Anna Grey and the Constellation: The Laeth Realm Adventures, Book 1

by Lindsay Flanagan

The 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award Middle Reader First Runner-Up

When fourteen-year-old AnnaGrey meets a horned horse-like creature called an aeobanach in the forbidden Wildwood, she crosses the threshold from our world to a magical one in the hope of finding answers about her night-vision ability. She's only too eager to leave everything behind—her mom's secrecy about the past, her dad's far-fetched tales, and especially the mean boy at school, Cross Silverstone. She and the aeobanach embark on a journey to create a potion that will change the aeobanach into its human form. But their quest is complicated by rebels seeking to overthrow a king who's more interested in finding his long-lost son than ruling a kingdom.

After being captured and accused of being a rebel against the throne, AnnaGrey learns she might know where the king's son, Silverstone, is. The king makes her a bring his son back to the magical realm, and he'll not only release her aeobanach, but he'll help AnnaGrey discover the truth about herself. AnnaGrey must convince the boy who bullies her—who may be a kindred spirit in disguise—to come with her to the magical world so she can free her friend, get information about her night-vision ability, and go home—where the true answers about her abilities lie.

Audible Audio

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

I craft lyrical and uplifting fantasy tales that empower children and teens to embrace their unique selves. My stories explore themes of self-acceptance, resilience, and the beauty of unexpected friendships, guiding readers on journeys of discovery where they find the courage to be who they truly are. With every word, I seek to ignite wonder, inspire confidence, and remind young hearts that they are powerful, worthy, and limitless.

Discover the Laéth Realm Adventures and its prequel series, the Miadien Chronicles—two spellbinding fantasy series where fairy tales aren’t just stories but magical gifts of peace from a hidden realm to our own. Perfect for fans of epic adventures, mythical worlds, and tales that inspire.

Reviews

[Dana Gricken · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANNAGREY AND THE CONSTELLATION is a delightful, whimsical tale of friendship, adventure, and hope. I loved the characters and writing style and can’t wait to read more from Lindsay Flanagan!

(I SO wish I had my own aeobanach now.) 5/5 stars!

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

AnnaGrey has a lot to learn about herself, especially when she breaks the rules, enters the WildWood and is taken to a magical realm where she is from. Are her parents really hers? is this why her eyes are different from anyone else's? AnnaGrey makes a new friends and goes on a dangerous quest with her hoping to find answers along the way.

This book is a really cute middle grade. This realm and set of creatures is very unique and I think this is a perfect middle grade fantasy for many.

[Corianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It had depth and was well-written.

I hope more books are added to the series.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was advertised to me as middle grade fantasy and I thought it would be a relatively easy read without any depth or intrigue.

BOY WAS I WRONG!!

This book is a great fantasy world with roots in fairy tales but takes its own spin on it. It also takes so many turns that I didn't know what to expect. Obviously, it starts with a human story of not fitting in that resonates to all young people and adults, even. You think the tropes are going in one direction and then in a million other directions later. Lindsay Flanagan takes you on a ride and never lets go until its over.

The world is really deep and am looking forward to more adventures with these characters and this world.

Flanagan captures the young voices of its main characters perfectly. Her prose flows greatly and captures AnnaGrey's inner dialogue in a way that feels authentic.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Melissa Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna gray is a lovable character that I think a lot of girls can relate with because she feels like she doesn’t fit in because she is different. However, in her case, she really is different in a unique way with glowing eyes. As the story continues, and she finds herself in a magical world trying to help a new friend, she finds herself surrounded by creatures. She only thought we’re myths, but she finds she feels more comfortable with them than she ever did in the regular human world. As adventures and the trails happen, she learned she is stronger and braver than she thought, and she can trust in herself, and those around her. Filled with magic, Wonder, mystery, and adventure, this is a book school-age kids, older kids , and even adults, will love!

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna is a normal fourteen year old, at least that's what she thinks. Her parents keep secrets from her, but what teenager's family doesn't. It's only when she goes into the WildWood, a place that has been forbidden to her, that she starts to find answer, and learn that she might not as normal as she thought.

Set in the same world as Little Red Wraith, I found the connections between the books wonderful. Having read Little Red Wraith first, everytime a connection was made in AnnaGrey and the Constelation I got the biggest smile on my face. I was drawn to the book because of the beautiful cover art, but the writing made it worthwhile. After only two books, I have a new auto-buy author in Lindsay Flanagan.

[Darren Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is portal fantasy, meaning it starts in the “real” world and doesn’t immediately get to the “magic” world. I’m not the biggest fan of portal fantasy right now, but this book is done really well regardless of my personal tastes. That said, I enjoyed the second half of the book significantly more than the beginning because of this. There’s action, political intrigue, and plenty of magic and mystery (although I did foresee some of the “twists” coming). I read “Little Red Wraith” before reading this, and it was incredibly satisfying to see some of the same characters make appearances in this book, too. Overall, great book, would definitely recommend.

[Korri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! The author has a great knack for storytelling. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I could imagine myself in the magical world surrounded by magical creatures. I can’t wait to read more about these wonderful characters.

[A.M. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book!

[Joe Chianakas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Grey and The Constellation takes readers through a brightly colored journey, ultimately becoming its own great modern-day fairy tale. Take a long look at that gorgeous cover and prepare for a journey that’s somehow even more vibrant. (At one point, I even pictured Anna Grey having her own character in Mario Kart—she’d fit in perfectly on Rainbow Road and would crush it!)

Author Lindsay Flanagan knocked it out of the park with this debut. She gives readers a magical, fantastical mystery bursting with youthful energy. Anna Grey’s sharp wit, delightful curiosity, and relentless optimism will keep a smile on your face the entire time. It has some delightful twists and great suspense—at times, I felt like I was living through a brighter, more joyful Legend of Zelda quest. I lost myself in a unique mythology in a new world that takes us completely and delightfully out of our own. And I loved so many of the book’s great themes on identity, fitting in, and feeling like an outsider.

This is a story that will become its own legend, just as the characters in the story become their own fairy tales. And just wait until you discover what the constellation truly is. What a wonderful book!

[Neesa KP · Rating 5 out of 5]

AnnaGrey and the Constellation is a great introduction to a series and a complex universe. The reader never knows anything more than the protagonist, AnnaGrey, at any given moment. Each discovery she makes is as much a surprise for us as it is for her. This book is paced a bit slowly at first and ends on a cliff-hanger. I like how it is paced, but it doesn’t hit the ground running; it builds and crescendos at the end.
This is a young adult book. While it probably won’t interest older readers as much, for a younger reader it will be quite relatable. At the beginning of the book, AnnaGrey and her parents are the strangest people she knows. She has to hide the fact that her eyes glow in the dark because she’s already being bullied in school, and she knows it will only get worse if people find out about her eyes. In addition, she discovers that her parents are keeping things from her, things to do with their origins. Like most teenagers, she doesn’t feel like she quite fits in the world she lives in, and she needs answers.
AnnaGray is a good person pushing back against the boundaries of her life in order to find out who she is. I think it will be a wonderful lead into the sequel and other books set in this world.

[Sierra Schoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AnnaGrey and the Constellation brings to life a magical world full of mysteries, otherworldly creatures, and a loveable heroine who must save the day. Although AnnaGrey is marketed as a middle grade fantasy, it is a story I would recommend to older teens and adults as well! Flanagan has created a rich and diverse fantasy realm that sits in sharp juxtaposition to our ordinary world. When fourteen year old AnnaGrey meets a mysterious talking “horse” with a rainbow mane, she thinks she’s either suffering from a severe concussion or that she may finally get some answers about why she looks and feels different from other kids her age. Luckily for us readers, it is the latter. AnnaGrey is quickly swept off into a land of fairytales that is both enchanting and dangerous. This book kept me turning pages–especially in the final few chapters. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the Laéth Realm Adventures!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annagrey is a normal teenager or at least she wants to believe. Her eyes are different and that leads to her being teased at school and her wondering why only her mother and her have different eyes. Annagrey has a lot of questions that her parents won’t answer. She knows they are keeping secrets and she wants answers. Wanting answers leads her into the Wildewood which is forbidden. Will Anna get the answers she seeks or will she learn more than she can handle?

Having read the prequel Little Red Wraith first I loved the connections in Annagrey. Questions were answered and I got a great foreshadowing of what might come next. Lindsay has done an amazing job of building a magical world and beloved characters that makes you want to come back again and again.

[Laura Stegman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Flanagan's beautifully written AnnaGrey and the Constellation begins with its gorgeous cover and gets better from there. Heroine AnnaGrey, whose eyes mysteriously -- and embarrassingly for her -- glow in the dark, doesn't fit in anywhere. Bullying at school makes it worse. But when she meets a unicorn-like creature in the forbidden woods behind her house, she's drawn into a magical world with creatures very much like herself -- glowing eyes and all. As she struggles to find confidence, she learns to stand up for herself in this highly recommended tale of friendship and hope.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin?! This book was so inspiring. Even though I am not 14-years-old, I still felt like AnnaGrey's story connected to my own story in so many ways, and I can see many girls and boys, through reading this book, finding their potential from their own unique differences. I highly recommend this book for all those who love magic, stars, and bright rainbow colors! Way to go to Lindsay Flanagan for writing such a fantastic book! I'm excited to see what comes next in AnnaGrey's adventure.

[Cam Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fantastic story about embracing who you are. It gives such a powerful message: each of us has magic inside of us, even though me may feel like an outcast. The setting is magical, the characters are fun, and the theme is poignant.

[Jessica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book from an incredible author. Loved it!

[Kerry Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have loved this book even if I didn't know the author. I was invested in the story after a few pages. I can't wait for the second book to come out.

[staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a beautiful story overcoming obstacles that can be likened to every day life and learning how to be your true self. It’s a great story for all readers!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

AnnaGrey and Cross’s story was fun to follow. The names! I love the names in this book. This played out in my mind like a fantastic show or movie.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read full of fantastical elements! Definitely give it a try if you’re a fan of Fantasy and Sci-Fi!