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The Firebird Chronicles #1
Firebird Chronicles: Rise of the Shadow Stealers
In this fantasy adventure, Fletcher and Scoop are Apprentice Adventurers from the ancient establishment of Blotting's Academy on Fullstop Island. This is the place where all story characters are trained. The trouble is, they can't remember how they got there.It's the first day of term, but the two apprentices soon realise something is wrong. Things are going missing, including their own memories, and Scoop has the unsettling feeling that something is creeping in the shadows.As the children search for answers, they become entangled with the life of the Storyteller, the islands creator and king. They journey to his wedding banquet and find themselves uncovering a hidden past. What is their connection to this mysterious man? And is there more to him than meets the eye?,
- GenresFantasy
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2012
2 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Ingram-Brown
16 books36 followersDaniel Ingram-Brown is an award-winning, middle-grade author based in Yorkshire. He lives in a house built from the stones of a ruined castle with his wife, son, their bearded dragon and one-eyed cat!
His book, Bea’s Witch: A ghostly coming-of-age story (Collective Ink Books, 2021), draws on his experience as an adoptive father to create a “bildungsroman of a journey that captures the vulnerability of a child in care” (Yorkshire Times). The third book in his Firebird Chronicles series, Through the Uncrossable Boundary (Collective Ink Books, 2019), received the Taner Baybars award for original fiction in the field of science fiction, fantasy and magical realism, awarded by the Society of Authors, Authors’ Foundation.
Daniel works extensively in education. He has a doctorate in creative writing and education (2024) and received the Dean’s Prize for academic achievement at master’s level from Leeds Beckett University (2018). He is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow based at the University of York and has been a First Story writer-in-residence for primary and secondary schools across Yorkshire, editing eight anthologies of young writers’ work. Daniel is part of Leeds Beckett University’s Story Makers Company, a group of artists and educators delivering creative, child-centred learning opportunities. He works as a consultant for story-based approaches to teaching and regularly undertakes author visits to primary and secondary schools across the country.
Daniel’s background is in theatre and performance. He has written over twenty plays, specialising in journey-based performance, children’s theatre and large-scale community productions. He is co-artistic director of Suitcase and Spectacles Theatre Company and a trustee for Alive and Kicking Theatre Company.
From 2013-16 he chaired The Leeds Big Bookend Festival, and he co-organises events and retreats for the Society of Authors.
Daniel is interested in exploring the big questions of life in fun and engaging ways, inspiring children and adults to think, to wonder and to grow in wisdom.
His book, Bea’s Witch: A ghostly coming-of-age story (Collective Ink Books, 2021), draws on his experience as an adoptive father to create a “bildungsroman of a journey that captures the vulnerability of a child in care” (Yorkshire Times). The third book in his Firebird Chronicles series, Through the Uncrossable Boundary (Collective Ink Books, 2019), received the Taner Baybars award for original fiction in the field of science fiction, fantasy and magical realism, awarded by the Society of Authors, Authors’ Foundation.
Daniel works extensively in education. He has a doctorate in creative writing and education (2024) and received the Dean’s Prize for academic achievement at master’s level from Leeds Beckett University (2018). He is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow based at the University of York and has been a First Story writer-in-residence for primary and secondary schools across Yorkshire, editing eight anthologies of young writers’ work. Daniel is part of Leeds Beckett University’s Story Makers Company, a group of artists and educators delivering creative, child-centred learning opportunities. He works as a consultant for story-based approaches to teaching and regularly undertakes author visits to primary and secondary schools across the country.
Daniel’s background is in theatre and performance. He has written over twenty plays, specialising in journey-based performance, children’s theatre and large-scale community productions. He is co-artistic director of Suitcase and Spectacles Theatre Company and a trustee for Alive and Kicking Theatre Company.
From 2013-16 he chaired The Leeds Big Bookend Festival, and he co-organises events and retreats for the Society of Authors.
Daniel is interested in exploring the big questions of life in fun and engaging ways, inspiring children and adults to think, to wonder and to grow in wisdom.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 16, 2017
I'm going to be completely honest and say that I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Rise of the Shadow Stealers. In a way, I think that was the perfect way to go in and start this sweeping adventure. It will appeal to kids and that kid inside of you who never really grew up and likes to remind you of the happy carefree days of your childhood (just me?). From the first page I was entranced by the story.
We start off with Fletcher and Scoop, a boy and girl (respectively), who wake up in their rooms at Blotting's Academy on the mysterious and imaginative Fullstop Island. They have no memory of how they got there but they (and us) are quickly swept up in the action as they learn they are now attending a school that will teach them all about stories: to tell them, be told them, and even become part of the stories. Fletcher and Scoop are appointed Apprentice Adventurers and are quickly on a quest to figure out why they can't remember anything, and also to help right the dark injustice that has settled on the island.
