Tag: middle grade fantasy

REVIEW: The Lost Continent by Tui T. Sutherland

REVIEW: The Lost Continent by Tui T. Sutherland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Land of Pantala has been at peace since the end of the Tree Wars. The HiveWings destroyed the LeafWings and the trees, and now they rule the SilkWings.

Blue and Luna are both SilkWings – siblings with the same father. Both are days away from their Metamorphosis which is when SilkWing dragonets get their wings.

But when it’s time for Luna to begin her Metamorphosis, something unexpected happens, and the HiveWings become VERY interested in Luna. And since Blue is her brother, the HiveWings want him, too.

Before long, Blue has teamed up with an unexpected ally, and they are on the run from Queen Wasp. All of Blue’s expectations for his life – and his understanding of the world – are turned upside down. Another dragon prophecy is at play, and Blue is smack in the middle of the action.

Review

I have been a Wings of Fire fan since the first book released in 2013. The second five-book series was even better than the first. And now a third series has started. I was engrossed from the first page.

The author hints at this story at the end of Darkness of Dragons, and the end of this book ties that teaser into this new series. And now I can’t wait until the whole series is out so I can see how all the pieces work together. I’m already attached to Blue and his surprise ally. And I have so many questions about this new world and its history, not to mention questions about what happens next in the story.

The author has done an incredible job of creating a new world while keeping some familiar features from the previous 10 books. I think she gets better and better with each story! These are automatic purchases for me. I can’t wait to see how the two dragon lands Pantala and Pyrrhia will connect as this series develops!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

Book 2 in this series (Book 12 overall) is The Hive Queen. It was good, but felt like a transitional story to move the reader from book 11 to book 13. Book 3 (13) is called The Poison Jungle and it will release this summer.

REVIEW: The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi

REVIEW: The Camelot Code: The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Arthur and Guinevere are best friends and constant companions. Sure, he’s an orphan – a peasant – and she’s a princess. But when the knights aren’t around, they can have sword fights and hang out and visit Merlin and just be friends.

Sophie and Stuart are best friends and constant companions. Well, at least they were…. They used to play Camelot’s Honor together all the time where they tried to defeat the sorceress Morgana. But Stuart has started playing soccer at school, and Sophie’s afraid things between them are changing.

When Guinevere accidentally sends a vital magical item into the 21st century, Arthur decides to go after it, arriving in Sophie and Stuart’s world. But Merlin pulls Sophie and Stuart  back to Arthur’s time because of their successes at Camelot’s Honor. He wants Stuart to pretend to be Arthur and pull the sword from the stone so they can keep history on track. Then Sophie goes back to her own time to get Arthur and the magical object in order to send them back to where – and when – they belong. But when Arthur Googles his own history and sees how his story turns out, he’s happy to play football and stay in the future. Unfortunately, that future is changing every day that Arthur stays away and Stuart tries to cover. Will Sophie be able to get Arthur back home safely and get her best friend and her old life back? Or is it already too late?

Review

This was so fun!! I loved the characters. Sophie’s a great, strong lead. Stuart really understands his mission to stand in for Arthur and what that means in the big picture of history. And Arthur’s desire to stay in the future is absolutely understandable, but the reader can see hints already of the leader he could be.

The story was so fun – gaming, friendship, time travel, jousting and magic. I loved the fantasy elements. This is exactly the sort of middle grade novel I enjoy.

There’s no cliffhanger, and the story is wrapped up well. But the series – The Camelot Code – is just getting started. I’m excited to see where the author takes the kids next. Highly recommend. I can’t wait to tell kids about this story.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