Unfortunately, I never got around to reading this book as the beginning didn't engage me.

Rating: 4/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: intriguing and creative; the play on mythology/fantasy works really well; some parts read a bit too quickly; loved the twist on "good vs. evil"

Huge thanks to Jaime Lee Mann, Blue Moon Publishers, and Netgalley for sending me free egalleys of this series in exchange for honest reviews! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this title.

The first installment of this middle-grade series was super entertaining! As always, I went into this read blind--and was so enchanted by what I found! Jaime Lee Mann did a beautiful job crafting this journey with attention to detail and her own unique flair. I was swept up from page one, and couldn't bring myself to put it down until I finished!

Because this is middle-grade fiction, I found that certain points of the story seemed to progress very quickly--more like a diary entry outlining a sequence of events. There were also a few plot points that seemed a bit far-fetched in terms of the characters' ages, though I overlooked these as this is a fantasy/magical world and therefore suspension of disbelief held true.

The characters were super endearing and easy to "connect" with. I really enjoyed Jaime Lee Mann's employment of several different mythologies, as well. The fact that she took time to twist those ideas into creative molds of her own only made me love the journey more!

This was a fun, vibrant kick-off to what promises to be an adventurous series, and I can't wait to dive into the next installment! The vibrant characters and creative world-building swept me into a magical fantasy land, and I enjoyed every moment. I'd recommend to young readers, lovers of mythology, and pure hearts that still believe in fairies. Take my flipper, Penguins; this journey is only just beginning!

Actual review rating of this book - 3.5 stars, but that is not an option on netgalley, amazon, or goodreads, so I rounded up to 4. :-)

Overall, I was fond of this book... definitely fond enough to request the rest of the series to read. The storyline is very well thought out, and I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. It is also a very quick read. You can finish it in a little over an hour. It is also a wonderful story to read with children. It is written in a style that they would greatly enjoy, and there is no profanity or objectionable material. It is definitely geared towards a younger audience, but it is written in such a way that adults can read it as well and not be abysmally bored.

My only complaint with the book is that it was very rushed in places. Things happened too fast. I mean, it is great to have a fast-moving plot so that things don't drag or get boring, but things in this book moved a little TOO fast. It also jumped around from perspective to perspective quite often, and I didn't love that.

Still, I tried to see this book through the eyes of the audience it was meant for -- children, and for children, I feel that this book is simply magically wonderful. I read it aloud to my niece, who is six, and she was absolutely captivated by it. She loved the faeries and the pixies, and I think she has a little crush on Lochlan, the dad. Haha.

There are a few other things that I hope are covered in the further installments of the series, such as whether or not Lochlan's mother was a good witch being misled or a bad witch through and through. I also want to see what happens to the characters now that....... well, never mind. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

Let's just sum it up by saying that I definitely enjoyed this book enough to want to read the next one. My niecey and I will have to make it a regular date night until we finish the series. :-) I recommend this book to children who are lovers of fantasy. I also recommend it to those who are young at heart or who have small children with whom they love to share stories. I DO NOT recommend it for adults or teens looking for a serious fantasy novel.

Asher and Ariana are playing in the wood when Asher disappears. Where is Asher? Eventually the family decides he dead after all there is a curse on the twins. What is the curse? Elora the good witch was turned to stone by an evil sorcerer. When thirteen year old Ariana discovers that Asher is alive, she goes to rescue him. She must find him in order to save Falmouth. Using their powerful bond, and magic blood will they be able to release Elora from her stone prison and keep the darkness from spreading by the evil sorcerer.

The story is full of adventure with twists and turns that kept me spellbound while reading it. It is well written with lots of magic in it. Even though I read the second book first, I know that I must finish reading this series. Enjoy the story!