Dora the Explorer is a popular animated children's television series that follows the adventures of a young girl named Dora and her talking backpack and monkey friend Boots. In one particular episode titled "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick," Dora embarks on an exciting journey to find a magical stick. The episode begins with Dora receiving a special invitation from a fairy who has lost her magic stick. The fairy explains that her magic stick has the power to grant wishes, but without it, she is unable to perform her magic. Dora, being the helpful and adventurous girl that she is, immediately sets off on a mission to find the lost magic stick and return it to the fairy. Dora is accompanied by her loyal backpack and Boots as they make their way through various obstacles and challenges.
STAR RATING: 3/5 ✶
With this book, you can tell that Bouchet is doing a lot of setup in order to continue the series in a more traditional Romance fashion couples are starting to form Carver and Bellanca, Kato and a mysterious blonde, Prometheus and Kaia and the seeds are laid for another epic plot arc to provide the backbone for such a series. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form.
Dora is accompanied by her loyal backpack and Boots as they make their way through various obstacles and challenges. Along the way, they encounter friendly animals such as birds, squirrels, and frogs, who provide clues and assistance in their quest to find the magic stick. As Dora and her friends journey deeper into the enchanted forest, they encounter a mischievous troll who tries to stop them from finding the magic stick.
A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet @AuthorABouchet @SourcebooksCasa
A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet
Series: Kingmaker Chronicles #4
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on October 4, 2022
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 496
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.
Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.
I read the trilogy which started the Kingmaker Chronicles series. Cat and Griffin were the main characters there. Now we are getting stories from the rest of Team Alpha. I enjoyed the mythology, gods and creatures. I wanted to see what happened with the characters. In the novella, Of Fate & Fire, we learn about what happens with Piers. Now in A Curse of Queens, we get the story of Jocasta and Flynn.
The underlying problem here is the gods messing with Cat & Griffin for their own purposes. The problem solver is Jocasta. She is a healer and while she has no magic, she does have skills. She is smart and brave. I liked her a lot. We get both her point of view and Flynn’s, in alternating chapters. Jocasta has lived the life of a princess of one of the three kingdoms and now overall with Cat & Griffin. She cares deeply about people and helping them. She has wanted a life with Flynn as long as she can remember.
Flynn is an olive farmer who lived near the royal family in Sinta, and has suffered much loss until he is the only one left in his family. He became part of Team Alpha and has been a soldier ever since with Griffin, heading the army. He is enamoured of Jocasta and protective of her, but refuses to love anyone since he might lose them. But he champions Jocasta and this quest she has to solve Cat’s problem.
They need to contact another God, Circe, who is a master gardener. Jocasta has studied the scrolls to determine all the trials necessary to get what she needs. The team headed out on the adventure is Jocasta, Flynn, Carver, Bel and Prometheus. Each has their strengths and they are devoted to the cause. It is a wild and dangerous adventure but their intelligence, courage and skill helps them. They also have some help from the gods.
The romance is along with the adventure and I was rooting for them. Flynn and Jocasta are well suited and it was lovely to see them navigate a life together.
I wonder if there will be more in the series. I think Kira is the only family member still unmatched into a relationship. She is the youngest sister. It was fascinating to learn in the novella that this world is connected to that of the Endeavor series, which is set in space.
About Amanda Bouchet
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
Follow me Blogger at Books of My HeartI can't really remember any time when I wasn't reading. I LOVE books and what they give me. It's an opportunity to learn new things, see new places,live different emotions in a "safe" way. It lets me live in a new world.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Fortunately, with the help of their problem-solving skills and the power of friendship, Dora and her friends manage to outsmart the troll and continue their search. Finally, after a series of exciting adventures, Dora and her friends discover the magic stick hidden inside a mystical cave. They return the magic stick to the fairy, who is overjoyed to have it back. In gratitude, the fairy uses the magic stick to grant Dora a wish. Dora selflessly uses her wish to help others, showing her kind-hearted nature and emphasizing the importance of helping others. "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick" teaches children valuable lessons about teamwork, problem-solving, and the power of kindness. The episode promotes the idea of embarking on exciting adventures while also emphasizing the importance of helping others and being a good friend. Throughout the episode, Dora's character remains brave, resourceful, and compassionate, making her an inspiring role model for young viewers. By showcasing positive values and traits, "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick" aims to entertain and educate children, reinforcing important life lessons in a fun and engaging way..
Reviews for "The Magic Stick's Legacy: How Dora the Explorer's Iconic Tool Continues to Inspire"
1. John - 2 stars - I watched "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick" with my daughter and I have to say, it was really disappointing. The story was predictable and lacked any real excitement. The animation looked cheap and the characters were not engaging at all. Overall, it felt like a lazy attempt to cash in on the popularity of the original TV show. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality children's film.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I was really excited to watch "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick" with my niece, but it was a complete letdown. The plot was nonsensical and poorly developed. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and the voice acting was flat. It felt like the filmmakers didn't put much effort into making this movie enjoyable for both kids and adults. Save your money and skip this one.
3. Mike - 2 stars - As a fan of the original "Dora the Explorer" TV show, I had high hopes for "Dora the Explorer: The Magic Stick," but unfortunately, it fell short. The movie lacked the educational value and interactive elements that made the show popular. The new characters introduced were forgettable and the magic stick concept felt forced. It seemed like the filmmakers were trying too hard to reinvent Dora instead of building on what made her successful in the first place. Disappointing overall.