The Swamp of Doom

by Riley Cross

Blip - a.ka. the Bad Luck Princess - is a seventh-grade girl with royally bad luck. She isn't bothered by the swamp rats, three-eyed toads, and hungry alligarks of Zone 13, and she's certainly not phased by the chaos of her everyday life. But then again, she's never been summoned by the siren of the swamp before now. To save her radioactive homeland, Blip and her friends in the The Cursed Champions' Club embark on a quest to find the long-lost-sword-in-a-stone, all while evading a sinister government agent and dangerous spitting spiders. Can Blip and her friends rescue their beloved swamp, or is it simply one of those bad-luck days that is beyond saving?

Join Riley Cross - author, educator, Sci-Fi enthusiast, and mom - on a magical, disaster-filled adventure to discover the beauty behind imperfections.

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Stacey Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swamp of Doom by Riley Cross was such a fun read for children! The author excelled at world building, and the plot was unique and original. I loved the Bad Luck Princess, and she will be a terrific hero for girls who would like a delightful alternative to the typical princess character. All of the characters in this story were amazing, and the fantastic descriptions of the swamp and its inhabitants made it almost a character in itself. The friendship and teamwork among the characters in the story is endearing, and I would definitely recommend this book to young readers, homeschool families, and librarians!

[Stephanie Cotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful story showcases a group of unlikely friends working together to save their home, which happens to be a "radioactive swamp!" From the opening line of the book, about Bad Luck Princess's Aunt's soggy soup, I knew this book would be bursting with bizarre, whimsical goodness. Every chapter is a fabulous treat, filled with witty dialogue and hilariously gross descriptions that made me laugh. The mystery Blip and her friends must solve to save Zone 13 from The Galactic Government involves surviving some spitting spiders, and even includes finding a long-lost sword of legend stuck in a stone--that was a fun addition I particularly loved.

This is a fantastic book for young readers and middle schoolers, or for anyone who likes a quick, whimsical read.

[Lori Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swamp of Doom is an engaging and fun children’s book. It follows the adventures of Blip, a princess plagued by bad luck, in Zone 13. This story captivates readers with its imaginative world-building and characters, as Blip and her friends must confront a government invasion amid a foul-smelling, radioactive swamp. The book emphasizes the values of friendship and teamwork, and presents a refreshing twist to the traditional princess archetype. A wonderful addition to any home or school library!

[Kim Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of friends working together to save their home from a devious government agent determined to oust the residents from Zone 13.
Blip and her friends show great resilience and determination to do the right thing no matter how impossible succeeding might seem.
The cast of characters is as amazing as the weirdness of the animals inhabiting the swamp. They’ll really spark the imaginations of young readers.
A fab story for lower middle grade and reluctant readers.

[Laura Petrisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a smelly, radioactive swamp to spitting spiders, Zone 13 is home to Blip, the bad luck princess. She and her friends have to rise to the challenge when Zone 13 is threatened by an invading government. The characters in the story are weird and wild in a totally fun way. The setting is deliciously gross and often repulsive. What kid isn’t going to love that! I recommend The Swamp of Doom as a super fun read!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A readable fantasy that got a bit muddled. The pacing lagged at the start and the school stuff didn’t really flow into the swamp stuff, and the political resolution at the end didn’t involve our protagonists much, especially solving the secret code.

[Janae Schiele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Swamp of Doom is a wildly creative and fun adventure book for kids! Full of interesting creatures, spooky ambiance, and quirky characters, The Swamp of Doom is a perfect October read.