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Kingdoms and Empires #3
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst
*Running Time => 10hrs. and 53mins.*
Long ago, the little Prince of Cloudburst was stolen from the seashore by a Water Sprite. Now, ten years later, the prince has found his way home. The King and Queen are planning the biggest party in their Kingdom's history to welcome him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Kingdoms and Empires, Esther Mettlestone-Staranise is looking forward to another year at Katherine Valley Boarding School. But she arrives to find a number of strange and unsettling changes. For one, her new teacher is rumoured to be an Ogre. Two mysterious students have joined the school, and one of Esther's classmates is an undercover Spellbinder. Most disturbingly, the mountains surrounding the school - usually a delight of glaciers, teashops, lakes and Faeries - are now crowded with wicked Shadow Mages.
As secrets and dangers escalate, Esther must find the answers to several puzzles. Why is her teacher behaving so oddly? Which of Esther's classmates is the Spellbinder, and can they really protect the school from gathering hordes of Shadow Mages? Could the Stolen Prince of Cloudburst be connected?
How can Esther - who is not talented like her sisters, nor an adventurer like her cousin, but just Esther - save her family, her school and possibly her entire world?
©2021 Jaclyn Moriarty (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.
Long ago, the little Prince of Cloudburst was stolen from the seashore by a Water Sprite. Now, ten years later, the prince has found his way home. The King and Queen are planning the biggest party in their Kingdom's history to welcome him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Kingdoms and Empires, Esther Mettlestone-Staranise is looking forward to another year at Katherine Valley Boarding School. But she arrives to find a number of strange and unsettling changes. For one, her new teacher is rumoured to be an Ogre. Two mysterious students have joined the school, and one of Esther's classmates is an undercover Spellbinder. Most disturbingly, the mountains surrounding the school - usually a delight of glaciers, teashops, lakes and Faeries - are now crowded with wicked Shadow Mages.
As secrets and dangers escalate, Esther must find the answers to several puzzles. Why is her teacher behaving so oddly? Which of Esther's classmates is the Spellbinder, and can they really protect the school from gathering hordes of Shadow Mages? Could the Stolen Prince of Cloudburst be connected?
How can Esther - who is not talented like her sisters, nor an adventurer like her cousin, but just Esther - save her family, her school and possibly her entire world?
©2021 Jaclyn Moriarty (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.
Audible Audio
First published September 29, 2020
51 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jaclyn Moriarty
37 books1,531 followersJaclyn Moriarty is an Australian writer of young adult literature.
She studied English at the University of Sydney, and law at Yale University and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where she was awarded a PhD.
She is the younger sister of Liane Moriarty. She was previously married to Canadian writer Colin McAdam, and has a son, Charlie. She currently lives in Sydney.
She studied English at the University of Sydney, and law at Yale University and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where she was awarded a PhD.
She is the younger sister of Liane Moriarty. She was previously married to Canadian writer Colin McAdam, and has a son, Charlie. She currently lives in Sydney.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
October 5, 2023
The third volume in the Kingdoms and Empires series, loosely related stories with different heroes in each story, Esther is our narrator here. This was a slow burner for me, initially failing to generate the enthusiasm of the first two books, but the story came alive by the end and raised itself to the highest Jaclyn Moriarty levels. Silly as usual, lots of moral issues, interesting and quirky characters and situations, but fun. Good one Jaclyn. 4 stars
October 8, 2022
Very predictably, Jaclyn Moriarty has made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion possible in this book. The Kingdoms and Empires series has all been beautiful, but this one was my favourite of all. Esther is such a great character and I loved every twist and turn this book took me on.
May 15, 2022
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
This was such a beautiful book. I stayed glued to the pages all day, and it's funny to admit I feel this way about a middle grade book, while being a grown woman, but I read this as a thriller and it kept my palms sweating quite a lot. Not a thriller-thriller, of course, the topics are still middle grade, but oh my gosh, was it, well... thrilling!
