When I requested this, I didn't realize it was the third book in a series. Since my library doesn't have the others, this would not be a good fit.

This book is a prequel to the Greenglass House and explains the backstory of some of the characters and things in the Greenglass book. It's about Lucy, who is living with her mom and stepbrother but she longs to be out on the ship of war with her dad. It's a fun story and if you like the Greenglass House, you're going to love this one.

Bluecrowne was a fun story with mysterious villains and a dangerous rescue mission. It was different in tone to the other Greenglass House books, though not in a terrible way. Lucy was a brave and likable protagonist, and her family was lovable as well. Liao was a powerful character in his own right and Xiaoming surprised me with her true form, which draws from Chinese mythology. I was on the edge of my seat, so to speak, for the last 1/3 of the book. The ending was bittersweet but I loved how it alluded back to something from the Greenglass House.

Loved reading this! I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book is so much more than I first thought! So good!

Loved this action-packed adventure. The characters were well-drawn and drove the plot. The story was well-woven, with all the parts came together in a beautiful tapestry at the conclusion.

I fell in love with this series from the get go! The story line can't be beat-pirates, magic, history- great characters, fun plot, fabulous world building.... I need to find book 2, as I didn't realize Greenglass House was going to be a series (or I could have forgotten...) and I loved that series! Good read for kids 4th grade up; teens will probably enjoy it as well!

Kate Milford once again shows her strength for creating a fascinating world, even in this short prequel to the Greenglass House series. I enjoyed being introduced to new characters and getting a glimpse into the origins of the many quirks of Greenglass House.

This was a good story for your young readers and even teens. It mixes history, magic and pirates. A combination children will love. This is book that combines two series, It is Book 2 in the Arcana series and book #3 in the Greenglass house series. I think I'll have to find the previous books but this one is pretty good as a stand alone. Lucy Bluecrowne is left on dry land with her young brother and step-mother as her father heads back to sea. She is sad but resigned. When her young brother is kidnapped she and her stepmother employ magic to get him back. I think boys will love this even though the main character is a girl. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed this installment way more than I thought I would. It made me want to go read her Arcana books also.
The plot kept me turning pages way after I should have been asleep. I liked the mysterious plot in The Greenglass House, but the fantasy sci-fi plot of this one is way more to my liking. Try it even if you weren't thrilled with the first book.

I am in the minority of people who did not like Greenglass House. I was more in love with the cover art. However this book just fascinated me, I could not put it down. The world building was so creative and the characters so well formed. I felt it had both flights of fancy and disciplined story telling. I loved that it was ethnically inclusive without being strident. Brava to Milford, this is a classic.

Bluecrowne is an absolute delight -- and a welcome return to Nagspeake. The worldbuilding is rich, inventive, and beautifully rendered, and the magical elements are nearly poetic in their detail. There's plenty of suspense -- a sense of dread builds as the villians plot against Lucy and Liao, and the action is perfectly paced, and the emotion underpinning the story feels honest and well-earned. Best of all, the characters feel like old friends rediscovered. Lucy, in particular, is an appealing lead -- headstrong, loyal, clever, fierce, and big-hearted, but also very real; her homesickness for the Left-Handed Fate will resonate with anyone dealing with change. Liao is a prodigy, yes, but also a little boy, and Milford expertly balances the two. Bluecrowne would obviously appeal to readers of fantasy and adventure, but the beautiful writing and Lucy's charm will resonate with readers of all genres.

I am amazed at Kate Milford's attention to detail and historical facts. You can tell she knows a lot about her subjects, namely fireworks and ships/sailing in Bluecrowne. The other amazing thing about her books is how interconnected they all are. I have read both of her Greenglass novels and loved them so much. As soon as I heard a prequel was coming, I couldn't wait to read it.

Unlike the Greenglass House novels, this one is less mystery and more fantasy. There is magic, time travel, and a folklore feel. These are genres I don't normally read and have trouble getting into. The first half of Bluecrowne took me a while to get hooked, but once the story gets moving and the action starts, I couldn't wait to finish. I liked that it had a loving blended family, diverse central characters, and a feisty, smart 12-year-old girl as the main character.

I definitely want to check out her other books in the Arcana series after reading this. And I kind of want to go back and read the Greenglass House to see all the connections.

*I received an ARC e-book from Netgalley*

Lucy Bluecrowne is not happy to be leaving The Left-Handed Fate and moving to Nagspeake. She is a privateer not a landlubber. She can't change her father's mind. He is determined to keep his family safe and has built Greenglass House for them. Lucy and her brother Liao and her stepmother Xiaoming are settling into their new home when they meet traveling peddlers. However, Trigemine and Blister are not who they appear to be. They are shady characters on a mission through time and the Bluecrowne family is their target.

I love how Kate Milford weaves all her works together into a cohesive world. I need to go back and read The Broken Lands and The Boneshaker to get the backstory on these characters introduced here. I was truly excited to read about the beginnings of Greenglass House as I have thoroughly enjoyed the books set there. I was also really happy to see Lucy and Liao back after their adventures in The Left-Handed Fate. I can't recommend Kate Milford more.

Kate Milford has given us another great addition to the history behind the Glassgreen House. Filled with mystery and magic, adventure and suspense, middle grade readers will not be disappointed.

As a diehard Greenglass House fan, I eagerly anticipated this prequel to the series, and I was not disappointed. Kate Milford introduces us to a whole new cast of colorful characters who are every bit as entertaining, clever, and quirky as Milo and company. Lucy Bluecrowne is a character for the ages, and I would love to follow her adventures as she grows up. Liao and Xianming are also so intriguing that they deserve another book as well. Milford is well on her way to creating a world in Nagspeake that is every bit as magical and real as J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts. Her writing is full of lovely descriptions, clever and thoughtful dialogue, and plenty of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, and magic. Highly recommended.