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Key Hunters #4
The Wizard's War
In this thrilling adventure, two friends are sucked into a fantasy novel where they must battle elves, trolls, and a dragon before they can escape.Cleo and Evan have a secret. A collection of books so dangerous they are locked up tight. A friend has vanished inside the pages of one of them. It’s up to them to find the key that will set her free.A MAGICAL KINGDOM AT WAR!The quest is clear. To save the kingdom, Cleo and Evan must battle clever elves, horrible trolls, and the mighty Golden Dragon. Magic will help them win the war—and find the right key. But it will take more than swords and spells to survive this epic fantasy!Praise for Key Hunters“Luper’s delectable humor is appropriate for the intended age group, and the plot will keep readers’ attention to the end . . . [t]his is a satisfying read for beginning independent readers.” —School Library Journal
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2017
27 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2019
i love the key hunter books. i have all of the books.
October 27, 2021
Description
An elf rogue and a wizard who doesn’t know any magic are about to take on the most fearsome beast ever seen – the Golden Dragon.
Cleo and Evan again venture into the story of a book found in the magical library under their school. Still searching for their old librarian, Ms. Hilliard, they and their new librarian, Ms. Crowley, jump headlong into a fantastical story complete with dragons, elves, deep magic, and festering inter-governmental conflict. Cleo, now an elf, and Evan, now an untrained wizard, find themselves without Ms. Crowley and being commissioned by a kingdom to make peace with the neighboring Wood elves. If they can’t find Miss Crowley, and prevent the coming war, they could be trapped inside the book’s story forever. And it seems that the legendary, ruinous Golden Dragon is waking up.
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
I have yet to be disappointed with this series. Like most of the previous Key Hunters books, (read my review of book 1 here) it moves along pretty fast right from the beginning, it’s a big, fun story packed into a small book.
I love that, again, Cleo and Evan are directly involved in the outcome of the story (though they were ferried around by other characters a bit more in this book). There are choices they make that, had they not been there, would not have happened. Related to this, they both contribute in ways that are true to their characters – Cleo is active and impulsive, while Evan is more reserved and calculating.
Core characters continue to develop a little more, and there are some significant series developments.
While the previous Key Hunters books seem easy to follow for kids younger than the targeted age (2nd – 4th graders / 3rd grade reading level), this one is a little trickier. I think this is simply because the scope of this story is so much larger, that a few things get glossed over. It’s not anything glaring, it just requires a little more attention and thought than the previous books do. Maybe some explaining could be needed to help a younger reader understand or follow the story.
There are some questions raised at the end of the book that lead the reader to the next book in the series. There are also a few questions that I have about the Librarians who travel through the magical libraries, and I don’t think they’ll get answered. But these things don’t distract from the story at all.
Overall, this was another fun read, I would definitely recommend it. If you’re reading with a younger audience than the advertised age, I’d just anticipate having to explain a few things or adlibbing a few lines of transition. We will be continuing the series as soon as the next book comes in from the library.
An elf rogue and a wizard who doesn’t know any magic are about to take on the most fearsome beast ever seen – the Golden Dragon.
Cleo and Evan again venture into the story of a book found in the magical library under their school. Still searching for their old librarian, Ms. Hilliard, they and their new librarian, Ms. Crowley, jump headlong into a fantastical story complete with dragons, elves, deep magic, and festering inter-governmental conflict. Cleo, now an elf, and Evan, now an untrained wizard, find themselves without Ms. Crowley and being commissioned by a kingdom to make peace with the neighboring Wood elves. If they can’t find Miss Crowley, and prevent the coming war, they could be trapped inside the book’s story forever. And it seems that the legendary, ruinous Golden Dragon is waking up.
Disclosure
I borrowed this book for free from our library system, it was provided for my personal use. There was no agreement with the author, publisher, or any third party that I would publish a review. The following review is unsolicited, unbiased, and all opinions are my own.
Review – Spoiler Free
I have yet to be disappointed with this series. Like most of the previous Key Hunters books, (read my review of book 1 here) it moves along pretty fast right from the beginning, it’s a big, fun story packed into a small book.
I love that, again, Cleo and Evan are directly involved in the outcome of the story (though they were ferried around by other characters a bit more in this book). There are choices they make that, had they not been there, would not have happened. Related to this, they both contribute in ways that are true to their characters – Cleo is active and impulsive, while Evan is more reserved and calculating.
Core characters continue to develop a little more, and there are some significant series developments.
While the previous Key Hunters books seem easy to follow for kids younger than the targeted age (2nd – 4th graders / 3rd grade reading level), this one is a little trickier. I think this is simply because the scope of this story is so much larger, that a few things get glossed over. It’s not anything glaring, it just requires a little more attention and thought than the previous books do. Maybe some explaining could be needed to help a younger reader understand or follow the story.
There are some questions raised at the end of the book that lead the reader to the next book in the series. There are also a few questions that I have about the Librarians who travel through the magical libraries, and I don’t think they’ll get answered. But these things don’t distract from the story at all.
Overall, this was another fun read, I would definitely recommend it. If you’re reading with a younger audience than the advertised age, I’d just anticipate having to explain a few things or adlibbing a few lines of transition. We will be continuing the series as soon as the next book comes in from the library.
December 28, 2018
{My thoughts} – Evan and Cleo get to go on a brand new adventure in this book. This adventure is different from the rest. In this adventure they know that they and Ms. Crowley are on the same page. That they are all three working together to find Ms. Hilliard the librarian that they have lost to the stories within the pages of the books within the secret library under their school.
In this adventure they go into a book where there is a kingdom at war. A King and Princess have been enchanted and the person to blame is trying to overtake the kingdom. When they first get into the story they aren’t sure what to think but as time goes on they start to better understand the story and their part within its pages. The one huge thing they have come to learn is that they always seem to land main character parts within the stories that they jump into.
When I got through to the end of this story I was a bit sad about the ending and then not so surprised about the twist. I think deep down I thought something like that would be a possibility. I am however, happy to see that the series is able to continue on and further into many more adventures to come.
In this adventure they go into a book where there is a kingdom at war. A King and Princess have been enchanted and the person to blame is trying to overtake the kingdom. When they first get into the story they aren’t sure what to think but as time goes on they start to better understand the story and their part within its pages. The one huge thing they have come to learn is that they always seem to land main character parts within the stories that they jump into.
When I got through to the end of this story I was a bit sad about the ending and then not so surprised about the twist. I think deep down I thought something like that would be a possibility. I am however, happy to see that the series is able to continue on and further into many more adventures to come.
January 24, 2018
Being a huge fantasy fan, I knew this one would be my favorite, but it surpassed all of my hopes. It reminds me of Xanth, the 80's cartoon Dungeons and Dragons, and Key Hunters all mixed together. It is such a great introduction to the world of fantasy.
Cleo, Evan and Ms Crowley are still looking for Ms Hilliard, and the latest key takes them into The Dragon's Eye. In the book, they meet manticores, trolls, elves and dwarves. There are other magical world creatures mentioned and as always some awesome artwork. The drawing of the manticore was my personal favorite.
When the find Ms. Hilliard, I started wondering how the series would continue. The answer basically helps keep the series fresh. Introduce a new baddie. I'm really interested in what the series does with him.
Cleo, Evan and Ms Crowley are still looking for Ms Hilliard, and the latest key takes them into The Dragon's Eye. In the book, they meet manticores, trolls, elves and dwarves. There are other magical world creatures mentioned and as always some awesome artwork. The drawing of the manticore was my personal favorite.
When the find Ms. Hilliard, I started wondering how the series would continue. The answer basically helps keep the series fresh. Introduce a new baddie. I'm really interested in what the series does with him.
September 24, 2021
This one was suspenseful. I think it’s good to read these in order as something significant happens to them in this book. I suspect the subsequent books will feel different as the villain will change.
September 19, 2017
Dexter (8yo) read.
March 29, 2020
Son really enjoys these. Very formatted each book is basically the same. But they are good quick read alouds.
August 23, 2020
Another exciting Key Hunters Book! A new chapter starts with a new villain!
June 17, 2021
Loved this one! My favorite so far.
September 3, 2023
Read with my daughter. We both really enjoy this series.
Read
August 13, 2024My kids' favorite of the series
November 20, 2024
Fantasy- elves, trolls, wizards, dragons, magic!
March 5, 2026
This series is great for third grade. My book clubs loved it!
November 15, 2019
this was one of the best books i'v read
September 16, 2023
Great book to read with the kids!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews