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The Unmapped Chronicles #3
The Crackle Dawn Dragon
Magic, adventure, and a whole new world is waiting to be discovered! The perfect series for adventurers aged 9+ and fans of Michelle Harrison, Piers Torday and Jamie Littler. The Unmapped Chronicles will not only leave children entertained, but will also empower them to battle climate change and environmental issues.
Where the map ends, the adventure begins . . .
11-year-old Zebedee Bolt is on the run. Again. Only this time it’s not the police who find him. It’s an evil harpy called Morg. And when she hauls him into Crackledawn, an Unmapped kingdom that conjures sunlight for our world, Zeb discovers running away only gets you so far.
When magic’s involved, you’ve got to pick a side. And though Zeb vowed he wouldn’t trust anyone ever again, he didn’t expect to stumble aboard The Kerfuffle, an enchanted boat belonging to a girl called Oonie and her talking chameleon, Mrs Fickletint.
Suddenly, Zeb finds himself on a voyage complete with silver whales, fire krakens and underwater palaces. Can he muster up enough trust in others, and in magic, to summon a dragon, find the Ember Scroll and defeat Morg once and for all?
This is a story about saving the world but it’s also a story about trusting friends, and chameleons, even when kingdoms are falling apart.
Where the map ends, the adventure begins . . .
11-year-old Zebedee Bolt is on the run. Again. Only this time it’s not the police who find him. It’s an evil harpy called Morg. And when she hauls him into Crackledawn, an Unmapped kingdom that conjures sunlight for our world, Zeb discovers running away only gets you so far.
When magic’s involved, you’ve got to pick a side. And though Zeb vowed he wouldn’t trust anyone ever again, he didn’t expect to stumble aboard The Kerfuffle, an enchanted boat belonging to a girl called Oonie and her talking chameleon, Mrs Fickletint.
Suddenly, Zeb finds himself on a voyage complete with silver whales, fire krakens and underwater palaces. Can he muster up enough trust in others, and in magic, to summon a dragon, find the Ember Scroll and defeat Morg once and for all?
This is a story about saving the world but it’s also a story about trusting friends, and chameleons, even when kingdoms are falling apart.
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First published June 10, 2021
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About the author
Abi Elphinstone
27 books436 followersAbi Elphinstone grew up in Scotland where she spent most of her childhood building dens, hiding in tree houses and running wild across highland glens. After being coaxed out of her tree house, she studied English at Bristol University and then worked as a teacher.
THE DREAMSNATCHER is her debut novel for 8-12 years (published by Simon & Schuster in 2015). THE SHADOW KEEPER is her second children's book (published by Simon & Schuster in 2016).
When she's not writing, Abi volunteers for Beanstalk, teaches creative writing workshops in schools and travels the world looking for her next story. Her latest adventure involved living with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia…
THE DREAMSNATCHER is her debut novel for 8-12 years (published by Simon & Schuster in 2015). THE SHADOW KEEPER is her second children's book (published by Simon & Schuster in 2016).
When she's not writing, Abi volunteers for Beanstalk, teaches creative writing workshops in schools and travels the world looking for her next story. Her latest adventure involved living with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 18, 2022
This is the third instalment in The Unmapped Chronicles series.
"Where the map ends, the adventure begins . . ."
I really like how this story seamlessly wove together purely fantastical elements with real-world issues, to both educate and yet remain suitable for the age range it is aimed towards. I have consistently had fun with this series, and this author, and this short but spectacularly entertaining read was no different.
"Where the map ends, the adventure begins . . ."
I really like how this story seamlessly wove together purely fantastical elements with real-world issues, to both educate and yet remain suitable for the age range it is aimed towards. I have consistently had fun with this series, and this author, and this short but spectacularly entertaining read was no different.
April 12, 2022
What an incredible ending to an amazing series. I’ve had such a great time with all the different characters we meet in each book. What an adventure! The world building over the course of these books has been phenomenal! Such vivid detailing, & beautiful writing. Could envision everything perfectly in my mind. Can’t say much since this is the last book, but I loved the characters that we meet in this, & it’s hard to say if this or book 1 has my favorite characters..both so amazing. Great messages on the strength in asking for help, trust, friendship, hope, & more. Snaggle & Mrs. Fickletint have my heart. I loved the ending so much, & how everything came together. Such a beautifully told story, an atmospheric magical adventure full of so much heart. Highly recommend the whole series. Another stunning cover by the amazing Petur Antonsson too!💜
February 17, 2024
6.5/10
The final book in the Unmapped Chronicles follows Zebedee Bolt, an 11 year old boy from New York who, like all previous installments, embarks on a magical quest to thwart the evil harpy Morg. This final book takes a slightly different approach from the previous formula of the books being named after one of the Unmapped Kingdoms - with the title relating to a character in the story - and I was surprised too to discover that the book would be predominantly set in the Kingdom of Crackledawn because the prequel novella Everdark was already set there. However, I do like the nautical setting of Crackledawn, although probably not as much as Jungledrop or Rumblestar. This book is shorter than the two other books, and I thought it lacked some substance because of that. I enjoyed the plot relating to the Ember Scroll and the journey to find it, as well as the dynamic between the main trio of Zeb , Oonie and the chameleon Mrs Fickletint. I feel that Zeb is probably the least fleshed out Faraway protaganist so far, or atleast the least interesting one in my opinion. I did however like the character of Oonie a lot, and how Elphinstone used her blindness as not a weakness, but a strength.
The book is written in the typically enjoyable Abi Elphinstone way, with imaginative descriptions throughout. I felt that the climax of this book, and the climax of the series, was too fast and immediate and like the last book, much of the story relies on the 'power of magic' to pull the plot forwards which removes the sense of danger and removes the stakes. Much like the whole series, although the book does have weaknesses, it is undeniably fun to read through, and consistently keeps you engaged in the story. Overall, The Crackledawn Dragon is a satisfactory ending to a fun series by Abi Elphinstone, one that is some of the most imaginative you can read, even if they often include some narrative issues.
The final book in the Unmapped Chronicles follows Zebedee Bolt, an 11 year old boy from New York who, like all previous installments, embarks on a magical quest to thwart the evil harpy Morg. This final book takes a slightly different approach from the previous formula of the books being named after one of the Unmapped Kingdoms - with the title relating to a character in the story - and I was surprised too to discover that the book would be predominantly set in the Kingdom of Crackledawn because the prequel novella Everdark was already set there. However, I do like the nautical setting of Crackledawn, although probably not as much as Jungledrop or Rumblestar. This book is shorter than the two other books, and I thought it lacked some substance because of that. I enjoyed the plot relating to the Ember Scroll and the journey to find it, as well as the dynamic between the main trio of Zeb , Oonie and the chameleon Mrs Fickletint. I feel that Zeb is probably the least fleshed out Faraway protaganist so far, or atleast the least interesting one in my opinion. I did however like the character of Oonie a lot, and how Elphinstone used her blindness as not a weakness, but a strength.
The book is written in the typically enjoyable Abi Elphinstone way, with imaginative descriptions throughout. I felt that the climax of this book, and the climax of the series, was too fast and immediate and like the last book, much of the story relies on the 'power of magic' to pull the plot forwards which removes the sense of danger and removes the stakes. Much like the whole series, although the book does have weaknesses, it is undeniably fun to read through, and consistently keeps you engaged in the story. Overall, The Crackledawn Dragon is a satisfactory ending to a fun series by Abi Elphinstone, one that is some of the most imaginative you can read, even if they often include some narrative issues.
August 2, 2021
Another great story in this series, with well drawn characters, adventure, magic and fantastic world building.
October 21, 2021
Loved reading this series with my 9 year old. Super imaginative adventure tale with kids as the heroes, learning about themselves in the process. Would love to see this series on the big screen!
June 10, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
This is the final instalment in the Unmapped Chronicles and draws together all the threads, woven through the previous books in this series. As with each book in this series, we follow a different main character and in this story Zebedee Bolt is our protagonist.
Zeb is a young boy that has been let down by the system. Moved from foster home to foster home too many times, Zeb has come to the decision that he can't trust anyone. When his most recent placement fails to work out, 11 year old Zeb runs away, straight into the path of Morg.
It has been many years since Morg's defeat by the Petty-Squabble twins and the harpy has finally clawed her way back to the Faraway. However, she needs a Faraway child and the magic of a phoenix tear to return her to the Unmapped Kingdoms. Will Zeb fight against Morg and free the world from her rule, or has Morg finally found a Faraway child who's on her side?
There were some parts of this story that I absolutely loved. First, the characters. Abi Elphinstone has such a gift for creating flawed but loveable characters. In every book, her characters make mistakes, get angry and sometimes choose the wrong path. However, instead of hating these characters, you fall in love with them because the author shows you glimpses of their vulnerable side, of times that they were hurt and why things we may think are simple are the hardest thing in the world to them. You end up just wanting to hug them tight and never let go. Zeb, Oonie and Snaggle are all wonderful characters.
Secondly, and linked to the first. I love the honest and uplifting messages throughout the book. There are at least 10 quotes in this book that I've highlighted as they are so poignant and things we all need to remember: be a little kinder, be a little braver, don't lose hope.
The third thing I love about this book are the hilarious names for objects and characters. Perpetual Faff has to be one of my favourite character names ever and it suits her so brilliantly. I also love the thought that went into naming objects such as the threadbear rug and the alarm croc. These names are similar enough to the real ones that you know what they're based on, but the slight difference in spelling gives them a whole new meaning.
Now we cone to the parts I didn't enjoy as much. I did love the puns and magical objects created from slightly changing the spelling or meaning of real objects. However, after a while, there was so many of these that the world started to feel a little ridiculous. Instead of Zeb being handed the next magical item, I just wanted him to eat a normal meal or put on a normal item of clothing and get on with saving the world. For me, the amount of bizarre items, started to distract from the main story.
The second thing I was less keen on, and this is just personal preference, was the number of times things just worked right 'because that is what magic can do'. I definitely prefer hard magic systems and so I'm less likely to get on board with things being different to what I understood was possible. Others with different preferences might see this issue differently.
Overall, this is a good conclusion to the Unmapped Chronicles and I think readers will enjoy the links it makes to previous stories.
This is the final instalment in the Unmapped Chronicles and draws together all the threads, woven through the previous books in this series. As with each book in this series, we follow a different main character and in this story Zebedee Bolt is our protagonist.
Zeb is a young boy that has been let down by the system. Moved from foster home to foster home too many times, Zeb has come to the decision that he can't trust anyone. When his most recent placement fails to work out, 11 year old Zeb runs away, straight into the path of Morg.
It has been many years since Morg's defeat by the Petty-Squabble twins and the harpy has finally clawed her way back to the Faraway. However, she needs a Faraway child and the magic of a phoenix tear to return her to the Unmapped Kingdoms. Will Zeb fight against Morg and free the world from her rule, or has Morg finally found a Faraway child who's on her side?
There were some parts of this story that I absolutely loved. First, the characters. Abi Elphinstone has such a gift for creating flawed but loveable characters. In every book, her characters make mistakes, get angry and sometimes choose the wrong path. However, instead of hating these characters, you fall in love with them because the author shows you glimpses of their vulnerable side, of times that they were hurt and why things we may think are simple are the hardest thing in the world to them. You end up just wanting to hug them tight and never let go. Zeb, Oonie and Snaggle are all wonderful characters.
Secondly, and linked to the first. I love the honest and uplifting messages throughout the book. There are at least 10 quotes in this book that I've highlighted as they are so poignant and things we all need to remember: be a little kinder, be a little braver, don't lose hope.
The third thing I love about this book are the hilarious names for objects and characters. Perpetual Faff has to be one of my favourite character names ever and it suits her so brilliantly. I also love the thought that went into naming objects such as the threadbear rug and the alarm croc. These names are similar enough to the real ones that you know what they're based on, but the slight difference in spelling gives them a whole new meaning.
Now we cone to the parts I didn't enjoy as much. I did love the puns and magical objects created from slightly changing the spelling or meaning of real objects. However, after a while, there was so many of these that the world started to feel a little ridiculous. Instead of Zeb being handed the next magical item, I just wanted him to eat a normal meal or put on a normal item of clothing and get on with saving the world. For me, the amount of bizarre items, started to distract from the main story.
The second thing I was less keen on, and this is just personal preference, was the number of times things just worked right 'because that is what magic can do'. I definitely prefer hard magic systems and so I'm less likely to get on board with things being different to what I understood was possible. Others with different preferences might see this issue differently.
Overall, this is a good conclusion to the Unmapped Chronicles and I think readers will enjoy the links it makes to previous stories.
June 29, 2021
This is the final instalment to the Unmapped Chronicles series and it is a fitting ending. It does help if you have read previous books in the series as there are threads that run throughout the books.
In this book we meet Zeb, a boy who has moved between foster homes many times and who trusts no one. Having run away from his latest home, he meets Morg - the harpy who is trying to take control of the Unmapped Kingdoms. Has Zeb found someone he can trust? Has Morg found someone who can help her to achieve her dreams?
The characters that Zeb meets on his adventures are so brilliantly written - they are not perfect but as you read through the book you start to understand their actions and behaviours.
This a fantastical, magical adventure about friendship, believing and - most of all - trust.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this book we meet Zeb, a boy who has moved between foster homes many times and who trusts no one. Having run away from his latest home, he meets Morg - the harpy who is trying to take control of the Unmapped Kingdoms. Has Zeb found someone he can trust? Has Morg found someone who can help her to achieve her dreams?
The characters that Zeb meets on his adventures are so brilliantly written - they are not perfect but as you read through the book you start to understand their actions and behaviours.
This a fantastical, magical adventure about friendship, believing and - most of all - trust.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2025
This was a pretty good ending to the series. There was one issue that I noticed right away. So, in book one, the story was about a British kid in London. The second book was about two British kids who had moved to Germany with their parents. This one was about an American orphan in Brooklyn, New York. However, though he was born and raised in New York City, he spoke and seemed to act like a British kid. On the very first page it spoke of "slinking off in time for tea." A very British thing for a kid born in the Bronx and living in Brooklyn.
Anyway, other than that, it was a pretty good book. This was a fun and creative series.
Anyway, other than that, it was a pretty good book. This was a fun and creative series.
June 29, 2021
THE CRACKLEDAWN DRAGON is the second book this year that's third in a series I had thought was going to be a quartet not a trilogy. No idea how that happened to me not once by twice! I'm a little bit sad that Silvercrag (the final Unmapped Realm, and the only one without a book dedicated to it) got so little page time (less than 50 pages!)
I loved returning to the Unmapped Kingdoms for another adventure in this imaginative world. Drinks that make your bottom wobble, an elephant that never forgets anything, a hurtle (turtle-like-thing) that does your housework! It's just endless fun, and lots of laughs. Plus this books always pass way too quickly for my liking, as they're just so readable.
As a nice distinguishing feature from the other entries, Zeb does not accidentally end up in the Unmapped Kingdoms and then end up on the quest to save the world immediately. Instead, he's dragged there by Morg, and joins her team at first. He's hurt and vengeful, so an evil harpy is quite easily able to exploit that. Then he realises she's going to double cross him, rather than granting his dreams, so NOPE, no longer on Team Harpy!
This is the first book in the series where a protagonist from a previous book returns in more than just a cameo role. I really liked seeing Fox again. It's not a major part, but it's important to Zeb's journey that she's there. Given the fact this series is spread over more than a hundred years of our world (into the future, but as so much time is spent in the Unmapped Kingdoms, there's not much "our" world seen, so it feels like the now), Fox is now an adult! There are very rarely competent, child-safety-conscious adults in MG or YA, so it was a nice change.
I really appreciated the fact that, at the end of the book, after the big battle where (as you'd expect) Morg is defeated once and for all, the human world isn't suddenly put to rights. Not much time is spent back in "Faraway" (aka, Earth) and the focus is on Zeb's arc, but there's no line saying that the climate emergency is magically fixed. It's implied by the world's premise, but it felt better, given the real climate emergency, to leave it as potentially still a mess to drive home the point that we have to act to stop the situation getting even worse.
I loved returning to the Unmapped Kingdoms for another adventure in this imaginative world. Drinks that make your bottom wobble, an elephant that never forgets anything, a hurtle (turtle-like-thing) that does your housework! It's just endless fun, and lots of laughs. Plus this books always pass way too quickly for my liking, as they're just so readable.
As a nice distinguishing feature from the other entries, Zeb does not accidentally end up in the Unmapped Kingdoms and then end up on the quest to save the world immediately. Instead, he's dragged there by Morg, and joins her team at first. He's hurt and vengeful, so an evil harpy is quite easily able to exploit that. Then he realises she's going to double cross him, rather than granting his dreams, so NOPE, no longer on Team Harpy!
This is the first book in the series where a protagonist from a previous book returns in more than just a cameo role. I really liked seeing Fox again. It's not a major part, but it's important to Zeb's journey that she's there. Given the fact this series is spread over more than a hundred years of our world (into the future, but as so much time is spent in the Unmapped Kingdoms, there's not much "our" world seen, so it feels like the now), Fox is now an adult! There are very rarely competent, child-safety-conscious adults in MG or YA, so it was a nice change.
I really appreciated the fact that, at the end of the book, after the big battle where (as you'd expect) Morg is defeated once and for all, the human world isn't suddenly put to rights. Not much time is spent back in "Faraway" (aka, Earth) and the focus is on Zeb's arc, but there's no line saying that the climate emergency is magically fixed. It's implied by the world's premise, but it felt better, given the real climate emergency, to leave it as potentially still a mess to drive home the point that we have to act to stop the situation getting even worse.
August 22, 2022
I have adored the Unmapped Chronicles series since the World Book Day book, Everdark, so I was very excited to get my hands on an early copy of the final book in the series, and what an impressive finale!
The Unmapped Chronicles is Abi's Narnia, a vast, complex world of magic and wonder. Like Narnia, it is a world that runs parallel to our own, with people, mainly children, from our world occasionally finding their way there through magical portals of all kinds when an appropriate saviour or two might be needed.
The imagination, the inventiveness, the ridiculous yet oh so clever naming of everything and everyone, the Unmapped Kingdoms are alive with magic and wonder, and I've come to care about each one and all their brilliantly bizarre inhabitants.
But the true magic in these stories is that Abi Elphinstone takes characters who are broken, who are hurting, who don't fit in and lash out at the world around them, and drops them into these magical stories where they're able to find what they need.
This, for me, is the most striking difference between Abi's books and the children's fantasy I grew up reading, and it's sometimes startling, occasionally upsetting and always rewarding. Zebedee Bolt, alone and distrusting of the world, is another brilliant example of this.
The Crackledawn Dragon is another Abi Elphinstone story that is just bristling with empathy and understanding and compassion and love, and that's as magical and beautiful as the dragons, merfolk and Unmappers in the story.
It's a beautiful conclusion to the series, I can't wait to see what Abi does next, and it's all wrapped up in a gorgeous George Ermos cover.
With the Unmapped Chronicles series, Abi Elphinstone has secured her position as one of the great children's fantasy authors.
The Unmapped Chronicles is Abi's Narnia, a vast, complex world of magic and wonder. Like Narnia, it is a world that runs parallel to our own, with people, mainly children, from our world occasionally finding their way there through magical portals of all kinds when an appropriate saviour or two might be needed.
The imagination, the inventiveness, the ridiculous yet oh so clever naming of everything and everyone, the Unmapped Kingdoms are alive with magic and wonder, and I've come to care about each one and all their brilliantly bizarre inhabitants.
But the true magic in these stories is that Abi Elphinstone takes characters who are broken, who are hurting, who don't fit in and lash out at the world around them, and drops them into these magical stories where they're able to find what they need.
This, for me, is the most striking difference between Abi's books and the children's fantasy I grew up reading, and it's sometimes startling, occasionally upsetting and always rewarding. Zebedee Bolt, alone and distrusting of the world, is another brilliant example of this.
The Crackledawn Dragon is another Abi Elphinstone story that is just bristling with empathy and understanding and compassion and love, and that's as magical and beautiful as the dragons, merfolk and Unmappers in the story.
It's a beautiful conclusion to the series, I can't wait to see what Abi does next, and it's all wrapped up in a gorgeous George Ermos cover.
With the Unmapped Chronicles series, Abi Elphinstone has secured her position as one of the great children's fantasy authors.
August 2, 2021
This is the 3rd book in the Unmapped Kingdoms series, which follows runaway Zebedee Bolt as he is tricked into helping the evil harpy Morg, until he realises just how horrific her plan is and teams up with a formidable girl named Oonie, a very chatty chameleon and a whole host of other incredible characters to find the Ember Scroll before Morg and give the Unmapped Kingdoms a happy ending. Zeb has real issues with trusting people due to his background, and my heart just broke for him so much of the time. His friendships with Oonie and Mrs Fickletint were so heartwarming, though, and I also loved his relationships with Fox (who returns as an adult in this book!) and the titular dragon. Oonie was a wonderful Unmapper companion for him and I really appreciated the disability rep, as she is blind, but her disability does not define her yet it’s shown as an important part of who she is. Mrs Fickletint was so lovely, and there are so many other characters I loved but don’t want to give any spoilers about. Morg, however, is still as terrifying as ever, and this is possibly the most thrilling, unputdownable book of the trilogy. It was great to see more of Crackledawn, and although I was disappointed not to see much of Silvercrag, I really enjoyed learning more about it. I can’t believe this series is over already, but I’m already very excited to read whatever Abi writes next, which is sure to be just as magical and uplifting as this was.
June 30, 2021
The conclusion to the Unmapped Chronicles is superb, just as wonderful as the other books. Full of adventure, suspense, magical places and fantastic characters.
The descriptions really brought the places to life and I loved all the whimsical names and creatures. I absolutely adored it just as much as the previous books, I've been trying to think of some more original emotions but I can't do any better! The narrator is delightful, giving it an amazing storytelling quality, like listening to a bedtime story.
My only criticism is that I'm sad it's over and I want more books in the Unmapped Kingdoms!
The descriptions really brought the places to life and I loved all the whimsical names and creatures. I absolutely adored it just as much as the previous books, I've been trying to think of some more original emotions but I can't do any better! The narrator is delightful, giving it an amazing storytelling quality, like listening to a bedtime story.
My only criticism is that I'm sad it's over and I want more books in the Unmapped Kingdoms!
January 23, 2022
I really loved the ending to this series and loved how each book was a very adventrue full standalone but they all did tell one whole complete story with one villian and you did seee glimpes of the characters throuhgout the series. This book also had some improtant rep like being blind and also anxiety and complex home life. I really flew through this book and loved how this book also tackled climate change and the effects in fantsatical manner. I really loved this series will def read more by this author in the future
June 5, 2023
I read this to my kids, as I love children's books as much as they do. This is another book about the Unmapped kingdoms. We haven't read any of the other books in the series but we still enjoyed it. Think we would have loved it even more if we had. This is about Zeb, going on an adventure with Oonie and Mrs Fickletint. They are looking for the ember scroll which will stop the evil Morg from taking over all the kingdoms. We did enjoy this book very much. The ending was fabulous and we all thought the Crackledawn dragon was lush.
July 20, 2021
I really did not want this series to end, I have been hiding this until I was ready to say goodbye. This is another Abi Elphinstone gem, full of adventure, magic and mayhem. the characters are always difficult to leave behind when finishing a book, however this time it has been much harder. Please say there will be a new series soon...
October 31, 2023
Third in the Unmapped Chronicles series, this story entertains a 13 but not 15 year old. Personally I think Elphinstone has a bad habit of inventing randomly magical things whenever her plot gets her character into trouble. After a while the device is spotted by even the dumbest of my kids. But still most enjoyable.
September 15, 2021
This book 3 in an exciting fantasy series suitable for year 7 and above. It concerns our world having huge climate issues. Young people travel to a magical world to save that world from an evil witch. In the process they save our world and reinstate normal weather patterns.
September 18, 2023
This book was awesome! Abi Elphinstone did a really awesome job putting a nice wrap on the series. I loved the world of the Unmappers she built and I definitely would recommend this book for anyone looking for a quirky and magical fantasy!
July 14, 2021
More excellent adventure in imagination
August 18, 2021
Perfect conclusion to this brilliant MG Fantasy series. Read my full review here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
July 9, 2024
Fun middle grade fantasy.
January 31, 2022
Something about this I was detached by.
September 26, 2021
Brilliant, imaginative, enjoyable series, sometimes funny, sometimes emotional, with easy to relate to protagonists/characters, some surprisingly good advice/ hidden gems of wisdom and hope in there, along with fantastic world building. This was a great final book in the series, loved the main characters, the plot and how all the other books tied into it as well, and I wish there were more books to follow because I'm not ready to leave the unmapped chronicles yet! It's the kind of book/series that can be enjoyed by most ages -not only for the intended age group. Great stuff!
I just have one personal wish that would have made this a 5 star book for me (hidden in the spoiler below)
I just have one personal wish that would have made this a 5 star book for me (hidden in the spoiler below)
January 5, 2022
I am so sad that this is the end of this series, because Abi truly is an actual genius. As with all the books, this is utterly brilliant. I loved how Zeb is so different to the other kids we've seen before. I also liked that we get a little more of the crossover into the other books, but we still got the time jump. I almost felt sorry for Morg with how long her scheme has been ongoing! Almost ;)
Oonie and Mrs Fickletint were great side characters, and I loved the blind rep too - Oonie was amazing. It was great to see her at home but also somewhere she doesn't know, to see her softer side come out a little.
My only complaint here is not getting to see more of Silvercrag, poor Silvercrag must feel very left out as the only island without a book set in it!
Again we get to see the environmental elements of the writing come to the fore, more so than ever before. While it's nice to imagine that all our issues are because of a magical problem and could be solved, I liked that this kept it magically realistic - there is no simple solution.
I also loved that not only did Zeb come to trust others, but he also came to trust an adult, which was so far from where we see him at the beginning of the book. It was also nice to have an adult along for the ride, makes a change from kids running off alone!
This whole series is just wonderful, and Abi's world-building is so full of imagination. Read it.
4.5 stars.
Oonie and Mrs Fickletint were great side characters, and I loved the blind rep too - Oonie was amazing. It was great to see her at home but also somewhere she doesn't know, to see her softer side come out a little.
My only complaint here is not getting to see more of Silvercrag, poor Silvercrag must feel very left out as the only island without a book set in it!
Again we get to see the environmental elements of the writing come to the fore, more so than ever before. While it's nice to imagine that all our issues are because of a magical problem and could be solved, I liked that this kept it magically realistic - there is no simple solution.
I also loved that not only did Zeb come to trust others, but he also came to trust an adult, which was so far from where we see him at the beginning of the book. It was also nice to have an adult along for the ride, makes a change from kids running off alone!
This whole series is just wonderful, and Abi's world-building is so full of imagination. Read it.
4.5 stars.
May 31, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Kids UK for allowing me to read this in advance of publication for an honest review!
When you start a story by meeting a boy called Zebedee Bolt, you know you're in for a treat, and Abi Elphinstone's latest and final installment in the Unmapped Chronicles series did not disappoint.
Zeb is sure the world is against him, so when the opportunity comes to enter a different one and write his own ending, he jumps at it; of course, how is he to know that the harpy who offered it to him is the Unmapped Kingdoms' (and the Faraway's) biggest problem? Soon though, Zeb realises his mistake, and on a boat called The Kerfuffle, alongside Oonie and Mrs Fickletint (a rather bossy chameleon), he aims to make things right.
If you've enjoyed the rest of the Unmapped Chronicles as I have, you won't be disappointed in this explosive finale. The story is full of both heart and humour, as Abi does so well, and the nods to previous installments bring the whole thing full circle. Plus, you get to meet a character called Perpetual Faff, which is worth the cost of the book itself if you ask me!
Abi Elphinstone does it again with Crackledawn, and though I'm disappointed that the Unmapped Chronicles will finish with Zeb's adventure, I couldn't possibly ask for a better finale.
When you start a story by meeting a boy called Zebedee Bolt, you know you're in for a treat, and Abi Elphinstone's latest and final installment in the Unmapped Chronicles series did not disappoint.
Zeb is sure the world is against him, so when the opportunity comes to enter a different one and write his own ending, he jumps at it; of course, how is he to know that the harpy who offered it to him is the Unmapped Kingdoms' (and the Faraway's) biggest problem? Soon though, Zeb realises his mistake, and on a boat called The Kerfuffle, alongside Oonie and Mrs Fickletint (a rather bossy chameleon), he aims to make things right.
If you've enjoyed the rest of the Unmapped Chronicles as I have, you won't be disappointed in this explosive finale. The story is full of both heart and humour, as Abi does so well, and the nods to previous installments bring the whole thing full circle. Plus, you get to meet a character called Perpetual Faff, which is worth the cost of the book itself if you ask me!
Abi Elphinstone does it again with Crackledawn, and though I'm disappointed that the Unmapped Chronicles will finish with Zeb's adventure, I couldn't possibly ask for a better finale.
June 17, 2021
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC.
The final book in the Unmapped Chronicles, but stands alone very well. Zeb has accidentally crossed into the Unmapped Kingdoms and is on a quest to save them and the Faraway from the evil harpy, Morg. Zeb has to learn to trust others, and Oonie, Mrs Fickletint (the talking chameleon) and Snaggle the Dragon have a challenge on their hands to prove to him they are worthy of his trust. Together the crew have just 2 days to solve the riddles and save their worlds.
A fantasy adventure with an amazing sense of place, where magic is believable, and Morg has just the right amount of evil. The novel also reaches a very satisfying ending for Zeb and a major character from an earlier book in the series. The writing style flows and the reader is swept along from beginning to end, with some light-hearted humour used exactly when needed to break the tension.
Great for fantasy and dragon fans, will appeal to readers of Cornelia Funke, Michelle Harrison, S.A. Patrick and Sophie Anderson.
The final book in the Unmapped Chronicles, but stands alone very well. Zeb has accidentally crossed into the Unmapped Kingdoms and is on a quest to save them and the Faraway from the evil harpy, Morg. Zeb has to learn to trust others, and Oonie, Mrs Fickletint (the talking chameleon) and Snaggle the Dragon have a challenge on their hands to prove to him they are worthy of his trust. Together the crew have just 2 days to solve the riddles and save their worlds.
A fantasy adventure with an amazing sense of place, where magic is believable, and Morg has just the right amount of evil. The novel also reaches a very satisfying ending for Zeb and a major character from an earlier book in the series. The writing style flows and the reader is swept along from beginning to end, with some light-hearted humour used exactly when needed to break the tension.
Great for fantasy and dragon fans, will appeal to readers of Cornelia Funke, Michelle Harrison, S.A. Patrick and Sophie Anderson.
May 22, 2021
4.5 stars
what an incredible ending to this series! Dragons, friendships, evil and scrolls to be found. I have adored this whole adventure, but I think Zeb might be my favourite. Watching him turn from this angry, untrusting and jaded young man to the character he becomes brought me such joy. There’s bits in this that made me cry, laugh and feel hope. Hope is such an important part of this story: we should never give up hope because it’s the thing that shines the brightest. I love how these stories are all intertwined and how glorious the magic is. @moontrugger is a wonder!!
what an incredible ending to this series! Dragons, friendships, evil and scrolls to be found. I have adored this whole adventure, but I think Zeb might be my favourite. Watching him turn from this angry, untrusting and jaded young man to the character he becomes brought me such joy. There’s bits in this that made me cry, laugh and feel hope. Hope is such an important part of this story: we should never give up hope because it’s the thing that shines the brightest. I love how these stories are all intertwined and how glorious the magic is. @moontrugger is a wonder!!
June 16, 2021
I have adored this series. I couldn't have hoped for a better ending.
The bonds of friendship and the found family has had me sobbing in each book.
No spoilers as although you can read them out of order I really do think it is better to read in publication order as there is an over arching plot. Everdark, Rumblestar, Jungledrop and finally The Crackledawn Dragon.
I would also recommend the audiobooks as Nicky Diss does a great job and I loved both.
The bonds of friendship and the found family has had me sobbing in each book.
No spoilers as although you can read them out of order I really do think it is better to read in publication order as there is an over arching plot. Everdark, Rumblestar, Jungledrop and finally The Crackledawn Dragon.
I would also recommend the audiobooks as Nicky Diss does a great job and I loved both.
June 11, 2021
I am so utterly obsessed with this series and especially this book; it was both heart-warming and humorous. So many moments that I almost cried (and some moments I did cry) but also so many moments that had me laughing - out loud that is.
I love this series and this felt like a brilliant conclusion to the series
I love this series and this felt like a brilliant conclusion to the series
June 30, 2021
This is the final book in the Unmapped Chronicles and it was a great wrap up for the story. I really liked Zeb as a character, in fact all the new characters were lovely and I warmed to them immediately and it was great to see some old faces from the previous books too.
The story moved on nicely and fit well with the larger overall story, everything fit together well.
The story moved on nicely and fit well with the larger overall story, everything fit together well.
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