Beautifully illustrated, Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches is a highly imaginative fantasy/adventure tale set in contemporary London and in the imaginary land of Lemurea.

While living in his grandmother’s spooky mansion, our intrepid young hero Archibald discovers an ancient magical globe that transports him to a mysterious land populated by enterprising young females as well as Moradors - mythical dragon-like beasts that threaten the inhabitants of Lemurea. It is here that Archibald falls in with a coven of young witches with names like Faerydae, Rhiannon and Maven, who together must defeat the Moradors - monsters born of blood-soaked earth - using ancient runes, weaponized golems and possibly a magic flashlight.

Populated by inventive creatures, like talking cauldrons and running pillow targets, Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches springs to life from the fertile imagination of author Michel Guyon. Vivid descriptions of the various creatures, Lemurea itself and the elfin witches vivify the fantastic tale. Guyon invents words and phrases that seem so real - like Orbatrum, Krakatorum Gargantus, and Propellia momentum - along with places like Belifendor and Gristlemoth - that you’re sure they must exist.

All in all, a delightful read that I can recommend without hesitation to any young reader with an adventurous soul.

I would like to thank Michel Guyon, Steve Hendrickson (the narrator), Andrews McMeel Audio and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Archibald Finch, his sister Hailee and their parents move into their recently-deceased grandma Celeste's mansion.
It's not long until Christmas, and Archie is searching for his present, but even though his parents tell him that he doesn't have a gift yet, he finds a beautiful and old globe in the library.
It has an interesting mechanism and after he's stealing the keys from the butler, Bartholomew, Archibald manages to open the globe into a bright light, making him and things around him disappear.

His sister knows what she saw, but thinks her parents and police will make her crazy if she tells. So she starts on an adventure of her own, trying to understand what's this globe, exactly. This is how she meets Oliver, a cute boy who works at his drunkard dad's workshop of antiques.

But this draws attention to a weird and dangerous man who is searching for this globe for years, and soon he is after the kids and the globe.

Meanwhile, Archibald finds himself in an interesting place where he meets girls that are witches.
Apparently they live here for so many years, and soon he starts learning their ways. They have to fight off demons - as these creatures were named - and soon, after Archibald learns another way of taming them, they go on an adventure towards their queen so she can approve this.

But things are not as they seem. Will Hailee manage to find a way to save her brother from this parallel world? And will Archibald manage to survive until then?

Read this lovely and gorgeous book to find out!
P.S. The narrator, Steve Hendrickson was amazing! He narrated this book so good and realistic, it drew me right into the story.

3.5 stars for this one. :)

I loved this magical adventure so much that after listening to an advanced copy, I went on to buy my own copy. This proved to be an excellent decision because the illustrations are absolutely marvellous and add so much to this already fascinating story.
After the funeral of his much loved grandmother Celestine, eleven-year-old Archibald and his family. move into a mansion in a small town half an hour away from London. Archibald is a nerdy, but confident and adventurous kid and he starts exploring his new home straightaway. This is how he finds an odd object that looks like an antique globe which transports him into a new magical world populated by strange looking ferocious beasts and ... kind and resourceful tween and teenage girls who turn out to be witches. At this point the story splits into two, as Archibald's thirteen-year-old sister Hailee launches her own investigation, helped by an antique dealer's son Oliver, and together they will do everything possible to save the world from mysterious villains and bring Archie back home.
Archibald is thrown into his adventure and has to hit the ground running. Luckily for him, he is a strong and I daresay opinionated character. I loved the supporting characters of witches, especially down-to-earth Faeryday, but the second plotline was even better as you can see Hailee go through so much development- she stole the show for me.
I liked the world building and the magic system of using stone golems as ingredients for potentially limitless spells.
Steve Hendrickson does a wonderful job as the narrator. He had me hooked on the story from the word go until the last minute. A perfect audioversion for a gripping story!

Can't wait to read and listen to the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

i wish this was longer i really enjoyed this book. I love how so many things happened in the book. I could not keep myself from the book because it was so good

Initially, I requested this book because it was an audiobook and I wanted something to read to while in the car. As it is marketed towards Middle Grade readers I was a little bit hesitant that I wouldn't be able to appreciate it fully or perhaps that the plot wouldn't resonate with me in any way. I couldn't help but feel nostalgic the whole time I was reading, Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches!

Even though I was provided with an audiobook copy, I couldn't help but research the book and find beautiful copies of the illustrations. Paired with the story, it provided a magical experience. In addition, they couldn't have chosen a most perfect narrator for this book; the pacing, pauses, and colouring of the voice was magnificent.

Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches has found the perfect balance between exciting yet easy to follow plot, fleshed out characters, deeper meanings, and exceptional writing. As an older reader, I was able to both enjoy the interesting storyline and start thinking about the deeper issues presented within the book.

I could find no flaw in this book other than I wished it was longer! Overall, the writing, plot, and narration were satisfying and I would gladly listen to or read it again.

A big bravo and thank you to Michel Guyon, Steve Hendrickson, the publishers, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

I really tried to get into this book, but there was just way too much going on for me to follow along. I ended up not finishing it about halfway in. I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m going to attempt to try at a later date in hopes that maybe my timing was just off for me to enjoy it and if I finish and think differently I will update my review.

This was fun - it's about what you would expect writing wise from a middle grade novel. But, the prose flowed really well and I liked the fantastical concept quite a bit.

This book was creative, humorous and magical. The characters were well developed and and interesting, and although it is imaginary the elements of the story feel real, as the characters and story come to life. We may get a bit of the Harry Potter vibes this story stands on its own. And who doesn’t love mystery and magic?
Perfectly targets middle grade children, but I feel this book is great for anyone who loves fantasy and magic. Well executed and delightful.

I reviewed this book as an audio book and it did not disappoint!

Thank you Michel Guyon, Zina Kostitch and NetGalley for this audio book.

3.5 stars

This was likely a lovely story, I finished it, but the narrator just couldn’t keep me interested. Not sure if a female narrator would have been more appropriate, but this narrator was just not doing it for me.

Would still consider giving the second book a listen, with a different narrator, of course.

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-Arc of this book*

Life takes a bizzare turn for Archibald and his sister after their familiy inherits a mansion from his dead grandmother. Archibald is sucked into a magical world and everyone believes that he was either kidnapped or he ran away but only his sister knows the truth and she will do anything to bring him back.

I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this story but I had a hard time connecting with the characters and sadly it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook.

This is the first audiobook narrated by Steve Hendrickson I have ever heard, and I will now pick up everything and anything he narrates. His voice is without a doubt the most calmingly soothing perfect storyteller voice I have ever heard. Parents wishes they had his skill.

Archibalds adventures in this first (in a hopefully long series) book are absolutely wonderfull and enchanting. Everyone will love both it and the humor it contains no matter their age. A truly wonderfull story about a boy who is used to knowing everything, and suddenly finds out he doesn’t after a trip to a pocket dimension. Just read it, okay? It’s great.

Highly recommend this audiobook! A middle grade fantasy book that will appeal to those who got lost in the Harry Potter books.

I requested this audiobook for my step-daughter as she liked the synopsis but didn't want to read it. I suggested an audiobook for her to listen to while doing other things.

It started out well. She got through the first few chapters and was interested. But around Chapter 4-5 she lost interest and ended up DNF it. I listened to the first few chapters with her. The speaker was well spoken and the pacing was good. I would like to listen to something like this on a long drive, or while doing chores around the house. I think it has potential. Middle Grade books are not something that interest me personally, but I can see that it would be a good physical book to read as I do not particularly love audiobooks and very rarely listen to them.

I will likely end up purchasing the physical copy for my step daughter. She is jsut experimenting iwth her reading habits. Audiobooks apparently are not for her.

Archibald and his family (mom, dad, and sister Hailee) move into a big, spooky mansion just before Christmas that they inherited from Archibald's grandmother. Archibald is searching the house one day, looking for his Christmas gifts (which, of course, his mother forbade him to do), when he came across an old globe. It wasn't an ordinary globe, though, as there were countries on there that Archibald didn't recognize. It does have a keyhole, so Archibald goes on a search for the key, which he eventually finds. To his surprise, the globe starts spinning and emits a bright light, and sucks Archibald and his surrounding furniture into another world. Archibald has to learn the ways of this new world, and he has to search for a way home. Meanwhile, in present day England, Hailee is also working on finding a way to bring Archibald home.

I really enjoyed this story, as did my 15 year old son when he listened to it. I think the narrator did a good job with the pacing and the dialogue, which makes all the difference when listening to an audiobook. The characters were well defined and explained, and I liked the changes I saw in both Archibald and Hailee as the story progressed.

The pacing of the story itself was also done well, and the world building was extensive. Something else I appreciated was that the author didn't talk down to the reader like in some MG books I've read. That makes it much easier to enjoy.

All in all, I give this book 5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I usually have difficulty following audiobooks however, this narrator pulled me into the story and made it an easy listen. He did a nice job with different voices for each character and read with expression appropriate for each situation. This story follows a young teen boy named Archibald and his older sister Hailey. Told in alternating chapters are Archibald's adventures in a world of lost witches and his sister Hailey's adventures in trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her brother. The theme of the story is on acceptance and not judging that which we don't understand, making it a good choice for middle grade students. The genre of the book is a cross between historical fiction and science fiction/fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed this listen and am looking forward to listening to the sequel.
Thank you to #NetGalley for an ARC audiobook of #ArchibaldFinchandtheLostWitches by #MichelGuyon

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* didn't notice this was a series at first lol so i was pretty confused when it was getting towards the end but it didnt really seem like it, but im really happy it is and i cant wait to read more!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't say how much I loved this fantasy adventure, it was so amazing with a great deal of humor, intelligence with a whole captivating and complex world building and storytelling. I really loved the characters of the story.
Also, the narrator "Steve Hendrickson" did a great job on this audiobook, it was such a pleasure to listen to.

The adventures of this new hero with such a strange name like "Archibald Finch" will mesmerize kids and grown ups for sure; how can you not be when you know that you will find witches, magical golems, globes that might take you to another world, hidden secrets, fantastic creatures and a new bunch of monsters called the "Morodors". As a first book of a new series, I would say that it's a great success for Michel Guyon. We will be sure waiting for the next book.

Thanks to the Publisher and Net Gallery for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Can I just say how much I loved this book? The author skillfully built and entirly new world with language and characters who were realistically created and not perfect. Archibald, the hero is pretty incompetent ( unlike a certain other boy wizard who seems to be perfect right out of the gate) Archibald sometimes lies, eats way too much sugar, and has no useful skills. All he has going for him is intelligence, a strong moral compass and loyalty to his friends. His 13 year old sister Hailey, pretty much hates him, as only an older sister can. Their parents are kind but a bit bewildered.
After Archibald mysteriously disappeared from their shared room, its up to Hailey because no one would believe what she saw so it becomes her quest to figure out what happened and get him back. The story flips back and forth telling Archibald’s adventure with a group of lost witches ( ala lost boys) who have been trapped for hundreds of years in a strange world transported though a mysterious globe invented by Leonardo da Vinci ).

As an adult reader especially enjoyed the subtle winks to pop culture e.g the cupboard under the stairs contains nothing but an old pair of round glasses or rabble chanting “lock her up “. The nature of man and monsters is explored in depth with two main characters - one male and one female. Would highly recommend this book to middle schoolers or older who enjoy adventures.

Archibald Finch follows a intelligent boy in his adventures. I enjoyed this book. It was slow to start but within no time i was enjoying it.

After the death of Archibald’s grandmother, he, his parents and sister move into his grandmother’s old quirky house. Finding an unusual items Archibald goes missing and wakes up in another world that’s set in the Middle Ages during a war and full of mystery and magic. Meanwhile his sister finds him missing and goes seeking answers then just as a sudden Archibald is returned home, ends in a slight cliffhanger. A great story for pre-early teenagers who love to read stories of the magic and supernatural world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Andrews McMeel Audio via NetGalley for my honest review of the book Archibald Finch and the lost witches by Michel Guyon. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.
#ArchibaldFinchandtheLostWitches #NetGalley

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