Fast paced fantasy for Middle Grade and older

Revenge of Queen Rose is author Valinora Troy’s second full length middle grade children's fantasy and book two in her Lucky Diamond series. I had the privilege of reviewing book one, The Lucky Diamond and with that am now a fan of this author. One thing I find refreshing is that Troy’s books are full length and can be read as a stand-alone story, though reading the series to understand all the nuances and backstory enriches the reading experience.

 

About the book: Revenge of Queen Rose

Revenge of Queen Rose continues with the quintet of plucky orphans: Yvonne, Vicky, Susan, and the twins Kathy and Allen who were introduced in The Lucky Diamond (book 1 in the Lucky Diamond series). They are joined by their friends Paul, Charlie, and Lucky. In this storyline, we learn more about Paul’s country where he has stepped into his role as King only to come against a host of unexpected and mysterious challenges. All these characters, along with the children’s Uncle Tremere face new and even more dangerous adventures on more than one front. 

 

@donnasundblad Book Hookup Review Revenge of Queen Rose #book #bookreview #bookreviewer #middlegradebooks #middlegradereads #middlegraereader #bookhookup #bookrecommendations ♬ original sound - Donna Sundblad

Book Review: Revenge of Queen Rose

As a children’s fantasy author, Troy does an excellent job crafting a magical world with shape-shifting diamond folk, lizard people, the peaceful Nilkens, along with a couple of special creatures introduced in Revenge of Queen Rose, including the firebird and a lizard named Chez. For me, coming off the adventure and action of book one, this book started off on the slow side as Troy put things in place for the plot, but by the middle of the book I didn’t want to put it down. Without spoilers, I can say readers come face to face with a huge snake named Fang that encircles the city ready to eat any who dare to leave, their diamond friends are sealed inside their mountain, and Susan and Vicky disappear. And as the title suggests, even though Queen Rose is banished, she is involved.

The unpredictable plot scatters the main characters in different directions, and takes readers to locations unvisited in book one. Revenge of Queen Rose introduces new magical elements, additional characters, as the kids gain a deeper understanding of their magical gifts. A grabbing plot that keeps the pages turning as the children face an array of threats and hazards with plenty of unexpected twists and turns.

For those who read my review of The Lucky Diamond, you’ll remember I said it left me with an unanswered question. The Revenge of Queen Rose answered that question, and I am happy to give this book a strong 4 stars. I recommend it to fantasy readers both young and old who enjoy books like Narnia or Harry Potter. 

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As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About author Valninoia Troy

Valinora Troy has been writing since she could read, if not earlier. Her first book, started at the age of six, featured a girl finding a magic diamond. It took her all summer to write the first few pages. Since then, she has written many stories, both short and full length novels. THE LUCKY DIAMOND, her first full length middle grade children's fantasy, was published November 2021. Its sequel REVENGE OF QUEEN ROSE followed in June 2022.

 

Fun blend of mystery, science, and time travel on an alien world

 

Vortex on Vertu Prime (The Portal Adventures book 3) by Andrew J. Harvey delivers thrilling sequel to Crisis at Calista Station with a well-calculated balance of humor, action, and suspense ideal for middle school readers. The story opens with a museum field trip where a restless Tania is bored and wanders off on her own. She discovers an abandoned teddy bear that turns out to be powered by artificial intelligence as a bodyguard for Li-otho, a young, alien princess. When Tania discovers him, he has just broke free from the stasis bubble he was stuck in for centuries. Tania names him Edward and isn’t keen on carrying him around since she is too old for a Teddy Bear and stuffs him in her backpack. In short order, she regrets rescuing the bossy AI Teddy with a fuzzy memory. 

Tania arrives home to learn they are going to spend the holidays at Veral Station where she is supposed to meet up with her friends Mark and Windracer. Upon arrival, they find the station in need of major repairs. They don’t even have running water! So plans are made for the children to stay in a 5-star hotel on Veral Prime for a week. The hotel is situated in a small section of the planet's only remaining arcology city contained within an immense pyramid structure. It is all that is left of a civilization that destroyed itself in war centuries ago. 

On their arrival at the hotel, Edward realizes that Vertu Prime is his home planet and that the war was due to his failure to protect Li-otho. When archaeologists at the hotel inadvertently activate a temporal warp generator the kids and Edward travel back in time. Edward’s power reserves run perilously low, and it depends on the children to find the generator and turn it off before it destroys the planet.

 Book review: Vortex on Vertu Prime 

Vortex on Vertu Prime is a quick read, fast paced, time-travel Sci-fi adventure. I ran it by my 10-year-old assistant reader. He opened the book and devoured the first 80 pages before it was time for him to go home. He is an avid reader and gives it two thumbs up. And an even bigger compliment, he said he is interested in checking out Crisis at Calista Station (The Portal Adventures Book 2). I recommend Vortex on Vertu to kids who enjoy Sci-fi, time-travel, and life on another planet. It’s a fun blend of mystery, science, and time travel creating a ticking clock to save the world and I’m happy to give four stars. 

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As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About Author: Andrew J. Harvey

Andrew spent his high-school years in the school’s library lost in the worlds of Andre Norten, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. His first commercially accepted series of novels (the Garden Adventures) was originally completed to read to his two sons at night. Now his children have left home he lives in Perth with his wife, one dog, and sixty-four gold fish. Andrew can be contacted at www.andrewjharvey.com.

In addition to writing, Andrew is also the Principal of Hague Publishing. Established in 2011 as an independent publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Hague Publishing is registered in Western Australia, and publishes original work by Australian and New Zealand authors.

Previously Principal for the Davies Literary Agency, Andrew was also editor and publisher of The Western Australian Year Book for a number of years, in addition to being the editor and a writer for ‘Afterlife - the on-line magazine for Atmosphere users’.

Andrew's first published short story (A Messenger to the Dragon) appeared in Aurealis - Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1992. 

A passionate reader of Alternate History Andrew is presently working on completing further books set in the Cross-Temporal Empire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into everyday life

Ella’s Dance Debut brings a magical story of a young girl’s life as a dancer, but Ella is not that girl. It is her umbrella, “Ella.” This imaginative story surrounds Ella the umbrella's life, riding the bus, going to dance classes, and getting ready for Ashton's big recital. Ella loves music and motion as much as Ashton does. When Ella learns that umbrellas will be used by the dancers, she is so excited, but things don’t go exactly as planned. For those who have read other books in this series, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Book Review by Donna

Book Review: Ella's Dance Debut

This book’s imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into an everyday scenario by telling it from an umbrella’s point of view. The whimsical, colorful illustrations by Emilia Ruminska not only bring the story to life but shine with the love of dance. With Ella’s Dance Debut, Once Upon a Dance delivers another interactive, entertaining tale for young children and early readers as Ballerina Konora joins in the story with photos that encourage kids to act out movements in the story. I love this concept. 

This interaction with the story encourages imaginative play by an award-winning ballet teacher! I give this book five stars. While it is recommended for young children interested in dance as it features ballet terms and steps, I think this story will appeal to young children who love music, and those who love to pretend even if they are not involved in dance.

Other books by Once Upon a Dance that I recommend include:

Frankie’s Wish

Daryl’s Dancing Dolls

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the authors

Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.

Their catalog of 25 interactive dance books highlights positive messages and role models throughout four main series:
 

Dance-It-Out! stories combine whimsical tales with movement and subtle life lessons (spans ages 4-9)
Dancing Shapes peeks at a professional ballerina’s journey, teaches ballet, and explores detail and form (spans ages 6-11) 
Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts deep dives into technique, tips, and insight for aspiring dancers (ages 8-12)
Prop-Based Dance Stories for Classroom and Anytime Fun debuts in 2023 to encourage scarf and parachute play.