Thank you so much to NetGalley and Over the Tall Shelf LLC for my copy of Spindleheart by T.I. Avens in exchange for an honest review. It published April 26, 2024.
My 7th grader who loves fantasy and fantastic creatures enjoyed this story. I requested this initially because it sounded like it had some similarities to one of her favorite books: Delphine and the Silver Needle. There were some parallels, but Spindlehearts stands on its own two feet!
I appreciated the way the world-building was in this book and how you are dropped right into the action!
We can’t wait for the next book after that cliffhanger!!

The cover art is extremely cute and the story itself was full of fantasy and adventure. I would liked to have had a little more description of the different characters and creatures as them being unique and unknown does make it a little difficult to imagine and follow.
The back and forth changes of pov could be difficult for middle grade readers to follow and some of the language may go over their heads or be misunderstood.
A solid story with some charming characters that could benefit for a few tweaks.
Thank you so much to T. J. Avens and NetGalley for this arc.

This was an interesting read. I think it would appeal to students in my class. The title and cover definitely drew me in and I felt the story met my expectations. The characters were well written and unique. I genuinely enjoyed it and feel it’s a good middle grade book.

Free Netgalley book for review!~

Cute book, but I was expecting more of a completion of the plot within just the first book I kept double checking the percent on my kindle and wondering if I was going crazy. I'm not sure I'll be reading the rest of the series, but I wish everyone else luck who's up for it! Some kiddo's going to love it. My heart would have been happy if I was 8-13 ish and still in my Redwall phase.

Let me first talk about how I felt reading this as a 34 year old who loves fantasy books. My first impression was very excited. I loved the cover art and the creatures and was looking forward to this epic fantasy. Unfortunately, I was confused by the many characters as the perspective kept changing. It took me a long time to get them straight. I thought the book had a great concept, lots of adventure and friendship, but was ok.

Now let me tell you how I think middle grade kids would respond to this book. I honestly think it's an amazing introduction to epic fantasy for younger ages. It's full of good relationships and adventure and magic that kids will love. The characters are lovable and the different kinds of creatures are fun, even if they are hard to keep up with.

This was an interesting read. Wynn and Calla are the main characters who tell the story from their differing points of view. They are from completely different worlds (Wynn is a Lark and Calla is a flower elf) and are each trying to solve the problem of the malignant shadow which is threatening everyone in their world. The world building was amazing and some of the magical creatures were brilliant. I particularly liked the Twig-trots.
I think the story might be easier to follow if each chapter also included the name of the main character in addition to the repeating images.

This book talks about Guardians of Magic and the journies of Wynn an intrepid swirlier for beyond some tangled stalks Wynn is appointed to protect. In her home, he was gifted a chest passed down in her family from countless generations. As she is racing to find the culprit responsible for its disappearance she then finds herself haunted by failure but by the possible peril that would unleash if it were opened,

3.25
I enjoy a good whimsical middle-grade fantasy and this felt like a nice palette cleanser, this could be a good introduction for a middle-grader into fantasy. the integration of the two different POVs could take a little more work, but all in all a decent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This should have been much better. Why call a fantasy creature the name of an existing animal, but make it a completely different creature? Make up a new name for the new creature, you're a writer!
The plot got muddled and at more than one point was quite boring. I had no interest in continuing with any more from this series.

I liked the story in this book. It was exciting, funny and adventorus! I still think the layout and characters of it was some confusing, I missed some more description of the different beasts and characters. Since this is an childrens book, I as an adult am not the main group for the story, therefore I think the story and the book will be perfect for the main audience. I only hope that you will change the pictures for every chapter, only change between two can be a bit boring. All in all, great story!

"Spindleheart: Trail of Shadow and Spool" by T.I. Avens is middle grade fantasy adventure that weaves together a tale of adventure in an imaginary world with a few themes that are relatable for any young reader. Avens has built a world with a variety of fantasy anthropomorphic animals and plants called larks. The book alternates between two main characters. Winn is a swirl ear lark, an animal like creature who must track down a stolen magical treasure. Calla is a plant style lark, a human looking creature with petals for hair, and a stem sprouting from the top of the head. She has a special type of plant magic and hopes to go toa special school to learn her craft. When strange things start to happen in the land, she is drawn into an adventure. Both protagonists are likable and the author does a great job of alternating story lines. The reader knows that eventually the two will meet, but they each have their own adventure to experience first. I received a review eBook from the publisher and can honestly recommend this book to youngsters who enjoy fantasy adventures. The only complaint would be that I have to wait for the next book to read the rest of the story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and a quick read. I loved that it was dual perspective. Spindleheart is about two larks embarking on their own separate journeys that readers anticipate to come together in the end. So many characters to meet and get to know. The plot is very intriguing. The details of the world is very descriptive. It's very different from other middle grade fantasy books I've read and I am not mad about that.

"Spindleheart" by T.I. Avens was a fun adventure story. It did get confusing at times in terms of the plot, but I liked the characters. I do think for the right audience, this will be a fun read. The world building is nicely done. The characterizations is where it shines. It is age appropriate.

More often than not, I find myself drawn to the cute, fantasy worlds created for the YA and middle-grade audiences. They are frequently what I go to when I need something light and stress relieving. This book hit all the right spots for me with cute characters and magical adventures.

We follow Wynn, a swirl-ear who is a type of small rodent with a love for theater and a drive to be brave. She draws her inspiration from plays she loves and she tries to use them to let them spur her on her mission to retrieve something which was stolen on her watch.

We also follow Calla, a flower fae, with some nature based magic. She is called upon by her sister to help solve a question of what is happening to “wilders” in the woods before it starts happening to the more sentient creatures known as “larks”.

I thought the story was incredibly cute but we were certainly left with a lot of unresolved strings as we wait on the next book in the series. This is a cozy story with an easy pacing. There’s a little tension but nothing too tough to work through. I look forward to the next installment.

3.5★

I needed to read something light yet still within the fantasy genre, my favorite. The liveliness of the cover won me over, and the characters are adorable!

I loved that the book was rich in magic, and mystery, plus I highly appreciated the art at the beginning of every chapter.
Nevertheless, I found it a bit slow initially, but I trust that the subsequent volumes will pick up pace. I also noticed a few minor errors, but the copy I read is not the final one (being an advance copy), so I trust these details will be corrected.

I recommend it, especially to those wanting to delve into the genre without getting stuck in an overly complex world. It fits well with its intended audience and is perfect for those who love talking animals and a magical, adventurous world!

➯ My review on GoodReads (posted on 21/04/2024): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6430819123?book_show_action=false

⟡ Thanks to T.I. Avens and Over The Tall Shelf LLC for providing the ARC (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

Interesting premise. Not reinventing the wheel, but definitely engaging and fun to follow. Decent characters and a good structure underneath some of the confusion. Definitely needs another going over by a good editor.

The cover and title initially drew me to this story, thinking I was about to embark on a whimsical adventure. And that’s exactly what this story delivered. The premise is well-suited to middle-grade readers, and the sentence structure is also appropriate for that age group.

We follow the story line of two larks (Wynn and Calla), who are talking creatures. The point of view is close third, and the POVs switch from chapter to chapter, though there were times when more than one chapter in a row was devoted to one character. Each have their own quest to follow and the two storylines briefly converge at the end of the book, but we are mainly following the two storylines separately throughout. Readers will enjoy the imaginative creatures, places, and names that are woven throughout this world. And the pacing keeps the reader engaged.

The characters were well written, each with their own unique character traits. The inner thoughts of Wynn and Calla were italicized and were effective at strengthening the characterization of each. Calla’s voice had a bit of sass and sounded like a young teenager. Wynn was more reserved, but she had an inner strength that shined at the right moments, letting you know she wasn’t the meek and timid swirl-ear she may appear to be.

Though the premise, worldbuilding, and characterization were done well, there were some things that need to be addressed. There were a lot of typos throughout, which leads me to believe this hasn’t been run past the copy editor yet. Mere and merely were used often enough to be noticeable, mainly because the sentence would have been better off without using it. Gaze and gazed were also used a lot (67 times).

There were several places where the writing could be tightened. For example:
He clasped his right hand into a fist (Kindle Location 2570). "He made a fist", conveys the same thing and is less clunky.
Her eyes scanned the landscape (Kindle Location 889). Tighten to: she scanned the landscape. If she scans the landscape, it’s understood she did it with her eyes.

Many descriptions and details were also overlooked. For example:
She handed her mottled-bell bag to… (Kindle Location 363). Previously she was described with two bags.

There was also a scene break indicating a flashback, yet the text implies a flashforward:
Before she knew it her eyes had shut and her mind drifted to a night not far from now. (Kindle Locations 422-423).
When the second scene break ends the flashback, there’s no need to say we are back in the present: Wynn furrowed her brow in the present as she trekked after Trussel. (Kindle Location 465).

In a world of made-up animals and flora, the reader can only go on what’s provided to them. So, it’s confusing to refer to something with three different names:
Calla scooped up two small bags of mottled-bell buds and set off, Leigh following with the other. (Kindle Locations 287-288).
The flower-elf put down her bags of mottled-sprouts, shooting Mischief a look as he watched from a distance. (Kindle Locations 318-319).
And Mischief, no mottled-bells! (Kindle Location 327)

The above items can be fixed and addressed. And though there were some unanswered questions that contributed to plot holes, I was invested in the characters because of the effectiveness of their characterization. For me, well-developed characters keep me reading and I would be willing to overlook the flaws in this book and read the next installment to see where this author takes this story.

Thank you Over The Tall Shelf LLC, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.

Even as a grown-up, I very much enjoy reading fantasy and middle grade novels. I mean Harry Potter is wonderful for all ages... so why not other similar stories? Anyway, I really wanted to love that novel, but Spindleheart didn't work its magic on me. I found it too cluttered and difficult to get into. sorry!

What worked:
The book follows two stories told in alternating chapters of two larks, creatures that can talk, with separate journeys to travel. Wynn is a swivel-ear who has quested herself to retrieve an artifact that once protected her people. She is a guardian of it but a moment of cowardice resulted in its theft. The other story involves a magical lark named Calla who is worried about passing her tests to become a caster. This is Calla’s primary focus, especially after she breaks her staff until soldiers show up with a summons to appear before the Keepers of Runnelloom. Readers must wait until the book nears its end for the separate journeys of Wynn and Calla to finally merge.
Young readers will enjoy the variety of wilders especially Calla’s three pet twig-trots. Pye, Mischief, and Thimble look like small bushes but their behavior is reminiscent of three cats, each with its own personality. Other wilders come in a wide range of shapes and sizes that lead to curious encounters. A dead wisteria winged-moose is Calla’s first inkling that something is seriously wrong in the forests. Later, Calla is forced to eat web-tailed toads. She bravely faces a dangerous dande-boar while Wynn is forced to flee from a pack of badger-pines. The author adds horns, wings, sharp claws, and pointy teeth to familiar animals which makes them recognizable and frightening.
The two main characters are motivated to prove themselves due to past disappointments. As mentioned, Wynn is tasked with protecting an artifact but she’s distracted from her duties and cowers instead of stopping the thief. She doesn’t share details of the artifact when speaking to others and she’s determined to locate and stop a powerful caster named Blume. Calla takes a personal interest in discovering the reason wilders are dying across the lands. It seems it might involve magic but she feels insufficient with her casting after breaking her staff. Later, Calla is reunited with an older sister which creates a need to prove herself. However, Calla’s impulsiveness sometimes leads to unwanted consequences and causes old issues to return.
What didn’t work as well:
Each chapter begins with an illustration which is nothing new. However, they’re repeated in a pattern and often have nothing to do with the events in those parts of the plot. Pictures at the start of chapters in other books often give visual previews of what’s to come so the illustrations in this book are confusing.
The final verdict:
The author tenderly develops empathy for Calla and Wynn as they try to prove themselves. Readers should be prepared to read the sequel as the plot isn’t resolved and will carry over into the next book. Overall, the blend of strange characters and mysterious story is entertaining and I recommend you give this book a shot.

**Review will be published on my blog on 4/4/23**

I don't usually read middle grade books, but when the author of this book asked me to read and review their book and I saw the cover, my curiosity was peaked. I love the book cover because it's colorful and whimsical plus the synopsis was intriguing.

This story is full of adventure and I thought the world-building was fantastic. The story takes us to a world of creatures and little elves that live in a magical land. We follow two main characters, first one is Wynn who is a swirl-ear and she is searching for the person who stole a special chest she was guarding. Wynn's story is filled with harrowing adventure and she meets some interesting characters along the way. I love how Wynn has never left her home until now - it reminded me a big of Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings, leaving the shire! She learns a lot on her journey about herself and what she is capable of.

The other storyline follows Calla, a flower-elf who is not on good terms with her sister, Saffron but they meet up when she is called to Runnelloom to help with a mission - or that's what she assumes. When Calla and Saffron are together, we get a sense of their tense relationship and that's really too bad for two sisters that just lost their mother. But I feel like it's something that will be worked out, I hope, in the next books of this series.

I did feel more invested in Wynn's adventure, mostly because her traveling companions Lance and Beryl are such great characters! They made me laugh and I love that Wynn seems to have fallen into a found family situation.

I do wish each chapter told us which character we were following. Also because it's such a fantasy world full of creatures we've never heard of, it took me some time to acclimate myself to the names and phrases they used but there is a glossary which was helpful! For some reason, I was reading this whole thing in my head with a British accent (I'm not British! lol) but I just felt like that's how these characters would sound.

My Final Thoughts:

This is a full of adventure, new friendships, quests and magic but also one that deals with some tough issues like strained family relationships, and believing in one’s self and worth. If you are in the mood for a middle grade book that takes you on a fantastical journey, you just might enjoy this one.