This was a fast-paced magical adventure! Although there are hundreds of stories about a "last city" after some disaster, the plot didn't seem forced or trite and the characters were well-developed enough to carry the story. I was a little confused about how the magic works in their world (why can't they make magic? how do they make objects with "distilled" magic? is everyone born with the ability to use the magic goo to make magical objects?) and also really interested in the history of the world (how did the sorcerers get to be the ones in power? why? why did people rebel against them?). Overall, definitely something I'd recommend to my middle schoolers and will add to my classroom library. My only complaint is that the copy of the ARC from NetGalley had the TINIEST font and I couldn't enlarge it on my Nook 😑.

Vittoria has been shut off from the rest of the world for over 50 years, since the great Sorcerer's Battle, In fact, their citizens have been led to believe there is nothing beyond their walls but monsters - they are the last humans left alive. Hunters venture outside the city to gather resources and fight these sorcerer-created monsters, the Ferox. Octavia wants to be a Hunter, like her now injured mother and her older sister who died facing one of the Ferox, but her mother will not let her as she doesn't want to lose her also.

I thought most of this novel would be about Octavia's journey to becoming a Hunter anyway, but instead this is just a device to get her outside the city walls, where she meets another human! This starts to open her eyes to her world not being as she thought. What else has she been lied to about?

This was a very interesting story, and I am intrigued to know how it may be developed from here. Some elements of this fantasy novel were quite unique. I liked the way the leaders were significantly older than usual, and also that nearly all the main characters were women. I presume these were concious choices to redress the imbalance that often occurs in fanatsy writing. I also liked that the "villains" were multi-faceted and ambiguous for much of the story.

The weakest element for me was the motivation and big confrontation between two of the major characters. Other than their desire for personal power, it was very unclear why this confrontation was happening now, after fifty years, or why no other avenues were explored. Still a highly enjoyable read. 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I liked this book more than I expected. It had a very nice dystopian feel for a middle grade grade with a good mix of characters and a "what's outside the wall" mystery. There were some good plot twists that weren't super surprising but still satisfying. I wish there was a sequel but I would be anxiously awaiting it!

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace is a very engaging adventure fantasy. The story and characters kept my attention through the whole book and this was one I finished in one sitting as I couldn't wait to see where else the author was taking me. This is definitely a book to recommend to all ages.

I was very quickly hooked on this book and loved the story line. To begin with I thought it was going to be predictable but it really wasn't - there were definitely some surprises in there. I enjoyed how relatable the character of Octavia was and that she seemed like just a 'normal' girl, who had a huge impact. Also the idea of her parents having different wants than her own and choosing aspects of her future, is a feeling many children will sympathise with. Definitely one that I could see some of the children in my class enjoying.

An enjoyable fantasy about what happens when a girl from the last city on earth discovers that they are not the only humans left in the world. The characters are entertaining and the author left me wondering what will happen next.

Twelve-year-old Octavia grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world. The sole survivors of a deadly magical war and plague, the people of Vittoria know there's no one alive outside the town walls--except the terrible monsters that prowl the forest.
But then the impossible happens: Octavia meets another girl beyond the walls, someone who isn't Vittorian. Everything she's ever believed is thrown into question, and there's no going back.
In her quest for the truth, Octavia discovers a world full of lies, monsters, and magic. She'll have to use every scrap of her skill, wits, and courage to uncover what's real about Vittoria and the rest of the world.

I LOVED this novel!!! I couldn’t put it down! Wallace created a world full of tension, suspicion, friendship, magic, adventure and love that I wanted to be a part of.

Her main protagonist Octavia is a fiesty teenager that won’t be put in her place easily, and is determined to follow her own path irregardless of the rules in her terrified, walled in town of Vittoria. When she comes across Sima (a mysterious stranger from beyond the walls - who isn’t supposed to exist) Octavia’s curiosity and fierce drive to assist Sima in finding her family turns her world upside down as she goes against everything she has ever known to help her new friend.

This novel has so many fantastic themes throughout, filled with enigmatic characters, terrifying monsters and magical settings and was such a fantastic read that I would definitely recommend for children, young adults and grown ups alike.

#bookreviewsbymrsc #huntersofthelostcity #kaliwallace

Kali Wallace’s Hunters of the Lost City is a page-turner! The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. I am so fond of children’s literature and this book is one of the memorable books I’ve read in this kind of Genre. It’s dystopian and science-fiction theme makes me feel – realistically and metaphorically speaking – I’m escaping into another world where everything makes sense.

The plot is beautifully developed into a remarkable ending that is both interesting and comprehensive to the target audience. The language use, structure, and aesthetics are appropriate to the target readers and a good source of comprehensive language input for non-native speakers of English as well. The way language was used to convey the story is remarkable as it offers the readers ample opportunities to visualize every scene, every character, and every description. The story is also age-appropriate to the younger readers and equally interesting to adult readers like me who love to read children’s literature and middle-grade books.
A highly recommended book, indeed!

This adventure seemed like a cross with many other books I've read where there is one civilisation left on the earth due to the lack of control of magic. Magical creatures that hunt humans after dark.

Kali Wallace has written a truly gripping, nail biting read which grabs you from the first page.
From the start, the unfolding narrative captures your imagination. From the terrifying, magical Feroxes to the heartbreaking apathy of the villagers of Vittoria; this is a tale that will remain with you when it's over.

Packed with shocking twists, frightening monsters, and dark magic, this is a page-turning fantasy adventure about twelve-year-old Octavia who grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world. The sole survivors of a deadly magical war and plague, the people of Vittoria know there’s no one alive outside the town walls—except the terrible monsters that prowl the forest.

But then the impossible happens: Octavia meets another girl beyond the walls, someone who claims to have traveled from far away. Everything she’s ever believed is thrown into question, and there’s no going back.

In her quest for the truth, Octavia discovers a world full of lies, monsters, and magic. She’ll have to use every scrap of her wits and courage to uncover what’s real about her family, her home, and the rest of the world.