Once upon a time, in a land full of magic and wonder, there lived a young wizard named Leo. Leo had always dreamed of embarking on magical adventures and exploring the vast realms beyond his village. One day, while practicing his spells in the Enchanted Forest, Leo stumbled upon an old dusty book hidden amongst the trees. The book was filled with tales of mystical creatures, ancient secrets, and incredible adventures. With excitement bubbling in his veins, Leo opened the book and was instantly transported into a world of enchantment and endless possibilities. He found himself standing atop a towering mountain peak, surrounded by clouds and majestic landscapes.
“You know we can hear you when you do that?” Twelve asked, mildly offended.
The most satisfying thing about enemies forced to work together in this case for me, at least is the fact that they do, against all odds, manage to create a squad vibe. Cue our main characters, who are youth at the Hunters Lodge with an impressive amount of baggage and no real clue yet how to actually be real Hunters.
He found himself standing atop a towering mountain peak, surrounded by clouds and majestic landscapes. From there, his journey began. Leo soon encountered a mischievous pixie named Luna, who became his loyal companion throughout his adventures.
Fireborn by Aisling Fowler || Magical Adventure With Plot Twists Galore
Lyra. Lucy. Percy. Once in a generation, a hero emerges whose story enthralls readers worldwide.
Fireborn is an epic quest, perfect for fans of the His Dark Materials and The School for Good and Evil series, that will spin readers into a magical world like no other--and introduce them to an unforgettable new heroine named Twelve.
Ember is full of monsters.
Twelve gave up her name and identity to train in the art of hunting them--so she says. The truth is much more deadly: she trains to take revenge on those who took her family from her.
But when Twelve's new home is attacked, she'll find herself on an unexpected journey, where her hidden past is inescapably intertwined with her destiny--and the very fate of her world.
Content Tags:
Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure Coming of Age
Friendship Bonds Squad Vibes Animal Sidekick Grief/Loss Death
Perfect for readers who want:
- Enemies-to-friends with definite squad vibes.
- A coming-of-age story filled with grief, loss, and growth.
- A magical world filled with danger and fun adventure.
- Lots of plot twists that’ll keep you turning pages.
- Plenty of snarky banter.
- A super adorable (and slightly cantankerous) doggo guardian.
- Also adorable (and slightly less cantankerous) squirrel sidekick.
- Secrets and betrayal. You know, the fun kind!
Many thanks to Harper Collins and TheWriteReads for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Quotes taken from an unfinished version and may differ from the final product.
I’m not gonna lie: on a scale from 1 to stunning, the cover for Fireborn is drop-dead gorgeous, okay? I’m not ashamed to admit I 100% was attracted to this book because of that fierce cover. I mean, just look at it. It promises magic and fierceness and stone animals (I know that sounds weird, but bear with me) and FIRE, which is always a good time. Well, usually. In this case, the story definitely delivers on the promise the cover makes.
Fireborn is a coming-of-age adventure filled with magic, danger, and secrets, with not one but TWO animal sidekicks and a banter-filled enemies-to-friends character arc that will utterly steal your heart.
This book was everything I hoped it would be and then some! I’m already dying to read the next book. It took me a minute to get into it (especially since it was hard to empathize with Twelve’s attitude early on, though it doesn’t take long to understand her). Once I was into it, though, I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down. I’d call this one a must-read for anyone who loves middle grade fantasy.
Fowler sweeps the reader into a world filled with magic and danger and all sorts of creatures, both delightful and dark.
A little bit like Avatar the Last Airbender (but not really), the world is divided into clans. The balance between the clans is rather tenuous, as you might imagine. So the world has the Hunters, which keep the balance and act as a neutral intermediary between them. Well, that’s how it’s supposed to work. Cue our main characters, who are youth at the Hunters Lodge with an impressive amount of baggage and no real clue yet how to actually be real Hunters.
This adventure takes our protagonists far from the safety of the world they’ve known and thrusts them into the “real world,” where they learn the hard way that being a Hunter isn’t always easy.
I mean, there are all sorts of dangerous creatures out there in the wilds and, oh my gosh, I just loved them! Some will definitely give readers goosebumps. Some are a little more straightforward but not any less dangerous. I absolutely loved exploring this world, and I can’t wait to see more of it in the next book!
“We’re either going to be torn to shreds by cliffcrawlers or incinerated by firesprites. I can’t wait to find out which.”
“Oh, I disagree,” said Twelve.
“Well, I’m glad someone’s confident,” said Five, a bit less sarcastically.
“No, it’s just that there are loads more ways we could die,” said Twelve. “We might be caught by whatever’s behind us, for example.”
“Or murdered by goblins,” Six grinned.
There is not one but two animal sidekicks in this . . . though I’m not sure Dog really counts as a “sidekick” so much as “older, wiser guardian who is currently questioning his existence and what he did that was so horrible that he’s now stuck with these children.”
In other words, Dog is obviously my spirit animal. I mean, haven’t we all been there? Dog’s attitude and personality absolutely crack me up, and I was immediately taken with him. He obviously cares and isn’t a bad person . . . but human children are frustrating and ridiculously exhausting and definitely don’t listen to a thing you tell them.
As if that’s not enough (and let’s be honest, it definitely is), there’s a second animal sidekick: a squirrel named Widge. And Widge isn’t just there for show, either. Widge may not talk like Dog does, but it’s got a definite personality and plays a significant role in the story. Plus, it’s just so stinking cuuuuute!
The Guardian muttered to himself as he worked. “Bossed around . . . low point . . . never in centuries . . .”
“You know we can hear you when you do that?” Twelve asked, mildly offended.
