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The Girl in Wooden Armour
When Hattie visits her granny for the first time in years, she's not sure what to expect. Granny has always been unusual. Now she's gone missing without trace.
Hattie is determined to find her. But in the strange little village where Granny lives, nothing is as it seems. Is magic real here? What is the shadowy place known as the Un Forest? And who is the mysterious girl in wooden armour?
One thing is certain. An ancient evil is stirring in Brokewood-on-Tandle... and only Hattie can stand against it.
Hattie is determined to find her. But in the strange little village where Granny lives, nothing is as it seems. Is magic real here? What is the shadowy place known as the Un Forest? And who is the mysterious girl in wooden armour?
One thing is certain. An ancient evil is stirring in Brokewood-on-Tandle... and only Hattie can stand against it.
281 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 2, 2021
The Girl in Wooden Armour is a fun adventure that is filled with family and magic. It did some things Really well, and others not so great.
The atmosphere in this book is just superb. The darkness of the Un Forest and its monsters came through so well. Even though this is a book for younger readers, it definitely didn’t shy away from the scary and violent bits and I loved that about this so much. I also feel that Hattie’s feelings of lonliness and anger towards her father after the death of her mother were portrayed really well.
Hattie was a wonderfully headstrong and brave main character, who is the perfect mix between sensible and stubborn hands-on. And granny was Awesome. She is weird and quirky, and just a lot of feisty fun. The villain was a bit too much pure evil, but she was also lovely creepy.
But I also had some issues with this book. It did get quite infodumpy at times, which made the reading experience jarring at times. But my main issue is with the ending. Although I appreciate father’s new girlfriend stepping up and saving the kids, I would have liked father to have played a bigger role in it. He did have his moment with Hattie at the very end, but I feel they could have had a bit more. I also think a great opportunity was missed with Jonathan and his card game. His knowledge and obsession with magical creatures never really added anything to the story itself.
And then the girlfriend has a secret that conveniently helps them all get out of trouble… a secret that isn’t revealed. It was just an easy way not to have to deal with the consequences and left me wholy unsatisfied.
Overall, this was a really entertaining read… with some missed opportunities. But I can definitely see it’s target audience enjoy this a whole lot. Or any other reader, if they don’t think about things too much.
The atmosphere in this book is just superb. The darkness of the Un Forest and its monsters came through so well. Even though this is a book for younger readers, it definitely didn’t shy away from the scary and violent bits and I loved that about this so much. I also feel that Hattie’s feelings of lonliness and anger towards her father after the death of her mother were portrayed really well.
Hattie was a wonderfully headstrong and brave main character, who is the perfect mix between sensible and stubborn hands-on. And granny was Awesome. She is weird and quirky, and just a lot of feisty fun. The villain was a bit too much pure evil, but she was also lovely creepy.
But I also had some issues with this book. It did get quite infodumpy at times, which made the reading experience jarring at times. But my main issue is with the ending. Although I appreciate father’s new girlfriend stepping up and saving the kids, I would have liked father to have played a bigger role in it. He did have his moment with Hattie at the very end, but I feel they could have had a bit more. I also think a great opportunity was missed with Jonathan and his card game. His knowledge and obsession with magical creatures never really added anything to the story itself.
And then the girlfriend has a secret that conveniently helps them all get out of trouble… a secret that isn’t revealed. It was just an easy way not to have to deal with the consequences and left me wholy unsatisfied.
Overall, this was a really entertaining read… with some missed opportunities. But I can definitely see it’s target audience enjoy this a whole lot. Or any other reader, if they don’t think about things too much.
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August 10, 2021When you start the book, the overall foundation is all too familiar. Hattie lives with her father and her little brother in London, alone, after her mother had died years ago. Dead parent trope, check. Throw a missing relative and some magic in the mix and you have a rather basic Middlegrade book.
BUT! And it’s big but – while all this might seem familiar, the clothes this basic foundation is dressed in, is beautiful and different and I loved it.
What I noticed first about this book, is its wonderful gloomy atmosphere. It’s not enough to really scare you but it’s enough to make you uneasy. Rainy, muddy and dirty, forgotten, rotten, dark and damp are words that come to mind. It’s not so much of an adventure as a horror story with monsters creeping and a haunting gloom over everything.
Come to think of it, it does not have the air of a ghoststory: this book really depends on the creeping feeling you get, of your fear of the dark and good old-fashioned body-horror. I loved it. Give me real terror over jump scares every day.
Now, that I have finished this book for some time, I have to say that the atmosphere is what stayed the most with me.
The main character, Hattie, was very likable. She obviously loved the father and brother and also her grandmother who she had not seen in a while. When it turns out that her grandmother is missing, she is the driving force, the main person to worry about her. Her worries and willingness to break some rules for her grandmother, even though she was usually more inclined to follow them, made her very likable. I was happy with Hattie’s characterisation in general, her quietness and thoughtfulness. She was not boastfull or brash like others and I quite enjoyed that.
The story itself has many twists and turns and a lot of monsters and hopelessness. It seemed rather real to me, for a fantasy book, especially because Hattie was so scared and more likely to give in to threats, because really, it’s how a normal person would have reacted. With running. With being terrified. With giving the bad guys whatever they want because you would never risk the safty of your loved-ones. There is so much darkness and ruthlessness in this book, a quiet violence that I enjoyed because it was not flashy or over the top.
There is something I was absolutely not happy with and that was Hattie’s Dad. While it’s later explained why he acted how he acted, it is often stated that, after her mother died, he asked of Hattie to be sensible and not make any fuss for her brother’s sake. Be sensible. Be the bigger person. Be careful and don’t do anything rash. Basically, don’t have any negative emotions.
MAN, that’s how covert narcicists are made! By making children surpressing their emotions. It’s just much too much pressure to put on a young childs shoulders and I HATED it. I was almost hoping that Hattie’s dad would be eaten or something. It pissed me off so much.
In the end, I loved this book because of its atmosphere and its difference to other books of this genre. It’s dark, it’s gritty, it felt real, even with all the magic in it. It had a likable heroine, who loves her small family, and who was oh, so relatable. In between all the danger and the magic were also some very real family troubles and it fit rather well in there. I really quite enjoyed this book and will gladly read any other books the author will publish.
BUT! And it’s big but – while all this might seem familiar, the clothes this basic foundation is dressed in, is beautiful and different and I loved it.
What I noticed first about this book, is its wonderful gloomy atmosphere. It’s not enough to really scare you but it’s enough to make you uneasy. Rainy, muddy and dirty, forgotten, rotten, dark and damp are words that come to mind. It’s not so much of an adventure as a horror story with monsters creeping and a haunting gloom over everything.
Come to think of it, it does not have the air of a ghoststory: this book really depends on the creeping feeling you get, of your fear of the dark and good old-fashioned body-horror. I loved it. Give me real terror over jump scares every day.
Now, that I have finished this book for some time, I have to say that the atmosphere is what stayed the most with me.
The main character, Hattie, was very likable. She obviously loved the father and brother and also her grandmother who she had not seen in a while. When it turns out that her grandmother is missing, she is the driving force, the main person to worry about her. Her worries and willingness to break some rules for her grandmother, even though she was usually more inclined to follow them, made her very likable. I was happy with Hattie’s characterisation in general, her quietness and thoughtfulness. She was not boastfull or brash like others and I quite enjoyed that.
The story itself has many twists and turns and a lot of monsters and hopelessness. It seemed rather real to me, for a fantasy book, especially because Hattie was so scared and more likely to give in to threats, because really, it’s how a normal person would have reacted. With running. With being terrified. With giving the bad guys whatever they want because you would never risk the safty of your loved-ones. There is so much darkness and ruthlessness in this book, a quiet violence that I enjoyed because it was not flashy or over the top.
There is something I was absolutely not happy with and that was Hattie’s Dad. While it’s later explained why he acted how he acted, it is often stated that, after her mother died, he asked of Hattie to be sensible and not make any fuss for her brother’s sake. Be sensible. Be the bigger person. Be careful and don’t do anything rash. Basically, don’t have any negative emotions.
MAN, that’s how covert narcicists are made! By making children surpressing their emotions. It’s just much too much pressure to put on a young childs shoulders and I HATED it. I was almost hoping that Hattie’s dad would be eaten or something. It pissed me off so much.
In the end, I loved this book because of its atmosphere and its difference to other books of this genre. It’s dark, it’s gritty, it felt real, even with all the magic in it. It had a likable heroine, who loves her small family, and who was oh, so relatable. In between all the danger and the magic were also some very real family troubles and it fit rather well in there. I really quite enjoyed this book and will gladly read any other books the author will publish.
April 18, 2021
Hattie is a sensible girl, she doesn't believe in Santa and doesn't even make wishes on her birthday candles. Hattie and her family go to visit her granny but she's gone missing. While trying to find her, she discovers a whole world of magic. There is another world through the cracks of this one, with monsters you couldn't even imagine. And Hattie could actually be a part of it.
There is a very creepy start to the book and all the descriptions of the monsters are really terrifying. It definitely wasn't a good idea reading this one at night! The other world is super eerie and sinister, and the way the King and Queen can change their appearance means you never know who they could be. Some new mysteries are revealed at the end so it seems like this could be a series.
There is a very creepy start to the book and all the descriptions of the monsters are really terrifying. It definitely wasn't a good idea reading this one at night! The other world is super eerie and sinister, and the way the King and Queen can change their appearance means you never know who they could be. Some new mysteries are revealed at the end so it seems like this could be a series.
January 10, 2022
I absolutely adored this book! I did pick it up a few months back and put it back down again because life and lockdown and all that. But when I finally gave it a proper chance I devoured it in just a couple of days.
There's something very 'Coraline-esque' about all of it - the story and the monsters and Hattie herself. It's a middlegrade that's suited to kids who like some suspense and creepy monsters in their stories... and I say this because I WAS one of those kids, while I have a cousin who didn't sleep for a month after watching 'Flushed Away' because he was afraid the toilet would get him. All kids are different 😂
Besides the fun of magical powers and fighting monsters, it also tackles difficult subjects well, the most prominent being that of loss. Hattie lost her mum a few years before the start of the story, but her presence is very much felt throughout, and the effect her death has on the changing dynamics within the family. It also touches on other things young people might worry about, like seeing her grandmother ageing, the responsibilities of younger siblings, single parent families and the introduction of a step-parent. It's all handled beautifully though, and doesn't come across as heavy as I probably made that sound, I just wanted to pick out some of the key themes that subtly flowed below this exciting fantasy tale.
There's something very 'Coraline-esque' about all of it - the story and the monsters and Hattie herself. It's a middlegrade that's suited to kids who like some suspense and creepy monsters in their stories... and I say this because I WAS one of those kids, while I have a cousin who didn't sleep for a month after watching 'Flushed Away' because he was afraid the toilet would get him. All kids are different 😂
Besides the fun of magical powers and fighting monsters, it also tackles difficult subjects well, the most prominent being that of loss. Hattie lost her mum a few years before the start of the story, but her presence is very much felt throughout, and the effect her death has on the changing dynamics within the family. It also touches on other things young people might worry about, like seeing her grandmother ageing, the responsibilities of younger siblings, single parent families and the introduction of a step-parent. It's all handled beautifully though, and doesn't come across as heavy as I probably made that sound, I just wanted to pick out some of the key themes that subtly flowed below this exciting fantasy tale.
September 14, 2022
It isn't like Granny to ask for anything, but when Hattie's dad receives a letter to please visit her, Hattie should have realised there was something not quite right. After all, Granny never says please either.
Hattie loves her Granny, even if she is a bit odd. Granny's birthday gifts are always strange. It's usually a bundle of twigs or sticks or something made of wood. Granny is mum's mum, but now mum has gone, and Granny sounds like she's lonely. Dad packs up Hattie, and her little brother Jonathon into their car to visit Granny in her little town of Brokewood-on-Tandle.
They find an empty house with no sign of Granny. Has she been kidnapped, wandered off, or maybe didn't believe they would come?
While the police are investigating, so is Hattie, and what she discovers is too freaky for words. Granny's disappearance has her friends worried too, as they are all part of The Order of the Broken Wood. They are a centuries old group that protect their little town from another realm that lies alongside it.
This realm, called the Un Forest is full of terrible monsters. There are ways to cross the realm but it is not advised. Once you are in the Un Forest, who knows what will find you and EAT you!
An evil creature from the realm wants something that Granny is hiding, and will do anything to get it. Hattie is still reeling from learning about Granny, let alone getting up close and personal with the monsters herself. If only Dad had told her the truth about Granny and her own mother's past, she wouldn't have to learn what she holds deep inside until it's almost too late.
Finally trusting herself to see what is really happening around her, who is good and who is truly evil, Hattie dons the wooden armour she was always destined to wear.
This story is not for the faint-hearted as there are monsters aplenty, body possession and lots and lots of action! Set in present day, but with age old magic at play, The Girl in Wooden Armour is a ripping read.
Main character Hattie is mostly a sensible, responsible girl - just as her father asks her to be, but when she uncovers Granny's secret, she knows this is now the time to bend the rules. Riddled with doubt and confused about her own mother's past, she can barely bring herself to believe what she has learnt. She's a wonderful character, slowly emerging into the Wood Warrior she has to be in order to save her family.
The alternate realm and all its monsters is well written with description that brings it alive for the reader, as monsters smash, grab, gobble and fight. The battle between good and evil sways back and forth in Hattie's favour, holding the reader tight to the plot - who will win? A girl from the city or evil centuries old?
Great read.
Hattie loves her Granny, even if she is a bit odd. Granny's birthday gifts are always strange. It's usually a bundle of twigs or sticks or something made of wood. Granny is mum's mum, but now mum has gone, and Granny sounds like she's lonely. Dad packs up Hattie, and her little brother Jonathon into their car to visit Granny in her little town of Brokewood-on-Tandle.
They find an empty house with no sign of Granny. Has she been kidnapped, wandered off, or maybe didn't believe they would come?
While the police are investigating, so is Hattie, and what she discovers is too freaky for words. Granny's disappearance has her friends worried too, as they are all part of The Order of the Broken Wood. They are a centuries old group that protect their little town from another realm that lies alongside it.
This realm, called the Un Forest is full of terrible monsters. There are ways to cross the realm but it is not advised. Once you are in the Un Forest, who knows what will find you and EAT you!
An evil creature from the realm wants something that Granny is hiding, and will do anything to get it. Hattie is still reeling from learning about Granny, let alone getting up close and personal with the monsters herself. If only Dad had told her the truth about Granny and her own mother's past, she wouldn't have to learn what she holds deep inside until it's almost too late.
Finally trusting herself to see what is really happening around her, who is good and who is truly evil, Hattie dons the wooden armour she was always destined to wear.
This story is not for the faint-hearted as there are monsters aplenty, body possession and lots and lots of action! Set in present day, but with age old magic at play, The Girl in Wooden Armour is a ripping read.
Main character Hattie is mostly a sensible, responsible girl - just as her father asks her to be, but when she uncovers Granny's secret, she knows this is now the time to bend the rules. Riddled with doubt and confused about her own mother's past, she can barely bring herself to believe what she has learnt. She's a wonderful character, slowly emerging into the Wood Warrior she has to be in order to save her family.
The alternate realm and all its monsters is well written with description that brings it alive for the reader, as monsters smash, grab, gobble and fight. The battle between good and evil sways back and forth in Hattie's favour, holding the reader tight to the plot - who will win? A girl from the city or evil centuries old?
Great read.
July 27, 2021
It's been years since Hattie's seen her Granny, a strange old woman who's idea of a great gift is a stick from a tree, so she's a little surprised when Dad takes her and Jonathan to visit. When they get to her home, the doors ajar, the house a mess, and there's no sign of Granny. While looking around, Hattie finds a secret room filled with strange items and sees a rock monster escape out into the night. As Dad goes to the authorities to help find the missing woman, Hattie decides to do her own investigation that opens her eyes to a world of danger and magic that comes from a hidden realm called the Un Forest. With frightful creatures stalking those around her, can Hattie manage to save the world from untold evil?
The Girl in Wooden Armour is a frightfully woven adventure that should keep readers on the edge of their seats. From the first chapter, the tone is set that things aren't quite right and nothing is as it first appears. Full of intrigue, plot twists, and a prefect mix of fantasy and horror, this novel does not disappoint. The characters are fantastic, filled with mysteries, spook, and quirk that draw you in. Hattie is a great main character, headstrong, brave, and bright as she tries to put the puzzle together, Overall, it's an engaging atmospheric read.
With vivid and haunting descriptions, I would not recommend this for a child who frightens easily. The danger and general sense of unease should delight those who enjoy a good scare. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.
The Girl in Wooden Armour is a frightfully woven adventure that should keep readers on the edge of their seats. From the first chapter, the tone is set that things aren't quite right and nothing is as it first appears. Full of intrigue, plot twists, and a prefect mix of fantasy and horror, this novel does not disappoint. The characters are fantastic, filled with mysteries, spook, and quirk that draw you in. Hattie is a great main character, headstrong, brave, and bright as she tries to put the puzzle together, Overall, it's an engaging atmospheric read.
With vivid and haunting descriptions, I would not recommend this for a child who frightens easily. The danger and general sense of unease should delight those who enjoy a good scare. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.
August 1, 2022
Actual rating- 3.75 stars. Or maybe a whole 4 stars. Somewhere around that mark.
I enjoyed this a lot. Definitely on the higher end of MG books, as the MC is just thirteen and some of the scenes read like they were for the older MG reader around the same age, of 12 or 13. The atmosphere of the book was definitely creepy, fleshed out, and I thought that was done very well.
I was rather annoyed with Hattie's dad at times - how he expected her to be a perfect sister to her younger brother, and sort of like an adult while she's still a kid herself. But overall, an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this a lot. Definitely on the higher end of MG books, as the MC is just thirteen and some of the scenes read like they were for the older MG reader around the same age, of 12 or 13. The atmosphere of the book was definitely creepy, fleshed out, and I thought that was done very well.
I was rather annoyed with Hattie's dad at times - how he expected her to be a perfect sister to her younger brother, and sort of like an adult while she's still a kid herself. But overall, an enjoyable read.
April 3, 2021
Amazing story.
Hattie is visiting her gran, she has always found her very strange, but this time she's missing.
Hatfield sets off to find her and get some answers.
This has everything magic, weird people in the town, strange old people home.
We discover hatties loneliness and her anger with her dad over her mums death.
Hattie is visiting her gran, she has always found her very strange, but this time she's missing.
Hatfield sets off to find her and get some answers.
This has everything magic, weird people in the town, strange old people home.
We discover hatties loneliness and her anger with her dad over her mums death.
September 3, 2022
Took me a little while to properly get into it, but I think that was my fault as much as anything else. Once it gets going, the story is really good, properly scary, specially for a kids book, and really well imagined. Hope there's a second one.
April 18, 2022
I’m reading this with my 10y/o son. We both love it. I love the writing style, the world and the story. Quality stuff.
Read
August 17, 2024Quite scary but the story was fairly internal, the protag Hattie did a lot of reacting. I liked the found family metaphor.
March 18, 2021
Book Review will be posted soon on https://mrripleysenchantedbooks.com/2...
June 9, 2022
This book was a lovely surprise, I had been reading a few books for an Awards Ceremony in the East Riding of Yorkshire. An Award for the best author chosen from 10, we as a group were expected to read at least 5 or all 10 of the books, you choose and who wins?
I am yet to find out the winning book, the results are in June.
This book is about a young girl, she has a little brother, a father and a Gran. Her mother died a few years ago now, and well, you don't really learn how her mother dies until much later into the book.
There are monsters, mystery, enchantment, secret keys, people that might be trusted and others that shouldn't be trusted. The plot certainly keeps you gripped from beginning to end, and there was a sadness to the story that swept over every page, it made me as the reader emotionally charged and hopeful that our young female protagonist would find her inner strength and . . .
If I told you, it might gave the end away, and I have no intention of doing that to you.
If you like fantasy, a fairy tale, or a bit of mystery and potential low level horror, then this is a book for you. It is certainly for the teens and maybe the younger years. I would read it as a parent/guardian/teacher to under 8s, it needs some explaining in places. So, I thought. You may disagree.
I liked it and I wouldn't have picked it up if I wasn't reading it along with a group of others for the Awards which will certainly take place very soon, and if I were to let you into my own secret, this book is my favourite so far of the 5 I am expected to read.
If you don't like to read stories about girls, if you don't want a feel good powerful read and you are not interested in adventures, then don't pick this one up, you won't make it past page 35.
Having read it, in my opinion. Brilliant!! Well done Conrad Mason, I will hope to read more of your writing in the near future.
Thank you for reading my review and good luck with this one if you choose to accept the adventure of reading it.
Jules
I am yet to find out the winning book, the results are in June.
This book is about a young girl, she has a little brother, a father and a Gran. Her mother died a few years ago now, and well, you don't really learn how her mother dies until much later into the book.
There are monsters, mystery, enchantment, secret keys, people that might be trusted and others that shouldn't be trusted. The plot certainly keeps you gripped from beginning to end, and there was a sadness to the story that swept over every page, it made me as the reader emotionally charged and hopeful that our young female protagonist would find her inner strength and . . .
If I told you, it might gave the end away, and I have no intention of doing that to you.
If you like fantasy, a fairy tale, or a bit of mystery and potential low level horror, then this is a book for you. It is certainly for the teens and maybe the younger years. I would read it as a parent/guardian/teacher to under 8s, it needs some explaining in places. So, I thought. You may disagree.
I liked it and I wouldn't have picked it up if I wasn't reading it along with a group of others for the Awards which will certainly take place very soon, and if I were to let you into my own secret, this book is my favourite so far of the 5 I am expected to read.
If you don't like to read stories about girls, if you don't want a feel good powerful read and you are not interested in adventures, then don't pick this one up, you won't make it past page 35.
Having read it, in my opinion. Brilliant!! Well done Conrad Mason, I will hope to read more of your writing in the near future.
Thank you for reading my review and good luck with this one if you choose to accept the adventure of reading it.
Jules
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews