Crow's Revenge

Keeper of the Realms #1

by Marcus Alexander

I've just had a flesh-eating giant tearing around my house and now I'm in this strange land I don't know anything about'!
Before she can untangle the mystery that will save Bellania, Charlie Keeper needs the answer to a life-changing secret her guardian, the dastardly Mr Crow, has been keeping from her ...Just who is Charlie Keeper?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Strong Female Lead, Strong Female, Fiction, Magic, Urban Fantasy

448 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2008

About the author

Marcus Alexander is Puffin's author of the Keeper of the Realms fantasy series. He's an action and adrenaline junkie with a background in gymnastics, parkour, pro-fighting, snowboarding and sandboarding.
Marcus is also a champion of literacy and has built a strong reputation for inspiring today's youth to put aside their smart devices and pick up a book.
“If anyone can make reading exciting for youngsters, it’s writer Marcus Alexander.”
The Star

To find see the author in action check out his youtube videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/marcusale...

“I have never had such a successful author visit and the kids absolutely loved him…”
Perins School
“I was blown away by the focus he was able to inspire in a group of reluctant writers - to such a degree that their eyes followed his every move and their lips and bodies were stilled!”
Kingsnorth Church of England School

"He was so enthusiastic – he was a performer as well as an author."
St Albans School
"A fabulous day discussing books with a free-running ‘cool dude’."
Chancellors School
"Please say a huge thank you to Marcus for his visit. He was excellent – even coping with our reluctant Y9 boys in the afternoon. The students loved his presentation…and thanks once again to Marcus for starting Library Fortnight off so brilliantly for us."
Suffolk New Academy
"Marcus delighted the children with his tales of travel around the world and with him being an extreme sports enthusiast, he enthralled and inspired with his photos of sand boarding in the Sahara and stories of climbing ice flows in the Khumbu Glacier. His animated presentation included action-packed video clips, travel photos, competitions, prizes and a Question and Answer session. Because of his adventurer life-style, Marcus was enthusiastically welcomed by all the children and even now, a few weeks after his visit, the children are still discussing his book and desperately keen to get hold of the second instalment!" Sherborne, Qatar
“Marcus engaged and ignited the children’s imaginations with tales of his own adventures…he truly inspired every child and they certainly had an unforgettable day!”
St George’s College Weybridge
"I hope Marcus enjoyed himself - the children and schools loved him and the whole day was a great success."
Hay Festival
“…such a cool ‘dude’ that the books have been flying off the shelves in the library ever since!”
Worthing High School
"We've loved having Marcus with us on the Scribblers Tour for the last 2 years. His events are feel good and fun, encouraging creativity and positivity above all. We always have fantastic feedback from teachers and students alike who come away from his events inspired, excited and itching to get stuck into the books. For many young people Marcus overturns all expectations of writer; he's into extreme sports, travels the world and knows martial arts- he's cool."
Scribblers Tour

Reviews

[Darren Hagan-Loveridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very decent middle grade book. Fast paced with plenty of action, there's barely a moment to rest.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word, I was on a fantasy and action rollercoaster whilst reading this book. After one chapter,we had already met a big black masked ' monster', who has what he calls Shades working for him (shadows) that do his will, sliding under door frames etc,and a green skinned race called Treman who live in what seems to be a fantasy land that you can access via steps down a cliff called Bellania.
Charlie Keeper is a girl who has lost her parents and lives with her grandma in her large family home. Mr Crow who is her lawyer, is a nasty, horrible, selfish man who brutally bullies her into handing over her money/inheritance by convincing her that it is for bills and things that NEED paying.He is a thief and she knows it but no matter who she tells, no one would believe her.
Charlie is visited by one of the afore mentioned green skinned Tremans called Jenson who leads her to another world (Bellania), a fantasy, magical world that Jenson guides her to through doors and corridors that she never knew existed in her house.
Charlie soon learns that she is a Keeper of the Realms, the realms between Bellania and the human world.She is in charge of the portal. The evil monster Bane, is after Charlie, and her pendant that she keeps around her neck not realising it is full of magic and power.She believes it is a precious gift given to her by her parents. Charlie must learn very fast her new responsibilities and power. Charlie also learns that her parents are still around, kept in a tapestry on the wall in evil Banes castle. She needs to help Bellania and try and free her parents.

Marcus Alexander has one heck of an imagination with non stop fast paced action and some well thought out characters.The evil guys in the book feel cold, nasty and just down right bad.Very clever of Marcus to bring these characters jumping right off the page and straight to the reader.You could feel the atmosphere throughout this book.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I found it very hard to put down.
A lot of adult fantasy/fiction books could learn from Marcus's style of writing. Crows Revenge is very well written, with well crafted characters and a climatic finish.

I wholly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of giving it a go.It is aimed at young adults but I very much enjoyed it and couldn't wait to see what was on the other side of the page.It was so very unpredictable,surprising and full of intricate detail. A strong female lead was also a nice surprise which worked very well. A must read.

I received this book free from Goodreads First reads.

[Laura | What's Hot? · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently became aware of this series when I won a copy of The Dark Army (Keeper of the Realms #2) from Goodreads and whilst I wasn't too keen to get started on Crow's Revenge, I was surprised to find that I was actually quite drawn into it from the opening pages.

In Crow's Revenge, we meet Charlie Keeper, a young teenage girl who has lost her parents and lives with her grandma in a big shabby house. Her lawyer Mr Crow is a selfish man who constantly makes her sign forms without telling her what she is signing and she is convinced that he is stealing her family fortune. One day, Charlie finds a strange creature in her home, Jensen the treman. Of course, Charlie has no idea what a treman is but after going through several doors and corridors she has never explored before in her house, she discovers herself in Bellania, a whole new world, that she has entered via a portal in her house. She learns that she is a Keeper of the Realms which means that it is her duty to guard the portal between the human world and Bellania where magic exists. Trouble is brewing in Bellania though as Bane, an evil spirit, tries to capture Charlie and the pendant which is so precious to her. Just as Charlie was starting to think her life in London was really dull, she is thrust into a whole new world with new responsibilities.

The plot is really well thought out and there are several major twists along the way. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next and begging for someone to explain how things worked in Bellania, a new world. It is impossible to know which characters are the good guys and which are the bad guys which keeps your attention focussed on looking out for the smallest clue that might help you figure it out. There are several plot strands working throughout this story, all involving Charlie Keeper but also many other characters as well so there's always a lot going on. My only complaint would be that I think the plot could've been condensed and the end of the book could have been reached a lot sooner. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with the plot line and some parts seemed a little repetitive to me, despite the fantastic amounts of detail. There were a few parts that I thought were unnecessary that didn't progress the plot in any way and I think I would've enjoyed the book a bit more had these extra parts been removed.

The characters were all really likeable, those you were supposed to like anyhow, which made me really root for these characters and their cause. The main character, Charlie, is an admirable character who has such spunk for someone so young. I felt like I'd gotten to know her character really well quite early on in the novel which made me feel closer to her as a character. She's not a perfect character as she has her strops and can be a little selfish at times but she's a young teenage girl so it seems justified. The fact that she's not a perfect princess makes her all the more likeable and young girls reading this story will no doubt want Charlie Keeper to be their new best friend.

The description of the bad guys is really quite creepy and scary and the pictures to go alongside them don't make me feel any less uneasy about them! There is such a great atmosphere in this book and I was spooked out by several of the creepier passages in this story. The characters of Mr Crow and Bane, two of the most evil characters in the story, are also really fascinating and although you can't like them as characters, I greatly enjoyed reading about them.

Marcus Alexander really does need to be commended for his excellent use of description. The world of Bellania, or even the ordinary London, is so vividly described that you can visualise every last detail of this new setting. There are also a few pictures along the way in this book which gives you even greater clarity as to what the different beasts and species are supposed to look like (rather helpful in some cases where the description was so in depth that my mind couldn't keep up!). He has created so many different creatures, places, and ways of life that all need to be explained and he manages to do this without overloading the reader with new information.

What I would say, however, is that this book is aimed at the lower end of 'young adult' readers I would not recommend this book for children over the age of around 17. Although I could still appreciate the detailed descriptions and the intricate world that Marcus Alexander has built up, I did find the whole book rather childish at times and this made me feel a bit bored, but I think this was down to my age rather than the content itself. I imagine that a 14 year old would find this to be an incredibly interesting and stimulating read, however, in my opinion, this book is largely inaccessible to those that have progressed beyond their teen years.

All in all, Crow's Revenge is a great read that has perhaps passed a little under the radar and should definitely be picked up by those interesting in fantasy in their teen years. Crow's Revenge ends on a cliffhanger and there is clearly much more to come which I am rather excited for. I can't wait to get started on the second book to see what new adventures lay in store for Charlie!

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crow’s Revenge – Keeper of the Realms Series by Marcus Alexander - Fantasy, Mature 5/6th grade and up – Enjoyed the pacing of this suspenseful, adventurous book about a girl who has a lighthearted approach to life but is also in a tough situation every day with a person monitoring her family’s money after her parents disappear- reminds me of Count Olaf from Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. The book takes an action packed turn when our character steps into a new world and makes new friends who might be able to help her be a hero in many ways. This is really a dark book but I really enjoyed the read. The biggest frustration for me was how the book concluded. Made me go pick up the sequel instantly.
Grabbed a few snippets to share:
p. 47- “The pit erupted as a tide of taut muscles and serrated teeth flashed in the air. The sinuous predators were long in body, grey and worm-like. Slime-covered scales festered along the length of their bodies and ragged dragonfly wings hummed as they beat powerfully against the air.”
p. 56 – “Then the air began to shimmer around the stump. One by one the Tremen raised their heads and, still holding on to the tree, broke into song. Their warm voices rose and fell, echoing around the greenery of the forest. As the song grew in volume and in strength, Charlie could smell the faint aroma of freshly cut grass intermingled with cherry blossom and lavender.”

[Stephanie Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very exciting and adventurous book. It is a little bit different from some other books I have read but the theme is quite similar to many of my favourite books. Charlie Keeper reminds me a little bit of myself which has led me to enjoy it even more. I recommend this book to many of my friends and family.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Keeper of the Realms is a good middle grade fantasy that will work as a gateway for many young readers wanting to get into the fantasy genre.
The book does suffer from notable issues, including awkward dialogue, leaps of logic, annoying characters, repetition and a lot of telling rather than showing.
However, it will draw in younger readers and leave them hungry for more.

[Ryan Selby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant book. Marcus himself came to our school on monday (3rd march), and it was so much fun learning about the different ways he writes his books. i wanted to leave a review on the book (as i thought suitable to read it beforehand) on world book day. so, i guess here is the review:

A brilliant book with an excellent storyline filled with twists big enough to keep me gripped, but small enough to still make me understand the storyline. if i had the chance, i would not edit this book one bit. i am currently reading the second book, and i am still gripped by the way it carried on the story straight away, along with twists and turns.

I don't want to wreck the story at all by saying that this book is about a girl called charlie. i was puzzled at first by this, but the fact is, Charlie is Awesome! She is just like a boy main character, but maybe even better. Charlie, after being chased by a giant through her house, and into a magical land called Bellania. Bellania is not a magical land filled with pixies and elves, but more of a second middle earth that Marcus Alexander has created himself.

The other thing about this book i liked is the humour. this was on a level so that it didn't mess up the story, but did let in a few laughs.

So, overall, i would say this book is for fans of the Hobbit (J.R.R Tolkien), Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan), Skulduggery Pleasant (Derek Landy) and the likes

Again, a really good book, and thanks to Marcus for coming to our school, and teaching us different ways of writing, and of course, for his books.

I really recommend this book to people who like humour and action

[Eleanor Rigby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously I haven't read this. It's not by any means the sort of genre that I would pick up but my two youngest read this after the author came to their school and I'm so thrilled that they picked it up. I struggle to get them to read and for the two of them to be so excited by a novel is unique. My children are bright but not enamoured with literature and I believe they should be. It's a trait that seems to have swept across England and with today's falling literacy rates books like Crow's Revenge that can connect with today's youth are a godsend.

[Ailsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary
'Crow's Revenge' is Book One in the fantastic Keeper of the Realms series by Marcus Alexander. (The KOTR series is for the 8-12 age group and even though it orbits around Charlie's adventures there's enough in there to (hopefully!) get boys as well as girls away from the Xbox and back to reading.)

Charlie is a young girl who has had to deal with a lot. She has had to grow up well before her time.

