Adventure awaits in this new fantasy series centering around magical stones, a thief, and new friends.

Dak is an eight-year-old boy who helps his family on their llama farm. He's trying his best to do his work all on his own to show he is old enough to go to the Mainland with his family. But then he finds himself thrust into a magical adventure trying to find 12 stones that a thief tried to steal. The thief activated the stones' defense mechanism and now they are scattered around the kingdom of Ravenwood. Dak will fight alongside Lucy (a talking llama and the keeper of the stones) and Fenn (a mysterious girl who wants to be a wizard) to get all the stones back together.

This was a cute read for second to third-graders. It's very to the point which makes sense based on the page length and age range. You're introduced to the characters and their motivations. Dak and Fenn in their own way want to prove themselves. Fenn wants to become a great wizard. You find she has some magic in her that helps save the day. Dak wants to show that he is big enough to take on more responsibility. He ends up finding that it's okay to not take on everything and that he can rely on his friends and family for help. There is some boy humor, fire-breathing dragons, and cool magical elements that make this a good first book in a series for younger readers. However, there does need to be a little more action in the next book to keep interest in the series going. I want to be able to recommend it to readers who like The Dragon Masters series or similar titles so I will have to read some more to formulate a final opinion on the series.

The first in a new children's series finds Dad meeting Fenn, a mysterious girl, and Lucy, a talking purple llama. Together, they set out to save the kingdom by finding all the magical stones that are missing.

This was easy to read, but even for a children's series, the dialogue was just ok for me. It was almost between really young readers and older kids, so perhaps that is what felt weird to me. I like the premise though and I think kids will like the plot and the magical llamas.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Eight year old Dak has a good life. His family loves him, the family llama farm is successful, and he doesn't have to worry about being cold at night. The llama poop he spends all day shoveling makes for excellent kindling.

It's a good life, he knows, but not necessarily the one he wants. He'd prefer adventure, travel, and a sense of responsibility that doesn't include scooping llama poop. He doesn't expect the opportunity to arise one evening from a sparkling purple llama.

A talking sparkling purple llama. Can Dak help Llama Lucy and his new friend, Fenn, on a quest that is of the utmost importance for their world?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was funny, well-paced, and the illustrations were adorable. I could see my boys or my nieces enjoying the story, and I liked how the first book ended well while leaving a nice opening for future stories. The mythology was explained well, the world building was clever, and I very much enjoyed the dragons. I would recommend this book to parents and kids looking for an enjoyable read.

Especially if they like llamas.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read! There were some funny moments that will be great for kids. This book will make a great read for kids.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!
4 stars

Honestly, this is the type of book I'd love to get my niece. It's super cute and adorable, plus is just a fun story. The art is great. There's dragons and magic. The world building is simple but fun. Really, if people want a little fantasy adventures for their kiddos, I'd definitely recommend it!