Fantastic start to a brand new middle grade series. Clean and wholesome but not without it's dangers and difficulties. You'll love Vincent and Georgia! What a team. It's fast-paced and it'll tug on your heartstrings.

I wasn't fully convinced I was going to like this because Vincent's attitude for the majority of the book was so negative. But then the last 15% happened and I could see it all had purpose. The integration of the art was really cool but some parts were a little too intense for me to recommend it to my daughters at this point. Overall, pretty enjoyable for me, though.

I didn't finish this one. I was very excited for the concept, but the writing just fell flat to me. I got maybe 3 chapters in but the voice just didn't grip me. I wasn't particularly interested in the characters and what was happening. I love art and I love fantasy and middle grade is my favourite, but this just didn't work for me.

This middle school story was so much fun to read! What would happen if there were people who had the gift to travel through paintings and use their gifts for good or evil? I loved the world that they author created, as well as the message of the story. We look forward to reading the other books in the series!

"Beneath the Swirling Sky" by Carolyn Leiloglou is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a world where the beauty of the sky and the complexity of human emotions are intricately connected. Leiloglou's poetic writing style vividly captures both the physical environment and the inner lives of her characters, offering a rich and engaging reading experience.

The narrative follows a protagonist who is navigating the challenges of personal growth, love, and the quest for belonging. Leiloglou portrays the protagonist's journey with authenticity and depth, making her experiences relatable. As she confronts her identity and life's challenges, readers are drawn into her emotional world, sharing in her joys and sorrows.

The setting is crucial to the story, with the swirling sky symbolizing the protagonist's turbulent emotions and experiences. Leiloglou's detailed descriptions of the sky—its colors, moods, and transformations—reflect the protagonist's emotional journey, adding thematic depth to the novel. The natural world serves as a source of comfort and inspiration, mirroring life's complexities and the beauty found in chaos.

Character development is a standout feature of the book. The supporting characters are well-developed and contribute to the protagonist's growth in various ways. Their interactions explore themes of friendship, love, and the influence of relationships on one's identity. Leiloglou skillfully weaves their stories into the main plot, creating a tapestry of interconnected lives that enriches the narrative.

The pacing of "Beneath the Swirling Sky" is carefully crafted, balancing introspective moments with scenes of action and emotional intensity. Leiloglou builds tension and anticipation throughout the story, leading to a satisfying climax that resonates with readers. The emotional impact of the narrative is strong, making it a compelling read that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

"Beneath the Swirling Sky" is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that captures the essence of the human experience. Carolyn Leiloglou has crafted a story that is both poignant and uplifting, encouraging readers to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and connection. With its vivid imagery, relatable characters, and emotional depth, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring themes of love, identity, and the beauty of the world around us. Leiloglou's work is a significant contribution to contemporary literature, leaving a lasting impression that endures beyond the story's end.

Ive come across this book thru my friends and let me just say I and my friends have different taste of book.

This was magical and adventurous, but the writing somehow didnt meant for me.

So in halfway, I dnf-ed this book. Sorry 🥲

Two of my favorite art forms come together brilliantly! If you love art and you love books this is totally a story you will love. Great for any young aspiring creative.

This was a really fun story. There's mystery and adventure and self-discovery. There's also a complicated family and hard choices.

An adventurous read aloud with love of art for fans of The Wingfeather Saga series. It’s also good for a reader of middle grade.

I read this with my kids. They really enjoyed it and even told a few friends about it. Great characters and story. Kept my kids engaged the entire time we were reading.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main characters were Vincent, Georgia and Lili.

Vincent and Lili are going to visit and stay with their uncle. When they get to their uncle house they meet their second cousin. Vincent doesn't want to stay there because there not much to do. And there art all over the place. He has gave up on art and doesn't want it around. But when his sister go missing things get exciting. And he finds stuff out that his parents have been hiding from him and his sister.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure and surprised throughout. It had a few giggles throughout. There were a few illustration that went well with the story.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

This has an intriguing premise with certain people who can jump into paintings and interact there, with some working for good and others for evil. But for some reason, I just couldn't get into this middle grade novel. I had a hard time relating to Vincent and his angst over not wanting to have anything to do with art. There's nothing seriously wrong with the book; it's just not one that I'm in love with.

Beneath the Swirling Sky is the first book in the Restorationists middle grade fantasy series by Carolyn Leiloglou. Released 12th Sept 2023 by WaterBrook & Multnomah, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

The author does a good job of blending magic and fantasy with real life art and history. Restorationists are able to travel into (and through) paintings, and affect the things they find there. It's a well written and engaging middle grade book, and as such, there are some plot elements which most adults will probably question, such as Uncle Leo letting the kids go haring off to rescue Lili themselves, but these moments are relatively few. The world building and fantasy elements (traveling into paintings, the shadow organizations, and the characters themselves) are quite intricately detailed and fascinating.

The incidental art, by Vivienne To is beautifully rendered and adds a lot to the read.

The publisher is a Christian imprint, and there are elements of Christian faith in the story, but they don't overpower the story and there is little proselytizing (but the elements are there).

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is a portal fantasy with a boy who sets off to rescue his sister with the help of his cousin. It is full of adventure and art knowledge. Highly recommended.

I admit this story hit really close to home. Artist burnout is no fun. Nor is the fear of what if someone will make fun of you.
Vincent expects a boring vacation when his parents drop him and his sister off at Great-Uncle Leo's house in Texas; there's no WiFi, and he has no desire to paint. Then he finds out that his family can travel through paintings, including one that snatches his little sister. Now Vincent has to go on a quest with his cousin Georgia to rescue Lili and uncover a conspiracy.
Really exciting and well-written! I didn't expect the twist in the middle, as well as the hints of what may come. Vincent also knows his oil paintings well, far better than I do with watercolors.

This was such a fun and exciting middle grade adventure. I've always loved the idea of going in and out of paintings (queue the Mario 64 music), so I knew I would have a good time.

My only complaint is that the beginning felt rushed, like we needed to hurry and get to the inciting incident. Otherwise, the rest of the book had great pacing.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Refreshing and interesting: Beneath the Swirling Sky kept me turning pages. It has some of the charm of N. D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards, but it is suitable for a younger audience I love the faith element, and while open, it didn't feel overdrawn. Leiloglou's obvious delight in art is clear. For young artists and art admirers, Beneath the Swirling Sky opens up a world of art adventures and art appreciation. I expect there will be more adventures in this series, but as a standalone, Beneath the Swirling Sky is solid, sweet, and imaginative.

This was recommended by a friend who had also received an ARC and I was not disappointed. A very fun romp into art and art history and perfect for the middle graders in your life. This will definitely be one I think of for the young ones from now on.

The cover certainly tells the astute reader, or adult, what kind of story we'll be getting – one where characters can enter the world of a painting. But Vincent is ignorant of all that at the start – farmed off to an elderly, remote relative so his parents can escape on a cruise, and so he might get the artistic mojo back that a major incident he refuses to think about took from him, he doesn't know about his family's unique skill. Or should that be near unique – they are the only surviving goodies in the world of zipping into what's on a canvas, but there are a host of baddies doing it too. And when his baby sister vanishes, there's only one way to head – into the moody mind of van Gogh and his output.

The well-read will have encountered this before; I think I have come across something where the heroes have to battle people using art for ill at the same time, as here, but memory fails. What we battle with is, initially, the clunky way everyone's named after artists (not an endearing trope of the family concerned) but mostly, when the action is getting going, the sheer inability of Vincent to read the room. He's forever finding fault with, bickering, and mentally declaring inept, the only person who can save the day – his second cousin, Georgia. Not only is he in constant denial about whether he wants this world to be his (inspired by whatever it is he's not telling us that made his friends laugh at him) he's always jumping from the frying pan into the fryer and saying she should have told him it'd be warm there beforehand. And that's really dislikeable.

And then, roughly midway through, there is a broad switch in approach, style and setting. At first I felt this really did not work, but when you see it for what it is – this world's equivalent of Darth Vader taking someone over to the dark side – it does actually fit. But boy the doubts were there. And they get maintained when circumstances – ie the plot – ie the author – demand of Vincent that he become some messianic, Pied Piper-styled rescuer, totally at odds with him being a green twelve year old.

And then it jumps the shark again, by delving further into fantasy – or, as some people call it, Christianity. Yes, right when things ramp up for the finale, JC himself has a sail-on part. Even forewarned by other reviews I was startled by how cringe and bleurgh it was. And yes, the snowflakey author's note about seeing naked humans in art is likewise. No mother to four should have this hang-up to spread in the first place.

All told, this was a missed opportunity – you don't need me to summarise how this started with a strong concept and let itself down, step by step. The derivative parallels between the light and dark side of Star Wars and this – heck, someone is dangled over a bottomless shaft already – were interesting, but just one element of many that ultimately seemed out of place. Perhaps this is more approachable if you seek such a conservative, Christian-minded adventure – certainly this will appeal more to people who don't even know who Darth Vader is – but for anyone else this is an awkward disappointment.

This was a cool story; I loved how much of this story took place in and around art. I also loved how much information about art Carolyn Leiloglou was able to fit into this story and still keep you interested in what happened to the characters.
The idea of restorationists and distortionists was unique and I am looking forward to reading future books in this series to learn more about what they can do.