The less I say about the plot, the better. It's best just to learn along with Fletcher and Scoop about the island, and the role of stories and characters to the story line. The author writes with such ease and his descriptions are beautifully worded, whether they are describing a hilarious and colorful character or a heart-felt moment. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of Fletcher and Scoop: he is described as resembling an exclamation point and she of a question mark. It's creative and wonderful little bookish details like that that made me happy to know an author was honoring the world of literature. He has peppered in such little homages to the world of reading throughout the book. There was also such a clever twist near the end that brings a whole new (and yet very familiar) world into the mix.
Should you read it? Yes, you should! Everyone loves a good fantasy/adventure series. It will be a big hit with kids, and with adults who can appreciate the classic literary acknowledgements and will get a kick out of them (I certainly did). This series has my stamp of approval on it. If you've ever wished you could go on a quest and explore a land of stories, this book is for you! And while you're there, have a tankard of Noveltwist for me :)
We start off with Fletcher and Scoop, a boy and girl (respectively), who wake up in their rooms at Blotting's Academy on the mysterious and imaginative Fullstop Island. They have no memory of how they got there but they (and us) are quickly swept up in the action as they learn they are now attending a school that will teach them all about stories: to tell them, be told them, and even become part of the stories. Fletcher and Scoop are appointed Apprentice Adventurers and are quickly on a quest to figure out why they can't remember anything, and also to help right the dark injustice that has settled on the island.
The less I say about the plot, the better. It's best just to learn along with Fletcher and Scoop about the island, and the role of stories and characters to the story line. The author writes with such ease and his descriptions are beautifully worded, whether they are describing a hilarious and colorful character or a heart-felt moment. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of Fletcher and Scoop: he is described as resembling an exclamation point and she of a question mark. It's creative and wonderful little bookish details like that that made me happy to know an author was honoring the world of literature. He has peppered in such little homages to the world of reading throughout the book. There was also such a clever twist near the end that brings a whole new (and yet very familiar) world into the mix.
Should you read it? Yes, you should! Everyone loves a good fantasy/adventure series. It will be a big hit with kids, and with adults who can appreciate the classic literary acknowledgements and will get a kick out of them (I certainly did). This series has my stamp of approval on it. If you've ever wished you could go on a quest and explore a land of stories, this book is for you! And while you're there, have a tankard of Noveltwist for me :)
February 6, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
When I first saw the cover for this book, I was hooked. I like the drama of it and the fantastical elements. But for the most part, the book confused me way too much.
The worldbuilding was very confusing and there were tons of rules to the magic system that never felt like it was properly explained. It made it even more confusing to have both main characters have amnesia and not remember anything about the world, because of course they were suspicious and kept it secret. It made sense from a character’s point of view, but as a reader it meant that NO OTHER character really thought to explain things properly to Scoop and Fletcher. They ended up stumbling along and making the best of it but I needed more clear worldbuilding and magic rules.
What I did see of the world was extremely fascinating, even if it was confusing. The mention of a place where story characters train and such was what made me want to read the book after reading the synopsis. But it was very little about that. I found the Fullstop Island to be an interesting place with roo for many many stories, naturally as it is a home to many story characters.
For the characters, I was perfectly creeped out by the evil characters, whose motovations seem very elusive but they didn’t mind taking dozens of other characters out of the way to get to our main characters and I believe that Grizelda will properly terrify and thrill young readers. I wasn’t a fan of Scoop and Fletcher though, particularly not the latter who is so bent on solving the memory loss to care a tiny bit about Scoop or anyone else. I never really warmed up to him through the book.
In the end, the book left me feeling quite “Meh”. There were parts of it that had a lot of potential bit didn’t quote come through and then there were parts I really enjoyed. I think readers of a younger age (probably middle grade age range) will find the book great through, and get swept right of off their feet and into the world of Fullstop Island. But for me, the world was confusing and the story a underwhelming.
When I first saw the cover for this book, I was hooked. I like the drama of it and the fantastical elements. But for the most part, the book confused me way too much.
The worldbuilding was very confusing and there were tons of rules to the magic system that never felt like it was properly explained. It made it even more confusing to have both main characters have amnesia and not remember anything about the world, because of course they were suspicious and kept it secret. It made sense from a character’s point of view, but as a reader it meant that NO OTHER character really thought to explain things properly to Scoop and Fletcher. They ended up stumbling along and making the best of it but I needed more clear worldbuilding and magic rules.
What I did see of the world was extremely fascinating, even if it was confusing. The mention of a place where story characters train and such was what made me want to read the book after reading the synopsis. But it was very little about that. I found the Fullstop Island to be an interesting place with roo for many many stories, naturally as it is a home to many story characters.
For the characters, I was perfectly creeped out by the evil characters, whose motovations seem very elusive but they didn’t mind taking dozens of other characters out of the way to get to our main characters and I believe that Grizelda will properly terrify and thrill young readers. I wasn’t a fan of Scoop and Fletcher though, particularly not the latter who is so bent on solving the memory loss to care a tiny bit about Scoop or anyone else. I never really warmed up to him through the book.
In the end, the book left me feeling quite “Meh”. There were parts of it that had a lot of potential bit didn’t quote come through and then there were parts I really enjoyed. I think readers of a younger age (probably middle grade age range) will find the book great through, and get swept right of off their feet and into the world of Fullstop Island. But for me, the world was confusing and the story a underwhelming.
October 5, 2018
A Potteresque fantasy with an ensemble cast, RISE OF THE SHADOW STEALERS is an imaginative novel with an interesting premise—the students at school are learning to be characters in stories (hero, adventurer, underdog, snob, etc.). There's a nod to homeschoolers with the concept that the academy "can’t be confined to bricks and mortar.” (pg.70)
The story is focused on Scoop (female) and Fletcher (male) two apprentice Adventurers. While there are teachers and adults, it is really up to the children to solve the puzzles to save the world.
This book conveys a strong positive message without coming off as heavy-handed or formulaic.
This book has some of the richest world-building I have read!
I'd recommend this book for upper middle grade/younger YA. There is some darker content that may not be appropriate for younger readers.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks, Net Galley, for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is focused on Scoop (female) and Fletcher (male) two apprentice Adventurers. While there are teachers and adults, it is really up to the children to solve the puzzles to save the world.
This book conveys a strong positive message without coming off as heavy-handed or formulaic.
This book has some of the richest world-building I have read!
I'd recommend this book for upper middle grade/younger YA. There is some darker content that may not be appropriate for younger readers.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks, Net Galley, for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review on my blog. No payment was exchanged, although some very good conversation was had.*
Rise of the Shadow Stealers is one of those books that you would never normally find but somehow stumble across - or in my case, get sent a copy after a Twitter connection - and reading it makes your week. The premise is charming, fanciful and wonderfully meta: set on an island where fictional characters are trained to fit their roles in their respective novels, Fletcher and Scoop team up for a quest to restore their lost memories of their lives before they were at Blotting's Academy and to attend the wedding of the mysterious Storyteller.
I have to say I found Rise of the Shadow Stealers rather surprising, and not in a bad way. I came to it assuming from the cover and blurb that it would be children's fiction (not that that's a bad thing in the slightest. Critics sniffily dismissing something as children's fiction irritates me no end). It's actually quite sophisticated for that genre though, interweaving a delightfully whimsical fantasy plot with more mature themes, like maintaining morality in difficult times and finding your purpose, and drawing heavily on religious symbolism and metaphor throughout. This can get a little heavy-handed in places, particularly the religious parallels, but for the most part it's skilfully interwoven with the fantasy narrative that means you can read it on whatever level you'd like: whimsical fantasy, Christian literature, good old fashioned morality tale and so on. A lot of reviews made comparison to the Narnia series and I can definitely see their point. Rise of the Shadow Stealers stands on its merits as a charming fantasy novel, but it really comes into its own when you delve deeper and think about the messages behind it all.
While the plot is technically about Fletcher and Scoop's quest to reach the Storyteller's wedding, it's as much about their growth as characters as it is about getting from to B. This is a world inhabited by purposeful stereotypes (the infinitely wise but slightly batty old mentor, the outrageously evil witch, and even one character who proudly identifies herself as a Snob), who can at times feel a little 2-D by themselves, but this does help to emphasise the fact that the two protagonists develop naturally and realistically enough that I was really very fond of them by the end. Their flaws are what make them important as characters, and so they're nicely fleshed out and allowed to make mistakes. Fletcher in particular undergoes some notable development, and his transformation is well handled and enjoyable to witness, because the characters, like the rest of the book, are charming and you find yourself really rooting for them as they undergo their quest.
The real triumph of the novel, however, is the world building. You can really tell that Ingram-Brown had great fun creating Fullstop Island (which is just the most adorable name ever) from the ground up to create a setting that lives beyond what we see in the story. It's my favourite kind of world building too, where tiny details and minor characters are fleshed out beyond just filling their role to advance the plot, even if they just appear in once scene. Particular favourites of mine were the batty and slightly weird ladies who run the tea shop and one very special character who appears at the end, who you will have to read the book to find out about. If nothing else convinces you to give Rise of the Shadow Stealers a go, the joy of it's construction should be all the persuasion you need.
You've probably noticed the common theme in this review: 'charming'. You can't help but enjoy yourself while reading this book, and I would recommend it to anyone out there who needed a little cheer to brighten their week. I'm definitely looking forwards to the sequel and what Daniel Ingram-Brown has up his sleeve for his characters next.
