A riveting, otherworldly tale of magic, monsters, and unwavering friendships.
Some teenagers uncover a plot against their kingdom in this third installment of a middle-grade fantasy series.
Fourteen-year-old Goff, having faced off against a dark wizard, is ready to enjoy his days at a boarding school. Elsewhere, his “magical friends from past adventures,” Bones and Maxim, find and inadvertently activate a Time Lock. Around the campus, Goff, his romantic interest, and his best friends all vanish with a “pop.” The story then moves to a past era—the kingdom of Slaathwick, in which Goffren works in the Royal Kitchen. When he delivers food to a royal, the result is unexpectedly lethal, and reputed murderer Goffren lands in the dungeon. Luckily, his friends, from performer assistant Lydianna to potions apprentice Halstrohm, help him escape and prove his innocence. That entails making their way to an eerie castle on an even spookier island. They also stumble on someone’s diabolical plan to overthrow the kingdom, which they can thwart by warning the royal family—preferably without getting tossed in the dungeon, or worse. Gracely practically sprints through the present-day opening, and readers unfamiliar with the earlier installments will likely get confused. But once in Slaathwick, the similarly named characters (for example, Lydia becomes Lydianna) are essentially brand new, with their own backstories. This lengthy (over 370 pages) but well-written adventure is consistently thrilling. Goffren, Lydianna, and Halstrohm pass through a dark forest, deal with gargoyles and various other creatures, and experience heaps of magic. The magic even involves Goffren. He’s secretly a magic-capable Verlokken—a being who, according to a minstrel’s song, should be feared. In addition, recurring scenes with Bones, who’s an actual skeleton, and Maxim, a cat, are fun. The two watch everything unfold via the Time Lock, and Maxim must insist that Bones not help their friends in peril. The benevolent action could “cause a breach in the time continuum that turns everything on its head.” While the final act offers some resolution, it’s aimed more at setting up another installment.
A riveting, otherworldly tale of magic, monsters, and unwavering friendships.Pub Date: July 13, 2025
ISBN: 9798991335522
Page Count: 333
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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