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The Griffin's Egg
Lost in a wild West Virginia forest, Phoebe Gray's world is upended when she finds an irritable goblin named Gnish-Gnash. She’s stumbled into Lerch Hollow, a place of magic and mystery where trolls lurk in shadows and mermaids sway with the tide.
The young adventurer soon finds herself caught up in a race against time; the Dark Mistress Lucinda is on the hunt for the last Griffin's egg, for its power will make her unstoppable. It is up to Phoebe to protect the egg while discovering the secrets of her own magical connection to the mysterious wizard Thatcher.
With Gnish at her side and her grandfather’s old cloak on her back, Phoebe must protect this enchanted world from destruction.
Listening Length: 4 hours and 52 minutes
The young adventurer soon finds herself caught up in a race against time; the Dark Mistress Lucinda is on the hunt for the last Griffin's egg, for its power will make her unstoppable. It is up to Phoebe to protect the egg while discovering the secrets of her own magical connection to the mysterious wizard Thatcher.
With Gnish at her side and her grandfather’s old cloak on her back, Phoebe must protect this enchanted world from destruction.
Listening Length: 4 hours and 52 minutes
5 pages, Audiobook
First published January 15, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2777 people want to read
About the author
Cole Poindexter
4 books30 followersCole Poindexter grew up enthralled by the writers who changed fiction in the nineties and early 2000s, ranging from George Lucas to Patricia C. Wrede and Neil Gaiman.
His first children's novel, released by The Wild Rose Press, is due January 2024.
Praise for The Griffin’s Egg: “A magical tale that teaches that kindness is a superpower in every realm.” - 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
His first children's novel, released by The Wild Rose Press, is due January 2024.
Praise for The Griffin’s Egg: “A magical tale that teaches that kindness is a superpower in every realm.” - 𝘒𝘪𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 29, 2023
It was true. She loved to get lost in her own imaginary world, one with dragons and princesses and mermaids, because it was much easier than the real thing.
📍Release Date: 15 January, 2024
This is such a cute story. It's fast-paced, wholesome, and full of adventure. I particularly loved all the different types of creatures that take part in it. Even though the book is about two hundred pages long, the world-building is thorough, fully understandable, and perfect for the targeted audience. There are a lot of cool action scenes and even some fun plot twists.
Also, the characters are all adorable. Pheobe is such a brave and smart young girl. She is kind and sweet, and wants nothing more than to help all living creatures. She loves to live in her own little world rather than exist in the real one, which is honestly such a mood. Besides, she meets so many different characters during her journey. Unsurprisingly, my favorite one is the cat. Maven is such a hilarious, sassy character. She's exactly what real cats would be like if they could talk.
Moreover, while Pheobe does make a lot of friends in her short journey, not all of them begin as such. A lot of the friendships she forms begin with mistrust and animosity. Some are even her enemies. Nevertheless, friendships gradually blossom, adding a nice touch to the development of the characters. On that note, I appreciated the depth of all the characters, specifically, that of the villain. Lucinda may be the bad guy in the story, but her character is much more complex than that, something most children's books lack. She has a very compelling backstory that explains how she became a villain and even made me sympathize with her.
Regardless of how pleasant the story is, I initially found it a little hard to keep track of all the characters. There are quite a few characters in the story, as there should be. Nonetheless, they are introduced pretty quickly one after the other and I forgot who was whom at times. Other than that, this is a wonderful story and I think many children would enjoy it.
📍Release Date: 15 January, 2024
This is such a cute story. It's fast-paced, wholesome, and full of adventure. I particularly loved all the different types of creatures that take part in it. Even though the book is about two hundred pages long, the world-building is thorough, fully understandable, and perfect for the targeted audience. There are a lot of cool action scenes and even some fun plot twists.
Also, the characters are all adorable. Pheobe is such a brave and smart young girl. She is kind and sweet, and wants nothing more than to help all living creatures. She loves to live in her own little world rather than exist in the real one, which is honestly such a mood. Besides, she meets so many different characters during her journey. Unsurprisingly, my favorite one is the cat. Maven is such a hilarious, sassy character. She's exactly what real cats would be like if they could talk.
Moreover, while Pheobe does make a lot of friends in her short journey, not all of them begin as such. A lot of the friendships she forms begin with mistrust and animosity. Some are even her enemies. Nevertheless, friendships gradually blossom, adding a nice touch to the development of the characters. On that note, I appreciated the depth of all the characters, specifically, that of the villain. Lucinda may be the bad guy in the story, but her character is much more complex than that, something most children's books lack. She has a very compelling backstory that explains how she became a villain and even made me sympathize with her.
Regardless of how pleasant the story is, I initially found it a little hard to keep track of all the characters. There are quite a few characters in the story, as there should be. Nonetheless, they are introduced pretty quickly one after the other and I forgot who was whom at times. Other than that, this is a wonderful story and I think many children would enjoy it.
February 19, 2024
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Adam Varah
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 4 stars
Complete audiobook review
Phoebe gets lost in the woods of West Virginia. While she searches for her way back, she meets a strange creature. This creature turns out to be goblin Gnish-Gnash. Soon, a whole new world opens up for Phoebe, one with goblins, trolls, wizards, and magic. On this journey, she also discovers something about herself.
Simple but engaging plot, it's a middle-grade fantasy novel. It contains many positive messages, as befits such a book.
Thanks to Wild Rose Press for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 4 stars
Complete audiobook review
Phoebe gets lost in the woods of West Virginia. While she searches for her way back, she meets a strange creature. This creature turns out to be goblin Gnish-Gnash. Soon, a whole new world opens up for Phoebe, one with goblins, trolls, wizards, and magic. On this journey, she also discovers something about herself.
Simple but engaging plot, it's a middle-grade fantasy novel. It contains many positive messages, as befits such a book.
Thanks to Wild Rose Press for the advance copy and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
October 11, 2023
This book swept me away. I read fourteen chapters in one go and got a bit busy, so the two remaining were burning a hole in my brain.
I loved this book, really did.
The plot was well crafted, the world building simple yet very compelling. The pace was just as it should be, our heroes, yes, I said heroes, because in this book, it's not just Phoebe who does it all, but everyone played his/her part and this is an awesome thing to put in a book. So, as I was saying, our heroes didn't have a moment rest, Everything went so fast, and Lucinda being after them like the pest she is, they went from adventure to adventure with hardly time to breath.
