
Member Reviews

I saw the hardcover edition from Puffin and absolutely loved the colors and atmosphere it gave off. I love a good YA/ Middle grade read and this one certainly did not disappoint. Not only was it cute and clever, there were some incredibly touching moments towards the end.
Benjamiah is sent a doll in the mail and believes it to be from his parents. However, he would prefer to spend time with his parents and his angry and upset by the doll because he feels as though they do not know him at all. He is a lover of reading books about chess theory and science. What he doesn't enjoy is magic and fantastical thinking, He doesn't like the whimsy of what it means to be a child.
Soon after the poppet enters his life, fantastical things start to happen and he is drawn into a world where anything is possible, magic is real, and playing cards are used as currency. Now he must help Elizabella find out what happened to her brother and put together the pieces of his mysterious disappearance.
There were a couple of moments I felt a bit confused about how we got from point A to point B. However the narrative is rich with imagination, darkness, and light. Certainly an impressive debut novel and an author I may have to start watching. I hope there is more to come from this world, it seems we could wander this world endlessly with the way it is described,

The world building for the hazy city of Wreathenwold was well done. The adventure was not lacking in mystery, thrills, or heartbreak. I anticipate a second installment and very much look forward to Benjamiah’s and Elizabella’s next adventure.

Elizabella's twin brother disappears and shortly after, Benjamiah Creek appears in Wreathenwold. While her father welcomes Benjamiah, Elizabella sees him as a poor substitute for her brother who is missing. However, the two form an uneasy alliance searching for clues that Elizabella's brother may have left behind. Benjamiah just wants to go home, where life is normal, not filled with danger and the constant risk of being lost forever in the labyrinth that is Wreathenwold!
This novel starts very slowly. I often tell my students to read 30 pages of a book before they give up on it. It took 60 pages before I was committed to the story. From that point on, excitement abounds!! Elizabella and Ben have to turn to theft and deception to wrestle clues from Wreathenwold, outwitting mythical beast and deadly enemies. My concern is whether kids will slog through the first part of the book to reach the dynamic middle and ending!

Such a fun middle grade read. The characters were well written and the story flowed seamlessly. This is a book you find yourself immersed in. The story starts slow but picks up quickly. The names of the main characters are a small distraction as well. I was tripping over them while reading aloud. Probably easier to flow over while reading to yourself though.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This books reminds me of The Wayward Children series with a door opening to another world. Benjamiah is thrust into a whole new world and finds an unlikely friend in Elizabella. They go on an adventure and find more than they bargained for.