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Quicksmiths #1
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith
Welcome to the dazzling new world of Quicksmiths, where you will encounter Strange Energy, the Mowl, Wormholes, Dark Forces and the tantalising riddle of the Ark of Ideas.
When Kip Bramley receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle shaped drone which appears to be breathing, his world will change forever. Soon he finds himself chasing riddles and solving puzzles on a crazy treasure hunt set 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius. As things get dangerous, it seems much more is at stake for Kip and his family than winning top marks at his strange new school…
When Kip Bramley receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle shaped drone which appears to be breathing, his world will change forever. Soon he finds himself chasing riddles and solving puzzles on a crazy treasure hunt set 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius. As things get dangerous, it seems much more is at stake for Kip and his family than winning top marks at his strange new school…
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2020
13 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Loris Owen
5 books104 followersLoris Owen was born in Bolton and raised in Zimbabwe. She was taught to think sideways at an early age by her dad, and went on to study English at Cambridge. After roaming the world in search of adventure, she settled in the English Midlands, where she can often be found behind mountains of post-it notes or reading to ducks. If she can't be found, she's probably disappeared into a particularly good puzzle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 20, 2020
A fast-paced adventure imbued with the true magic of science and all the limitless possibilities of the world. You can't help but read this and imagine that anything is possible and there's still so much of the world to discover.
Kip is a young boy who lives with his father. His sister has been missing for years and his mother hasn't been the same since a strange lightning-strike affected her memory. One day, Kip receives a strange riddle from a drone, and the riddle leads him to an entirely new world, that of Quicksmith's College of Strange Energy. It's a place for people who think differently to everyone else, where science is the magic behind everything. Once enrolled, the entire college becomes engrossed in a 400-year-old riddle set by Eartha Quicksmith herself, and there are ten riddles to solve in ten days!
There were so many great things to love about this book, one of them being the characters. Kip is a great young protagonist to follow with his family life always keeping him grounded and relatable. His need to help his mother is endearing and makes you want to root for him even more. Albert is a new friend that Kip makes at the College and I really enjoyed their friendship, they had great chemistry. Leela and Timmi are two young girls who become friends with Kip and Albert, and together, they all try to solve the riddles before everyone else. Leela and Timmi are also nice additions to the cast.
The main draw for this book is the entire world-building. The concept is rather big and I think Owen did a good job at conveying that in this story. There are wormholes and timeslips and thoughtwaves and slipstreams and so much more! The teaching at Quicksmiths is so cool and really makes me want to attend. This book will make people want to go to the Quicksmiths College of Strange Energy like how the kids of my generation desperately wanted to go to Hogwarts. I love the locations there, the atmosphere - all of it.
The plot really got kicked into high gear once Eartha's 400-year-old riddle came into play. It was fun to see how the characters would tackle each challenge and come up with solutions. I feel proud of myself for using my brain and suggesting solutions to the riddles (I was only right once, and that was on the first riddle, after that, I had no clue), and this will be such an engaging book for people who struggle to stay interested in a book. I can safely say the intrigue is kept way up once the riddle-solving begins to happen.
This is the first in a series so not everything is solved (hehe) in this book. There were some interesting turns by the end and I don't really know where this is going to go, so I am very interested in seeing how this series develops.
Kip is a young boy who lives with his father. His sister has been missing for years and his mother hasn't been the same since a strange lightning-strike affected her memory. One day, Kip receives a strange riddle from a drone, and the riddle leads him to an entirely new world, that of Quicksmith's College of Strange Energy. It's a place for people who think differently to everyone else, where science is the magic behind everything. Once enrolled, the entire college becomes engrossed in a 400-year-old riddle set by Eartha Quicksmith herself, and there are ten riddles to solve in ten days!
There were so many great things to love about this book, one of them being the characters. Kip is a great young protagonist to follow with his family life always keeping him grounded and relatable. His need to help his mother is endearing and makes you want to root for him even more. Albert is a new friend that Kip makes at the College and I really enjoyed their friendship, they had great chemistry. Leela and Timmi are two young girls who become friends with Kip and Albert, and together, they all try to solve the riddles before everyone else. Leela and Timmi are also nice additions to the cast.
The main draw for this book is the entire world-building. The concept is rather big and I think Owen did a good job at conveying that in this story. There are wormholes and timeslips and thoughtwaves and slipstreams and so much more! The teaching at Quicksmiths is so cool and really makes me want to attend. This book will make people want to go to the Quicksmiths College of Strange Energy like how the kids of my generation desperately wanted to go to Hogwarts. I love the locations there, the atmosphere - all of it.
The plot really got kicked into high gear once Eartha's 400-year-old riddle came into play. It was fun to see how the characters would tackle each challenge and come up with solutions. I feel proud of myself for using my brain and suggesting solutions to the riddles (I was only right once, and that was on the first riddle, after that, I had no clue), and this will be such an engaging book for people who struggle to stay interested in a book. I can safely say the intrigue is kept way up once the riddle-solving begins to happen.
This is the first in a series so not everything is solved (hehe) in this book. There were some interesting turns by the end and I don't really know where this is going to go, so I am very interested in seeing how this series develops.
December 20, 2024
7.00 on Cawpile
November 6, 2020
Wow! This book was amazing! I can’t believe this is a debut!! I was on page 68 when I picked up to read again yesterday. I then finished the rest lol I couldn’t put it down, each chapter ending made me have to know more! This was such a unique, creative book! The school & that whole setting was amazing! I loved the different things the author created as the kids special qualities that got them into the school. I found it all so interesting & fascinating! Kip was a great character, & he has dealt w/a lot in his life already. A sister who went missing, & a mom who is in a care facility b/c of memory problems of sorts from a lightening strike. Kip has the purest intentions. Not only does he want to go to this school badly b/c for the 1st time he feels like he is somewhere he belongs & fits in, but he’s hoping something he learns from this school can end up helping his mom come back to him & his dad. He makes some amazing friends who really help him in more ways than one-Albert his roommate who is just amazing, Timmi who I just want to give her a hug & tell her how awesome she is, & the little spitfire Leela. They have teamed up to look for riddles that will lead them they think to a long lost book-a book Kip really wants to find. There are bad people at the school, not just some bullies who were bad enough, but this creepy monster like thing.. this was such a grand mystery & adventure. A fast paced page turner. I loved everything about it. Mowl & Pinky are my absolute favorites though. 🥰Brilliant!🥰 I couldn’t find anywhere saying if this was a series or night, but it certainly ended w/a possibility for it(it ended amazingly, just that it is possible to have more) & I really hope there are a TON MORE, b/c I need them lol so good. Amazing cover w/just as amazing illustrations sprinkled throughout inside too.😍😍 Highly recommend!!💜💜
February 5, 2021
I had so much fun reading this brilliant and inventive book. Loris has created a truly magnificent world that will delight and astound readers with it’s fully imagined school for children with remarkable abilities. The attention to detail is amazing, it has a real cinematic quality allowing the reader to visualise the setting as it emerges before their eyes. The strange energies, the remarkable inventions and the weird creatures that inhabit this school are wonderfully compelling. She has also created the most complex and interesting characters who you can’t help root for. From the vulnerable but brave Kip, who will stop at nothing to help his family to Albert his loyal and brilliant friend. This is more than just a thrilling edge-of-your-seat adventure it’s about learning to believe in yourself and the power of friendships to become unstoppable collaborations even in the darkest of times. I think children will love trying to solve the puzzles and riddles within the story that Loris has cleverly constructed, it gives this story an added element of mystery and intrigue. Thoughtfully produced with a stunning cover by Anne Glenn, this book stands out from the crowd. This is a really cracking debut, I really hope there’s more adventures to come for Kip and his friends.
July 9, 2020
I love this book. Right from the start I was gripped by its mysteries and its puzzles, and it just pulled me further in to this fantastical world.
It does the whole hidden world tucked away just out of sight in the real world thing really well. But unlike so many of these boarding school fantasy novels, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is based on science and not magic. It's just not the kind of science you'd recognise! There are so many amazing theories and marvellous inventions floating around (often literally), it's an absolute wonder and a joy. It feels like such an amazing place, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of it.
There's a lovely set of friendships at the heart of it, with some of their ups and downs, and the bullies are genuinely nasty and sinister.
The central mystery is wonderful too. I loved the quest for the riddles and the prize at the end of them, and they were so cleverly presented. The pacing is perfect, with the tension really building up to the climax of the story, and Kip's past tragedies give it a real emotional poignancy.
This is definitely a series you want to get into now, at the start!
It does the whole hidden world tucked away just out of sight in the real world thing really well. But unlike so many of these boarding school fantasy novels, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is based on science and not magic. It's just not the kind of science you'd recognise! There are so many amazing theories and marvellous inventions floating around (often literally), it's an absolute wonder and a joy. It feels like such an amazing place, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of it.
There's a lovely set of friendships at the heart of it, with some of their ups and downs, and the bullies are genuinely nasty and sinister.
The central mystery is wonderful too. I loved the quest for the riddles and the prize at the end of them, and they were so cleverly presented. The pacing is perfect, with the tension really building up to the climax of the story, and Kip's past tragedies give it a real emotional poignancy.
This is definitely a series you want to get into now, at the start!
September 11, 2020
There's a popular trend in middle-grade books that sees a young hero discover a world of magic and monsters, being whisked away on some kind of adventure, or even to a magical school, where they learn all about this new world. This has been a popular trend for years, even before Harry Potter came along and got famous doing it. In a plethora of books that follow this kind of 'chosen one going to a special school' genre it can take something special to make it feel new and interesting, and this is precisely what Loris Owen has managed to do with The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith.
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith follows Kip, a young teen who's recently moved to a new school in London when his father relocates for work. It's been just the two of them for a few years, ever since Kips sister disappeared and his mother suffered a nervous breakdown that has left her in a care facility. Kip's a fairly bright young student, and loves solving puzzles and playing games, but is finding it difficult to make any friends.
When he's suddenly approached by a mysterious drone and receives a strange coin he begins to discover a puzzle that leads him to Quicksmith's a hyper advanced school dedicated to Strange Energy, a branch of science that most of the world is unaware of, let alone unable to understand. Kip is told that he has an affinity for understanding Strange Energy, and is offered a place at the school.
Like I said, it's not a huge leap to see how this book is similar to things like The Worst Witch, but it being focused on science and technology rather than magic immediately gives the book a feel that's all its own. There's not teleportation spells, there's wormholes; there''s not broomsticks, but flying hover boards. Things that you come to expect from similar stories are given a fresh new coat of paint, and it feels so much more creative because of it. Okay, some of the science isn't fully explained, and is so far advanced and does some miraculous things that it might as well be magic, but I'm quicker to believe that someone with a different grasp of time can create a device that can temporarily freeze people over someone waving a wand or saying a magic word.
This refresh of the genre also play into the plot in ways that make it new and exciting. There's not some vague magical prophecy that sets Kip on an adventure, but a series of events set up centuries before by a scientist so smart she was able to bend space and time and see what was going to happen. It means that Kip isn't special because he's fulfilling some mystical role, but because he's a smart person, who thinks quickly on his feet, someone just saw him doing this by peering into the future.
Kip, and his schoolmates, are given a special task when a series of puzzles set up hundreds of years ago begin. Eartha Quicksmith, the school founder, was a scientist ahead of any of her peers, and has a hidden cashe of research and technology that was hidden away and never found. Now the school had just ten days to solve the ten riddles that will lead them to her ark, and her secret technology. Whilst some are searching for the ark for glory, others to be able to discover secrets that could advance humanity's understanding of Strange Energy; but Kip is different. He's hoping to find something inside that can help to make him mum better.
This selflessness and desire to heal his mother makes Kip an incredibly kind and sympathetic hero. So often we get characters who want to go and have an adventure, or are pushed into situations by events or forces outside of their control, but Kip is different. He doesn't really want to be putting himself and his friends at risk, but his desire to have his mother back outweighs that. There are times during the book where Kip thinks that his time at Quicksmiths might be over, or that something could happen to take him out of the quest, and his only thought in those moments is that he's letting his mother down. His drive to save someone he loves is so relatable and so pure that it makes him one of the noblest middle-grade heroes I've read in a long while.
The book manages to keep events moving at a really good pace, and keeps the reader interested throughout. It also packs in plenty of excitement and surprises, along with a host of supporting characters that are a load of fun in their own right. Thankfully, it seems that not everything is fully resolved by the end of the book, and there are plenty of threads left hanging for future instalments. I hope this is something that's going to happen, as I'd love to read more about Kip, and his mission to save his family.
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith follows Kip, a young teen who's recently moved to a new school in London when his father relocates for work. It's been just the two of them for a few years, ever since Kips sister disappeared and his mother suffered a nervous breakdown that has left her in a care facility. Kip's a fairly bright young student, and loves solving puzzles and playing games, but is finding it difficult to make any friends.
When he's suddenly approached by a mysterious drone and receives a strange coin he begins to discover a puzzle that leads him to Quicksmith's a hyper advanced school dedicated to Strange Energy, a branch of science that most of the world is unaware of, let alone unable to understand. Kip is told that he has an affinity for understanding Strange Energy, and is offered a place at the school.
Like I said, it's not a huge leap to see how this book is similar to things like The Worst Witch, but it being focused on science and technology rather than magic immediately gives the book a feel that's all its own. There's not teleportation spells, there's wormholes; there''s not broomsticks, but flying hover boards. Things that you come to expect from similar stories are given a fresh new coat of paint, and it feels so much more creative because of it. Okay, some of the science isn't fully explained, and is so far advanced and does some miraculous things that it might as well be magic, but I'm quicker to believe that someone with a different grasp of time can create a device that can temporarily freeze people over someone waving a wand or saying a magic word.
This refresh of the genre also play into the plot in ways that make it new and exciting. There's not some vague magical prophecy that sets Kip on an adventure, but a series of events set up centuries before by a scientist so smart she was able to bend space and time and see what was going to happen. It means that Kip isn't special because he's fulfilling some mystical role, but because he's a smart person, who thinks quickly on his feet, someone just saw him doing this by peering into the future.
Kip, and his schoolmates, are given a special task when a series of puzzles set up hundreds of years ago begin. Eartha Quicksmith, the school founder, was a scientist ahead of any of her peers, and has a hidden cashe of research and technology that was hidden away and never found. Now the school had just ten days to solve the ten riddles that will lead them to her ark, and her secret technology. Whilst some are searching for the ark for glory, others to be able to discover secrets that could advance humanity's understanding of Strange Energy; but Kip is different. He's hoping to find something inside that can help to make him mum better.
This selflessness and desire to heal his mother makes Kip an incredibly kind and sympathetic hero. So often we get characters who want to go and have an adventure, or are pushed into situations by events or forces outside of their control, but Kip is different. He doesn't really want to be putting himself and his friends at risk, but his desire to have his mother back outweighs that. There are times during the book where Kip thinks that his time at Quicksmiths might be over, or that something could happen to take him out of the quest, and his only thought in those moments is that he's letting his mother down. His drive to save someone he loves is so relatable and so pure that it makes him one of the noblest middle-grade heroes I've read in a long while.
The book manages to keep events moving at a really good pace, and keeps the reader interested throughout. It also packs in plenty of excitement and surprises, along with a host of supporting characters that are a load of fun in their own right. Thankfully, it seems that not everything is fully resolved by the end of the book, and there are plenty of threads left hanging for future instalments. I hope this is something that's going to happen, as I'd love to read more about Kip, and his mission to save his family.
December 15, 2020
I received this from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the sort of book that I was genuinely thrilled about. It’s a fantasy, but it’s also a mystery, and it sounded really cute. The idea is just great. Sadly, for me, the execution was a little obvious and tropey. Still a great read but not quite what I hoped for. Though super bonus points for having the fantasy be sort of sciencey and really encouraging that way of thinking!
Kip is really unhappy with life when we meet him, he’s had to move and has no friends and a stereotypically awful new school. So much so I got vague Matilda vibes (not that that’s a bad thing, mind). The riddles and mystery of getting to the school was really fun, and once there his life is luckily much happier!
Kip’s friends are good fun, though amused by how easily Leela and Timmi fold in given the apparent age difference. I kept forgetting they were so much older. The way the lessons work is a nice way of letting us see into the world and how things work, without showing us everything. I’d have loved a little more detail, but that’s because I’m a giant nerd and found the concept really fascinating.
Eartha’s riddles were definitely the high point for me - they were complex and well thought out while not being totally improbable that two first year newbies would solve them before adults.
However there were things I found very obvious - the bullies and bad guy elements didn’t surprise me at all.
I’m definitely intrigued by the rest of kip’s storyline though - I’m dying to know more in fact! Part of the reason I’ll be picking up book two for sure. This is a fun series with real potential. 3.5 stars.
This is the sort of book that I was genuinely thrilled about. It’s a fantasy, but it’s also a mystery, and it sounded really cute. The idea is just great. Sadly, for me, the execution was a little obvious and tropey. Still a great read but not quite what I hoped for. Though super bonus points for having the fantasy be sort of sciencey and really encouraging that way of thinking!
Kip is really unhappy with life when we meet him, he’s had to move and has no friends and a stereotypically awful new school. So much so I got vague Matilda vibes (not that that’s a bad thing, mind). The riddles and mystery of getting to the school was really fun, and once there his life is luckily much happier!
Kip’s friends are good fun, though amused by how easily Leela and Timmi fold in given the apparent age difference. I kept forgetting they were so much older. The way the lessons work is a nice way of letting us see into the world and how things work, without showing us everything. I’d have loved a little more detail, but that’s because I’m a giant nerd and found the concept really fascinating.
Eartha’s riddles were definitely the high point for me - they were complex and well thought out while not being totally improbable that two first year newbies would solve them before adults.
However there were things I found very obvious - the bullies and bad guy elements didn’t surprise me at all.
I’m definitely intrigued by the rest of kip’s storyline though - I’m dying to know more in fact! Part of the reason I’ll be picking up book two for sure. This is a fun series with real potential. 3.5 stars.
September 10, 2020
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Isn’t that just such an exciting synopsis! Now I’m a lover of a book full of riddles and mysteries. I’m 100% there for any book with that at its core. Add the whimsy of children’s fiction, and a dash of sci-fi and it’s a guaranteed win for me.
I loved the science within this story. The school at the heart of it has the vibes of a magical school but rather than magic it has an awesome scientific system behind it.
There’s a great cast of characters here. Kip is a fantastic protagonist and I love the friends he makes along the way. Pinky the flying squirrel is obviously the star of the show though!
I really liked that there were moments here of what felt like real danger. As a reader your constantly being kept on your toes not knowing how they can possibly get out of the latest situation!
The level of the riddles was spot on. None of them were super obvious, but they didn’t feel too ridiculous (I’m sure kids are much smarter than me as well!)
Isn’t that just such an exciting synopsis! Now I’m a lover of a book full of riddles and mysteries. I’m 100% there for any book with that at its core. Add the whimsy of children’s fiction, and a dash of sci-fi and it’s a guaranteed win for me.
I loved the science within this story. The school at the heart of it has the vibes of a magical school but rather than magic it has an awesome scientific system behind it.
There’s a great cast of characters here. Kip is a fantastic protagonist and I love the friends he makes along the way. Pinky the flying squirrel is obviously the star of the show though!
I really liked that there were moments here of what felt like real danger. As a reader your constantly being kept on your toes not knowing how they can possibly get out of the latest situation!
The level of the riddles was spot on. None of them were super obvious, but they didn’t feel too ridiculous (I’m sure kids are much smarter than me as well!)
August 1, 2020
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith intrigued me right from the beginning and quickly launched into a world filled with ‘strange energy’ (a concept I want to know more about). The magical and scientific explanations created a fantastic world and concept that is sure to hook any reader. I read this book in one sitting as I am sure many others will, furiously wanting to know more and get to the end.
The story was fast paced and kept you wanting more throughout. I particularly enjoyed the riddles and it was fun to try and think how they might be solved. The characters were likeable and Kip’s plight throughout kept me engaged in the story. I just really hope there’ll be another story in this world!
The story was fast paced and kept you wanting more throughout. I particularly enjoyed the riddles and it was fun to try and think how they might be solved. The characters were likeable and Kip’s plight throughout kept me engaged in the story. I just really hope there’ll be another story in this world!
November 27, 2020
This is the final book for @believathon and what a fantastic way to finish the challenge. I did have doubts at first as it took a few chapters to get into it and want to read on but the riddles were brilliant and the overall mystery was quite unexpected and there is room to go on so I'm hoping that the story will continue in the future. The characters are completely their own with their own personalities, no two are the same and the creatures are incredibly well personified and engaging. As with any school setting, there are the good guys and the guys you want to lock away and 'lose' the key, it's a very typical school setting/scenario yet with an array of astounding, genius students where everyone has their own set of skills, it is such a beautiful world that has been created.
November 22, 2020
5 freaking stars. Oh. My. Goodness...this is another book added to my growing list of 2020 favorites. This was an absolutely FANTASTIC read!!! I enjoyed this so so much! It's basically Hogwarts but for Science Geeks who love puzzles and riddles (also reminds me of Meet The Robinsons and Big Hero 6 with the inventions side of things).
This was so fun, packed with brilliant puzzles, epic adventure, incredibly funny, loveable charcacters, a brilliant plot, and so...well...done! Praise to Loris Owen for creating such a fabulous book, and I really hope this is a series because I will definitely continue it. Highly recommend!
This was so fun, packed with brilliant puzzles, epic adventure, incredibly funny, loveable charcacters, a brilliant plot, and so...well...done! Praise to Loris Owen for creating such a fabulous book, and I really hope this is a series because I will definitely continue it. Highly recommend!
April 15, 2022
A surreally sciency steampunky adventure for all kids who love a riddle-fuelled quest
June 24, 2020
The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmtih is the debut middle-grade read from Loris Owen published by Firefly Press. It is a thrilling race-against-time fantasy read full of excitement, mystery and with danger lurking at every turn.
Twelve-year-old Kip Bramley lives on Eelstone Housing estate with his dad, Theo. He is still trying to deal with the loss of his sister and the hospitalisation of his mother after a freak lightning strike seven years ago. Kip attends school at Ledhill Community Academy but he doesn’t really fit in. He doesn’t belong with the sporty kids, he is not fond of the boastful clever kids and he is definitely not one of the cool kids. And his relationship with Miss. Gubbins or the ‘snibbug’, his form teacher and head of Science, is far from good.
Kip loves puzzles and whilst hanging out in his favourite Chess Nut Tree he receives an unusual fifty pence piece delivered by a beetle-shaped drone. The fifty pence piece is the first part of a puzzle which eventually sees Kip find his way to Quicksmiths. Quicksmiths is everything Ledhill Academy is not and for the first time in his life Kip finds himself fitting in with his surroundings.
Quicksmiths is a ‘school’ for people who think differently. Very differently in-fact. They don’t see the world the way most people do. Kip soon finds himself trying to solve riddles and unpick puzzles that were set by a genius four hundred years earlier. And the more riddles he solves the closer he seems to be to danger and the need to be the finder of the Ark of Secrets becomes ever more important.
It took me a while to really get into this read but once the riddle solving started I was engrossed. It is just over a third of the way in before Eartha Quicksmith’s first riddle is introduced. The pace picks up rapidly from here on in. It takes the children a while to solve the first three riddles but as soon as they get into full on problem solving mode and their brains are in-tune with the riddles the drama rapidly unfolds. The final third of the book sees seven riddles getting solved and a dramatic climax. I was extremely excited that I solved riddle number eight although I’m not sure that qualifies me for a place at Quicksmiths.
I love the world that Owen has created. The delicious place locations within Quicksmiths - The Buttery, Confucius Courtyard, Garden of Giant Leapfrogs, Celestial Hall, Clock Tower Courtyard, Aristotle’s Theatre. Each location is vividly brought to life and I could see myself walking around taking in the sights.
Venturing into the world of Quicksmiths for the first time brought that same buzz and excitement that I felt when I first visited Hogwarts. As I was reading I drew so many parallels with Harry Potter…children running around a unique school for children with special talents, boys and girls zooming around on flying objects, eclectic professors and teachers, and dark creatures lurking. And Owen has also given the reader some very loveable creatures, Kip’s dependable flying squirrel, Pinky, and Leela’s mowl. The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith does for the sci-fi world what Harry Potter did for the magical world and this is a wonderful thing.
As Kip and his friends go about trying to solve the riddles, Owen has woven important messages on friendship, teamwork, resilience and problem solving into the narrative.
I’m sure this will not be my only adventure into the world of Quicksmiths and I look forward to venturing back there again soon. Owen has also given me my favourite word of 2020…”wurble-urble” is the brilliant noise the mowl makes when it is excited! I very much look forward to seeing the published copy which will include illustrations and a map. The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is due for release on 10th September 2020.
Recommended for 9+.
With thanks to Netgalley and Firefly Press for the review copy.
Twelve-year-old Kip Bramley lives on Eelstone Housing estate with his dad, Theo. He is still trying to deal with the loss of his sister and the hospitalisation of his mother after a freak lightning strike seven years ago. Kip attends school at Ledhill Community Academy but he doesn’t really fit in. He doesn’t belong with the sporty kids, he is not fond of the boastful clever kids and he is definitely not one of the cool kids. And his relationship with Miss. Gubbins or the ‘snibbug’, his form teacher and head of Science, is far from good.
Kip loves puzzles and whilst hanging out in his favourite Chess Nut Tree he receives an unusual fifty pence piece delivered by a beetle-shaped drone. The fifty pence piece is the first part of a puzzle which eventually sees Kip find his way to Quicksmiths. Quicksmiths is everything Ledhill Academy is not and for the first time in his life Kip finds himself fitting in with his surroundings.
Quicksmiths is a ‘school’ for people who think differently. Very differently in-fact. They don’t see the world the way most people do. Kip soon finds himself trying to solve riddles and unpick puzzles that were set by a genius four hundred years earlier. And the more riddles he solves the closer he seems to be to danger and the need to be the finder of the Ark of Secrets becomes ever more important.
It took me a while to really get into this read but once the riddle solving started I was engrossed. It is just over a third of the way in before Eartha Quicksmith’s first riddle is introduced. The pace picks up rapidly from here on in. It takes the children a while to solve the first three riddles but as soon as they get into full on problem solving mode and their brains are in-tune with the riddles the drama rapidly unfolds. The final third of the book sees seven riddles getting solved and a dramatic climax. I was extremely excited that I solved riddle number eight although I’m not sure that qualifies me for a place at Quicksmiths.
I love the world that Owen has created. The delicious place locations within Quicksmiths - The Buttery, Confucius Courtyard, Garden of Giant Leapfrogs, Celestial Hall, Clock Tower Courtyard, Aristotle’s Theatre. Each location is vividly brought to life and I could see myself walking around taking in the sights.
Venturing into the world of Quicksmiths for the first time brought that same buzz and excitement that I felt when I first visited Hogwarts. As I was reading I drew so many parallels with Harry Potter…children running around a unique school for children with special talents, boys and girls zooming around on flying objects, eclectic professors and teachers, and dark creatures lurking. And Owen has also given the reader some very loveable creatures, Kip’s dependable flying squirrel, Pinky, and Leela’s mowl. The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith does for the sci-fi world what Harry Potter did for the magical world and this is a wonderful thing.
As Kip and his friends go about trying to solve the riddles, Owen has woven important messages on friendship, teamwork, resilience and problem solving into the narrative.
I’m sure this will not be my only adventure into the world of Quicksmiths and I look forward to venturing back there again soon. Owen has also given me my favourite word of 2020…”wurble-urble” is the brilliant noise the mowl makes when it is excited! I very much look forward to seeing the published copy which will include illustrations and a map. The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is due for release on 10th September 2020.
Recommended for 9+.
With thanks to Netgalley and Firefly Press for the review copy.
July 10, 2021
What a cleaver written book. A story about a puzzle with a real like puzzle to solve has you read.
A dazzling new world of Quicksmiths, where we learn and mix with Strange Energy, the Mowl, Wormholes, Dark Forces and the tantalising riddle of the Ark of Ideas.
We meet a “normal boy called Kip Bramley who receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle shaped drone which appears to be breathing, his world will change forever.
We soon find ourselves chasing riddles and solving puzzles on a spectacular treasure that was set in motion 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius.
This is a fun well written book. If your a fan of Harry Potter you would enjoy this book.
A dazzling new world of Quicksmiths, where we learn and mix with Strange Energy, the Mowl, Wormholes, Dark Forces and the tantalising riddle of the Ark of Ideas.
We meet a “normal boy called Kip Bramley who receives a cryptic invitation, delivered by a beetle shaped drone which appears to be breathing, his world will change forever.
We soon find ourselves chasing riddles and solving puzzles on a spectacular treasure that was set in motion 400 years earlier by a mysterious genius.
This is a fun well written book. If your a fan of Harry Potter you would enjoy this book.
July 18, 2020
«The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith» is the first book in a new and very promising middle-grade series. On Goodreads, it’s actually not classified as part of the series. Maybe due to the fact that this a debut novel, the publishers want to see how it does before committing to the whole series idea. The book reads well on its own, but it definitely left some questions unanswered, and I’d love to see more adventures from Kip and his group of friends.
Kip Bramley is a bright young student, but school is not his favorite place in the world. Mostly due to indifferent teachers and rather evil classmates. When he receives a cryptic invitation to Quicksmiths, his world changes forever.
I won’t tire to repeat myself, but every single MG novel has a great friendship group (at least the ones I’ve been reading lately), and «The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith» wasn’t an exception to this great rule! Most surprisingly though is that Kip wasn’t the character I liked the most! Maybe Kip’s character needed a little bit more work to not get overshadowed by his much more interesting peers. Or maybe this was intentional, and Loris Owen wanted to show some love to the side characters as well.
Was it intentional or not, but I liked it. It was interesting to see other characters shine as well during their quest to solve the ten riddles left by Eartha herself!
Unlike, other books with magical schools, this one is pretty unique! There is magic, yes, but it’s all way more science-heavy and almost has more sci-fi than fantasy elements. But as we all know, sci-fi and fantasy often walk hand in hand, and that’s definitely the case for «The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith».
Kip Bramley is a bright young student, but school is not his favorite place in the world. Mostly due to indifferent teachers and rather evil classmates. When he receives a cryptic invitation to Quicksmiths, his world changes forever.
I won’t tire to repeat myself, but every single MG novel has a great friendship group (at least the ones I’ve been reading lately), and «The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith» wasn’t an exception to this great rule! Most surprisingly though is that Kip wasn’t the character I liked the most! Maybe Kip’s character needed a little bit more work to not get overshadowed by his much more interesting peers. Or maybe this was intentional, and Loris Owen wanted to show some love to the side characters as well.
Was it intentional or not, but I liked it. It was interesting to see other characters shine as well during their quest to solve the ten riddles left by Eartha herself!
Unlike, other books with magical schools, this one is pretty unique! There is magic, yes, but it’s all way more science-heavy and almost has more sci-fi than fantasy elements. But as we all know, sci-fi and fantasy often walk hand in hand, and that’s definitely the case for «The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith».
August 6, 2020
Packed full of action, amazing world building and plenty of puzzles, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is a fun, magical story which children will love. Here are three reasons you should be buying it as a back-to-school gift.
1. The world building is complex and detailed. Full of fun facts and jokes, the world of Quicksmith academy is one all children will want to visit. It's a school full of endlessly fascinating new discoveries where curiosity and inventiveness are championed. There is so much to get your head around and I really hope there is more to come.
2. Kip and his friends all have different strengths and each is vital to their eventual success. Their accomplishments are a team effort, and its nice to see everyone's differences and individual talents celebrated. Quicksmiths is a place where everyone is special in their own way. Kip's backstory is also extremely touching, and a real driving force throughout the novel.
3. As the title suggests, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is full of tension, excitement and puzzles. The riddles helped keep tension and stakes high and made me desperate to keep reading once they started. The pace of this story definitely picks up once the first riddle appears and it was during the hunt for clues that this novel really shone.
1. The world building is complex and detailed. Full of fun facts and jokes, the world of Quicksmith academy is one all children will want to visit. It's a school full of endlessly fascinating new discoveries where curiosity and inventiveness are championed. There is so much to get your head around and I really hope there is more to come.
2. Kip and his friends all have different strengths and each is vital to their eventual success. Their accomplishments are a team effort, and its nice to see everyone's differences and individual talents celebrated. Quicksmiths is a place where everyone is special in their own way. Kip's backstory is also extremely touching, and a real driving force throughout the novel.
3. As the title suggests, The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith is full of tension, excitement and puzzles. The riddles helped keep tension and stakes high and made me desperate to keep reading once they started. The pace of this story definitely picks up once the first riddle appears and it was during the hunt for clues that this novel really shone.
September 17, 2020
Another book which purports to be suitable for children between the ages of 8 and 12 when in fact there shouldn't be a top range limit...I (65) loved it! This is the story of Kip who lives with his dad, his elder sister is missing following a strange accident which left his mother in a dissociative state. Kip is great at chess and puzzles, he is not so good at coping with the bullies (both teacher and student) at his school. However things change when Kip is invited to attend a boarding school for gifted children. He makes friends there and the whole school is involved in a race against time, to solve 10 riddles in 10 days and regain the knowledge of Eartha Quicksmith which could benefit the world in wonderful ways and may give Chip the chance to cure his mother.
Loris Owen has written a spectacular first book in a series, it's exciting, mysterious and marvellous. If you want to know what happens to Kip and his friends, you must read the book and I promise you that won't be a hardship. Surprises are in store and I think that Chip and his friends will gather a huge following of fans, I am definitely one of them!
Loris Owen has written a spectacular first book in a series, it's exciting, mysterious and marvellous. If you want to know what happens to Kip and his friends, you must read the book and I promise you that won't be a hardship. Surprises are in store and I think that Chip and his friends will gather a huge following of fans, I am definitely one of them!
September 9, 2020
An exciting and fascinating debut novel, this takes you into a world that stretches imagination and possibility. A world of puzzles, riddles, friendship, danger and incredible adventure opens up within these pages and demands that the reader ‘think outside the box.’ Kip is a wonderful character; very intelligent, extremely curious and battling his own insecurities and fears while trying to fit in. When he enters Quicksmiths’ Academy, he sees the possibility of actually belonging somewhere, in spite of the challenges he faces there; a place where his “weirdness” doesn’t mark him as an outsider and he is encouraged to explore possibilities, no matter how unlikely they may seem. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. This is indeed a strange new world; inventive, imaginative, intelligent, full of mystery and humourous mayhem. The first in a new series; it’s simple wonderful.
December 10, 2020
Kip is an ordinary boy in an ordinary world living amongst ordinary people. But one day, when a breathing, beetle shaped drone appeared, things changed. Solving riddles, Kip manages to find his way to Quicksmiths (the college of strange energy).
I absolutely LOVE this book! The whole idea of the school, Quicksmiths, is just so cool! This book is very exciting, had lots of adventure in it and it’s just so hard to put down! I also love the fact that Kip and his friends are excellent riddle solvers because I don’t think I would really be able to work those kind of riddles out. I recommend this book for eight years old and above. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I’ll definitely be one of the first to order it!
I rate this amazing book six out of five stars as it is just so amazing and you should definitely read it.
I absolutely LOVE this book! The whole idea of the school, Quicksmiths, is just so cool! This book is very exciting, had lots of adventure in it and it’s just so hard to put down! I also love the fact that Kip and his friends are excellent riddle solvers because I don’t think I would really be able to work those kind of riddles out. I recommend this book for eight years old and above. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and I’ll definitely be one of the first to order it!
I rate this amazing book six out of five stars as it is just so amazing and you should definitely read it.
November 29, 2020
My review of The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith. If this book doesn’t get kids interested in the wonderful world of science I don’t know what will. The book is funny as well as full of gripping adventure and action. The main characters develop a close friendship and the animals are fascinatingly cute. It would take me a week to say what I love about the book. Skycrackle, skimmis, quickets, a teacher with four arms and one with a tail and awesome wormholes are just five of many that deserve a mention. Who said science was boring? Certainly not in this book! Calling all would be inventors and scientists of any age and anyone who likes unusual adventures, excitement and riddles ...... Here is a book you will love!“
December 12, 2020
A young hero feeling out of place in the ordinary world discovers a place with free thinking and pushing the boundaries of possibility at its heart. An education in Strange Energy begins like an explosion of imagination and a puzzling trail of riddles ensues.
Absolutely brilliant! We all know it's fine for adults to read kids books (obvs) but do you sometimes find a book that makes you lament the fact that you couldn't read it as a child?
This would have rocked my 11 year-old world! I'm already desperate to read it with my son when he's old enough!
Absolutely brilliant! We all know it's fine for adults to read kids books (obvs) but do you sometimes find a book that makes you lament the fact that you couldn't read it as a child?
This would have rocked my 11 year-old world! I'm already desperate to read it with my son when he's old enough!
February 14, 2021
If you're looking to enter into a completely different world that celebrates with great imagination the wonderful possibilities that science offers - look no further! I loved this book. And quite apart from the engaging development of the central character, Kip, and the Quicksmiths world, the ten riddles drive a page-turning pace which keep you reassessing your own solutions to the puzzles - as well as your anticipation of events. And there is enough left unresolved to keep me eagerly anticipating the next book...!
March 2, 2021
"Really good book, but some of the riddles were hard! The befrienders' were my favourite characters. Definitely want to read book 2" -- Gruff, aged 9
"Really good book, the plot was good! Definitely want to read book 2" -- Gwen, aged 12
We all read The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith. As you can see the kids loved it, I enjoyed it, too. It was very fast-paced and intense. The world building was interesting and fun and I definitely want to know more about the world of Quicksmiths. Think Harry Potter at maximum velocity, but with more laughs.
"Really good book, the plot was good! Definitely want to read book 2" -- Gwen, aged 12
We all read The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith. As you can see the kids loved it, I enjoyed it, too. It was very fast-paced and intense. The world building was interesting and fun and I definitely want to know more about the world of Quicksmiths. Think Harry Potter at maximum velocity, but with more laughs.
July 19, 2020
I liked the puzzle / riddle aspect to this novel and I would definitely recommend it to my students to read. For me, personally, it was a little overloaded with characters and I would have preferred some more character development, particularly with the main character’s family.
Overall a great read though.
Thanks for NetGalley for this copy to review.
Overall a great read though.
Thanks for NetGalley for this copy to review.
July 23, 2020
Although it took me a while to get into the book, I enjoyed The Ten Riddles of Eartha Quicksmith, which provided a happy escape. This is a sci-fi adventure filled with riddles as Kip learns to navigate the new world around him at Quicksmiths. I enjoyed learning about Kip's backstory and his personal motivations behind his decision while also seeing his interactions in an unfamiliar setting.
November 1, 2020
I loved this book, as did my grandson. It's clever, inventive, ingenious, runs at a good pace and is a great story. The characters are written in such a way that the reader forms definite views on them - like, love or dislike, this heartwarming yet gritty tale will have you captivated from start to finish!
Can't wait for the next book from Loris Owen to appear!
Can't wait for the next book from Loris Owen to appear!
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February 26, 2023I was barely asked to read any of this one, my son just ripped through it himself, which is a good recommendation. Harry Potter like but with more riddles and a faculty who are more mad - scientist, though with about the same understanding of student health and safety as Hagrid. Looking forward to the next one.
November 13, 2020
This is a really fun read! Great characters, full of twists and turns, and beautifully written. I'm going to buy this for all my nieces and nephews (age ranges 7-13) and can't wait until someone turns it into a film or TV adaptation.
July 11, 2020
Brilliant!
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