The characters: very well developped, each one of them had a personality, flaws and qualities that made him/her unique to play a crucial role in the story.
So, I highly recommend this book to children and adults (children in hiding). As you'll be immersed in an adventure with lots of love, friendships, mini-heart attacks, courage, you'll also get to see the consequences of bullying and not accepting each other's differences
This book will be, not only, lots of fun but also a teacher and a friend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this book, really did.
The plot was well crafted, the world building simple yet very compelling. The pace was just as it should be, our heroes, yes, I said heroes, because in this book, it's not just Phoebe who does it all, but everyone played his/her part and this is an awesome thing to put in a book. So, as I was saying, our heroes didn't have a moment rest, Everything went so fast, and Lucinda being after them like the pest she is, they went from adventure to adventure with hardly time to breath.
The characters: very well developped, each one of them had a personality, flaws and qualities that made him/her unique to play a crucial role in the story.
So, I highly recommend this book to children and adults (children in hiding). As you'll be immersed in an adventure with lots of love, friendships, mini-heart attacks, courage, you'll also get to see the consequences of bullying and not accepting each other's differences
This book will be, not only, lots of fun but also a teacher and a friend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 1, 2024
I listen to this audiobook of a fun, fast paced, middle grade tale of Phoebe who meets the goblin Gnish-Gnash. Gnish is in possession of a super rare griffin egg. The evil Mistress, Lucinda, will stop at nothing to get her hands on. The author takes us on a wonderful adventure. I have grandchildren who like to read. I have a feeling they will love this book. The story flows and if you get the audiobook, the narrator makes it fun and exciting. If you have middle grade children or grandchildren grab this book. The author Cole Poindexter has a talent to write to the level of young children, yet an adult can enjoy the story.
I wish to thank NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for a copy of this audiobook. The narrator, Adam Varah, is excellent. This review is made from my own opinions and is freely given
I wish to thank NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for a copy of this audiobook. The narrator, Adam Varah, is excellent. This review is made from my own opinions and is freely given
December 7, 2023
The Griffin's Egg is one of the best children adventure fantasy book I read this year. It is totally a hidden gem. I am not the fans of the cover. It is lack cheerful colors and adorable illustration to catching eyes of our younger readers.
The story itself is big surprise from the begining. It presenting intriguing fantasy world building behind the wild full with magnificent creatures and magics. The writing is good and enjoyable. I love the pace and all packed action scenes. The MC Phoebe is adorable, brave and very supportive. It is very easy to love her since the early page. The conflict and twist interesting enough for older reader.
Very promising story and I wish more adventures from Lerch Hollow and Phoebe.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story itself is big surprise from the begining. It presenting intriguing fantasy world building behind the wild full with magnificent creatures and magics. The writing is good and enjoyable. I love the pace and all packed action scenes. The MC Phoebe is adorable, brave and very supportive. It is very easy to love her since the early page. The conflict and twist interesting enough for older reader.
Very promising story and I wish more adventures from Lerch Hollow and Phoebe.
Thank you to Netgalley and Wild Rose Press for providing a copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 22, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
As a big lover of animals myself I really appreciated the ‘animal researcher’ aspect of Phoebe’s upbringing. Sometimes things she knew about animals in the human world would translate into her interactions with the magical creatures and I felt like that helped to emphasize a message of loving all creatures and appreciating other’s differences.
As she moved through Luch Hollow and met more creatures, Phoebe discovered her own magical powers and made mistakes as she learned to how to use them wisely. The story’s focus on admitting and fixing mistakes, and being kind is also an aspect I liked. While Phoebe’s magical powers were super cool, her real superpower was empathy. Yes it’s cheesy at times but it’s MG and I like my MG with a hearty dose of wholesome!
Now, nothing is perfect so I do need to discuss the elements I didn’t love.
Throughout their adventures I noticed there was a trend where Phoebe would ask a question and Gnish-Gnash would not answer it then complain about all the questions. Once or twice this could serve to show Gnish’s grumpy personality or point to urgency (they are in a race against time after all). But it was so many times that I actually found myself very annoyed at this pattern.
Secondly, I listened to the audiobook and did not love the narration style. Adam Varah did voices and accents but sometimes sections would sound a bit monotone and failed to fully capture my attention.
Read if you like:
-Middle Grade Fantasy with a FMC
-Stories that deal with the effects of bullying
-Trolls, Griffins, Goblins, Elves and Satyrs, Oh my!
As a big lover of animals myself I really appreciated the ‘animal researcher’ aspect of Phoebe’s upbringing. Sometimes things she knew about animals in the human world would translate into her interactions with the magical creatures and I felt like that helped to emphasize a message of loving all creatures and appreciating other’s differences.
As she moved through Luch Hollow and met more creatures, Phoebe discovered her own magical powers and made mistakes as she learned to how to use them wisely. The story’s focus on admitting and fixing mistakes, and being kind is also an aspect I liked. While Phoebe’s magical powers were super cool, her real superpower was empathy. Yes it’s cheesy at times but it’s MG and I like my MG with a hearty dose of wholesome!
Now, nothing is perfect so I do need to discuss the elements I didn’t love.
Throughout their adventures I noticed there was a trend where Phoebe would ask a question and Gnish-Gnash would not answer it then complain about all the questions. Once or twice this could serve to show Gnish’s grumpy personality or point to urgency (they are in a race against time after all). But it was so many times that I actually found myself very annoyed at this pattern.
Secondly, I listened to the audiobook and did not love the narration style. Adam Varah did voices and accents but sometimes sections would sound a bit monotone and failed to fully capture my attention.
Read if you like:
-Middle Grade Fantasy with a FMC
-Stories that deal with the effects of bullying
-Trolls, Griffins, Goblins, Elves and Satyrs, Oh my!
October 29, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A fun world-hopping adventure of a brave little girl and the rag-tag group of friends she picks up along the way in her quest to defeat the Dark Mistress and save the Griffins.
The Griffin's Egg was a fun, fast paced story with well developed characters and an expansive world. I did find it a little bit frustrating that Gnish wouldn't answer any of Phoebe's questions throughout the book. I know there needed to be an element of mystery about the whole thing, but I always find the 'avoiding answering questions' trope because 'there's no time' a bit irritating. Other than that, I quite enjoyed the story of Phoebe and her friends. One thing I particularly liked was how the villain had a 'reason' for being a villain. Too often the bad guy is simply bad because the story needs a villain, but Lucinda actually had some history that explained why she became the way she did.
