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| A copy was provided by the illustrator in exchange for an honest review. |
Series: The Kingdom of Wrenly #1
Genre: fantasy
Published on April 1, 2014
Published by Little Simon
Pages: 128
Read From: 4.8.14 - 4.8.14
SYNOPSIS
In The Lost Stone, Lucas and Clara search for Queen Tasha's missing emerald. On their exciting adventure, they travel to all the main attractions of Wrenly: Primlox (the island of fairies), Burth (the island of trolls),
Crestwood (the island of dragons), Hobsgrove (the island of wizards), and the beautiful Mermaid's Cove. King Caleb has promised to reward the person who finds the precious stone, and Lucas and Clara are determined to search the entire kingdom until they find it!
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| A copy was provided by the illustrator in exchange for an honest review. |
The Scarlet Dragon by Jordan Quinn
Series: The Kingdom of Wrenly #2
Genre: children's fantasy
Published on April 1, 2014
Published by Little Simon
Pages: 128
Read From: 4. 8.14 - 4.8.14
SYNOPSIS
In this second book in The Kingdom of Wrenly series, an unusual egg has been found on Crestwood, the land of dragons. When the egg starts to hatch, the king, queen, and Prince Lucas are there to see what emerges. It's a scarlet dragon! Everyone is amazed to see the creature, which they have only heard about in tall tales.
King Caleb declares that the special dragon will belong to an overjoyed Prince Lucas, who vows to keep his dragon safe. But when the scarlet dragon gets sick, the only cure is a potion made with vixberries that grow deep in the forest of Burth (the land of trolls). Lucas and Clara set out to find these special berries, but the task is harder than they expected. Will they be able to find the berries and save the scarlet dragon?
Review
I am a near-22-year-old woman, with no kids (my hedgehog takes up all my time, thank you very much). So what interest could I possibly have with The Kingdom of Wrenly series – a brand new fantasy adventure series for early readers? I may be an adult, but I am still a kid at heart (aren’t all Readers and book bloggers?) – and I am also super appreciative of kids’ books with lovely illustrations. The Kingdom of Wrenly series is something I would have adored as a kid, and every adult loves having a series that harkens them back to those days. Though the illustrator, Robert McPhillips, did his best to “prepare” me for how young of a reading audience these books are for, he didn’t dampen my enthusiasm for reading these books.
By the end of the day, I was not disappointed with either The Lost Stone or The Scarlet Dragon. They are charming, whimsical, fun, full of adventure, and absolutely wonderful. Prince Lucas and Clara are some of the best characters to follow along on an adventure – be it looking for Lucas’s mother’s missing emerald or trying to find the berries that will save the scarlet dragon’s life. Clara knows the ins and outs of Wrenly, being a commoner, and Lucas has the power of a prince to get what they need – but Lucas isn’t a brat. Far from it.
The adventures are rather cushy; Lucas and Clara can travel the kingdom on their horses or in a carriage, but Wrenly is so full of richness and magic that a leisurely adventure is perfectly acceptable. When I was reading these, I just wanted to explore the different parts of the kingdom; never mind the danger. And there isn’t a complete lack of villainy; there is some foreshadowing that maybe a couple of characters won’t always be helpful without there being a price.
The Lost Stone and The Scarlet Dragon are a terrific introduction into the world of Wrenly. It jumps straight in and has amazing black-and-white illustrations on every page. And I really cannot go on about the illustrations enough. No, this isn’t because the illustrator sent me copies of the books (though I am still totally star-struck about that). I love children’s illustrations, but it’s been a while since I’ve found a kids’ series that has ones as appealing as these. I love his renditions of dragons and trolls and the other fantastic creatures – and more importantly, the way he draws people isn’t exaggerated or ridiculous.
If you’re looking for a new series for your kids – boy or girl – with wonderful illustrations, adventure, and magic (but not an overwhelming amount), this is the perfect series. They’re quick and easy, with very short chapters, and an engaging world. And if you’re like me – an adult who still really loves kid books – this is a must for your collection.
Others in The Kingdom of Wrenly Series:
1)The Lost Stone
2)The Scarlet Dragon
3)Sea Mosnter!
4)The Witch's Curse
5)Adventures in Flatfrost
6)Beneath the Stone Forest
Unfortunately, I better not go searching for these just yet. (I just realized today how many books on my shelf I have yet to read.) But they sound great for young readers and it's still completely awesome that the illustrator sent you copies! Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDeleteThey are in paperback as well, but they're books that one really should buy in hardcover. $15.95 each, if I remember correctly - the hardcovers, that is, not the paperbacks. They're super adorable, and I know!!! It's so awesome Robert McPhillips sent them!! I'm still just totally wowed by it all. It was totally out of blue. :)
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