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The Explorers' Club #6
Explorers at Stardust City
Directly below was a sight none of them had ever seen before - a kind of spiral, with glowing ruby-red lights that curved outwards like tentacles.In the middle was a dark circle, inky black. It had the look of a really, really deep well.
Ursula and her friends are in a race against time. The Collector has taken Stella captive, and is hungrily snatching up all the beautiful places of the world in her snow globe prisons. She needs to be stopped, but first they must find her.
To aid them in their quest, the explorers seek help from new allies, including a Pirate Queen, with a ghost ship that can defy time and space, and then take to the skies in a galaxy fairy rocket. But their journey is fraught with danger, as the future of the planet hangs in the balance.
Escape into a sensational world filled with space moles, sea goblins and giant sharks, all covered with a sprinkling of moon dust!
Ursula and her friends are in a race against time. The Collector has taken Stella captive, and is hungrily snatching up all the beautiful places of the world in her snow globe prisons. She needs to be stopped, but first they must find her.
To aid them in their quest, the explorers seek help from new allies, including a Pirate Queen, with a ghost ship that can defy time and space, and then take to the skies in a galaxy fairy rocket. But their journey is fraught with danger, as the future of the planet hangs in the balance.
Escape into a sensational world filled with space moles, sea goblins and giant sharks, all covered with a sprinkling of moon dust!
389 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2022
9 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Alex Bell
45 books622 followersAlex Bell signed her first book deal at nineteen and, since then, has written multiple books for both adults and young people. After completing a law degree, she now works for a legal advice charity. Alex lives in Hampshire with her husband, sons and Sphynx cats. She also writes as Alexandra Bell.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 6, 2024
Nachdem ich mit Begeisterung die ersten fünf Bände gelesen hatte, war ich besonders gespannt auf den Abschluss der Reihe.
Während man zuerst mit dem Polar Bear Explorers Club mit gefiebert hat, spielen in den letzten drei Bänden hauptsächlich die vier Mitglieder des Ocean Squid Explorers Club eine Rolle. Eine tolle Besatzung unterschiedlicher Charaktere, die erstmal lernen müssen, miteinander auszukommen und sich zu vertrauen.
Sie alle wollen ihre Gegenspielerin aufhalten: Scarlett Sauvage, die einen perfiden Plan verfolgt. Da die Menschen die Umwelt so sehr schädigen und ohne Respekt und Rücksicht mit ihr umgehen, möchte sie diese bewahren. Allerdings nicht im guten Sinne, sondern sie tilgt sie sozusagen von der Erde und versteckt sie in magischen Schneekugeln, wo sie in einer ewigen Zeitschleife hängen. Vor Veränderungen sicher, aber auch eingefroren in der Zeit.
Die vier tapferen Freunde des Ocean Squid Explorers Club konnten mit Hilfe der anderen viele Plätze und Gefangenen befreien, allerdings hat Scarlett jetzt ein Mitglied ihrer Crew gefangen genommen, die in der Lage ist, neue Schneekugeln zu kreieren, so dass sie mit ihrem schrecklichen Vorhaben weiterzumachen kann.
Somit gehen Jay, Max, Genie und Ursula auf eine neue, gefährliche Expedition, und müssen als erstes Stardust City befreien, das Refugium der Galaxy Fairies, mit deren Hilfe sie Scarlett umso schneller finden können. Auf dem Weg dorthin begegnen ihnen einige Gefahren und ich kann nur wieder die originelle und phantastischen Ideen der Autorin bewundern, die so viele witzige und spannende Einfälle hat.
Der kurze Ausflug ins All, der den Namen der Galaxy Fairies gerechtfertigt, war zwar etwas unnötig, trägt aber, wie bei allen Entwicklungen in den ganzen Bänden der Reihe, dennoch eine wichtige Aussage in sich.
"... Not all places welcome visitors and that´s their right. We always leave immediately if we realise we´re not wanted."
ZItat Seite 114
Gerade die vielen Botschaften, die in diesen Geschichten stecken, sind oft sehr berührend. Die Begegnung mit den Galaxy Fairies zeigen, wie sensibel diese bei ihren Forschungsreisen vorgehen und wie respektvoll sie mit neuen Gegenden und deren Bewohnern umgehen.
Das entspricht nicht dem alten und konservativen Vorgehen der anderen Explorer Clubs, die in ihren Clubhäusern gerne Trophäen und ähnliches sammeln, auch ausgestopfte Tiere aus fernen Teilen der Welt, was allen jungen Entdeckern gehörig gegen den Strich geht. Überhaupt ist vieles in alten Bahnen festgefahren und die junge Generation versucht natürlich, diese Muster aufzubrechen, um Platz für neues zu schaffen.
Auch Stellas Vater, Felix, kommt wieder zu Wort. Seine Einsichten sind immer so schön und liebenswert und berührend. Vor allem als er damit hadert, Stella damals adoptiert zu haben und sie durch seine Arbeit in diese Situation gebracht zu haben. Was wäre wenn Fragen, die an sich nichts bringen, man sich aber dennoch immer wieder stellt. Hätte man etwas ändern können? Hätte man anders entscheiden sollen?
Müßige Fragen, die aber immer wieder auftauchen, die man aber getrost ablegen kann. Ändern kann man nur, was man Jetzt! tut.
"And this is where it becomes difficult," Felix went on. "In seeking to avoid one evil, we inadvertently commit another."
Zitat Seite 207
Gegen Ende gab es nochmal viel Spannung, da die Entwicklungen mit kleinen Twists in Frage gestellt wurden und so müssen die jungen Entdecker eine Menge Mut und Vertrauen beweisen, um schließlich alles zum Guten zu wenden.
Ein schöner Abschluss dieser witzigen, originellen, phantasiereichen Reihe mit unterschiedlichen Charakteren, wichtigen Botschaften und fesselnder Erzählweise. Hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen!
Weltenwanderer
Während man zuerst mit dem Polar Bear Explorers Club mit gefiebert hat, spielen in den letzten drei Bänden hauptsächlich die vier Mitglieder des Ocean Squid Explorers Club eine Rolle. Eine tolle Besatzung unterschiedlicher Charaktere, die erstmal lernen müssen, miteinander auszukommen und sich zu vertrauen.
Sie alle wollen ihre Gegenspielerin aufhalten: Scarlett Sauvage, die einen perfiden Plan verfolgt. Da die Menschen die Umwelt so sehr schädigen und ohne Respekt und Rücksicht mit ihr umgehen, möchte sie diese bewahren. Allerdings nicht im guten Sinne, sondern sie tilgt sie sozusagen von der Erde und versteckt sie in magischen Schneekugeln, wo sie in einer ewigen Zeitschleife hängen. Vor Veränderungen sicher, aber auch eingefroren in der Zeit.
Die vier tapferen Freunde des Ocean Squid Explorers Club konnten mit Hilfe der anderen viele Plätze und Gefangenen befreien, allerdings hat Scarlett jetzt ein Mitglied ihrer Crew gefangen genommen, die in der Lage ist, neue Schneekugeln zu kreieren, so dass sie mit ihrem schrecklichen Vorhaben weiterzumachen kann.
Somit gehen Jay, Max, Genie und Ursula auf eine neue, gefährliche Expedition, und müssen als erstes Stardust City befreien, das Refugium der Galaxy Fairies, mit deren Hilfe sie Scarlett umso schneller finden können. Auf dem Weg dorthin begegnen ihnen einige Gefahren und ich kann nur wieder die originelle und phantastischen Ideen der Autorin bewundern, die so viele witzige und spannende Einfälle hat.
Der kurze Ausflug ins All, der den Namen der Galaxy Fairies gerechtfertigt, war zwar etwas unnötig, trägt aber, wie bei allen Entwicklungen in den ganzen Bänden der Reihe, dennoch eine wichtige Aussage in sich.
"... Not all places welcome visitors and that´s their right. We always leave immediately if we realise we´re not wanted."
ZItat Seite 114
Gerade die vielen Botschaften, die in diesen Geschichten stecken, sind oft sehr berührend. Die Begegnung mit den Galaxy Fairies zeigen, wie sensibel diese bei ihren Forschungsreisen vorgehen und wie respektvoll sie mit neuen Gegenden und deren Bewohnern umgehen.
Das entspricht nicht dem alten und konservativen Vorgehen der anderen Explorer Clubs, die in ihren Clubhäusern gerne Trophäen und ähnliches sammeln, auch ausgestopfte Tiere aus fernen Teilen der Welt, was allen jungen Entdeckern gehörig gegen den Strich geht. Überhaupt ist vieles in alten Bahnen festgefahren und die junge Generation versucht natürlich, diese Muster aufzubrechen, um Platz für neues zu schaffen.
Auch Stellas Vater, Felix, kommt wieder zu Wort. Seine Einsichten sind immer so schön und liebenswert und berührend. Vor allem als er damit hadert, Stella damals adoptiert zu haben und sie durch seine Arbeit in diese Situation gebracht zu haben. Was wäre wenn Fragen, die an sich nichts bringen, man sich aber dennoch immer wieder stellt. Hätte man etwas ändern können? Hätte man anders entscheiden sollen?
Müßige Fragen, die aber immer wieder auftauchen, die man aber getrost ablegen kann. Ändern kann man nur, was man Jetzt! tut.
"And this is where it becomes difficult," Felix went on. "In seeking to avoid one evil, we inadvertently commit another."
Zitat Seite 207
Gegen Ende gab es nochmal viel Spannung, da die Entwicklungen mit kleinen Twists in Frage gestellt wurden und so müssen die jungen Entdecker eine Menge Mut und Vertrauen beweisen, um schließlich alles zum Guten zu wenden.
Ein schöner Abschluss dieser witzigen, originellen, phantasiereichen Reihe mit unterschiedlichen Charakteren, wichtigen Botschaften und fesselnder Erzählweise. Hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen!
Weltenwanderer
November 6, 2022
CAWPILE 7.43
Really enjoyed this latest (and last???) installment of the Explorers club.
I really like Ursula, she's grown on me and and the discussions about conservation and how explorers and indeed nations haven't always done the right things in the past while exploring and stealing peoples things was really well approached and written for a MG audience.
I hope this isn't the last installment as I adore this series and I'm really excited to see what Alex Bell will write next.
Really enjoyed this latest (and last???) installment of the Explorers club.
I really like Ursula, she's grown on me and and the discussions about conservation and how explorers and indeed nations haven't always done the right things in the past while exploring and stealing peoples things was really well approached and written for a MG audience.
I hope this isn't the last installment as I adore this series and I'm really excited to see what Alex Bell will write next.
January 25, 2024
Loved this, this series is so nostalgic for me, and I loved Jai’s moments in this book but there were some glaring continuity errors and it sometimes felt like solutions to problems just got handed to the characters w/o working for them or the groundwork being laid for them to appear. Happy too see Felix again though.
Edit: 2024 - 2 - 2.5 stars
Ok, slightly more honest review. I adore this series, I really do. I was a bit surprised when the books shifted focus to different characters, but I did love them and thought they would eventually combine. However, with the last three books I think the writing just declined. None of these characters had any nuanced development, the conflict is non-existent and ludicrous, and I just think the end of the books felt emotionally flat. In comparison to the sparking first series, I just felt a little letdown. I also think the fact that none of the characters aged was a real issue - I was the target audience for the first book when it came out, yet I felt too old for this one because the characters haven’t matured or changed at all. I don’t know, I still love it to death, but more for the concept than the execution. Alex Bell’s work will always be special to me nonetheless.
Edit: 2024 - 2 - 2.5 stars
Ok, slightly more honest review. I adore this series, I really do. I was a bit surprised when the books shifted focus to different characters, but I did love them and thought they would eventually combine. However, with the last three books I think the writing just declined. None of these characters had any nuanced development, the conflict is non-existent and ludicrous, and I just think the end of the books felt emotionally flat. In comparison to the sparking first series, I just felt a little letdown. I also think the fact that none of the characters aged was a real issue - I was the target audience for the first book when it came out, yet I felt too old for this one because the characters haven’t matured or changed at all. I don’t know, I still love it to death, but more for the concept than the execution. Alex Bell’s work will always be special to me nonetheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2023
5 stars just like the rest of them. but i really do hope that this series ends here because it'll feel a bit repetitive just like this part of the series (ocean squid). i love it just how it is, and i would actually enjoy this series more, knowing that it was a nice journey and that it's not continuing.
February 28, 2023
Possibly one of the first time I give one star for a book that I was looking forward to so much.
This book takes the magical and exciting and turns it into a dull trip into pure boredom.
I say this with true sadness as I have loved the Explorer series from book one, it's become one of my favorite series that I read every year. Although I liked the Polar Bear series most I was looking forward to more trilogies about the other clubs.
The first book about the Ocean Squid club was only beginning to unravel the characters but it held the promise of more to come. The second book was weaker but still interesting, but this one... it was almost as if someone else had written it.
While the other books managed to take the unlikely and make it magical, this book was simply cringeworthy.
Fantastic creatures and magic can be extraordinary and fun if they come as a surprise, they should add something extraordinary to the book. This books pops something new (and increasingly ridiculous) from behind every corner.
It was one step away from unicorns pooping rainbows. It's not even funny.
At the same time magical creatures such as fairies are turned into lilliput versions of a modern humans.
What happened to the magic of the previous books?
Character development has officially dropped to zero. Most of the book seem to be a filler for the last chapters. And like someone mentioned before, there's hardly any adventure to talk of as the characters just get handed every solution on a plate.
The one star is for that few last pages, it's the only part that reminded me of what the book should have been. Otherwise this would have zero stars.
I've rarely been so dissappointed by a sequel. I'm just glad I borrowed it at the library first before buying it.
It's also one of the first books that I wish that the author would rewrite, because I really, really like this series and it's just sad that this book completely missed the mark.
This book takes the magical and exciting and turns it into a dull trip into pure boredom.
I say this with true sadness as I have loved the Explorer series from book one, it's become one of my favorite series that I read every year. Although I liked the Polar Bear series most I was looking forward to more trilogies about the other clubs.
The first book about the Ocean Squid club was only beginning to unravel the characters but it held the promise of more to come. The second book was weaker but still interesting, but this one... it was almost as if someone else had written it.
While the other books managed to take the unlikely and make it magical, this book was simply cringeworthy.
Fantastic creatures and magic can be extraordinary and fun if they come as a surprise, they should add something extraordinary to the book. This books pops something new (and increasingly ridiculous) from behind every corner.
It was one step away from unicorns pooping rainbows. It's not even funny.
At the same time magical creatures such as fairies are turned into lilliput versions of a modern humans.
What happened to the magic of the previous books?
Character development has officially dropped to zero. Most of the book seem to be a filler for the last chapters. And like someone mentioned before, there's hardly any adventure to talk of as the characters just get handed every solution on a plate.
The one star is for that few last pages, it's the only part that reminded me of what the book should have been. Otherwise this would have zero stars.
I've rarely been so dissappointed by a sequel. I'm just glad I borrowed it at the library first before buying it.
It's also one of the first books that I wish that the author would rewrite, because I really, really like this series and it's just sad that this book completely missed the mark.
January 9, 2023
Number: 7
Inspiration: love the series
Rating: ***
Review: This is such a difficult review for me because I absolutely love this series and the previous 5 books have all been rated four or five stars by me. I wanted to love this book just as much but honestly just found myself a little bored. I read this on BorrowBox and of the 471 pages, it felt that 320 or so pages were literally just reading the characters travel from one place to another before actually doing the thing they planned to do, which is what happened in the last book and then the ending is wrapped up in less than 100 pages and yet the issue is still not resolved. I am just finding the series a little bit repetitive at this point and I honestly miss my OG characters of Stella and her crew. I can see another book coming after this and i'm not entirely sure i'll be reading it.
Bookshelf: debating.
Inspiration: love the series
Rating: ***
Review: This is such a difficult review for me because I absolutely love this series and the previous 5 books have all been rated four or five stars by me. I wanted to love this book just as much but honestly just found myself a little bored. I read this on BorrowBox and of the 471 pages, it felt that 320 or so pages were literally just reading the characters travel from one place to another before actually doing the thing they planned to do, which is what happened in the last book and then the ending is wrapped up in less than 100 pages and yet the issue is still not resolved. I am just finding the series a little bit repetitive at this point and I honestly miss my OG characters of Stella and her crew. I can see another book coming after this and i'm not entirely sure i'll be reading it.
Bookshelf: debating.
January 7, 2024
I've seen a lot of reviews saying this was the worst installment in the series and that it was one convenient escape after another, but I don't think it felt more convenient than other books. I'd say there were more traps so I guess I could see why lucky escapes were more visible.
April 2, 2023
The final? Maybe? Book in this series follows our intrepid Ocean Squid explorers as they go on one final quest to secure the help of the galaxy fairies and try to stop The Collector once and for all. Full of all kinds of imaginative folly, Alex Bell delivers once again.
December 3, 2023
wow, just wow
December 20, 2024
A fantastic finale! Very good, I love the characters!
October 27, 2024
A fun adventure story, although by this point the books are starting to feel more than a bit repetitive. I did like the way the two "trilogies" merged and we got to see the characters come together.
I feel like the series had come to its conclusion, so I'm disappointed with what happened at the very end. It left room for more books to come but I feel like any further books would just be dragging out the series.
I feel like the series had come to its conclusion, so I'm disappointed with what happened at the very end. It left room for more books to come but I feel like any further books would just be dragging out the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews