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Allira's GiftAuthor: Paul Collins & Danny WillisSeries: The World of Grrym ISBN13: 9781741783308 Imprint: Five Mile Press Binding: Hbk Add this book to your reading list |
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Publisher's synopsis:Join Allira Hart and her younger brother Steven, as a family trip to central Victoria spirals into a majiickal journey where fantasy and reality clash with brute force. In search of her missing – or is that kidnapped? – granddad Fergus, Allira soon discovers that the strange visions that haunt her are, in fact, windows into another realm, The World of Grrym.
There, goblins are enslaved to blood trolls as their hapless foot soldiers, while the evil-hearted Queen Morgassa reigns over the once joy-filled kingdom with icy cold terror. But not even Morgassa or her fawning commander General Zobon can halt the arachnid sprawl of the lethal red murgah spiders! Under the watchful eye of the dragon Jinnee, and with help from Fergus’s manservant Chester, Allira discovers her ‘gift’. Slowly, she learns her role as Farseer, Speaker, and eventual successor to her grandfather’s throne. Yet, with the battlecry of the bloodtroll and their merciless commanders, on this desperate search for her grandfather will Allira’s gift be quite enough? Readers reviews:
Goblins, trolls, dragons, giant spiders, a castle and even a bunyip - this books got it all. It's a fabulous feast of fantasy!
Allira Hart, along with her younger brother and father, travels to country Victoria where her grandfather Fergus has built a castle. But Fergus has gone missing and strange things are happening. Allira soon discovers that there is another world apart from the one that she and her family inhabit - the World of Grrym: a world where goblins are at war; a world in which the evil Queen Morgassa strives for power at any cost; a world into which grandfather Fergus has been kidnapped. And it's up to Allira to enter the World of Grrym and set things right.
This book is filled with wonderfully realised characters - both human and otherwise. The plot is fast-paced and inventive. There is a nice, uncommon mix of traditional fantasy elements and uniquely Australian elements, such as the castle built in the Australian bush and the bunyip guarding the portal to the other world. This is book one of a series, so although there is a conclusion of sorts, things are by no means resolved. In fact, it finishes on a bit of a cliff-hanger.
Its worth noting that this is a beautifully presented hard-cover book with lovely pencil illustrations throughout (by Danny Willis). It would make an excellent Christmas gift for older kids and teens& and even those adults who haven't lost their sense of wonder.
A thoroughly enjoyable read! I look forward to the release of Book Two.
Reviewer Bio
George Ivanoff is a Melbourne based author who has written over 25 books for children and teenagers. Two of his books (Life, Death and Detention and Real Sci-Fi) are on the booklist for the 2007 Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge - this is their third year on the list. George used to regularly review books, CDs and DVDs for the now defunct Frontier Magazine. Check out George's website at: www.georgeivanoff.com.au
Category:Fiction > Fantasy |
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