Dog coughed, looking embarrassed. “Oh.” The muttering stopped.
The main character, Twelve, is a fun protagonist—not without her faults, of course, but witty and sarcastic and with a backstory that will make you want to just squeeze the stuffing out of her.
I mean, she’s still a kid, and kids can be frustrating, and I wouldn’t expect anything less. Still, all the things Twelve has been through and where she’s ended up are amazing, just for her resiliency and strength. Middle grade books isn’t generally where one might think of finding badass female characters, yet here we are. She’s a character that young girls could easily look up to, flaws and everything, especially with the growth she makes in this book.
“You should call me ‘Dog’. It is simpler than ‘Glorious Guardian of the Hunting Lodge’.”
Twelve snorted, then saw that he wasn’t joking. “People actually call you that?”
“Yes,” he said. “But Dog will do.”
“Well, I’m Twelve,” she said, scrambling up on to his back. “And this is Widge. But I’d prefer you call me ‘Stupendous Student of the Hunting Lodge’.”
Dog gave her a definite look over his shoulder.
Two of my favorite tropes are enemies forced to work together and squads, and Fireborn takes these tropes and makes them its own.
To be fair, our little squad of characters aren’t supposed to be enemies. They’re supposed to be working together as Hunters for the betterment of the world and in fairness to all. Buuuut … well, they’re kids. Kids who happen to have tragic backstories, no less. Nemeses will be declared and enemies will be made and that’s just how things are sometimes.
Forcing this particular group into working together, though, is just *chef’s kiss*. I definitely felt bad for poor Dog, who had to deal with them all and be the adult of the group. The banter between them is sarcastic and hilarious, but there’s also a rather delicious tension between them, too. Which is what makes enemies working together so fun. You never know when one of them is bound to snap, and what disastrous circumstances might befall the group then, hmm?
The most satisfying thing about enemies forced to work together in this case (for me, at least) is the fact that they do, against all odds, manage to create a squad vibe. Mostly unintentionally. Definitely against their wishes. But it’s there and I live for it and I want more of it.
“I do not like this one bit,” Five said eventually, his voice echoing off the exposed rock.
“Really?” Twelve asked. “The rest of us are having a wonderful time.”
“Useful words only!” Dog growled back warningly at them.
About Aisling Fowler
Aisling was born in 1985 and wishes that she had grown up in a magical, mountainous kingdom, but was actually raised in Surrey on a diet of books and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her early ‘adventure’ stories involved surprisingly little action and her first novel (3 pages long) was politely declined by publishers at age 11. After earning a BSc in Biology and working as a support worker and then a nurse, the idea for her debut novel, Fireborn, came to her as she moved back and forth between London and the US. Now based in Hackney, when she is not reading or writing, Aisling loves cooking and plotting adventures (for herself as well as her fictional characters). Fireborn will be published by HarperCollins in 2021.
“Well, I’m Twelve,” she said, scrambling up on to his back. “And this is Widge. But I’d prefer you call me ‘Stupendous Student of the Hunting Lodge’.”
Together, they ventured into the depths of the mermaid's caverns, diving into the crystal-clear waters to uncover hidden treasures and unravel the ancient songs of the sea. In the land of fairies, Leo and Luna found themselves caught in a feud between two powerful fairy queens. With their quick thinking and wit, they managed to bring peace to the warring factions, restoring harmony and balance to the realm. As they delved deeper into their magical travels, Leo and Luna stumbled upon a hidden village inhabited by gnomes. These small but wise creatures taught them the secrets of nature and the importance of unity in preserving the balance of the world. Their journey continued as they traveled to the heart of a mystical forest, where they faced a fearsome dragon guarding a coveted relic. Through bravery and determination, Leo and Luna managed to tame the dragon and retrieve the relic, earning the respect and admiration of the mythical creature. Throughout their adventures, Leo and Luna encountered countless other magical beings – from talking trees to fire-breathing unicorns. Each encounter brought new challenges and taught them valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of magic. As they reached the end of their incredible journey, Leo and Luna realized that the magic they had experienced wasn't just confined to the pages of the old book. It existed within themselves and the world around them. They understood that the real adventure was to cherish every moment, to keep exploring, and to always believe in the extraordinary. With fond memories and hearts full of gratitude, Leo and Luna bid farewell to the magical realms and returned to their village. But their love for adventure and magic never waned, for they knew that even in the ordinary, extraordinary things could happen. And so, Leo and Luna's magical adventures may have come to an end, but their story continues to inspire those who dare to believe in the extraordinary and embrace the enchantment that lies within each of us..
Reviews for "An Unexpected Encounter: A Magical Adventure"
1. Emily - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with "Magical Adventures Galore". The plot was predictable and cliché, and the characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. I couldn't connect with any of them, which made it hard for me to care about what was happening in the story. The writing style was also underwhelming, with repetitive and dull descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be unoriginal and forgettable.
2. John - 2 stars: "Magical Adventures Galore" was a letdown for me. The world-building was weak and inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the story. The fantasy elements were poorly explained, and I often found myself confused about the rules of magic in this world. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of unnecessary scenes that didn't contribute much to the overall plot. I felt like the author tried to cram too many ideas into one book, resulting in a cluttered and messy narrative. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this book.
3. Jessica - 1 star: Oh boy, "Magical Adventures Galore" was a disaster. The writing was atrocious, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentences. I couldn't believe this book made it past any form of editing. The characters were incredibly annoying, with unrealistic dialogue and unrealistic motivations. The plot was all over the place, with random events that made little sense and no satisfying resolution. I would give this book zero stars if I could. Do yourself a favor and don't waste your time with this mess.