Review: Adventurers Wanted: Slathbogs Gold

I had been wanting to read this book for a couple of years as it looked intriguing.  In the meantime two sequels came out, so I finally decided to read it.  The story follows 15-year-old Alex Taylor on as he becomes an adventurer in a magical world after curiosity leads him to inquire about a recruiting sign for adventurers in a shop window on an unusually deserted street.  We meet his fellow adventurers (including the obligatory dwarves & elves) and learn about the adventure (ridding the kingdom of a dragon and claiming his hoard) they are to complete along with the rewards and code of adventuring.  Along the way, Alex discovers much about his companions, the magical world he is visiting and his own abilities and potential.

This book is written for a much younger audience than I had expected, more for elementary school ages.  Although it is definitely several steps up from a beginning chapter book and includes danger, peril and fighting, there is an absence of any intensely scariness on the order of Harry Potter or Fablehaven.  This makes it a perfect read-a-loud story for younger children introducing them to elements of classic magical quest stories, including trolls, codes of honor, oracles and visits to a dwarf kingdom and an elf forest along the way.  I felt the climatic battle with the dragon could have used a little more detail and complexity, but overall I enjoyed the story very much once I got used to the tone of cheerful positivity.  The story was a fast, run read, and I look forward to finally reading the sequels as well.

Click here to read more about Slathbog's Gold, here for Horn of Moran (book 2) and here for Albrek's Tomb (book 3).

Queen in Exile Review

I'm an employee at the bookstore and I recently read Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch. I really enjoyed the story: think forbidden love, merciless takeovers, and magical creatures and you'll have a pretty good idea what this book is about. I hope you'll also take a dive into a world of magic, love, and royalty with Queen in Exile.

Fablehaven Series Now Complete!

Fablehaven 5, Keys to the Demon Prison is the last volume in the best-selling children's fantasy series by Brandon Mull. Like most excellent children's fantasy, there's lots of pretty interesting things going on inside a fast-moving adventure story. I'm thinking I need to get more members of my family reading this series so we can have some energetic discussions about the interesting themes and thought-provoking conflicts that develop throughout the series. Some of these include courage versus caution, a pure heart versus greed and power, light versus dark, consequences and responsibility, loyalty and betrayal plus much more.

I had waited to read volume 4 (Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary) until the last volume came out. Since it had been a while, I ended up reviewing/rereading volumes 1 through 3 and then reading 4 and 5. It took a day or two for me to process the climax and resolution of the series and come back out of the Fablehaven universe into the real world. Not everyone I know who started reading the first book was able to really get into the story, but it sure pulled me in. I look forward to reading these again and finding ideas, patterns and details I missed the first time. For more information about what the series is about, you can check on our website for a description of the books. If you enjoy fantasy, I can highly recommend this series for you and your children.

Product note: Volume 1-4 are now available in paperback as well as hardback.

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Review by Rachel

The Hourglass Door is a fun young adult fiction book. The book is about high school senior Abby who is finding her routine to be a little suffocating. Enter Italian foreign exchange student Dante with stunning good looks and mysterious air and Abby gets the shake up she’s been wanting. As Dante’s secret unfolds she finds her life will never be the same again.

I enjoyed this book. It was a light read and the plot had a Twilight-esque feel to it (for me that is a good thing). I connected with and came to care about the characters. Despite a few predictable things and some slow spots I felt the author overall did a good job of drawing the reader into the story and keeping things suspenseful. As a girl I appreciated the romance but thought it was done tastefully so that even those less-inclined to such could still get through it. The language is clean and the romance stays appropriate throughout. I would enjoy reading a sequel which possibility is left open by the ending.

Far World: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

Review by Susan

J. Scott Savage has created a wonderful tale of adventure, magic and fantasy in Farworld: Water Keep. The story centers on young teenagers Marcus and Kyja, both misfits on different worlds who have a mysterious connection to each other. Marcus has learned to use his wits and some unusual talents to defend himself against bullies. Kyja struggles as a nonmagical child in a world where magic is a way of life. In a time of great need, Kyja rescues Marcus and brings him from Earth to Farworld. In an adventure on both worlds, they fight against the evil Dark Circle with the help of Master Therapass, Kyja’s wizard mentor, and begin a quest to seek the help of the mythical elementals: water, land, air and fire. Their journey to Water Keep is fraught with peril and triumph as they discover hidden talents and the power of loyalty, kindness and sacrifice.

Following Harry Potter, there has been a wave of excellent young adult fantasy, including the best-selling Fablehaven series and 13th Reality. Farworld incorporates several familiar fantasy themes and patterns woven together in an appealing tale that leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, the second volume in the series, Farworld: Land Keep, is due to be released in September.