Cover Illustration by Thy Bui
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Fablehouse: Heart of Fire is the second book in the Fablehouse series, blending magic, history and Arthurian legend in a spellbinding adventure of connection, friendship and belonging – utterly captivating!
Heather is enjoying spending time at Fablehouse with her friends who have newly discovered magical powers which they are strictly forbidden to use by their headmistress, Miss Isolde. During a game of hide-and-seek, Davey, the youngest child at the orphanage, goes missing which causes Heather to panic and lose control of her own power: the ability to conjure fire. With help from her friends, Davey is found safe and well – but showing off his own powers! Are these new-found powers a curse or a gift for the children?
Later, there is a knock at the door, and Heather opens it to discover a stranger: an Inspector who has come to inspect the orphanage, threatening to close it down if they don’t pass their impending inspection. Could the children be in danger of losing their home, the place that has provided them with a safe haven, away from the prejudices of the locals?
And so begins an edge-of-your seat, action-packed adventure as the children fight to save their home from being closed down, as they face the prejudices of the local villagers and as their Arthurian knight protector, Pal, is distracted by a centuries-old quest that he must complete. Can the children discover the truth of who is a friend, and who is an enemy, before all is lost? Can Heather find the strength to accept and control her fiery magic and use it to save her family and home?
This is an absolutely riveting read which kept me on tenterhooks as tension and danger build to a crescendo. I loved that I had a real sense that the children were facing danger, but not quite sure what direction this was coming from. I genuinely gasped at the unexpected twists and revelations, and was both angered and saddened at the rejection the children were shown by the local villagers. I loved how Arthurian legend steps into 1950s Britain to bring magic, danger and hope.
Heather and her friends are the most wonderful group of children who have really grown as a family within Fablehouse but, as with all families, there is some friction as fears and vulnerabilities are shown. Whilst the other children are more willing to use their magical powers, Heather knows that she possesses a powerful and dangerous ability that can destroy as well as help so it takes a great deal of courage and inner strength to accept and control it.
This is a magical, mesmerising adventure with family, friendship and belonging at its heart. Perfect for readers of 9+.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Book Craic 