I hope there are more books forthcoming in this world.
A fun world-hopping adventure of a brave little girl and the rag-tag group of friends she picks up along the way in her quest to defeat the Dark Mistress and save the Griffins.
The Griffin's Egg was a fun, fast paced story with well developed characters and an expansive world. I did find it a little bit frustrating that Gnish wouldn't answer any of Phoebe's questions throughout the book. I know there needed to be an element of mystery about the whole thing, but I always find the 'avoiding answering questions' trope because 'there's no time' a bit irritating. Other than that, I quite enjoyed the story of Phoebe and her friends. One thing I particularly liked was how the villain had a 'reason' for being a villain. Too often the bad guy is simply bad because the story needs a villain, but Lucinda actually had some history that explained why she became the way she did.
I hope there are more books forthcoming in this world.
September 28, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and the author for this ARC of the Griffin's Egg middle grade book! Overall, I found it to be an enjoyable read. The book opens up with Phoebe Gray being lost in the woods and sporting a distracted goblin who is currently fleeing with a stolen griffin egg. As Phoebe calls out to the goblin and begins to ask it questions, she quickly becomes involved with the situation of safeguarding the stolen egg from Lucinda, the evil mistress. Phoebe must travel with Gnish to his home world to save it from the forces of evil.
I gave this book 4 stars out of 5. The world building was there and you could tell the author took time to craft his world. He also introduces young readers to a myriad of mythical creatures that exist in this alternative universe. My only two complaints (why a star was docked as a result) is that there needs to be someone to re edit the book in regards to the frequency of POV changes. There was a few areas where there was no three (***)'s to separate the POV changes.
The other complaint is that I hope the author adds 2-3 "downtime" scenes in the book. I became mentally fatigued with the back to back battles occurring in multiple chapters in the book itself. I would LOVE to see fun character building opportunities with our heroic traveling party as a way to help their friendship grow and strengthen their bonds. This form of caring and compassion could be the source and the drive for Phoebe's magic to grow from a novice witch to an advanced skilled witch.
Also, I hope the publisher considers adding a reader's discussion guide that teachers and parents can use to help their kids with reading comprehension skills as well as learning the story morals in which they can apply to their lives.
All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable book. I can see this being in kids homes, the classroom mini libraries in addition to school and public libraries for kids to read and enjoy. Again, thank you Netgalley, Cole Poindexter, and Wild Rose Press for allowing readers the opportunity to read and review this children's book. In exchange for an honest review, you've allowed me an opportunity to become better familiar with the Net galley server features and start putting in book reviews in the hopes of being allowed to read requested books from other publishers at a later date.
I gave this book 4 stars out of 5. The world building was there and you could tell the author took time to craft his world. He also introduces young readers to a myriad of mythical creatures that exist in this alternative universe. My only two complaints (why a star was docked as a result) is that there needs to be someone to re edit the book in regards to the frequency of POV changes. There was a few areas where there was no three (***)'s to separate the POV changes.
The other complaint is that I hope the author adds 2-3 "downtime" scenes in the book. I became mentally fatigued with the back to back battles occurring in multiple chapters in the book itself. I would LOVE to see fun character building opportunities with our heroic traveling party as a way to help their friendship grow and strengthen their bonds. This form of caring and compassion could be the source and the drive for Phoebe's magic to grow from a novice witch to an advanced skilled witch.
Also, I hope the publisher considers adding a reader's discussion guide that teachers and parents can use to help their kids with reading comprehension skills as well as learning the story morals in which they can apply to their lives.
All in all, I found this to be an enjoyable book. I can see this being in kids homes, the classroom mini libraries in addition to school and public libraries for kids to read and enjoy. Again, thank you Netgalley, Cole Poindexter, and Wild Rose Press for allowing readers the opportunity to read and review this children's book. In exchange for an honest review, you've allowed me an opportunity to become better familiar with the Net galley server features and start putting in book reviews in the hopes of being allowed to read requested books from other publishers at a later date.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2024
Absolutely cute. I read the audio version and I love the accents for the magical creatures. They were the poshiest ! XD It's a cute adventure, full of twists and turns. Sure you see things coming, but it's still very enjoyable and fun.
February 13, 2024
Good music at the end of the audiobook!
I loved this book!
I loved this book!
December 12, 2024
3.5 stars
Book: 4 stars
Audiobook: 3 stars
RTC
Book: 4 stars
Audiobook: 3 stars
RTC
December 16, 2023
What can I say? This book was perfect. The story was well-written in simple, engaging language that's perfect for children, and the magic of the story pulls you straight in. It has everything I look for in a good childrens book: magical forests, magical creatures, powerful friendships, and a happy ending.
The story is fast-paced and grips you from the start - I couldn't put it down. The characters were fun and engaging, the plot line was great, and the action was captivating.
I listened to it on audiobook, and I thought the narration was fantastic as well.
All round, a brilliant read that I will be recommending to everyone!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC copy of this book ✨️
The story is fast-paced and grips you from the start - I couldn't put it down. The characters were fun and engaging, the plot line was great, and the action was captivating.
I listened to it on audiobook, and I thought the narration was fantastic as well.
All round, a brilliant read that I will be recommending to everyone!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC copy of this book ✨️
January 12, 2024
What a most DELIGHTFUL tale! The plotting is superb, the descriptive settings vivid, and the characters (human and Otherworldly) are so endearing! Young Phoebe, the child MC (age 10) is a brave and intrepid explorer, and her new Goblin companion Gnish-Gnash is adorable and often wry. The antagonists are scary but not terrifyingly so, and the story is suitable for readers upper-elementary and older. Also is great as a chapter book for bedtime stories.
I really enjoyed the Narrator, Cole Poindexter, who truly brings the story to life and renders the tale even more special (also a great bedtime story listening experience!).
I really enjoyed the Narrator, Cole Poindexter, who truly brings the story to life and renders the tale even more special (also a great bedtime story listening experience!).
January 23, 2024
Thank you netgalley for the advance Arc of this audiobook
*Middle Grade
* Fantasy
* Female Child Main Charcter
* Witches
* Hero Journey
* Friendship
This story is so beautiful written and I can see children loving this and seeing themselves as the main child character, the friendships made in this story shows that even from differences Friendship can always be made when u find out who a person is beyond what they are seen as. Bravery and doing what's right at any cost is what's done by people and children with hearts of gold.
*Middle Grade
* Fantasy
* Female Child Main Charcter
* Witches
* Hero Journey
* Friendship
This story is so beautiful written and I can see children loving this and seeing themselves as the main child character, the friendships made in this story shows that even from differences Friendship can always be made when u find out who a person is beyond what they are seen as. Bravery and doing what's right at any cost is what's done by people and children with hearts of gold.
September 27, 2023
Phoebe Gray lives quite an exciting, if isolated, existence. Her mom and dad are wildlife biologists, and she travels with them in the holidays as they help the animals in their care. When she gets lost in a forest in West Virginia she has no idea what is about to happen but meeting up with a bad tempered goblin in a place called Lerch Hollow does make her realise things have changed!
When the goblin, known as Gnish-Gnash, tells her he is looking for the last Griffin egg to prevent Dark Mistress Lucinda using it to become the most powerful being of all Phoebe finds herself searching too. Before long, as she discovers the magic hidden within her, she comes across trolls, mermaids, and satyrs, not all of whom are exactly as they seem! Can Phoebe help find the egg and save this mystic kingdom, or will the dark magic prevail and prevent her from ever returning home?
This is an original take on the usual fantasy themes with a slightly younger than normal main protagonist who is instantly likeable and very easy to root for. Phoebe's main ally, Gnish-Gnash, is also fun, and their journey together is full of adventure and camaraderie as they work well together. If I have a criticism, it is that there are a lot of mystical creatures included, and the storyline gets a little overcrowded at times. This is written as a standalone, but there is a tiny portal of possibility should the author wish to revisit, and if that happens, I would happily travel with him.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, The Wild Rose Press, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a lovely book which I happily recommend.
When the goblin, known as Gnish-Gnash, tells her he is looking for the last Griffin egg to prevent Dark Mistress Lucinda using it to become the most powerful being of all Phoebe finds herself searching too. Before long, as she discovers the magic hidden within her, she comes across trolls, mermaids, and satyrs, not all of whom are exactly as they seem! Can Phoebe help find the egg and save this mystic kingdom, or will the dark magic prevail and prevent her from ever returning home?
This is an original take on the usual fantasy themes with a slightly younger than normal main protagonist who is instantly likeable and very easy to root for. Phoebe's main ally, Gnish-Gnash, is also fun, and their journey together is full of adventure and camaraderie as they work well together. If I have a criticism, it is that there are a lot of mystical creatures included, and the storyline gets a little overcrowded at times. This is written as a standalone, but there is a tiny portal of possibility should the author wish to revisit, and if that happens, I would happily travel with him.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, The Wild Rose Press, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a lovely book which I happily recommend.
December 28, 2023
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
A reasonably good middle grade fantasy story for children and kids at heart. An enjoyable adventure. Very suitable narration. Didn’t stand out for any reason, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Could use a little diversity in its characters. Would be interested in the second book if there was one.
(I received this ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.)
A reasonably good middle grade fantasy story for children and kids at heart. An enjoyable adventure. Very suitable narration. Didn’t stand out for any reason, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Could use a little diversity in its characters. Would be interested in the second book if there was one.
(I received this ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.)
September 4, 2023
This book was excellent. There is truly never a slow moment in the book. As you read on the book just gets better and better. I love the world building, the magical creatures and the magic used in the book. The characters are well thought out and very well done. I enjoy the main message that the book is trying to convey to its readers. There is honestly nothing I would change about this book. I am excited to read any further books from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 18, 2023
What worked:
Gnish-Gnash is an intriguing character as he likes to overstate his abilities and is clearly reluctant to share some information about his past. This goblin is in possession of the last griffin egg but there’s some uncertainty surrounding how he’s gotten it. The vagueness in his comments indicates he’s hiding things from Phoebe which may make readers wonder if he’s good or bad. He’s also done something wrong among the goblins because he may not be welcome if he tries to return home. The uncertainty of his past makes him an interesting character to watch.
The plot has continuous action as Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash try to stay one step ahead of the Dark Mistress Lucinda. She’s forced some characters to recover the griffin’s egg and others hope to gain her favor once she controls all the lands. Other characters are enchanted into supporting Lucinda and are unaware of their own behaviors. The positive part of her evilness is Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash are constantly on the run which allows readers to constantly discover new magical settings and characters. Whenever the characters enter new settings, there’s always doubt as to whether they’ll encounter helpful friends or dangerous foes. The conflict between Phoebe and Lucinda is the focus of the story.
Some vagueness in Phoebe’s past makes her the most interesting character. She’s given her grandfather’s purple cape when her grandmother decides she’s responsible enough to have it. It’s a little wacky to wear a purple cape and why would she need to wait to receive it? After she enters a portal into the magical world, Phoebe discovers she’s able to change into different kinds of animals. This ability is attributed to the purple cape although other characters posit that Phoebe’s actually a witch. Maybe it’s due to the magical world itself. Readers begin to assume she’ll be able to use her powers to escape every situation but they may also wonder if she has other undiscovered abilities. It turns out that she’s a pretty smart young girl since she uses her quick thinking to come up with creative ways to use her powers. Her unending kindness creates its own form of magic.
What didn’t work as well:
Phoebe doesn’t bat an eye when she discovers a goblin, a griffin’s egg, and a portal to an enchanted world of magic which is hard to believe. The author doesn’t provide any time for Phoebe and readers to adjust to the change from reality to fantasy. There are quick transitions in action and events throughout the plot, more so in the beginning, which seems too abrupt and underdeveloped
The final verdict:
The fast-paced plot and Phoebe’s character are highlights of the book. The griffin’s egg is the catalyst for the conflict but the story goes beyond that. Overall, this book is very entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.
Gnish-Gnash is an intriguing character as he likes to overstate his abilities and is clearly reluctant to share some information about his past. This goblin is in possession of the last griffin egg but there’s some uncertainty surrounding how he’s gotten it. The vagueness in his comments indicates he’s hiding things from Phoebe which may make readers wonder if he’s good or bad. He’s also done something wrong among the goblins because he may not be welcome if he tries to return home. The uncertainty of his past makes him an interesting character to watch.
