When I learned Melanie Dobson wrote a children's book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Katie is attending a boarding school in Paris when she falls into the Seine. Instead of simply resurfacing, she is pulled into a mysterious new world controlled by a man named Gaul. Katie is at first mistaken for the princess of the land by talking fireflies, whom she befriends. Katie, the princess, and the fireflies work together to try and defeat Gaul and his fire ant army.

I have a few questions that weren't answered. Why did Gaul take over the land? How did he deceive the queen so seemingly easily? Why can't the queen return? Hopefully they are resolved in the sequel, which I am looking forward to reading.

The target audience is girls between the ages of 7 - 12. I would be happy to let my daughter read this when she gets older.

This book was provided by NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. This did not affect my review at all.

This is a good book about a girl in Paris who falls into the Seine river and gets transported into a magical world. Katie doesn’t get along with the other girls at her boarding school in Paris and misses her home in Oregon. She falls into a river and goes to the Land of Light, finding out that she has to save it in the process.

This was a magical story that was very good. However, the book felt a little bit rushed and underdeveloped, which could have been solved with it being longer.

Overall, this was a good book that I would recommend to a young fantasy reader.

Melanie Dobson has written a magical story that transports a girl from her sightseeing trip in Paris to the Land of Light. Filled with fairies, mystery and unexpected friendship this fantasy novel begs to be enjoyed by all. Katie's Dad has moved them to Paris for his job which lands Katie in a boarding school full of girls that are nothing like her. Where she sees beauty and magic around her the other girls only want to use cell phones and avoid seeing what is in front of them. Drawn by the magical sight of the lights around the Eiffel Tower and river Seine, Katie falls behind her school group and misses the elevator down with them. When she arrives on ground she witnesses a robbery and tries to help. Katie follows the man she suspects and instead finds glowing lights in the river. This starts a magical trip to Rodenia. Now Katie has met magical creatures and a girl who fast becomes a friend. The light has been stolen by an evil man who wants to conquer the land and the queen needs Katie's help to overcome the darkness. Can she be brave enough to help? Can an ancient poem give them the answer to stop the darkness? How will Katie get home if she makes it through this adventure?
This delightful story opens a magical world of fantasy that readers will want to visit again and again. I can't wait to read the next adventure Land of Lights takes me on. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A magical tale from the perspective of a young girl.

The accidental discovery of a magical land was not the only surprise that was awaiting Katie, a kind and lonely school girl. As she found the Land of Light plunged into darkness and learned that it could be saved, she readily jumped into the mission. The following reward, the fulfilment of a desire cherished for long was indeed well-deserved by her. For Katie, it was only the beginning of a magical journey.

The first couple of things that grabbed my attention are definitely the cover and the title. The style of narration was decent and the book managed to keep me glued for a long time.

The start-off looked promising but I cannot deny that I did feel the following parts could be better. However, I also believe that the story has got potential and it is likely to get better as the series proceeds.

Recommended for kids below the age of 12.

I think this book is meant for 2nd - 5th graders, considering how short it was and just the content of the story in general. It's not for me, but I'm sure other young kids, specifically girls, would love it, considering the way it was written. Katie is a young girl from a farm in Oregon but because of her dad's job, she has to move to Paris. But everyone there is so unfriendly and it makes her wish to go back to Oregon. When she tries to stop a thief from stealing a priceless ring, however, she falls right into the Seine River. But that's not all. Somehow, the river transports her to a magical new world, one that is under the power of an evil ruler. And because of her uncanny resemblance to the royal family, everyone thinks she's their savior. She misses Oregon more than ever, and in the end, she has to decide, will she look for a way to go back to Paris or will she become the savior this magical world desperately needs?

This intriguing story should delight tween girls. It’s set in Paris, France, and who would love an adventure in an exciting foreign location? Not only is the setting in a special city, the main character, Katie, finds herself transported to another world under the river. Is it real or imaginary? The author seems to leave that interpretation up to the reader, but it’s fun to pretend the experience with the fairies and colored lights is real, and the suspense element adds to the compelling short novel. It can easily be read in an afternoon, and would make a great family read-aloud. The characters and plot draw the reader in and leave you wanting more. Thanks to the author for a copy to review. All opinions are my own. #RiverofLights #NetGalley

I read this to see if either of my sons might be interested, as they both love fantasy. But it's too young for my 15-year-old, and it's definitely geared toward girls. I think girls younger than 12 would enjoy this.

It began with a real-world scenario of sneaking in a cell phone on a field trip. Then the protagonist got sucked into another world, a world of fairies and light. I'm not sure why the fairies were portrayed at first as fireflies. But it was a cute premise.

I personally would have liked a little more about the antagonist. But it was the beginning in a series, so I'm assuming some of my questions would be answered in subsequent books. It definitely left on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I personally didn't like.

(I received a copy for free from NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own, as was the decision to write this review.)

I want to start this off by saying a massive thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this E-ARC. I think that this book series has a lot of potential, just based off of the first book. It is a cute portal fantasy, full of adventure, fairies, magical animals and portals in Paris. I really enjoyed reading it and my only criticism would be the pacing. I think the book was just a bit too fast paced for me, meaning that the fantasy world was not described or explored as much as I would’ve liked.

What a wonderful book! It is absolutely perfect. It's a beautifully written fairy tale that will keep children entertained from the first page until the last.. I love this book and can't wait for the next one in this series to released. I received a complimentary copy from Ember Roth Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A sweet little story full of magic and mystery. I really enjoyed this book although it could have been a little longer with more details and adventures. For younger children though, it is just the right length to hold their attention. River of Lights is the first book in The Magical Portal series. This little book has everything from magical portals and an evil wizard to fireflies and fairies. Katie gets pulled through a portal into a mysterious world where she makes new firefly friends and agrees to help them and the princess of this mysterious land without light. Along the way she discovers a secret that answers questions and will change her life. If you or your child enjoys sweet, magical, and mysterious fairy adventures then this book is for you. I can’t wait to see where this story goes from here.

The first installment in The Magic Portal series introduces us to a brave young girl named Katie who falls into the river Seine and somehow finds herself in the fairy realm. The Land of Light is full of magical flowers, mysterious fireflies, and impending evil. At first, all Katie wants is to get back to Paris, but when she meets a girl who looks just like her and learns of the plight over the land, she starts to wonder if she didn’t end up there by chance, after all.

River of Lights is an enchanting adventure for young readers. The excitement picks up almost immediately and the pace doesn’t slow. Katie’s brief time in Paris reminded me of the cartoon Madeline, but with mean girls. And the way she ends up in the Land of Light made me think of Lucy Pevensie stumbling into Narnia. I can definitely see the author’s description of the fairy world painting a vivid picture of wonder for the children who get their hands on this book. I also think most kids will be able to relate to Katie’s experiences with bullies, and it usually feels good to see yourself in what you read.

Generally, I found Katie to be a good heroine with integrity, wit, and no lack of empathy or initiative. Whether fate or impulsivity is responsible for the binds she finds herself in, I was glad to read that her first move tended to involve recalling her father’s advice. My favorite quote from Katie was when the fireflies were commenting on her appearance, one saying she was too skinny, the other saying she was too fat, and she responded “I’m not too anything.”

I read this book in one sitting. As an adult, of course I would have liked the story to be fleshed out a bit more and the myriad of characters to be explored in greater depth. But considering this book is written for children, I think it probably hit its mark. River of Lights seems both captivating and swift enough to inspire children (ages 8-11, in my opinion) to read through on their own. But I’m giving it four stars rather than five because I think the story has some untapped potential. It could have been written in a way that would capture the hearts of older children and adults more deeply, too.

Thank you to NetGalley & Melanie Dobson for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A wholesome fairy adventure full of magic! A great introduction to fantasy and the classic 'portals to worlds' trope for young readers.

I wouldn't call this a stand out novel but it does have its merit to a much younger age group who will really adore this story. It's simple and easy to understand. A perfect light read for children transitioning to chapter books.

It reminded me of reading similar magical books when I was a kid, which was really nice to reminisce.

It's an incredibly fast-paced read, at only 110 pages. Adult readers will finish this within 30 minutes, but for children it's a good starter for them.

This story is magical. I love the fireflies and the portal, and Paris is a nice setting for the story. There are several elements that make this book enjoyable for its target audience (i.e. the presence of magic, magic, jewels, etc.) I think Katie will be a relatable heroine since she is not the perfect girl but has her share of troubles. Dealing with peers that aren't always nice is something I think most kids experience at some point in their life, so it is interesting to see how she deals with it. The one thing I disliked is a matter of personal preference. I wasn't thrilled about the potential negation of the revelation at the very end, but I'm pretty sure that the future books will eliminate that issue for me.

I think anyone, particularly girls, especially ages 5-10 will enjoy reading this book. It's a wholesome and fun read.

River of Lights is a nice and quick read. I believe it would make a magical picture book. I liked how it left no questions but everything was told and solved too quickly. It can be read under an hour.

An interesting, magical, and easy to read start to a new series for middlegrade readers. Not too long or stressful to read.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

About a book:
A colorful fairy world hidden below Paris. A girl determined to solve the mystery of lights. An ancient prophecy that could save the entire land. River of Lights transports readers into the magical Land of Light and on a remarkable journey to rescue this fairy kingdom.

Katie doesn’t fit in with the other girls in her French boarding school. She misses her horse and her best friend back in Oregon. During a field trip in Paris, Katie falls into the river Seine. As she struggles to swim back to the surface, Katie is transported into the mysterious Land of Light.

All is not well in this ancient land. A wizard named Gaul has captured the queen and stolen the fairy light. With the help of Princess Lilly, her new firefly friends, and a hidden poem, Katie uncovers a secret that could change everything for her family and the Land of Light.

The Magic Portal Series takes young readers on an enchanting Narnia-like journey to foreign lands and fairy kingdoms. Filled with mystery and wonder, this new series opens up a magical world across Europe with glowing jewels, colourful fairies, talking flowers, and an evil wizard trying to steal the light.

My review:
This was very enjoyable read full of interesting characters and heartfelt relationships. As a middle-grade, story was fast-paced and fun adventure. While I am an adult reader, I felt the lack of details and I would have loved it to be a little longer. However, it was written for younger audience and for them it is perfect. Whimsical, magical, heartfelt.
I really enjoyed it and am very excited to read the second book in this series.
And, I love this cover! So pretty!

It's impossible not to feel bad for Katie as she tries to navigate a field trip with a broken ankle and a classic mean girl. However magical things are afoot. Absolutely loved this book. Honestly can't wait for book two. I'm definitely going to have to get a copy of this for each of my nieces as they'll no doubt adore it. It's got everything. Magic. Evil. Cats. It's the total package.
Also It's so well written you just fall into the story and feel like you're in Paris.

This is a sweet fairytale read. I think children between 9-12 would especially love it. A story full of magic, fantasy, castles and a villainous wizard. Unlocking the magic spell to free the Queen. Katie is attending a boarding school in Paris, while her father is away on business. On an outing to the city, Katie finds herself falling into the River Seine. Her only hope to survive, is a portal, which takes her to an enchanted land. A magical, very short story, that keeps you interested to the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I enjoyed this book although I would have loved it to be a little longer. As a child it is a book I would have been drawn to as I loved the Narnia series and I loved Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree series. Katie is a girl who is in Paris at boarding School but very lonely and bullied. We start at the top of the Eiffel Tower and the lights at night which she falls in love with while the other girls are more interested in a cell phone. Katie enters a magical world where she isn't treated as an outsider. The book is aimed at 8 - 12 year olds. I think readers even younger would enjoy this book. It would be a lovely one to read to a younger child. As there will be more books in the series I could see it being made into a children's tv series. I would happily give this book to friends children in the age group.

I love this cover! This was an enjoyable story which really could have been longer. However she did write it for an younger audience and for them it would be perfect.
I enjoyed the book and think it will appeal to many.
Thanks to the author for the copy