RECENT REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
I received this book from Goodreads. I cannot wait to have a grandchild to read this story to at bedtime! It is touching and teaches about friendship and compassion. I even shed a tear! ~ Melanie, Goodreads
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
I really enjoyed this book. Such a great moral to the story. I loved the characters (except Caramel...which no one is intended to like her). I must add that it was well written and the chapter of Home Coming was so emotional...a perfect ending to a perfect story. Awesome book! ~ Cathy Moore, Goodreads
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
This is a lovely, delicate and delightful story about a little mouse called Mistflower and a very lost and afraid kitten called Silk. Mistflower finds herself becoming very lonely as the final days of summer come to an end. Her friends have all gone and the Vicarage she calls home is cold and deserted.
Silk is a little kitten that is so busy playing along the lanes chasing butterflies and leaves but discovers herself far from home and with no idea of how to get home as the day draws to an end.
This is about how the two most unlikely creatures become good and trusting friends and face all kinds of adversity in the long abandoned Vicarage gardens. The friends find their way to the barn at Farmer John’s where they begin to make a new life for themselves along with new friends.
Caramel the Cow, who turns out to be not so friendly after all, Lilac her calf, Blackthorn the blackbird rescued from a terrible accident by Silk, Ghost the Owl who in his wisdom lets it be known the animals are all under his care and protection, along with many more characters from the woods and the farm yard all become part of a courageous mouse called Mistflower’s life.
Adventures galore are had by one and all until evil comes into Mistflower and Silks lives placing not only their lives but those of their friends in terrible jeopardy.
Mistflower is a story about friendship, good and evil, finding friends in the most unlike places, giving, life and living and even when things seem to be at their darkest, hope along with a helping hand to guide.
As a first novel from Kellingley it is a triumph and one that should not be restricted to the YA/Young reader category. Amongst the pages there are gentle reminders to all that kindness, friendship and going the little bit extra when required comes with rewards and gifts of its own. ~ Jan Mawdesley, Bluewolf Reviews
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
If you are into Otherworld stories this is one that will enthral and intrigue right to the last page.
Tara, Niamh, Lucy and Jared are friends. It is Niamh’s birthday and like all birthdays it is set to be a special event: but this one is to be more special than usual as Tara and Niamh are not all they seem to be. Tara realises that there is something different about her as her strength in the water is superior to most other kids her age and her toes and fingers develop webbing the longer she remains in the water. Niamh has characteristics that are not that of human children and it is long thought by the members of their family she was changed as a young child for that of a child of the Otherworld.
Jared and Lucy have been invited for a sleep-over, Jared much to Tara disgust as he is out of favour with her at the moment: The four friends have decided it is time to try and sort out the mystery of why Tara and Niamh are different, their mother is sad all the time and Uncle Fergus seems to know more about the other side of things than perhaps he should.
As the night creeps closer to midnight the four friends sneak down to the bottom of the yard where there is a burial mound that has always seemed to have magical properties and is, or appears to be, guarded by a large Hare with evil glinting eyes.
Is this the entrance to the Otherworld or is it just another burial mound? The friends decided to find out so, at Midnight they step onto the mound and find, with a flash of blue light, they are plunged into adventure like never before and more than their wildest imaginings could have ever though up.
Fast paced in places and downright devious in others there is a cast of many which are often far more than they appear to be and make it difficult for the friends to decide who to trust in this new and strange world of magic, evil and mystique.
Look out for more adventures in the Otherworld with the friends in book two in the Children of the Fae series. ~ Jan Mawdesely, Bluewolf Reviews
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
This gorgeous story delighted me with its subtle touches of wisdom and spirituality. The plight of the kitten, Silk, quickly drew me in, and I found myself aching for Mistflower the Mouse as well. The author made me feel the wonder of life as a small creature--the fun, the wonder, and...the danger of it. Mistflower is a loveable character who has much to offer children and adults alike. More than once while reading, I stopped and reread a paragraph, just to let the truth of this little mouse's insight soak in. Her story is a timeless one. Though there were intense moments for Mistflower and Silk, the overall message was a tender and comforting one. It's a lovely book ~ Cricket Baker, Goodreads
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
This magical story pulled me in from the beginning. It was that perfect mix of danger and playfulness that characterizes a successful children's story, so just wonderful. Fast moving plot, never dull. The characters were all likable or otherworldly or frightening--Zalen especially intrigued me. Just overall a fun book that left me sad to go back to ordinary life without gateways and sylphs and sinister fairyland plots. A sequel??? ~ Cricket Baker, author of The Ghosting of Gods, Goodreads/Amazon review
Parenting Steps - Understanding Your Child
Mavis Klein
We bought this book when our first son was 3. He is now 17. We still refer to it when we need to. We also have a 12 year old son who is sometimes harder to understand than our older lad. This book puts everything into perspective in any easy to use manual that teaches parents the best techniques for handling pretty much every possible situation. All of the topics are in alphabetical order. The other night my husband and I found out, after reading the section "Twelve to Sixteen" that our 12 year old was acting in a perfectly normal way for his age ... and to think we thought he had just flipped for no reason!
It's a long time since I was a kid. I don't remember what it felt like to be 12 and things were going wrong for me. Mavis Klein explains everything in such a clear and practical way. This is a practical handbook of real tools explaining clearly what to do in at least 200 instances ranging from 'abandonment' and 'adoption' to 'dyslexia', 'drug abuse', 'phobias', 'punishment' and 'worrying about your children'. It gives us confidence in our parenting skills because if there is a problem that we don't know or have forgotten how to deal with it, we just look it up and bingo! The answer is right there, without any emotion, just plain common sense. Part One takes you through the 7 stages of childhood: birth to 6 months, 6 months to 1 year, one to three, three to six, six to twelve, twelve to sixteen (puberty), and sixteen and up (adolescence). Part Two is an A-Z of topics concerning things that might come up in any or all of the 7 developmental stages. The best thing of all is tha we are, as parents, not meant to be perfect ... but just to be 'good enough'. This helps me to be a good enough parent. Just last week I had to re-read the sections on defiance and rebellion. Things have been a lot happier since I dipped in to get 'the fix'. This book should be issued to all parents as soon as the first child is born! It's like having your own brilliant child psychotherapist/clever grandmother just sitting right there on your book shelf. ~ L.M. Hayes, Amazon
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
I loved this book, it was like embarking on a wonderful and exciting adventure. The story grabbed me right from the very start with vivid magical imagery and believable characters to keep you guessing until the very end. I just had to keep turning the pages. The characters of the four children are interesting and appealing, taking the reader on one exciting adventure after another. The magical characters they meet along the way, with their unique qualities and gifts, keep the reader guessing as we're never completely sure whether their intentions are kind or evil.
I loved the book, it reminded me of the Enid Blyton books of old, and took me back to the exciting adventures I read about in my childhood of the famous five and the magic faraway tree! I definitely recommend it to anybody who is looking for an exciting book for a child (or even their parents!).
I am looking forward to the next book in the 'Children of the Fae' series. ~ Carolyn Doughty, Amazon review
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
...The Changeling Quest is an adventurous story that will engage its audience, causing rapidly turning pages and open books until the last page has been read. There would seem to be much violence in this story but the author has wisely chosen her words making those scenes less violent than they probably should be. No one is going to suffer nightmares from reading this imaginative fantasy of two divided families getting a chance to reunite their members and understand their history.
Read more: http://kid-lit-reviews.com/2013/04/23/review-children-of-the-fae-book-1-the-changeling-quest-by-maria-moloney/ ~ Kid Lit Reviews, http://kid-lit-reviews.com/
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
I was mesmerised by this book, I couldn’t put it down and was sad went I reached the end, it would be nice to think there would be a sequel. I was so impressed that I left my copy with a friend of mine and I have ordered a second copy. Well done to the author and congratulations to the illustrator. ~ , Kid - Lit Reviews
Mistflower - The Loneliest Mouse
Krystina Kellingley
From the synopsis this looked like a really good story to read with the eight year old I was child sitting for. I'd intended for us to read a couple of chapters each time but once we started neither of us wanted to stop reading. We both finally fell asleep just after Storm, the sheepdog found Mistflower and Silk in the barn.
I took the book home with me and found myself compulsively reading it every spare minute I had. I also found that re-reading what I'd read the next time I child sat didn't dim my enjoyment one whit. It really is a fantastic story. It is very well written and the characters are warm and endearing (all except for Caramel the cow, who is bossy and really horrible). We were totally lost in the story and found ourselves, as you do with truly wonderful books, desperate to reach the end and know the outcome while at the same time dreading coming to the end. When we finally did reach the final page we were both sad and immediately agreed to read it again. We are now reading a little less compulsively but still with great enjoyment.
I've now got my own copy as it is a book I will never grow out of. As my little friend put it; it is the best thing since Charlotte's Web. ~ A. Wallen, Amazon.com
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
After both my children had devoured the book, I finally got to see what all the fuss was about, and I was instantly hooked. Fast paced and gripping, my son compares this to his favourite, Artemis Fowl, whilst my daughter declares it 'a book you can lose yourself in.' ~ Platform Harrogate, Platform Harrogate Magazine
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
Rowling's Harry Potter books practically lived in my handbag, and Anderson's "Knife" I finished in one 9 hour reading marathon, as I was on a holiday. But Maria Moloney's "Changeling Quest" made me go to bed at 8 in order to have more time to read! It took me one week and I was sad when I reached the last page, but the most remarkable thing was that even after I stopped reading, my mind kept on wandering around in the Fae country. And I loved it! Can't wait to get my greedy little hands on the sequel. Utterly enchanting! ~ Aila, Amazon review
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
This debut from Yorkshire author Daniel Ingram-Brown is a well-paced, absorbing read that will appeal to many adults as much as it does to children.
There’s no time wasted easing the reader into this new world: there’s too much going on for a tour of the island. In the opening pages we’re greeted with a dead body, an enigmatic seer and a creepy ritual on the edge of a murky abyss, and the action continues thick and fast as the perky protagonists embark on a journey to the centre of the shadow stealing across the island. On the way they start to learn a little more about themselves, as the book starts to explore issues such as the purpose of a life, identity, and the role of stories in holding out world together.
Both the premise and the writing are reminiscent of other fantasy authors such as Terry Pratchett and in particular, Jasper Fforde, although this is certainly unique and interesting enough to stand firmly on its own two feet. Confident pre-teen readers will enjoy it as an intriguing adventure story, while older readers will enjoy reading between the lines for a more philosophical experience. ~ Isobel Jokl, Dig Yorkshire
Changeling Quest, The
Maria Moloney
From reading the synopses I thought, Oh wow this book is going to be adventurous, and it was! ... So much happened to these poor kids there had to be someone plotting against them, there was evil plotting and betrayals. But not all things that happened were bad; there was magic, wonder, and innocence. They were in danger because of who they were and they couldn't change that, they had to find a way to survive while trying to find out who they were.
...I really enjoyed this story. The scenery was amazing, the descriptions of the castles, and the dresses. It was all so enchanting, I felt. In the Otherworld things are not what they seem, and that was a huge part of the plot; the excitement of finding out the mysteries. Although I didn't figure out the secrets ahead of time, I enjoyed the unraveling of the secrets. I was at the edge of seat a lot in this story and I can't wait for the next one, I'm sure it will also knock my socks off.
Read more: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17141670-the-changeling-quest ~ Itara, http://mymidnightfantasies.blogspot.ie/Goodreads/Amazon.com
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
The Rise of the Shadow Stealers by Daniel Ingram Brown .... This is a book which may be read on many levels. Although it is suggested for 9 - 12 year olds it would be an exciting book to read to younger children as the characters are very graphic and easy to visualise. Many of the inhabitants of Full Stop Island are amusing and extremely entertaining. Some are menacing while others create a pathos that deserve empathy. All the characters could be easily drawn by youngsters because as the book is read aloud they spring vibrantly to life. The book contains pranks and adventures, mystery and magic, valour and callousness. It presents its reader with unknown tasks that must be achieved, codes to decipher and deadlines to meet. For the adult reading aloud, the book gives limitless scope for dramatic interpretations. All in all a wonderful experience. For the 9 - 12 year old the book is challenging and rewarding. Chapters are short and they present the youngster with a multitude of unanswered questions and strange happenings to untangle. They will follow in the footsteps of the young protagonists feeling their qualms, their ups and downs, their sorrows and their joys. Again the book will present them with a well painted picture of the island, its atmosphere and its people and they will soon become embroiled in the "goings on". What will be the ultimate discovery? Only time will tell! This book, however, can be read on a whole different level. For the older reader it poses questions of mortality, of philosophy, of hope. On the surface it appears a tale of strange adventure but it belies ideas of the validity of life itself!! A must read for all. ~ Tina Mary, Amazon
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
Sometimes a book is so well written that from the first page you can tell you are in store for a real treat. This is one of those books. The characters and plot are incredibly well rounded and it's hard to believe that this is Daniel's first book. The themes speak to us all and everybody will be able to identify with some of the emotions the story conjures up. Full of drama, intrigue and action, this book is simply a treat. All we await now if the sequel! ~ John Pearce, Amazon
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
When I first set about reading this book I thought I'd be reading a children's book as an adult, but having finished it I realised how wrong I was!
The genius of this novel is that it's multi-layered; read as a child and take the simplest of meanings - an adventure yarn where good battles evil. Read as an adult, and you get to explore significant questions about spirituality and philosophy that you thought were reserved for theological tomes!
You HAVE to read this novel! It's a cleverly mastered work that will leave you gasping for episode two.... ~ Howard Corrin, Amazon
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
I really enjoyed this book, Ingram-Brown's writing style is more enjoyable than JK Rowling's. Clever plot, numerous characters to get to know, a layered and colourful story, with good use of imagery. Compares favourably with other authors such as Ursula Le Guin (A Wizard of Earthsea), and even CS Lewis's Narnia stories, both of whose books have spiritual messages, and CS Lewis's also having a Christian theme running through them, though they stand on their own without reading the Christian theme into them, as does Ingram-Brown's Rise of the Shadow Stealers. They are better for having them in, though, and understood. ~ Ian Fraser, Goodreads
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
Daniel Ingram-Brown
If you haven't yet got around to reading 'Rise of the Shadow Stealers' then re-prioritise your time. A great, multi-layered, easily accessible, all age adventure. Brilliantly written with amazing imagination that you can't help but get wrapped up and carried away in. The next book can not come soon enough! This book is a fantastic showcase of a brilliant talent. Original, profound, exciting! More please Mr Brown! ~ Nathan Dring, Goodreads
