Tag: fantasy-adventure

Review: The Thing About Giants by Christopher Galvin

Written by Christopher Galvin
Cover and interior illustrations by Brie Schmida
Published by Walker Books

The Thing About Giants is a completely captivating, epic fantasy adventure, brimming with danger and discoveries, with hope and heart and with friendship and family. Utterly unputdownable!

Young giant Corman and his father are on a dangerous mission from their underground home to the Upside. But, what could possibly cause danger to two giants, danger that makes them fear for their lives?

In the city of Fathach, whose walls and buildings are constructed from the bones of giants, twelve-year-old Jacq Dyer has been chosen to follow in the footsteps of her parents – and become a giant hunter, but what if she wants to choose her own path?

When Corman is separated from his father, he must find a way back home, but instead he finds a young girl who has also been separated from her father. Can the giant and the giant hunter overcome their fear and mistrust of each other and find the courage to change both their lives? What if everything you believed has been built upon the bones of lies? Will discovering the truth have the power to bring two worlds together?

Wow! What an absolutely incredible adventure. I loved the braided narrative structure that gave an insight into both the lives of giants and humans and allowed for some cliffhangers that made this a definite just-one-more-chapter read. In fact, this was a read-in-one-sitting book for me as I was completely drawn into the world and lives of Corman and Jacq and was gripped by their quest, not only to return to their families, but by the breathtaking discoveries they made that led them not only towards life-changing revelations but also towards increasing danger. I am being purposefully vague as to what happens as I really don’t want to reveal any spoilers for this gripping and epic adventure but, suffice to say, that I’m a HUGE fan of fantasy middle-grade and this is one of the best I’ve read – and will definitely be on my books of the year list.

The world-building is superb from the chapter epigraphs which give an insight into the history, politics and beliefs of both giants and those who built, and control, Fathach to the vivid and wonderful descriptions of the natural world outside the city contrasted with the eponymous city built on the bones of giants. I loved that different groups of giants – including river, forest and rock giants – were distinguished by their connection to nature and how they lived in harmony with the world around them. It made it all the more poignant that they were being persecuted by humans intent on their destruction including forcing them to leave their homes and find safe haven in other places. There are some important messages in this story about the abuse of power, manipulation and prejudice, but there is also hope that there are those who are willing to stand against these.

I absolutely adored both Corman and Jacq: kind-hearted, courageous, curious and empathetic – traits that allow them to work together to overcome fears, break down prejudices and bring hope. These are two characters, alongside Misneach (just wait to meet him!), who have found their way into my heart and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there are more adventures for this wonderful trio.

A breath-taking, gigantic treat of an adventure for readers of 9+.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Dreamstalkers: The Night Train by Sarah Driver

Written by Sarah Driver
Cover Illustration by Diana Renzina
Published by Farshore

Dreamstalkers:  The Night Train is a mesmerising, magical adventure that took me on an unforgettable journey into a world of disappearing dreams and roaming nightmares aboard the Night Train as I entered the world of the Dreamstalkers …      

Twelve-year-old Bea Grimspuddle lives in a cottage on Thunderheart Tor with her mum, Ula and her long-eared owl, Pip.  Sitting in an ancient dragon-skull, Bea views the wild moors below pondering why her dreams have disappeared.  When she sees a girl from the settlement, Martha Hearthsweep, approaching her cottage, she races towards home where she discovers that everyone’s dreams have disappeared … and in their place nightmares have escaped into the living world.  This scourge of nightmares threatens to destroy Thunderheart, forcing those living there to abandon their home.

When Bea breaks the news that they must leave to her mother, she discovers that Ula has been keeping secrets from her, secrets that may reveal the reason behind her mother’s sickness.  But before Bea can persuade her mother to leave, a mysterious steam train arrives outside the cottage, and Bea finds herself boarding the Night Train …

And so begins the most incredible adventure as Bea, Pip and Martha journey aboard the Night Train to Silvervein where they are thrown into the mysterious world of the Dreamstalkers, a secret guild of mages, who are responsible for keeping the balance between dreams and nightmares.  But what happens when the balance is broken and someone is intent on usurping dreams and inflicting nightmares for their own gain?  Can Bea connect with her wild magic, enter the world of the Dreamstalkers and find a way to save her mother before the nightmares stalking her catch up with her, destroying her hopes and dreams?

This is an adventure that really immersed me in a fascinating, intricate world with the most incredible, cinematic world-building:  a world of dreams and nightmares; of magic and secret guilds; of music and theatre; of mythical creatures, sentient locomotives and malefic rivers; and of wild mountains, moors and wandering towers.  I absolutely loved exploring Silvervein and the world of the Dreamstalkers with Bea, learning about their history, their remarkable magical abilities, and their terrible exploitation.  Utterly absorbing! 

I was completely captivated as I eagerly followed Bea on her quest, not only mesmerised by the world I found myself in, but on the edge of my seat as the increasing danger for Bea and her friends reached a crescendo, as secrets were revealed and as friends and foes were unmasked. 

Bea is a wonderful protagonist and I liked her all the more because of her fallibility.  She has been ostracised by her peers and finds friendship with her adorable, long-eared owl, Pip – their close bond is wonderfully heart-warming.  Her developing friendship with Martha is by no means easy and at times it is fractious and difficult laced with jealousy and hurt.  Bea is trying to find her place in the world, who she really is, whilst finding the courage and strength to fight against a terrifying foe who seeks to control the world that she wants to become part of.  I really liked that she is a complex young girl which makes her feel more genuine and someone who readers can relate to. 

A captivating, magical adventure into an unforgettable world where nightmares roam, but dreams may be realised …  perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you for the Publisher, Farshore, for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.