What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gryphon Chronicles #4
Rise Of Allies
A Storm on the Horizon…
Every spring, the aristocratic magical families of Victorian England gather secretly at Merlin Hall to hobnob and to hold the annual Fey Parliament. While the adults of Magic-kind – from wizards to wood elves, fauns to fairies, giants to djinnis, and their human counterparts – debate matters of importance, the gifted youths must undergo the dreaded Assessments, testing their supernatural abilities.
For rascally Jake Everton, the boy Earl of Griffon, the pressure’s on! Hungry to qualify for the elite Lightrider program that guarantees a life of adventure, Jake must prove himself to the Elders as a worthy future hero-in-training. But when a mysterious junior witch arrives at Merlin Hall with secrets in her eyes and danger at her heels, Jake and his friends must unite to defeat the dark forces that have invaded the Gathering and have sworn the frightfully-talented girl’s destruction.
Join Jake and Dani, Archie and Isabelle on an epic journey into a world of enchantment, making marvelous new friends…and terrible new enemies.
Welcome to The Gryphon Chronicles, a rollicking historical fantasy series that’s as much fun for grownups as it is for kids, from the imagination of New York Times bestselling author, E.G. Foley.
“A wonderful novel in the same vein as Harry Potter, full of nonstop action, magical creatures, and the reality that was Queen Victoria’s England.” –The Reading Café
Every spring, the aristocratic magical families of Victorian England gather secretly at Merlin Hall to hobnob and to hold the annual Fey Parliament. While the adults of Magic-kind – from wizards to wood elves, fauns to fairies, giants to djinnis, and their human counterparts – debate matters of importance, the gifted youths must undergo the dreaded Assessments, testing their supernatural abilities.
For rascally Jake Everton, the boy Earl of Griffon, the pressure’s on! Hungry to qualify for the elite Lightrider program that guarantees a life of adventure, Jake must prove himself to the Elders as a worthy future hero-in-training. But when a mysterious junior witch arrives at Merlin Hall with secrets in her eyes and danger at her heels, Jake and his friends must unite to defeat the dark forces that have invaded the Gathering and have sworn the frightfully-talented girl’s destruction.
Join Jake and Dani, Archie and Isabelle on an epic journey into a world of enchantment, making marvelous new friends…and terrible new enemies.
Welcome to The Gryphon Chronicles, a rollicking historical fantasy series that’s as much fun for grownups as it is for kids, from the imagination of New York Times bestselling author, E.G. Foley.
“A wonderful novel in the same vein as Harry Potter, full of nonstop action, magical creatures, and the reality that was Queen Victoria’s England.” –The Reading Café
579 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2014
494 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
E.G. Foley
28 books414 followersE.G. FOLEY is the pen name of a husband-and-wife writing duo. He's the "E" (Eric), a former chiropractor turned middle-school teacher - now full-time author. Eric first got the creative writing bug at the age of seven and hasn't stopped scribbling down stories since. She's the "G" (Gael), a New York Times, USA Today, & Publisher's Weekly bestselling author. Writing for adults as Gaelen Foley, Gael's award-winning novels from Big 5 publishers have hit all the major bestseller lists, been translated into 20+ languages, and sold millions of copies worldwide. Together, they are the authors of the pulse-pounding middle grade fantasy series, The Gryphon Chronicles, about a twelve-year-old orphan living on the streets of Victorian London, who discovers he is the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family with magical powers. Come and join the adventure today!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 21, 2025
This was an excellent buildup to the fight between the good magic folk, and the dark druids. Unlike other series, where this sort of set up could just be seen as filler before the next book, this was complex enough to have a few different storylines that ran through it, creating a group of allies for the big fight.
Listening to this on audio was also well done as the narrator is great. The only point I don't like is how often Red says "cawww" and the narrator dragging it out. Otherwise very enjoyable.
Listening to this on audio was also well done as the narrator is great. The only point I don't like is how often Red says "cawww" and the narrator dragging it out. Otherwise very enjoyable.
January 28, 2017
Although I have listed the Kindle version, I actually listened to the Audible version with my tween daughter when shuttling her various places, but the audio version isn't listed in Goodreads as an available edition. As usual, my daughter and I howled with laughter at the rambunctious antics of Jake Everton (Lord Gryphon) and his cousins and friends.
