The fantasy elements of the storyline were given exactly the right amount of space to develop. I was intrigued by the idea of a magical object that looked deceptively innocent but was actually quite dangerous to use. It fit the tone of the storyline well.

With the first few compelling paragraphs of this story, readers are thrown into the narrative as though appearing suddenly in the middle of a dream. Carefully written, readers spend the remainder of the story piecing together exactly what has taken place in the past based on clues from the present.

Fast-paced and action-packed, the story is designed so that the end of each chapter compels the reader to insist on learning what happens next. This is a delightful addition to the canon of adventure stories for middle grade readers.

The banter between Gia and Vuyo is sparky and witty. Young readers who love nature and exploring will love this book. One to check out if you're a fan of books like The Malamander.