The plot has continuous action as Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash try to stay one step ahead of the Dark Mistress Lucinda. She’s forced some characters to recover the griffin’s egg and others hope to gain her favor once she controls all the lands. Other characters are enchanted into supporting Lucinda and are unaware of their own behaviors. The positive part of her evilness is Phoebe and Gnish-Gnash are constantly on the run which allows readers to constantly discover new magical settings and characters. Whenever the characters enter new settings, there’s always doubt as to whether they’ll encounter helpful friends or dangerous foes. The conflict between Phoebe and Lucinda is the focus of the story.
Some vagueness in Phoebe’s past makes her the most interesting character. She’s given her grandfather’s purple cape when her grandmother decides she’s responsible enough to have it. It’s a little wacky to wear a purple cape and why would she need to wait to receive it? After she enters a portal into the magical world, Phoebe discovers she’s able to change into different kinds of animals. This ability is attributed to the purple cape although other characters posit that Phoebe’s actually a witch. Maybe it’s due to the magical world itself. Readers begin to assume she’ll be able to use her powers to escape every situation but they may also wonder if she has other undiscovered abilities. It turns out that she’s a pretty smart young girl since she uses her quick thinking to come up with creative ways to use her powers. Her unending kindness creates its own form of magic.
What didn’t work as well:
Phoebe doesn’t bat an eye when she discovers a goblin, a griffin’s egg, and a portal to an enchanted world of magic which is hard to believe. The author doesn’t provide any time for Phoebe and readers to adjust to the change from reality to fantasy. There are quick transitions in action and events throughout the plot, more so in the beginning, which seems too abrupt and underdeveloped
The final verdict:
The fast-paced plot and Phoebe’s character are highlights of the book. The griffin’s egg is the catalyst for the conflict but the story goes beyond that. Overall, this book is very entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.
January 10, 2024
This is pretty fun. The main character stumbles into another world and discovers that it has an older connection to her family. She develops her powers as a witch to help the inhabitants of the other world. Most of it is extremely fun and cute wish fulfillment for children who love animals and magic.
SPOILERS START HERE
Okay so the part that bothers me about this book is the handling of the main character’s vegetarianism. It’s baffling. So the main character is a vegetarian because her family are biologists who work in wildlife rehabilitation. Reasonable. Then she goes to the other world and learns that she can turn in to any other animal that she wants (a lot of the fights in this book could have been solved if she had just turned into a bear instead of a mouse or bat, but that’s not super relevant, they were still fun) and then she goes on to act as though other people eating animals in front of her is just normal and fine even though she has been those animals. There is literally a part where she spends some time as a rat, meets a guy who eats rats, and then when she is offered rat she just asks for a vegetarian alternative instead and he just gives her one and she doesn’t think any further about it even though he is literally in front of her eating an animal that she was just a few hours earlier. Nobody is ever like “oh any of these animals could be a wizard or witch, maybe we have even more reasons not to eat animals in a world where they could actually just be humans in disguise.” It’s not addressed except at one part where the main character says that she could just as easily be a fish when another character mentions eating fish and no one thinks too hard about it and it’s just not really considered. I get it’s a children’s book, but this would have freaked me out as a child and the way it is not addressed would have freaked me out even more than actually addressing it.
Also all elves are vegetarians, but near the end the princess of the elves says that she thinks that when she becomes queen she will make it so that elves eat chicken in addition to vegetarian food. It’s really weird considering her friend is a person who can turn into animals at will and talks about nursing a chicken back to health.
The author is almost definitely not a vegetarian and it shows. All the vegetarian food described is terribly lacking in nutrition, no beans, peas, lentils, soy, or nuts ever come up. The vegetarian food in this book is just berries, roasted carrots, bread, and a vegetable and mushroom soup. Those aren’t foods good for adventuring, you need some legumes and starches. Feed this kid some imaginary beans, she’s a growing girl.
Thanks NetGalley, for the audiobook.
SPOILERS START HERE
Okay so the part that bothers me about this book is the handling of the main character’s vegetarianism. It’s baffling. So the main character is a vegetarian because her family are biologists who work in wildlife rehabilitation. Reasonable. Then she goes to the other world and learns that she can turn in to any other animal that she wants (a lot of the fights in this book could have been solved if she had just turned into a bear instead of a mouse or bat, but that’s not super relevant, they were still fun) and then she goes on to act as though other people eating animals in front of her is just normal and fine even though she has been those animals. There is literally a part where she spends some time as a rat, meets a guy who eats rats, and then when she is offered rat she just asks for a vegetarian alternative instead and he just gives her one and she doesn’t think any further about it even though he is literally in front of her eating an animal that she was just a few hours earlier. Nobody is ever like “oh any of these animals could be a wizard or witch, maybe we have even more reasons not to eat animals in a world where they could actually just be humans in disguise.” It’s not addressed except at one part where the main character says that she could just as easily be a fish when another character mentions eating fish and no one thinks too hard about it and it’s just not really considered. I get it’s a children’s book, but this would have freaked me out as a child and the way it is not addressed would have freaked me out even more than actually addressing it.
Also all elves are vegetarians, but near the end the princess of the elves says that she thinks that when she becomes queen she will make it so that elves eat chicken in addition to vegetarian food. It’s really weird considering her friend is a person who can turn into animals at will and talks about nursing a chicken back to health.
The author is almost definitely not a vegetarian and it shows. All the vegetarian food described is terribly lacking in nutrition, no beans, peas, lentils, soy, or nuts ever come up. The vegetarian food in this book is just berries, roasted carrots, bread, and a vegetable and mushroom soup. Those aren’t foods good for adventuring, you need some legumes and starches. Feed this kid some imaginary beans, she’s a growing girl.
Thanks NetGalley, for the audiobook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
First of all, thank you so much to the publisher and to netgalley for having this audiobook available on the "read now" section! It was exactly what I needed to read during this harsh start of the year.
The story follows Phoebe, a ten year old girl who gets accidentally lost in the woods, but instead of being able to go back to her parents, she gets swept in a magical world and accepts the quest to save it.
The plot starts right away, without much time to get to meet the characters. When I started it I thought The Griffin's Egg would not be for me, because I am not a plot driven reader at all. I usually get more from slow or medium paced novels, but since I had it for review I decided to push through. And oh boy! That has been one of the best decisions I have ever taken!
The prose is absolutely stunning, and the narrator of the audiobook does it justice. Everything feels so whymsical and nostalgic, while also felling original and exciting. The magical world is incredibily complex, but explained patiently enough that is easy to understand. And, as I said earlier, the story is very plot heavy, but not even when the characters find themselves in life or death situation it feels less cosy.
Plus, as the plot progresses, we do get to know the characters. And every single one of them is fleshed out, even the villain (which is rare for a middle grade story). I loved how the author wrote their arcs, it was amazing to get to see them grow so much in such a little amount of pages. Which by the way was perfect, because sometimes when I read longer middle grade, everything starts to feel a little repetitive and boring. But Poindexter didn't waste a single page, making every single moment action and emotionally charged in equal parts.
I did only give for stars because, as I said in the beginning, it took me a couple of chapters to get fully invested into the story. And there were aspects of it that were a bit predictable, but nonetheless, I absolutely recommend it, specially for autumn or winter days. It's one of those cosy reads that one can easily read in one sitting.
The story follows Phoebe, a ten year old girl who gets accidentally lost in the woods, but instead of being able to go back to her parents, she gets swept in a magical world and accepts the quest to save it.
The plot starts right away, without much time to get to meet the characters. When I started it I thought The Griffin's Egg would not be for me, because I am not a plot driven reader at all. I usually get more from slow or medium paced novels, but since I had it for review I decided to push through. And oh boy! That has been one of the best decisions I have ever taken!
The prose is absolutely stunning, and the narrator of the audiobook does it justice. Everything feels so whymsical and nostalgic, while also felling original and exciting. The magical world is incredibily complex, but explained patiently enough that is easy to understand. And, as I said earlier, the story is very plot heavy, but not even when the characters find themselves in life or death situation it feels less cosy.
Plus, as the plot progresses, we do get to know the characters. And every single one of them is fleshed out, even the villain (which is rare for a middle grade story). I loved how the author wrote their arcs, it was amazing to get to see them grow so much in such a little amount of pages. Which by the way was perfect, because sometimes when I read longer middle grade, everything starts to feel a little repetitive and boring. But Poindexter didn't waste a single page, making every single moment action and emotionally charged in equal parts.
I did only give for stars because, as I said in the beginning, it took me a couple of chapters to get fully invested into the story. And there were aspects of it that were a bit predictable, but nonetheless, I absolutely recommend it, specially for autumn or winter days. It's one of those cosy reads that one can easily read in one sitting.
December 10, 2023
Phoebe has gone out to the woods in West Virginia to explore while her parents are busy working. She is happy because she has finally gotten to wear her purple cape that was her grandpa’s. He died before she was born. As she explores, she realizes that she is lost. Just as she decided on a route that hopefully take her back to her parents. She hears a rustle. Phoebe worries it might be a bear. She can’t remember what her father told her to do in case she ran into one. Suddenly, out walks a strange looking creature. She decides to stay quiet . She hears him muttering to himself when a brown object falls out of his pocket. Phoebe yells out to the creature that turns out to be a goblin. Phoebe gives him the brown object which he hadn’t realized that it had fallen out of his bag. As she learns his name is Gnish-Gnash preferably called Gnish. She asks Gnish what the brown object is. When Gnish tells her it’s a griffin egg, Phoebe asks what a griffin is. Gnish can’t believe that she doesn’t know. He tells her his story ending it with trying to find a safe place to hide the egg so Lucinda the Dark Mistress can’t get it. Why does she want it? As they travel, Phoebe will meet all sorts of creatures, some good and some bad.. She discovers the purple cape is magic. How did that happen?
The author has written a story that has many twists and turns. It is a magical story that tells us how important family and friends are. It is an active adventure story where many of the characters each have their own charms and strengths are aptly described. I forgot to include flaws for each character. I enjoyed Phoebe’s journey in the separate dimension called Lerch Hollow. It was a magical place. I think Phoebe had one talent that wasn’t really magical — it was kindness to others.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author has written a story that has many twists and turns. It is a magical story that tells us how important family and friends are. It is an active adventure story where many of the characters each have their own charms and strengths are aptly described. I forgot to include flaws for each character. I enjoyed Phoebe’s journey in the separate dimension called Lerch Hollow. It was a magical place. I think Phoebe had one talent that wasn’t really magical — it was kindness to others.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
February 5, 2024
Phoebe is with her parents in a West Virginia forest when she stumbles across a goblin who then takes her into his work of Lerch Hollow. She doesn’t realize that she’s found herself entangled in a race to save a Griffin’s egg from a powerful dark witch who is hunting for it. She makes new friends and enemies while trying to protect the egg and discover her own strength along the way.
This work was quite linear, but it’s a MG fantasy so that’s not unreasonable. I enjoyed the simple story and the introduction of fun characters along the way. The trolls were surprisingly well written and ended up being some of my favorite characters. I did like that for the most part, the characters weren’t “good” or “bad.” Lucinda (the dark witch) was the most black and white character, which did make her feel a little cliché as a villain, but most MG readers probably won’t even notice this. Phoebe was a great protagonist and never felt too old or too young, and I enjoyed that she didn’t do everything on her own in this book – she always had help with the tasks/goals. I also enjoyed that while magic played a role, the aspect that made Phoebe so effective ended up being her kindness and empathy.
The setting of this work was well written, with cool descriptions and interesting fantasy creatures. The only thing I didn’t really care for was that the author used the “let’s not answer irritating questions” approach to keep an air of mystery surrounding certain aspects. This is not an approach that I like, but that’s just personal preference.
This fun fantasy adventure is a great MG read with a strong female protagonist. It is a standalone, though I think more books following Phoebe’s adventures would be fun. My thanks to NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This work was quite linear, but it’s a MG fantasy so that’s not unreasonable. I enjoyed the simple story and the introduction of fun characters along the way. The trolls were surprisingly well written and ended up being some of my favorite characters. I did like that for the most part, the characters weren’t “good” or “bad.” Lucinda (the dark witch) was the most black and white character, which did make her feel a little cliché as a villain, but most MG readers probably won’t even notice this. Phoebe was a great protagonist and never felt too old or too young, and I enjoyed that she didn’t do everything on her own in this book – she always had help with the tasks/goals. I also enjoyed that while magic played a role, the aspect that made Phoebe so effective ended up being her kindness and empathy.
The setting of this work was well written, with cool descriptions and interesting fantasy creatures. The only thing I didn’t really care for was that the author used the “let’s not answer irritating questions” approach to keep an air of mystery surrounding certain aspects. This is not an approach that I like, but that’s just personal preference.
This fun fantasy adventure is a great MG read with a strong female protagonist. It is a standalone, though I think more books following Phoebe’s adventures would be fun. My thanks to NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 20, 2024
The Griffin's Egg by Cole Poindexter introduces Phoebe Gray, a ten-year-old girl from Illinois who meets a peculiar being as she and her parents are releasing a screech owl in West Virginia. Phoebe finds herself in the middle of a fantastical adventure when she helps the being, a goblin named Gnish-Gnash, protect a griffin's egg from trolls. Phoebe passes through a portal with Gnish, and she is drawn into Lerch Hollow. As their fight continues, Phoebe learns she possesses certain powers that help her as she races to return the griffin egg to its mother before it hatches. The wizard, Thatcher, helps her as she runs from the Dark Mistress, Lucinda, and her minions. But Lucinda's power is strong, and she has many other beings helping her. It will be difficult to protect the egg from the witch, even though Phoebe's developing powers are unbelievably strong.
Cole Poindexter has developed an enchanting world with beautiful elves, scary trolls, and frightening monsters from the deep waters of the Lucient Sea. The characters are varied, and the reader must wait to see if they're meeting a friend or foe. Poindexter pushes readers straight into the action and holds their attention until the last page! Phoebe shows growth in the story as she learns to fix her mistakes, and she chooses to face Lucinda so the beings in Lerch Hollow can live the life they deserve. Parts of the book may open up good talking points with children who read the story, like learning to rethink a perception of someone who is trying to change. Lucinda and Phoebe discover they share some similarities, even though they have chosen different paths. The Griffin's Egg is a great story for readers who enjoy fantasy stories with lots of magic in well-developed worlds.
Cole Poindexter has developed an enchanting world with beautiful elves, scary trolls, and frightening monsters from the deep waters of the Lucient Sea. The characters are varied, and the reader must wait to see if they're meeting a friend or foe. Poindexter pushes readers straight into the action and holds their attention until the last page! Phoebe shows growth in the story as she learns to fix her mistakes, and she chooses to face Lucinda so the beings in Lerch Hollow can live the life they deserve. Parts of the book may open up good talking points with children who read the story, like learning to rethink a perception of someone who is trying to change. Lucinda and Phoebe discover they share some similarities, even though they have chosen different paths. The Griffin's Egg is a great story for readers who enjoy fantasy stories with lots of magic in well-developed worlds.
December 19, 2023
Phoebe and her parents are in West Virginia getting ready to release an American eagle that her mom has nursed back to health is nine year old Phoebe is out playing with her grandfathers purple cape around her she gets so carried away when she stops and wants to go home to eat dinner she realizes she is lost. This is when she meets Nishnash a goblin and he is also lost. One CBCs an egg fall out of his backpack he gets even more upset it seems “mash“ never does anything right or at least that’s what is teacher tells him the one they know there’s a giant troll coming for them Phoebe has no other choice but to follow Nash back into where he came from which is called Lurch Hollow. He did however promised that he would get Phoebe back home, but before that happens she will meet all kinds of strange creatures including royalty Summer nice and some are not so nice but the big question is will she ever make it back home? This is a great book about friendship and getting to know people regardless of how they first appear whether they are different or not. It also has great themes of believing in yourself and learning to take a complement. I thought this was an awesome book it is a children’s book that I think is great for any child of any age I am an adult and found this book adorable and funny with many LOL moments. This is a great book for any budding fantasy lover or wanting to inspire that love in your children. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
December 20, 2023
The children’s book „The Griffin‘s Egg“ by Cole Poindexter follows the little girl Pheobie encountering a goblin and being swept up in an adventure across the fantastical realm called Lerch Hollow.
What I liked about this book the most are the wonderful side characters and creatures. They had so much personality and were really imaginative. The creatures that were introduced are some of my favorite mythological creatures of all time and they aren’t portrayed enough in books in my opinion.
For me as a grownup reader the story did feel too fast paced. Every time the story seemed to calm down and give room for character development and conversation the pace immediately picked back up and the moment was over. Therefore the story lacked depth in my opinion. It also introduced too many „villains“, places and factions for the page count to also adequately provide a clear message. Even though I liked the individual elements, putting them all in one story felt slightly convoluted.
I listened to the audiobook and was overall happy with the performance by Adam Varah! The character voices were done well and their voice is really pleasant.
I would definitely recommend this as a bedtime story for small children. Dividing this story up in smaller chunks that all have an action scene and a slightly calmer resolution would fit perfectly for this purpose in my opinion.
A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Wild Rose Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I liked about this book the most are the wonderful side characters and creatures. They had so much personality and were really imaginative. The creatures that were introduced are some of my favorite mythological creatures of all time and they aren’t portrayed enough in books in my opinion.
For me as a grownup reader the story did feel too fast paced. Every time the story seemed to calm down and give room for character development and conversation the pace immediately picked back up and the moment was over. Therefore the story lacked depth in my opinion. It also introduced too many „villains“, places and factions for the page count to also adequately provide a clear message. Even though I liked the individual elements, putting them all in one story felt slightly convoluted.
I listened to the audiobook and was overall happy with the performance by Adam Varah! The character voices were done well and their voice is really pleasant.
I would definitely recommend this as a bedtime story for small children. Dividing this story up in smaller chunks that all have an action scene and a slightly calmer resolution would fit perfectly for this purpose in my opinion.
A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Wild Rose Press for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2024
This was an adorable middle grades book, that I listened to. It is a fast paced great story about a young girl on an accidental adventure.
The story follows Phoebe Grey who get a bit turned around in the woods and ends up in Lurch Hollow on an epic adventure to save a Griffin's Egg with her new Goblin friend, Gnish Gnash, as they pick up new friends and many enemies along the way. The entire book operates on the basic principle that kids are the ones who can save the world as long as they work together.
As Phoebe goes through, she adds more creature to her group of friends, while they take up the fight against Lucinda, the Dark Mistress who is after the Griffin's egg. Lucinda works to thwart Phoebe's kindness and tries to both kill her and then turn her to the darkness in Lucinda's heart.
The good vs. evil in the story is very apparent, but adorable because there are times with the goodness in her heart that Phoebe drags people to the "good" and away from the evil.
All in all, it is a good and cute read.
Side Note: it references a "war" and the dates don't quite add up for which one it might be. The grandfather references being in 9th grade in the 70's, and then a war with a reference to "foxes" like fox holes. So, I think it is more meant to be all the wars, with a point for kids to understand what their elders have been through. But it's a bit out of place.
Read/Listen if you like ...
Fantasy
Strong and inquisitive young FMC
Friends in strange places
all the supernatural creature
The story follows Phoebe Grey who get a bit turned around in the woods and ends up in Lurch Hollow on an epic adventure to save a Griffin's Egg with her new Goblin friend, Gnish Gnash, as they pick up new friends and many enemies along the way. The entire book operates on the basic principle that kids are the ones who can save the world as long as they work together.
As Phoebe goes through, she adds more creature to her group of friends, while they take up the fight against Lucinda, the Dark Mistress who is after the Griffin's egg. Lucinda works to thwart Phoebe's kindness and tries to both kill her and then turn her to the darkness in Lucinda's heart.
The good vs. evil in the story is very apparent, but adorable because there are times with the goodness in her heart that Phoebe drags people to the "good" and away from the evil.
All in all, it is a good and cute read.
Side Note: it references a "war" and the dates don't quite add up for which one it might be. The grandfather references being in 9th grade in the 70's, and then a war with a reference to "foxes" like fox holes. So, I think it is more meant to be all the wars, with a point for kids to understand what their elders have been through. But it's a bit out of place.
Read/Listen if you like ...
Fantasy
Strong and inquisitive young FMC
Friends in strange places
all the supernatural creature
December 18, 2023
The Griffin’s Egg is a fun children’s adventure in the style of a portal fantasy. A third grader, Phoebe, is looking for something to do in a forest on a lazy summer day and encounters a goblin protecting a griffin’s egg. When she discovers that she has the magical ability to change into different animals, Phoebe agrees to follow her new friend into a strange world and deliver the egg to safety. But with each turn, new friends and foes appear! She’ll have to stay on her toes to keep everyone safe.
It’s been a minute since I’ve read an actual children’s book, as opposed to middle grade. The pace is very quick, jumping to the next plot point without much break. While this was a bit of a whirlwind for adult me, I know little kid me would really appreciate the story moving forward this way so I would never get board. The world that Phoebe gets to explore is vast and full of fantastic creatures: mermaids, witches, trolls, etc. It was fun getting to discover everything with her. This is a good book for early readers looking for a quick, fun fantasy read.
It’s been a minute since I’ve read an actual children’s book, as opposed to middle grade. The pace is very quick, jumping to the next plot point without much break. While this was a bit of a whirlwind for adult me, I know little kid me would really appreciate the story moving forward this way so I would never get board. The world that Phoebe gets to explore is vast and full of fantastic creatures: mermaids, witches, trolls, etc. It was fun getting to discover everything with her. This is a good book for early readers looking for a quick, fun fantasy read.
January 12, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the audiobook to read as an Advanced Reader Copy.
Phoebe is a 4th grader whose parents are biologists. They’re on a mission to release a bird in West Virginia when she, and the cloak she insisted on bringing with her, get transported into another world.
It reminds me a lot of if Alice in Wonderland met a random collection of fantasy creatures from multiple cultures. It was pretty confusing seeing as how Phoebe and her family are from Illinois, but the narrator of the audiobook has an English accent.
The book starts off strong, but around the 50% mark, there’s just too much going on. Too many things going on without a rhyme or reason. Every time Phoebe asks a question there’s “no time to explain!” Too much “and then,” instead of “and so because.”
It pulls together pretty neatly though. I would have liked to have gotten to see the grandmother’s reaction to everything.
This is a pretty fun introduction to fantasy for kids. I think it will be more popular with kids under 12.
Phoebe is a 4th grader whose parents are biologists. They’re on a mission to release a bird in West Virginia when she, and the cloak she insisted on bringing with her, get transported into another world.
It reminds me a lot of if Alice in Wonderland met a random collection of fantasy creatures from multiple cultures. It was pretty confusing seeing as how Phoebe and her family are from Illinois, but the narrator of the audiobook has an English accent.
The book starts off strong, but around the 50% mark, there’s just too much going on. Too many things going on without a rhyme or reason. Every time Phoebe asks a question there’s “no time to explain!” Too much “and then,” instead of “and so because.”
It pulls together pretty neatly though. I would have liked to have gotten to see the grandmother’s reaction to everything.
This is a pretty fun introduction to fantasy for kids. I think it will be more popular with kids under 12.
January 18, 2024
First, let me say that I truly enjoyed this middle grade book. It was action-packed and full of magic and moral dilemmas. I think that as a child, even a 10-year-old like Phoebe, I would have LOVED this book. And there were so many great characters from Phoebe, herself, who suddenly finds herself in an alternate world trying to prevent the evil Lucinda from stealing the Griffin's egg, making mistakes and then trying to rectify them, and always choosing the higher, moral ground; to Gnish Gnash the goblin, who also tries doing the right thing once he realizes that he, too, has made mistakes; as well as so many of the other magical creatures that populate the book. I listened to it and enjoyed it, but I imagine it would be just as fun to read the book as well.
I originally was attracted to the book because my daughter's name is Griffin (family name) and so I am always intrigued by stories with griffins in them, and this story far exceeded my expectations.
I originally was attracted to the book because my daughter's name is Griffin (family name) and so I am always intrigued by stories with griffins in them, and this story far exceeded my expectations.
February 2, 2024
I tried to give this book the credit of being a mid grade level book. However, the writing was really awful. The idea of the storyline and the order things went worked. But I found myself rolling my eyes at all the phrase like "I've been wondering for a long time" "I missed them for so long" etc when the entire adventure was written to feel like it happened in 48 hours. Way too much easy trust between the characters too quickly and honestly there was next to no character development. It was just one splash of an adventure after another with new ones nearly every two pages for 170 pages. It was the quickest read. Read it at work distracted in less than 3 hours. I would not recommend it to any adult audience. I usually enjoy mid grade fiction for it's ease as an adult but not this one. It felt like an outline to what could have easily been a great novel that would have taken 250-300 pages to truly build and develop to be well written.
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