A fun, magical adventure!
933190
The Enchanted Skean by Vonnie Winslow Crist is full of adventure that will appeal to anyone who likes fantasy. The main character, Beck, encounters dragons, goblins, dwarves, and magic. He transforms over the course of the novel, from a weak, uncertain boy into a young man who takes control and wields magical power. He is joined by his friend, who is the faithful sidekick, who also becomes more certain as he faces more challenges experiences. I can see a number of young readers, especially boys, easily connecting to Beck and his friend. The adventure is fun as more magical creatures and elements enter the story. This book is action-packed with adventure. I definitely didn't anticipate some creatures, such as dragons and goblins, entering the story, but when they did, I was right there in the action and wanted to know what happens next. This ends with the potential for a sequel. When the next book is released, Ill be sure to read it so I can follow the adventures of Beck.
1770137
I love the interesting characters and creatures that are twists on traditional fantasy elements.  The story braids together a fun mix of modern settings, urban versions of magic, and good old-fashioned fantasy adventure.  I especially enjoy the footnotes, histories, back stories, and flashbacks interspersed with the main story line - they contribute to a richly imagined magical version of our world.  Anyone who likes stories of ordinary modern kids having exciting, sometimes creepy magical adventures should enjoy this book - and doubly so if you know the city of Boston, where it's set.
805151
One evening in a small town called Aplanap, a mysterious stranger approaches the shoemaker, Grel, to make a blue shoe entirely out of strange blue gems.  The shoe must never be sold or damaged.

When Hap, the shoemaker's apprentice, steals a gem from the blue shoe to save a poor beggar girl, he is sentenced to the mountain Xexnax.  There he finds a race of people called Auki's working in the mines.  Aplanap's mayor and his wife are after the biggest blue gem of all.  But a rebellion is underway and it's up to Hap to lead the fight and save his friends and the town.

With a title that includes "Thievery, Villainy, Sorcery, and Shoes," you know you can't go wrong!  THE BLUE SHOE is a magical story that reads like a fairy tale.  There's lots of adventure, a bit of romance, and magic.

Hap is a likable hero and his friend, Sophia, is full of spunk, and they were a delight to read about.  They are surrounded by a fun cast of characters that won't soon be forgotten.

The book is printed in blue ink and filled with illustrations from Mary GrandPre, which I thought added to the magic of the tale.  This is one I could see being read aloud to all ages - it has the feel of an old-fashioned tale that has been passed down and re-told and needs to be shared.

THE BLUE SHOE will appeal to both readers of fantasy and those who enjoy action-packed adventures.

Reviewed by:  Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen
950432
What an enchanting book for young readers! I absolutely love this magical story and adorable characters/illustrations. It teaches young children a valuable lesson in life: that change can be scary (which is a natural and relatable reaction for kids) at first, but also that many great opportunities can come as a result. With the magic and friendship of a very special fairy named Dolcey, Emily soon learns how to tackle a very big (but she soon realizes may not be so big) problem. She also learns of the importance of leaning upon her very loving family for support. An excellent read for children of all ages! This magical adventure will sure to be a delight to all who read it.
28177
And I enjoyed it! The story was full of fun characters and enough mystery and magic to keep my interest to the end.  A fun read!
2750048
If Magic peeks your interest, then this is a great read for you!  I am not usually a reader of this sort though someone suggested this book to me and I am glad they did.  I enjoyed sailing thru the two different worlds on a magic rug and anxious to learn of the next adventure or lesson.  The creativity and imagination of this author makes you hope there will be more adventures to come.  I purchased this book for my nieces during the  Christmas holiday since they are big Harry Potter fans and they commented that 'I hope you give us Volume 2 next Christmas'. Enjoy this treasure!
4963481
A magical adventure with characters who come alive, like Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, and Richard the Lion-heart!  A wonderful story for young and old!
4219715
Loved being immersed into this fabulous story and the wonderfully imaginative world Penn created. This book has all of my favourite aspects of good story-telling - dimensional life-like characters, descriptive scene-setting, historical aspects interspersed throughout, well-paced and imaginative plot threads. If you are after an adventurous, magical, thrilling and thoroughly enjoyable read, this one is perfect for you! Can't wait of the next book in the series.
3657711
I loved reading Ruby Blue. This book had such great descriptions of all the characters and events, I felt transported to Ruby's world. I wish I had magical friends, but at least we have magical authors to write such fun stories. It was a very enjoyable book that I have recommend to two of my kids. Now they are enjoying the adventures of Ruby Blue. We will be eagerly awaiting the next book.
1324122
Loved this book! M.M. Gavillet has created an absolutely enchanting world full of magic and mischief with just a sweet little sprinkle of romance to keep it interesting. We even come across an old storybook legend with a twist! At it's heart this is a lovely YA story about Sage Greene a teenage girl stuck between living the life her parents plan out for her or choosing her own path to make herself happy. But in this magical world nothing is that easy or quite what it seems. With it's unique plot and fun characters  I very much look forward to seeing what happens next for Sage in her world. In my opinion definitely recommended.
3036180
This is an entertaining and truly wonderful story, with likable characters, evil villains, and enough magick to make it sparkle. I actually felt sad coming to the last page, as I didn't want it to end. Read this book and be enchanted!
1670587
This was such a fun little book! It had all the magic and adventure that you look for in a middle-grade fantasy. It wasn't anything deep and heart-wrenching, but it's something that will make you smile!
The plot was simple, but had enough to it to keep the reader turning pages. You can definitely tell it's a retelling of the Princess and the Pea, but it has enough to it that it doesn't have to depend on that aspect. I also thought it was clever how the "True Princess" stuff is incorporated.
The only thing I didn't like was the dialogue, which felt stiff and awkward. I think the author was trying to make it sound like what you'd imagine fairy tale characters would sound like, but it didn't flow as it should've.
The characters were all enjoyable to read. Each and every one was unique and kept me interested. Lilia was a strong character, not afraid to embark on a journey to find out who she is. Those who accompanied her made for wonderful companions. I found the romances going on kind of strange *spoiler*(Kai and Lilia? I saw theirs as a brother/sister relationship... )
942916
Theres something so exciting and fascinating about pirates, am I right? When I think about pirates I instantly go to movies like The Goonies, the Pirates of the Caribbean, and even Peter Pan! The swashbuckling adventures never fail to entertain me on the screen though, besides Peter Pan, I had yet to find something as magical and fun in the pages. Until now!

Right from the get-go I adored our daughter of the pirate king, Alosa. She is a badass pirate, and knows it. She is extremely methodical with every move she makes and is quite the problem-solver, which comes in handy on her newest mission- to be captured by pirates and to steal a treasure map for her father. Daughter of the Pirate King does not hold back on the violence, they are pirates after all, so you can expect some death and fighting. And it is filled with witty banter to lighten it up. The best banter is between Alosa and the first mate, Riden. She could dish out that banter like no other! Flirting and teasing one moment and knocking you over the head the next. They had this great push-pull relationship, a will they or won't they type. And I was absolutely rooting for the will they! The love I have for these sort of relationships! Nothing is easy and nothing is certain but they had so much chemistry and there were definitely some swoony moments between the two.

There are magical elements that come into play as well, and I cant say I was surprised by them but nevertheless found them a welcomed addition that adds a whole new spin on the adventure that awaits us as the series continues. Why 4 stars instead of 5 then? While I appreciated the magical elements that came into play, I felt a couple scenes that used them didn't grab me like I wished and fell flat. And then the novel sort of just ended, abruptly. Dont get me wrong, I did feel like the first chapter of the adventure was coming to an end but the way it wrapped up seemed rushed. Nevertheless, I am thrilled to know a sequel is on the horizon! I cannot wait for more magic, sword-fighting, thieving, and that banter I adored so much! Anyone looking for an adventure should absolutely pick up this quick and exciting read!
3745867
Shadow Magic's beautifully imagined world and it's turned-on-it's-head look at the war between darkness and light, along with clever and fun characters easily makes it a new favorite for me.  While this cover was initially what made me excited to get my hands on this book, the story quickly held me enchanted.

In this fast paced adventure there is danger, magic, wonder, and so many emotional battles. I immediately took to Thorn, his gutsiness and humor and determination to right his wrongs.  Lily was just as feisty but also struggled with proving herself to those around her and grieving for her family. A third to their trio was K'leef, a hostage of House Solar, was funny and a little jumpy from a sheltered royal life, but so sweet and a good friend. One of my favorite characters was Hades, an ancient and gigantic bat. The closeness that grew between Thorn and Hades was absolutely charming and heartwarming.  I loved that throughout the story, doubts get seeded about the loyalty and guilt of many of the characters; there's some great foreshadowing and hints, but the mystery unfolds with some fun twists and gasp-worthy surprises.

The story is also brought to life with a few really dark and edgy illustrations by illustrator Ben Hibon.  Still, with the writing alone, the whole world comes alive with vivid imagery of a gloomy castle that is also the home Lily loves, a wildly colorful Halloween festival, a gleaming bright parade of snooty House Solar guards and royalty, and a gory run-in with some very dark creatures.  This is one of those books that I would love to see brought to life on the silver screen.  I've heard no word on whether or not there will be more adventures for Thorn, Lily, and K'leef, but I would absolutely LOVE to spend more time with these characters in this beautifully-penned world.
*WAIT!! I just spotted sequel info on Goodreads!! Hurray! :D*
3732033
What an adventure! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride with Pixie Piper on her adventure in Fairyland! I enjoyed the imagery and Pixie's feelings of wanting to give up, but getting that second wind and following though and succeeding! I will thoroughly enjoy reading this story to the grandchildren!

I received a free copy of this book for an unbiased, honest review.
4245708
A fantastic adventure - full of mystery, action, and excitement. I highly recommend this story for both boys and girls, and for adults who love a good story. There are a handful of instances where the wrong word is used which interrupted the story flow as I stopped to make sense of the sentence (the/they, we/I etc) these would not show up as typos in a spell check, but could be easily fixed. Imaginative settings, likeable characters, and an interesting storyline kept me happily turning the pages. WJ Scott, Children's Author,&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Hieroglyph-TC-s-Adventures-Book-1/dp/B016IZYDE4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Hieroglyph (TC's Adventures Book 1)</a>[...]
3814583
This book was a lot of fun! I greatly enjoyed the characters and felt swept into the journey along with them. It was along the lines of Lord of the Rings or Narnia. The reader is swept into a journey of adventure and binding friendships, with a good level of intensity to keep you intrigued. As a mother of two children (5 & 7), it was nice to read a book obviously written for pre-teen age - but enjoyable enough to keep an adult entertained. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story, especially someone who enjoys Lord of the Rings, but is not ready for it due to academic level or readiness for the intensity/topic.