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Bloodtree Chronicles
Sanspell
Three strange clues
Three drops of blood
Three deadly spells
In a race against dark forces and armed only with her great-grandfather’s time locket, Abigail enters the Silvering Kingdom to save the Bloodtree and its stories from certain doom.
With the help of Flint, a mysterious boy from a strangely familiar painting, Abigail finds herself on a dangerous journey.
Can she save the tree and live to see its tales unfold?’
Three drops of blood
Three deadly spells
In a race against dark forces and armed only with her great-grandfather’s time locket, Abigail enters the Silvering Kingdom to save the Bloodtree and its stories from certain doom.
With the help of Flint, a mysterious boy from a strangely familiar painting, Abigail finds herself on a dangerous journey.
Can she save the tree and live to see its tales unfold?’
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First published July 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2015
"Sanspell" is a delightful fantasy adventure designed for the 8-12 ("middle grade") readership. It is a tale where words are magic, and anything can happen. It begins with Abigail, an ordinary girl in an ordinary world, who is spirited away to a fantastical land. Here she meets a mysterious band of aunts, who reveal that she is destined for much more. Abigail must enter into a story to save a unique tree, the bloodtree, and break a spell that holds the kingdom in thrall. She has companions: Flint, with his wolvish eyes and tragic past and his friend Bramble, slow to trust and quick to judge. Together they must unweave the riddle and help restore the bloodtree.
Charmingly written, the plot jumps Abigail from the modern world and into the fantastical Silvering kingdom, where the dastardly Rackenard is conspiring against the royalty, and denying decent stories from the realm. Interwoven with this is the Aunts, as their words help to shape the story. There are three levels to this tale, which makes it quite a sophisticated plot for the younger readers, but opens it up to discussion and interpretation. It is a story of friendship, courage and determination.
Charmingly written, the plot jumps Abigail from the modern world and into the fantastical Silvering kingdom, where the dastardly Rackenard is conspiring against the royalty, and denying decent stories from the realm. Interwoven with this is the Aunts, as their words help to shape the story. There are three levels to this tale, which makes it quite a sophisticated plot for the younger readers, but opens it up to discussion and interpretation. It is a story of friendship, courage and determination.
January 14, 2016
I received a copy of Sanspell from Scholastic New Zealand to review. This is the first book in the Bloodtree Chronicles. I'd never heard of this before I received this copy but I've since seen it in my local bookstores.
Sanspell was kind of confusing at the start but as Abigail was also confused I hoped things would be explained and they were, sometimes in riddles. I still have a few unanswered questions which I hope will be explained in the next book.
I was also confused when Abigail turned into Spindale and referred to herself in memories as Abigail. This is one thing I hope will be explained a bit more but I did get used to it.
I liked that Sanspell is told in multiple perspectives, which includes the villain of the story. There wasn't always a way of knowing who's point of view you'd be in but it never got confusing and it would be really fast to see who was "talking" in the chapters.
Sanspell was easy to follow (after things were explained a bit) and fast paced. I was a little disappointed with the ending, it came out of nowhere. I knew the ending was coming because of the amount of pages I had left but it was kind of abrupt. One moment Spindale is in the middle of things and then next *poof* finished. I haven't looked at the next book yet but I'm hoping it will pick up where this one left off.
The second book, Bragonsthyme, is already out and I will be picking it up really soon. If it's anything like Sanspell I'm sure I'll like it just as much. I also hope to read the third book, Thatchthorpe, when it comes out too.
Sanspell was kind of confusing at the start but as Abigail was also confused I hoped things would be explained and they were, sometimes in riddles. I still have a few unanswered questions which I hope will be explained in the next book.
I was also confused when Abigail turned into Spindale and referred to herself in memories as Abigail. This is one thing I hope will be explained a bit more but I did get used to it.
I liked that Sanspell is told in multiple perspectives, which includes the villain of the story. There wasn't always a way of knowing who's point of view you'd be in but it never got confusing and it would be really fast to see who was "talking" in the chapters.
Sanspell was easy to follow (after things were explained a bit) and fast paced. I was a little disappointed with the ending, it came out of nowhere. I knew the ending was coming because of the amount of pages I had left but it was kind of abrupt. One moment Spindale is in the middle of things and then next *poof* finished. I haven't looked at the next book yet but I'm hoping it will pick up where this one left off.
The second book, Bragonsthyme, is already out and I will be picking it up really soon. If it's anything like Sanspell I'm sure I'll like it just as much. I also hope to read the third book, Thatchthorpe, when it comes out too.
June 20, 2017
it was great
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2017
A fantastic read for tweens and young teens, that brings readers to whole new world of mystery, magic, and adventure. So glad my 13-year-old daughter insisted I read this. Look forward to the next installment. #fantasy
December 10, 2015
Great young person's book, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to the next installment.
January 10, 2016
A charming story told in a fairytale fashion, with a fantastic array of characters. Looking forward to having some more questions answered in the sequel!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews