Review: Hunt for the Golden Scarab (Time Keys)

*Written by M.G.Leonard*
*Illustrated by Manuel Šumberac*
*Published by Macmillan Children’s Books*

Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the first book in an exciting, new time-travelling adventure series, Time Keys that swept me into a rollercoaster of an adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout – absolutely riveting!

Twelve-year-old Sim Lockier lives with his mum, Callidora, in a small attic flat attached to the Sir John Soane’s Museum where his mum is a caretaker. Whilst helping his mum clean the Museum after it has closed for the day, they are disturbed by a man and a boy who should not be there. Running from them, Sim’s mum takes him through a locked door to ask for help from the old man they meet there, telling him that hunters have found her.

The next day, his mum tells him that it is no longer safe for them in London so they have to leave and find his uncle, Emmett, an uncle that Sim has never heard of. After a dangerous journey, where they are chased by a hunter, they arrive at Emmett’s home to discover a red-haired girl, his daughter, Jeopardy.

It is not long before Sim discovers the secret that his mum has been keeping from him: she can open time doors and travel back into the past. She is being hunted by the Council of Keys, an organisation who aim to control time travel, and is convinced they will take Sim if they catch up with them. The Council is searching for an ancient artefact, the golden heart scarab of Neferiti, said to grant eternal youth. Callidora aims to thwart the Council and find the golden scarab before they can use it for any nefarious purposes.

And so begins a heart-racing, action-packed adventure as Sim, Callidora and Jeopardy find themselves heading to Egypt to hunt for the golden scarab. But they are being hunted by someone who will stop at nothing to procure the artefact for the Council. Can Sim and his friends save both themselves and the golden scarab before time runs out? Can they find a door into the past and a way to protect a precious artefact?

I absolutely loved this adventure which has plenty of danger, unexpected twists and turns and a feeling of not being sure who to trust which made it a real page turner. I adore books involving time travel and I loved the idea of a link between music and doors in time that allow those who are keys to travel through time. I also really enjoyed the Egyptian setting which is richly described and gives a wonderful insight into this fascinating time period, especially the death rituals of Pharaohs.

Sim and Jeopardy form a wonderful bond of friendship and make a fantastic team when discovering the clues that may help them foil the sinister Council stealing the golden scarab. They show great determination, astuteness and courage as they face dangers and uncover secrets of the past and present – and learn more about themselves. I’m really looking forward to joining them on their next adventure. I also really liked that this adventure has such a strong, female adult role model in Sim’s mum, Callidora, who clearly adores her son and wants to protect him, even when this means keeping secrets from him, whilst at the same time giving him the skills to defend himself should the occasion arise.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are stunning and complement this time-travelling mystery adventure perfectly.

An action-packed, exhilarating time-travelling adventure, perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher, Macmillan Children’s Books, for approving me to read an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The Notwitches written by Gary Panton and illustrated by Dotty Sutton

*Written by Gary Panton*
*Illustrated by Dotty* *Sutton*
*Published by Chicken House Books*

The Notwitches is a feast of fun, heart and hope – a wonderfully wacky adventure that is guaranteed to delight young readers of 7+.

Eleven-year-old Melanda Notwitch lives with not one, not two but three absolutely awful aunts who treat her like their servant, demanding that she do all their chores including boiling notepads and cleaning toe junk from socks! Often feeling sad and upset, the only joy Melanda gets is from using her incredible imagination to write scary, spooky stories. But her cruel Aunt Claggy loves munching paper and crunching paper clips, so delights in snatching her niece’s latest story as a snack.

When the doorbell rings unexpectedly, Melanda opens it to discover an older girl – accompanied by a black cat- in an unconvincing witch costume and a false witch’s nose who gives her a piece of paper and invites her to ‘Join the Witches.’. Of course, Melanda knows she’s not supposed to be a witch, so she closes the door … but later that evening, she hears a noise from under the bed. Rolo, the black cat, has sneaked in and asks her to ‘Join the Witches.’ How can she ignore an almost-talking witch’s cat?

Melanda sneaks out with Rolo who takes her to a cottage where she meets the witch who had visited her earlier that day. Both girls are lonely and in need of a friend so, when Melanda tells Mitch about life with her appalling aunts, Mitch agrees to help her defeat these vile villains. Mitch knows a spell to get rid of the aunts … but it requires an item from a mythical creature.

And so begins the most brilliant, fast-paced, hilarious adventure as Melanda, Mitch and Rolo meet some rather unusual new friends who can help them in their mission. Biker-less bikers, mythical creatures with an unexpected twist, miserable goblins and sleep-deprived rock monsters: wacky and wonderful! Can Melanda find what she needs to defeat her aunts before they catch up with her and return her to a life of misery?

I absolutely loved this adventure which has a perfect blend of humour and heart. I adored the unexpected twists and revelations and the playfulness of the language as well as the incredibly imaginative characters. I also loved the references to the power of stories and the imagination to bring people together and to help when times are difficult.

Melanda is such a wonderful young girl. Despite how cruelly she is treated by her truly horrific aunts, she remains kind-hearted and good. She has not been allowed to go to school or to make friends, so it is wonderful to see her friendship with Mitch develop as they work together to defeat her vile aunts.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are an absolute delight and really complement the energy, humour and wackiness of this adventure.

A zany, zesty delightful adventure, brimming with humour and heart – perfectly giggle-some fun for young readers.

Thank you to Laura Smythe PR and Chicken House Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Review: Unicorns in Uniforms: Dragon Inferno

*Written by Tracy Curran*
*Illustrated by Steve Wood*
*Published by uclanpublishing*

Unicorns in Uniforms: Dragon Inferno is the start of an exciting new illustrated chapter book series for younger readers of 5+ who will love learning about the work of the emergency services through this magical world of unicorns, dragons and witches.

Firefighter Blaze has returned to the Unicorns in Uniforms’ headquarters with her mischievous emergency vehicle, Quench, who enjoys soaking others, including Blaze, at every opportunity. Just as she is getting ready to have some lunch, two playful young dragons cause mayhem before being sent home by Blaze after a warning to take care with flames …

But it is not long before Blaze gets an emergency call telling her that the young dragons have accidentally set fire to Witchy Wood. Blaze and Quench race to help save the witches, wizards and fairies who are trying to escape the inferno. But when they meet young witch, Jinx, and she decides to help with some magic, her spells cause even more trouble … Can Blaze and Quench get everyone to safety and save the wood before it is destroyed?

This action-packed adventure has just the right amount of peril for young readers as Blaze co-ordinates the rescue mission and shows real courage, determination and quick-thinking in saving everyone and dealing with unexpected problems. This wonderfully exciting story is a great way for young readers to learn about the role of the emergency services and the team work involved in helping with disasters. I have no doubt that they will adore this adventure set in the magical world of The Sunshine Realm where magical creatures cause chaos and where unicorns come to help those in need. I really liked the camaraderie and friendship between the unicorns as they support each other through the emergency situations.

Lots of young children are fascinated by learning facts so I really liked that there is a section at the end of the book which shares details about real fire engines.

The full-coloured illustrations are absolutely gorgeous – vibrant, expressive and energetic – and complement the story perfectly.

A fantastic start to this delightful, new adventure series for young readers of 5+ who I have no doubt will be eager to go on more rescue missions with the Unicorns in Uniforms.

Thank you to Graeme Williams and uclan publishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Ice Apprentices by Jacob North

Ice Apprentices is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy – and what a start this is! I was completely absorbed in this icy world, its magic, its danger and its diverse inhabitants: a world where danger lurks, where secrets twist and turn and where answers lie hidden for a courageous stray to unearth.

Oswin Fields is an outsider – a stray – found in Tundra (the last settlement in an ice-covered world) and adopted by Lullia, a mother who is harsh and cold towards him. His is a hard life, and one that he doesn’t feel will ever change, so he is shocked when his adoptive mother tells him that he has been selected to train as an ice apprentice in Corridor – a school which trains apprentices to contribute to Tundra’s survival.

Oswin is met with hostility by many in Corridor as they cannot understand why a stray would be asked to become an ice apprentice and also because his surname is synonymous with an uncle who is viewed as a traitor to Tundra. But, when he and another apprentice, Ennastasia, are attacked by a monster they’ve just learned about in a lesson, he might just be the only hope of saving the Corridor …

And so begins an absolutely gripping, action-packed adventure that swept me into a richly imagined world of ice, of monsters and of peril and deception. I found the magical system fascinating and really liked that, as this is part of a trilogy, I know there is lots more to learn – but I was given enough to satisfy my curiosity and leaving me eager to find out more. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, moments of heart-pounding danger and incredible revelations that made this a real page-turner.

I really liked both Oswin and Ennastasia, and loved the friendship that develops between them, a hard won friendship and one they both desperately need. Oswin is impetuous, tenacious and endlessly curious, but he is also someone who doesn’t feel he belongs and doesn’t feel worthy of the place he has been given in Tundra and the Corridor. Ennastasia, because of who she is, fears opening herself up to friendship, yet Oswin, who doubts his worth so much, breaks down her barriers leading to a genuine, honest friendship that is so heart-warming.

This is an adventure that feels like it has so much more to come, and I cannot wait to join the ice apprentices in their next adventure – especially after that ending!

A breath-taking, perilous adventure into an icy world that will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of readers of 9+ who will be eager to continue the adventure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Magicalia: Thief of Shadows by Jennifer Bell

*Written by Jennifer Bell*
*Illustrated by David Wyatt*
*Published by Walker Books*

Magicalia: Thief of Shadows is the second book in the Magicalia series, and it is another terrifically thrilling, heart-pounding fantasy adventure that absolutely enthralled me from start to finish.

12-year-old Bitsy and best friend Kosh are attending conjuring training sessions in an academy kept hidden from the outside world of cosmotypicals. Both children are cosmodynamics with the ability to use a meteoritic stone, a farthingstone, to channel their emotions to conjure magicores – incredible creatures, each with a unique power and close connection to their conjuror.

Whilst Bitsy and the other trainee conjurors have a farthingstone inherited from family members, Kosh feels left out as he does not have one. But, when Kosh is summonsed to the chrysalides, a secret cavern hidden within the academy, for his first lesson, he is asked by the Chancellor of the conservatoire to choose his farthingstone item from those in storage. Accompanied by Bitsy, Kosh is excited to make his choice but just as he chooses, everything goes dark …

When the lights return, the best friends discover that they are under attack from a terrifying thief who can control shadow weapons of darkness – the Shadowsmith. And he is searching for something, something that Kosh and Bitsy have saved from his grasp. Before Kosh can explain to the Chancellor why they have taken the object, Kosh is accused of being the Shadowsmith …

And so begins a brilliantly nail-biting, thrilling adventure as Bitsy and Kosh, with the help of their friend, Mateo, race to discover the true identity of the Shadowsmith before a war is instigated between two worlds, something that the thief’s master is determined to achieve. Can they discover the villain’s identity before the conservatoire catches up with them? Will they be able to prove their suspicions – and their innocence – before time runs out?

Oh my goodness! This is a fantastically fast-paced, gripping adventure that proved to be an irresistible page-turner. I was completely immersed in this adventure with its breath-taking levels of danger, twists and revelations as Bitsy and her friends hunt for clues whilst themselves being pursued by both the Shadowsmith and the conservatoire. Utterly unputdownable!

I absolutely loved the richly drawn, intricate world of Magicalia with its incredible range of magicores who are conjured by the conjurors’ memories of occasions which recall particular emotions. These creatures are each unique and form a strong bond with their conjuror. I loved that their personalities really shine through in their interactions as they support and help their conjuror. I also adored the gorgeous illustrations of these magicores at the start of each chapter as well as the references to them which Bitsy shares with the reader through her mother’s Magicalia encyclopedia.

Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo have formed a wonderfully strong, loyal and supportive friendship making them a brilliant team. They are becoming much more confident and assured when conjuring magicores. They show exceptional strength, courage and resourcefulness when faced with the most terrifying danger, taking great risks to discover the truth, foil a villain and prevent a war.

An exhilarating, action-packed fantasy adventure, guaranteed to hold young readers of 9+ spellbound.

Thank you to Walker Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Sword of the Sun

Written by Sinéad O’Hart
Cover illustration by Manuel Šumberac
Published by Piccadilly Press

Sword of the Sun is a brilliant contemporary fantasy adventure, steeped in the magic of Celtic myths and legends, that held me absolutely enthralled throughout.

When Ben and his older brother, Fin, lose their home in Dublin, the family find themselves with no other choice than to move in with their Aunt Niamh and her wife, Eun-Kyung. This move takes his mother back to her isolated ancestral home in rural County Clare. Whilst Niamh and her wife welcome them and have sympathy for their situation, their cousin, Ji-Ah is less keen to have them sharing her home and there is friction as they learn to accommodate each other.

Ben soon feels unsettled by strange dreams and a feeling that he is being watched by crows, building a real sense of foreboding. Ji-Ah tells the brothers that their grandfather was obsessed with the house and the surrounding land to the extent that he neglected his family, dying before anyone found out the nature of his obsession. Eun-Kyung reveals that their grandfather was a respected folklorist obsessed with the Sword of the Sun and she shares some local mythology relating to this weapon of the Tuatha De Danann. As Ben finds out more about the Sword and his grandfather’s obsession, as the crows haunt his dreams and threaten his reality, he begins to wonder if there could be any truth in ancient myths …

And so begins a breath-taking, action-packed adventure brimming with danger and a sense of foreboding, with secrets and revelations and with the clashing of ancient powerful beings. Ben finds himself thrust into keeping a family promise, a promise of protection passed on from generation to generation within his family, but one that he will have to discover for himself. Can Ben keep his family safe from someone determined to possess a weapon capable of great destruction? Will he have the strength and courage to overcome his fears, face great danger and make difficult decisions? What is he prepared to sacrifice to save those he loves?

This exhilarating adventure blends the contemporary with ancient legends perfectly. I am a huge fan of mythology in stories, and especially love Celtic mythology as these were the stories of my childhood. I am always in awe of how the author weaves these two threads into her adventures making the reader believe in the possibility of old magic, and bringing myths to life in the most unforgettable way. I also loved the vivid depiction of the wild Irish landscape of the Burren and Mullaghmore, places that are easy to imagine were home to ancient gods and goddesses.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Ben and his brother Fin which felt really authentic as they argue and fight, but clearly love each other. Neither finds the move away from Dublin easy as they have to leave behind friends, connections and interests. Ben is an anxious young boy who enjoys reading and is sensitive to the world around him, showing empathy towards others; he has an admirable inner strength and a courageous heart. There is some friction between the brothers and Ji-Ah as they adapt to living together but, as danger escalates, she proves herself a wonderful friend. I loved following the interactions, relationships and re-connections within the family as they adapt to living together and loved the diversity within the family.

A spellbinding, breath-taking adventure: a story of courage and hope, of old magic and new beginnings, and of trusting that there is light in the darkness. This is a story I cannot recommend highly enough for readers of 9+.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I have now purchased a physical copy.

Picture Book Review: Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch

*Written by Barbara Cuoghi*
*Translated by Genni Gunn*
*Illustrated by Elenia Beretts*
*Published by Greystone Kids*

Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch is a stunning, hardcover picture book, translated from Italian, which will make a cherished story to be shared and enjoyed during the winter holidays.

La Befana, the winter witch, flies on her broom from Forever and Beyond to visit children on the twelfth night after Christmas, heralding the end of the Christmas magic and the return to daily life.

This wonderfully magical story is written in free verse as a letter from Befana which makes it feel both personal and special as it directly addresses the reader, sharing secrets – and giving both advice – and warnings. Befana shares a secret: that those she visits have no hope of catching a glimpse of her as she has taken a potion that makes her invisible. When she visits, she both advises and warns that she will either leave a gift of food or coal, depending on how children have behaved throughout the year, as she is both benevolent and fearsome.

Whilst Befana dresses warmly for her winter visits, she is also a portent of Spring awakening and a new beginning and leaves the reader with a heartwarming message of love and hope.

This stunning book is beautifully illustrated in gouache with the addition of fluorescent orange acrylic. I loved looking at the detailed illustrations which encapsulate winter so perfectly with the busyness and cosiness of life indoors and the wonderful winter activities to be enjoyed in the snowy outdoors. I also loved the animal illustrations throughout, both domestic and wild. And, of course, the images of Befana as she flies through the night with her bright orange sack and boots, leaving magic in the air, are simply stunning.

Befana is part of Italian folklore which is likely to be unfamiliar to children in the UK so the addition of a section entitled ‘A Few Secrets About Me’ at the end of the story is a really helpful addition as it shares both information about Befana and other winter-witches.

This gorgeously enchanting hardback book will make a fantastic read for older children to enjoy on their own, or for younger readers to return to again and again with an adult during the winter holiday season.

Thank you to Catherine Ward and Greystone Kids for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Emba Oak and the Epic Ending

*Written by Jenny Moore*
*Cover illustration by David Dean*
*Published by Maverick Publishing*

All the best endings to adventures have to start somewhere…

I absolutely loved the first three books in the Emba Oak series, so was excited to join Emba on her fourth, and final, adventure in Emba Oak and the Epic Ending… and what a perfect title this turned out to be! Brimming with adventure, peril, humour and friendship, this is an epic finale to an epic series, and one that completely captivated me.

After the end of The Screaming Sea, Emba could be forgiven for needing a little rest after flying Odolf and Whip to apparent safety on the Eyeless Isles so it seems a little harsh that she is woken with a slap in the face by a wet fish! Once awake, she discovers two threats: an imminent attack by the terrifying masked maggot and the sight of her father, Necromalcolm’s ship, anchored on the next island.

But Emba has no choice but to head to the fortress on the island as that is where the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows has been taken, and she needs to hear its next prophecy … the Final Prophecy … but it’s also where Necromalcolm and the sorceress, Monica-Sage, await her arrival … and some old ghost acquaintances!

And so begins this final, thrilling, action-packed adventure as Emba embarks on her most perilous mission to stop her evil father from ruling both the dragon and human realms. Will she be able to save both her dragon mother and her human mother, Fred from the evil clutches of her father as he prepares to enter the dragon realm? Can she possibly save both the dragon and mortal realms from being ruled by an evil tyrant? And as her birthday approaches, will she discover whether she will stay human or become wholly dragon?

I absolutely loved the blend of fast-paced action, peril, humour and heart within this adventure which makes it a real page-turner as I was completely immersed in Emba and her friends’ mission to thwart Necromalcolm and his evil plot for domination of both realms. Be prepared for impossible choices, betrayal, sacrifices, ghost armies and deadly danger … but also wonderful friendships, brilliant teamwork and heartwarming connections.

Emba is just the most wonderful heroine who is determined to save both her own world and that of the dragons, even if this comes with heartache and impossible choices. I loved the strength of the friendship she has with Odolf who is always by her side and ready to encourage and support her when she needs him most.

An epic ending to a fantastic series brimming with humour, heart and friendship – and just perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Maverick Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman

*Written by Alex Atkinson*
*Cover illustration by Miriam Serafin*
*Published by Usborne*

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman is a deliciously spooky, humorous mystery with a chilling edge guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.

Twelve-year-old twins Indigo and Rusty live in a 400-year-old house on the outskirts of the village of Greyscar which also happens to be a funeral home. Despite this, they do not believe in ghosts … until Indigo accidentally finds a hidden door behind a bookcase and decides to investigate.

In the dark room behind the bookcase, she finds something on a table and decides to bring it back to the funeral parlour. The old, dented urn which she has brought back frightens her when its lid rattles making her drop it … releasing an ash cloud that escapes through the open window, but not before she hears its voice …

The next morning, she wakes to an eerie silence and looks outside to see that everything has been coated in a layer of ash and, worse still, her parents are acting very strangely … as are all the other villagers … as if they have no control over their actions.

But why are the twins not affected by this smothering ash? It is not long before they discover that they are immune to the effects of the ash because they are spooksmiths who can see and communicate with ghosts. And Indigo has accidentally released a terrifying ghost on the village: the Cinderman who intends to turn everyone into zombies and hide the village from the outside world under a layer of ash.

And so begins a spine-tinglingly spooky mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat as I followed these two daring investigators as they race against time to learn the secrets of the Cinderman. What power does a name hold? Can they learn the Cinderman’s weakness before sunset? Or will Greyscar become a town of zombies trapped in ash and ruled over by a terrifying ghost lord?

I loved the inexorable building of tension as danger increases and time runs out which made this a real page-turner and totally unputdownable. The atmosphere was incredibly eerie and creepy with the ash encapsulating the town and people being controlled like puppets by an evil entity. The ghosts who help the twins in their mission are fantastic – and bring some brilliantly humorous moments as well as some poignant ones!

I really liked both Indigo and Rusty whose initial bickering and arguments change to support and teamwork as they learn to work together in their mission to defeat the Cinderman. As they find themselves in more and more peril, they come to realise the importance of family and friendship which gives them the strength, courage and determination to continue their pursuit of the terrifying Cinderman. I also have to mention Phrank who I absolutely adored – and who brought lots of humour!

A spooky and humorous horror-mystery, with family and friendship at its heart, perfect to snuggle up with on a dark evening for a frighteningly fantastic reading treat.

Thank you to Usborne for providing me with a proof copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The World Between the Rain

*Written by Susan Cahill*
*Cover and Internal Illustrations by Holly Ovenden*
*Published by Everything With Words*

The World Between the Rain is a lyrical, dream-like fantasy adventure, a story of loss and healing, of family and secrets, of gods and demons, that completely enthralled me as I was caught in its magic.

It is the anniversary of her father’s death, and Marina wakes to a world where her mother has fallen in to a deep sleep, a sleep from which Marina and her younger sister, Seri, cannot rouse her. Heading to the nearby village to seek help, they discover that many others have also been afflicted by this strange sleeping sickness.

The sisters arrive home to discover a stranger: a grandmother that they hadn’t known existed. Ursula takes them, and their mother, to stay with her in her isolated house across the bay, a house with a carved bear’s head on the banister, a house full of books, shadows and secrets.

After listening to her newly-found grandmother’s stories of old gods living amongst humans and ancient battles causing their destruction, Marina needs to find some space to be alone, and leaves the house to head through the steadily increasing rain. But on her way back, she falls through a gap in the ever-present Irish raindrops … and into another world … the watery world of Ishka …

And so begins an utterly mesmerising mystery as Marina finds herself in a world of dream weavers, of terrifying creatures, of gods and demons … Can she find her way back to her world? Can she stop the monster that is devouring dreams? And, could this world between the rain be closer to her real world than she could have ever imagined?

This incredibly powerful and moving story is an allegory of the journey through grief which I found both poignant and compelling. The watery, imaginary landscape is a symbol both of being trapped in grief and that of a healing, transformative force. Coupled with this story of a young girl’s grief is an absolutely gripping story of gods – a story of unforgetting, of family and shadows and of re-connection – truly magical.

I grew up in rural County Donegal so absolutely understand the ever-rain that really does feel different in Ireland – there is a softness, a magic that I haven’t felt elsewhere. I used to love wandering over the wild bog land and mountains, tilting my face towards the rain, arms stretched up and just ‘being’ – there is definitely magic in that feeling! The rain in this story makes for a wonderfully eerie and atmospheric read and is just perfect as a portal to another world.

Marina is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who has been trapped by her grief following the death of her father, someone who believed in magic and who encouraged it in his daughter. Unable to show outwards signs of grief, Marina buries her feelings of guilt, loneliness, fear and loss deep within whilst her mother and younger sister deal with their grief in their own way. Her cathartic journey allows her to face her grief and step on to the path towards facing her inner demons, the path towards acceptance and healing. It is a journey that takes incredible inner strength and courage, and a journey that brings both friendship and hope.

This is a stunning, spellbinding story that resonates with warmth, hope and family, a story of awakening and finding your way back home … utterly breath-taking.

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of The World Between the Rain in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: