What do you think?
Rate this book
The Supernormal Sleuthing Service #1
The Lost Legacy
Three kids. A hotel full of monsters. And a stolen magical artifact that could disrupt the balance between the humans and the supernatural. Welcome to life at Hotel Monster! Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library meets Hotel Transylvania in the first book of this hilarious and spooky new series that blends mystery with monsters.
Stephen’s dad decided to move the two of them across the country to New York City, where he is taking over as head chef in an exclusive hotel. A hotel that has the most elite of clientele: monsters! Surprise! (Though they prefer to be called supernormals.) And an even bigger surprise? Stephen is part supernormal himself. When a magical family heirloom is stolen and Stephen is framed, he must work with two new friends to navigate this whole new world and clear his name. After all, consequences can be dire in the world of monsters. Spooky, funny, and full of monstrous hijinks, The Lost Legacy is an inventive and accessible mystery-adventure full of friendship and humor—perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series.
Stephen’s dad decided to move the two of them across the country to New York City, where he is taking over as head chef in an exclusive hotel. A hotel that has the most elite of clientele: monsters! Surprise! (Though they prefer to be called supernormals.) And an even bigger surprise? Stephen is part supernormal himself. When a magical family heirloom is stolen and Stephen is framed, he must work with two new friends to navigate this whole new world and clear his name. After all, consequences can be dire in the world of monsters. Spooky, funny, and full of monstrous hijinks, The Lost Legacy is an inventive and accessible mystery-adventure full of friendship and humor—perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series.
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2017
15 people are currently reading
1206 people want to read
About the author
Gwenda Bond
57 books1,221 followersGwenda Bond is the New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the first official Stranger Things novel, Suspicious Minds, the Lois Lane YA series, and the romantic comedies Not Your Average Hot Guy, The Date from Hell, and Mr. & Mrs. Witch. She has a number of forthcoming projects, including a magical art heist book, The Frame-Up. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Locus Magazine, Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and many other publications.
She co-founded and chairs the nonprofit Lexington Writer’s Room, and lives in a hundred-year-old house in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband, author Christopher Rowe, and a veritable zoo of adorable doggos and queenly cats. Visit her online at www.gwendabond.com or join her newsletter at www.gwendabond.substack.com.
She co-founded and chairs the nonprofit Lexington Writer’s Room, and lives in a hundred-year-old house in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband, author Christopher Rowe, and a veritable zoo of adorable doggos and queenly cats. Visit her online at www.gwendabond.com or join her newsletter at www.gwendabond.substack.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 1, 2019
Delightful middle grade book about family, ingenuity, friendship, and discovering you're part of a much wider community than you thought. I really really enjoyed it.
It also did that thing middle grade is so good at where you're bobbing along reading about a sentient elevator and sneaking around behind a vampire and then suddenly from behind all the fun sneaks a a whole bunch of too real feelings and fears and they kneecap you.
But I just wanted to see the dragon, you wail, clutching your knees.
No, command the feelings, stay there and think about losing everyone you love for a while! You have to earn the dragon!
It also did that thing middle grade is so good at where you're bobbing along reading about a sentient elevator and sneaking around behind a vampire and then suddenly from behind all the fun sneaks a a whole bunch of too real feelings and fears and they kneecap you.
But I just wanted to see the dragon, you wail, clutching your knees.
No, command the feelings, stay there and think about losing everyone you love for a while! You have to earn the dragon!
March 24, 2017
When Stephen’s grandmother dies, his dad decides to move them to New York City to The New Harmonia hotel, where his grandmother worked as the chef. Stephen was used to hearing about his grandmother’s interesting clientele, but when he arrives, he discovers they’re more interesting than he knew; they’re monsters (or supernormals)! Stephen is actually half-supernormal himself on his mother’s side, who left him and his father. Stephen’s family is on thin ice at the hotel, and when a magical artifact is stolen with Stephen as the suspected culprit, it’s up to him and his new friends to get it back and save the hotel.
After loving Bond’s LOIS LANE YA series, I was thrilled to dive into her debut MG novel, written with fellow writer, Christopher Rowe. The two prove a fantastic team in this hilarious, warm, and exciting adventure. Stephen is a highly relatable protagonist for anyone who has ever gone through several changes at once. He is grieving over his beloved grandmother, uncertain about his new living situation, and shocked at the new revelations about his family. Before he can get a handle on any of that, he’s accused of theft, and his own father isn’t sure if he should believe him. However, what I love about this story is the excellent way Stephen and his friends have a private, outside-of-parental-figures world but also have family members who genuinely care for them, even though they sometimes make mistakes. THE LOST LEGACY captures the nuances of family, both biological and chosen, while providing hilarious comic relief throughout.
The secondary characters are as fun as Stephen is, particularly a certain dragon who loves art. Sofia and Ivan are already friends when Stephen meets them, and Bond and Rowe do a fabulous job of the slow progression of the three forming a new friend group. The trios teamwork will have you smiling and rooting for them, not to mention eager for their next adventures.
With a fitting comparison to Hotel Transylvania, THE SUPERNORMAL SLEUTHING SERVICE: THE LOST LEGACY is a delightful tale of monsters, magic, and the meaning of family and friends.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
After loving Bond’s LOIS LANE YA series, I was thrilled to dive into her debut MG novel, written with fellow writer, Christopher Rowe. The two prove a fantastic team in this hilarious, warm, and exciting adventure. Stephen is a highly relatable protagonist for anyone who has ever gone through several changes at once. He is grieving over his beloved grandmother, uncertain about his new living situation, and shocked at the new revelations about his family. Before he can get a handle on any of that, he’s accused of theft, and his own father isn’t sure if he should believe him. However, what I love about this story is the excellent way Stephen and his friends have a private, outside-of-parental-figures world but also have family members who genuinely care for them, even though they sometimes make mistakes. THE LOST LEGACY captures the nuances of family, both biological and chosen, while providing hilarious comic relief throughout.
The secondary characters are as fun as Stephen is, particularly a certain dragon who loves art. Sofia and Ivan are already friends when Stephen meets them, and Bond and Rowe do a fabulous job of the slow progression of the three forming a new friend group. The trios teamwork will have you smiling and rooting for them, not to mention eager for their next adventures.
With a fitting comparison to Hotel Transylvania, THE SUPERNORMAL SLEUTHING SERVICE: THE LOST LEGACY is a delightful tale of monsters, magic, and the meaning of family and friends.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfic...
May 10, 2017
This book was amazing, not only the story, the characters, but also because it brought me out of a reading slump! I have been in one for 10 days, I did read during that time, but most of the books I read were miss. And I am not even talking about the amount of books I tried reading during that time.
The premise alone sounded perfection, but in the end it turned out to be so much more. The hotel is wonderfully described, I could just imagine myself there. Walking through the halls that can be changed at a whim (or in most cases, on the demand of a guest), talking to the elevator (who was a bit annoying at the beginning, but he turned out to be a wonderful, sweet, kind friend for life), seeing all the different supernormal guests. There is no end to what you may encounter in the hotel. Mermaids, ghouls (God, if I saw that guy I would have an heart attack, Silent Hill much?), vampires, fae, and much much more. Anything imaginable can be found here.
I loved how our MC went from normal to something more in not quite fast, but how it all felt naturally and normally. Or rather, the progress, the turning was fast, but then it just slowed down and we gradually find out more and more about the hotel, about the owners, about our MC's legacy and what that means. Also I just loved that our MC himself was a supernormal, or a half/half one at least. It gave certain limitations, and new rules that he also had to follow. Plus it also brought new things in the mix. Like his ears. Or talents. Or how being a halfsupernormal works.
The MC was a pretty decent kid. I have to say it took me a bit to like him. I found him at times a bit harsh, and at other times a bit too much of a rule breaker (yes, we do find out why he is having a hard time with rules, but really, you would think he would at least try a bit harder). But his harshness softened, and also I could understand why he was so angry. I would be angry too if I would find out that everything my grandmother told me was the truth, and that my dad hid a WHOLE LOT of details from my life. Including a very big secret about my mom.
We see them tip toe and try to regain some semblance of father and son bond throughout the book. It isn't an easy progress, and only made worse at times when his father doesn't believe and trust him.
Stephen is a brave kid though, I loved how he kept going, even though it was very dangerous at times. He stood his ground, he didn't waver, and that takes guts. A lot of other people would have run if they saw a vampire for the first time, or well, even any supernormal.
I did worry about his confidence, at times I just wanted to shake him to tell him that people really did care about him, that his dad still loved him, that his new friends are really his friends and that they will not just drop him.
Ivan and Sofia? It took me a long long time to get used to both of them. In the end I can say that I really like them, and they are kind, sweet, and true friends, but it took me some time to establish this. Quite often I wasn't sure about their friendship and feelings.
I loved how they complemented each other, and also Stephen. Sofia is kick-ass and will probably defeat you in any match, whereas Ivan is more logical, brainy. And then there is Stephen who is brave and creative. They make a great team.
There is a lot of sleuthing, and I was also looking back and forth to see if I could see what happened to the book. I knew quite soon who took it, and also the why, but it was still a delight to read and see the characters figure it out.
You could definitely see a rift between the adults and the children. The adults were all eager to do it diplomatically, even if that meant it took ages. Whereas the kids just wanted to solve the mystery and have everything fixed before the day ended.
I loved the idea of a cooking book (and a cook) for supernormals. The recipes seem intriguing (we get to see a few of them), and I can just imagine the taste is supernatural/out of this world.
It was also interesting to see that the supernormals didn't like normal food.
Then there was a moment near the end that just brought tears to my eyes. I was just nodding my head and squeeing in happiness.
I was a bit pissed at the way that people treated Stephen. When he was accused, but also later, his half fae-ness is being treated as if it is bad, and I was angry. Very angry. This is a kid, he just found out about him being a fae, and instead of you all helping him transition and ease into this new life, you call him names, tell him he lies, and so much more.
There was just one big thing I didn't like, well... sure, I liked them in a way, but they didn't match my image of the characters, and that was the illustrations. Yes, they were really pretty and I loved the attention of details, but I was stunned when I saw the characters for the first time. They were totally different from what I read in the descriptions, and how I imagined them to be. With the introduction of the dad I was just looking around for another character, but instead it had to be that person...
This is quite a rare occurrence, often I totally agree with the illustrator's view of the characters, the world. So that was quite jarring as there were quite a few illustrations featuring the characters throughout the book.
I am sure that I could go on and on about the book, but I will keep it at what I have said here. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is magical, fun, has a great cast of characters, and I wish I could visit the hotel myself. Go through the portals. Visit different worlds.
I hope the next book will come out soon, I need more of this series!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The premise alone sounded perfection, but in the end it turned out to be so much more. The hotel is wonderfully described, I could just imagine myself there. Walking through the halls that can be changed at a whim (or in most cases, on the demand of a guest), talking to the elevator (who was a bit annoying at the beginning, but he turned out to be a wonderful, sweet, kind friend for life), seeing all the different supernormal guests. There is no end to what you may encounter in the hotel. Mermaids, ghouls (God, if I saw that guy I would have an heart attack, Silent Hill much?), vampires, fae, and much much more. Anything imaginable can be found here.
I loved how our MC went from normal to something more in not quite fast, but how it all felt naturally and normally. Or rather, the progress, the turning was fast, but then it just slowed down and we gradually find out more and more about the hotel, about the owners, about our MC's legacy and what that means. Also I just loved that our MC himself was a supernormal, or a half/half one at least. It gave certain limitations, and new rules that he also had to follow. Plus it also brought new things in the mix. Like his ears. Or talents. Or how being a halfsupernormal works.
The MC was a pretty decent kid. I have to say it took me a bit to like him. I found him at times a bit harsh, and at other times a bit too much of a rule breaker (yes, we do find out why he is having a hard time with rules, but really, you would think he would at least try a bit harder). But his harshness softened, and also I could understand why he was so angry. I would be angry too if I would find out that everything my grandmother told me was the truth, and that my dad hid a WHOLE LOT of details from my life. Including a very big secret about my mom.
We see them tip toe and try to regain some semblance of father and son bond throughout the book. It isn't an easy progress, and only made worse at times when his father doesn't believe and trust him.
Stephen is a brave kid though, I loved how he kept going, even though it was very dangerous at times. He stood his ground, he didn't waver, and that takes guts. A lot of other people would have run if they saw a vampire for the first time, or well, even any supernormal.
I did worry about his confidence, at times I just wanted to shake him to tell him that people really did care about him, that his dad still loved him, that his new friends are really his friends and that they will not just drop him.
Ivan and Sofia? It took me a long long time to get used to both of them. In the end I can say that I really like them, and they are kind, sweet, and true friends, but it took me some time to establish this. Quite often I wasn't sure about their friendship and feelings.
I loved how they complemented each other, and also Stephen. Sofia is kick-ass and will probably defeat you in any match, whereas Ivan is more logical, brainy. And then there is Stephen who is brave and creative. They make a great team.
There is a lot of sleuthing, and I was also looking back and forth to see if I could see what happened to the book. I knew quite soon who took it, and also the why, but it was still a delight to read and see the characters figure it out.
You could definitely see a rift between the adults and the children. The adults were all eager to do it diplomatically, even if that meant it took ages. Whereas the kids just wanted to solve the mystery and have everything fixed before the day ended.
I loved the idea of a cooking book (and a cook) for supernormals. The recipes seem intriguing (we get to see a few of them), and I can just imagine the taste is supernatural/out of this world.
It was also interesting to see that the supernormals didn't like normal food.
Then there was a moment near the end that just brought tears to my eyes. I was just nodding my head and squeeing in happiness.
I was a bit pissed at the way that people treated Stephen. When he was accused, but also later, his half fae-ness is being treated as if it is bad, and I was angry. Very angry. This is a kid, he just found out about him being a fae, and instead of you all helping him transition and ease into this new life, you call him names, tell him he lies, and so much more.
There was just one big thing I didn't like, well... sure, I liked them in a way, but they didn't match my image of the characters, and that was the illustrations. Yes, they were really pretty and I loved the attention of details, but I was stunned when I saw the characters for the first time. They were totally different from what I read in the descriptions, and how I imagined them to be. With the introduction of the dad I was just looking around for another character, but instead it had to be that person...
This is quite a rare occurrence, often I totally agree with the illustrator's view of the characters, the world. So that was quite jarring as there were quite a few illustrations featuring the characters throughout the book.
I am sure that I could go on and on about the book, but I will keep it at what I have said here. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is magical, fun, has a great cast of characters, and I wish I could visit the hotel myself. Go through the portals. Visit different worlds.
I hope the next book will come out soon, I need more of this series!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 10, 2017
Gr - 4-6
First in a new series, this is a fun, character driven, supernatural mystery. When Stephen’s beloved grandmother, Chef Nana dies, his dad suddenly uproots them to move from Chicago to NYC to take over his mother’s job as head chef at the New Harmonio, an exclusive hotel for...monsters? Stephen learns in quick succession that Supernaturals are real, his mother is a missing Fae princess and that her family wants to manipulate him to gain power. Stephen teams up with the other hotel children, Sophia the warrior and Ivan the detective as well as a Bigfoot, a Dragon and a talking elevator in a race against time to save his family from certain doom. Character development in the book is quite satisfying, as the children move from being whiny and distrustful to being brave and resourceful. The authors artfully meld the supernatural with the modern world in the story, for example, the children use their cell phone ringers to scare a ghoul. Black and white, cartoon, line drawings by Glenn Thomas set just the right mood for the quirky setting and characterization.VERDICT: The story is fast paced and full of action, eccentric characters and fun problem resolution. A solid purchase for any sized budget. -Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ
First in a new series, this is a fun, character driven, supernatural mystery. When Stephen’s beloved grandmother, Chef Nana dies, his dad suddenly uproots them to move from Chicago to NYC to take over his mother’s job as head chef at the New Harmonio, an exclusive hotel for...monsters? Stephen learns in quick succession that Supernaturals are real, his mother is a missing Fae princess and that her family wants to manipulate him to gain power. Stephen teams up with the other hotel children, Sophia the warrior and Ivan the detective as well as a Bigfoot, a Dragon and a talking elevator in a race against time to save his family from certain doom. Character development in the book is quite satisfying, as the children move from being whiny and distrustful to being brave and resourceful. The authors artfully meld the supernatural with the modern world in the story, for example, the children use their cell phone ringers to scare a ghoul. Black and white, cartoon, line drawings by Glenn Thomas set just the right mood for the quirky setting and characterization.VERDICT: The story is fast paced and full of action, eccentric characters and fun problem resolution. A solid purchase for any sized budget. -Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ
September 4, 2017
Phenomenal book from two great people & authors! Enjoyed this book from page one, which throws you in deep quickly and the pace rarely let's up until a satisfying conclusion.
I also can't decide whether the elevator or the dragon was my favorite character.
I also can't decide whether the elevator or the dragon was my favorite character.
July 8, 2017
Exceptionally Well Written Twist on Monster Mystery Fantasies
I very much enjoyed this fantasy/mystery, although it took a while to get up to speed. The setup is straightforward. Stephen is thrust into a world of supernormal beings when his Dad is called back to the New Harmonia Hotel, which is neutral ground for an organization of eight alien civilizations. It's sort of a galactic U.N., with hotel rooms and a nice restaurant. There's a theft, suspicion falls on Stephen, and so with the help of two quirky kids who also live in the hotel the gang has to solve the mystery and right some wrongs. Lots of times stories like this are set in "space academies" or wyrd boarding schools and the like, and it was a refreshing touch to set this in the heart of a busy cross-galactic meeting place loaded with adults as well as kids.
The weakest element of the book is that Stephen is dropped into the hotel without any idea of what he's in for. He's obviously overwhelmed, but all of his questions are answered with a variation on I'd-tell-you-right-now-but-I-don't-quite-have time, so-I'll-tell-you-a-little-later. That's O.K. in small doses and builds suspense, but after a couple of chapters of that it gets a little old. It's also unnecessary here because the story, characters and plot are so good there is no need to drag out the exposition.
And that brings us to the good parts, which are very good indeed.We have a good setting, (but not fussy or overconstructed), strong and interesting lead characters, excellent supporting characters, very interesting minor characters, a twisty but clear plot, lots of colorful details, snappy dialogue, and hints of bigger mysteries yet to be tackled. Stephen is a decent, bright and fundamentally solid kid. He has not been overloaded with quirks or angst and is a perfectly likable lead. The two kids who become his pals start out snotty but warm up quickly, so we don't go through a lot of mean kid breaking in. Stephen's Dad is a strong role model, and it's nice to have a competent adult in a story like this.
This is not a funsy monster farce in any cartoonish sense. The laughs mostly come from deadpan throwaway lines, keen observations, and very smart and funny dialogue. Several characters, including one regular character, (hyper-sensitive sentient elevator), and one heavily featured character, (dragon who lives in the basement and is the hotel heating system), steal the book every time they appear on the page. This often reads like a middle grade screwball detective comedy where the humor is in the witty cross-talk, and that is very good news indeed. There is even a twisty plot with a smart suspenseful resolution that will no doubt satisfy kid readers.
So, on almost every score this book is better and more rewarding and entertaining than expected. It's clearly the first in an intended series, and that's just fine by me.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
I very much enjoyed this fantasy/mystery, although it took a while to get up to speed. The setup is straightforward. Stephen is thrust into a world of supernormal beings when his Dad is called back to the New Harmonia Hotel, which is neutral ground for an organization of eight alien civilizations. It's sort of a galactic U.N., with hotel rooms and a nice restaurant. There's a theft, suspicion falls on Stephen, and so with the help of two quirky kids who also live in the hotel the gang has to solve the mystery and right some wrongs. Lots of times stories like this are set in "space academies" or wyrd boarding schools and the like, and it was a refreshing touch to set this in the heart of a busy cross-galactic meeting place loaded with adults as well as kids.
The weakest element of the book is that Stephen is dropped into the hotel without any idea of what he's in for. He's obviously overwhelmed, but all of his questions are answered with a variation on I'd-tell-you-right-now-but-I-don't-quite-have time, so-I'll-tell-you-a-little-later. That's O.K. in small doses and builds suspense, but after a couple of chapters of that it gets a little old. It's also unnecessary here because the story, characters and plot are so good there is no need to drag out the exposition.
And that brings us to the good parts, which are very good indeed.We have a good setting, (but not fussy or overconstructed), strong and interesting lead characters, excellent supporting characters, very interesting minor characters, a twisty but clear plot, lots of colorful details, snappy dialogue, and hints of bigger mysteries yet to be tackled. Stephen is a decent, bright and fundamentally solid kid. He has not been overloaded with quirks or angst and is a perfectly likable lead. The two kids who become his pals start out snotty but warm up quickly, so we don't go through a lot of mean kid breaking in. Stephen's Dad is a strong role model, and it's nice to have a competent adult in a story like this.
This is not a funsy monster farce in any cartoonish sense. The laughs mostly come from deadpan throwaway lines, keen observations, and very smart and funny dialogue. Several characters, including one regular character, (hyper-sensitive sentient elevator), and one heavily featured character, (dragon who lives in the basement and is the hotel heating system), steal the book every time they appear on the page. This often reads like a middle grade screwball detective comedy where the humor is in the witty cross-talk, and that is very good news indeed. There is even a twisty plot with a smart suspenseful resolution that will no doubt satisfy kid readers.
So, on almost every score this book is better and more rewarding and entertaining than expected. It's clearly the first in an intended series, and that's just fine by me.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
June 20, 2017
The story starts out at Stephen's grandmother funeral. Stephen is in for a big surprise on the day they burried his grandmother because he soon realizes that all the stories she told him about her job as a cook for monsters at the Harmonia Hotel was real. Things happen really quickly as his father is knighted as head cook and takes over for his mother. After his father makes a herbal potion and puts it on Stephen it's then that he can see that most of the people around him were actual monsters.
He has a lot to take in as he finds out his father had been exiled and his mother who was a fairy put herself in exile because of everything that happened. What happens you wonder, well you will have to read and find out. :) Anyway so then Stephen finds out he is half fairy and is worried about it but quickly makes friends with a couple of kids whose parents are also part of the hotel.
Not long after being there Stephen is accused of throwing the great cookbook (can't remember it's name) into a gateway. Without that cookbook his father can't cook for the monsters and things turn disastrous real fast, especially since a big birthday party is coming up.
Someone wants his father to fail and he is determined to find the cookbook and with the help of his friends he gets in a spot of trouble a time or two as he learns there are lots of rules when it comes to human/monster relations.
This was such a fun book and I really liked Stephen, Sophia and Ivan. Ivan is the son of the detective clan and has all sorts of fun gadgets and bottles of things. Sophia's mom is in charge of diplomacy so she knows the rules more than anyone and how things work even if it doesn't go as she plans. Stephen is still learning the ropes and coming to terms with being part fairy and how even though he is different he isn't any different than he was before he is still Stephen, his fathers son and loved.
I am a huge fan of Gwenda Bond after reading her Lois Lane series and so when I seen her name attached to this I knew I needed it and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the kids will get into next!
He has a lot to take in as he finds out his father had been exiled and his mother who was a fairy put herself in exile because of everything that happened. What happens you wonder, well you will have to read and find out. :) Anyway so then Stephen finds out he is half fairy and is worried about it but quickly makes friends with a couple of kids whose parents are also part of the hotel.
Not long after being there Stephen is accused of throwing the great cookbook (can't remember it's name) into a gateway. Without that cookbook his father can't cook for the monsters and things turn disastrous real fast, especially since a big birthday party is coming up.
Someone wants his father to fail and he is determined to find the cookbook and with the help of his friends he gets in a spot of trouble a time or two as he learns there are lots of rules when it comes to human/monster relations.
This was such a fun book and I really liked Stephen, Sophia and Ivan. Ivan is the son of the detective clan and has all sorts of fun gadgets and bottles of things. Sophia's mom is in charge of diplomacy so she knows the rules more than anyone and how things work even if it doesn't go as she plans. Stephen is still learning the ropes and coming to terms with being part fairy and how even though he is different he isn't any different than he was before he is still Stephen, his fathers son and loved.
I am a huge fan of Gwenda Bond after reading her Lois Lane series and so when I seen her name attached to this I knew I needed it and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the kids will get into next!
September 3, 2017
The story starts out at Stephen's grandmother funeral. Stephen is in for a big surprise on the day they buried his grandmother because he soon realizes that all the stories she told him about her job as a cook for monsters at the Harmonia Hotel was real. Things happen really quickly as his father is knighted as head cook and takes over for his mother. After his father makes a herbal potion and puts it on Stephen it's then that he can see that most of the people around him were actual monsters.
He has a lot to take in as he finds out his father had been exiled and his mother who was a fairy put herself in exile because of everything that happened. What happens you wonder, well you will have to read and find out. :) Anyway so then Stephen finds out he is half fairy and is worried about it but quickly makes friends with a couple of kids whose parents are also part of the hotel.
Not long after being there Stephen is accused of throwing the great cookbook (can't remember it's name) into a gateway. Without that cookbook his father can't cook for the monsters and things turn disastrous real fast, especially since a big birthday party is coming up.
Someone wants his father to fail and he is determined to find the cookbook and with the help of his friends he gets in a spot of trouble a time or two as he learns there are lots of rules when it comes to human/monster relations.
This was such a fun book and I really liked Stephen, Sophia and Ivan. Ivan is the son of the detective clan and has all sorts of fun gadgets and bottles of things. Sophia's mom is in charge of diplomacy so she knows the rules more than anyone and how things work even if it doesn't go as she plans. Stephen is still learning the ropes and coming to terms with being part fairy and how even though he is different he isn't any different than he was before he is still Stephen, his fathers son and loved.
I am a huge fan of Gwenda Bond after reading her Lois Lane series and so when I seen her name attached to this I knew I needed it and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the kids will get into next!
He has a lot to take in as he finds out his father had been exiled and his mother who was a fairy put herself in exile because of everything that happened. What happens you wonder, well you will have to read and find out. :) Anyway so then Stephen finds out he is half fairy and is worried about it but quickly makes friends with a couple of kids whose parents are also part of the hotel.
Not long after being there Stephen is accused of throwing the great cookbook (can't remember it's name) into a gateway. Without that cookbook his father can't cook for the monsters and things turn disastrous real fast, especially since a big birthday party is coming up.
Someone wants his father to fail and he is determined to find the cookbook and with the help of his friends he gets in a spot of trouble a time or two as he learns there are lots of rules when it comes to human/monster relations.
This was such a fun book and I really liked Stephen, Sophia and Ivan. Ivan is the son of the detective clan and has all sorts of fun gadgets and bottles of things. Sophia's mom is in charge of diplomacy so she knows the rules more than anyone and how things work even if it doesn't go as she plans. Stephen is still learning the ropes and coming to terms with being part fairy and how even though he is different he isn't any different than he was before he is still Stephen, his fathers son and loved.
I am a huge fan of Gwenda Bond after reading her Lois Lane series and so when I seen her name attached to this I knew I needed it and I wasn't disappointed. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble the kids will get into next!
September 24, 2020
Chef Nana, the head cook at the New Harmonia, an exclusive New York City hotel, is dead. Her son, Michael Lawson, is tapped to replace her, and Chef Lawson needs to move from Chicago to New York with his son Stephen.
Stephen Lawson is a pre-teen boy raised by a single parent. His mother disappeared when he was a baby and he remembers nothing about her.
When the Lawsons arrive at New Harmonia Stephen is in for the shock of his life. All of his grandmother’s letters, which Stephen assumed were fairy tales, were true. Chef Nana actually did cook for dragons, elves, Yeti, the undead, and many other creatures from the monster world. (The politically correct term is supernormal.)
The biggest shock for Stephen is finding out he’s only half human and his mother is a fairy. (They prefer to be called fae.)
Michael Lawson shows his son his grandmother’s recipe book, The Librum de Coquina, which has been in the Lawson family forever. It is from this book Chef Lawson will find exotic recipes to keep the palates of the hotel’s magical beings satisfied. However, Stephen uses the book to surprise his dad with a meal and he inadvertently loses the family heirloom.
Without the book Chef Lawson will get fired, so it’s up to Stephen and his two new human friends, Ivan and Sophia, to take it upon themselves to find the thief and return the cookbook to Stephen’s dad.
The writing team of Gwenda Bond and Christopher Rowe has created an exciting fantasy middle school series that will keep young and older readers glued to the page.
Throughout the story we meet supernormal people that include big feet, vampires, a dragon, and gargoyles. The action is fast paced, the plot is fun, and the characters are amusing. Just imagine a talking elevator you can bond with.
When you finish reading The Supernormal Sleuthing Service: The Lost Legacy, book two in the series, The Sphinx’s Secret will be available to read, as well. Enjoy.
January 30, 2018
Stephen and his dad move to New York, into the grand New Harmonia hotel, when his grandmother passes away. She worked as the chef there and now Stephen's dad is taking over her job. Little does Stephen know that his life is about to change forever. The New Harmonia hotel is home to some very interesting people, they are all Supernormals. Stephen himself finds out that he is actually half fae, and his absent mother is fae royalty. Stephen is only finding his feet with the whole Supernormals thing, when an important magical artifact is stolen and Stephen is the sole suspect because a Bigfoot saw him do it. But Stephen knows that he had nothing to do with it. Along with his two new friends, Ivan and Sofia, they set out to find the truth, but it's not as easy as it seems, especially when Stephen doesn't know the customs of the different species yet.
This was such a fun and easy read. The authors descriptive writing made for effortless reading. I loved the hotel! It's a hotel filled with all different creatures, including a dragon and a talking elevator!! The elevator was hilarious. It got so snippy and would sometimes refuse to move. We get to learn all about the hotel and it's inhabitants along with Stephen, which I liked.
The characters were the best bit. Stephen is dropped into the Hotel and the Supernormal world with no idea of what's happening and I felt like his reactions were real and honest. His disbelief turns to wonder which turns to acceptance. He has no idea of the different species culture and is trying to solve the mystery of the stolen artifact, but accidentally causing trouble as he goes. I felt so sorry for him at times because while he is grieving his grandmothers death, and trying to adapt to life at the weird hotel, he is accused of theft and no one, not even his father, believes that he didn't do it. I was so glad he had Ivan and Sofia to help him.
I loved the minor characters too. All were well written and developed. As I said, I loved the elevator, but I also loved the Dragon and Sofia and Ivan. All of these play an important role in helping Stephen!!
In all, this was a quick and fun read. I usually read middle grade books and then pass them onto my kids and I have to say, they loved this too. While it wasn't the most action packed book, it still had enough to keep my attention till the end. The mystery element is what let it down because you knew straight away who was the culprit and why, but it still didn't detract from the overall enjoyment. I'm looking forward to the next book!!
This was such a fun and easy read. The authors descriptive writing made for effortless reading. I loved the hotel! It's a hotel filled with all different creatures, including a dragon and a talking elevator!! The elevator was hilarious. It got so snippy and would sometimes refuse to move. We get to learn all about the hotel and it's inhabitants along with Stephen, which I liked.
The characters were the best bit. Stephen is dropped into the Hotel and the Supernormal world with no idea of what's happening and I felt like his reactions were real and honest. His disbelief turns to wonder which turns to acceptance. He has no idea of the different species culture and is trying to solve the mystery of the stolen artifact, but accidentally causing trouble as he goes. I felt so sorry for him at times because while he is grieving his grandmothers death, and trying to adapt to life at the weird hotel, he is accused of theft and no one, not even his father, believes that he didn't do it. I was so glad he had Ivan and Sofia to help him.
I loved the minor characters too. All were well written and developed. As I said, I loved the elevator, but I also loved the Dragon and Sofia and Ivan. All of these play an important role in helping Stephen!!
In all, this was a quick and fun read. I usually read middle grade books and then pass them onto my kids and I have to say, they loved this too. While it wasn't the most action packed book, it still had enough to keep my attention till the end. The mystery element is what let it down because you knew straight away who was the culprit and why, but it still didn't detract from the overall enjoyment. I'm looking forward to the next book!!
September 10, 2017
Bond, Gwenda and Christopher Rowe The Lost Legacy (The Supernormal Sleuthing Service), 405 pages. Greenwillow (Harper), 2017. $17. Content: G (mild danger).
When Stephen’s grandmother, Chef Nana, dies, Stephen and his father uproot from Chicago and move to New York so that his chef father can take over his mother’s hotel chef job. Stephen is plunged into strange new worlds at the Hotel New Harmonia, which caters to an exclusive clientele – magical creatures from many dimensions – including Cindermass, the hotel’s permanent resident dragon. While Stephen reacts poorly to the move, he would never sabotage his father’s job by stealing Chef Nana’s magic cookbook. While the adults are mad at him, Stephen and his new friends take it upon themselves to pursue their own leads, putting themselves in harms way confronting not only an inimical fae clan, but also an important vampire.
So much fun! While I didn’t fall in love with everything about the book (I still don’t understand why it is so difficult for Stephen to prove to the adults that he didn’t steal the book – they all could have just asked the talking elevator where Stephen was), but I do like Stephen and his friends. The denouement comes very close to the end, with a bit of deux ex machine to resolve things. Young fantasy readers will have fun with this.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
When Stephen’s grandmother, Chef Nana, dies, Stephen and his father uproot from Chicago and move to New York so that his chef father can take over his mother’s hotel chef job. Stephen is plunged into strange new worlds at the Hotel New Harmonia, which caters to an exclusive clientele – magical creatures from many dimensions – including Cindermass, the hotel’s permanent resident dragon. While Stephen reacts poorly to the move, he would never sabotage his father’s job by stealing Chef Nana’s magic cookbook. While the adults are mad at him, Stephen and his new friends take it upon themselves to pursue their own leads, putting themselves in harms way confronting not only an inimical fae clan, but also an important vampire.
So much fun! While I didn’t fall in love with everything about the book (I still don’t understand why it is so difficult for Stephen to prove to the adults that he didn’t steal the book – they all could have just asked the talking elevator where Stephen was), but I do like Stephen and his friends. The denouement comes very close to the end, with a bit of deux ex machine to resolve things. Young fantasy readers will have fun with this.
EL, MS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
January 20, 2020
Stephen's dad has just gotten the job to replace his mother as chef for the Hotel New Harmonia. Stephen always thought his Nana's letters were just full of made up stuff she put in to entertain him, but it turns out that the Harmonia is really full of fantastical creatures. And that Stephen himself is half fae! From the get go Stephen feels like he isn't 100% welcome. The fae at the hotel seem to have some sinister plans for him. And he's hardly there 24 hours before someone frames him for a serious crime. Thankfully, two other kids whose parents live and work at the hotel, Sofia and Ivan, believe him and set out to help him clear his name so that his dad won't lose his job or worse!
The Hotel New Harmonia is full of a zany array of fantastical creatures. Some are friendly, some are obviously sinister, and some are hard to figure out. Exploring the hotel with Stephen and learning about this world that has been hidden from him till now is very fun. The mystery of who done it is pretty quickly figured out, the tricky part is how our young sleuths are going to prove it. It is a battle of whits. I have a whole crowd of fantasy fans and another whole crowd of mystery lovers who are going to be scrambling over this book.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Sinister things are threatened but no one is hurt.
The Hotel New Harmonia is full of a zany array of fantastical creatures. Some are friendly, some are obviously sinister, and some are hard to figure out. Exploring the hotel with Stephen and learning about this world that has been hidden from him till now is very fun. The mystery of who done it is pretty quickly figured out, the tricky part is how our young sleuths are going to prove it. It is a battle of whits. I have a whole crowd of fantasy fans and another whole crowd of mystery lovers who are going to be scrambling over this book.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Sinister things are threatened but no one is hurt.
March 19, 2020
This was cute. Not gonna lie. I got through it quickly though I did get quite frustrated through the middle.
It was just the lack of believement from the adults. It's typical of these books, but come on, if my son is saying he didn't do it, and you live in a magical hotel with spiteful faeries who you already know are out to get you and can do illusions and glamours, I would immediately assume that it was one of them who did it. That a disguise of sorts was involved. The fact that this so call Knights of the Round table couldn't figure it out when I did immediately upsets me.
How dare you call yourself Knight's of King Arthur's round table when you are that effin dumb.
Over all it was a solid ending. Stephen was a smart kid who got himself out of an entanglement with Faeries which is miraculously hard so good on him. I loved all the secondary creatures and his knew little friends. I loved all the SuperNaturals (monsters) so I was largely kept interested by all the introductions to the different creatures in the hotel.
I'm on the fence about the second one cause i want to see more of Stephen and his mom and I unno if I'm going to get that. But otherwise, it was a good solid book, good for the age range and definitely worth a read.
It was just the lack of believement from the adults. It's typical of these books, but come on, if my son is saying he didn't do it, and you live in a magical hotel with spiteful faeries who you already know are out to get you and can do illusions and glamours, I would immediately assume that it was one of them who did it. That a disguise of sorts was involved. The fact that this so call Knights of the Round table couldn't figure it out when I did immediately upsets me.
How dare you call yourself Knight's of King Arthur's round table when you are that effin dumb.
Over all it was a solid ending. Stephen was a smart kid who got himself out of an entanglement with Faeries which is miraculously hard so good on him. I loved all the secondary creatures and his knew little friends. I loved all the SuperNaturals (monsters) so I was largely kept interested by all the introductions to the different creatures in the hotel.
I'm on the fence about the second one cause i want to see more of Stephen and his mom and I unno if I'm going to get that. But otherwise, it was a good solid book, good for the age range and definitely worth a read.
May 11, 2017
A wonderfully creative story that is sure to catch the imagination of any young reader. With a pinch of magic, a dash of insecurity and a heavy serving of whimsy, authors Gwenda Bond and Christopher Rowe have created a hotel in the heart of New York city at which most children would love to stay.
Stephen's first visit to The New Harmonia Hotel is on the day of his dear grandmother's funeral. That is the same day that he learns that there are indeed monsters, or supernormals as they prefer, in this world and that is is one of them.
I loved this book. It is funny and then suspenseful in the next moment. With all the different creatures in the hotel, Stephen must quickly learn to be sensitive to their different appearances and manners so as not to offend. At the same time, he is grieving the lose of his grandmother, moving to a new state and learning huge secrets about himself. Wow.
The story is brimming with amazing characters, two of my favourites being Cindermass and the elevator. Nope, not going to tell about that one other than to say that Stephen shows the strength of his character by his treatment of elevator.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to your middle schoolchild. This is the first of a new series.
#IndigoEmployee
Stephen's first visit to The New Harmonia Hotel is on the day of his dear grandmother's funeral. That is the same day that he learns that there are indeed monsters, or supernormals as they prefer, in this world and that is is one of them.
I loved this book. It is funny and then suspenseful in the next moment. With all the different creatures in the hotel, Stephen must quickly learn to be sensitive to their different appearances and manners so as not to offend. At the same time, he is grieving the lose of his grandmother, moving to a new state and learning huge secrets about himself. Wow.
The story is brimming with amazing characters, two of my favourites being Cindermass and the elevator. Nope, not going to tell about that one other than to say that Stephen shows the strength of his character by his treatment of elevator.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to your middle schoolchild. This is the first of a new series.
#IndigoEmployee
February 20, 2019
The Lost Legacy
certainly had some nice moments. It started off with a boy (Stephen) and his father unexpectedly moving from Chicago to New York after the passing of his grandmother. You quickly learned that very little of the Stephen's background has been relayed to him about his mother's family or his father's family - he is gobsmacked.
Stephen and his father move into the New Harmonia Hotel where Stephen's dad takes over as the hotel cook replacing his grandmother. It comes as quite a surprise that the job is a legacy of sorts and the hotel guests are very unique.
It takes very little time for Stephen to be introduced to Sofia and Ivan - the other two kids whose parents work at/for the New Harmonia Hotel. Between the three of them, they explore the hotel and hunt down a stolen item that plays heavily into both the title of the book and the unsure future that is at stake for Stephen and his dad until said item is returned to its rightful owner in the hotel.
Equal parts Hotel Transylvania and Encyclopedia Brown, this tale is a lot of fun if you just go with it... The author paints really fascinating pictures with her words.
Stephen and his father move into the New Harmonia Hotel where Stephen's dad takes over as the hotel cook replacing his grandmother. It comes as quite a surprise that the job is a legacy of sorts and the hotel guests are very unique.
It takes very little time for Stephen to be introduced to Sofia and Ivan - the other two kids whose parents work at/for the New Harmonia Hotel. Between the three of them, they explore the hotel and hunt down a stolen item that plays heavily into both the title of the book and the unsure future that is at stake for Stephen and his dad until said item is returned to its rightful owner in the hotel.
Equal parts Hotel Transylvania and Encyclopedia Brown, this tale is a lot of fun if you just go with it... The author paints really fascinating pictures with her words.
March 2, 2023
A fun breezy fantasy for tweens. Stephen is relocated from his home in Chicago to New York City when his grandmother "Chef Nana" dies, and Stephen's father takes over her job as head chef at a fancy hotel. But Stephen immediately learns that this is no ordinary hotel: the New Harmonia is a hotel for "supernormals," magical people like centaurs, fauns, vampires and even Bigfoots! (Or is it Bigfeet? One of many fun jokes in the book...) And Stephen has more than family involvement: he finds out he is "half-fae" himself. With his two new best friends, Ivan the "master of hotel detection" and Sofia the wanna-be Perilous Guard, Stephen gets drawn into solving the disappearance of a very important book of magical recipes, while trying to adjust to his new home and a whole new set of circumstances he could only have imagined before. Will he get magical powers from his fae heritage? How does all this stuff work anyway? Nice book about friendship, fitting in, finding yourself, and family situations, along with fun fantasy elements.
August 5, 2017
The Supernormal Sleuthing Service is a fantastic middle grade novel full of adventure and humor. The book opens with Stephen and his dad attending a funeral in NYC. The first chapter is a blur for both Stephen and the reader as he is whisked away to a mysterious hotel. Once his dad explains his new world, and he meets some local kids, he begins to explore the fantastical spaces in the hotel. Except something steals his Dad's priceless book. They must get it back. Vampires, Ghouls, Bigfoot (or is it Bigfeet), Fairies, Mermaids, and loads of other monsters come together for the 1000th birthday of Cindermass the Dragon. Will they find the book? Will their lives change forever? For anyone who liked Harry Potter, this book is for you! With all the gateways, the possibility of exploring new places is endless. I hope Stephen and his friends have more sleuthing to do in the future.
June 7, 2017
Stephen is living a pretty normal life in Chicago with his dad. All of that changes when his grandmother, Nana, dies and Stephen has to move to New York so his dad can take over Nana's job at Hotel New Harmonia. New Harmonia is unlike any hotel Stephen has ever seen. The guests are strange. They range from vampires to dragons! The employees are strange. A girl can turn invisible and the elevator can speak! Stephen is barely starting to adjust to his new life when he is accused of a horrible crime. With the help of two new friends, Ivan and Sophia, Stephen sets off to find the real criminal. Together they elude zombies, outwit wicked fae, and most importantly, Stephen learns who he truly is. A nice start to what could be a fun new series.
August 7, 2022
Really fund middle grades novel from wife/husband duo Bond and Rowe (two of my favorite Kentucky authors). A review lower down on this page by Jasmine says it best:
"It also did that thing middle grade is so good at where you're bobbing along reading about a sentient elevator and sneaking around behind a vampire and then suddenly from behind all the fun sneaks a a whole bunch of too real feelings and fears and they kneecap you."
This is why middle-grades fantasy is one of my favorite genres. I've got a whole collection on my bookshelf that does this EXTREMELY well; it includes Kate Milford, Jessica Townsend, Jaclyn Moriarty, and Catherynne M. Valente. Oh, and Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks, although they aren't fantasy.
"It also did that thing middle grade is so good at where you're bobbing along reading about a sentient elevator and sneaking around behind a vampire and then suddenly from behind all the fun sneaks a a whole bunch of too real feelings and fears and they kneecap you."
This is why middle-grades fantasy is one of my favorite genres. I've got a whole collection on my bookshelf that does this EXTREMELY well; it includes Kate Milford, Jessica Townsend, Jaclyn Moriarty, and Catherynne M. Valente. Oh, and Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks, although they aren't fantasy.
June 14, 2017
TOTALLY LOVED THIS. SO MUCH FUN OH MY GOD. I can't wait to read later installments in the series. I wish this book had been around when I was the actual "middle grade" age!
Stephen was such a courageous sweetie and I LOVE that his main talent is art, Sofia is the kind of girl that "middle grade" me would've wanted to be best friends with, and Ivan is an earnest detective boy who reminded me a lot of Angus McDonald from the podcast "The Adventure Zone," which obviously endeared him to me immensely.
If you're in the Business of Books in some way, definitely recommend this book to "middle grade" readers and stock it on your shelves! So lovely.
Stephen was such a courageous sweetie and I LOVE that his main talent is art, Sofia is the kind of girl that "middle grade" me would've wanted to be best friends with, and Ivan is an earnest detective boy who reminded me a lot of Angus McDonald from the podcast "The Adventure Zone," which obviously endeared him to me immensely.
If you're in the Business of Books in some way, definitely recommend this book to "middle grade" readers and stock it on your shelves! So lovely.
June 21, 2018
This is one of those stories that has only come into prominence since the rise of realistic fantasy in middle grade. It's one of those stories about a magical world that exists in secret from the real world and how they hide themselves away and navigate the tricky diplomacy that must be maintained to keep all the parties happy. Kids will enjoy the continual magical discovery that is inherent in such a story. This is comparable to Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series or Michael Buckley's The Sisters Grimm or any number of other series that have come out in recent history of the same narrative structure. It's engaging, exciting, and altogether pleasant to read. Highly recommended for any children's library.
February 12, 2019
I liked this book and I thought it was ok, but it definitely let me down with its plot lacking of more excitement and monsters. I was very excited to read it, but I suppose it being more along the lines of a kid’s book is what let me down, but also a reason why I went through it so fast and why I stuck with it at all. If it had been any longer or larger of font, I probably would have given up on it. The sequel sounds exciting so I will give that a try and see. If I had read this as a kid I’m positive I would have enjoyed it more, which don’t get me wrong I still did, but little me would have liked it more.
January 23, 2018
This is a fun story about a normal boy who is exposed to the supernormal world. His grandma dies and he and his dad move to New York to take over her business. It just so happens that her business is to be the head chef at a hotel for the supernatural. For the first time in his life Stephen is learning that the supernormal and the normal world co-exist. He is just getting adjusted when his dad's family heirloom cookbook goes missing. If it isn't found his place in this new supernormal world is threatened.
June 16, 2018
The light side of the supernormal world. A young boy who has been raised by his father learns the truth of his heritage after his grandmother dies. He's half human; half fae. His father takes over as chef at a hotel for the supernormal and they all plunge into the politics and intrigue involved. He meets two new friends and they set out to solve the mystery of his family's stolen recipe book.
Lots of fun and interesting characters.
Looking forward to reading the next book.
Middle grade read.
Lots of fun and interesting characters.
Looking forward to reading the next book.
Middle grade read.
August 5, 2018
Never did Stephen think him and his dad moving to a the hotel where his late grandmother worked would lead to such startling discoveries: the existence of monsters and ghouls, his half-fae lineage, and the mysterious disappearance of a special cookbook that could seriously upset the balance and put him and his friends in danger! Bond and Rowe begin a creative and lively series with this exciting and witty novel sure to have readers of all ages chuckling. Stephen will have to clear his name before he ends up a servant to some of the rudest faeries around!
July 6, 2017
Stephen and his father head to New York to attend his grandmother’s funeral where Chef Nana ran the kitchen at the New Harmonica Hotel. Nana’s letters were always filled with amazing stories of improbable monsters and Stephen learns that they are the real magical residents of the hotel! Dad will take over Nana’s job if all goes well; unfortunately, things quickly spiral out of control. Reviewer 2
September 30, 2017
Stephen visits New York for the first time for his grandmother's funeral. At the funeral he learns there is a whole side to his life that he has never known about. He and his father go to live at Hotel New Harmonia. Stephen makes friends and has several adventures trying to retrieve his family's stolen Librium de Coquina.
This is a highly inventive and well done middle grade readers book. I look forward to more books set at Hotel New Harmonia.
This is a highly inventive and well done middle grade readers book. I look forward to more books set at Hotel New Harmonia.
December 19, 2017
This very exciting story is about Stephen who moves with his dad from Chicago to NY. His grandmother has died and his dad is going to take over for her as chef in a big hotel. What his dad has failed to mention is that the hotel is a a place for magical creatures to stay and convene, and oh by the way, Stephen is part magical creature. It takes a bit of getting used to, but pretty soon Stephen is involved in a deep mystery and has some cool new friends. Very fun read.
June 1, 2021
How can an elevator be one of my favourite characters?
The main trio are reminiscent of Harry, Hermione, and Ron but completely different. They find trouble, investigate the mystery, and solve it while a budding friendship grows.
From the vampire, zombies, night clerk ghoul, and Dragon, I loved each of them.
I'm so glad I took out the second book from the library with this one so I can read it straightaway.
The main trio are reminiscent of Harry, Hermione, and Ron but completely different. They find trouble, investigate the mystery, and solve it while a budding friendship grows.
From the vampire, zombies, night clerk ghoul, and Dragon, I loved each of them.
I'm so glad I took out the second book from the library with this one so I can read it straightaway.
July 15, 2017
The Supernormal Sleuthing Service was a charming romp with interesting characters, a few laugh out loud moments, and details that paint a lovely world.
I expected (and did not get) a bit more mystery, but the characters are well developed enough to carry this story.
All in all it's a fun read. Would recommend to children and adults who still love children's books.
I expected (and did not get) a bit more mystery, but the characters are well developed enough to carry this story.
All in all it's a fun read. Would recommend to children and adults who still love children's books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews