What do you think?
Brightstorm Chronicles #4
Serpent of the Sands
A leap of faith in a race against time. When Princess Ganzorig's uncle falls gravely ill, she sneaks out of the Citadel to find a powerful cure, said to be guarded by the Serpent of the Sands. But is it only a story? Is she chasing false hope? But the further Gan travels, the more secrets are revealed - and the more she questions everything she believes...
A new adventure in the Brightstorm Chronicles series, this time featuring Princess Gan, a fan-favourite character from Firesong!
A new adventure in the Brightstorm Chronicles series, this time featuring Princess Gan, a fan-favourite character from Firesong!
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2023
About the author
Vashti Hardy
40 books165 followers Vashti Hardy is a children’s book author who lives near Lancashire, England, with her husband and three teens. She has an honors teaching degree and an MA in creative writing from the University of Chichester.
Vashti Hardy est une auteure jeunesse. Elle a enseigné pendant de nombreuse années à l'école primaire. Après avoir quitté l'enseignement pour se consacrer davantage à l'écriture, elle devient conceptrice-rédactrice et cadre dans le marketing numérique. Elle est titulaire d'un M.A. en création littéraire de l'Université de Chichester. Elle compte également parmi les diplômés de la Golden Egg Academy, une école destinée aux auteurs de livres pour enfants et aide régulièrement les nouveaux élèves de l'institution. Vashti Hardy vit avec son mari et ses trois enfants près de Brighton dans le Sussex de l'Est.
Vashti Hardy est une auteure jeunesse. Elle a enseigné pendant de nombreuse années à l'école primaire. Après avoir quitté l'enseignement pour se consacrer davantage à l'écriture, elle devient conceptrice-rédactrice et cadre dans le marketing numérique. Elle est titulaire d'un M.A. en création littéraire de l'Université de Chichester. Elle compte également parmi les diplômés de la Golden Egg Academy, une école destinée aux auteurs de livres pour enfants et aide régulièrement les nouveaux élèves de l'institution. Vashti Hardy vit avec son mari et ses trois enfants près de Brighton dans le Sussex de l'Est.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2024
Nach der wundervollen Trilogie um die Geschwister Brightstorm hat die Autorin ein neues Abenteuer für uns - und zwar mit der 13jährigen Ganzorig, die wir schon in den vorherigen Bänden ein bisschen kennenlernen durften. Ein pfiffiges junges Mädchen voller Lust auf Abenteuer - allerdings auch eine Prinzessin und zukünftige Königin der Zitadelle in Nadvaaryn.
Als eine Delegation aus Lontown in der Zitadelle eintrifft, ist Gan sofort misstrauisch. Die finsteren Absichten der HAC Organisation gegenüber den "weisen, intelligenten" Tieren, uralten Geschöpfen aus den Anfängen der Zeit (ancient animals), hatte für viel Aufregung gesorgt und auch die Könige Batzorig und Temur teilen die Skepsis von Gan gegenüber den Besuchern. Sie scheinen damit auch richtig zu liegen, können aber nichts in Erfahrung bringen, was ihren Verdacht unterstützt.
Währenddessen wird König Temur, Gans Onkel, immer schwächer. Eine Krankheit, die zuerst harmlos erschien, entwickelt sich zu einem lebensbedrohlichen Leiden, und niemand weiß, wie man ihm helfen könnte...
Da erinnert sich Gan an ein altes Märchen, eine Sage, über eine Schlange und einen geheimnisvollen Kakteen Garten, dessen Pflanzen Heilkräfte besitzen.
🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵
Ein wundervolles Abenteuer mit der mutigen Gan, deren aufgeweckte Art und Entschiedenheit sie schon in den vorherigen Bänden sehr sympathisch gemacht hat. Verbote nimmt sie nicht wirklich ernst und geht ihren Weg auch über unbequeme Hürden, wenn sie von der Richtigkeit ihrer Sache überzeugt ist. Die auferlegte Rolle als zukünftige Königin bedrückt sie, weil sie sich nicht vorstellen kann, sie zu erfüllen, gerade weil sie eine so hohen Freiheitsdrang hat, die Welt zu erkunden.
Da kommt ihr die Aufgabe gerade recht, sich auf die Suche nach dem Heilmittel für ihren Onkel zu machen.
Thorn lernen wir hier komplett neu kennen. Zu Anfang weiß man nur, dass er scheinbar vor etwas flüchtet und sich als blinder Passagier auf ein Luftschiff schleicht.
Dass er auf Gan trifft dürfte klar sein und ihre Reise ist gespickt mit Überraschungen und Abenteuern.
Dabei spürt man auch, wie Gan trotz ihrer forschen Art durchaus Einfühlungsvermögen besitzt. Denn Thorn wirkt sehr traurig und verloren, als hätte er viel Schlimmes hinter sich, ohne zu wissen, wo sein Platz ist auf der Welt.
Die beiden sind ein tolles Team und ergänzen sich super! Die Autorin schafft es wieder, die besondere Freundschaft hervorzuheben, wie wichtig es ist zu vertrauen und sich gegenseitig zu unterstützen.
Auch Gan´s unerschütterlicher Glaube, dass das alte Märchen wahr sein kann und sie tatsächlich die außergewöhnliche Schlange trifft und damit den versteckten Garten der heilkräftigen Pflanzen, ist ein schönes Motiv: dass der Glaube Berge versetzen kann.
Ein besonders schöner Moment war im "House of Chimes". Gan ist ja in Eile, weil sich der Gesundheitszustand ihres Onkels stetig verschlechtert und wirkt dadurch ruhelos und gehetzt - nicht unbedingt eine gute Eigenschaft auf einer Suche, bei der man vielleicht auch mal in Gedanken stehen bleiben und nachdenken sollte.
Die Geduld als positives und wichtiges Merkmal wahrzunehmen wird hier sehr schön veranschaulicht - etwas, dass wir alle als Ausgleich zum Stress und der Hektik im Alltag gebrauchen können!
Die Kapitel sind hier - wie auch in den Vorbänden, mit einer einfachen Karte eingeleitet. Dieses Mal natürlich mit dem Kontinent Nadvaaryn, eine Wüstenlandschaft mit wenigen Städten, die es nicht leicht haben, in dieser unwirtlichen Landschaft zu überleben.
Dass ihnen die HAC Organisation auf den Fersen ist bereitet ihnen eine böse Überraschung. Deren Überzeugung, alles Fremde und Unbekannte als etwas schlechtes und böses hinzustellen, kann man sehr gut in unser Gesellschaftsbild übersetzen. Denn während Gan genau weiß, dass die "weisen Tiere" und vor allem auch die acht alten Geschöpfe vom Beginn der Zeit friedlich sind und für das Gleichgewicht auf der Welt sorgen, hat Thorn viel von der negativen Propaganda in Lontown mitbekommen.
Es werden weitere Geheimnisse der Welt entdeckt - aber auch einige Figuren halten so einiges zurück, was erst nach und nach ans Licht kommt. Gerade gegen Ende kommt ein Twist nach dem anderen und steuert ein spannendes Finale an!
Eine wirklich rundum gelungene Geschichte um die junge Protagonistin Ganzorig, die sich hier ihrem ganz persönlichen Schicksal stellen und bereit sein muss, sich für ihre Familie und Freunde ins Ungewisse zu stürzen. Dazu ein Schuss Humor und einige bewegende Momente, die den Lesespaß perfekt abgerundet haben!
How curious that something as unimaginably far away as a star could connect two people in the Wide.
Zitat Seite 261
Als eine Delegation aus Lontown in der Zitadelle eintrifft, ist Gan sofort misstrauisch. Die finsteren Absichten der HAC Organisation gegenüber den "weisen, intelligenten" Tieren, uralten Geschöpfen aus den Anfängen der Zeit (ancient animals), hatte für viel Aufregung gesorgt und auch die Könige Batzorig und Temur teilen die Skepsis von Gan gegenüber den Besuchern. Sie scheinen damit auch richtig zu liegen, können aber nichts in Erfahrung bringen, was ihren Verdacht unterstützt.
Währenddessen wird König Temur, Gans Onkel, immer schwächer. Eine Krankheit, die zuerst harmlos erschien, entwickelt sich zu einem lebensbedrohlichen Leiden, und niemand weiß, wie man ihm helfen könnte...
Da erinnert sich Gan an ein altes Märchen, eine Sage, über eine Schlange und einen geheimnisvollen Kakteen Garten, dessen Pflanzen Heilkräfte besitzen.
🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵
Ein wundervolles Abenteuer mit der mutigen Gan, deren aufgeweckte Art und Entschiedenheit sie schon in den vorherigen Bänden sehr sympathisch gemacht hat. Verbote nimmt sie nicht wirklich ernst und geht ihren Weg auch über unbequeme Hürden, wenn sie von der Richtigkeit ihrer Sache überzeugt ist. Die auferlegte Rolle als zukünftige Königin bedrückt sie, weil sie sich nicht vorstellen kann, sie zu erfüllen, gerade weil sie eine so hohen Freiheitsdrang hat, die Welt zu erkunden.
Da kommt ihr die Aufgabe gerade recht, sich auf die Suche nach dem Heilmittel für ihren Onkel zu machen.
Thorn lernen wir hier komplett neu kennen. Zu Anfang weiß man nur, dass er scheinbar vor etwas flüchtet und sich als blinder Passagier auf ein Luftschiff schleicht.
Dass er auf Gan trifft dürfte klar sein und ihre Reise ist gespickt mit Überraschungen und Abenteuern.
Dabei spürt man auch, wie Gan trotz ihrer forschen Art durchaus Einfühlungsvermögen besitzt. Denn Thorn wirkt sehr traurig und verloren, als hätte er viel Schlimmes hinter sich, ohne zu wissen, wo sein Platz ist auf der Welt.
Die beiden sind ein tolles Team und ergänzen sich super! Die Autorin schafft es wieder, die besondere Freundschaft hervorzuheben, wie wichtig es ist zu vertrauen und sich gegenseitig zu unterstützen.
Auch Gan´s unerschütterlicher Glaube, dass das alte Märchen wahr sein kann und sie tatsächlich die außergewöhnliche Schlange trifft und damit den versteckten Garten der heilkräftigen Pflanzen, ist ein schönes Motiv: dass der Glaube Berge versetzen kann.
Ein besonders schöner Moment war im "House of Chimes". Gan ist ja in Eile, weil sich der Gesundheitszustand ihres Onkels stetig verschlechtert und wirkt dadurch ruhelos und gehetzt - nicht unbedingt eine gute Eigenschaft auf einer Suche, bei der man vielleicht auch mal in Gedanken stehen bleiben und nachdenken sollte.
Die Geduld als positives und wichtiges Merkmal wahrzunehmen wird hier sehr schön veranschaulicht - etwas, dass wir alle als Ausgleich zum Stress und der Hektik im Alltag gebrauchen können!
Die Kapitel sind hier - wie auch in den Vorbänden, mit einer einfachen Karte eingeleitet. Dieses Mal natürlich mit dem Kontinent Nadvaaryn, eine Wüstenlandschaft mit wenigen Städten, die es nicht leicht haben, in dieser unwirtlichen Landschaft zu überleben.
Dass ihnen die HAC Organisation auf den Fersen ist bereitet ihnen eine böse Überraschung. Deren Überzeugung, alles Fremde und Unbekannte als etwas schlechtes und böses hinzustellen, kann man sehr gut in unser Gesellschaftsbild übersetzen. Denn während Gan genau weiß, dass die "weisen Tiere" und vor allem auch die acht alten Geschöpfe vom Beginn der Zeit friedlich sind und für das Gleichgewicht auf der Welt sorgen, hat Thorn viel von der negativen Propaganda in Lontown mitbekommen.
Es werden weitere Geheimnisse der Welt entdeckt - aber auch einige Figuren halten so einiges zurück, was erst nach und nach ans Licht kommt. Gerade gegen Ende kommt ein Twist nach dem anderen und steuert ein spannendes Finale an!
Eine wirklich rundum gelungene Geschichte um die junge Protagonistin Ganzorig, die sich hier ihrem ganz persönlichen Schicksal stellen und bereit sein muss, sich für ihre Familie und Freunde ins Ungewisse zu stürzen. Dazu ein Schuss Humor und einige bewegende Momente, die den Lesespaß perfekt abgerundet haben!
How curious that something as unimaginably far away as a star could connect two people in the Wide.
Zitat Seite 261
June 19, 2023
I actually don’t think it’s possible for Vashti Hardy to write a book that isn’t a masterpiece?
June 2, 2023
So wonderful to get to visit Brightstorm but from a different viewpoint!
Gan is a great main character - she wants more than is expected of her. She wants a different life. She discovers that what makes your survival is the choices you make.
There are links to the original Brightstorm books, but you could manage to read it as a stand alone, personally I think it's better to delve in and read the original trilogy as it gives a great foundation to this story.
We have super sapients, skyships, spies, evil do-gooders who spread fake news. A little bit of everything.
Gan is a great main character - she wants more than is expected of her. She wants a different life. She discovers that what makes your survival is the choices you make.
There are links to the original Brightstorm books, but you could manage to read it as a stand alone, personally I think it's better to delve in and read the original trilogy as it gives a great foundation to this story.
We have super sapients, skyships, spies, evil do-gooders who spread fake news. A little bit of everything.
April 14, 2023
I received a review copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
SERPENT OF THE SANDS is a brilliant return to the Brightstorm world, following a fan favourite character in an all new adventure.
There are plenty of battles and adventure in this book as Gan and a companion she picks up on the way, Thorn, set out on a quest across the sands to find a creature - and object - out of legend. I love a good quest, so of course I was very excited to find out Gan would be on. I also really enjoyed getting to see more of Nadvaaryn, the continent I feel we spent the least time in during the original trilogy. It has sand whirlpools and a floating city (!) and more!
As well as adventure, there are also spies, double crossings, and lots of shades of grey in this book. I loved the greyness of it, with "bad" people acting in "good ways", and "good" people being let down by time and others and acting in "bad ways" that play into the "bad people's" hands. It was a great exploration of how complicated issues can be, particularly when expectations (good or bad) are heaped on shoulders.
This book explores prejudice and weaponised hatred towards groups (in this book, sapient creatures). While the book is mostly told from Gan's perspective, there are a few scenes from Thorn's perspective, who (unlike Gan) begins the book in fear of sapients. He spends the book coming to know them personally and having to decide which side of the battle he's on.
Even though the book follows a new character, I highly recommend you read this after the original trilogy (BRIGHTSTORM, DARKWHISPERS, and FIRESONG.) For a start, the events build directly off the events of FIRESONG, and the villain is the organisation revealed towards the end of the trilogy, which gives greater context to them and their threat. (Plus the original trilogy is great!)
It was a great story that stood on its own but within a wider tale - and I really hope it's the start of a new saga within the world as I want more tales! Plus there's definitely more to be discovered and more resistance needed to the villains.
SERPENT OF THE SANDS is a brilliant return to the Brightstorm world, following a fan favourite character in an all new adventure.
There are plenty of battles and adventure in this book as Gan and a companion she picks up on the way, Thorn, set out on a quest across the sands to find a creature - and object - out of legend. I love a good quest, so of course I was very excited to find out Gan would be on. I also really enjoyed getting to see more of Nadvaaryn, the continent I feel we spent the least time in during the original trilogy. It has sand whirlpools and a floating city (!) and more!
As well as adventure, there are also spies, double crossings, and lots of shades of grey in this book. I loved the greyness of it, with "bad" people acting in "good ways", and "good" people being let down by time and others and acting in "bad ways" that play into the "bad people's" hands. It was a great exploration of how complicated issues can be, particularly when expectations (good or bad) are heaped on shoulders.
This book explores prejudice and weaponised hatred towards groups (in this book, sapient creatures). While the book is mostly told from Gan's perspective, there are a few scenes from Thorn's perspective, who (unlike Gan) begins the book in fear of sapients. He spends the book coming to know them personally and having to decide which side of the battle he's on.
Even though the book follows a new character, I highly recommend you read this after the original trilogy (BRIGHTSTORM, DARKWHISPERS, and FIRESONG.) For a start, the events build directly off the events of FIRESONG, and the villain is the organisation revealed towards the end of the trilogy, which gives greater context to them and their threat. (Plus the original trilogy is great!)
It was a great story that stood on its own but within a wider tale - and I really hope it's the start of a new saga within the world as I want more tales! Plus there's definitely more to be discovered and more resistance needed to the villains.
April 16, 2023
Review first posted to my blog: http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/202...
Princess Ganzorig, Gan to her friends, has a rebellious spirit. When her uncle falls incredibly ill, rather than staying at the Citadel in case she needs to step up to support her people, she sneaks away on a what seems to be an impossible mission: find the Serpent of the Sands from a children's story in the hopes that he is guarding a cure that can help her uncle.