Rise of the Shadow Stealers is one of those books that you would never normally find but somehow stumble across - or in my case, get sent a copy after a Twitter connection - and reading it makes your week. The premise is charming, fanciful and wonderfully meta: set on an island where fictional characters are trained to fit their roles in their respective novels, Fletcher and Scoop team up for a quest to restore their lost memories of their lives before they were at Blotting's Academy and to attend the wedding of the mysterious Storyteller.
I have to say I found Rise of the Shadow Stealers rather surprising, and not in a bad way. I came to it assuming from the cover and blurb that it would be children's fiction (not that that's a bad thing in the slightest. Critics sniffily dismissing something as children's fiction irritates me no end). It's actually quite sophisticated for that genre though, interweaving a delightfully whimsical fantasy plot with more mature themes, like maintaining morality in difficult times and finding your purpose, and drawing heavily on religious symbolism and metaphor throughout. This can get a little heavy-handed in places, particularly the religious parallels, but for the most part it's skilfully interwoven with the fantasy narrative that means you can read it on whatever level you'd like: whimsical fantasy, Christian literature, good old fashioned morality tale and so on. A lot of reviews made comparison to the Narnia series and I can definitely see their point. Rise of the Shadow Stealers stands on its merits as a charming fantasy novel, but it really comes into its own when you delve deeper and think about the messages behind it all.
While the plot is technically about Fletcher and Scoop's quest to reach the Storyteller's wedding, it's as much about their growth as characters as it is about getting from to B. This is a world inhabited by purposeful stereotypes (the infinitely wise but slightly batty old mentor, the outrageously evil witch, and even one character who proudly identifies herself as a Snob), who can at times feel a little 2-D by themselves, but this does help to emphasise the fact that the two protagonists develop naturally and realistically enough that I was really very fond of them by the end. Their flaws are what make them important as characters, and so they're nicely fleshed out and allowed to make mistakes. Fletcher in particular undergoes some notable development, and his transformation is well handled and enjoyable to witness, because the characters, like the rest of the book, are charming and you find yourself really rooting for them as they undergo their quest.
The real triumph of the novel, however, is the world building. You can really tell that Ingram-Brown had great fun creating Fullstop Island (which is just the most adorable name ever) from the ground up to create a setting that lives beyond what we see in the story. It's my favourite kind of world building too, where tiny details and minor characters are fleshed out beyond just filling their role to advance the plot, even if they just appear in once scene. Particular favourites of mine were the batty and slightly weird ladies who run the tea shop and one very special character who appears at the end, who you will have to read the book to find out about. If nothing else convinces you to give Rise of the Shadow Stealers a go, the joy of it's construction should be all the persuasion you need.
You've probably noticed the common theme in this review: 'charming'. You can't help but enjoy yourself while reading this book, and I would recommend it to anyone out there who needed a little cheer to brighten their week. I'm definitely looking forwards to the sequel and what Daniel Ingram-Brown has up his sleeve for his characters next.
June 20, 2013
*This book was received through MissLiterati.com (from the publisher) for an honest review. No favours, money, or birds were given.*
Rise of the Shadow Stealers definitely started of fresh.
This book is full of clichés. They are left, right, centre, underneath you, behind you, everywhere you look. The characters themselves are huge stereotypes, fitting in to the different kinds of characters in the books. Fletcher and Scoop are Adventures, so as an avid fantasy reader they were quite familiar. It was actually very funny to see characters who simply embrace the clichés, and their antics were interesting as I'd seen them done by other favourite characters of mine before and loved it then. It was an absolutely blast as first.
Everything in the world is literary-based as well, giving physical manifestations to many things that plague writers. A bad plot choice takes the form of a Plot-Jacker Spider, who whispers in your ear and adds embellishments. This were adorable as well to see such things given a physical manifestation.
This is how the entire world is built. Plus because our character's stories were just reactivated, info dumping can be done without it being a bore. Fletcher and Scoop were learning all of this information for the first time. It was quite enjoyable.
Fletcher and Scoop were half-heartily given things to make them individual. Fletcher in particular was more developed, but not by much. His development was again very cliché, and did not develop a depth within him.
Which is where my two problems with the book arose. I had to put this book down for reasons beyond the book's and mine's control, and when I could pick it back up the newness was quite lost. Fletcher and Scoop weren't quite as interesting anymore. I'd embraced the clichés, and the backstory wasn't enough to keep me attached. Since they were stereotypes, I already knew everything, which stinks. Sticking to this series will be hard for a lot of people.
Plus the execution of the climax was bad. There were so many sub-plots that got resolved one after another, so the tension was lost. The bigger plot line wasn't really helping since I kept on changing Dumbledore for one of the characters.
It was so interesting, it was delightful, it even made me go 'awwe'. It really was interesting until the characters weren't anything to hold onto.
This is the more up-beat and to fit specific guidelines review:
http://www.missliterati.com/book-revi...
Rise of the Shadow Stealers definitely started of fresh.
This book is full of clichés. They are left, right, centre, underneath you, behind you, everywhere you look. The characters themselves are huge stereotypes, fitting in to the different kinds of characters in the books. Fletcher and Scoop are Adventures, so as an avid fantasy reader they were quite familiar. It was actually very funny to see characters who simply embrace the clichés, and their antics were interesting as I'd seen them done by other favourite characters of mine before and loved it then. It was an absolutely blast as first.
Everything in the world is literary-based as well, giving physical manifestations to many things that plague writers. A bad plot choice takes the form of a Plot-Jacker Spider, who whispers in your ear and adds embellishments. This were adorable as well to see such things given a physical manifestation.
This is how the entire world is built. Plus because our character's stories were just reactivated, info dumping can be done without it being a bore. Fletcher and Scoop were learning all of this information for the first time. It was quite enjoyable.
Fletcher and Scoop were half-heartily given things to make them individual. Fletcher in particular was more developed, but not by much. His development was again very cliché, and did not develop a depth within him.
Which is where my two problems with the book arose. I had to put this book down for reasons beyond the book's and mine's control, and when I could pick it back up the newness was quite lost. Fletcher and Scoop weren't quite as interesting anymore. I'd embraced the clichés, and the backstory wasn't enough to keep me attached. Since they were stereotypes, I already knew everything, which stinks. Sticking to this series will be hard for a lot of people.
Plus the execution of the climax was bad. There were so many sub-plots that got resolved one after another, so the tension was lost. The bigger plot line wasn't really helping since I kept on changing Dumbledore for one of the characters.
It was so interesting, it was delightful, it even made me go 'awwe'. It really was interesting until the characters weren't anything to hold onto.
This is the more up-beat and to fit specific guidelines review:
http://www.missliterati.com/book-revi...
May 4, 2016
I should probably start off by saying that I never usually read books of this genre, so I was completely unsure what to expect when I started reading it. However I am always willing to give anything a go, so I was still looking forward to reading it.
To begin with, I was a little worried that I wasn’t getting into the story; probably mainly because it is such a different genre, and because I’ve been reading books recently with a much higher age demographic. There were elements that I was intrigued by though; characters not remembering anything from their past, and waking up in a place they don’t recognise. The two main characters, Scoop and Fletcher, are students of Blotting’s Academy and discover that they are partners. They set off to find their mentor – the Yarnbard, which is a character that I really liked – and went on an adventure full of twists, turns and dark caves to find the mysterious Storyteller.
Although I felt like I wasn’t going to get into the story at the beginning, I quickly became hooked. The amount of plot twists and events happening in every chapter made me not want to put the book down because I wanted to find out what was happening next. The characters and settings were describes in a way that made the images perfectly clear in my mind, so that I had an image of everything I was reading. There was one part that I loved and I could really clearly picture because it reminded me of MMORPG games that I’d played a lot in the past:
��She saw a stream of strangely assorted characters heading passed her, away from the village. Some were Academy students dressed in their red tunics, and others were obviously islanders or villagers. There were tradesmen and women: a baker, her apron and cloth-cap covered with flour; a cobbler, half-finished shoes hanging around his neck, and a man carrying an axe.”
Towards the end of the book the story took some strange turns and it was great! Some things happened that I didn’t expect at all – and when that happens in a book, I prefer it so much more than the ending being predictable.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book! It’s very easy to read so it’s great if you don’t want something that feels like a slog to get through; the story flows well and the twists and turns will keep you engaged until you turn the last page.
Visit my blog at http://wonderfullybookish.wordpress.com for more bookish things!
To begin with, I was a little worried that I wasn’t getting into the story; probably mainly because it is such a different genre, and because I’ve been reading books recently with a much higher age demographic. There were elements that I was intrigued by though; characters not remembering anything from their past, and waking up in a place they don’t recognise. The two main characters, Scoop and Fletcher, are students of Blotting’s Academy and discover that they are partners. They set off to find their mentor – the Yarnbard, which is a character that I really liked – and went on an adventure full of twists, turns and dark caves to find the mysterious Storyteller.
Although I felt like I wasn’t going to get into the story at the beginning, I quickly became hooked. The amount of plot twists and events happening in every chapter made me not want to put the book down because I wanted to find out what was happening next. The characters and settings were describes in a way that made the images perfectly clear in my mind, so that I had an image of everything I was reading. There was one part that I loved and I could really clearly picture because it reminded me of MMORPG games that I’d played a lot in the past:
��She saw a stream of strangely assorted characters heading passed her, away from the village. Some were Academy students dressed in their red tunics, and others were obviously islanders or villagers. There were tradesmen and women: a baker, her apron and cloth-cap covered with flour; a cobbler, half-finished shoes hanging around his neck, and a man carrying an axe.”
Towards the end of the book the story took some strange turns and it was great! Some things happened that I didn’t expect at all – and when that happens in a book, I prefer it so much more than the ending being predictable.
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book! It’s very easy to read so it’s great if you don’t want something that feels like a slog to get through; the story flows well and the twists and turns will keep you engaged until you turn the last page.
Visit my blog at http://wonderfullybookish.wordpress.com for more bookish things!
October 21, 2012
This book has everything…danger, magic, mystery, plot twists and stories. The latter is not much of a surprise in a story book but this one is set on Full Stop Island, the place where all story characters are trained, meaning there are stories around every corner. Stories within stories, stories about stories and stories that have long been forgotten.
The main characters, Fletcher and Scoop, wake up to find they are apprentice adventurers at Blotting’s Academy where all is not as it should be. The shadows are growing and things are going missing but nobody seems to be taking it seriously. It’s up to Scoop and Fletcher to investigate and find out what is going on. Where are the shadow’s coming from? Who is the story teller? What is the golden feather? Through their adventurers, helped along by their mentor, the Yarnbard, the forever young Lady Wisdom and the dessert-resembling Quill sisters, amongst others, Scoop and Fletcher uncover stories back to the beginning of the island and beyond.
Will they complete their quests and make it to Alethea in time or will the dark and dangerous Grizelda put a stop to their adventures?
This was the first time in a long time that I haven’t been able to put a book down. When I did have to, I spent the whole time I was away from it thinking about what might happen next. I am looking forward to the next one…get writing Dan!
The main characters, Fletcher and Scoop, wake up to find they are apprentice adventurers at Blotting’s Academy where all is not as it should be. The shadows are growing and things are going missing but nobody seems to be taking it seriously. It’s up to Scoop and Fletcher to investigate and find out what is going on. Where are the shadow’s coming from? Who is the story teller? What is the golden feather? Through their adventurers, helped along by their mentor, the Yarnbard, the forever young Lady Wisdom and the dessert-resembling Quill sisters, amongst others, Scoop and Fletcher uncover stories back to the beginning of the island and beyond.
Will they complete their quests and make it to Alethea in time or will the dark and dangerous Grizelda put a stop to their adventures?
This was the first time in a long time that I haven’t been able to put a book down. When I did have to, I spent the whole time I was away from it thinking about what might happen next. I am looking forward to the next one…get writing Dan!
October 12, 2012
I've just finished reading "Rise of the Shadow Stealers" and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is a wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric book which engages and delights the reader from the start. Scoop and Fletcher are great lead characters, clever, fearless and inquisitive. Their quest is fast paced, breathless and in the tradition of all the best children's literature, a right ripping yarn.
When I've been forced to put this book down, I've been itching to get back to it, to find out what happens next. It's clever, imaginative, thought provoking and has one or two unexpected plot twists which both surprised and delighted this reader.
It is a wonderfully descriptive and atmospheric book which engages and delights the reader from the start. Scoop and Fletcher are great lead characters, clever, fearless and inquisitive. Their quest is fast paced, breathless and in the tradition of all the best children's literature, a right ripping yarn.
When I've been forced to put this book down, I've been itching to get back to it, to find out what happens next. It's clever, imaginative, thought provoking and has one or two unexpected plot twists which both surprised and delighted this reader.
March 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, Ingram-Brown's writing style is more enjoyable than JK Rowling's. Clever plot, numerous characters to get to know, a layered and colourful story, with good use of imagery. Compares favourably with other authors such as Ursula Le Guin (A Wizard of Earthsea), and even CS Lewis's Narnia stories, both of whose books have spiritual messages, and CS Lewis's also having a Christian theme running through them, though they stand on their own without reading the Christian theme into them, as does Ingram-Brown's Rise of the Shadow Stealers. They are better for having them in, though, and understood.
February 19, 2013
A very lovely readable book. It grabs you within the first page and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through! The characters are fab and connect really well with the reader. There's adventure, mystery, comedy, theatrics, madness and more as the story develops and there's not a moment of boredom to be had by readers old and young alike.
As a child I would have loved this story and as an adult I appreciate it's beauty all the more. Would (and have) recommend this to everyone who enjoys stories!
As a child I would have loved this story and as an adult I appreciate it's beauty all the more. Would (and have) recommend this to everyone who enjoys stories!
November 29, 2012
Every chapter of this book is filled with mystery, adventure and suspense! The journey across Full Stop Island captivates the reader with its quirky characters, dangerous exploits and philosophical reflections. Without doubt, every 11 year old needs a copy, and every parent should borrow it! I'm looking forward to a sequel :-)
January 3, 2015
This was a wonderful allegory! Along the lines of C.S. Lewis and John Bunyan. It was a fantastic read and I am hoping there will be more from Daniel Ingram-Brown. The story is all about stories. The world that our two unlikely heroes reside in is filled with plots, twists, tales, both fun and scary. I would recommend as a buddy read with a parent for ages under 10. I give it 4 stars. Good Job.
March 10, 2019
As part of The Firebird Chronicles series, Rise of The Shadow Stealers follows the fast-paced story of Fletcher and Scoop. What is so great about these two is the realism that is evoked by their characterisation despite the 'less-than-realistic' world that they find themselves in. If you put the destiny and the magic aside for a second, Fletcher and Scoop are two very eager, confused and sometimes extremely stroppy young adults. It's completely believable, relatable and utterly fantastic.
Ingram-Brown's attention to detail is second-to-none and the world he creates for us as the reader is exquisite. His use of description and language constantly conjures up different scenes that are pure, unadulterated magical goodness. There's a brilliant use of made up names and places: 'Fullstop Island', the 'Creativity Craters' and, my personal favourite, 'Noveltwist Cordial'. This ability to play with literary terms that can seem so daunting is exactly why these books are so fantastic for children. Without this becoming a lecture, having worked in schools I can tell you that children do not enjoy reading. That's not a generalisation but, from my experience, they want to read but it fails to excite their lively minds (hence we are living in the generation of iPad children). Anyway, I digress.... because this book is challenging for a young reader as it stretches their imaginations to a limit that cannot be achieved on a screen. I have already recommended it to the local primary school. I've recommended it to all my adult friends. My family. Everyone I know. I think I should stand in the middle of Leeds and shout it out for everyone to hear.
September 16, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a short story, as I’d never read one before. Mr Ingram-Brown is a fabulous author and his stories have completely captured me. Both books I’ve read have had me hooked and as an avid reader, I can honestly say that they are one of the best series I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I thoroughly look forward to reading more!
February 11, 2021
An adventure from the offset and captivating throughout. An awesome book for a younger reader, throughly enjoyable.
May 27, 2019
The Firebird Chronicles is a children's/young adult fantasy series following two young Apprentice Adventurers, Scoop and Fletcher.
The first book, Rise of the Shadow Stealers, follows the confused youngsters as they make sense of their surroundings. Neither has any memories of who they are or where they come from, and with the help of their mentor, the Yarnbard, they slowly piece together the story of their past.
Throughout the book, Scoop and Fletcher are held back by Grizelda, an evil old woman who's determined to take control of the land. They are set monumental tasks by the mysterious Storyteller - the creator and controller of the world they live in. Grizelda desperately tries to prevent them from succeeding at every turn.
My immediate reaction to this book was that I was too old for it. I always emphasise the fact that children's books can still be good books, enjoyed by any reader. This was, in all honesty, not fantastic. The plot wasn't bad, and it wasn't exactly hard to read, but the writing wasn't particularly outstanding and there were tons of grammatical errors. One recurring mistake I noticed was the misuse of "passed" and "past". Little things like that really affect how professional a book feels, or how immature the writing comes across.
2.5 stars for this book. The plot was okay, but the characters and speech were overly childish and didn't feel authentic.
The first book, Rise of the Shadow Stealers, follows the confused youngsters as they make sense of their surroundings. Neither has any memories of who they are or where they come from, and with the help of their mentor, the Yarnbard, they slowly piece together the story of their past.
Throughout the book, Scoop and Fletcher are held back by Grizelda, an evil old woman who's determined to take control of the land. They are set monumental tasks by the mysterious Storyteller - the creator and controller of the world they live in. Grizelda desperately tries to prevent them from succeeding at every turn.
My immediate reaction to this book was that I was too old for it. I always emphasise the fact that children's books can still be good books, enjoyed by any reader. This was, in all honesty, not fantastic. The plot wasn't bad, and it wasn't exactly hard to read, but the writing wasn't particularly outstanding and there were tons of grammatical errors. One recurring mistake I noticed was the misuse of "passed" and "past". Little things like that really affect how professional a book feels, or how immature the writing comes across.
2.5 stars for this book. The plot was okay, but the characters and speech were overly childish and didn't feel authentic.
March 6, 2019
Rise of the Shadow Stealers by Daniel Ingram-Brown.
Fletcher and Scoop are Apprentice Adventurers from the ancient establishment of Blotting's Academy on Fullstop Island, the place where all story characters are trained. The trouble is, they can't remember how they got there.
It's the first day of term, but the two apprentices soon realise something is wrong. Things are going missing, including their own memories, and Scoop has the unsettling feeling that something is creeping in the shadows.
As the children search for answers, they become entangled with the life of the Storyteller, the island's creator and king. They journey to his wedding banquet and find themselves uncovering a hidden past. What is their connection to this mysterious man? And is there more to him than meets the eye?
This was a very good read with likeable characters. 4*.
Fletcher and Scoop are Apprentice Adventurers from the ancient establishment of Blotting's Academy on Fullstop Island, the place where all story characters are trained. The trouble is, they can't remember how they got there.
It's the first day of term, but the two apprentices soon realise something is wrong. Things are going missing, including their own memories, and Scoop has the unsettling feeling that something is creeping in the shadows.
As the children search for answers, they become entangled with the life of the Storyteller, the island's creator and king. They journey to his wedding banquet and find themselves uncovering a hidden past. What is their connection to this mysterious man? And is there more to him than meets the eye?
This was a very good read with likeable characters. 4*.
October 28, 2012
If you haven't yet got around to reading 'Rise of the Shadow Stealers' then re-prioritise your time. A great, multi-layered, easily accessible, all age adventure. Brilliantly written with amazing imagination that you can't help but get wrapped up and carried away in. The next book can not come soon enough! This book is a fantastic showcase of a brilliant talent. Original, profound, exciting! More please Mr Brown!
December 22, 2012
I loved it - I must be a teenager (I'm not!)
I'm REALLY hoping that, unlike ROTSS, the second book, which is being written now, doesn't take 4 years to make it onto the bookshelves.
This book had it all - Magic, Mystery, Joy, Sorrow, goodies, baddies, heartbreak and romance.
WARNING the cover is made of glue - I couldn't put it down.
I'm REALLY hoping that, unlike ROTSS, the second book, which is being written now, doesn't take 4 years to make it onto the bookshelves.
This book had it all - Magic, Mystery, Joy, Sorrow, goodies, baddies, heartbreak and romance.
WARNING the cover is made of glue - I couldn't put it down.
October 29, 2012
Each page is action packed so very difficult to put down. Some fantastic descriptive passages and it's also educational. In fact I've already recommended it to young friends who I'm sure will be as enthralled as I was. Very much looking forward to the sequel
December 2, 2012
I read this book as a manuscript, and I just couldn't wait till it came out so I can have the proper book version! Full of mystery and is all together a great read;-)
January 6, 2013
An exciting read and such a clever idea. Really like the characters. Already looking forward to the next book. Well worth reading.
January 18, 2014
Very poor, rather pretentious and not up to the mark.
December 8, 2014
Poor kids who have this inflicted on them a badly written book that is not enjoyable for kids
March 31, 2017
Honestly the first part of this book was very hard to get into. I don't think it was so much the story just the sound quality of the audiobook (which will be discussed later). The story is about 2 Apprentice Adventurers Fletcher and Scoop who turn out to be partners . Both have no memory of before but get selected to do a quest . There they embark on a wild journey to not only find out who they are but also help the Storyteller (the ruler) .
The story had a few twist and turns that were interesting and flowed smoothly. I love how all the parts come together in the end. Although I did suspect some of their story one part in particular I did not which i think is going to be a fantastic piece for the next books in the series.
This book is great for all ages (I would say 3rd graders even can enjoy) because you have the cliche character types but how Daniel Ingram-Brown made them his own characters is great.
(I received the Audiobook free in exchange for an honest unbiased review)
See more of the review on my blog
http://www.novelnerdreviews.com/2017/...
May 2, 2017
This is an intelligent, well thought out story about two young students/apprentice's that have to solve some mysteries going on around the college they have bizarrely found themselves in. I like the authors discreet nod and work around naming things in this new magical world around literary terms, for example; Full stop Island, Blotting's academy and the Quill sisters to name but a few.
And so we find a pretty good book here, with plenty of magic, mystery and a nice helping of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, but, and I'm sorry there is a but, I think what I struggled with a little was that all the way through I didn't feel like I was reading anything brand new. All had echoes from other YA books. This story follows paths already famously trodden, or familiar to us, like Harry Potter and the Narnia stories so much so that a lot of characters I ended up picturing to be like characters from those books.
So a nice book, which was enjoyable, but I couldn't help shake that feeling of....I've been/read this kind of thing before, I kinda know this character from other pages, give me something new.
And so we find a pretty good book here, with plenty of magic, mystery and a nice helping of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, but, and I'm sorry there is a but, I think what I struggled with a little was that all the way through I didn't feel like I was reading anything brand new. All had echoes from other YA books. This story follows paths already famously trodden, or familiar to us, like Harry Potter and the Narnia stories so much so that a lot of characters I ended up picturing to be like characters from those books.
So a nice book, which was enjoyable, but I couldn't help shake that feeling of....I've been/read this kind of thing before, I kinda know this character from other pages, give me something new.
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