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Worlds of Magic #1
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach
An ancient legend, a tragic love story, the sad grandfather of a lost child and an impulsive act draw Lucinda, Millie, Kate and Tom into a magic world where a search for immortality has become a desperate fight for survival. In a world where extinct and fabled creatures still exist and dragons are resurrected, the children are given an impossible quest in order to escape and return home. They are joined in their quest by Zebedia, an unpredictable dragon with a quest to save his lost love. Will they all survive?
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach is a coming-of-age fantasy adventure for middle grade readers. (But adults love it too!)
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach is a coming-of-age fantasy adventure for middle grade readers. (But adults love it too!)
151 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2013
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Bronwen Webb
2 books15 followersBronwen Webb (Bron) lives with her husband in Adelaide, South Australia and retired in 2013 after a long career in the health and higher education industries in Australia. Bron is currently writing The Ice Diamond, book 2 in the Worlds of Magic series. She has had several short stories published in anthologies for adults and children.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 21, 2016
I bought this book for my daughter and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The fantasy world that the author has created appealed to my daughter. All the characters were so beautiful. Specifically there are messages on ethics and morals in the book that work very well for children. My daughter liked the dragons and the unicorns in the story. After reading this book my daughter asked me if there was another book from the author. I am sure to look forward to the next book!
May 1, 2014
A definite read for early middle grade readers. It is full of action, mystery and suspense geared for children under 9. It has unicorn & dragons in a way I have never read about them before. I would recommend it for the young readers.
May 22, 2014
'The Legend of Wild Horse Beach' is an interesting tale of children, unicorns and dragons. Written for young children, the writing is simple and would easily suit early readers. There are passages of nice description and the plot is easy to follow.
I enjoyed the world building – the dragons in particular were engaging and included some interesting detail.
On the other hand, I found the characters of the children harder to engage with. While we are given a very brief introduction to them in the beginning, as a reader, I would have liked a little more time getting to know them and understand their relationships before jumping straight into the action. Although, younger readers might not be so concerned.
The pacing of the novel was fast and well suited to its audience. Some plot points were a little convenient (or occasionally unbelievable) and, while I know that younger readers are less likely to be critical of this, there were times that these pulled me out of the book.
This was a novel with real potential that just lacked a little fluency. The author has some really creative ideas and there were hints of backstory that left me incredibly intrigued.
I enjoyed the world building – the dragons in particular were engaging and included some interesting detail.
On the other hand, I found the characters of the children harder to engage with. While we are given a very brief introduction to them in the beginning, as a reader, I would have liked a little more time getting to know them and understand their relationships before jumping straight into the action. Although, younger readers might not be so concerned.
The pacing of the novel was fast and well suited to its audience. Some plot points were a little convenient (or occasionally unbelievable) and, while I know that younger readers are less likely to be critical of this, there were times that these pulled me out of the book.
This was a novel with real potential that just lacked a little fluency. The author has some really creative ideas and there were hints of backstory that left me incredibly intrigued.
February 23, 2015
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach has all the components to expertly capture a child’s imagination (and mine too). Four children are transported to a magical land where they must fight to save a race of unicorns from the clutches of the malevolent bat-like Merradagh. In addition, they must help a lovelorn male dragon rescue his true love from the curse of the same Merradah. To return to their own world, the children need the permission from the unicorn king, but they must first complete their mission. The story is sprinkled nicely with many other dangers and obstacles that our four adventures must overcome.
The story drips with foreboding atmosphere that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The book is scary, along the lines of Percy Jackson, yet not too much for the average middle school reader.
This is an exciting and rewarding story that children will be drawn to - like a bat to ripe fruit.
The story drips with foreboding atmosphere that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The book is scary, along the lines of Percy Jackson, yet not too much for the average middle school reader.
This is an exciting and rewarding story that children will be drawn to - like a bat to ripe fruit.
May 1, 2014
This is definitely a quirky fantasy tale, very different from the tale of elves, ogres and goblins. Yes, it's a very traditional tale, with dragons, witches, and unicorns, but magic flows very differently here. Gold dust from unicorn horns have incredible powers, whirlpools can lead to safety instead of a bottomless reservoir, and unicorns have telepathy.
There were several [what?] moments in the book, but its spirit is infectious. The reading gallops along, and brings a smile to your face. It's never boring or pretentious.
This book may have brought out an interesting moral dilemma: are the unicorns immoral for bringing children to danger and refusing to return them before their herd is saved, despite proof of the risk? But that's for adults to ponder; children will laugh instead, and savour this book. I did love this book. I look forward to more from this author.
There were several [what?] moments in the book, but its spirit is infectious. The reading gallops along, and brings a smile to your face. It's never boring or pretentious.
This book may have brought out an interesting moral dilemma: are the unicorns immoral for bringing children to danger and refusing to return them before their herd is saved, despite proof of the risk? But that's for adults to ponder; children will laugh instead, and savour this book. I did love this book. I look forward to more from this author.
May 16, 2014
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach was a very delightful read and loved the Author's idea. It was an easy read, magical, dangerous and also reminded me how much I loved unicorns when I was a child.
The characters are great and a mixture of personalities.
Children will enjoy the story because of the adventure and will keep them excited throughout the read, especially when they find out there is a dragon in the story which makes it more exciting.
I'm also happy this is a series book. Would love to read the rest!
The characters are great and a mixture of personalities.
Children will enjoy the story because of the adventure and will keep them excited throughout the read, especially when they find out there is a dragon in the story which makes it more exciting.
I'm also happy this is a series book. Would love to read the rest!
July 20, 2016
The story is simple and easy to follow along. The characters have their ideals and individualism while the diverse goals add some complexity to the plot. Though of the classical fantasy, there were some elements that I personally found unusual but interesting all at the same time.
While not my usual read, this is a good start to a series and the appetizer to the fantasy world presented by the story that young children can certainly enjoy being engaged into.
While not my usual read, this is a good start to a series and the appetizer to the fantasy world presented by the story that young children can certainly enjoy being engaged into.
May 24, 2014
Delightful and very enjoyable reading
Although I am well above the recommended reading age, I managed to find enough hours to finish the book in a couple of days. Flying unicorns that communicate telepathically, a dragon in love, a terrifying witch and a few children of different ages and personalities, woven into a story full of adventure makes this book well worth reading for almost any age.
I look forward to the next one. Will Zebedia the dragon rescue his love with the Ice Diamond?
Although I am well above the recommended reading age, I managed to find enough hours to finish the book in a couple of days. Flying unicorns that communicate telepathically, a dragon in love, a terrifying witch and a few children of different ages and personalities, woven into a story full of adventure makes this book well worth reading for almost any age.
I look forward to the next one. Will Zebedia the dragon rescue his love with the Ice Diamond?
May 29, 2014
The excitement starts very early on when the children find a mysterious object on the beach they believe is a sea shell, however, what they have found will lead them on an adventure to a magical land that will have them not just fighting for there own survival and freedom, but also that of a race of unicorns who face extinction by the hands, or claws, of Merradagh, who desires the unicorn's horns to harness their magical abilities. The children will also have to contend with a Zebedia, a male dragon, whose love, a female dragon named Sciathie, has been cursed by the evil Merradagh, and many other dangers and obstacles the will have to overcome if they hope to return home.
The author's writing makes the book an easy and enjoyable read and soon draws you into the story.
The created world is well described and atmospheric, as are the characters.
The book is aimed at children starting from 8/9 and upwards, but also enjoyable by those much older.
This is an ideal and exciting coming of age story that children will love to read.
Will the children succeed in their quests and return home, or will the evil Merradagh defeat them?
There is only one way to find out...
The author's writing makes the book an easy and enjoyable read and soon draws you into the story.
The created world is well described and atmospheric, as are the characters.
The book is aimed at children starting from 8/9 and upwards, but also enjoyable by those much older.
This is an ideal and exciting coming of age story that children will love to read.
Will the children succeed in their quests and return home, or will the evil Merradagh defeat them?
There is only one way to find out...
July 5, 2014
The Legend of Wild Horse Beach is an interesting story, quite unlike any other I've read. It's about four children going to a magical island of unicorns who need help. Every night the unicorns are attacked by a bat-like witch who scratches them, thus infecting them and making them lose their horns and their ability to fly. I found it particularly fascinating that the unicorns of The Legend of Wild Horse Beach are evil--they lure children to their island so that the kids would help them fight the witch. What these unicorns don't realize is that human children are no match for a flying witch. Such an awesome premise!
I found the book confusing in places, however, and I felt that the story would benefit from more extended portrayals of the four children. As it was, I was not even sure how old they were. Still, all in all, The Legend was a fun and fast-paced read.
I found the book confusing in places, however, and I felt that the story would benefit from more extended portrayals of the four children. As it was, I was not even sure how old they were. Still, all in all, The Legend was a fun and fast-paced read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews