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Brightstorm Chronicles #1
Brightstorm
Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781407181707.
Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. Not only that, but he has been accused of trying to steal fuel from his competitors before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to help crew a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?
Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. Not only that, but he has been accused of trying to steal fuel from his competitors before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to help crew a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?
348 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2018
91 people are currently reading
5281 people want to read
About the author
Vashti Hardy
36 books165 followers Vashti Hardy is a children’s book author who lives near Lancashire, England, with her husband and three teens. She has an honors teaching degree and an MA in creative writing from the University of Chichester.
Vashti Hardy est une auteure jeunesse. Elle a enseigné pendant de nombreuse années à l'école primaire. Après avoir quitté l'enseignement pour se consacrer davantage à l'écriture, elle devient conceptrice-rédactrice et cadre dans le marketing numérique. Elle est titulaire d'un M.A. en création littéraire de l'Université de Chichester. Elle compte également parmi les diplômés de la Golden Egg Academy, une école destinée aux auteurs de livres pour enfants et aide régulièrement les nouveaux élèves de l'institution. Vashti Hardy vit avec son mari et ses trois enfants près de Brighton dans le Sussex de l'Est.
Vashti Hardy est une auteure jeunesse. Elle a enseigné pendant de nombreuse années à l'école primaire. Après avoir quitté l'enseignement pour se consacrer davantage à l'écriture, elle devient conceptrice-rédactrice et cadre dans le marketing numérique. Elle est titulaire d'un M.A. en création littéraire de l'Université de Chichester. Elle compte également parmi les diplômés de la Golden Egg Academy, une école destinée aux auteurs de livres pour enfants et aide régulièrement les nouveaux élèves de l'institution. Vashti Hardy vit avec son mari et ses trois enfants près de Brighton dans le Sussex de l'Est.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 337 reviews
May 18, 2020
100% a new fave!
February 24, 2020
If Treasure Island was set in the sky (but not in Space aka Treasure Planet), then this would be that book - a thrilling middle grade positively dripping with adventure!
Arthur and Maudie are twins, their father an explorer who has died on an expedition - but they haven't been told the whole truth about what happened. They set about solving the mystery and experience quite the adventure along the way.
The sibling dynamic between Arthur and Maudie is so genuine and, at times, so heartfelt, it got me rather emotional. The writing is absolutely stunning and I listened to the audiobook on the side and the audiobook was incredible - there was adventurous music you'd hear in movies like Indiana Jones and it really set the mood. I was dying to discover what happened to their father, and I won't say anything about the bad guys either because it's a little more complex than that and I don't want to give away any spoilers, wink wink.
Arthur and Maudie are twins, their father an explorer who has died on an expedition - but they haven't been told the whole truth about what happened. They set about solving the mystery and experience quite the adventure along the way.
The sibling dynamic between Arthur and Maudie is so genuine and, at times, so heartfelt, it got me rather emotional. The writing is absolutely stunning and I listened to the audiobook on the side and the audiobook was incredible - there was adventurous music you'd hear in movies like Indiana Jones and it really set the mood. I was dying to discover what happened to their father, and I won't say anything about the bad guys either because it's a little more complex than that and I don't want to give away any spoilers, wink wink.
October 15, 2022
I hadn’t realised how much I was missing middle grade until now- but Brightstorm was just the book I needed to get back into it!! It was light, fun, adventurous, and just a really great time. I kinda picked it up on a whim but now I’m really glad that I did!
“Family isn’t always what you’re born into. It’s what you do for each other and the experiences you go through together that make a family.”
Brightstorm is basically about twins Maudie and Arthur Brightstorm, who are the children of the explorer Ernest Brightstorm. The twins are devastated when they receive news that their father died in an attempt to reach South Polaris, the southernmost point in this imaginary world. But when something strange makes them question this story, Maudie and Arthur must set out on a daring journey to try and discover the truth.
The basic set-up of the story is quite similar to lots of MG books: one of the protagonist’s parents died; they realise there might be more to it than that; they go on a miraculous journey to discover the truth; etc. I went into it kinda expecting it to average- but it definitely surprised me. Because although Brightstorm might not be the most original book out there, it’s still SUPER entertaining!!
Firstly, the characters. Our main protagonists are obviously Arthur and Maudie, although the book is only from Arthur’s perspective. We also have a whole load of side characters, like Harriet Culpepper, Felicity Wiggety and Eudora Vane. Although the characters could feel a bit more fleshed out imo, I did still like them! Arthur is a likeable enough protagonist, and it was nice to see that he made mistakes and wanted to make up for them. Often, the characters in MG books don’t feel realistic, but Arthur mostly did, so that was nice :)
The sibling bond between Arthur and Maudie was also so cute to see, as was the growing relationship between them and other members of the crew! It was kinda giving found family vibes, and as I’m a sucker for found family, I loved that!!
The writing was also very strong. It was super easy to read and this helped me get through the book really quickly. Vashti Hardy had a great balance between simplicity and descriptiveness, so that was great! I’m definitely eager to read more of this author’s work now!
The plot was also pretty good. You would think a story simply about a crew of people travelling would be boring, but the author managed to keep me invested throughout! The pacing was very well done, as it was neither too fast nor too slow, and it had enough action to keep my interest. I do think that the mystery could’ve been more, y’know, ~mysterious~, as it was kinda obvious all the way through… but oh well *shrugs* It didn’t really affect my enjoyment in the long run.
My main gripes with the book, that prevented me from giving it the full 4 stars, were the villain and the ending. The villain in the story was cartoonishly evil and although their motivations do make sense, it also just doesn’t feel that genuine! I feel like the characters fitted too well into the moulds of ‘good’ and ‘evil’, and that just isn’t realistic. This is a problem that I’ve seen a lot in MG, so it’s not only this book, but it still irritated me a bit :/
The ending also felt a bit too convenient. Like, there was lots of drama earlier on, but then everything was wrapped up so quickly??? That just didn’t feel right to me. And I know that the ending was preparing for the sequel, but there wasn’t enough closure for this specific book imo. And I also don’t really… want a sequel? Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed it, but I think it would’ve worked better as a standalone. Maybe that’s just me??
“Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. You can be comfortable or courageous — never both at once.”
Overall, though, this was a very fun read! If you’re looking for a light and adventurous MG fantasy, then I would definitely recommend Brightstorm!! Although I would prefer it to be a standalone, I am still interested to pick up the sequel and see what happens next :)
~ 3.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was such a fun book- I had a really great time reading it!! 🤩🤩😁😁 RTC!
“Family isn’t always what you’re born into. It’s what you do for each other and the experiences you go through together that make a family.”
Brightstorm is basically about twins Maudie and Arthur Brightstorm, who are the children of the explorer Ernest Brightstorm. The twins are devastated when they receive news that their father died in an attempt to reach South Polaris, the southernmost point in this imaginary world. But when something strange makes them question this story, Maudie and Arthur must set out on a daring journey to try and discover the truth.
The basic set-up of the story is quite similar to lots of MG books: one of the protagonist’s parents died; they realise there might be more to it than that; they go on a miraculous journey to discover the truth; etc. I went into it kinda expecting it to average- but it definitely surprised me. Because although Brightstorm might not be the most original book out there, it’s still SUPER entertaining!!
Firstly, the characters. Our main protagonists are obviously Arthur and Maudie, although the book is only from Arthur’s perspective. We also have a whole load of side characters, like Harriet Culpepper, Felicity Wiggety and Eudora Vane. Although the characters could feel a bit more fleshed out imo, I did still like them! Arthur is a likeable enough protagonist, and it was nice to see that he made mistakes and wanted to make up for them. Often, the characters in MG books don’t feel realistic, but Arthur mostly did, so that was nice :)
The sibling bond between Arthur and Maudie was also so cute to see, as was the growing relationship between them and other members of the crew! It was kinda giving found family vibes, and as I’m a sucker for found family, I loved that!!
The writing was also very strong. It was super easy to read and this helped me get through the book really quickly. Vashti Hardy had a great balance between simplicity and descriptiveness, so that was great! I’m definitely eager to read more of this author’s work now!
The plot was also pretty good. You would think a story simply about a crew of people travelling would be boring, but the author managed to keep me invested throughout! The pacing was very well done, as it was neither too fast nor too slow, and it had enough action to keep my interest. I do think that the mystery could’ve been more, y’know, ~mysterious~, as it was kinda obvious all the way through… but oh well *shrugs* It didn’t really affect my enjoyment in the long run.
My main gripes with the book, that prevented me from giving it the full 4 stars, were the villain and the ending. The villain in the story was cartoonishly evil and although their motivations do make sense, it also just doesn’t feel that genuine! I feel like the characters fitted too well into the moulds of ‘good’ and ‘evil’, and that just isn’t realistic. This is a problem that I’ve seen a lot in MG, so it’s not only this book, but it still irritated me a bit :/
The ending also felt a bit too convenient. Like, there was lots of drama earlier on, but then everything was wrapped up so quickly??? That just didn’t feel right to me. And I know that the ending was preparing for the sequel, but there wasn’t enough closure for this specific book imo. And I also don’t really… want a sequel? Don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed it, but I think it would’ve worked better as a standalone. Maybe that’s just me??
“Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. You can be comfortable or courageous — never both at once.”
Overall, though, this was a very fun read! If you’re looking for a light and adventurous MG fantasy, then I would definitely recommend Brightstorm!! Although I would prefer it to be a standalone, I am still interested to pick up the sequel and see what happens next :)
~ 3.5 stars
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was such a fun book- I had a really great time reading it!! 🤩🤩😁😁 RTC!
June 28, 2021
Brightstorm is a wonderfully paced, absorbing read that delivers a special feeling of adventure reserved for stories that you just cannot put down. The story focuses on twin siblings who are searching for answers about their missing father, a famous lost explorer who went down with his airship under mysterious circumstances. After losing their only living parent, the twins find themselves in dire straits and soon find themselves destitute. But their ingenuity, intelligence, and determination land them on a new airship in the midst of a global race to explore a new and dangerous land, and possibly find out the fate of their father along the way. But there are hidden forces willing to try anything to stop them.
When I requested a galley of this book, I didn’t realize it was targeting a middle-grade audience. Nevertheless, I’m very glad I put my preconceptions aside and took a chance on it, as I devoured it in two sessions. (It would have been one, but that nuisance called sleep reared its ugly head.)
If I were to compare this book to a film, I would recall some PG-rated classics such as ‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ or ‘The Princess Bride,’ fantasy films that both children and adults could adore. I can picture myself reading this in middle school and becoming one of my favorites. Brightstorm. would be an excellent birthday present to a niece or nephew, or just to read to your kids at night. If not just for yourself, of course.
It appears that this book is only currently available in the UK and the reviews for it are sky high. I assume it will be released in the US and worldwide soon enough, and I would not be surprised to see it in the cineplex soon after. It really is a wonderful story: colorful, well-rounded characters; imaginative steampunk contraptions; unique creatures and their bonds with humans; a surprising depth to its world-building; enough table-setting for many more adventures to come. Vashti Hardy has crafted something special with this series. I never thought I’d be looking forward to a middle-grade sequel, but life is full of surprises. See you in February 2020 for book two.
When I requested a galley of this book, I didn’t realize it was targeting a middle-grade audience. Nevertheless, I’m very glad I put my preconceptions aside and took a chance on it, as I devoured it in two sessions. (It would have been one, but that nuisance called sleep reared its ugly head.)
If I were to compare this book to a film, I would recall some PG-rated classics such as ‘The Adventures of Baron Munchausen’ or ‘The Princess Bride,’ fantasy films that both children and adults could adore. I can picture myself reading this in middle school and becoming one of my favorites. Brightstorm. would be an excellent birthday present to a niece or nephew, or just to read to your kids at night. If not just for yourself, of course.
It appears that this book is only currently available in the UK and the reviews for it are sky high. I assume it will be released in the US and worldwide soon enough, and I would not be surprised to see it in the cineplex soon after. It really is a wonderful story: colorful, well-rounded characters; imaginative steampunk contraptions; unique creatures and their bonds with humans; a surprising depth to its world-building; enough table-setting for many more adventures to come. Vashti Hardy has crafted something special with this series. I never thought I’d be looking forward to a middle-grade sequel, but life is full of surprises. See you in February 2020 for book two.
March 30, 2024
Kinderbücher lese ich ja super selten - aber um die englische Sprache besser zu lernen bieten sich diese perfekt für mich an und ich merke, dass mir diese Art von phantastischen Abenteuern absolut gefällt! Nachdem ich schon die Entdecker Reihe von Alex Bell gelesen habe - geht es hier mit den Brightstorm Zwillingen ebenfalls auf eine Reise.
Arthur und Maudie erwarten eigentlich die Rückkehr ihres Vaters, doch dieser scheint auf der letzten Fahrt mit dem Luftschiff unter mysteriösen Umständen verschollen und wird auch noch eines schweren Diebstahls bezichtigt. Durch diese Umstände müssen die Zwillinge einen harten Schlag einstecken, bis sich plötzlich eine unerwartete Möglichkeit ergibt. Eine neue Expedition, ein Wettrennen nach Südpolaris ist angesetzt und die beiden wollen diese Chance unbedingt nutzen, um die Ungewissheit über den Verbleib ihres Vaters aufzudecken.
"Remember what Dad said? Don´t call it a dream, call it a plan. There´s always a way, Maud, there has to be."
Zitat Seite 35
Es geht zwar hier in der Geschichte um beide Geschwister, aber Arthur ist mehr im Fokus. Er leidet sehr unter dem Verlust des Vaters und vor allem auch die schlimmen Verleumdungen auf seiner letzten Reise. Arthur hat nur einen Arm - sein zweiter wird durch eine künstliche Apparatur ersetzt, die etwas ungelenk in der Handhabung ist, mit der er aber recht gut zurecht kommt.
Richtung Steampunk geht das natürlich, aber recht viel mehr in dieser Richtung konnte ich nicht entdecken, außer den typischen Luftschiffen natürlich. Maudie ist für ihr Alter sehr versiert in technischen Fragen und vielleicht hab ich hier auch das ein oder andere Detail überlesen oder den englischen Begriff nicht verstanden, wenn es um die Maschinen ging - aber einen leichten Flair aus dem Genre trägt die Geschichte schon in sich.
Nach vielen aufregenden Ereignissen beginnt dann der Wettlauf zum südlichsten Punkt, den noch niemand entdeckt hat! Auf dem Weg dorthin erleben die Zwillinge schon einige Abenteuer und je näher sie ihrem Ziel kommen, entdecken sie immer mehr interessante Hinweise.
Sehr interessant fand ich auch die "sapient animals", also die "weisen Tiere", die so intelligent sind, als würden sie die Menschen verstehen. Vielleicht kommt daher auch der Vergleich mit Pullmans "His dark materials" Trilogie, wobei ich das hier nicht damit vergleichen würde.
Es gibt einige tragische, traurige Momente, bei denen der Autor aber nicht verweilt, sondern die Handlung konstant weitertreibt. So bleiben die Kinder und auch ich beim Lesen immer in Aktion und Erwartung der nächsten Überraschung!
But no matter how hopeless it became, he said there was a bright light he held inside; his determination to never give up.
Zitat 224
Soweit ich es beurteilen kann, fand ich den Schreibstil klasse. Der Autor hat die Figuren sehr gut eingefangen und oft immer wieder für eine besondere Atmosphäre zwischen ihnen gesorgt. Ebenso die Beschreibungen der Stadt Lontown (was natürlich sofort an London erinnert), die vielen Gegenden auf der Reise und schließlich der eisige Süden mit all seinen Gefahren! Es gibt auch einige interessante Tiere, wie schon oben erwähnt, die auch eine wichtige Rolle spielen und mir hier besonders gut gefallen haben!
Es geht um die Familie, um Verlust, aber auch darum, etwas hinter sich zu lassen und neues zu versuchen. Freundschaften, Vertrauen und die innere Mitte finden.
Ein wirklich abwechslungsreiches und spannendes Abenteuer! Auch wenn schon recht bald klar war, wem hier nicht zu trauen ist, blieb es durchweg unterhaltsam und mit viel Liebe zum Detail erzählt. Nach einem bitter süßen Ende bin ich jetzt gespannt, wie es in der Fortsetzung weitergeht!
"Control is an illusion. We never know what life will throw at us. You are the master of your destiny, Arthur, and you can still do those things -..."
Zitat Seite 212
Weltenwanderer
Arthur und Maudie erwarten eigentlich die Rückkehr ihres Vaters, doch dieser scheint auf der letzten Fahrt mit dem Luftschiff unter mysteriösen Umständen verschollen und wird auch noch eines schweren Diebstahls bezichtigt. Durch diese Umstände müssen die Zwillinge einen harten Schlag einstecken, bis sich plötzlich eine unerwartete Möglichkeit ergibt. Eine neue Expedition, ein Wettrennen nach Südpolaris ist angesetzt und die beiden wollen diese Chance unbedingt nutzen, um die Ungewissheit über den Verbleib ihres Vaters aufzudecken.
"Remember what Dad said? Don´t call it a dream, call it a plan. There´s always a way, Maud, there has to be."
Zitat Seite 35
Es geht zwar hier in der Geschichte um beide Geschwister, aber Arthur ist mehr im Fokus. Er leidet sehr unter dem Verlust des Vaters und vor allem auch die schlimmen Verleumdungen auf seiner letzten Reise. Arthur hat nur einen Arm - sein zweiter wird durch eine künstliche Apparatur ersetzt, die etwas ungelenk in der Handhabung ist, mit der er aber recht gut zurecht kommt.
Richtung Steampunk geht das natürlich, aber recht viel mehr in dieser Richtung konnte ich nicht entdecken, außer den typischen Luftschiffen natürlich. Maudie ist für ihr Alter sehr versiert in technischen Fragen und vielleicht hab ich hier auch das ein oder andere Detail überlesen oder den englischen Begriff nicht verstanden, wenn es um die Maschinen ging - aber einen leichten Flair aus dem Genre trägt die Geschichte schon in sich.
Nach vielen aufregenden Ereignissen beginnt dann der Wettlauf zum südlichsten Punkt, den noch niemand entdeckt hat! Auf dem Weg dorthin erleben die Zwillinge schon einige Abenteuer und je näher sie ihrem Ziel kommen, entdecken sie immer mehr interessante Hinweise.
Sehr interessant fand ich auch die "sapient animals", also die "weisen Tiere", die so intelligent sind, als würden sie die Menschen verstehen. Vielleicht kommt daher auch der Vergleich mit Pullmans "His dark materials" Trilogie, wobei ich das hier nicht damit vergleichen würde.
Es gibt einige tragische, traurige Momente, bei denen der Autor aber nicht verweilt, sondern die Handlung konstant weitertreibt. So bleiben die Kinder und auch ich beim Lesen immer in Aktion und Erwartung der nächsten Überraschung!
But no matter how hopeless it became, he said there was a bright light he held inside; his determination to never give up.
Zitat 224
Soweit ich es beurteilen kann, fand ich den Schreibstil klasse. Der Autor hat die Figuren sehr gut eingefangen und oft immer wieder für eine besondere Atmosphäre zwischen ihnen gesorgt. Ebenso die Beschreibungen der Stadt Lontown (was natürlich sofort an London erinnert), die vielen Gegenden auf der Reise und schließlich der eisige Süden mit all seinen Gefahren! Es gibt auch einige interessante Tiere, wie schon oben erwähnt, die auch eine wichtige Rolle spielen und mir hier besonders gut gefallen haben!
Es geht um die Familie, um Verlust, aber auch darum, etwas hinter sich zu lassen und neues zu versuchen. Freundschaften, Vertrauen und die innere Mitte finden.
Ein wirklich abwechslungsreiches und spannendes Abenteuer! Auch wenn schon recht bald klar war, wem hier nicht zu trauen ist, blieb es durchweg unterhaltsam und mit viel Liebe zum Detail erzählt. Nach einem bitter süßen Ende bin ich jetzt gespannt, wie es in der Fortsetzung weitergeht!
"Control is an illusion. We never know what life will throw at us. You are the master of your destiny, Arthur, and you can still do those things -..."
Zitat Seite 212
Weltenwanderer
May 5, 2020
Δεν ξέρω εσάς, αλλά εμένα η καραντίνα με ωφέλησε πολύ. Μου έδωσε προσωπικό χρόνο, που σαν να τον είχα στερηθεί τελευταία περισσότερο απ' όσο θα έπρεπε να είναι ανθρωπίνως αποδεκτό, ενώ μπόρεσα να διαβάσω πάρα πολλά βιβλία που τα είχα αφήσει στην άκρη. Ένα μεγάλο μέρος αυτών ήταν βιβλία που διάβασα παρέα με τον γιο μου -γιατί αν το παιδί σου θες ν' αποκτήσει τις ίδιες συνήθειες με σένα, δεν υπάρχει καλύτερος τρόπος να το πείσεις από το να του αφιερώσεις χρόνο και να μοιραστείτε, μικρές και μεγάλες, εμπειρίες που θα σας συντροφεύουν αργότερα ως όμορφες αναμνήσεις. Πριν να ξεκινήσουμε, λοιπόν, την ανάγνωση λατρεμένης εφταλογίας -ναι, εντάξει... ξέρω, όλοι καταλάβατε σε τι αναφέρομαι-, είπαμε να ξεκινήσουμε με κάτι πιο ανάλαφρο, και αυτό δεν ήταν άλλο από το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς των "Φανταστικών Μπράιτστορμ", πράγμα που δεν μετανιώσαμε στο ελάχιστο.
Ο Άρθουρ και Μόντι Μπράιτστορµ είναι δίδυμοι, πολύ δεμένοι μεταξύ τους και γιοι ενός εξαιρετικά διάσημου εξερευνητή. Η ζωή τους κυλά ήσυχα και ωραία, μέχρι τη στιγμή που τους ειδοποιούν πως ο πατέρας τους βρήκε τραγικό θάνατο, ενόσω βρισκόταν σε μια αποστολή στο νοτιότερο μέρος του κόσμου, αλλ�� και πως υπάρχουν κατηγορίες εις βάρος του που τον θέλουν να είναι αυτός που έκλεψε τα καύσιμα ενός ουρανόπλοιου λίγο πριν να πεθάνει. Οι γιοι του δεν μπορούν να μείνουν με σταυρωμένα χέρια και μελετώντας τα στοιχεία που έχουν στη διάθεσή τους, ανακαλύπτουν ακόμα ένα, το πιο σημαντικό απ' όλα. Αυτό που μαρτυρά πως όσα πληροφορήθηκαν για τον πατέρα τους δεν είναι παρά ένα τεράστιο ψέμα. Τι πιο φυσιολογικό, λοιπόν, από το να πάρουν την απόφαση να συμμετάσχουν ως μέλη του πληρώματος μιας αποστολής στον Νότιο Πολικό, πλησιάζοντας έτσι ακόμα περισσότερο στην αλήθεια που θ' αποκαταστήσει το όνομα του πατέρα τους και κατ' επέκτασιν, της οικογένειάς τους.
Η αλήθεια είναι πως τα βιβλία αυτής της κατηγορίας, τα οποία τοποθετούνται σε ένα πιο φουτουριστικό μέλλον, δεν είναι και τα αγαπημένα μου. Όχι λόγω των υπερβολών στις οποίες μπορεί συχνά να καταφεύγουν, αλλά γιατί πολλές φορές, προς χάρη του εντυπωσιασμού, αφήνουν εντελώς στην άκρη τον ρεαλισμό. Αυτό είναι κάτι που δεν συμβαίνει στην προκειμένη περίπτωση, με την ιστορία μας να εξελίσσεται, στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της, στον ουρανό, αλλά με μια πιο γήινη διάθεση, προσέγγιση και αισθητική, όσο οξύμωρο κι αν μπορεί ν' ακούγεται αυτό. Μπορεί οι ήρωές μας να πετάνε κυριολεκτικά στα σύννεφα, αλλά αυτό δεν συμβαίνει και με τη μεταφορική διάσταση αυτού, πράγμα που μας επιτρέπει να ταυτιστούμε περισσότερο με τις περιπέτειές τους, που δεν φαντάζουν υπερβολικές ακραίες, ούτε τόσο απίθανες, παραμένοντας, ωστόσο, πολύ έντονες και γεμάτες αγωνία και δράση, αρκετή για να παρασύρει τους μικρότερες αναγνώστες -στους οποίους και απευθύνεται, κυρίως, η σειρά.
Οι δεσμοί της οικογένειας παίζουν πολύ βασικό ρόλο στην ιστορία αυτή, τόσο στη δομή της όσο και στην εξέλιξή της, με τα δύο αδέρφια να μας χαρίζουν μερικές πολύ συναισθηματικές και ευάλωτες στιγμές χωρίς, όμως, αυτές να γίνονται δακρύβρεχτες ή να προσπαθούν να μας εκβιάσουν να συγκινηθούμε. Το πετυχαίνουν μόνες τους, μέσα από την απλότητα και την αλήθεια τους. Επίσης, ο Άρθουρ και ο Μόντι είναι πηγαία αυθεντικοί χαρακτήρες, όχι μόνο ως προς την συμπεριφορά τους κατά την διάρκεια των εξελίξεων της πλοκής, αλλά και ως χαρακτήρες εν γέννει. Με πιο απλά λόγια, δεν θα σας θυμίσουν κανέναν άλλον ήρωα, αφού έχουν μια ολόδική τους ταυτότητα. Και αν όλα αυτά, σε συνδυασμό με ένα εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένο κείμενο, με δράση, χιούμορ, συγκίνηση και περιπέτεια, δεν σας έχουν ήδη "ψήσει", τότε δεν ξέρω τι άλλο θα μπορούσε να το πετύχει.
Ο Άρθουρ και Μόντι Μπράιτστορµ είναι δίδυμοι, πολύ δεμένοι μεταξύ τους και γιοι ενός εξαιρετικά διάσημου εξερευνητή. Η ζωή τους κυλά ήσυχα και ωραία, μέχρι τη στιγμή που τους ειδοποιούν πως ο πατέρας τους βρήκε τραγικό θάνατο, ενόσω βρισκόταν σε μια αποστολή στο νοτιότερο μέρος του κόσμου, αλλ�� και πως υπάρχουν κατηγορίες εις βάρος του που τον θέλουν να είναι αυτός που έκλεψε τα καύσιμα ενός ουρανόπλοιου λίγο πριν να πεθάνει. Οι γιοι του δεν μπορούν να μείνουν με σταυρωμένα χέρια και μελετώντας τα στοιχεία που έχουν στη διάθεσή τους, ανακαλύπτουν ακόμα ένα, το πιο σημαντικό απ' όλα. Αυτό που μαρτυρά πως όσα πληροφορήθηκαν για τον πατέρα τους δεν είναι παρά ένα τεράστιο ψέμα. Τι πιο φυσιολογικό, λοιπόν, από το να πάρουν την απόφαση να συμμετάσχουν ως μέλη του πληρώματος μιας αποστολής στον Νότιο Πολικό, πλησιάζοντας έτσι ακόμα περισσότερο στην αλήθεια που θ' αποκαταστήσει το όνομα του πατέρα τους και κατ' επέκτασιν, της οικογένειάς τους.
Η αλήθεια είναι πως τα βιβλία αυτής της κατηγορίας, τα οποία τοποθετούνται σε ένα πιο φουτουριστικό μέλλον, δεν είναι και τα αγαπημένα μου. Όχι λόγω των υπερβολών στις οποίες μπορεί συχνά να καταφεύγουν, αλλά γιατί πολλές φορές, προς χάρη του εντυπωσιασμού, αφήνουν εντελώς στην άκρη τον ρεαλισμό. Αυτό είναι κάτι που δεν συμβαίνει στην προκειμένη περίπτωση, με την ιστορία μας να εξελίσσεται, στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος της, στον ουρανό, αλλά με μια πιο γήινη διάθεση, προσέγγιση και αισθητική, όσο οξύμωρο κι αν μπορεί ν' ακούγεται αυτό. Μπορεί οι ήρωές μας να πετάνε κυριολεκτικά στα σύννεφα, αλλά αυτό δεν συμβαίνει και με τη μεταφορική διάσταση αυτού, πράγμα που μας επιτρέπει να ταυτιστούμε περισσότερο με τις περιπέτειές τους, που δεν φαντάζουν υπερβολικές ακραίες, ούτε τόσο απίθανες, παραμένοντας, ωστόσο, πολύ έντονες και γεμάτες αγωνία και δράση, αρκετή για να παρασύρει τους μικρότερες αναγνώστες -στους οποίους και απευθύνεται, κυρίως, η σειρά.
Οι δεσμοί της οικογένειας παίζουν πολύ βασικό ρόλο στην ιστορία αυτή, τόσο στη δομή της όσο και στην εξέλιξή της, με τα δύο αδέρφια να μας χαρίζουν μερικές πολύ συναισθηματικές και ευάλωτες στιγμές χωρίς, όμως, αυτές να γίνονται δακρύβρεχτες ή να προσπαθούν να μας εκβιάσουν να συγκινηθούμε. Το πετυχαίνουν μόνες τους, μέσα από την απλότητα και την αλήθεια τους. Επίσης, ο Άρθουρ και ο Μόντι είναι πηγαία αυθεντικοί χαρακτήρες, όχι μόνο ως προς την συμπεριφορά τους κατά την διάρκεια των εξελίξεων της πλοκής, αλλά και ως χαρακτήρες εν γέννει. Με πιο απλά λόγια, δεν θα σας θυμίσουν κανέναν άλλον ήρωα, αφού έχουν μια ολόδική τους ταυτότητα. Και αν όλα αυτά, σε συνδυασμό με ένα εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένο κείμενο, με δράση, χιούμορ, συγκίνηση και περιπέτεια, δεν σας έχουν ήδη "ψήσει", τότε δεν ξέρω τι άλλο θα μπορούσε να το πετύχει.
July 8, 2020
I really loved this one! If you like mystery, adventure and middle grade I absolutely recommend it!
It reminded me so much of treasure island and I seriously had so much fun.
Arthur and Maudie are twins and seriously the most precious children you'll ever find. I adored their relationship, they really completed each other and the way Maudie would jump on anyone who dared come after her brother. MY FEELINGS, OKAY. MY FEELINGS.
I loved the found family trope in this book. I loved to see them still keeping their parents in their hearts but also finding people who will always care for them and love them. The crew of the Aurora was really precious.
The animals in this book were also my favorite part. Parthena - the loyal hawk of the Brightstorm family, the thought-wolves, Queenie the cat. They were so wholesome and fantastic sidekicks.
Vashti Hardy's writing is incredible but at the same time easy and quick to get through.
I didn't see the plot twist at the end, I'm extremely curious to see what will happen in the sequel.
This is a book about family, about adventure and about how far you'd go for the people you love.
A fantastic middle grade and one I definitely consider a new fave!
It reminded me so much of treasure island and I seriously had so much fun.
Arthur and Maudie are twins and seriously the most precious children you'll ever find. I adored their relationship, they really completed each other and the way Maudie would jump on anyone who dared come after her brother. MY FEELINGS, OKAY. MY FEELINGS.
I loved the found family trope in this book. I loved to see them still keeping their parents in their hearts but also finding people who will always care for them and love them. The crew of the Aurora was really precious.
The animals in this book were also my favorite part. Parthena - the loyal hawk of the Brightstorm family, the thought-wolves, Queenie the cat. They were so wholesome and fantastic sidekicks.
Vashti Hardy's writing is incredible but at the same time easy and quick to get through.
I didn't see the plot twist at the end, I'm extremely curious to see what will happen in the sequel.
This is a book about family, about adventure and about how far you'd go for the people you love.
A fantastic middle grade and one I definitely consider a new fave!
September 7, 2020
4.5 stars
This was such a fun, thrilling adventure! I had such a great time reading this book. There were never any dull moments and not only did I love the idea of the expedition but I also really loved the whole mystery aspect that was added to the story.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
This was such a fun, thrilling adventure! I had such a great time reading this book. There were never any dull moments and not only did I love the idea of the expedition but I also really loved the whole mystery aspect that was added to the story.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
April 2, 2018
A storming adventure that’s full of heart. I loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 17, 2021
Разкошен детски роман, който може да запали всяко дете (и възрастен) по четенето! Вашти Харди ни прави част от наистина незабравимо приключение - високо в облаците, до далечни и непознати земи, като едновременно с това ни прави изобретатели, инженери и откриватели! Заслужени 5 звезди :)
July 31, 2020
Here is another time that the book & its author is TOTALLY worth ALL the hype. I finished this yesterday afternoon, & immediately started the 2nd book last night. I love my steampunks, & this 1 definitely delivered. Yet another MG that touches on grief & handles it so HONESTLY & amazingly. The sibling dynamic b/n the twins was awesomely written. It was so genuine, & moving that it got me teary at some points. How much they love & depend on each other. Always there for one another, fiercely loyal, & are so deeply bonded & connected..it’s amazing to read. There’s a main mystery, & then some smaller ones that are all connected to the big one. Love that. Of course there is a grand adventure- starting out in the sky!! The villain is truly that, & I looooooaaaathed them w/all my being! Lol again, great writing. I was so mad at some points. My favorite animal is a wolf. Well, we have wolves people!! They are AMAZING. Tuyok has my whole heart & soul. Such a creative way for the author to do wolves in a story. So many creative different things throughout the whole story really. I also loved Parthena. That bird was also a fierce loyal protector & friend. I loved Harriet so much. She was such a fierce legend of a woman. Felicity..lol..man I love that woman & her spoon...& her toes😆😆 Another side character who I loved was Welby. I adored him. A great story about grief, loss, family, found family, friends, truth & the need for it, adventure, bravery, humanity(being a good person goes a long way), finding yourself, learning, & love. Plus, so much more. Everything was also described perfectly. I could see everything vividly through Arthur’s eyes as he was seeing it, & experiencing some things for 1st time along w/him. Highly recommend. Beautiful cover!! Also, every chapter page has beautiful illustrations.
Synopsis: Synopsis: Twins Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach the southernmost point in the world. Not only that, but he has been accused of stealing fuel before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to join a new attempt to reach South Polaris. It's their only hope of learning the truth ... and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?
Synopsis: Synopsis: Twins Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach the southernmost point in the world. Not only that, but he has been accused of stealing fuel before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to join a new attempt to reach South Polaris. It's their only hope of learning the truth ... and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?
January 3, 2021
Ако имате слабост към младежко фентъзи и стиймпънк приключения, не пропускайте това заглавие! „Брайтсторм: Приключение с небесен кораб” (изд. „Orange Books”) е една от ония книги, които просто са писани сякаш специално за мен. Любими тропи и неостаряващи теми, съчетани със свежи, дръзки герои, емоционално стакато, прекрасен хумор, щипка мистерия и динамично развитие. Плюс НЕБЕСЕН КОРЕБ, да му се не види! Може ли човек да иска нещо повече? Вашти Харди пише с въображение, талант и сърце и резултатът е завладяваща история за мечтатели от всички възрасти. Още за книгата: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
May 26, 2022
I loved this world.
Every detail is a wonder in itself.
Pure entertainment and a story you can't put down.
Every detail is a wonder in itself.
Pure entertainment and a story you can't put down.
January 23, 2023
Entre le club de L'ours polaire et A la croisée des mondes ! Très chouette petite aventure dans des navires volants !
April 11, 2022
This was really cute and really good!!
Actual rating: 4.25-4.5 star!
I loved the sky ship element with it and the adventures and steampunkiness about it. It was a lot of fun!!
I really enjoyed the cast of characters throughout this and how they’re spending time searching for answers that they don’t just understand.
It was a little slow with the build up for this but it really packed a punch with how it ended up going once we were on the sky ship!
Excited to read the next one!!
Actual rating: 4.25-4.5 star!
I loved the sky ship element with it and the adventures and steampunkiness about it. It was a lot of fun!!
I really enjoyed the cast of characters throughout this and how they’re spending time searching for answers that they don’t just understand.
It was a little slow with the build up for this but it really packed a punch with how it ended up going once we were on the sky ship!
Excited to read the next one!!
June 16, 2020
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
Brightstorm is an adventurous middle grade novel that is full of exploration, fascinating characters and settings, and some really great messages about family and friendship.
I love books that center on explorers and adventurers, so Brightstorm right away seemed like something that I would like. It did not disappoint when it comes to the exploratory aspect and I had such an incredibly time following Arthur and Maudie along their journey to reach South Polaris, a relatively untouched piece of land (that is, untouched from humans, at least) that is at the heart of a competition by the LonTown Geographical Society to reach.
Arthur and Maudie are twins who are suddenly left to fend for themselves and I found their journey to be such a compelling one, filled with some heartbreaking moments, but also filled with sense of finding oneself and one's place in the world. Arthur is the slightly more outgoing and adventurous one, whereas Maudie is more on the scholarly side of things. Both complemented each other so wonderfully in this book and I loved seeing how they worked together to use both of their strengths and stick together to be successful on their journey. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters that Arthur and Maudie meet on their journey, such as their Captain, Harriet Culpepper, Felicity, and Welby. Each character had such a unique personality and genuinely brought so much joy and character to the story--Hardy really crafts some strong characters. The main villain was also well-crafted, and though she did seem slightly cliche'd to me at times, she still fit the story well and had some really interesting elements to her character and motivations.
If you're at all animal-obsessed like I am, then you'll appreciate Parthena, the hawk that belonged to Brightstorm's father, and the thought-wolves that are also discovered along their journey. It was details and additions such as these that really added to the adventure and excitement of the story and that made me enjoy it as much as I did. The setting and atmosphere also brings a lot to the story, and if you like the His Dark Materials/The Golden Compass books, then I have a feeling you'll also enjoy this one. It probably has a slightly younger target audience, but the adventure components are there and the airships, animals, and general exploratory adventure that they embark on all gave me those His Dark Material vibes.
Lastly, I just want to touch on how well this book handles grief, figuring out one's place in the world, and the importance of friendships. This story starts off with the Brightstorm twins finding out that their father has likely been killed in an accident (not a spoiler, it's in the synopsis!), so this is something new that they have to struggle with throughout the book. Hardy balances the struggles of moving through that pain and shock while also navigating life and learning that there can still be joy in it really well, and I say that as someone who also lost a father at a young age. I really appreciate the effort that went into developing this particular storyline and for capturing that tiny bit of hope that Arthur holds onto for as long as he can. In addition, Arthur and Maudie both struggle a lot with not knowing what to do next in their life, and I think hardy explores this sense of uncertainty extremely well, especially for two children who are as young as they are.
I really don't have anything negative to say about this book. It was compelling, so much fun, and full of interesting characters and an exciting plot. Overall, I've given it five stars!
Brightstorm is an adventurous middle grade novel that is full of exploration, fascinating characters and settings, and some really great messages about family and friendship.
I love books that center on explorers and adventurers, so Brightstorm right away seemed like something that I would like. It did not disappoint when it comes to the exploratory aspect and I had such an incredibly time following Arthur and Maudie along their journey to reach South Polaris, a relatively untouched piece of land (that is, untouched from humans, at least) that is at the heart of a competition by the LonTown Geographical Society to reach.
Arthur and Maudie are twins who are suddenly left to fend for themselves and I found their journey to be such a compelling one, filled with some heartbreaking moments, but also filled with sense of finding oneself and one's place in the world. Arthur is the slightly more outgoing and adventurous one, whereas Maudie is more on the scholarly side of things. Both complemented each other so wonderfully in this book and I loved seeing how they worked together to use both of their strengths and stick together to be successful on their journey. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters that Arthur and Maudie meet on their journey, such as their Captain, Harriet Culpepper, Felicity, and Welby. Each character had such a unique personality and genuinely brought so much joy and character to the story--Hardy really crafts some strong characters. The main villain was also well-crafted, and though she did seem slightly cliche'd to me at times, she still fit the story well and had some really interesting elements to her character and motivations.
If you're at all animal-obsessed like I am, then you'll appreciate Parthena, the hawk that belonged to Brightstorm's father, and the thought-wolves that are also discovered along their journey. It was details and additions such as these that really added to the adventure and excitement of the story and that made me enjoy it as much as I did. The setting and atmosphere also brings a lot to the story, and if you like the His Dark Materials/The Golden Compass books, then I have a feeling you'll also enjoy this one. It probably has a slightly younger target audience, but the adventure components are there and the airships, animals, and general exploratory adventure that they embark on all gave me those His Dark Material vibes.
Lastly, I just want to touch on how well this book handles grief, figuring out one's place in the world, and the importance of friendships. This story starts off with the Brightstorm twins finding out that their father has likely been killed in an accident (not a spoiler, it's in the synopsis!), so this is something new that they have to struggle with throughout the book. Hardy balances the struggles of moving through that pain and shock while also navigating life and learning that there can still be joy in it really well, and I say that as someone who also lost a father at a young age. I really appreciate the effort that went into developing this particular storyline and for capturing that tiny bit of hope that Arthur holds onto for as long as he can. In addition, Arthur and Maudie both struggle a lot with not knowing what to do next in their life, and I think hardy explores this sense of uncertainty extremely well, especially for two children who are as young as they are.
I really don't have anything negative to say about this book. It was compelling, so much fun, and full of interesting characters and an exciting plot. Overall, I've given it five stars!
May 31, 2018
What good fun! I read Brightstorm in just one day, which is pretty rare for me. It's the first book I read for the #primaryschoolbookclub on twitter. It's engaging right from the start and takes you straight into the plot and the intriguing world of the characters. Twins, Arthur and Maudie, are told that their father, a famous explorer, has died attempting to be the first to reach the South Polaris, but also must live with the knowledge that he cheated and stole fuel from another competitor's ship, shaming their family's name. Having lost everything and determined to find out the truth, the twins join a second expedition to be the first to reach the South Polaris, determined to either find out the truth of what happened to their father or to reach the South Polaris first and restore some honour to their family.
What follows is a fun and fast-paced adventure reminiscent of a mix of Around the World in 80 Days and Lara Croft (if she was a kid), with mysteries to solve, a race to win, magical beasts, a steampunky world, and personal challenges to face. This is a very well-paced book, with plenty of action and high-stakes, as well as lovely personal and tender moments and introspection. I also loved how Hardy handled Arthur's feelings about his disability and how he overcame his anxieties around it.
The writing is engaging throughout, with lots of humour and quirks, fun dialogue, and a style that felt close to Arthur but with enough distance to also give it an old-fashioned adventure style. The characters were great fun too -- I especially enjoyed Harriet, the sky-ship's captain, and the ship's ever-hilarious cook.
The only things that dropped this book down a star for me was that I'd hoped to see more of the crew (especially the botanist and the meteorologist!) as they hardly featured at all considering how long the twins were travelling with them and how fascinating their professions. There were also a few scenes I'd have liked to have seen fleshed out more, especially towards the end of the book, as they felt too rushed. But overall, it's a lovely warm-hearted book (despite all the snow and ice) with engaging and interesting characters, a strong writing voice, and the possible promise of more Brightstorm stories to come? Oh and just look at that gorgeous cover! It's even better in physical with its gold foiling and French flaps.
What follows is a fun and fast-paced adventure reminiscent of a mix of Around the World in 80 Days and Lara Croft (if she was a kid), with mysteries to solve, a race to win, magical beasts, a steampunky world, and personal challenges to face. This is a very well-paced book, with plenty of action and high-stakes, as well as lovely personal and tender moments and introspection. I also loved how Hardy handled Arthur's feelings about his disability and how he overcame his anxieties around it.
The writing is engaging throughout, with lots of humour and quirks, fun dialogue, and a style that felt close to Arthur but with enough distance to also give it an old-fashioned adventure style. The characters were great fun too -- I especially enjoyed Harriet, the sky-ship's captain, and the ship's ever-hilarious cook.
The only things that dropped this book down a star for me was that I'd hoped to see more of the crew (especially the botanist and the meteorologist!) as they hardly featured at all considering how long the twins were travelling with them and how fascinating their professions. There were also a few scenes I'd have liked to have seen fleshed out more, especially towards the end of the book, as they felt too rushed. But overall, it's a lovely warm-hearted book (despite all the snow and ice) with engaging and interesting characters, a strong writing voice, and the possible promise of more Brightstorm stories to come? Oh and just look at that gorgeous cover! It's even better in physical with its gold foiling and French flaps.
March 25, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher Norton Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
Wow! This is the first time I've received an ARC for a book that I "Wished" for on Netgalley. Thanks so much Norton Young Readers!
Content Warning: Death of a parent, Attempted murder, Plane Crash
Twins Arthur and Maudie are children to a famous explorer. Their father had been on an expedition to the South Polaris when his airship presumably crashed and the entire crew perished. With his death and the children now orphaned, Arthur and Maudie are thrust from a life of comfort, to one of destitution. Their father, blamed with stealing fuel from another airship before his ship crashed, violated the laws of explorers, and therefore, lost everything in his name.
With nothing left, Arthur and Maudie are sold and enlisted for servitude by an unpleasant family. Unable to believe that their father would do such a terrible thing as steal, they decide to do everything they can to investigate further. Their eagerness lands them with a crew of explorers racing to South Polaris. What’s to come is an icy terrain, suspense, mind-talking wolves, and the truth behind their father’s last exploration and who is to blame for the stolen fuel.
Reminiscent of The Series of Unfortunate Events, these twins find themselves in one precarious situation after another as they try to prove their father’s innocence and redeem the Brightstorm name. Brightstorm is a story for adventurers into the unknown with an appreciation for truth and justice.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Moderate.
My Rating: ★★★
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Wow! This is the first time I've received an ARC for a book that I "Wished" for on Netgalley. Thanks so much Norton Young Readers!
Content Warning: Death of a parent, Attempted murder, Plane Crash
Twins Arthur and Maudie are children to a famous explorer. Their father had been on an expedition to the South Polaris when his airship presumably crashed and the entire crew perished. With his death and the children now orphaned, Arthur and Maudie are thrust from a life of comfort, to one of destitution. Their father, blamed with stealing fuel from another airship before his ship crashed, violated the laws of explorers, and therefore, lost everything in his name.
With nothing left, Arthur and Maudie are sold and enlisted for servitude by an unpleasant family. Unable to believe that their father would do such a terrible thing as steal, they decide to do everything they can to investigate further. Their eagerness lands them with a crew of explorers racing to South Polaris. What’s to come is an icy terrain, suspense, mind-talking wolves, and the truth behind their father’s last exploration and who is to blame for the stolen fuel.
Reminiscent of The Series of Unfortunate Events, these twins find themselves in one precarious situation after another as they try to prove their father’s innocence and redeem the Brightstorm name. Brightstorm is a story for adventurers into the unknown with an appreciation for truth and justice.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: None.
Violence: Moderate.
My Rating: ★★★
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March 16, 2018
This marvellous book sucked me right into its world from the very first page, and I couldn't leave it out of my hand until I'd finished it. I loved the characters - child, adult, and animal alike! - and every one of them could have their own book, such is the skill with which they are presented. As well as the excellent, pacy plotting and the fantastically well-rounded characters, this book is so beautifully written that it left me aglow with admiration. I loved clever, mechanically-minded Maudie, sensitive and intuitive Arthur, unflappable explorer Harriet Culpepper and the entire world of machines, technology, inventions and pure magic (including the amazing thought-wolves) that Vashti Hardy has created. Brightstorm has quickly become one of my all-time favourites, and it's one I'll read again with great joy.
Arthur and Maudie, the Brightstorm twins, must fight to clear their family name after their father goes missing on an expedition to South Polaris - but is there more to his fate than meets the eye?
Arthur and Maudie, the Brightstorm twins, must fight to clear their family name after their father goes missing on an expedition to South Polaris - but is there more to his fate than meets the eye?
March 3, 2025
Wat een geweldig boek! Het is spannend en avontuurlijk, speelt zich af in een bijzonder sterk opgebouwde wereld en met fantastische personages.
De tweeling Helderstorm, die hun moeder bij hun geboorte verloor, heeft een warme band met hun vader, een getalenteerde ontdekkingsreiziger die zich heeft opgewerkt. Maud is briljant met techniek, Arthur heeft nog niet zo goed door wat zijn plek in de wereld is. Maar met zijn ene arm, en de robotarm die Maud voor hem maakte, kan hij alles aan.
Wanneer Maud en Arthur horen dat hun vader is overleden bij zijn poging als eerste de Zuidelijke Polaris te bereiken van De Open (de wereld waarin dit verhaal zich afspeelt), geloven ze niet dat hij de brandstof pek van de andere luchtschepen in de competitie zou hebben gestolen. Maar voordat ze een plan kunnen maken zijn naam te zuiveren, blijkt de verzekering van hun vader een clausule te bevatten waarmee de kinderen alles verliezen: hun ouderlijk huis, vaders bezittingen - en zelfs de zorg door de vertrouwde dame, die ze voor wat geld aan een echtpaar in de Sloppen verkoopt.
Maar dan komt hun vaders havik Parthena aanvliegen, met zijn medaillon om haar klauw. Maud en Arthur zijn vastbesloten en melden zich aan als bemanning van de Aurora, het schip van de gedreven jonge vrouw 'Harrie' die in de nieuwe race een poging wil wagen de Zuidelijke Polaris te bereiken. Maar nog voor ze aan boord kunnen gaan, wordt dit tegengewerkt door iemand die ook van plan is af te reizen: de ambitieuze Eudora Vervaan, telg uit een geprivilegieerde ontdekkingsreizigers-bloedlijn.
In dit eerste deel van 'De Kronieken van Helderstorm' leren Arthur en Maud dat er ook grote mensen zijn die het beste met hen voor hebben en dat familie niet altijd uit de mensen hoeft te bestaan bij wie je geboren wordt. Het is een spannend, grappig en warm avontuur dat je enorm vaardig is geschreven (en vertaald!) en nieuwsgierig maakt naar een volgend deel.
Het bevat luchtschepen, prachtige landschappen en culturen met ontzag voor de natuur, waanzinnige waanwolven en nog onontdekte talenten die handig van pas komen. Wat ik heel fijn vond, is dat aardigheid, empathie en respect voor de aarde eigenschappen zijn waarmee de hoofdpersonages ver komen, ook al zijn er mensen in hun aura die dat op een egoïstische, zakkenvullende manier doen.
Een nieuwe favoriet!
---
52
Wat een fijn boek..!
215
Goeie lore en extreem spannend ook! Het is zo lekker geschreven als de serie 'Wereldspionnen' maar met meer backstory en world building. Het doet ook denken aan 'Keverjongen' qua schurk, en de rol die de natuur speelt. Love it, ik word ZO graag positief verrast door iets dat ik eerder niet in het vizier had. Kan niet wachten dit lezers aan te bevelen!
264
'Waanwolven hebben een uitdrukking, welp: tot we elkaar weer zien, in de sneeuw van morgen.'
---
Nederlandse editie 9789463834421 vertaald door Aimée Warmerdam voor Pelckmans
Eerste indruk: Philip Pullman meets Nevermoor, met een tweeling in de hoofdrol en veel steampunk-achtige luchtschepen. Lang in de Beruchte Bermuda Driehoek gelegen, maar op de eerste pagina toch al heel intrigerend. Let's go!
De tweeling Helderstorm, die hun moeder bij hun geboorte verloor, heeft een warme band met hun vader, een getalenteerde ontdekkingsreiziger die zich heeft opgewerkt. Maud is briljant met techniek, Arthur heeft nog niet zo goed door wat zijn plek in de wereld is. Maar met zijn ene arm, en de robotarm die Maud voor hem maakte, kan hij alles aan.
Wanneer Maud en Arthur horen dat hun vader is overleden bij zijn poging als eerste de Zuidelijke Polaris te bereiken van De Open (de wereld waarin dit verhaal zich afspeelt), geloven ze niet dat hij de brandstof pek van de andere luchtschepen in de competitie zou hebben gestolen. Maar voordat ze een plan kunnen maken zijn naam te zuiveren, blijkt de verzekering van hun vader een clausule te bevatten waarmee de kinderen alles verliezen: hun ouderlijk huis, vaders bezittingen - en zelfs de zorg door de vertrouwde dame, die ze voor wat geld aan een echtpaar in de Sloppen verkoopt.
Maar dan komt hun vaders havik Parthena aanvliegen, met zijn medaillon om haar klauw. Maud en Arthur zijn vastbesloten en melden zich aan als bemanning van de Aurora, het schip van de gedreven jonge vrouw 'Harrie' die in de nieuwe race een poging wil wagen de Zuidelijke Polaris te bereiken. Maar nog voor ze aan boord kunnen gaan, wordt dit tegengewerkt door iemand die ook van plan is af te reizen: de ambitieuze Eudora Vervaan, telg uit een geprivilegieerde ontdekkingsreizigers-bloedlijn.
In dit eerste deel van 'De Kronieken van Helderstorm' leren Arthur en Maud dat er ook grote mensen zijn die het beste met hen voor hebben en dat familie niet altijd uit de mensen hoeft te bestaan bij wie je geboren wordt. Het is een spannend, grappig en warm avontuur dat je enorm vaardig is geschreven (en vertaald!) en nieuwsgierig maakt naar een volgend deel.
Het bevat luchtschepen, prachtige landschappen en culturen met ontzag voor de natuur, waanzinnige waanwolven en nog onontdekte talenten die handig van pas komen. Wat ik heel fijn vond, is dat aardigheid, empathie en respect voor de aarde eigenschappen zijn waarmee de hoofdpersonages ver komen, ook al zijn er mensen in hun aura die dat op een egoïstische, zakkenvullende manier doen.
Een nieuwe favoriet!
---
52
Wat een fijn boek..!
215
Goeie lore en extreem spannend ook! Het is zo lekker geschreven als de serie 'Wereldspionnen' maar met meer backstory en world building. Het doet ook denken aan 'Keverjongen' qua schurk, en de rol die de natuur speelt. Love it, ik word ZO graag positief verrast door iets dat ik eerder niet in het vizier had. Kan niet wachten dit lezers aan te bevelen!
264
'Waanwolven hebben een uitdrukking, welp: tot we elkaar weer zien, in de sneeuw van morgen.'
---
Nederlandse editie 9789463834421 vertaald door Aimée Warmerdam voor Pelckmans
Eerste indruk: Philip Pullman meets Nevermoor, met een tweeling in de hoofdrol en veel steampunk-achtige luchtschepen. Lang in de Beruchte Bermuda Driehoek gelegen, maar op de eerste pagina toch al heel intrigerend. Let's go!
February 17, 2021
Quelle chouette lecture ! On trouve dans ce roman des personnages héroïques et fourbes, des rebondissements incroyables et attendus, des contrées magnifiques et des machines ingénieuses. Pari gagnant pour cette belle couverture qui promettait des aventures passionnantes.
Les jumeaux Brightstorm apprennent qu'ils ont tout perdu après les revers de leur père parti en exploration. Celui-ci aurait péri au cours de son périple et aurait été accusé d'avoir enfreint le règlement de la Société Géographique. Résultat, les enfants sont orphelins et spoliés de leurs biens.
Même leur gouvernante refuse de les prendre en charge et les vend à des Thénardiers sans scrupule. C'est clairement une descente en enfer pour Maudie et Arthur habitués à une existence stimulante et confortable. Ils sont désormais obligés de trimer comme des esclaves et ne sont plus libres de leurs mouvements.
Toutefois la chance leur sourit à nouveau lorsqu'ils découvrent qu'une exploratrice embauche du personnel pour sa prochaine expédition. Le frère et la sœur sont déterminés à accompagner Harriet Coriander et son équipage dans une course folle qui les mènerait sur les traces de leur père. Les obstacles ne manquent pas mais vont affirmer leur volonté à atteindre leur objectif coûte que coûte.
Le résultat est à la hauteur des espérances - ça m'a presque fait penser à la série d'Alex Bell (Le Club de l'Ours Polaire). Ou c'est une simple coïncidence car je lisais les deux séries en même temps. Quoi qu'il en soit, la lecture est vive, entraînante et sait divertir son public sans fausse note.
Les jumeaux Brightstorm apprennent qu'ils ont tout perdu après les revers de leur père parti en exploration. Celui-ci aurait péri au cours de son périple et aurait été accusé d'avoir enfreint le règlement de la Société Géographique. Résultat, les enfants sont orphelins et spoliés de leurs biens.
Même leur gouvernante refuse de les prendre en charge et les vend à des Thénardiers sans scrupule. C'est clairement une descente en enfer pour Maudie et Arthur habitués à une existence stimulante et confortable. Ils sont désormais obligés de trimer comme des esclaves et ne sont plus libres de leurs mouvements.
Toutefois la chance leur sourit à nouveau lorsqu'ils découvrent qu'une exploratrice embauche du personnel pour sa prochaine expédition. Le frère et la sœur sont déterminés à accompagner Harriet Coriander et son équipage dans une course folle qui les mènerait sur les traces de leur père. Les obstacles ne manquent pas mais vont affirmer leur volonté à atteindre leur objectif coûte que coûte.
Le résultat est à la hauteur des espérances - ça m'a presque fait penser à la série d'Alex Bell (Le Club de l'Ours Polaire). Ou c'est une simple coïncidence car je lisais les deux séries en même temps. Quoi qu'il en soit, la lecture est vive, entraînante et sait divertir son public sans fausse note.
February 15, 2020
3.5 stars, rounding up.
While it was definitely a bit of a trite adventure set-up, that didn't deter me from enjoying this at all! Probably because this is the exact kind of book I would have glommed onto when I was in the target age range to begin with. It does seem a bit like a Golden Compass fan-fic at some points, with the sapient animal sidekicks, and the general aesthetic is trying to be steampunkish but falls a little flat in the unconvincing naming of things (i.e. binoscope for binoculars, Lontown for, presumably, London). But aside from these points, this was a pretty solid story overall! Definitely recommended for advanced grade school and middle grade readers who love a good adventure story (and for adults who love them too).
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
While it was definitely a bit of a trite adventure set-up, that didn't deter me from enjoying this at all! Probably because this is the exact kind of book I would have glommed onto when I was in the target age range to begin with. It does seem a bit like a Golden Compass fan-fic at some points, with the sapient animal sidekicks, and the general aesthetic is trying to be steampunkish but falls a little flat in the unconvincing naming of things (i.e. binoscope for binoculars, Lontown for, presumably, London). But aside from these points, this was a pretty solid story overall! Definitely recommended for advanced grade school and middle grade readers who love a good adventure story (and for adults who love them too).
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
June 23, 2021
It's been a while since I've read such a fun, imaginative story. While the book is intended more for the middle grades, but that doesn't stop it from having an amazing plot and fun characters. Can't wait to read the sequel!
March 29, 2025
Книжка була одна з моїх улюблених! Герої Моді і Артур неймовірно цікаво проводять життя. І якщо чогось хочеш, неодмінно отримаєш.
April 29, 2022
Read- April 2020 for the O.W.Ls
- Original Rating- 4 Stars
I enjoyed this a lot more than I actually thought I would. I loved all of the main characters and there was a great villain.
1st Re-Read- April 2021
- I didn't realise it had been a year since I first read this, that's so odd because I have been craving a re-read of this recently. My rating is staying at a 4 stars but I enjoyed it at least slightly more than I did last year.
2nd Re-Read- April 2022
-I truly love this series with my whole heart, I will re-read these until the end of time. I can't believe I've read it three April's in a row.
- Original Rating- 4 Stars
I enjoyed this a lot more than I actually thought I would. I loved all of the main characters and there was a great villain.
1st Re-Read- April 2021
- I didn't realise it had been a year since I first read this, that's so odd because I have been craving a re-read of this recently. My rating is staying at a 4 stars but I enjoyed it at least slightly more than I did last year.
2nd Re-Read- April 2022
-I truly love this series with my whole heart, I will re-read these until the end of time. I can't believe I've read it three April's in a row.
January 21, 2020
I got this from NetGalley to preview.
A charming little adventure for younger readers (good target would be 8-12). I found the writing to be fairly clean but a tad didactic, but for the most part it was a solid story. I would have liked to see Hardy trust her readers a little more instead of her being very pointed in the lessons, but it wasn't so bad that I wanted to quit reading. Just enough intrigue and hope.
A charming little adventure for younger readers (good target would be 8-12). I found the writing to be fairly clean but a tad didactic, but for the most part it was a solid story. I would have liked to see Hardy trust her readers a little more instead of her being very pointed in the lessons, but it wasn't so bad that I wanted to quit reading. Just enough intrigue and hope.
October 12, 2020
I went into this expecting another adventure middle grade, like so many I’ve read. But this is probably one of the better ones I’ve read. Filled with real emotions, real connections and real adventure. I loved the mix of steam punk, magic and reality, the world is vast, rich and wonderful.
I cannot wait to dive into the next book and see what adventures find me and the twins next. This book has been a great source of entertainment and comfort during some rather difficult things. Thank you.
I cannot wait to dive into the next book and see what adventures find me and the twins next. This book has been a great source of entertainment and comfort during some rather difficult things. Thank you.
March 17, 2019
The loveliest book I've read recently <3
Recommended for both children and adults who love fantasy and adventure. It has a vibe of Jules Verne and Lemony Snicket
Recommended for both children and adults who love fantasy and adventure. It has a vibe of Jules Verne and Lemony Snicket
Displaying 1 - 29 of 337 reviews