She sets off alone on her journey in a sky-ship she built with the help of materials and guidance from her friend Maddie Brightstorm. Thankfully Gan isn't solo in her quest for long. She's soon joined by Slink, a sapient gerbil, and Thorn, a boy who's escaped the slums of Lontown in search of a better future. Together, the three travel to The Floating City, The House of Chimes, and other incredible places that seem to come straight out of a fairy tale.
But their adventure is a treacherous one, filled with unexpected encounters and peril. And, on top of that, they're followed by an evil organisation that's trying to turn sapient animals and humans against one another, and they need control of the Citadel to aid their cunning scheme...
Vashti Hardy is the queen of writing imaginative adventure stories. And with Serpent of the Sands, she's opened a whole new world for readers to explore. From the Citadel, which feels far more mystical than Lontown, through to an invisible city in the sea. Her attention to detail in the world-building is incredible, each of the locations practically leapt of the pages. It's really expanded the world of Brightstorm and provides many opportunities for further explorations in the future.
Gan was a fantastic protagonist to journey along with. While she was already a smaller character in a previous Brightstorm novel, at the time she was overshadowed by Maddie, Arthur, and Harriet (and rightfully so, it was their story, after all). However, this time she got a chance to step into the spotlight. I love how headstrong and righteous she was in her mission to help her uncles and the sapient animals she encountered on her journey. Not to mention how capable and cool she was while steering her sky-ship and scaling the walls of the Citadel.
While I hugely enjoyed this read and there was a decent amount of explanation when new terms or characters were introduced, readers will get the most out of this novel if they've also read the original Brightstorm trilogy. It gives a lot more depth and background to what's happening at the edges of the main story, with the evil society HAC and the division between sapient animals and humans that's spreading from Lontown. And this is far from a punishment, as it means they get to discover this incredible world of Brighstorm for the first time.
The Serpent of the Sands is a fantastic addition to the world of Brightstorm. It introduces a whole new host of characters for readers to fall in love with and locations to be swept away with. I, for one, cannot wait to read more about the adventures of Gan, Thorn and, of course, Slink. And I'm especially curious to find out how their journeys will intertwine again with that of Arthur and Maddie Brightstorm when the inevitable, ultimate battle between the HAC and those wanting to live peacefully with sapients will commence...
Princess Ganzorig, Gan to her friends, has a rebellious spirit. When her uncle falls incredibly ill, rather than staying at the Citadel in case she needs to step up to support her people, she sneaks away on a what seems to be an impossible mission: find the Serpent of the Sands from a children's story in the hopes that he is guarding a cure that can help her uncle.
She sets off alone on her journey in a sky-ship she built with the help of materials and guidance from her friend Maddie Brightstorm. Thankfully Gan isn't solo in her quest for long. She's soon joined by Slink, a sapient gerbil, and Thorn, a boy who's escaped the slums of Lontown in search of a better future. Together, the three travel to The Floating City, The House of Chimes, and other incredible places that seem to come straight out of a fairy tale.
But their adventure is a treacherous one, filled with unexpected encounters and peril. And, on top of that, they're followed by an evil organisation that's trying to turn sapient animals and humans against one another, and they need control of the Citadel to aid their cunning scheme...
Vashti Hardy is the queen of writing imaginative adventure stories. And with Serpent of the Sands, she's opened a whole new world for readers to explore. From the Citadel, which feels far more mystical than Lontown, through to an invisible city in the sea. Her attention to detail in the world-building is incredible, each of the locations practically leapt of the pages. It's really expanded the world of Brightstorm and provides many opportunities for further explorations in the future.
Gan was a fantastic protagonist to journey along with. While she was already a smaller character in a previous Brightstorm novel, at the time she was overshadowed by Maddie, Arthur, and Harriet (and rightfully so, it was their story, after all). However, this time she got a chance to step into the spotlight. I love how headstrong and righteous she was in her mission to help her uncles and the sapient animals she encountered on her journey. Not to mention how capable and cool she was while steering her sky-ship and scaling the walls of the Citadel.
While I hugely enjoyed this read and there was a decent amount of explanation when new terms or characters were introduced, readers will get the most out of this novel if they've also read the original Brightstorm trilogy. It gives a lot more depth and background to what's happening at the edges of the main story, with the evil society HAC and the division between sapient animals and humans that's spreading from Lontown. And this is far from a punishment, as it means they get to discover this incredible world of Brighstorm for the first time.
The Serpent of the Sands is a fantastic addition to the world of Brightstorm. It introduces a whole new host of characters for readers to fall in love with and locations to be swept away with. I, for one, cannot wait to read more about the adventures of Gan, Thorn and, of course, Slink. And I'm especially curious to find out how their journeys will intertwine again with that of Arthur and Maddie Brightstorm when the inevitable, ultimate battle between the HAC and those wanting to live peacefully with sapients will commence...
February 15, 2026
Seems like there will be another one at least after this 🤔
Gan DEFINITELY reminds me of Camicazi from How To Train Your Dragon, but also a little of Hiccup too. She learns quick and adapts to situations, even if it's something she really didn't think she'd ever do (like being queen)
As much as I enjoyed the Brightstorm twins from the previous books, it's really good reading from a different perspective and seeing a whole other range of the world. The super sapients have more to come as well, some briefly mentioned we haven't seen yet and this Human Authority Collective is stirring up all sorts of trouble with lies and misinformation. Hopefully any sequels are told along with Gan or other new characters, the twins' stories were wrapped up nicely in the first three
Gan DEFINITELY reminds me of Camicazi from How To Train Your Dragon, but also a little of Hiccup too. She learns quick and adapts to situations, even if it's something she really didn't think she'd ever do (like being queen)
As much as I enjoyed the Brightstorm twins from the previous books, it's really good reading from a different perspective and seeing a whole other range of the world. The super sapients have more to come as well, some briefly mentioned we haven't seen yet and this Human Authority Collective is stirring up all sorts of trouble with lies and misinformation. Hopefully any sequels are told along with Gan or other new characters, the twins' stories were wrapped up nicely in the first three
July 17, 2024
I haven’t had much luck with YA books lately. Admittedly I am way outside the age range they are targeting! But these books by Vashti Hardy seem to be the exception to the rule as I really enjoyed this book. The Brightstorm books are really fun and engaging and the writing style flows and they feel just effortless to read. I liked Gan from the previous books and it was good having her as a protagonist for this book instead of Maudie or Arthur. The story was fun and I really enjoyed it.
4 stars
4 stars
March 17, 2025
4.25🌟
It was really good. I kept putting it off because it didn’t seem so exciting but I found it really good. I did find that is seemed to drag along but I didn’t mind that as it always kept my interest and near the end it got really good and I was staying up late because it was quite tense and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall I think the series is really good and this book set it up for another book that I will definitely read, but I don’t think I will give this book another thought unless I see it on my shelf. But saying that I love the world it is set in.
It was really good. I kept putting it off because it didn’t seem so exciting but I found it really good. I did find that is seemed to drag along but I didn’t mind that as it always kept my interest and near the end it got really good and I was staying up late because it was quite tense and I couldn’t put it down.
Overall I think the series is really good and this book set it up for another book that I will definitely read, but I don’t think I will give this book another thought unless I see it on my shelf. But saying that I love the world it is set in.
April 18, 2023
Princess Ganzorig (Gan) has her own story. As I haven't the Brightstorm series it is easy for me to say this works fine as a standalone book. I'm also not usually a fantasy story reader but, oh yes, I loved this book. I was even dreaming about what was going to happen next!
Gan is trying to evade her duties in the citadel, where she lives with her Uncles, Batzorig and Temur, but Zayaa the chief guard catches up with her and tells her to go to Uncle Batzorig at once.
He tells her about a visit from some envoys from Lontown. But what do they want? The two of them consider it is likely they are part of the Human Authority Collective (HAC), these people hate the sapient animals that Gan and her friends in the Alliance of Eight are trying to protect.
But Batzorig has more bad news Temur is ill, and the physicians are struggling to find a cure. Gan decides she has to help, she wants to find the elusive super sapient, Serpent of the Sands who according to the childhood story, guards a healing cactus garden. But guards from teh Citadel have been trying to find it for months but they haven't done so. Gan's Uncle refuses to allow her to leave:he needs her to help with Citadel business.
Gan leaves anyway but she's not alone, she has a sapient called Slink with her....and a mysterious boy, Thorn, who helped her when she got into trouble before even leaving the Citadel.
Gan doesn't want to be Queen of the Citadel, she thinks her Aunts or cousins will make a better job. She loves exploring (read the Brightstorm series!). However, she loves her Uncles and is prepared to travel to all corners of the kingdom to help them. Her character is loveable, loyal and determined.
Thorn remains quiet and mysterious, talking little about his life and why he can't or won't return to Lontown.
If you have read Brightstorm you will obviously love this, but if you haven't read it anyway and like me you'll be searching out the Brightstorm series. It is a story of adventure, loyalty and bravery.
Perfect in every way.
Thanks to Scholastic for the early copy.
Gan is trying to evade her duties in the citadel, where she lives with her Uncles, Batzorig and Temur, but Zayaa the chief guard catches up with her and tells her to go to Uncle Batzorig at once.
He tells her about a visit from some envoys from Lontown. But what do they want? The two of them consider it is likely they are part of the Human Authority Collective (HAC), these people hate the sapient animals that Gan and her friends in the Alliance of Eight are trying to protect.
But Batzorig has more bad news Temur is ill, and the physicians are struggling to find a cure. Gan decides she has to help, she wants to find the elusive super sapient, Serpent of the Sands who according to the childhood story, guards a healing cactus garden. But guards from teh Citadel have been trying to find it for months but they haven't done so. Gan's Uncle refuses to allow her to leave:he needs her to help with Citadel business.
Gan leaves anyway but she's not alone, she has a sapient called Slink with her....and a mysterious boy, Thorn, who helped her when she got into trouble before even leaving the Citadel.
Gan doesn't want to be Queen of the Citadel, she thinks her Aunts or cousins will make a better job. She loves exploring (read the Brightstorm series!). However, she loves her Uncles and is prepared to travel to all corners of the kingdom to help them. Her character is loveable, loyal and determined.
Thorn remains quiet and mysterious, talking little about his life and why he can't or won't return to Lontown.
If you have read Brightstorm you will obviously love this, but if you haven't read it anyway and like me you'll be searching out the Brightstorm series. It is a story of adventure, loyalty and bravery.
Perfect in every way.
Thanks to Scholastic for the early copy.
May 20, 2023
A jolly good adventure read for upper KS2 and younger KS3 readers. Part of the Brightstorm Chronicles but can stand alone without the previous three. It has clearly started a new saga although this novel has a satisfying sense of conclusion to its narrative.
Thanks to Scholastic and Just Imagine for my review copy.
See the Just Imagine blog site for my full review. Link to follow
Thanks to Scholastic and Just Imagine for my review copy.
See the Just Imagine blog site for my full review. Link to follow
June 2, 2023
Yet another thrilling installment! It seems like we waited forever for this but it was only a matter of months. Please tell me there is more to come! I absolutely love the characters, the Wide and all the sapients. I also can't help but wonder what our world would be like with sapients. I can only imagine it being more enhanced. Praise to Vashti Hardy for another fabulous read!
July 30, 2023
When I saw that another story is out in the Brightstorm's world, I had to get hold of it as soon as possible. Thanks to my local Cardiff library I got hold of the audiobook and what a treat this was.
We get a new main character with Gan and go to a different climate setting where all is sand and very dry.
Loved the adventure, loved the story.
We get a new main character with Gan and go to a different climate setting where all is sand and very dry.
Loved the adventure, loved the story.
January 23, 2024
Another good installment in the brightstorm series. Good to see a different character take the focal point of the story and a nicely detailed explore of the lands of the citadel. Only negative was the lack of threat throughout from the HAC. Although the final coming together was great, it felt a bit rushed. Overall another good read from Hardy
April 12, 2025
I love Vashti Hardy her books are so well written with gripping story lines. The worlds and characters she builds are so intricate and inspiring. Her writing feeds your imagination with the most powerful images and takes you away to another place. I love when an author can transport me back to the joy of childhood and adventure.
February 4, 2024
I absolutely loved this book and it kept me gripped through the whole thing- I didn’t want to put it down!
The best in the series 😃
The best in the series 😃
July 6, 2024
I've enjoyed all the books in this children's fantasy series.
September 30, 2024
Not my favourite from the series but still a good well written fantasy book
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