Maggie Blue and the Dark World