An Enchanted World Full of Energy Light and Love
355828
Having been privileged to introduce and feature the Art of Stephanie Pui-Mun Law in my own books nothing gives me more pleasure than to see this wonderful volume 'Dreamscapes' that has just been published. From my own experience I can appreciate the huge amount of work and detail that will have gone into producing the most stunning 175 page book of 'Creative How to Draw' magical Angels Faeries and Mermaids.
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law is one of the foremost Fantasy Artists of the New Millennium her work and detail enchants. Time again one has to return to  her images to see and understand her creative inspiration and thought process, yet here in this book she tell us her secrets and shows us how to hone the skills needed to be a success. This book is a must have for any aspiring artist of any age, it educates and enthralls with creative energy and artistic inspiration, welcoming readers to enter and join the enchanted faeries world. It instructs clearly and precisely allowing the reader of any age to easily follow and study techniques. For libraries, education, hobby shops and stores, art colleges, children, students this book will be an all time reference and best seller.
This book teaches conservation and understanding of the beauty of Mother Earth and the importance of protecting the environment, there is no better way to educate than encouraging through instructive art books like this.
2239562
One of the coolest fantasy worlds I've ever had the pleasure to visit.  Millitello has a warm and vivid imagination.
723093
Desta is a uniquely beautiful book and it took me on a spiritual ride. As I was reading, I kept gaining more and more an appreciation of his world and the interesting environment. Even being Ethiopian, I definitely learned new things about the heritage and cultural beliefs, it is truly fascinating. Desta, as a character instantly became one of my favorite's from any book. His curiosity, ambition, and penchant for doing everything he can to overcome obstacles drew me in. I have three times purchased this book as a gift for family and friends. I can't wait to read part two and see how the magical story continues to unfold.
3392842
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As I started reading the first few pages, I wondered where we'd be going with this story. Where I went was on a magical journey filled with fantastical whimsy and a little mystery. Yes, this is a love story between Wolfgang and Theophile, but it is much, much more than that. This is a story of two people who have overcome some serious blows that life has dealt them and they have the physical and emotional scars to prove it. Yet, they have an incredible capacity to love those around them. Wolfgang raises the bar for real and book boyfriends everywhere. Just when I thought I couldn't love him anymore, he would show just how big his heart was and endear himself to me even further. Thank you, A. Wilding Wells, for taking me on yet another fantastic adventure.
2262832
The Breezes was a very enchanting and interesting book. The imagery used throughout the book really draws you into to every scene. The book explains a major milestone that happens with growing up and forming different relationships.  One of themes is friendship the imagery used accepts the characters companionship and there strong relationship. Their dynamic and relationship is very special and you can feel the connection when reading. Also the growing of a friendship into a loving relationship and what people feel when they make such a huge leap with fear of rejection and ruining the friendship are all situations that people may face in their lives. Another major theme is love and how the emotions that happening when falling for someone.  The structure of the book adds a very enchanting and fantasy theme to the story. The poems are bringing depth to the characters feelings and emotions giving insight to the theme of new and exciting love.  The structure of the novel is different and really hooked me to the story the personification and imagery is very beautiful and the use of nature to represent the blossoming of love and emotions.  The nature is a great representation of the cycle of world and the relationships we make as we grow in life. Themes and metaphors enhanced the reading and the structure includes the different fonts to convey the different emotions and feelings from the different individuals. Overall this was a great read and was unlike anything that I am used to reading and I really liked it the use of nature and imagery enhanced the reading and really interested me.
2967958
This book is a delight for children of ALL age! For those just exploring the magical world of nature to those young at heart.  The beautiful photography and illustrations along with the wondrous style of writing is enchanting.  This is a marvelous addition to any library, full of information from the practical and medicinal uses of herbs to a beautiful introduction to the wheel of the year and cycles of nature, with glimpses into ancient folklore of various cultures.
1967289
Kate Sparkes takes you into a world like no other. A world where there is magic, monsters, mer folk, dragons, fairies and so much more!

This book is about a young girl named Rowan, who is expected to get married and settle down, but longs for adventure instead. Rowan finds a hurt eagle one day, and nurses him back to health. The eagle turns out to be more than just your average eagle and after meeting him, Rowan's life soon becomes the adventure she has been longing for.

Kate Sparkes is very detailed and creative when it comes to describing the world she has created! Her world is so enchanted and magical. The way she writes kept me wanting to read more. The words effortlessly started flowing through my mind. She gave each character a lot of background information, so that you completely understand the characters and their actions. Rowan faces many struggles throughout the book with family, love, honesty, and herself. These struggles make her easy to relate to. Rowan is trying to find herself and figure out what she is capable of.

This was a very fun read and I really look forward to reading more by Kate Sparkes. I'm dying to get my hands on the rest of this series! I highly recommend this book!
4895923
Every moment is filled with something interesting, whether it be secrets, hidden motives, mad Queens, or stolen kisses and crazy plots. This book took me to another world. As I read In the Time of Dragon Moon, the real world fell away and I was swept into Uma's world. I was hooked on this story by the second chapter. From then on, there wasn't a moment that my heart didn't hurt for Uma or cheer for her to succeed. I felt like I was walking in her shoes. I felt like I took her place in this book. Everything about In the Time of Dragon Moon just seemed magical. The descriptions were magical and the atmosphere this book seemed to emit was captivating. Not to mention the fact that dragons are very much a forefront in this book so you know I was going to go crazy over that.

  The trouble and hurt that Uma had to go through was heartbreaking to read, but it made everything feel more real. Her struggles kept me turning every page and as soon as I met Jackrun, I was even more determined to find out what would happen to Uma and him. I was instantly in love with Jackrun, not only because he came in riding a dragon, but because he is so kind to Uma, where others were not. He is another added interest to the story, that's for sure. I could not handle how perfect Uma and him are for each other. That ending had me fangirling over them, I'm telling you. I'm in love with their love, seriously.

  Another thing that I love about this book is that it features a lot of different places and castles. It gave me a feeling of recall as if I was there before. It made the book feel more real to me because Uma traveled and walked to a lot of places. Plus, it added to the adventure of the story. It seemed like every page turned we were going to experience someplace new and it was exciting. In the Time of Dragon Moon also made me feel so many things. This is one book that will seriously captivate you and transport you to that world. I can't talk about it enough because it is so amazing. Every beautifully written chapter had me engrossed more and more until I felt like I was in Uma's shoes. I think it's safe to say that this book is definitely a favorite of mine

  Honestly, I loved everything about this book. It had everything I needed or wanted in a book. It had dragons, of course, but it also had mystery, magic, adventure, and a slow burning romance that had my heart in knots. I loved how beautifully this book was written too. Every word sucked me into the story more and more, and by the end of the book I was aching to go back to that world or for the book to continue on. I also loved how this book had a balance of everything. There was not more adventure than there was romance or mystery. This book had the perfect combination of everything that makes a book great.
3559934
A unique and futuristic  world that brings your imagination to life
575393
What a delightfully magical read !

This boxed set is ideal  For the young at heart or others who don't fear to dream. I enjoyed it so much! The wonderfully created world that this author  have so vividly written is easily envisaged!

Witchwood Estate 5 books series  - Is a Tv series type story .  It is filled with such wonderful Imagery, a world full of Magic and possiblity, and  certainly intrigue. Each installment is a A fun short read , for all those who enjoy a lighter read, with wonderfully written characters and a charismatic story line.

Each book rolls on from the next, adding new characters along the way, pulling us in and leaves us wanting more and the next installment. This series is for all the young a heart, who don't fear to dream a little magic and mystery.

Patti creates a world that will not only pull you into the pages, but leave you content and happy after each read.

As each book is  continuous from the last book, it follows the many  adventures of the many characters . Dont fear for the ladies who enjoy a heart throb - its filled with yummy  hot characters  and lots of twists and turns. The author writes with lots of enthusiam and a sense of humour that is contagious and enlightening .

This is a five booked set ( book 6 due 2016)  - portable magic in its making :D

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4652852
Pat McDermotts Glancing through the Glimmer is an absolute delight. I was something of a novice as a reader of this style of book, a fantasy virgin you might say, but my better half persuaded me to try it. I didn't know quite what to expect. In fact its a wonderfully grounded mix of the real world and the fairy domains which exist just below it. Its set in Ireland, and even the real world though completely plausible is counterfactual. What if the dynasty of Brian Boru, victor in battle against the Vikings at Clontarf in 1014, still ruled Ireland as a modern day monarchy not unlike the Windsors on the adjacent island.

The Borus continue to represent Celtic Ireland but even the Celts were Iron Age newcomers. The fairies were well entrenched when the first Brians ancestors arrived in Ireland and they had lived together sometimes in harmony, sometimes fractiously, until the fairies were driven underground. Its up to the reader how s/he views them whether as other worldly beings or as the indigenous peoples, but its not worth spending too much time on that. Just enjoy Pat McDermotts excellent narrative drive, and lush and lavish descriptions of Irelands coasts and castles, Dublins streets and shops, and the exotic accoutrements of the present day Boru clan.

The protagonist is an American girl called Janet who has been orphaned and has had to rely on her grandparents. They too move in gilded circles- Gramp is the new US ambassador to Ireland, to the Court of King Brian the present. His son, Liam, is a modern young man who enjoys roaring around Dublin with cousin Kevin. He accidentally bumps (literally) into Janet, and friendship and nascent love grow between them. But neither knows who the other is- they are just ordinary kids around town. But they skate on thin ground- literally again. The Thin Ground is where the fairy kingdom is nearest to the above-ground Boru monarchs. Janet falls into the fairy world below where Finnvara, King of the Fairies, fancies a bit of human totty for a change. The fairies are getting old and though Oona, his lady-love down there, can be a looker herself its all a bit of an effort when you're several hundred years old.

Can Liam rescue Janet from the world of the fairies, or will he too be ensnared by their spells, and rendered powerless? And Janet misunderstands Liams role in the situation and turns against him. The Boru clan as a whole face a new confrontation with the fairy people. There is so much at stake. Pat McDermott skilfully weaves the tales together with a number of exciting set pieces. This is assured writing that carries the reader with it. Pat McDermott should be very proud of herself.
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.
1843124
This was an enthralling book about magicals and non-magicals living together centered around a market for both legal and illegal magical items.  This is the second book in the series and although it can be read as a standalone, I wish I had read the first book as it took a little while to become involved in the story.  Once engrossed, the pages turned easily as the author painted a vivid world and characters that are so unique, each with their own desires and agendas.  A very good read overall.
478904
I wish I could be teleported to another world through my local wishing tree. While it looks like it might never happen to me, Marshall and Mayberry, the main characters of Skip Brittenham's BETWEEN WORLDS, have that exact fate handed to them when they go to Eden Groves Mystery Forest." No really, when they fall asleep next to a regular looking tree, they wake up in a completely new world full of crazy creatures they never could have even dreamed of seeing. However, it turns out that its tough to be a hero, and they are forced to learn how to control magic in order to survive, but also to play into a scheme they never could have imagined.

In the midst of all the monsters who only want to use them, they find out more about themselves as they learn to control their magic. While accompanying them on their journey to get stronger and master their magic, I couldn't help but feel attached to them. Throughout the entirety of this novel, Marshall and Mayberry fight to control their powers and learn more about the place they were transported to and the beasts in lurking it.

I loved that Marshall and Mayberry weren't considered to be the most beautiful, perfect human beings on Earth. It was actually really refreshing, especially when a lot of authors are trying to add diverse characters into their novels, Brittenham really succeeded at doing so by adding characters that represented the average teen, and not some crazy agile warrior that most YA books seem to default to for their heroes and heroines.

I tried really hard to fall in love with this book. It was all there: the relatable protagonists, an enchanting new world and even using augmented reality to show the story in a new light! But I just wasn't drawn into the story itself. Sure, I loved the way Brittenham described the setting, the way the smallest details of the story were still acknowledged and loved, but I just wasn't engrossed into it. For a young adult novel, BETWEEN WORLDS is exceptionally tame: there is not too much action, but there is still a great group of characters who show off the meaning of friendship in heartwarming ways.

However, the augmented reality app that came with this book was probably one of the most impressive aspects of it all. When I got my copy, I got the free companion app and put my phone over the illustrations embedded between the pages of the novel. When I did, the picture came to life and a 3-D model popped out. Sometimes it was a tree and sometimes it was a mythical creature, but I could always interact with them by clicking on them and moving my phone around. I could also read entries from Mayberrys journal or play mini games. It was definitely an amazing experience to be able to mash technology with my reading. AR technology is what makes this book a game-changer, and I hope to see it accompany more books in the future.

That being said, I think that this book has promise, and seekers of an adventure who want to see what its like to add augmented reality to your reading experience should really check BETWEEN WORLDS out. BETWEEN WORLDS is a great introduction to fantasy novels for middle grade readers, but lacked the spirit of a young adult novel.

Reviewed by Rachel D., Teen Board Member
4765966
I haven't read a fairy-tale for many years, so being able to delve into such a rich, magical world was like visiting an old friend.
Princess Catrin is a young lady with a magical puzzle upon her hands, one that slowly unravels through each chapter, as piece-by-piece the mystery unfolds. There are witches, tricksters, ominous beasts and giants. And seven magpies who are not what they seem.
This is a story both familiar and utterly bewitching.
Also worth mentioning, is the artwork both on the cover and within. The beautiful details add to a truly magical experience, and everything about this book is thoroughly enchanting.
So, if you enjoy thoughtful, evocative prose, magical quests, mysterious books and puzzles, then you''ll love The Seventh Magpie.
I cannot wait to see what other fantastical adventures Nancy Chase weaves next.
496970
This is so PRETTY.

This is my favorite kind of world-building, where a quirky character is doing their thing and in bits and pieces you learn that islands float in this world... It's possibly the sweetest romance I've ever read. That's saying something because they're my favorite kind, so I read every one I can find. Emyr and Heilyn's meet-cute, friendship, upsets and so on are as endearing as a basket of kittens, and then this setting elevates it to art in words.
3081876
I have taken this voyage many times before with each delivering an array of poetic beauty, capturing the brilliant light of day in the most romantic overtones.  Having been carried away to a place filled of life within an everlasting moment - l highly recommend you take a journey too, enriching your soul on such an explorative reading experience.