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The Gryphon Chronicles #1
The Lost Heir
NY Times & USA Today bestselling author E.G. Foley presents The Gryphon Chronicles, a new series of historical fantasy adventures that's as much fun for grownups as it is for kids!
Strange new talents...
Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts, and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why. Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family--with magical powers!
But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends--both human and magical--to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found...
"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 Cafe
Optioned For A Movie!
The Complete Gryphon Chronicles Series:
Book 1 - THE LOST HEIR
Book 2 - JAKE & THE GIANT
Book 3 - THE DARK PORTAL
Book 3.5 - JAKE & THE GINGERBREAD WARS
Book 4 - RISE OF ALLIES
Book 5 - SECRETS OF THE DEEP
Book 6 - THE BLACK FORTRESS
Strange new talents...
Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts, and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why. Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family--with magical powers!
But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends--both human and magical--to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found...
"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 Cafe
Optioned For A Movie!
The Complete Gryphon Chronicles Series:
Book 1 - THE LOST HEIR
Book 2 - JAKE & THE GIANT
Book 3 - THE DARK PORTAL
Book 3.5 - JAKE & THE GINGERBREAD WARS
Book 4 - RISE OF ALLIES
Book 5 - SECRETS OF THE DEEP
Book 6 - THE BLACK FORTRESS
292 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2012
1797 people are currently reading
5259 people want to read
About the author
E.G. Foley
32 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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
January 13, 2017
This review is for the series to date, being books 1-4 (including 3.5).
What a great little series, sure it is aimed at middle school age, but it certainly enjoyable for adults as well. I certainly enjoyed it, am enjoying it. The audiobooks are well produced and add a lot to the stories as all good narrators do.
Be you adult or tweenie, if you love a good fantasy novel / series and love winged beasts, in this instances it is a fierce, loyal gryphon, then you will enjoy these books. whilst they follow the adventures of children, it really doesn't feel like it. They are far from whiny little brats and there isn't any love-sick YA brooding, so far.
Recommended for the young and young at heart.
What a great little series, sure it is aimed at middle school age, but it certainly enjoyable for adults as well. I certainly enjoyed it, am enjoying it. The audiobooks are well produced and add a lot to the stories as all good narrators do.
Be you adult or tweenie, if you love a good fantasy novel / series and love winged beasts, in this instances it is a fierce, loyal gryphon, then you will enjoy these books. whilst they follow the adventures of children, it really doesn't feel like it. They are far from whiny little brats and there isn't any love-sick YA brooding, so far.
Recommended for the young and young at heart.
December 15, 2024
I listened to the audiobook. It was exceptionally entertaining. I think this middle grade book can be enjoyed by adults too. I was captivated and invested in the story the entire time. This is book one of a series.
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June 12, 2021Books 1 & 2 free on Kindle US 6/12/2021!
January 6, 2019
Not bad
The Lost Heir is, for the most part, fairly good for what it is. However, Tolkien it isn't - there is no lyricism, no memorable passages, no inspired imagery or unforgettable dialogue. It is pedestrian and prosaic at best. Where it shines is in its characters - its hero Jake and his friends have real personality and are easy to like. Unfortunately, this book has an all-too-common-in-YA-fantasy-fiction tendency to describe magic in the most tepid of terms. What should be wondrous comes off as corny and shallow. Plus, there are moments in which the characters act in illogical ways, sometimes as a clumsy means to create drama. But again, the book's strength is in its characters, and they do elecit sympathy and interest. So I can recommend this book.
The Lost Heir is, for the most part, fairly good for what it is. However, Tolkien it isn't - there is no lyricism, no memorable passages, no inspired imagery or unforgettable dialogue. It is pedestrian and prosaic at best. Where it shines is in its characters - its hero Jake and his friends have real personality and are easy to like. Unfortunately, this book has an all-too-common-in-YA-fantasy-fiction tendency to describe magic in the most tepid of terms. What should be wondrous comes off as corny and shallow. Plus, there are moments in which the characters act in illogical ways, sometimes as a clumsy means to create drama. But again, the book's strength is in its characters, and they do elecit sympathy and interest. So I can recommend this book.
July 16, 2012
When life gives you lemons, do we always have to make lemonade?
Jake had been on his own and struggling to stay alive for most of the twelve years of his life. He knew how to survive on the rough streets of London picking here and plotting there to keep his belly full and his body warm. When the unthinkable happens and it seems men have come to murder him staying alive becomes much harder than even he expected especially when he has no idea why anyone would do such a thing.
The savior for Jake was Derek who it turned out was his Guardian, as it appears Jake is heir to an earldom and the castle that goes with it, along with other assets to protect. What is standing in between Jake and this inheritance is his uncle who it appears has enjoyed the riches that were so carefully gathered by Jake's parent for him. So keeping Jake away at any cost becomes his uncle's singular objective in life.
These turn of events are not the only ones happening in Jake's life. It appears he has inherited his parent's telekinesis and of course the ability to see and talk to ghosts! Learning to use them properly is a task no one is sure Jake can handle but never underestimate the power of a determined boy. He finds family to encourage him, mentors to teach him, and strength that keeps him moving forward to take back what rightfully belongs to him. There are friends of the human and Fey variety assisting so let the adventure begin.
Wonderful is the first word of many that come to mind when you have read this book. The first book in The Gryphon Chronicles is an introduction to the creative genius that is E.G. Foley. The author has captured both the hopeful side of life with all its magic mixed so flawlessly with moments of danger that is always around the corner. The anticipation of the next book in this series, Jake and the Giant is almost too much to bear.
Jake had been on his own and struggling to stay alive for most of the twelve years of his life. He knew how to survive on the rough streets of London picking here and plotting there to keep his belly full and his body warm. When the unthinkable happens and it seems men have come to murder him staying alive becomes much harder than even he expected especially when he has no idea why anyone would do such a thing.
The savior for Jake was Derek who it turned out was his Guardian, as it appears Jake is heir to an earldom and the castle that goes with it, along with other assets to protect. What is standing in between Jake and this inheritance is his uncle who it appears has enjoyed the riches that were so carefully gathered by Jake's parent for him. So keeping Jake away at any cost becomes his uncle's singular objective in life.
These turn of events are not the only ones happening in Jake's life. It appears he has inherited his parent's telekinesis and of course the ability to see and talk to ghosts! Learning to use them properly is a task no one is sure Jake can handle but never underestimate the power of a determined boy. He finds family to encourage him, mentors to teach him, and strength that keeps him moving forward to take back what rightfully belongs to him. There are friends of the human and Fey variety assisting so let the adventure begin.
Wonderful is the first word of many that come to mind when you have read this book. The first book in The Gryphon Chronicles is an introduction to the creative genius that is E.G. Foley. The author has captured both the hopeful side of life with all its magic mixed so flawlessly with moments of danger that is always around the corner. The anticipation of the next book in this series, Jake and the Giant is almost too much to bear.
August 25, 2015
This was awesome!! Such a fun and exciting read and one I'd highly recommend. The summary sums up the story so I'm getting straight to my thoughts.
Jake was such a worthy hero. He is an orphan and has learned how to live by his wits. He was brave, strong, smart and resourceful. He learns of who he is, yet it doesn't change him. He even sees ghosts and gets these strange powers, he has people trying to kill him and finds himself confronted with weird animals, yet he stays true to himself.
Danni is Jakes' best friend and does her best to keep him out of trouble, which is hard because trouble tends to find Jake no matter what!! She is smart, loyal and brave and I loved her character, though my heart broke for her when she was on about her family.
The plot of this was fast paced and engrossing. It has everything a great middle grade fantasy should. We have magic, mythical creatures, mystery, mayhem, plot twists, action and plenty of adventure. It was enthralling, to say the least.
In all this was an incredibly entertaining read and one I know I will revisit from time to time. It captured my attention from the start and kept me gripped the whole way through. From it's lovable characters, to it's engrossing story, this is a must read! I loved everything about this and will be diving into the next book as soon as I buy it. Highly recommend!!
The audio of this was fantastic!! Jamie du Pont MacKenzie was a thrill to listen to. He was totally engrossed in the story and brought it to life. He gave each character their own personality and had so many tones that it was a pleasure to listen to.
Jake was such a worthy hero. He is an orphan and has learned how to live by his wits. He was brave, strong, smart and resourceful. He learns of who he is, yet it doesn't change him. He even sees ghosts and gets these strange powers, he has people trying to kill him and finds himself confronted with weird animals, yet he stays true to himself.
Danni is Jakes' best friend and does her best to keep him out of trouble, which is hard because trouble tends to find Jake no matter what!! She is smart, loyal and brave and I loved her character, though my heart broke for her when she was on about her family.
The plot of this was fast paced and engrossing. It has everything a great middle grade fantasy should. We have magic, mythical creatures, mystery, mayhem, plot twists, action and plenty of adventure. It was enthralling, to say the least.
In all this was an incredibly entertaining read and one I know I will revisit from time to time. It captured my attention from the start and kept me gripped the whole way through. From it's lovable characters, to it's engrossing story, this is a must read! I loved everything about this and will be diving into the next book as soon as I buy it. Highly recommend!!
The audio of this was fantastic!! Jamie du Pont MacKenzie was a thrill to listen to. He was totally engrossed in the story and brought it to life. He gave each character their own personality and had so many tones that it was a pleasure to listen to.
December 2, 2015
Exciting and full of adventure, the Lost Heir is a captivating combination of Harry Potter meets Oliver Twist. Set in Victorian England, this thrilling story is about a mysterious orphan named Jake and his friends that roam the underbelly of London's notorious slums. Paired with a has-been "Guardian" knight, they flee a murderous uncle who would like to relieve the world of his presence. Monsters, fairies, sirens, and other memorable creatures pop up to enliven the tale. Foley's descriptive prose helps the reader see and smell the colorful London streets, hear the vendors and get a picture of life in the nineteenth century. Jake's paranormal powers pepper the story with humor and imagination making this a great read to share and enjoy, opening doors to lots of discussion.
April 8, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. I actually mean it this time. It showed an excellent plot with a heart warming rags to riches exposition. It had plenty of action and did not leave the reader craving action for long. It was well written and I would recommend this for anyone willing to read about an intense but comical adventure. I give this 4 stars out of 5 because while it is a great book it just cannot contend with some of the other great books I have read which i also plan to review.
August 11, 2018
Re read 2017 before new book
Great audio book production! A wonderful middle grade fantasy for young and old.
Re-read with my son for summer reading
Great audio book production! A wonderful middle grade fantasy for young and old.
Re-read with my son for summer reading
February 13, 2017
Reader thoughts: About a 3.5. I'll probably buy the next audiobook, too.
So, I usually don't like historical books set in this world, even ones with fantasy. Maybe if it's really historical and set over 1000 years ago. The Reluctant Assassin, which was a historical fantasy/sci-fi by an author I like, but I couldn't appreciate the story because I disliked the setting. In Lost Heir, I didn't mind so much.
I did think there were too many disparate magical elements. Okay, we have magical gifts and spells and potions and telekinesis and nymphs and gryphons. Then we also have unicorns, fairies, satyrs, sea witches, ghosts, lay lines, guardian danger senses, angels, pyrokinesis, dragons, talking spiders, giants, cherubs, and animated decorations. It didn't all fit together. Take out the angels and ghosts at least. As it was, I couldn't make sense of the magical world, and I don't like that. (Plus, I don't generally like angles/demons in fictional stories.)
I liked that the characters explained why Jake was left alone for so long. He complained that they should have found him earlier (and they should have), but they had reasons. They weren't great reasons (oh, no! a fisherman picked baby Jake out of the water! we'll never find him now!), but there were reasons.
I liked all of the characters, Archie and Derek and Teddy. They all felt different. Not too fleshed-out yet, but they'll get there. At least they had personality. They interacted well with each other, and there were consequences when Jake was rude or disobeyed (and I hope he'll stop that annoying habit of being disagreeable just because he can).
There were quite a few povs. Gryphon, Uncle, Jake, spider, Dani, Derek, and Gladwin. Perhaps it wasn't the number of povs but with how often it changed. I think Jake only got 35% of the book after everyone else's scenes were removed. Some of them were neat (the spider stealing his hair and a couple of the fairy scenes), but some of them were just evil-man-rubbing-hands-together-and-plotting. Yeah, I get he's evil and trying to kill Jake. Do I need another scene showing me his plans?
Injuries weren't treated seriously enough. This is all too common in fantasy stories, but CONCUSSIONS ARE DANGEROUS. I'm a teacher, and we get concussion training every year. Yep. Do you know why? Because concussions kill kids in schools. If you make the kid think too hard within a couple weeks of the concussion, that could be brain damage. Loud noises, exercise, thinking hard, flashing lights . . . these are all bad. Sometimes the effects of a concussion can last months. More research is coming out with how concussions affect mood and depression.
So, when your character gets hit in the head and knocked out and runs around fighting and wrestling and stuff right afterward, I'm VERY VERY skeptical.
Jake gets knocked out twice in one evening. He's hit in the head, knocked out, tossed in a cell, wakes up, does a bunch of magic and fighting, is thrown against the wall to get knocked out AGAIN, and then he gets up and keeps fighting and doing more magic (which already gives him a headache on a good day). So, this kid should go sit in a dark room with no stimuli for, like, a month. Gar.
A couple things were too easy. The angel appearing and healing Dani was too deus ex machina for me. Seriously. When you have an angel who can heal anything, how could Jake or Dani ever be in serious danger again? Why didn't the angel show up to erase the spell later or get rid of the siren or the angry blacksmith or the uncle?
The second thing
I liked the spider scene at the end in the prison cell.
Writer thoughts: Every now and then, the pov would jump. But it would be just for a sentence or two. Like, we're in Jake's head, but then it says something like, "His uncle paused, trying to think of a way to placate the crowd. He couldn't tell them the truth. Then he smiled and spoke." It would have been better if the reader stayed in Jake's head, and Jake surmised what the uncle was doing. Like, "Jake saw his uncle pause. He was probably trying to think of a good lie to placate the crowd" or some such. (This idea changed one of my novel's earlier drafts. As the book's writer, I had no idea how much head hopping I was doing until some critique partners pointed it out.)
The penultimate scene with the O'Dell family didn't have much impact. It felt like it was supposed to be a climax and failed. Oh, Dani gets liberated from her horrible family! But, throughout most of the book, I wasn't thinking of Dani's family. They weren't even on my radar. Maybe in the first chapter but not the rest. So, to have them brought back up and make them seem like such a big deal just felt off. Now, if Jake had gone after Dani alone with the offer, it would have felt more natural, less of a brouhaha.
So, I usually don't like historical books set in this world, even ones with fantasy. Maybe if it's really historical and set over 1000 years ago. The Reluctant Assassin, which was a historical fantasy/sci-fi by an author I like, but I couldn't appreciate the story because I disliked the setting. In Lost Heir, I didn't mind so much.
I did think there were too many disparate magical elements. Okay, we have magical gifts and spells and potions and telekinesis and nymphs and gryphons. Then we also have unicorns, fairies, satyrs, sea witches, ghosts, lay lines, guardian danger senses, angels, pyrokinesis, dragons, talking spiders, giants, cherubs, and animated decorations. It didn't all fit together. Take out the angels and ghosts at least. As it was, I couldn't make sense of the magical world, and I don't like that. (Plus, I don't generally like angles/demons in fictional stories.)
I liked that the characters explained why Jake was left alone for so long. He complained that they should have found him earlier (and they should have), but they had reasons. They weren't great reasons (oh, no! a fisherman picked baby Jake out of the water! we'll never find him now!), but there were reasons.
I liked all of the characters, Archie and Derek and Teddy. They all felt different. Not too fleshed-out yet, but they'll get there. At least they had personality. They interacted well with each other, and there were consequences when Jake was rude or disobeyed (and I hope he'll stop that annoying habit of being disagreeable just because he can).
There were quite a few povs. Gryphon, Uncle, Jake, spider, Dani, Derek, and Gladwin. Perhaps it wasn't the number of povs but with how often it changed. I think Jake only got 35% of the book after everyone else's scenes were removed. Some of them were neat (the spider stealing his hair and a couple of the fairy scenes), but some of them were just evil-man-rubbing-hands-together-and-plotting. Yeah, I get he's evil and trying to kill Jake. Do I need another scene showing me his plans?
Injuries weren't treated seriously enough. This is all too common in fantasy stories, but CONCUSSIONS ARE DANGEROUS. I'm a teacher, and we get concussion training every year. Yep. Do you know why? Because concussions kill kids in schools. If you make the kid think too hard within a couple weeks of the concussion, that could be brain damage. Loud noises, exercise, thinking hard, flashing lights . . . these are all bad. Sometimes the effects of a concussion can last months. More research is coming out with how concussions affect mood and depression.
So, when your character gets hit in the head and knocked out and runs around fighting and wrestling and stuff right afterward, I'm VERY VERY skeptical.
Jake gets knocked out twice in one evening. He's hit in the head, knocked out, tossed in a cell, wakes up, does a bunch of magic and fighting, is thrown against the wall to get knocked out AGAIN, and then he gets up and keeps fighting and doing more magic (which already gives him a headache on a good day). So, this kid should go sit in a dark room with no stimuli for, like, a month. Gar.
A couple things were too easy. The angel appearing and healing Dani was too deus ex machina for me. Seriously. When you have an angel who can heal anything, how could Jake or Dani ever be in serious danger again? Why didn't the angel show up to erase the spell later or get rid of the siren or the angry blacksmith or the uncle?
The second thing
I liked the spider scene at the end in the prison cell.
Writer thoughts: Every now and then, the pov would jump. But it would be just for a sentence or two. Like, we're in Jake's head, but then it says something like, "His uncle paused, trying to think of a way to placate the crowd. He couldn't tell them the truth. Then he smiled and spoke." It would have been better if the reader stayed in Jake's head, and Jake surmised what the uncle was doing. Like, "Jake saw his uncle pause. He was probably trying to think of a good lie to placate the crowd" or some such. (This idea changed one of my novel's earlier drafts. As the book's writer, I had no idea how much head hopping I was doing until some critique partners pointed it out.)
The penultimate scene with the O'Dell family didn't have much impact. It felt like it was supposed to be a climax and failed. Oh, Dani gets liberated from her horrible family! But, throughout most of the book, I wasn't thinking of Dani's family. They weren't even on my radar. Maybe in the first chapter but not the rest. So, to have them brought back up and make them seem like such a big deal just felt off. Now, if Jake had gone after Dani alone with the offer, it would have felt more natural, less of a brouhaha.
February 26, 2022
I didn't love this book, but it was pretty good.
A friend had lent it to me, so I had to finish it, but there were definitely times I wanted to DNF it.
I don't really feel like writing an actual review right now, so that's it for now.
A friend had lent it to me, so I had to finish it, but there were definitely times I wanted to DNF it.
I don't really feel like writing an actual review right now, so that's it for now.
August 13, 2018
This was really good. So far this series sort of reminds me of Harry Potter series. And I love Harry Potter. Really great characters and lots of action. I can't wait to read more in this series.
January 14, 2024
Pleasant read! Loved the fantastical elements, and the audiobook reader did a fantastic job keeping me engaged. Just a lot of fun to listen to and definitely picked up towards the end!
January 5, 2025
Great read
Jake is so easy to love and root for. A true story of good vs evil. Appropriate for all ages.
Jake is so easy to love and root for. A true story of good vs evil. Appropriate for all ages.
November 25, 2023
A cute magical tale.
November 28, 2024
I picked this up for free, and it has been a fun and enjoyable read. I would compare it to a Harry Potter book, or a volume of the Narnia Chronicles. A solid 4.5 read with likable and loathsome characters romping through a great story.
November 15, 2025
This was an enjoyable book for me even though this was written for children. A dangerous and exciting world for Jake, and his friend, Dani.
February 6, 2024
For some reason, the only descriptor for this book I can think of is: unhinged.
My favorite part? Jake being screamed at by a gryphon and promptly screaming back. Power to you my little sir. Power to you. Just scream back at this mythical creature that may or may not eat you (even though it was fairly obvious to me that the gryphon was not going to eat him (just look at the cover...)).
This was an interesting book. Free to listen to on Spotify. Biggest gripe? The world building felt a little scatter-brained. We started off strong with a secret magical world and a Hamlet-esque lost heir bit happening. Fairly standard. And then a freakin angel showed up. Like, a heavenly, Christian angel from God. And this just...wasn't remarked upon. Not even by the two street urchins (although Dani seemed a bit more religious, kind of (and had a home, kind of)). It's just, the angel (who is a doctor?) shows up and heals Dani and then ascends back to heaven? And then he shows up again in the epilogue, taking a ghost up to heaven. It was just....very left-field. Even the Beauty and the Beast hints of magical silverware transforming into humans was at least understandable in a magic world, but a Christian heavenly angel????? I thought the angel was like, a vampire at first introduction because magical creatures, we've meet satyrs and fairies (not sure how they spell it in the book) and unicorns and gryphons (don't know why they spell it like that either) and mermaids/sirens/krakens, and okay, that's all standard magical creature stuff. But angels????????
Anyhoo. The book is definitely geared more towards middle-schoolers, there were a couple times I had to pause the book and repeat to myself "Jake is a 12-year-old boy. Jake is a 12-year-old boy. He is not an adult who should be making smarter decisions." So there is that.
I will admit to being absolutely horrified at one part of the book. Very unexpected for this book, it was all nice and pleasant, and then the fairy tries to escape and Waldreg freakin cuts her wings off. So there was that.
Also, the fact that Jake's grandparents literally named their sons Jacob and Waldreg feels like a sign. Nuff said.
This is very rambling because I'm adding it a bit late in the day, bear with me y'all.
Another fact that made me laugh and bemoan to my colleagues was the fact that Dani's brothers are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John but then one chapter a Patrick randomly showed up????? So I'm not sure if the author(s) forgot what the brothers' names were (which seems a bit difficult considering they're the four gospels?!?!?!?) or if Dani's parents had one son Patrick and then went "Ahah! We should name all our children after figures from the Bible! AND! We should name our sons Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."
Hence why this book feels a little unhinged.
Hmmmm. I did like the slight cliffhanger at the end, this sudden question of are Jake's parents even dead? I had been wondering, if Jake could see ghosts, why his parents weren't, you know, following him at all times, so that makes me curious. I don't think I'm curious enough to read the rest of the books, so I suppose if anyone wants to share the ending, cool.
I, unfortunately, have no patience to do my normal listicle of warnings/ratings/whatever. Uhhh, plot armor regarding head injuries, slight inconsistencies with characterization and world building, random Christian angels showing up, Queen Victoria (like, the queen of england) and King Oberon (like, the king of fairies) are Jake's godparents, I don't think the authors remembered the definition of telepathy, empathy and how to speak to animals (both words are used, but it's in regards to speaking with animals and sensing human emotions), consistent use of the term Rookery and I'm still not positive if that's an actual place in London or a made-up area, uhhh, wish I had more background/development of Derek but the hints of romance between him and Helena were cute. Yeah, definitely rambling.
My favorite part? Jake being screamed at by a gryphon and promptly screaming back. Power to you my little sir. Power to you. Just scream back at this mythical creature that may or may not eat you (even though it was fairly obvious to me that the gryphon was not going to eat him (just look at the cover...)).
This was an interesting book. Free to listen to on Spotify. Biggest gripe? The world building felt a little scatter-brained. We started off strong with a secret magical world and a Hamlet-esque lost heir bit happening. Fairly standard. And then a freakin angel showed up. Like, a heavenly, Christian angel from God. And this just...wasn't remarked upon. Not even by the two street urchins (although Dani seemed a bit more religious, kind of (and had a home, kind of)). It's just, the angel (who is a doctor?) shows up and heals Dani and then ascends back to heaven? And then he shows up again in the epilogue, taking a ghost up to heaven. It was just....very left-field. Even the Beauty and the Beast hints of magical silverware transforming into humans was at least understandable in a magic world, but a Christian heavenly angel????? I thought the angel was like, a vampire at first introduction because magical creatures, we've meet satyrs and fairies (not sure how they spell it in the book) and unicorns and gryphons (don't know why they spell it like that either) and mermaids/sirens/krakens, and okay, that's all standard magical creature stuff. But angels????????
Anyhoo. The book is definitely geared more towards middle-schoolers, there were a couple times I had to pause the book and repeat to myself "Jake is a 12-year-old boy. Jake is a 12-year-old boy. He is not an adult who should be making smarter decisions." So there is that.
I will admit to being absolutely horrified at one part of the book. Very unexpected for this book, it was all nice and pleasant, and then the fairy tries to escape and Waldreg freakin cuts her wings off. So there was that.
Also, the fact that Jake's grandparents literally named their sons Jacob and Waldreg feels like a sign. Nuff said.
This is very rambling because I'm adding it a bit late in the day, bear with me y'all.
Another fact that made me laugh and bemoan to my colleagues was the fact that Dani's brothers are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John but then one chapter a Patrick randomly showed up????? So I'm not sure if the author(s) forgot what the brothers' names were (which seems a bit difficult considering they're the four gospels?!?!?!?) or if Dani's parents had one son Patrick and then went "Ahah! We should name all our children after figures from the Bible! AND! We should name our sons Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."
Hence why this book feels a little unhinged.
Hmmmm. I did like the slight cliffhanger at the end, this sudden question of are Jake's parents even dead? I had been wondering, if Jake could see ghosts, why his parents weren't, you know, following him at all times, so that makes me curious. I don't think I'm curious enough to read the rest of the books, so I suppose if anyone wants to share the ending, cool.
I, unfortunately, have no patience to do my normal listicle of warnings/ratings/whatever. Uhhh, plot armor regarding head injuries, slight inconsistencies with characterization and world building, random Christian angels showing up, Queen Victoria (like, the queen of england) and King Oberon (like, the king of fairies) are Jake's godparents, I don't think the authors remembered the definition of telepathy, empathy and how to speak to animals (both words are used, but it's in regards to speaking with animals and sensing human emotions), consistent use of the term Rookery and I'm still not positive if that's an actual place in London or a made-up area, uhhh, wish I had more background/development of Derek but the hints of romance between him and Helena were cute. Yeah, definitely rambling.
August 3, 2012
THE LOST HEIR (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 1) by E.G.Foley
THE LOST HEIR is the first book in husband-wife writing team E.G.Foley’s new middle grade historical fantasy series The Gryphon Chronicles.
~~~~~~
From the website: Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts, and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why.
Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family—with magical powers!
But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends—both human and magical— to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found . . .
~~~~~~
The Gryphon Chronicles takes the reader on an imaginary adventure that every child and many adults daydream about. With his best friend Dani, Jake struggles to survive the fetid streets and alleys of Victorian England.
Jake is a 12 year orphan, who is slowly coming into some powers that are very handy when one is starving and hungry. But seeing and talking to ghosts wasn’t an ideal talent until the day he lands in prison.
As a Guardian and a member of The Order of the Yew Tree, Derek Stone has been looking for his lost charge for over 11 years. When his parents were murdered, young Jacob Everton (the 7th Earl of Griffon) went missing and presumed dead, until the day a water nymph spied Jake in the Thames River. With his power to ‘see’, Derek will soon locate and rescue young Jake, only to find them both in prison for murder and contempt. But it will be Jake’s powers of telekinesis and his ability to communicate with ghosts that will eventually free them from their cells to continue a journey towards another adventure.
There are many characters that weave their way and cross paths with Jake and Dani, including an assortment of mythical creatures, assorted frogs, a royal fairy messenger and a talking spider. Jake will find he has some very powerful allies and friends, including a magical family that he never knew existed. But the villain in the story is Jake’s Uncle Waldick Everton. For the same 11 years, Waldrick had been hoping to locate the Jake and make sure that the boy is once and for all, truly dead. Hoping to secure the position of the 7th Earl of Griffon and all of its’ wealth, Waldrick embarks on a series of mystical travel, magical potions and befriending an unlikely ally in a siren turned hag-witch named Fionnula.
And like many fairy tale adventures, Jake will discover the true meaning of friendship and family. Finding a kindred spirit trapped in the cells under his uncle’s mansion, will push the young boy into a struggle for life and death, and beyond his own imagination.
THE LOST HEIR is a wonderful novel along the same vein as the Harry Potter novels. A young boy struggling to survive the poverty of the streets will find himself in a battle to reclaim his identity while trying to avoid the pitfalls of misplaced anger and powerful enemies. A magical storyline with non-stop action and fairy-tale creatures blended with the reality that was Queen Victoria’s England.
Copy supplied by the author.
see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com
THE LOST HEIR is the first book in husband-wife writing team E.G.Foley’s new middle grade historical fantasy series The Gryphon Chronicles.
~~~~~~
From the website: Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts, and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why.
Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family—with magical powers!
But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends—both human and magical— to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found . . .
~~~~~~
The Gryphon Chronicles takes the reader on an imaginary adventure that every child and many adults daydream about. With his best friend Dani, Jake struggles to survive the fetid streets and alleys of Victorian England.
Jake is a 12 year orphan, who is slowly coming into some powers that are very handy when one is starving and hungry. But seeing and talking to ghosts wasn’t an ideal talent until the day he lands in prison.
As a Guardian and a member of The Order of the Yew Tree, Derek Stone has been looking for his lost charge for over 11 years. When his parents were murdered, young Jacob Everton (the 7th Earl of Griffon) went missing and presumed dead, until the day a water nymph spied Jake in the Thames River. With his power to ‘see’, Derek will soon locate and rescue young Jake, only to find them both in prison for murder and contempt. But it will be Jake’s powers of telekinesis and his ability to communicate with ghosts that will eventually free them from their cells to continue a journey towards another adventure.
There are many characters that weave their way and cross paths with Jake and Dani, including an assortment of mythical creatures, assorted frogs, a royal fairy messenger and a talking spider. Jake will find he has some very powerful allies and friends, including a magical family that he never knew existed. But the villain in the story is Jake’s Uncle Waldick Everton. For the same 11 years, Waldrick had been hoping to locate the Jake and make sure that the boy is once and for all, truly dead. Hoping to secure the position of the 7th Earl of Griffon and all of its’ wealth, Waldrick embarks on a series of mystical travel, magical potions and befriending an unlikely ally in a siren turned hag-witch named Fionnula.
And like many fairy tale adventures, Jake will discover the true meaning of friendship and family. Finding a kindred spirit trapped in the cells under his uncle’s mansion, will push the young boy into a struggle for life and death, and beyond his own imagination.
THE LOST HEIR is a wonderful novel along the same vein as the Harry Potter novels. A young boy struggling to survive the poverty of the streets will find himself in a battle to reclaim his identity while trying to avoid the pitfalls of misplaced anger and powerful enemies. A magical storyline with non-stop action and fairy-tale creatures blended with the reality that was Queen Victoria’s England.
Copy supplied by the author.
see all of my reviews at : thereadingcafe.com
March 1, 2025
So this is basically "Harry Potter" meets "Oliver Twist" right? Not that it's a bad thing, but there were just so many similar likenesses between this and "Harry Potter" which left me slightly amused.
For example, the main character who's parents are killed saving his life by the main villain when he is a baby grows up living a "hard knock life" not knowing that he's has magic powers until he reaches a certain age. Instead of speaking to Snakes he can speak to Ghosts and in place of Hagrid coming to show him to his true life it's Derek Stone.
Both have their inner circle of friends and chosen family who aid them on their trials, whilst he and the antagonist, which happens to be his Uncle, end up sharing a telekinetic link where they can see each other's past thoughts similar to Harry and Voldemort (yes, I said his name). While we're at it let's swap out Buckbeak, a hippogriff with Red, a griffin shall we?
Again, nothing bad, just not overly original. I enjoyed the book though and will continue the series primarily because they are free via Kindle Unlimited and I want to see it the writers break away from the similarities or continue to embrace them.
For example, the main character who's parents are killed saving his life by the main villain when he is a baby grows up living a "hard knock life" not knowing that he's has magic powers until he reaches a certain age. Instead of speaking to Snakes he can speak to Ghosts and in place of Hagrid coming to show him to his true life it's Derek Stone.
Both have their inner circle of friends and chosen family who aid them on their trials, whilst he and the antagonist, which happens to be his Uncle, end up sharing a telekinetic link where they can see each other's past thoughts similar to Harry and Voldemort (yes, I said his name). While we're at it let's swap out Buckbeak, a hippogriff with Red, a griffin shall we?
Again, nothing bad, just not overly original. I enjoyed the book though and will continue the series primarily because they are free via Kindle Unlimited and I want to see it the writers break away from the similarities or continue to embrace them.
November 20, 2020
4.8 stars in my insane rating system. This is such a lovable book that works so well I just need to elaborate. The plotting is a bit weird because it takes a while, but it works. And the religion is a bit heavy-handed at times, but it matters for character reasons and for reasons later on in the series. I am so happy to continue.
September 16, 2023
One of the reviews I read about this book elsewhere said that if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you’ll like this book. It was definitely true to me! Well written, great and unique characters and plot, great setting, and I loved the humor too. I definitely want to read the rest of the series!
August 15, 2024
Let me just say that this book series and book world are really good! If more people gave it a try, I feel like it could be a best-selling series.
10 years ago, the Christmas novella was free on Kindle, and without any previous knowledge,I read it and was blown away by how good it was. The series was 5-7 dollars a piece on Kindle, and that was too steep for my pockets. Lately, I have been listening to audiobooks on YouTube and E. G. Foley has the first book in its entirety there to listen to, so I jumped on it. Strangely, when I came back to Goodreads, the books each still had under 2,000 reviews. Maybe a lower cost or a short time of more of the series on youtube to drive more people to the series. I don't know, but I know it is a top rate book that could have fan art and fic if more people heard of it.
So Jake is a rookery orphan who gets by usually gets by the skin of his teeth. Danni and her faithful dog are always along for the ride. Danni tries to be Jake's conscious, but a hungry kid is going to steal.
This leads to Jake being chased and nearly killed by his uncle, whom he never knew. Derek, the guardian, joins the fight and saves Jake. (Derek only sees the henchmen). Derek soon tells Jake that he is the lost heir of the light riders. Jake doesn't believe a word of it.
The foursome eventually up at Griffin castle, which is full of frogs. Frogs everywhere. Then they go to another close castle that is the seat of Jake 's mother's family. That's where Jake and Danni meet Archie and Isabella. They become quick friends.
Even though Jake tells everyone that his uncle tried to kill him, no one believes him. His uncle has spent 11 years making himself out to be the saint of England. Of course, he is actually an evil killer with a sea witch as his co-conspirator. He keeps magical creatures in cages. He captures Gladryl the fairy and is horrible to her.
With the sea witch in a different body by using feathers ( you can guess from the cover where they are stealing those feathers)to cast a spell, they try to eliminate Jake. Jake 's powers trouble them even when they think they are winning.
The whole book is Danni, who is afraid that eventually she will be sent back to the Rookery because she doesn't belong to that world. The way that Derek and Isabella react to what they perceive, but Danni will never admit outloud is very sweet. I wish they had just said more to her, but then Jake would have known, and he was always clueless.
The ending is sweet, and it makes me yearn to read more of their adventures.
10 years ago, the Christmas novella was free on Kindle, and without any previous knowledge,I read it and was blown away by how good it was. The series was 5-7 dollars a piece on Kindle, and that was too steep for my pockets. Lately, I have been listening to audiobooks on YouTube and E. G. Foley has the first book in its entirety there to listen to, so I jumped on it. Strangely, when I came back to Goodreads, the books each still had under 2,000 reviews. Maybe a lower cost or a short time of more of the series on youtube to drive more people to the series. I don't know, but I know it is a top rate book that could have fan art and fic if more people heard of it.
So Jake is a rookery orphan who gets by usually gets by the skin of his teeth. Danni and her faithful dog are always along for the ride. Danni tries to be Jake's conscious, but a hungry kid is going to steal.
This leads to Jake being chased and nearly killed by his uncle, whom he never knew. Derek, the guardian, joins the fight and saves Jake. (Derek only sees the henchmen). Derek soon tells Jake that he is the lost heir of the light riders. Jake doesn't believe a word of it.
The foursome eventually up at Griffin castle, which is full of frogs. Frogs everywhere. Then they go to another close castle that is the seat of Jake 's mother's family. That's where Jake and Danni meet Archie and Isabella. They become quick friends.
Even though Jake tells everyone that his uncle tried to kill him, no one believes him. His uncle has spent 11 years making himself out to be the saint of England. Of course, he is actually an evil killer with a sea witch as his co-conspirator. He keeps magical creatures in cages. He captures Gladryl the fairy and is horrible to her.
With the sea witch in a different body by using feathers ( you can guess from the cover where they are stealing those feathers)to cast a spell, they try to eliminate Jake. Jake 's powers trouble them even when they think they are winning.
The whole book is Danni, who is afraid that eventually she will be sent back to the Rookery because she doesn't belong to that world. The way that Derek and Isabella react to what they perceive, but Danni will never admit outloud is very sweet. I wish they had just said more to her, but then Jake would have known, and he was always clueless.
The ending is sweet, and it makes me yearn to read more of their adventures.
October 6, 2023
DNF. I had high hopes for a fun story when I picked this book up, and it started out pretty well, with engaging descriptions of Victorian London that despite being highly derivative of Dickens, still managed to feel a little magical. (Oliver Twist even makes a cameo as a ghost!) Although none of the elements were at all original (a hidden world of magic populated by fairies, nymphs, gryphons, witches and other standard monsters that readers will be thoroughly familiar with from other stories), the mix of magic and technology combined with all the old familiar creatures still held promise. After all, who doesn't love a good Unicorn-meets little girl-scene? However, the action scenes were very, very contrived and therefore felt inauthentic. By the 50% mark I found myself making excuses that since the book is targeted at a younger audience it might not be fair to be too picky about realism, but by the time the MC reaches a particularly-unrealistic climactic confrontation with the main villain, the whole thing was feeling so terribly 'tropey' and 'plastic' that I couldn't take it anymore. It was as if the author personally appeared in every scene and moved the characters around on strings. In the end, I gave up, no longer caring how it ended...
June 26, 2024
To be fair, if I was in middle school when I had read this, I am going to guess I would have loved it a lot more. It is not a bad story at all (I am not sure about the rest of the series). It is compared to Harry Potter and the author (at least on FB), puts a reading range of 10-110. The story has some intriguing elements but it was never able to fully capture me. In some ways, knowing there is 8 more books, you know nothing drastically wrong is going to happen to the main character so it takes some of the suspense away. Somewhat predictable. I think a lot of it is my age upon reading it. I was 11 when I read the first Harry Potter and loved it. I read the series as it came out and absolutely loved it. This book is certainly of the same genre, but it is by no means just trying to copy what Harry Potter did: it is it's own story/universe if you will (even though they both take place in England). I read it because I have a kindle unlimited subscription for free right now. I am considering reading the second one. a 3.5 I will bump up to 4. I appreciate the right age group will love it more than what I did. It is written for a younger group and I have to respect that, even though adults can still enjoy it as well.
April 23, 2020
I actually listened to this book as an audiobook. Audible Stories have given free access to a selection of audiobooks for children, for as long as schools are closed due to coronavirus. Sitting in the garden with DD2, I started listening to this book because it was her age-level and sounded like I book that I would also find interesting. Next thing I know, DD2 had wandered off, and I'm thoroughly enjoying this book. I don't listen to books that often, but it has given me a chance to sit in the sunshine, doing my latest MosaiCraft project whilst listening to the story.
So, yes I did enjoy this book. It's a shame my children didn't give it a chance (they'll only sit still for watching TV or playing computer games) and listen to it whilst drawing or anything, as I think they would have liked it. I know I would have liked it when I was a child. There are 6 books in The Gryphon Chronicles, and though I have no intention of reading more myself, I thought the book was good. It was very well written, with lots of excitement in the story.
So, yes I did enjoy this book. It's a shame my children didn't give it a chance (they'll only sit still for watching TV or playing computer games) and listen to it whilst drawing or anything, as I think they would have liked it. I know I would have liked it when I was a child. There are 6 books in The Gryphon Chronicles, and though I have no intention of reading more myself, I thought the book was good. It was very well written, with lots of excitement in the story.
January 14, 2025
2.75-Stars: "Not Quite the Next Harry Potter"
I picked up The Lost Heir by E.G. Foley after seeing it advertised as a "Harry Potter-style" fantasy adventure, but I found it to be more of a children's book than I expected. The story is aimed at a younger audience, and while that's fine, it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
The plot felt like it borrowed heavily from Harry Potter—a young orphan with a mysterious past, magical discoveries, and a battle against dark forces—but it didn’t have the depth, world-building, or emotional pull to really match J.K. Rowling's work. The characters and story felt somewhat flat, and while the book had potential, it lacked the spark to fully draw me in.
That said, I think The Lost Heir could be a great pick for 10- or 11-year-olds who are just starting to explore fantasy. It’s an easy, straightforward read, and younger readers might enjoy the simplicity and familiar themes. However, if you’re expecting a richly layered fantasy on par with Harry Potter, this might not be the book for you.
I picked up The Lost Heir by E.G. Foley after seeing it advertised as a "Harry Potter-style" fantasy adventure, but I found it to be more of a children's book than I expected. The story is aimed at a younger audience, and while that's fine, it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.
The plot felt like it borrowed heavily from Harry Potter—a young orphan with a mysterious past, magical discoveries, and a battle against dark forces—but it didn’t have the depth, world-building, or emotional pull to really match J.K. Rowling's work. The characters and story felt somewhat flat, and while the book had potential, it lacked the spark to fully draw me in.
That said, I think The Lost Heir could be a great pick for 10- or 11-year-olds who are just starting to explore fantasy. It’s an easy, straightforward read, and younger readers might enjoy the simplicity and familiar themes. However, if you’re expecting a richly layered fantasy on par with Harry Potter, this might not be the book for you.
April 1, 2025
This middle-grade fantasy novel would best be appreciated by older elementary kids. They would be less likely to cringe at the absolute random mess of this story. At first, the mix of fantasy with Victorian England was rather charming, but as the story progresses it becomes more and more strange. It is such a random mishmash of things. Fairies and gryphons, earls and orphans, ghosts and angels, Victorian bobbies, sea monsters and talking spiders. Even Queen Victoria herself makes an appearance. The bad guys are almost comical in their absolute lack of maturity and unbelievable ignorance. The head hopping is instantaneous and whiplashing.
All that aside, I really do think kids would enjoy this novel. They will be more likely to appreciate it for what it is. Adults can safely skip this one.
2.5 stars
All that aside, I really do think kids would enjoy this novel. They will be more likely to appreciate it for what it is. Adults can safely skip this one.
2.5 stars
November 2, 2025
Na een jaar op allerlei plekken positief commentaar erover te zien, had ik te hoge verwachtingen van dit boek. Die dan ook niet werden ingelost… Dani was voor mij het leukste personage, op de voet gevolgd door Archie en Isabelle, maar met het hoofdpersonage Jake had ik niet echt een klik. In het algemeen voelde het alsof er te veel verschillende concepten in het boek verwerkt werden, waarbij de meeste niet echt goed uitgewerkt werden maar eerder aanvoelden alsof ze op een lijstje stonden dat in de loop van het verhaal afgevinkt moest worden. Ik werd niet meegesleept door het verhaal (het gebeurt niet vaak dat ik in het midden van een zogenaamd spannende scène zomaar kan stoppen om meteen de was op te hangen), het voelde allemaal net iets te afstandelijk. Maar de book club leerkracht van de kinderen is een grote fan ervan, dus ik ga er van uit dat de volgende delen beter zullen zijn.
February 16, 2019
The Lost Heir is historical fantasy set in a fantastic Victorian London and is charming all the way through. You can really tell that E.G. Foley, the husband and wife team who author these books, know what readers will enjoy.
Jake and Dani fly over the city of London and work together to defeat a pair of colorful villains who pose as philanthropists. Dani uses her back street smarts and Jake uses his magical powers.
The story has ALL THE THINGS from unicorns to mermaids. Oh, and fairies and Queen Victoria. And helpful ghosts. Every chapter delivers. Nicely done and fun to read for kids and grown-ups. A great book to take on vacation or to keep the reading skills alive over the summer, absolutely painlessly.
Jake and Dani fly over the city of London and work together to defeat a pair of colorful villains who pose as philanthropists. Dani uses her back street smarts and Jake uses his magical powers.
The story has ALL THE THINGS from unicorns to mermaids. Oh, and fairies and Queen Victoria. And helpful ghosts. Every chapter delivers. Nicely done and fun to read for kids and grown-ups. A great book to take on vacation or to keep the reading skills alive over the summer, absolutely painlessly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews