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The Five Realms #6

Uki and the Ghostburrow

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After capturing Charice, there is only one spirit left for Uki to find: Mortix, the most dangerous of all. With his friends Jori, Cole and Kree, Uki heads to Eisenfell - the greatest city in Hulstland - only to find that Mortix has taken control of Emperor Ash and is plotting to conquer the whole Five Realms with her terrifying army.

Uki must dodge the Endwatch, the Shrikes, Clan Septys and the guards and find a way to complete his quest before all is lost.

405 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

18 people are currently reading
202 people want to read

About the author

Kieran Larwood

25 books285 followers
Kieran Larwood is the author of Freaks, and was the winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2011.
Kieran is one of only two male Reception class teachers on the Isle of Wight.
His days mainly consist of singing nursery rhymes, tying shoelaces, trying to locate who has had an ‘accident’ by sense of smell alone, and vast, endless mountains of paperwork.
Kieran graduated from Southampton University with a degree in English, and also did a foundation year at Falmouth College of Art. Ever since he first read The Hobbit at age six, he has been passionate about stories and storytelling.
Kieran lives with his family on the Isle of Wight. It is his dream to write full time and leave the ‘accidents’ to someone else.

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5 stars
188 (76%)
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47 (19%)
3 stars
8 (3%)
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3 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for The Olympian.
12 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2022
I think it was great! I liked the cool drawings in the book. My favorite character is Kree, she is a plains rabbit.she has a Jerboa (Mooka). That's enough about Kree. I didn't like that it was hard back. Uki's problem in the book was trying to defeat the last spirit. I would highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Ben Phillips.
81 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2025
Brief Summary:

Uki and the Ghostburrow brings the Uki storyline to a close in a heartfelt and compelling final instalment. Uki and his loyal companion, Jori of a Clan of poisoners and Kree the travelling rabbit, always accompanied by her wonderfully unusual jerboa, Mooka, face their most dangerous challenge yet. As they journey into the eerie depths of the Ghostburrow, they confront long-buried secrets, powerful forces of the past, and the final consequences of Uki’s awakening. This concluding adventure draws together threads from previous books while offering one last exploration of the Five Realms’ hidden corners.

Initial Thoughts:

From the outset, it is clear that this is the concluding chapter of Uki’s tale, and that brings both anticipation and a touch of sadness. Having followed Uki over his previous journeys, I felt immediately connected to him and his small but steadfast band of friends. The opening chapters create an atmosphere of tension and mystery, signalling that this final quest carries real weight. The Ghostburrow itself is an evocative setting, strange, haunting, and richly imagined, serving as an ideal backdrop for Uki’s final challenge.

Enjoyment:

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it a fitting and emotionally satisfying end to the Uki arc. The dynamic between Uki, Jori, Kree, and the ever-delightful Mooka remains one of the series’ greatest strengths. Each character contributes something meaningful: Jori’s grounding presence, Kree’s wandering wisdom, and Mooka’s charm and unpredictability.

The plot is full of tension, discovery, and moments of genuine warmth. What stands out most is the way friendship, trust, and shared purpose continue to carry the group through seemingly impossible odds. The narrative balances high-stakes adventure with quieter moments that highlight how far Uki and his companions have come since the beginning.

Objections:

My only real objection lies in the bittersweet nature of this being the final book in the Uki series. While the story itself is strong, the knowledge that this is the last time we journey with Uki, Jori, Kree, and Mooka brings a certain melancholy. There were also moments where I wished some scenes had been extended, simply because I wanted more time with these characters I had grown to care about. These, however, are reflections born from affection rather than criticism.

Final Thoughts:

Uki and the Ghostburrow is a powerful and satisfying conclusion to Uki’s journey. Although I found it sad to say goodbye to a character and ensemble I had truly come to love, the final tale honours them beautifully. It wraps up the series with emotional depth, vivid world-building, and the enduring message that loyalty, courage, and friendship can overcome even the darkest of challenges. A memorable and heartfelt ending to a remarkable story.
Profile Image for R. Lawrence.
143 reviews
November 9, 2021
Enjoyed this the sixth book in the series so much that I read it twice, back to back.
Profile Image for Frances.
769 reviews10 followers
April 24, 2022
Continuing to enjoy this series. Full of adventure, danger and magic.
Profile Image for R2 Ireland.
142 reviews2 followers
August 6, 2024
This book was amazing! Revolutionary! If you ask me, Uki is just so much better than Podkin. Not to mention, in the past books, Uki saved hundreds of rabbits. Podkin was a spoiled carrot, but Uki's back story?! Mwah! Still, I'm not sure if I like Uki and the Outcasts better. They're both so good!My favorite gang is the Toffs: I really like Nikku. I just feel bad for Uki. (NEXT STUFF SPOILERS! BEWARE!) Like, in the The Magician’s Nephew and Tuck Everlasting, it explains how miserable it would be to live forever, and now Uki has to! Also, I'm somewhat disappointed that they never met old Uki. Oh, also, Kree and Lurky obviously married.
Profile Image for Claire.
3,456 reviews45 followers
June 27, 2023
I admit I struggled at the beginning of this one. That that was me, I lacked time and was very tired when all I wanted to do was read. Which I hated because I needed to know if Rue was ok. Once my life went back to normal I was able to get reading and get some answers. I love these characters and I love spending time with them. So upset when they had to leave Mooka behind. And I am so glad the Rue is ok. and worse! . So glad the next book is due in a couple of months.
Profile Image for Niki (nikilovestoread).
849 reviews86 followers
November 4, 2021
After falling in love with the Podkin books, my kids and I couldn't wait for the last Uki book to release so we could read them. Happily, they did not disappoint. Uki, Kree, and Jori are fabulous characters and the stories are full of adventure. The twist in Uki and the Ghostburrow took us completely by surprise and we can't wait to read the next one. Our only complaint is that we have to wait to find out what happens next!
Profile Image for Georgia.
65 reviews
November 17, 2021
Another fantastic instalment from wonderful Mr Larwood! My partner is a primary school teacher, and although I never reach for children’s/YA books, he assured me that the Podkin series would surpass my expectations—and boy, was he right! Please don’t be dissuaded by the series, because they are so much more than just ‘children’s books’ I have read all of the Podkin/Uki books and they are all fantastic, and my god I did *not* see this plot twist coming!! I can’t wait for the next one ….
149 reviews
January 19, 2024
Perhaps my favourite yet? I enjoy the character of Uki and I love Mooka. It's so nice to hear about Kree and Lurky when they're older, Jori too. It gives me a sense of nostalgia that I love.
Also, the twist of Coal being Scramashank was one that I never anticipated at all. Such a good plot twist, perhaps the best I've read in children's fiction.
I was also overjoyed that Yarrow made a return and the appearance of Mish and Mash's circus troupe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kirsten Barrett.
329 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2024
Such a great series!
The world building and connections with previous stories is just beautiful!
I wish I had read them all together!!

It is definitely best to read in order - however you could follow the story if you haven't read the others.... It is just better to invest in all the books and read from the beginning.
5 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2021
Another wonderfully told story

As always this was an exciting read, and I'm so pleased to find out it's might be end of the series - can't wait for the next book to come out to find out what happens to all of the characters.
4 reviews
October 18, 2021
I am a huge fan of this book series and this latest instalment hasn’t disappointed. It is a masterclass in story telling by Kieran Larwood and it build the perfect amount of suspense and anticipation for the next book in the series. Phenomenal.
Profile Image for Jessica.
100 reviews
September 9, 2023
There are no words for how much I love this series on a personal and professional level. If you're a primary teacher and you haven't read the Five Realms series, you should! Everyone should. Amazing as always. I can't wait to receive the next one tomorrow.
Profile Image for Paula.
92 reviews
October 30, 2021
As good as all of the others! Love the whole series and look forward to more soon!
143 reviews3 followers
November 14, 2021
This series never stops giving. Great characters and spellbinding story telling for all the family.
487 reviews
April 19, 2023
The end was such a surprise. I did not expect another 3 book arc. I'm so bummed that we have to wait for months for book 7 and who knows how long for book 8 & 9.
Profile Image for Phoe.
275 reviews51 followers
January 17, 2025
Kieran never fails to land a story: pacing, action, characters, with plenty of suspense. Neither does he hold back from showing the reader in a child friendly way the consequences of actions, and of war, sickness, death. Packs a punch but you’re always left delighted.
Profile Image for Amy (Golden Books Girl).
890 reviews17 followers
December 15, 2021
My friend Rachael and I had a long running joke for about 2 years that it took me FOREVER to pick up Podkin One-Ear, which is true, but I’ve loved catching up on the series over the course of 2021 and Uki and the Ghost Burrow was my first one that I got to really anticipate the release of, which was very exciting. This one follows Uki and his friends as they attempt to capture the spirit of Mortix, queen of death, and complete the quest Iffrit entrusted Uki with. And in the present day timeline following Rue and the Bard, Rue is in mortal danger following the ending of book 2 in the trilogy, and as such needs urgent medical help from a tribe who are renowned for killing rabbits and cutting off their ears. I feel like I always say this, but I am such a sucker for dual timelines. I think they’re such a clever narrative device and this series is one of the best examples I’ve seen of it. Both storylines are absolutely compelling and I love the way they sort of feed into one another. I also love the characters a ridiculous amount; Uki is just an absolute darling and I love him, Jori and Kree make wonderful companions (I might even love Jori more than Paz, which is to say I ADORE her), Coal is such an interesting character and the reveal at the end about him left me absolutely shook, the Bard’s love for Rue melted my heart, and Rue himself is just the sweetest sweetheart so I could not cope when he was in danger, like at all, and of course the spirit of death is every bit as scary as you would imagine. There was something towards the end of this that made me cry, but also some really heartwarming moments and great twists and the cruellest cliffhanger that I’ve ever read. I need there to be another series about the Five Realms!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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