Set in England in the late Victorian era, this book describes a world where a small number of people are born with magical abilities, and some choose to use their powers for good (Order of the Yew Tree) and some for evil (Dark Druids). Jake's parents had been murdered when he was a baby, and the circumstances associated with this event resulted in him spending much of his childhood as an orphan whose true identity was unknown, first in orphanages in London and later on the streets of London after he had run away. In the first book of the series, he is located by the Order and returned to his extended family. From then through the first three books of the series, his circle of friends has consisted of his cousins Isabelle and Archie, Danny, a feisty girl from the streets of London who had helped keep Jake out of trouble but has now been hired as a lady's maid for Isabelle, and Red, a gryphon that has been a protector of Jake's family for centuries.
In this book, Jake's inner circle expands to include Nixella (Nixie), a young witch, and Maddox, a guardian in training (Guardian's are highly skilled warriors whose acute senses of danger make them ideal protectors.). The Order has an annual assembly at Merlin Hall where the elders hold the Fey Parliament and where youngsters whose kinder veil hiding their magical abilities prior to puberty has worn off are evaluated to determine how they need to be trained. Jake, Nixie and Maddox are among the youngsters being evaluated at this assembly.
Jake and Maddox, both having similar personalities and strong abilities, manage to get off on the wrong foot, primarily because Maddox's abilities bring out Jake's insecurity. Their tiffs provide much of the book's comic relief, including an incident where Jake uses is telekinesis to fling dragon dung onto Maddox. Maddox is holding Jake upside down by his feet above the dung pile and ready to let go when an adult breaks up the fight. Eventually, they manage to resolve their differences and became friends.
Nixie had arrived at Merlin Hall with some unexpected baggage. A few months earlier, she had managed to antagonize a group of four Scottish spooks known as the Begaines. Since then, they had been haunting her and depriving her of sleep, and they had followed her to Merlin Hall. Because the Begaines had threatened to kill anyone who befriended her, Nixie is very standoffish, trying not to make friends. After Jake intervened in a haunting incident, he and his circle of friends worked together to defeat the Begaines.
I really enjoyed this book because of its strong emphasis on friendship, loyalty and teamwork. The resolution of the conflict between Jake and Maddox is very important because a war between the Order and the Dark Druids is brewing, and there are hints that the two will need to work together to ensure the safety of their circle of friends. Furthermore, all of them had to work together to defeat the Begaines.
I noticed a viewpoint that I have seen in other books of recent pedigree. The leader of the Begaines, Jenny Greenteeth, is a water witch who existed because people believed in and feared her. Parents would tell their young children to stay away from rivers, creeks and streams, warning them that Jenny Greenteeth would get them. The children's fear of Jenny Greenteeth caused her to actually exist. It was only by refusing to believe in her that Jake and his friends managed to defeat her. In other words, something could be true simply because people believe it to be true outside of objective reality. Such ideas are common in Millennials and the generation after them, and I have used this book and others to draw my daughter's attention to them so she doesn't just absorb them non-critically.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. It was fun.
Set in England in the late Victorian era, this book describes a world where a small number of people are born with magical abilities, and some choose to use their powers for good (Order of the Yew Tree) and some for evil (Dark Druids). Jake's parents had been murdered when he was a baby, and the circumstances associated with this event resulted in him spending much of his childhood as an orphan whose true identity was unknown, first in orphanages in London and later on the streets of London after he had run away. In the first book of the series, he is located by the Order and returned to his extended family. From then through the first three books of the series, his circle of friends has consisted of his cousins Isabelle and Archie, Danny, a feisty girl from the streets of London who had helped keep Jake out of trouble but has now been hired as a lady's maid for Isabelle, and Red, a gryphon that has been a protector of Jake's family for centuries.
In this book, Jake's inner circle expands to include Nixella (Nixie), a young witch, and Maddox, a guardian in training (Guardian's are highly skilled warriors whose acute senses of danger make them ideal protectors.). The Order has an annual assembly at Merlin Hall where the elders hold the Fey Parliament and where youngsters whose kinder veil hiding their magical abilities prior to puberty has worn off are evaluated to determine how they need to be trained. Jake, Nixie and Maddox are among the youngsters being evaluated at this assembly.
Jake and Maddox, both having similar personalities and strong abilities, manage to get off on the wrong foot, primarily because Maddox's abilities bring out Jake's insecurity. Their tiffs provide much of the book's comic relief, including an incident where Jake uses is telekinesis to fling dragon dung onto Maddox. Maddox is holding Jake upside down by his feet above the dung pile and ready to let go when an adult breaks up the fight. Eventually, they manage to resolve their differences and became friends.
Nixie had arrived at Merlin Hall with some unexpected baggage. A few months earlier, she had managed to antagonize a group of four Scottish spooks known as the Begaines. Since then, they had been haunting her and depriving her of sleep, and they had followed her to Merlin Hall. Because the Begaines had threatened to kill anyone who befriended her, Nixie is very standoffish, trying not to make friends. After Jake intervened in a haunting incident, he and his circle of friends worked together to defeat the Begaines.
I really enjoyed this book because of its strong emphasis on friendship, loyalty and teamwork. The resolution of the conflict between Jake and Maddox is very important because a war between the Order and the Dark Druids is brewing, and there are hints that the two will need to work together to ensure the safety of their circle of friends. Furthermore, all of them had to work together to defeat the Begaines.
I noticed a viewpoint that I have seen in other books of recent pedigree. The leader of the Begaines, Jenny Greenteeth, is a water witch who existed because people believed in and feared her. Parents would tell their young children to stay away from rivers, creeks and streams, warning them that Jenny Greenteeth would get them. The children's fear of Jenny Greenteeth caused her to actually exist. It was only by refusing to believe in her that Jake and his friends managed to defeat her. In other words, something could be true simply because people believe it to be true outside of objective reality. Such ideas are common in Millennials and the generation after them, and I have used this book and others to draw my daughter's attention to them so she doesn't just absorb them non-critically.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. It was fun.
February 14, 2017
Audiobook - Narration - Jamie du Pont MacKenzie, Wonderful as usual.
I think this may be my favorite of this series.
The gang has to go through their magical assessments, meet the queen, deal with their own insecurities and jealousies as they witness the skills of their peers and we learn more about life for and requirements of light riders and guardians.
Two more talented youngsters join Jake and company for a magical and dangerous adventure as they travel through paintings, deal with a part troll boy, a dangerous vampire, some stinky little mischief makers and we get to spend more time with an old eight legged friend.
Such a great series, geared towards kids but is also terrifically fun for adults!
Love it!
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
I think this may be my favorite of this series.
The gang has to go through their magical assessments, meet the queen, deal with their own insecurities and jealousies as they witness the skills of their peers and we learn more about life for and requirements of light riders and guardians.
Two more talented youngsters join Jake and company for a magical and dangerous adventure as they travel through paintings, deal with a part troll boy, a dangerous vampire, some stinky little mischief makers and we get to spend more time with an old eight legged friend.
Such a great series, geared towards kids but is also terrifically fun for adults!
Love it!
I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
October 5, 2022
This series and its characters are wonderful! I think there is even more to offer in these books than in Harry Potter, and I love Rowling’s books. However, where there is little adult involvement in Harry Potter, even to the point of making adults look at worst abusive and at least oblivious, the adults in the Gryphon Chronicles are heavily involved in the adventures and, even more importantly, the shaping of Jake’s and his friends’ characters. You even see internal turmoil in the main character, not just “Am I becoming more like so-and-so (ex. Harry about Voldemort)”, but “Am I worthy of the friendship of those in my life when my choices have had terrible consequences?” I don’t remember Harry apologizing to anyone, and if he does, it is infrequent and inconsequential. Jake, on the other hand, has to learn what it means to put his pride aside for the sake of others and make reconciliation where he was in the wrong, or simply to admit that both sides were in error, but his reaction was not warranted by the deed done seemingly in error. The character development in the series is phenomenal, and I can’t wait to continue with it.
January 20, 2021
Extraordinarily magical!
I highly recommend this fantastic book,and the series in which it is to readers of all ages. The battle of good and evil has rarely been this magical. I very much enjoy reading about all the crypto creatures, and I'm eager to read what comes next for our entire intrepid adventurers. Enjoy!
I highly recommend this fantastic book,and the series in which it is to readers of all ages. The battle of good and evil has rarely been this magical. I very much enjoy reading about all the crypto creatures, and I'm eager to read what comes next for our entire intrepid adventurers. Enjoy!
December 29, 2021
Best adventure yet.
Best in the series so far. New.characters as everyone is adjusting to their growing up and war is coming...a story leading up to it with other battles to be handled.
Best in the series so far. New.characters as everyone is adjusting to their growing up and war is coming...a story leading up to it with other battles to be handled.
March 11, 2022
I just finished Rise of Allies and it was awesome! I'm listening to the rest of the books very slowly so
I will be done by the time that The Sorcerer's Army is released on Thursday, March 31st, 2022.
📕💻🎧🤩👏🏾
I will be done by the time that The Sorcerer's Army is released on Thursday, March 31st, 2022.
📕💻🎧🤩👏🏾
March 13, 2022
The gang gets bigger
The party is growing, the friendships deepening, and the monsters keep getting bigger and badder. The anticipation is building for our young party to accomplish greater things.
The party is growing, the friendships deepening, and the monsters keep getting bigger and badder. The anticipation is building for our young party to accomplish greater things.
June 16, 2024
Jake Jake Jake. He always seems to find trouble or trouble finds him. He finds new friends/allies in this book and his group of friends grows, each with their own abilities. There are a few surprises, maybe more.
February 3, 2025
Great expansion of the world
I think I enjoyed this book most of all the book in the series so far. It was great to meet new kid heros and allies, as well as "see" familiar faces again.
It was also very interesting to get a glimpse of how the light rider magic and world work.
I think I enjoyed this book most of all the book in the series so far. It was great to meet new kid heros and allies, as well as "see" familiar faces again.
It was also very interesting to get a glimpse of how the light rider magic and world work.
April 16, 2018
Cant wait for the last one to wrap up everything . It was enjoyable read just a bit longer than previous volumes. I love the way the characters have developed over the story .
January 27, 2019
Great Series, we love to listen to the audible audiobooks on longer car rides the kids (10 to 16) all love the books and me as well.
This book brought great new characters.
This book brought great new characters.
March 18, 2019
I LOVE these stories! The characters are fun, the story is out of this world and it always leaves you wanting more. Can't wait to start the next book and see what happens.
May 21, 2019
A wonderful addition to the Gryphon chronicles.
March 8, 2021
4.5 stars.
July 4, 2021
Another fantastic book in this fun fantasy series.
September 21, 2023
Love this series , great reading
March 17, 2024
Audio book with my 8 year old. We have loved this series.
October 1, 2024
Absolutely loved it! The third is still my favourite in the series so far but I really enjoyed this, and I loved the addition of Maddox and Nixie to the crew and I can't wait to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
Rise of Allies
Another wonderful adventure! Jake and his pals find new friends on their latest adventure along with more ghosts and other dastardly villains.
Another wonderful adventure! Jake and his pals find new friends on their latest adventure along with more ghosts and other dastardly villains.
December 13, 2024
Good setup for future adventures
February 16, 2025
good read
Quite a good read. I read some with my grandson. He is starting to enjoy this series. He is autistic but loves to read out loud. This is just right for him
Quite a good read. I read some with my grandson. He is starting to enjoy this series. He is autistic but loves to read out loud. This is just right for him
Want to read
February 21, 2025SM
February 22, 2025
So cool!!!!
August 10, 2025
Good reading
I stayed up way too long at night reading to see what happens next for the youthful group of adventures. Next book already downloaded.
I stayed up way too long at night reading to see what happens next for the youthful group of adventures. Next book already downloaded.
September 23, 2025
gripping stuff, Jake and gang at thier best
February 6, 2025
Really good
December 1, 2014
Jake and the gang are off to the Gathering where Jake will have his Assessment. He is not happy about it. It is at the Gathering where they will make new friends, vanquish new foes, and learn of bad news.
I love this series! Read it in order (even JAKE & THE GINGERBREAD WARS) as there are people and events referred to from previous books. Some story lines that seemed over are not. Some story lines continue in this story and will go into the next book.
Jake seemed to be growing up last book but he has slid back to being a child. His pity party with Red is priceless! He sounds like a kid. Jake has to face his jealousy of a rival for Derek Stone's attention. He also has to look at his actions and learn to be humble when dealing with others. Jake learns that he needs to rely on others as much as they need to rely on him.
I love Archie, Dani, and Isabelle. Archie and Isabelle deal with their first crushes. It's adorable! Isabelle also deals with a suitor she does not want and cannot decide if he is serious or harassing her. Dani's temper causes her some trouble but her solution brought a smile to my face. But they are firmly behind Jake no matter what happens.
The adults seem oblivious to what the gang is up to until after things happen that become a problem. They never question what Jake and his friends (old and new) are doing even as they watch them preparing their weapons (but you cannot believe what they use for weapons.)
I look forward to book 5. RISE OF ALLIES sets it up nicely. There will be plenty of adventures and bad guys for Jake, Archie, Dani, and Isabelle.
I love this series! Read it in order (even JAKE & THE GINGERBREAD WARS) as there are people and events referred to from previous books. Some story lines that seemed over are not. Some story lines continue in this story and will go into the next book.
Jake seemed to be growing up last book but he has slid back to being a child. His pity party with Red is priceless! He sounds like a kid. Jake has to face his jealousy of a rival for Derek Stone's attention. He also has to look at his actions and learn to be humble when dealing with others. Jake learns that he needs to rely on others as much as they need to rely on him.
I love Archie, Dani, and Isabelle. Archie and Isabelle deal with their first crushes. It's adorable! Isabelle also deals with a suitor she does not want and cannot decide if he is serious or harassing her. Dani's temper causes her some trouble but her solution brought a smile to my face. But they are firmly behind Jake no matter what happens.
The adults seem oblivious to what the gang is up to until after things happen that become a problem. They never question what Jake and his friends (old and new) are doing even as they watch them preparing their weapons (but you cannot believe what they use for weapons.)
I look forward to book 5. RISE OF ALLIES sets it up nicely. There will be plenty of adventures and bad guys for Jake, Archie, Dani, and Isabelle.
September 21, 2022
This is the fourth book in the Gryphon Chronicles and I think I enjoyed it the most of all of them.
Jake has been brought to magical Merlin Hall to undergo his Assessment, which will decide whether or not he will receive training as a Lightrider when he is older. He is accompanied by Dani, his old friend from the orphanage, as well as his cousins Isabelle and Archie. While they are at Merlin Hall, they make the acquaintance of a future Guardian and a young witch, both of whom are also undergoing their Assessments. Both of the new youngsters are somewhat prickly and unfriendly to start with, but after several adventures together, the four become fast friends and work together to rid the witch of the nasty spirits who are pursuing her. They also succeed in rescuing the Queen's flag which was stolen, and learn that just because someone looks different, it doesn't mean he is automatically bad.
As usual, the book ended in a way to give hope for a future installment. Now to wait patiently for it to be written and released...
I recommend this series for readers who like adventure. While there are references to some occurrences in the previous books, everything is explained well enough that this one can be read without reading the others first.
Note: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Jake has been brought to magical Merlin Hall to undergo his Assessment, which will decide whether or not he will receive training as a Lightrider when he is older. He is accompanied by Dani, his old friend from the orphanage, as well as his cousins Isabelle and Archie. While they are at Merlin Hall, they make the acquaintance of a future Guardian and a young witch, both of whom are also undergoing their Assessments. Both of the new youngsters are somewhat prickly and unfriendly to start with, but after several adventures together, the four become fast friends and work together to rid the witch of the nasty spirits who are pursuing her. They also succeed in rescuing the Queen's flag which was stolen, and learn that just because someone looks different, it doesn't mean he is automatically bad.
As usual, the book ended in a way to give hope for a future installment. Now to wait patiently for it to be written and released...
I recommend this series for readers who like adventure. While there are references to some occurrences in the previous books, everything is explained well enough that this one can be read without reading the others first.
Note: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2015
The Gryphon Chronicles have another adventure, and this one is longer! Jake, Dani, Archie, and Izzy are back with old friends and make new ones as well. And more frightening enemies. Jake suffers the anticipation and trials of the tests known as the Assessment, hoping that he will pass muster to be considered for a Lightrider like hos parents were. There are many new adventures and his friends also learn more about themselves. While written for younger readers, the kinds of growth and self-awareness depicted are applicable to most of us. See publisher's summary for story clues without spoilers, and get on board to enjoy this fun installment with it's characteristic vivid imagery.
Jamie continues with his stellar performance which adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of this series.
Jamie continues with his stellar performance which adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews