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Dwarf Story
Humor and epic Fantasy meet in a fast-paced fantasy adventure for middle school readers.
A super cute middle-grade fantasy, mixing modern with fantastic. There are dwarves, pixies, libraries, old books, giants, cell phones, and a bit of everything for every reader. -Goodreads Reviewer
Young readers will laugh along as a group of modern-day kids unravel the mystery of why fairy tale characters have invaded their school days and taken over their seaside town.
First, Arty finds a sweaty, bearded ax-swinging warrior Dwarf scaring his dogs. Soon enough, his best-friends Emma, Cry, and other middle-school classmates also find fairy tale creatures-Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, and a hoped-for Dragon.
Fans of tabletop role-playing games will love getting lost in Emma and Arty's adventure-guided by their love of maps, old books, and public libraries. As they learn more about the cause of all the fairy creature chaos, things turn dark and dangerous. They'll need help from their friends and a few new allies to confront the Gwyllion, that legendary Old Woman of the Mountains, whose sinister plan turns the neighborhood into a fantasy battleground.
A super cute middle-grade fantasy, mixing modern with fantastic. There are dwarves, pixies, libraries, old books, giants, cell phones, and a bit of everything for every reader. -Goodreads Reviewer
Young readers will laugh along as a group of modern-day kids unravel the mystery of why fairy tale characters have invaded their school days and taken over their seaside town.
First, Arty finds a sweaty, bearded ax-swinging warrior Dwarf scaring his dogs. Soon enough, his best-friends Emma, Cry, and other middle-school classmates also find fairy tale creatures-Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, and a hoped-for Dragon.
Fans of tabletop role-playing games will love getting lost in Emma and Arty's adventure-guided by their love of maps, old books, and public libraries. As they learn more about the cause of all the fairy creature chaos, things turn dark and dangerous. They'll need help from their friends and a few new allies to confront the Gwyllion, that legendary Old Woman of the Mountains, whose sinister plan turns the neighborhood into a fantasy battleground.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2020
20 people are currently reading
654 people want to read
About the author
W.W. Marplot
3 books113 followersProfessor Welkin Westicotter Marplot, of Coillemuir, Scotland, is a collector of esoteric tales of global wisdom and curator of ancient manuscripts. He is a recluse and, as he claims, has been collecting and collating adventure and fantasy stories for over a century.
A third-generation descendant, Gertrude Dee Marplot, of the United States, has edited for publication a number of the professor’s texts that she found -- to her surprise -- take place in modern times.
Each tells of normal, young teenagers in strange, terrifying situations -- or of unique kids in worse ones. As she continues to learn more of the stories’ origins, Ms. Marplot has edited these numerous tales from their tattered and disorganized shape for the enjoyment of modern readers.
A third-generation descendant, Gertrude Dee Marplot, of the United States, has edited for publication a number of the professor’s texts that she found -- to her surprise -- take place in modern times.
Each tells of normal, young teenagers in strange, terrifying situations -- or of unique kids in worse ones. As she continues to learn more of the stories’ origins, Ms. Marplot has edited these numerous tales from their tattered and disorganized shape for the enjoyment of modern readers.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 18, 2020
Thank you so much to Books Forward for my copy of Dwarf Story! Arty woke up one morning and found a dwarf, thus starting a scientific adventure. Or an artistic adventure if you ask Emma. An awesome adventure if you ask Cry. The three friends each find their own fairy and have to navigate a war as an ancient force returns to reclaim Long Island!
This is a super cute middle grade fantasy, mixing modern with fantastic. There are dwarves, pixies, libraries, old books, giants, cell phones and a bit of everything for every reader. The advertised age range is 9-14 and definitely qualifies as a "clean read" - AKA something I would personally hand a Catholic 10 year old. There is also a good amount of basic learning in the story, an intro to some of the Irish legends and fairy folklore in general.
Arty and Emma are the two main characters. Arty is more scientific, and Emma artistic. The book includes a lot of learning and more informational bits that are well tuned to younger readers. Arty spends a lot of time reading books as he is putting the pieces together to learn about what's happening with the fairy folk. Some parts of this honestly might drag for some kids, and there are whole chapters where literally nothing happens, and the characters are complaining of being bored. Generally with younger kids I would say axe all of this "boring" content, but it still reads quickly with short chapters, even at over 400 pages. This is where I knocked the stars off the rating - a slightly older kid would be more tolerant of this where I can see a 9 year old maybe flipping until something exciting happens.
Despite the lulls in action, the pace and exciting bits are pretty well even throughout the book. The end was a bit anticlimactic, with the biggest battle occurring mostly off-page, and the ultimate fight almost entirely glazed over in another characters recap of the action. I understood how we were mostly just following Arty's role, and the puzzle involved, but I would have liked to be in on more of the battle action even as a bystander, or another "Mary" chapter.
The characters split the chapters to tell what happened throughout, and I did like them all. It was told in a 1st person POV but they were talking directly to the reader at times. This is a great format for engaging kids too. The other thing I liked is that the kids really did seem to act their ages (around 13) and I would recommend most for that middle-school aged group.
Overall I think kids will enjoy this, and it is entirely age-appropriate for any reader. A great intro to fantasy and fantastical creatures that could really encourage kids to keep reading in the genre.
This is a super cute middle grade fantasy, mixing modern with fantastic. There are dwarves, pixies, libraries, old books, giants, cell phones and a bit of everything for every reader. The advertised age range is 9-14 and definitely qualifies as a "clean read" - AKA something I would personally hand a Catholic 10 year old. There is also a good amount of basic learning in the story, an intro to some of the Irish legends and fairy folklore in general.
Arty and Emma are the two main characters. Arty is more scientific, and Emma artistic. The book includes a lot of learning and more informational bits that are well tuned to younger readers. Arty spends a lot of time reading books as he is putting the pieces together to learn about what's happening with the fairy folk. Some parts of this honestly might drag for some kids, and there are whole chapters where literally nothing happens, and the characters are complaining of being bored. Generally with younger kids I would say axe all of this "boring" content, but it still reads quickly with short chapters, even at over 400 pages. This is where I knocked the stars off the rating - a slightly older kid would be more tolerant of this where I can see a 9 year old maybe flipping until something exciting happens.
Despite the lulls in action, the pace and exciting bits are pretty well even throughout the book. The end was a bit anticlimactic, with the biggest battle occurring mostly off-page, and the ultimate fight almost entirely glazed over in another characters recap of the action. I understood how we were mostly just following Arty's role, and the puzzle involved, but I would have liked to be in on more of the battle action even as a bystander, or another "Mary" chapter.
The characters split the chapters to tell what happened throughout, and I did like them all. It was told in a 1st person POV but they were talking directly to the reader at times. This is a great format for engaging kids too. The other thing I liked is that the kids really did seem to act their ages (around 13) and I would recommend most for that middle-school aged group.
Overall I think kids will enjoy this, and it is entirely age-appropriate for any reader. A great intro to fantasy and fantastical creatures that could really encourage kids to keep reading in the genre.
June 17, 2020
What an absolutely lovely story! This is a great middle grade introduction to the world of fantasy. The story is so exciting and adventurous, perfect for carting the attention of young reader and it really is a great story to enjoy, from start to finish!
I found the characters and world to have lots of detail, which really brought the whole story to life. It was exciting and the personalities, of the characters, gave you a real feel for the good and evil, and made you part of the moment.
Overall, this was really a great read, and one I fully recommend to all young readers and middle grade story lovers!
I found the characters and world to have lots of detail, which really brought the whole story to life. It was exciting and the personalities, of the characters, gave you a real feel for the good and evil, and made you part of the moment.
Overall, this was really a great read, and one I fully recommend to all young readers and middle grade story lovers!
July 1, 2020
Safe to say I have never received such a sweet, funny PR package before. It made reading this amazing middle-grade novel even more interesting <3
What the publisher says:
When young Arty finds a warrior Dwarf and his friend Emma finds a Spriggan, they soon learn their neighborhood is hardly conventional. Rather, it’s a hub for legendary fairy creatures -- a land worth fighting for. And it won’t be long before their foes discover them, transforming their backyard into a fantastical battleground. The first installment from Professor W.W. Marplot’s Musty Manuscript Piles, “Dwarf Story” is more than a fairytale, and it invites readers of all ages to jump into the epic adventure.
What I say:
It's a keeper, and what a keeper it is! I will recommend it to every 8-13 kiddo out there and keep it for mine hihi in a the future. And even though I ain't 12 anymore, I found it witty, heartwarming and fun!
What the publisher says:
When young Arty finds a warrior Dwarf and his friend Emma finds a Spriggan, they soon learn their neighborhood is hardly conventional. Rather, it’s a hub for legendary fairy creatures -- a land worth fighting for. And it won’t be long before their foes discover them, transforming their backyard into a fantastical battleground. The first installment from Professor W.W. Marplot’s Musty Manuscript Piles, “Dwarf Story” is more than a fairytale, and it invites readers of all ages to jump into the epic adventure.
What I say:
It's a keeper, and what a keeper it is! I will recommend it to every 8-13 kiddo out there and keep it for mine hihi in a the future. And even though I ain't 12 anymore, I found it witty, heartwarming and fun!
June 30, 2020
This is a fun and entertaining book. Middle grade readers as well as adults can both enjoy this book together. The grand adventure that Arty, Emma, and his other friends found themselves in the middle of was one for the story books.
The characters are very relatable. They act their age but I am fine with that. In what I mean by this, is the fact that they were not childish or tried to act older. Well except for Arty as Emma would point out in the beginning. Yet, as the story went on, Arty's intelligent did come in handy. When it came to everyone they were great. However, Cry (yes, this is his name) does live up to his name.
I look forward to reading more books that Gertrude Marplot writes from her Great Grand-dad, W.W Marplot collection of stories.
The characters are very relatable. They act their age but I am fine with that. In what I mean by this, is the fact that they were not childish or tried to act older. Well except for Arty as Emma would point out in the beginning. Yet, as the story went on, Arty's intelligent did come in handy. When it came to everyone they were great. However, Cry (yes, this is his name) does live up to his name.
I look forward to reading more books that Gertrude Marplot writes from her Great Grand-dad, W.W Marplot collection of stories.
September 11, 2020
Dwarf Story is a fun, introductory, long (a little too much I think) novel to the fantasy/low fantasy genre. It was definitely a prime example of the journey being 90% of the story. The younger readers this book would appeal to might get bored with all of the fluff in this book and it makes the book rather long. I do think that the younger readers will enjoy reading about fairy tale creatures that they are familiar with already as well as learning about ones they may not have heard of. It started out pretty strong but it was getting increasingly easier to put the book down for the middle portion. Towards the end, the action picks back up again but it wasn't enough to recover from the lull in my eyes.
The end chapters and final "battle" were so incredibly disappointing and anticlimactic to me after all of that story buildup. Most of the characters that you would think would have large roles to play had either no appearance whatsoever or just a little passage. I did like the unique formatting of the chapters - they are told in the first person but the characters are writing a book of their experiences. The chapters are also in varying lengths with only being a single sentence but it added another layer of fun.
Arty & Emma are all right as far as middle-grade characters go and I liked Emma far better than Arty. For being so young it's a little odd reading about a character like Arty - scientific, fact, note, and organization driven. Emma is far easier to connect with as a character and is practically vibrant in contrast with Arty. The book does state that they complement each other well and I would have to agree there. I couldn't stand Cry; his opinions on the fairies, that he kept coming up with ideas on how to "use" them like they're objects or referring to them like characters of a video game? No, just… no. I would have liked more background on certain characters in the book mainly Mary, Ted (he could've been swapped for Cry), Gwyllion, and Mr. Alphabet.
I absolutely loved the unique box and items that came with my copy. Sadly one of our cats dealt a killing blow to the axe - inflatables don't stand up well to murder mittens. I would like to thank Books Forward PR for the opportunity to read this entertaining but strange middle-grade fantasy - all opinions are my own. Even though I had issues with Dwarf Story I would still recommend this book to younger readers who enjoy books that feature fantasy, fairy creatures, legends, and puzzles. (Rating rounded up from 3.5)
The end chapters and final "battle" were so incredibly disappointing and anticlimactic to me after all of that story buildup. Most of the characters that you would think would have large roles to play had either no appearance whatsoever or just a little passage. I did like the unique formatting of the chapters - they are told in the first person but the characters are writing a book of their experiences. The chapters are also in varying lengths with only being a single sentence but it added another layer of fun.
Arty & Emma are all right as far as middle-grade characters go and I liked Emma far better than Arty. For being so young it's a little odd reading about a character like Arty - scientific, fact, note, and organization driven. Emma is far easier to connect with as a character and is practically vibrant in contrast with Arty. The book does state that they complement each other well and I would have to agree there. I couldn't stand Cry; his opinions on the fairies, that he kept coming up with ideas on how to "use" them like they're objects or referring to them like characters of a video game? No, just… no. I would have liked more background on certain characters in the book mainly Mary, Ted (he could've been swapped for Cry), Gwyllion, and Mr. Alphabet.
I absolutely loved the unique box and items that came with my copy. Sadly one of our cats dealt a killing blow to the axe - inflatables don't stand up well to murder mittens. I would like to thank Books Forward PR for the opportunity to read this entertaining but strange middle-grade fantasy - all opinions are my own. Even though I had issues with Dwarf Story I would still recommend this book to younger readers who enjoy books that feature fantasy, fairy creatures, legends, and puzzles. (Rating rounded up from 3.5)
August 6, 2020
This was such a fun book to read. It is aimed towards elementary school children but I really enjoyed it for the humor that was sprinkled throughout the book. I read parts out out to my 10 year old son and he really liked it because of the storyline and the humor as well.
It is written from multiple points of view which made it interesting and refreshing. The writing is very fast paced and I have to admit that at some points I did have to put it down to take a break. I have always been fascinated with folklore and the mystical creatures in it and this book has it in galore. The creatures were endearing aside from one "psycho" (lol), and I really loved "Peanut's" character.
I just wish that there was an appendix at the back to explain the types of fairies and other creatures, as well as the Gaelic terms that were used. I would also have liked to seen some sources so children whose interest was piqued could follow up with non-fiction books/articles, websites on the subject matter. All in all, it is a very nice introduction to not only the fantasy genre but folklore itself.
It is written from multiple points of view which made it interesting and refreshing. The writing is very fast paced and I have to admit that at some points I did have to put it down to take a break. I have always been fascinated with folklore and the mystical creatures in it and this book has it in galore. The creatures were endearing aside from one "psycho" (lol), and I really loved "Peanut's" character.
I just wish that there was an appendix at the back to explain the types of fairies and other creatures, as well as the Gaelic terms that were used. I would also have liked to seen some sources so children whose interest was piqued could follow up with non-fiction books/articles, websites on the subject matter. All in all, it is a very nice introduction to not only the fantasy genre but folklore itself.
Want to read
July 22, 2020✨ Check out my blog post for an unboxing and more information about this delightful sounding middle grade fantasy!
ARC sent to me by Books Forward for my honest review. This has not affected my opinions in any way. Quotations are from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon final publication.
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August 28, 2020
It us a cute fun story but it reads a little slow. I do however like the different point of views.
July 18, 2020
The writing style was unique in the sense that it writes rambling but also controlled at the same time. The reader is thrown instantly into these children's heads with their (often strange) thoughts, dozens of rhetorical questions, and one or two word sentences. When it transitions to another chapter with a new narrator, they often speak very matter-of-fact and interrupt each other, like "I am Ted. You know what’s great about me? I can get involved in any story whenever I want" or "I’d rather have Emma handle this chapter, but I couldn’t find her." This structure initially put me off a bit, but eventually this narration grew on me to be very entertaining.
This was a very funny book, and I enjoyed the author's use of creative puns like "a pain in the axe". I was extremely curious to find out how these fantasy creatures emerged into the "real world" and why this group of teens were chosen. It did take much longer than I thought to find those answers, and the book could have been shorter. But alas, I was hooked to the end. The huge battle at the end was mind-blowing and exciting. The climax was worth the wait.
You can see this review and more at pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com.
June 22, 2020
This is an exciting and magical tale that is written to impress the young readers.
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Every page you turn will get you under it's magical spell. All the creatures like- Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, dragons have been described beautifully in a manner that'll help you remember their nature.
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From a warm and cosy setting to declaration of war this book has never a dull moment. Though I found it a bit slow to start with.
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I also found out that these books are based on the manuscripts of the reclusive Professor Welkin Westicotter Marplot. Gertrude Dee Marplot, his great-granddaughter shaped these so that the world finds out about the brilliant stories by this historian.
_
Every page you turn will get you under it's magical spell. All the creatures like- Elves, Spriggans, Pixies, dragons have been described beautifully in a manner that'll help you remember their nature.
_
From a warm and cosy setting to declaration of war this book has never a dull moment. Though I found it a bit slow to start with.
_
I also found out that these books are based on the manuscripts of the reclusive Professor Welkin Westicotter Marplot. Gertrude Dee Marplot, his great-granddaughter shaped these so that the world finds out about the brilliant stories by this historian.
June 11, 2020
Ooh boy what a good book. Definitely the best I've read in a while. Managed to get my hands on an early copy and by golly this book really did blow me away. It's definitely up there with the all time great fantasy novels. I would go as far as to call it our generations "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. Seriously a good book make sure to preorder on Amazon and save the date, June 30th.
September 8, 2020
As usual, a disclaimer first. I received a free copy of this book via a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. That said, my reviews are always honest, but very rarely flattering. This case is no exception.
I asked for a copy because it was marked "children's", and I ask for everything children's, because as the isolation draws on it becomes harder and harder to find more books for the little one to read. However, this one gets 3 stars, and not 2, only because that said little one swallowed it in a couple of days without a hitch. Me though... I've been reading it forever! The style is jerky, it was very hard for me to read. Do kids really think like that? I hope not. Do they act like that? Even making allowances for a fairy tale setting, I dearly hope not. Sometimes kids do inexplicably strange things, but in this book it was as though they constantly live in a fog, wondering around with hazy brains.
It was like, "oh my goodness my friends are under a spell!!!! I have to help them NOW!!! But first I need a full night of some good sleep. First things first." "Oh well, it's morning, I'd rather go on a heroic adventure and confront someone I don't have to." "Well, it's evening again, I'm all ready to lift the spells, but first I need a nap."
I made a couple of highlights, while I was reading. That's one of them: "What the heck was that? Books don’t read themselves." I wish that one did. It came to bargaining with myself; one more chapter of that and then a chapter of a good book.
My other highlight concerns the content, rather than the style. "The fairy tales we all know, /.../ —they all came from stories out of Europe. Mostly England and Ireland, some also from the north like Norway and Sweden, some even from Iceland, and some further east—France and Germany. There were fewer and fewer stories that survived as you moved eastward across Europe..." Could it possibly have something to do with languages? No? Because from my perspective, looking from the East, it's the other way around. That would be a great opportunity to slip in something interesting about other cultures, for kids to learn something from the fairy tale, but what we got instead? Right. There is the correct place for fairies and fairy tales, and the rest of the world is just lacking something important.
I asked for a copy because it was marked "children's", and I ask for everything children's, because as the isolation draws on it becomes harder and harder to find more books for the little one to read. However, this one gets 3 stars, and not 2, only because that said little one swallowed it in a couple of days without a hitch. Me though... I've been reading it forever! The style is jerky, it was very hard for me to read. Do kids really think like that? I hope not. Do they act like that? Even making allowances for a fairy tale setting, I dearly hope not. Sometimes kids do inexplicably strange things, but in this book it was as though they constantly live in a fog, wondering around with hazy brains.
It was like, "oh my goodness my friends are under a spell!!!! I have to help them NOW!!! But first I need a full night of some good sleep. First things first." "Oh well, it's morning, I'd rather go on a heroic adventure and confront someone I don't have to." "Well, it's evening again, I'm all ready to lift the spells, but first I need a nap."
I made a couple of highlights, while I was reading. That's one of them: "What the heck was that? Books don’t read themselves." I wish that one did. It came to bargaining with myself; one more chapter of that and then a chapter of a good book.
My other highlight concerns the content, rather than the style. "The fairy tales we all know, /.../ —they all came from stories out of Europe. Mostly England and Ireland, some also from the north like Norway and Sweden, some even from Iceland, and some further east—France and Germany. There were fewer and fewer stories that survived as you moved eastward across Europe..." Could it possibly have something to do with languages? No? Because from my perspective, looking from the East, it's the other way around. That would be a great opportunity to slip in something interesting about other cultures, for kids to learn something from the fairy tale, but what we got instead? Right. There is the correct place for fairies and fairy tales, and the rest of the world is just lacking something important.
Read
July 13, 2020I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
This was an interesting take on fairy tales, fairies in general, and a modern-world mix. The description sounded like a great time had by all. I dove in ready to get swept away but wound up not getting as swept as I hoped.
I’m not sure exactly why I didn’t get into this as much as I expected to. To hazard some guesses—it might have been the sort of false start combined with multiple POV characters in first person. Honestly, I don’t usually have an issue with more than one first-person POV, but it didn’t quite do it for me here. I think it’s because the characters sounded too similar. They had very different and interesting traits, but their voices weren’t too distinct. They all did a lot of speaking/thinking ironically and repeating themselves, which got to be a bit much after a while. As a result, I felt left out of their loop and like I was lagging behind in some places.
The ending was pretty cool (no spoilers, kids). My reasons for not getting into this are pretty subjective, so if this type of writing style doesn’t bother you, give this a try. There are kids having issues and magical books in cool libraries. When isn’t that a reason to at least try a book?
Read an excerpt and follow the Goddess Fish book tour here.
This was an interesting take on fairy tales, fairies in general, and a modern-world mix. The description sounded like a great time had by all. I dove in ready to get swept away but wound up not getting as swept as I hoped.
I’m not sure exactly why I didn’t get into this as much as I expected to. To hazard some guesses—it might have been the sort of false start combined with multiple POV characters in first person. Honestly, I don’t usually have an issue with more than one first-person POV, but it didn’t quite do it for me here. I think it’s because the characters sounded too similar. They had very different and interesting traits, but their voices weren’t too distinct. They all did a lot of speaking/thinking ironically and repeating themselves, which got to be a bit much after a while. As a result, I felt left out of their loop and like I was lagging behind in some places.
The ending was pretty cool (no spoilers, kids). My reasons for not getting into this are pretty subjective, so if this type of writing style doesn’t bother you, give this a try. There are kids having issues and magical books in cool libraries. When isn’t that a reason to at least try a book?
September 18, 2020
Dwarf Story instantly engages the reader from the start and continues to charm throughout the book. I enjoyed the way the story was told – not only was the first-person POV a good way to explore all the different characters, but the dialogue and “thoughts” of the speakers felt very authentic and their actions and words were what I would expect from their characters. The one tiny concern I had was that sometimes the characters sounded too similar to each other and there wasn’t anything to differentiate their thoughts, but that’s a minor issue.
The other item that might bother some people is that the dialogue can sometimes feel a bit fractured and chaotic. However, I think that it added to the quirkiness of the story and actually made it seem more realistic considering this story is often being told by younger narrators. It does take some getting use to, but after awhile I barely noticed it.
The book is quite long for a children’s book but the chapters are short and quick. There are a few parts where the action lags a bit and the explanations and details are a bit slow. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, but it might “lose” some of the younger readers. Overall though, the pacing isn’t bad and the short sentence structure and quirky dialogue should keep most young readers engaged.
What I love about this book is that it’s a great introduction to fantasy stories for Middle Grade readers. The story introduces some of the usual fantasy staples – dwarves, fairies, dragons, etc – in a nice way and takes the time to explain these creatures to help with understanding. I can definitely see this book being a story that fosters a bigger interest in fantasy.
As in any great fantasy story, there are, of course, battles and magic, but the characters don’t really take a direct part in them. Most of the war action is just mentioned in passing or happens “off-stage”. It’s age-appropriate and offers a good, clean story for younger readers.
*** Thank you to Books Forward for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The other item that might bother some people is that the dialogue can sometimes feel a bit fractured and chaotic. However, I think that it added to the quirkiness of the story and actually made it seem more realistic considering this story is often being told by younger narrators. It does take some getting use to, but after awhile I barely noticed it.
The book is quite long for a children’s book but the chapters are short and quick. There are a few parts where the action lags a bit and the explanations and details are a bit slow. This normally wouldn’t be a problem, but it might “lose” some of the younger readers. Overall though, the pacing isn’t bad and the short sentence structure and quirky dialogue should keep most young readers engaged.
What I love about this book is that it’s a great introduction to fantasy stories for Middle Grade readers. The story introduces some of the usual fantasy staples – dwarves, fairies, dragons, etc – in a nice way and takes the time to explain these creatures to help with understanding. I can definitely see this book being a story that fosters a bigger interest in fantasy.
As in any great fantasy story, there are, of course, battles and magic, but the characters don’t really take a direct part in them. Most of the war action is just mentioned in passing or happens “off-stage”. It’s age-appropriate and offers a good, clean story for younger readers.
*** Thank you to Books Forward for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 27, 2020
Dwarf Story by W.W. Marplot is a cute fantasy adventure for middle grade readers. It is aimed for ages 9-14 and very appropriately written. The language is captivating and simplistic to make it easily understood by younger readers.
In this story you follow a few characters as they take turns explaining what's going on. The story begins with Arty, a scientific and organized 13 year old, finding a dwarf and being completely confused. He starts off using books and notes to learn about the new things he is experiencing and start to unravel the reasons for them. As the story continues other friends are added in and tell you more.
The chapters are short and quick reads. There is action interspersed throughout the tale that could keep the more reluctant readers involved. Considering the age of the readers it's aimed at there is nice additions of explanation and introduction to fantasy elements and creatures to help with understanding. Honestly, the book was written well for the younger end of the age group. It might seem long for these younger readers possibly causing minor struggles. However, it could definitely appeal to kids who struggle with reading as they are older (12-14) seeing as it is longer and holds a more interesting plot than most books which are also aimed at fourth graders.
All in all this is a cute story, perfect for kids to start reading fantasy with.
In this story you follow a few characters as they take turns explaining what's going on. The story begins with Arty, a scientific and organized 13 year old, finding a dwarf and being completely confused. He starts off using books and notes to learn about the new things he is experiencing and start to unravel the reasons for them. As the story continues other friends are added in and tell you more.
The chapters are short and quick reads. There is action interspersed throughout the tale that could keep the more reluctant readers involved. Considering the age of the readers it's aimed at there is nice additions of explanation and introduction to fantasy elements and creatures to help with understanding. Honestly, the book was written well for the younger end of the age group. It might seem long for these younger readers possibly causing minor struggles. However, it could definitely appeal to kids who struggle with reading as they are older (12-14) seeing as it is longer and holds a more interesting plot than most books which are also aimed at fourth graders.
All in all this is a cute story, perfect for kids to start reading fantasy with.
October 30, 2020
Dwarf Story
By: Professor W. M. Marplot
Waxing Gibbous
Middle Grade
Publish Date June 30, 2020
#DwarfStory #NetGalley
What do I want to say about this book. It started off great but ended up dragging. This book is 388 pages long and it could have been shorter. Around 60% I started getting bored with the book. I enjoy reading middle grade because they are quick and fast to read but this book was not and I found myself not wanting to read it.
I did love the story line and what was going on but it could have been done in 250 to 300 pages. There was a lot happening but also a lot of dead space that was needless. I did like the pixies and dwarf and the other fairy creatures. The mystery was also good.
I enjoyed the libraries that were mentioned and that it had different children from family types. For example: A rich kid, a only child and a child from a large family.
I only gave this a low 3 star rating because of the dragging of the story. Sorry but I want my middle grade to be quick and fast and entertaining.
By: Professor W. M. Marplot
Waxing Gibbous
Middle Grade
Publish Date June 30, 2020
#DwarfStory #NetGalley
What do I want to say about this book. It started off great but ended up dragging. This book is 388 pages long and it could have been shorter. Around 60% I started getting bored with the book. I enjoy reading middle grade because they are quick and fast to read but this book was not and I found myself not wanting to read it.
I did love the story line and what was going on but it could have been done in 250 to 300 pages. There was a lot happening but also a lot of dead space that was needless. I did like the pixies and dwarf and the other fairy creatures. The mystery was also good.
I enjoyed the libraries that were mentioned and that it had different children from family types. For example: A rich kid, a only child and a child from a large family.
I only gave this a low 3 star rating because of the dragging of the story. Sorry but I want my middle grade to be quick and fast and entertaining.
August 15, 2020
"Maybe all the little accidents in our lives, the bad unlucky things, or small lucky chances, are actually being controlled in secret and from another world. Each event is matched to a folktale being, and it is all real."
I think Dwarf Story is great for kids and teens who love a good story, especially one with great description of the different beings, events, and history. For a story this long, I needed more action than description for me to stay engaged, but I think this is perfect for people who love to really get into the setting of a book.
I enjoyed seeing the interactions between the characters and the folktale beings, and Tryst the Magnificent was definitely my favorite. I thought the story of why the creatures were appearing was strongly developed, and I liked the way it was slowly introduced as Arty, Emma, and Cry go on adventures to find more information about their creatures and what's occurring. I also liked the format of the friends co-writing the story together and interrupting each other's chapters to talk about what they think is important to knowing the story. I think younger readers will love that aspect as it makes it feel more personal or conversational.
It did feel like it was dragging half way through though especially when Emma keeps mentioning that nothing is happening. It's funny for a bit but it added a lot of filler that I don't think was needed.
Overall, this was a fun story, and I think a lot of young readers will enjoy getting lost in Arty's world as they try to figure out what's growing in Arty's yard and what Tryst is searching for.
*Thank you to Books Forward for the free copy. All opinions are my own*
June 29, 2020
Dwarf Story by W. W. Marplot is a kind of middle grade epic fantasy book set in urban long Island. It follows Arthur, a boy who is very into science and facts and lists and order, and his friend Emma, who is more the artistic type, into writing and drawing. The pair get thrown headfirst into a fairy wonderland of adventure after Arty and his dogs find a Dwarf in his backyard. I loved this book. The characters are vivid and all very different, even including the annoying kid you'd really rather just shut up and go home. The world is vivid and the style of writing means that when the children are confused, or things are happening too fast for them, the reader is confused too. There are battle scenes but these are mentioned rather than described, in keeping with a child narrator. I liked the fact that although they participated in magic the characters were not expected to fight. Many fantasy book I read that are aimed at younger readers involve the characters fighting or making decisions beyond their years but this doesn't happen in this book. 5 stars, highly reccomend.
July 14, 2020
This is a very cute story and I really believe would appeal to children. It features not only the fairy folk - with pixies, dwarves, giants- but I think the whole setting is very appealing to children and middle grades and the main characters are very relatable to kids.
The main characters are Arty and Emma and I love them both. I also liked that Emma is more artistic while Arty is more scientific. They're such a perfect duo and I'm glad that the story is told in their POVs.
The book features a lot of adventures that even I found enjoyable and fun so I know younger readers would love them too. But then there are some parts that I think kids will find a bit boring, especially when Arty was busy learning about what's happening to fairy folk. Those parts drag. In my case, they're not boring because I understand those parts are important but younger readers might skip them. But overall, I find the whole book fun to read.
The main characters are Arty and Emma and I love them both. I also liked that Emma is more artistic while Arty is more scientific. They're such a perfect duo and I'm glad that the story is told in their POVs.
The book features a lot of adventures that even I found enjoyable and fun so I know younger readers would love them too. But then there are some parts that I think kids will find a bit boring, especially when Arty was busy learning about what's happening to fairy folk. Those parts drag. In my case, they're not boring because I understand those parts are important but younger readers might skip them. But overall, I find the whole book fun to read.
March 29, 2021
Dwarf Story is like urban fantasy for middle graders. Think Spiderwick Chronicles or I Hunt Monsters, except this isn’t about siblings or a loner, which I appreciate. The trope of outsiders being the only kids who find adventure or the smart kids being destined for bullying is bad programming. Instead we have Arty and Emma, smart and creative friends who have to deal with their town being inundated by fairies. It’s a lovely story, and the world building, thanks in part to the mundanity of the neighborhood works well. I also enjoyed the sort of meta-narrative structure and multiple POVs. By doing so, Marplot harkens back to the style of traditional fairy and oral tales. The juxtaposition made it work even better than it would have with it.
I was given this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was given this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 24, 2020
Dwarf story is a middle grade fantasy. It seems a little long given the age group its meant for. The plot is engaging and is told in 1st person narrative and has 4 person point of view. I was humorous at times and engaging. The chapters were short and full of mythological creatures. Full of action, thrill and mystery. It did slow down a little at times to hold my attention, but overall a good read. The characters were likeable and I liked how helpful they were to each other. Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an early review copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2020
I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway. A young adult book, this was overly long for me when compared to the content and story provided by that length. While I didn't mind the shifting narrator, the writing style was not differed enough to make the shifts seem real. In general the narration was on a older vocabulary level that didn't match the kids it meant to portray. The story line was solid, but was overly drawn out for me.
June 25, 2020
Thank you to BooksForward for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to sharing it with my toddler in a few years. It's a wonderful ,Middle Grade, story.
I loved the Faerie world mixed within the human world. It was filled with battles, magic, mystery,and adventure!
I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to sharing it with my toddler in a few years. It's a wonderful ,Middle Grade, story.
I loved the Faerie world mixed within the human world. It was filled with battles, magic, mystery,and adventure!
November 16, 2020
Intriguing and captivating, I could not put this novel down.
September 4, 2020
This review and others posted over at
my blog.
Thank you to Books Forward PR for sending me this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
Sometimes a book seems like it will be a good fit – middle-grade, modern, magical – but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Sadly, this is one of those times. Nothing about the plot, characters, or writing style grabbed me or held my attention.
Magical creatures started appearing, seemingly one per child, and then, there was an evil witch, and she was kind of brainwashing kids, a la the white witch from Narnia. Unfortunately, not much was making sense to me because of the narration, so I kind of checked out and can’t really speak to the plot more than that.
The timeline was also confusing. The chapters are told from the kids’ perspectives; Arty, Emma, Cry, and Ted all take turns talking about what happens. At times, it seems like they’re taking turns writing about the events after the fact. Others, it seems like they’re writing them in the moment, because sometimes Arty will say he thinks Emma should write the chapter, but he can’t find her. Then the next time Emma chimes in, she will fill in details and it seems like she wasn’t available, because of the events that were happening in the story. Then it goes back to feeling like the four kids are sitting together after the events of the book have come to pass and taking turns writing out what happened. The format definitely didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find the characters to be compelling either. Arty is smart and organized, to the point where sometimes he gets so caught up in his methodology that he can’t see obvious or creative solutions. But rather than interesting, he just came across as a big nerd stereotype. Emma is a girl and creative. Cry is called ‘Cry’ by literally everyone…because…he cries a lot? Throughout the book, he will just be crying, for seemingly no reason. I also recall him being described as really tall/large and his friends often need to ask him question after question to get information out of him. I wondered if he was supposed to be neurodiverse in some way, but Ted is insulting to him and even Arty and Emma sometimes speak harshly to him, and if Cry is a neurodiverse character, the way his “friends” treat him doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe I’m just missing something?!
Then there’s Ted. Oh, Ted. He’s so creepy; to a degree that’s concerning! Again, I’m not sure of the intent here. He basically introduces himself by saying that Emma wants him as a girlfriend, but won’t admit it, and that he follows her around a lot. The next time Emma narrates after Ted appears, she mentions that she knows he stalks her and refers to him as part weasel, snake, and fox. It’s later mentioned, by Arty I think, that the 4th graders refer to spying as “Ted-ing.” How much spying/stalking does this kid do that an entire grade named it after him?! Middle-grade novels can successfully tackle tough topics, like stalking, but this book didn’t do that. Again, I was left confused about the intent behind the character.
I’m disappointed that this book ended up being such a letdown for me. I can’t say that I’d recommend this, but younger readers might enjoy it a lot more than I did.
Thank you to Books Forward PR for sending me this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
Sometimes a book seems like it will be a good fit – middle-grade, modern, magical – but sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Sadly, this is one of those times. Nothing about the plot, characters, or writing style grabbed me or held my attention.
Magical creatures started appearing, seemingly one per child, and then, there was an evil witch, and she was kind of brainwashing kids, a la the white witch from Narnia. Unfortunately, not much was making sense to me because of the narration, so I kind of checked out and can’t really speak to the plot more than that.
The timeline was also confusing. The chapters are told from the kids’ perspectives; Arty, Emma, Cry, and Ted all take turns talking about what happens. At times, it seems like they’re taking turns writing about the events after the fact. Others, it seems like they’re writing them in the moment, because sometimes Arty will say he thinks Emma should write the chapter, but he can’t find her. Then the next time Emma chimes in, she will fill in details and it seems like she wasn’t available, because of the events that were happening in the story. Then it goes back to feeling like the four kids are sitting together after the events of the book have come to pass and taking turns writing out what happened. The format definitely didn’t work for me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find the characters to be compelling either. Arty is smart and organized, to the point where sometimes he gets so caught up in his methodology that he can’t see obvious or creative solutions. But rather than interesting, he just came across as a big nerd stereotype. Emma is a girl and creative. Cry is called ‘Cry’ by literally everyone…because…he cries a lot? Throughout the book, he will just be crying, for seemingly no reason. I also recall him being described as really tall/large and his friends often need to ask him question after question to get information out of him. I wondered if he was supposed to be neurodiverse in some way, but Ted is insulting to him and even Arty and Emma sometimes speak harshly to him, and if Cry is a neurodiverse character, the way his “friends” treat him doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe I’m just missing something?!
Then there’s Ted. Oh, Ted. He’s so creepy; to a degree that’s concerning! Again, I’m not sure of the intent here. He basically introduces himself by saying that Emma wants him as a girlfriend, but won’t admit it, and that he follows her around a lot. The next time Emma narrates after Ted appears, she mentions that she knows he stalks her and refers to him as part weasel, snake, and fox. It’s later mentioned, by Arty I think, that the 4th graders refer to spying as “Ted-ing.” How much spying/stalking does this kid do that an entire grade named it after him?! Middle-grade novels can successfully tackle tough topics, like stalking, but this book didn’t do that. Again, I was left confused about the intent behind the character.
I’m disappointed that this book ended up being such a letdown for me. I can’t say that I’d recommend this, but younger readers might enjoy it a lot more than I did.
August 19, 2020
13yo Arty - science need and believer in logic - finds an axe-wielding Dwarf in the forest in his backyard. While trying to learn the Dwarfs origin, name, language and purpose, he and his friends Emma and Cry find a Spriggan, then a Pixie, and encounter a creepy Man in Brown whose proportions are wrong and seems intent on tracking them.
With a stolen map and the Spriggan's help, they discover the return of the malevolent Gwyllion with plans to turns the suburban neighbourhood into a faerie battleground. The children must navigate the Faerie War that's brewing armed only with their wits in order to save Long Island from destruction.
Dwarf Story is told from the POV of Arty, Emma and occasionally other characters, as the story unfolds. As well as telling the story itself, we are treated to tween squabbles between the characteres and middle school angst, making the characters delightfully real and relatable to the target audience - 9-14yos. The mythology is accessible and there's the perfect balance of wonder, suspense, action and investigation.
This book is a keeper. I'll be buying a hard copy for my kiddo when it hits the shelves.
With a stolen map and the Spriggan's help, they discover the return of the malevolent Gwyllion with plans to turns the suburban neighbourhood into a faerie battleground. The children must navigate the Faerie War that's brewing armed only with their wits in order to save Long Island from destruction.
Dwarf Story is told from the POV of Arty, Emma and occasionally other characters, as the story unfolds. As well as telling the story itself, we are treated to tween squabbles between the characteres and middle school angst, making the characters delightfully real and relatable to the target audience - 9-14yos. The mythology is accessible and there's the perfect balance of wonder, suspense, action and investigation.
This book is a keeper. I'll be buying a hard copy for my kiddo when it hits the shelves.
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