Living in a large house that is not well tend for on the outside, which irritates the neighbours; Charlie is living with her grandmother who suffers from memory loss (a form of dementia in a way). She loves her home and her grandmother, but ever since her parents went missing, Charlie has had to deal with Mr Crow who is the family solicitor. As Charlie is too young to deal with the family estate, Mr Crow comes by regularly to pay bills and take money out (which Charlie is sure, hit Mr Crow is spending money on other things and not on what it is intended for)

Without giving to much away, Charlie ends in a new world called Bellania, all to escape a Giant called Bane and his Shades (and of course, Mr Crow). While in Bellania, Charlie comes across a Treman called Jensen (they have met once before inside Charlie's home - Charlie was exploring like she normally does to get away from Mr Crow and she came across new areas and rooms which is how she met Jensen and was informed about Bellania) and his men.

Charlie explains what has happened so far and is desperate to find her parents. Jensen takes her on a journey to see the Jade Circle to find out more about her parents, where they are and what there job was.

So this is where I am leaving my little summary, as I do not want to give away too much. All I'll say is if you like the summary, the blurb and my thoughts and rating, then check out Crows Revenge NOW!

It is truly beautifully written, it is creative, fun and full of adventure.


The Blurb
'I've just had a flesh-eating giant tearing around my house and now I'm in this strange land I don't know anything about!'

CHARLIE KEEPER has been forced from her home by a bloodthirsty and terrifying stranger.

But in escaping she discovers her house holds the gateway to the REALM OF BELLANIA - a place of myth, magic . . . and an evil Lord with a very bad attitude.

NOW its fate rests squarely upon Charlie's shoulders. But before she can untangle the mystery that will save Bellania, she needs the answer to a life-changing secret her guardian, the dastardly Mr Crow, has been keeping from her . . . Just who is Charlie Keeper?

A contemporary fantasy adventure for 8+ with elements of The Wizard of Oz and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.


My Thoughts
What can I say about 'Crow's Revenge' - Will I really was reluctant to write this review, BUT not for the reason you may think.

I hated to have to admit to myself that the adventure and book was over.

What a fantastic read, can't believe that it is aimed 'mainly' for children. Wow, it truly was an adventure of a life time for Charlie (the character) and Alexander's (Marcus the author) readers.

It is 'Harry Potter' meets 'Wizard of Oz' meets 'The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe' meets 'Inkheart' all rolled into One Book.

Every page was jam packed fill of adventure and fun. The story was easy to follow with short and extremely difficult to put down.

I know it is aimed for those aged 8+, but like Harry Potter and in my case Inkheart they truly can be enjoyed by avid readers of any age.

I can't wait for my nephew to get a little older so I can get him this series. Now I just have to wait for Markus to write some more.


My Rating
Well what could I rate this book other than 5? Great book that can be enjoyed by adults, children and those who are truly young at heart. Perfect. With short chapters and sentences it can be a great way to get children into reading. P.S. The pictures are absolutely amazingly drawn.

Like what I've wrote? then check out my book blog for more reviews, author and book info as well as book-tours/blitz as well as Gift ideas and give-aways. Head to http://ailsahindhaughabookworm4life.w... NOW for all your book needs!

[Ancient Mariner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was dubious about picking up this book but feeling that I needed a break from my new addiction to the Wheel of Time series decided to take the plunge.

Crow's Revenge is not high fantasy. It's not LOTR and it's definitely not WOT and if I had been hoping to read something along those lines I would have been seriously upset because Crow's Revenge isn't similar by any means. But it is good - really good and one of those rare books that I read in less that 48hrs.

While I found the idea of a heroine with missing parents, a horrible guardian and a lovely grandmother wildly unoriginal the rest of the story more than makes up for this shortcoming. With fast storytelling, larger than life characters, great twists on the stereotypes of magic and dragons, an amazing new acrobatic sport called kchanga and moments where you actually laugh out loud and more importantly a female heroine that acts with guts and determination Crow's Revenge has all the elements required to become a legendary book.

[Tapenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally hooks you in. and I mean literally. once you have started you just can't stop. Charlie keeper takes you with her to the land of Bellania and it is as if you are there talking with her. Marcus has an amazing imagination. I felt as though I was with Charlie and once I finished the book, I started reading it again. I'm half way through the second time I've read it, and even though I have read it before every thing that happened came, again, as a surprise. I will treasure this book forever and I hope that Marcus keeps writing stories just like it. Overall it was AMAZING!!!! LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU MARCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Princess Luly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Alexander came to my school and when I heard he was selling this book I thought ok yaya its just a book couldn't be that good anyway but I saw his power point and it encouraged to to buy it.so I went for it.i just couldn't stop reading this book.it was the best book I have ever read.

[Laguz-Algiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that this book interesting as the way that the author actually wrote a well developed female main character who's name is Charlie Keeper coming from a male author of a young persons book this I have found in other books hasn't worked but in keeper of the realms it works fantastically as Charlie is a strong young girl who in the first book of the series is a bit unsure of herself and her instincts about her adventure and also her ability to do what those in this mysterious new realm seem to think that she can do.
Crows Revenge is the first book of a trilogy and as the first book you may expect it to be slow moving but this book is't from the very start of the book you are thrown into the life of a young girl who's very life is controlled by Crow the family lawyer but it is not him that forces Charlie into the adventure that she ultimately ends up on ,no, it was a bloodthirsty beast who seems to control the very shadows around her.
The adventure rely starts when Charlie meets a mysterious strange looking man whom she meets before she is forced to run from the bloodthirsty beast he sparks her interest and when she meets him again she becomes fast friends with him and his merry band of tree loving men and their rather scary looking dog?
I think that Crows revenge should be read by both genders and by anyone over the age of 9 because the books are great and they also are interesting and challenging enough to make a good read for anyone as it is hard to tell friend from foe, truth from lie and the plot twists are probably the best thing about it as you start to think you know what's going to happen only for the complete opposite to occur. The mystery draws you in but once it has it's claws in you don't expect to put the book down until it's finished also insure that you haven immediate access to the rest of the series as you won't want to stop.

[Alex]

Absolutely adored the book! everything seemed to just flow and the story line is fabulous, don't even get me started on the characters!

the way everything is described is just fantastic, not many authors are able to provide such a great book with so little description, although it did make sense to focus on the action and not many authors can do that

I just loved everything about the book
keep up the good work :)

[Aaron Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book ever. the setting and charcters were outstanding bellina was a great fanatsy world the description of it made em feel like i was in the book. no book would compare to this book you yourself are a great author and your books should be world wide my favorite charcter is bane such a great character reminds me of myself in a bad mood I would reccommend it to all my friends .all I need to say IS Crows Revenge is the best book i have ever read thank you Marcus Alexander:)

[kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didnt enjoy this one i found it incredibly slow and boring. It picked up in the last 80ish pages

[Stafflib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book? It's amazing with a good plot, awesome characters and good use of emotions. You think of any emotion and it will be there. This is by far the best fantasy novel that has been published since Percy jackson and the Lightning Thief. Like the other two fantasy books I mentioned, this would make a good film and by the look of things, with a sequel coming up this will probably replace Harry Potter and will become the next great fantasy series. To conclude,this review, this book's awesome characters, gripping plot and emotion use make this a true must read!

[Christopher Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Names Christopher Smith,

And i had Marcus Alexander in our school today. Oh boy was he my type of person, He was funny, exciting and really enthusiastic. He was really friendly and now hes convinced me to be a writer when i'm older!!!
I loving (Reading it currently!!) his books: KOTR Crows Revenge & KOTR Dark Army, just bought them today.

From Christopher
P.s. If your reading this Marcus (Bro!) just want to say I LOVE our funky writing - It looks boss! & Youve convinced me to take up Parkour - It looks beast!

[Misty Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: Crow's Revenge|13143456]When I first started reading this book I thought that is was going to go on forever and take me a very long time to read but when I got to the second paragraph on the first page I was hooked in. It doesn't start like other books, it talks about what was going on and what was her story. That allowed me to really understand what the book was about and what Charlie's story was about and what had happened in her life to make her so special.

[Janelle Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Who is Charlie's Keeper" when it first came out. Loved it!! Puffin has picked up the book, re-released it as "Keeper of the Realms"
I am so excited to know we finally get to see where Charlie's adventures will take her. I appreciate an author speaking to the youth in a language they can relate to. Lots of adventure and action with heart.

[Eleanor Massey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great adventure story, especially for kids! Marcus came to my school on Thursday 13th June and was telling us all about his book. I bought them both I can't stop reading them! I love Marcus's imagination and description, it makes it seem real! READ THIS BOOK!

[Taylor CHUNG]

OMG I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!
It sounded boring at first but after I read the first few pages I wanted to keep reading and reading it!!!
I finished all of the books in the series within two days and am waiting for more to come out!!!!
MARCUS ALEXANDER I LOVE YOUR BOOKS SO MUCH!!!

[Greggory · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just amazing! The way the book was laid out was well done. For me, the most important thing in a book is the starting page, because that decides whether it's good or bad. The beginning of a book has to hook you, make you want to read on, and this book did that. It relates to real life in some aspects, but it is humorous, ingenious, and most of all, awe-inspiring.

The main protagonist, like in most other books, has a struggle, finds them self in a troublesome situation, gets powers, makes new friends, and overcomes their current problem. But the plot is still unique, which makes the book worth the read. Marcus even came to our school on the day that I finished it! It was pure coincidence, and he's a purely amazing guy. Most of the things he has input into the book is nothing short of ingenious. i commend him thoroughly; it's a great read!!

[Stafflib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book? It's amazing with a good plot, awesome characters and good use of emotions. You think of any emotion and it will be there. This is by far the best fantasy novel that has been published since Percy jackson and the Lightning Thief. Like the other two fantasy books I mentioned, this would make a good film and by the look of things, with a sequel coming up this will probably replace Harry Potter and will become the next great fantasy series. To conclude,this review, this book's awesome characters, gripping plot and emotion use make this a true must read!

[Caden Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of a adventure book and it is really cool since it has its own planet with its own creature. The main characters in this book is about a girl and a really mean lawyer who only wants her dad's money. This girl has a dad that lives in another planet and one day she opens the door that connects her house with the other planet her dad has been living on. Then she met a lot of different creatures which would protect her until she knows where her dad has gone. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes adventurous books, and like exciting scenes.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blimey, this is one large shot of adrenalin disguised as a book. Intense and full on, non-stop fantasy storytelling. Got a slightly angry teenage daughter - don't be put off by the cover - give her this!

[Shadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new YA favourite. Lots of adventure and action and lolz moments.

[Zane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Keepers life is as unpleasant as an iniccont ,ill-fated person stuck in a rat infested jail. The girls loving,caring parents are mysteriously lost and she is brutally forced to live with the black hearted lawyer called Mr Crow, who beats her like a broken rag doll and abuses his power(more than anyone could imagine ). Luckily, she escapes to a magical land called Bellania -however this is no fairytale. There is a giant monster on the loose scary enough to give even the bravest of people goosebumps. And, there are green,strange men (in Bellania)that unfortunately won't tell her abouy why her parents are lost or where they are... Are you after book full of chilling to the bone monsters and never seen before lands? Then this book is a no brained! Suitable for anyone who can read, this book you will enjoy for years to come.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Keeper's life is a total shipwreck. Her wealthy parents have been misplaced and she lives with her ailing grandma, who suffers badly from memory loss. Unusually, her dirty looking house has loads of eerie looking doors, which lead to different mysterious and magical realms also living among the building is Mr Crow, her legal guardian, he has bridgeworked teeth like tomb stones and has knifes instead of fingers, he wore a lengthy jet black coat, like a vampire and was extremely scary.

Did you ever imagine carefree Charlie would go into another kooky realm and be chased into a lanky river by a chaotic creature? Charlie's life is perfectly different to other regular children. This is suitable for ages 8-16, so make sure you get reading books about the keepers of the realm!

[Sophie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Keeper's life began extremely dull but suddenly turned into something completely and utterly magical. Her loving parents mysteriously vanished a few years ago, which has worried Charlie ever since she was very small. The outside of her house appeared to be strange, cranky and it didn't fit in at all, but, beneath all the grime and dirt, you could glimpse a few shimmers of the glorious past that had been left, and forgotten. Charlie's guardian was the mean,revolting Mr Crow, who had teamed up with the dark force from the land of Bellania...

Would you adore to read and embrace yourself in a book full of wonder, adventure and suspense? Don't worry when you finish it, because it's the first of an entire series! This series is suitable from children 8-16. 😉