First of all, the title of the book is... Well, let me tell you, you'll only learn why it's like that when you finish the book. I was puzzled about it the whole time, but when I reached the end? I thought it was pretty brilliant.
Another thing I liked about this book is that it goes deep into several things that are important for a middle grader to know - when an adult is gaslighting you, and when an adult is manipulating people for their own gain. It's also tied into discrimination and judging people based on prejudice, which was a companion theme in the story. Why I say it's important, is because the story teaches children to RECOGNIZE the signs of gaslighting and manipulation.
If anyone had told me what it's like to be manipulated or gaslighted by an adult as a kid? I know for sure some situations would have appeared differently. But children, especially young girls, tend to believe that literally everyone else's word will be taken before theirs is, and they're probably not even wrong, considering how society treats it. Therefore, they don't speak up - worse, they often think it's them who are in the wrong.
This book has a teacher who is clearly manipulating people and gaslighting the main character. When I look at it from my current perspective as an adult, it's painfully obvious. But if I were to look at it from the child's perspective, I know I wouldn't notice it, because I'd just implicitly trust the adults, or think I just don't know something. Therefore, it's incredibly valuable to read this and know what it looks like - and why it's bad when people do it. The author doesn't go into explaining what gaslighting is, but it's not necessary - it's just labelled as a behavior that's not good, and one you should be able to recognize and believe yourself, not the manipulator, which I think is enough for a child to know without knowing much about the terminology. I think it would be even better for this story to be read or at least discussed with parents or guardians, because then the reasons could be explained to the child reading this. It's an important life lesson, one that could prove incredibly valuable if learned early.
But even aside from that - the story is brilliant in its own right. Jaclyn Moriarty is wonderful with children's stories, she's a truly masterful writer. The world is very well built, and it's so colorful and imaginative. The story delves into more serious themes of forgiveness, parenthood, empathy and more. It's just such a brilliant read. I definitely recommend it, no matter whether the reader is an adult or a child or teen. I think everyone can take away something from it.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
This was such a beautiful book. I stayed glued to the pages all day, and it's funny to admit I feel this way about a middle grade book, while being a grown woman, but I read this as a thriller and it kept my palms sweating quite a lot. Not a thriller-thriller, of course, the topics are still middle grade, but oh my gosh, was it, well... thrilling!
First of all, the title of the book is... Well, let me tell you, you'll only learn why it's like that when you finish the book. I was puzzled about it the whole time, but when I reached the end? I thought it was pretty brilliant.
Another thing I liked about this book is that it goes deep into several things that are important for a middle grader to know - when an adult is gaslighting you, and when an adult is manipulating people for their own gain. It's also tied into discrimination and judging people based on prejudice, which was a companion theme in the story. Why I say it's important, is because the story teaches children to RECOGNIZE the signs of gaslighting and manipulation.
If anyone had told me what it's like to be manipulated or gaslighted by an adult as a kid? I know for sure some situations would have appeared differently. But children, especially young girls, tend to believe that literally everyone else's word will be taken before theirs is, and they're probably not even wrong, considering how society treats it. Therefore, they don't speak up - worse, they often think it's them who are in the wrong.
This book has a teacher who is clearly manipulating people and gaslighting the main character. When I look at it from my current perspective as an adult, it's painfully obvious. But if I were to look at it from the child's perspective, I know I wouldn't notice it, because I'd just implicitly trust the adults, or think I just don't know something. Therefore, it's incredibly valuable to read this and know what it looks like - and why it's bad when people do it. The author doesn't go into explaining what gaslighting is, but it's not necessary - it's just labelled as a behavior that's not good, and one you should be able to recognize and believe yourself, not the manipulator, which I think is enough for a child to know without knowing much about the terminology. I think it would be even better for this story to be read or at least discussed with parents or guardians, because then the reasons could be explained to the child reading this. It's an important life lesson, one that could prove incredibly valuable if learned early.
But even aside from that - the story is brilliant in its own right. Jaclyn Moriarty is wonderful with children's stories, she's a truly masterful writer. The world is very well built, and it's so colorful and imaginative. The story delves into more serious themes of forgiveness, parenthood, empathy and more. It's just such a brilliant read. I definitely recommend it, no matter whether the reader is an adult or a child or teen. I think everyone can take away something from it.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
July 19, 2020
omg. best book ever.
May 3, 2021
Wowza! I am in love w/Jaclyn Moriarty’s writing! So happy I finally read this beautiful book! This is the 3rd in this series, so I can’t say a lot. Just like the other 2, we follow a different character this time-Esther who is 1 of Bronte’s cousins. Also, again in this 1 the MC(Esther) seems to speak to us the reader often-& I love that. She’s taking us on this journey w/her, & consults w/us along the way! As usual the wonderful zany characters make you fall in love w/these books. All so different, but yet so identifiable & unforgettable. My psychology loving brain went nuts w/this also. She deals w/some bullying that is so horrific-& also done in such a different way than the upfront kind usually depicted in books. I found this equal parts fascinating & horrible. I wanted to strangle this bully. But it shows there are many ways of bullying, & not all of them are do direct/clear. So big focus on that as well as self worth, neglect, isolation, & the importance of believing in yourself. There were so many twists, & I loved them. There were several at the end, & they were amazing! The way the author had all these key points throughout the story, & connected them all, & brought it all full circle was just brilliant. Beautiful magical writing, an amazing quirky story(but at the same time has serious real life problems going on), quirky & eccentric characters, amazing humor, & the best character & story building ever. It’s usually a side character that has my heart, but in this it’s the MC. Esther is so amazingly written, that you can help but fall in love w/her. There were also so many amazing side characters. So great. Some “inconvenient”(lol) adventures like normal that are always the best too. With so much going on, your love for the story/characters, plus the super short chapters-this is a very fast-paced read. I read this very fast, so even though it’s a big book, it in no way feels like it is. Highly recommend! An absolutely stunning cover(naked hardback too!) by Kelly Canby w/just as beautiful illustrations throughout the book! 💜
May 20, 2021
I would describe this book as a mash-up between Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.
As the third book in a series, it refers to previous plots, but enough is explained here that a reader new to the series isn't left clueless as to what is going on. Also, while there is room for a sequel, the story resolves and doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so it can be read as a stand-alone.
As the third book in a series, it refers to previous plots, but enough is explained here that a reader new to the series isn't left clueless as to what is going on. Also, while there is room for a sequel, the story resolves and doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so it can be read as a stand-alone.
September 21, 2021
OUTSTANDING. For children and adults alike.
I loathe to share this for fear of being kicked out of Goodreads, but my 8yo and I have declared this series better than Harry Potter.
Moriarty, please hurry up and write the next one. Your words and worlds are making my little person a better human…and gifting me joy in shitty lockdown times in Melbourne.
I loathe to share this for fear of being kicked out of Goodreads, but my 8yo and I have declared this series better than Harry Potter.
Moriarty, please hurry up and write the next one. Your words and worlds are making my little person a better human…and gifting me joy in shitty lockdown times in Melbourne.
October 27, 2022
Such a great book!
It was a bit of a slow start on my part, but I really loved this book! All of the characters were so well written and fun to follow. There were some things in the story that I caught on to earlier, but some that took me by surprise! It was such a great adventure! Definitely going to check out more books by this author soon.
It was a bit of a slow start on my part, but I really loved this book! All of the characters were so well written and fun to follow. There were some things in the story that I caught on to earlier, but some that took me by surprise! It was such a great adventure! Definitely going to check out more books by this author soon.
November 28, 2021
Outstanding. I am completely enamoured with Jaclyn Moriarty's ability to write brilliantly charming books full of adventure and wonder, with a cast of characters that will live in my heart for a long, long time.
I have a new favourite author.
I have a new favourite author.
February 7, 2022
My 3rd grader read this book. It has the magic and fairy tale qualities, but seemed to drag on a bit too much. The chapters were short to keep it moving along, but my daughter started to loose interest close to halfway.
Enjoyable, but just not to the level of other books for this age range.
Enjoyable, but just not to the level of other books for this age range.
November 24, 2021
All three of the books in this series are absolutely delightful. I love Esther's (I mean, Moriarty's) writing style and how it is so easy to narrate in your head. This book is so well written and would make an excellent read-a-loud.
A masterclass in worldbuilding and character development.
I said this about the past books in this series as well, but it is so rewarding how no details are wasted. The way that everything fell into place at the end was great. I was happy to hear of how The plot moves at a great pace (love the short chapters!) and, just like the first two books, each has a complete adventure with a satisfying ending. No cliff hangers allowed.
Also, the quality of this book was amazing. Cover, font, paper quality? Impeccable. And I LOVE that it didn't have anything written on the back. So classy! They didn't have to make it that fancy, but they did.
Though the style and tone were distinctly unique, the warmth at the heart of this book was impressively nostalgic. It reminded me of how I felt reading the Percy Jackson or Harry Potter books for the first time as a kid.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A masterclass in worldbuilding and character development.
I said this about the past books in this series as well, but it is so rewarding how no details are wasted. The way that everything fell into place at the end was great. I was happy to hear of how The plot moves at a great pace (love the short chapters!) and, just like the first two books, each has a complete adventure with a satisfying ending. No cliff hangers allowed.
Also, the quality of this book was amazing. Cover, font, paper quality? Impeccable. And I LOVE that it didn't have anything written on the back. So classy! They didn't have to make it that fancy, but they did.
Though the style and tone were distinctly unique, the warmth at the heart of this book was impressively nostalgic. It reminded me of how I felt reading the Percy Jackson or Harry Potter books for the first time as a kid.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 28, 2023
Maybe the best book I've read all year! The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst made me feel the same feelings I felt when I read Harry Potter for the first time. This book is so well written and had me loving it from page one through the end. I cannot recommend highly enough.
P.S. This book would make an excellent read-a-loud.
2nd read: Man I really love this book. I listened to the audiobook this time and the narration was great. I highly recommend reading this book!! Still one of my all time favorites.
P.S. This book would make an excellent read-a-loud.
2nd read: Man I really love this book. I listened to the audiobook this time and the narration was great. I highly recommend reading this book!! Still one of my all time favorites.
March 27, 2023
This was such a wonderfully written addition to the Kingdoms and Empires series. The narration is done so naturally that I actually thought the character was the real author! I was really rooting for Esther the whole way through, she is so amusing and a really great main character
I loved especially how it really connected the other books together, especially how the second one was incorporated, which now makes sense as to why the second novel was told in the first place (because I did wonder when compared to the first one)
But seriously the last couple of chapters in the book...how does Jaclyn Moriarty write such brilliant twists!? I'm always blown away by the mysteries that are solved at the end of the books and how well everything gets connected.
The world is just soooo imaginative and unique! It makes me want their to be an "explorers guide to the kingdoms and empires" that would be fantastic! (wink, wink Jaclyn Moriarty) And oh the illustrations, they are just so perfectly charming and the style is well suited to the story. A perfect combo.
It's a light and humorous adventure but also tackles some darker aspects too that gives it more depth to the story. I could seriously read hundreds more of this series. A real page-turner!
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdEn62APT4X/
I loved especially how it really connected the other books together, especially how the second one was incorporated, which now makes sense as to why the second novel was told in the first place (because I did wonder when compared to the first one)
But seriously the last couple of chapters in the book...how does Jaclyn Moriarty write such brilliant twists!? I'm always blown away by the mysteries that are solved at the end of the books and how well everything gets connected.
The world is just soooo imaginative and unique! It makes me want their to be an "explorers guide to the kingdoms and empires" that would be fantastic! (wink, wink Jaclyn Moriarty) And oh the illustrations, they are just so perfectly charming and the style is well suited to the story. A perfect combo.
It's a light and humorous adventure but also tackles some darker aspects too that gives it more depth to the story. I could seriously read hundreds more of this series. A real page-turner!
IG Post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdEn62APT4X/
November 28, 2020
My first journey into the Kingdoms and Empires world and it won't be my last. I really had a hard time at first with the structure of the story, with the short sharp chapters and the call outs to the readers. It all felt too frenetic, over reaching but I am glad I persisted because the last three quarters of the book is magical and wraps everything up beautifully. One of the main strengths is the characters in the story, each very distinct and fully formed.
Australian YA literature is amongst the best in the world and this is a leading example.
Australian YA literature is amongst the best in the world and this is a leading example.
July 12, 2021
OH MY HEART.
I adored the first and second book so much and did not feel any book in this series could overtake my love of Bronte's book but Esther crept in there for this book and I adored every second. My heart was overjoyed but also breaking every moment Esther felt alone and sad.
I loved every twist and turn this story took us on and I highly highly hope that we get more in this series as I feel there is such a wealth of stories and adventures to explore.
I adored the first and second book so much and did not feel any book in this series could overtake my love of Bronte's book but Esther crept in there for this book and I adored every second. My heart was overjoyed but also breaking every moment Esther felt alone and sad.
I loved every twist and turn this story took us on and I highly highly hope that we get more in this series as I feel there is such a wealth of stories and adventures to explore.
October 18, 2020
Moriarty definitely has a way with words and a style all of her own. I have very much enjoyed the cheeky, eccentric vibe of the Bronte Mettlestone series and this addition was no exception. Very well done.
October 13, 2021
enjoyed it lots, except that there was a bit to much too much unpleasantness directed toward the main characeter, making her unhappy for me to really love it this first time through; I will probably like it more when I read it again 6 or 7 years or so down the line....
November 4, 2020
Wonderful. Loved it. Great ending.
May 15, 2023
I loved Esther as a narrator! She and her sisters Astrid and Imogen were favorites from the first book, so I was happy to get a book that focused more on them. Their father is wonderful, and their mother...not so much. I was glad to finally find out why she acts the way she does. It drove me crazy how her teacher Mrs. Pollack behaved, and a few times it affected my commute so much I arrived at my destination in a pretty dark mood. The explanation of why everyone put up with her made perfect sense, but her interactions with the students, especially Esther, were tough to get through.
This series is so fantastic on audio! The title details list Edward Killingback, Sarah Ovens, and Imogen Wilde as readers, but I could only distinguish one, and I thought it was Sarah Ovens narrating as Esther and doing a stellar job. If the others also contributed their voices, it was completely seamless when they switched, or possibly it happened when Esther's parents took over the narration briefly. I read those sections in a print copy when it was getting too good to wait for the next commute.
Moriarty writes like she's making everything up on the spot and trying to be as silly as possible, but all the bits and pieces come together, and you realize their significance as the resolutions start rolling in. This author is brilliant and funny, and she has a wild imagination. I wonder how long the series will continue and if Astrid and Imogen will also get books. I know there's one more after this, and I look forward to another great performance by excellent readers.
This series is so fantastic on audio! The title details list Edward Killingback, Sarah Ovens, and Imogen Wilde as readers, but I could only distinguish one, and I thought it was Sarah Ovens narrating as Esther and doing a stellar job. If the others also contributed their voices, it was completely seamless when they switched, or possibly it happened when Esther's parents took over the narration briefly. I read those sections in a print copy when it was getting too good to wait for the next commute.
Moriarty writes like she's making everything up on the spot and trying to be as silly as possible, but all the bits and pieces come together, and you realize their significance as the resolutions start rolling in. This author is brilliant and funny, and she has a wild imagination. I wonder how long the series will continue and if Astrid and Imogen will also get books. I know there's one more after this, and I look forward to another great performance by excellent readers.
September 24, 2021
Ester is a 6th grade girl at Katherine Valley Boarding School in a fantasy world that has Spellbinders, Shadow Mages, and Whisperers. Her new teacher is rumored to be an ogre from Horseshoe Island, but appears to be a harmless old lady, but as the story progresses there is an attack by Silver Foxes that are thwarted by a new classmate. Also, as much Ester likes her teacher there is something not right about her. Ester is also having a recurring nightmare that she can't quite figure out. A scary incident occurs as the local village is flooded by a wave of water. Ester starts figuring out along with her classmates and family figure out what might behind the mysterious incidents, and a shocking revelation for Ester. Why most of the fantasy elements occur off stage. Moriarty has constructed an entertaining fast paced fantasy/mystery story with a precocious heroine and a cadre of variously talented classmates and family members that help Ester put the puzzle pieces together. I didn't realize that this was a third book in a series, but Moriaty's other two books are stand alones, like this one that take place in the Kingdoms and Empires universe. The most fun I've had reading a children's fantasy in along time. The target audience is 10 to 12 year-olds, but fantasy lovers of all ages will like this book.
January 28, 2021
The stolen Prince of Cloudburst was a really good book and i loved it so much. When i read that there was a rumour that the grade 6 teacher was and ogre, i was like i knew it she's going to be an ogre and guess what! She was! i real;y like Ester and her youger sisters Astird and imogen there both relly good Astird cad read ppl to see if there lying and imogen is a really good swimmer, who saved 5 kids from a flood and that was amazing. The ogre was really mean to Ester and did a lot of things that were bad and there are a few funny bits in the book, but her 2 best friends are spellbinders! i really liked that. i like her father he is a genius. Her mother would always forget Ester and once left her on a rug for a day by herself which is why Ester kept on having the same dream 5 times a night and i was like thats me too! I sometimes have a dream too many time a night.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
Wonderful! A Great Stone Face nominee. I was worried that since it was the third set in the Kingdoms and Empires there might be things readers new to the series wouldn’t understand without reading the first two. It can absolutely be read as a stand alone, although I am glad I read The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Brontë Mettlestone last year. I will be going back to read the second book and recommending this one to all of my fourth and fifth grade students.
May 26, 2024
Jaclyn Moriarty is one of my favorite authors. This book was so good. It tied in with the other books in the series, but could very much stand on its own. Moriarty has such fun in her writing, but at the same time there is some real heartache, trauma, and tragedy in this book, and it comes across so very well. Magic, and comeuppance, and redemption.
March 30, 2021
Rich language and so well written, very engaging. Worthy of its CBCA shortlist status!!
June 28, 2023
4.5 stars
August 4, 2023
Kanske mer 4,5 stjärnor men jag älskade iallafall den!
January 17, 2022
Jaclyn Moriarty’s books are quirky, unique and entertaining. Although they are written for a younger audience, I really enjoy reading them as an adult.
December 14, 2023
I absolutely loved this book as a standalone, so I was shocked when I went to Goodreads and realized it’s a part of a series…
Esther Mettlestone-Staranise (love her name) loves to write books and stories… but she’s just Esther. Always feeling less than her sisters, and her friends, Esther must overcome her ill-placed insecurities and embrace her herself as a person just as good, or better than anyone around her.
I loved diving into the world of the kingdoms and empires! I also love all of the bright, sparky characters, and the beautiful prose, from Jaclyn Moriarty. Absolutely read this book! It will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fall in love with the characters.
Esther Mettlestone-Staranise (love her name) loves to write books and stories… but she’s just Esther. Always feeling less than her sisters, and her friends, Esther must overcome her ill-placed insecurities and embrace her herself as a person just as good, or better than anyone around her.
I loved diving into the world of the kingdoms and empires! I also love all of the bright, sparky characters, and the beautiful prose, from Jaclyn Moriarty. Absolutely read this book! It will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fall in love with the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2021
Loved it! A rich world explained simply through the story, with characters you really grow to love or hate. For such a long book I flew through it.
July 22, 2021
There were some great descriptions in the book, however it seemed to just go on and on, with no particular plot. It didn’t seem as if the story was going anywhere.
I guess an 8-10 year old might enjoy it?
I guess an 8-10 year old might enjoy it?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews