I absolutely relished the deliciously rich, breath-taking world of Rumblestar which invites the reader to savour its many wonders, including the landscape of floating clouds, spectacular castle and magical creatures.
Casper Tock is living in Faraway (our World), which is being devastated by very unusual weather conditions. He is trying to escape from school bullies when he inadvertently unlocks the way to Rumblestar, one of the Unmapped Kingdoms, which is being threatened by an old enemy.
There he meets the irrepressible, and brilliantly named, Utterly Thankless who promptly arrests him … and shortly after rescues him. And so begins their incredible adventure into The Beyond where they meet magical creatures including the delightfully creepy drizzle hags and the kind-hearted, new-age snow trolls.
Their daring mission to attempt to save both their worlds is full of fast-paced action, tension which ebbs and flows with magical ease interspersed with humour and the realisation of a deep friendship.
I adored both Casper and Utterly, and her delightfully sensitive, brave and clever, dragon, Arlo. Casper hates taking risks and loves nothing better than lists, routines and regimented organisation. Utterly is a quick-witted rule-breaker with a penchant for recklessness. And yet, each is just what the other needs. Together, they build a heart-warming friendship forged in adventure, honesty, loyalty and courage – and brilliant one-liners!
This is a real marvel of a story: an enchanting read, brimming with adventure, nuggets of wisdom and a testament to the power of friendship. I am excited to share Rumblestar with my class who I know will adore Casper, Utterly and Arlo as much as I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an e-ARC of Rumblestar.
Book Craic 