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The Bernovem Chronicles #1
The Warble
Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift that transports her to the land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, she is honored as “the chosen one” the only one who can release the land from Queen Sentiz’s control. To save Bernovem, she must place the gift she was given, the famous “Warble” in its resting place. She must travel through the deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by the queen’s “zelbocks” before reaching her destination. Dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, a prince, and an evil queen; all these and more can be found in The Warble, an enchanting tale of intrigue and adventure.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2009
31 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Simcox
21 books129 followersVictoria Simcox is a 1st Place Story Monsters Royal Dragonfly Award–winning author. A former elementary art teacher, Victoria enjoys writing, reading, watercolor painting, and blending humor into her fantasy and faith-inspired stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 4, 2016
This book turned out to be more fun than expected. When I got this book, I was thinking it would simply be a pre-teen/young teen book that my niece could enjoy. What I didn't expect is how much I enjoyed it!
The book starts off in current time with Kristina leaving school when her teacher gives her a hat box. That night, she hears a strange noise and soon finds herself in another world, not her own! A world filled with fairies, gnomes, dwarves and a wicked queen! She is told that she must save the land from the false queen and break the curse that has dwelled over the land. Lucky for her she is not alone. She has her pet rat, Raymond with her. And in this new land he can now talk!
So the journey begins. Along the way she meets up with Prince Werrien, Clover, the raven Roage (a character I easily came to love), and more. Yet she is not the only one to enter this strange world. Two of her classmates (and school bullies) and her nasty baby-sitter also find themselves in this new place. Yet Kristina does not realize they too are there so these three become easy targets for the queen.
This leads to my favorite line in the book when the Queen and her son learn of the humans arrival. "They're popping up like a bad skin rash" I couldn't help but laugh at that. The son, Ramon, just seems so flabbergasted at the idea of humans.
So the chessboard is set and the pieces move. Yet they refuse to follow the rules! So many characters switch sides, good to bad and bad to good. You never know who to trust. I loved this as a reader. It really keeps you guessing.
The evil queen reminded me strongly of the Queen from 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.' Especially when her servant is trying to row her across the water, and a storm kicks up he is stuck rushing to keep water out of the boat while she just sits there. Really?! So then she became the Lazy, evil queen.
Overall, very nicely done. Easy enough for an older child (say age 9-10) to read, but with enough plot and context for teenagers and even adults with an inner child yearning for those magical days once again.
I won this book in a raffle giveaway. This is a fair and honest review.
The book starts off in current time with Kristina leaving school when her teacher gives her a hat box. That night, she hears a strange noise and soon finds herself in another world, not her own! A world filled with fairies, gnomes, dwarves and a wicked queen! She is told that she must save the land from the false queen and break the curse that has dwelled over the land. Lucky for her she is not alone. She has her pet rat, Raymond with her. And in this new land he can now talk!
So the journey begins. Along the way she meets up with Prince Werrien, Clover, the raven Roage (a character I easily came to love), and more. Yet she is not the only one to enter this strange world. Two of her classmates (and school bullies) and her nasty baby-sitter also find themselves in this new place. Yet Kristina does not realize they too are there so these three become easy targets for the queen.
This leads to my favorite line in the book when the Queen and her son learn of the humans arrival. "They're popping up like a bad skin rash" I couldn't help but laugh at that. The son, Ramon, just seems so flabbergasted at the idea of humans.
So the chessboard is set and the pieces move. Yet they refuse to follow the rules! So many characters switch sides, good to bad and bad to good. You never know who to trust. I loved this as a reader. It really keeps you guessing.
The evil queen reminded me strongly of the Queen from 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.' Especially when her servant is trying to row her across the water, and a storm kicks up he is stuck rushing to keep water out of the boat while she just sits there. Really?! So then she became the Lazy, evil queen.
Overall, very nicely done. Easy enough for an older child (say age 9-10) to read, but with enough plot and context for teenagers and even adults with an inner child yearning for those magical days once again.
I won this book in a raffle giveaway. This is a fair and honest review.
December 10, 2009
Actually 3.5 Stars
*may include spoilers for some only the beginning premise is revealed*
Kristina is a smart girl on the verge of being a teenager, but is essentially still a child. She is slightly awkward, wearing mismatched socks and a bit of an outcast at school. Her best friend is her rat, Raymond.
On the last day of school before Christmas vacation her teacher gives her a mysterious present – an unusual and light filled globe. She dismisses it until she falls into another realm through her family’s laundry shoot. There she discovers that she is in fact in the possession of a “Magic Warble”. It will save this fantastic realm from a very evil and heartless queen and she alone is responsible for replacing it in its rightful spot.
As the story enfolds Kristina will be helped and hindered by others on her journey. These characters are a displaced prince, a jealous fairy, misguided gnomes, conflicted dwarves, talking animals, monsters with horrible breath, and some of the friends whom at school view her as a wall flower - whom have also been pulled magically into this world.
This Magic Warble is a sweet introduction to fantasy for preteens and younger, especially girls. I can see a young person enjoying it by either reading it themselves or having it read to them. There are pictures strategically placed within the writing which is good for a younger reader helping them visualize. The language is mild and easy to follow. There is only a slight amount of violence, a few clichés, and one generalization that I noted about women mentioned. The main message is clearly of a moral nature, and the author succeeds in supporting the belief that faith is important. It is a lovely and mostly light story.
*may include spoilers for some only the beginning premise is revealed*
Kristina is a smart girl on the verge of being a teenager, but is essentially still a child. She is slightly awkward, wearing mismatched socks and a bit of an outcast at school. Her best friend is her rat, Raymond.
On the last day of school before Christmas vacation her teacher gives her a mysterious present – an unusual and light filled globe. She dismisses it until she falls into another realm through her family’s laundry shoot. There she discovers that she is in fact in the possession of a “Magic Warble”. It will save this fantastic realm from a very evil and heartless queen and she alone is responsible for replacing it in its rightful spot.
As the story enfolds Kristina will be helped and hindered by others on her journey. These characters are a displaced prince, a jealous fairy, misguided gnomes, conflicted dwarves, talking animals, monsters with horrible breath, and some of the friends whom at school view her as a wall flower - whom have also been pulled magically into this world.
This Magic Warble is a sweet introduction to fantasy for preteens and younger, especially girls. I can see a young person enjoying it by either reading it themselves or having it read to them. There are pictures strategically placed within the writing which is good for a younger reader helping them visualize. The language is mild and easy to follow. There is only a slight amount of violence, a few clichés, and one generalization that I noted about women mentioned. The main message is clearly of a moral nature, and the author succeeds in supporting the belief that faith is important. It is a lovely and mostly light story.
August 15, 2016
A great fantasy adventure for young adults. Kristina, the bullied girl at school, receives a Christmas present from her teacher. She doesn't open it until it begins to make noise during the night. In the old hat box, she finds a rusty ball. It continues to vibrate and rolls down the laundry chute. Kristina soon follows and finds herself in another land, where there are dwarfs, gnomes, zelbocks, and an evil queen. She meets Rumalock, a dwarf, who explains to her that whoever touches the special ball, the Warble, will follow her to Bernovem. She learns that she must embark on a journey to bring the Warble to its rightful place.
Not only do her bullies from school join her in Benroven, but so does her pet rat, Raymond, who speaks like all the other animals in this fantasy land. She meets Prince Warrien, who helps her on her quest. She meets faeries, who help her. Once the Warble is safe, the evil queen will lose power and fairy blossoms could be planted once again. These blossoms keep the faeries young.
The queen sends out her zelbocks, ugly creatures, to try to stop Katrina and Warrien. This part of the story reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, where the queen sends out her flying monkeys. This queen also uses a crystal ball to see where her prey is.
Not only do her bullies from school join her in Benroven, but so does her pet rat, Raymond, who speaks like all the other animals in this fantasy land. She meets Prince Warrien, who helps her on her quest. She meets faeries, who help her. Once the Warble is safe, the evil queen will lose power and fairy blossoms could be planted once again. These blossoms keep the faeries young.
The queen sends out her zelbocks, ugly creatures, to try to stop Katrina and Warrien. This part of the story reminds me of the Wizard of Oz, where the queen sends out her flying monkeys. This queen also uses a crystal ball to see where her prey is.
May 25, 2013
My daughter (10) and I read and reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. She gave it 5 stars and Mom gave it 4 stars. Here's what we thought:
MOM SAYS:
What’s it About?
The Magic Warble transports the central character in the story, Kristina, to the fantasy world of Bernovem along with three others who regularly bully her. Only there does Kristina learn that it is her destiny to break a magical spell placed on the land which has made the King disappear and which has imprisoned the Queen. Ruling the land is the evil Queen Sentiz, who with the help of her son Prince Ramon and her evil minions, the zelbocks, will stop at nothing to prevent Kristina from breaking the spell.
Kristina sets off on her quest to place the magic warble in its final resting place ultimately releasing the people, gnomes, dwarfs, fairies, and other creatures of Bernovem from the cruelty of Queen Sentiz. Along the way, Kristina enlists the help of the true Prince of Bernovem, Werrien, some spunky fairies, talking animals, and helpful dwarfs and gnomes. But, not everyone is who they seem to be and Kristina must learn to distinguish friend from foe. And, what will Kristina do when she learns that her three tormentors have been captured by the evil Queen?
My Thoughts:
Victoria Simcox has created an intricate and imaginative world in Bernovem filled with elements of magic; fantastical creatures such as dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, and zelbocks; and the classic theme of good versus evil. The complex plot features a likable and strong female main character in Kristina and is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As a reader, I had many moments of “I did not see that coming.” Victoria Simcox is an excellent story-teller.
Kristina, the main character in the book, is a 12 year old girl who is awkward, has very few friends, and is a bit of a loner. This is a classic tale of the introduction of a young girl who suffers from low self-esteem who is thrust in a hero role in an alternate world. Isn’t this the fantasy we all have as tweens/teens? I think many tweens and teens would identify with how Kristina feels and how her character develops as her self-confidence grows.
There is an extensive supporting cast of characters in the book ranging from the children who are mean to her in her real world; to the people, animals, and magical creatures who help her along the way; to the evil characters who live in Bernovem; and finally, to the characters who turn out to not be who we think they are. I think that, overall, the range and depth of the characters added to the enjoyment of the story; but I do feel that sometimes the characters were a bit over-the-top and stereotypically mean with few redeeming traits. That felt ok for some characters such as Queen Sentiz, but sometimes it made me uncomfortable with the descriptions of the children (Hester, Davina, and Graham) and how they treated each other.
On the other hand, the transformation of Ugan the dwarf, including detailed descriptions of his thought processes, I felt was very well done. With respect to character development, we witnessed significant changes with Ugan and Kristina, but it seems that the three children (Hester, Davina, and Graham) did not develop as characters. Their experiences didn’t change them: they were just as mean to each other afterwards. I was a bit disappointed by that. Although, having read the next book, The Black Shard I know that they were indeed transformed by their experiences.
The story itself is thoroughly exciting and engaging. It is a really fun adventure filled with many side stories as the history of Bernovem is revealed and we learn more about the people and creatures of this magical land. There are many unexpected plot twists, but everything really ties together nicely at the end of the book. That being said, I do feel that the disappearance and re-appearance of Graham was a bit rushed and it felt out of sequence with the rest of the story.
I thought the cover art was beautiful and that it really captured the feel of the fantasy-filled story. There are also 1 to 2 simple pencil drawings per chapter (that’s Davina to the right) and these really help bring the story to life. I think that drawings (and preferably simple ones) go a long way in helping children “see” a story. I do feel that middle grade books still need to include illustrations as a transition from picture books and early chapter books, to books for teens and adults which rarely have pictures. I really appreciated the artwork and felt they were completely appropriate for this book.
My bottom line:
The Magic Warble is a well-written, fun, fantasy-filled adventure that has an interesting and twisting plot-line and a colourful collection of characters. I really enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. I think any tween or teen who loves reading stories filled with magic and fantastical creatures and who love to be surprised at every turn will really enjoy this book. Ages 9+.
DAUGHTER SAYS:
A warble is a magic ball that changes colour. It also breaks a spell that was cast over the kingdom. It turns into something but I don’t want to give it away. I thought the cover was really cool and I liked that there were lots of pictures on the inside. Kristina (the main character) is a 12 year old girl. She sometimes reminded me of me and how people at school sometimes treat me. I liked her a lot. My favorite part of the book was at the end when something special happens to the Magic Warble. It is really cool, but it’s a surprise so I don’t want to say what it is. I didn’t like the part where one of the characters turns out to be mean and evil. Someone is not who you expect them to be. It made me sad and mad to read that part.
I really, really, really loved this book. I loved that it had magic, a long adventure, and that there were completely unexpected things that happen. Some things you just couldn’t predict would happen. I would recommend this book to kids 8 and up, both boys and girls.
*** This book was provided to us free-of-charge by the author exchange for an honest review.***
MOM SAYS:
What’s it About?
The Magic Warble transports the central character in the story, Kristina, to the fantasy world of Bernovem along with three others who regularly bully her. Only there does Kristina learn that it is her destiny to break a magical spell placed on the land which has made the King disappear and which has imprisoned the Queen. Ruling the land is the evil Queen Sentiz, who with the help of her son Prince Ramon and her evil minions, the zelbocks, will stop at nothing to prevent Kristina from breaking the spell.
Kristina sets off on her quest to place the magic warble in its final resting place ultimately releasing the people, gnomes, dwarfs, fairies, and other creatures of Bernovem from the cruelty of Queen Sentiz. Along the way, Kristina enlists the help of the true Prince of Bernovem, Werrien, some spunky fairies, talking animals, and helpful dwarfs and gnomes. But, not everyone is who they seem to be and Kristina must learn to distinguish friend from foe. And, what will Kristina do when she learns that her three tormentors have been captured by the evil Queen?
My Thoughts:
Victoria Simcox has created an intricate and imaginative world in Bernovem filled with elements of magic; fantastical creatures such as dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, and zelbocks; and the classic theme of good versus evil. The complex plot features a likable and strong female main character in Kristina and is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As a reader, I had many moments of “I did not see that coming.” Victoria Simcox is an excellent story-teller.
Kristina, the main character in the book, is a 12 year old girl who is awkward, has very few friends, and is a bit of a loner. This is a classic tale of the introduction of a young girl who suffers from low self-esteem who is thrust in a hero role in an alternate world. Isn’t this the fantasy we all have as tweens/teens? I think many tweens and teens would identify with how Kristina feels and how her character develops as her self-confidence grows.
There is an extensive supporting cast of characters in the book ranging from the children who are mean to her in her real world; to the people, animals, and magical creatures who help her along the way; to the evil characters who live in Bernovem; and finally, to the characters who turn out to not be who we think they are. I think that, overall, the range and depth of the characters added to the enjoyment of the story; but I do feel that sometimes the characters were a bit over-the-top and stereotypically mean with few redeeming traits. That felt ok for some characters such as Queen Sentiz, but sometimes it made me uncomfortable with the descriptions of the children (Hester, Davina, and Graham) and how they treated each other.
On the other hand, the transformation of Ugan the dwarf, including detailed descriptions of his thought processes, I felt was very well done. With respect to character development, we witnessed significant changes with Ugan and Kristina, but it seems that the three children (Hester, Davina, and Graham) did not develop as characters. Their experiences didn’t change them: they were just as mean to each other afterwards. I was a bit disappointed by that. Although, having read the next book, The Black Shard I know that they were indeed transformed by their experiences.
The story itself is thoroughly exciting and engaging. It is a really fun adventure filled with many side stories as the history of Bernovem is revealed and we learn more about the people and creatures of this magical land. There are many unexpected plot twists, but everything really ties together nicely at the end of the book. That being said, I do feel that the disappearance and re-appearance of Graham was a bit rushed and it felt out of sequence with the rest of the story.
I thought the cover art was beautiful and that it really captured the feel of the fantasy-filled story. There are also 1 to 2 simple pencil drawings per chapter (that’s Davina to the right) and these really help bring the story to life. I think that drawings (and preferably simple ones) go a long way in helping children “see” a story. I do feel that middle grade books still need to include illustrations as a transition from picture books and early chapter books, to books for teens and adults which rarely have pictures. I really appreciated the artwork and felt they were completely appropriate for this book.
My bottom line:
The Magic Warble is a well-written, fun, fantasy-filled adventure that has an interesting and twisting plot-line and a colourful collection of characters. I really enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. I think any tween or teen who loves reading stories filled with magic and fantastical creatures and who love to be surprised at every turn will really enjoy this book. Ages 9+.
DAUGHTER SAYS:
A warble is a magic ball that changes colour. It also breaks a spell that was cast over the kingdom. It turns into something but I don’t want to give it away. I thought the cover was really cool and I liked that there were lots of pictures on the inside. Kristina (the main character) is a 12 year old girl. She sometimes reminded me of me and how people at school sometimes treat me. I liked her a lot. My favorite part of the book was at the end when something special happens to the Magic Warble. It is really cool, but it’s a surprise so I don’t want to say what it is. I didn’t like the part where one of the characters turns out to be mean and evil. Someone is not who you expect them to be. It made me sad and mad to read that part.
I really, really, really loved this book. I loved that it had magic, a long adventure, and that there were completely unexpected things that happen. Some things you just couldn’t predict would happen. I would recommend this book to kids 8 and up, both boys and girls.
*** This book was provided to us free-of-charge by the author exchange for an honest review.***
June 11, 2010
The Magic Warble is a magical tale of featuring all sorts of fantastical creatures-- from gnomes to fairies and everything in between. This incredibly creative tale follows a young girl searching for her place in the world. Thanks to some challenging adventures and amazing new friends, she learns to accept herself for who she is. This is novel was a surprise for me. I am not sure exactly what I was expecting going into the novel, but I know that whatever it was, it was not what I got. Thanks to all the elements meshing so well together, readers of all ages have a delightfully entertaining read in this novel.
This was a really quick and absorbing read featuring amazing messages for its readers, such as: friendship, hope, etc. While I really enjoyed the plot, I think that the novel's characters made this novel. They were very easy to relate to as well as just fun to read about. All in all, The Magic Warble is one of those rare novels that once you starting you do not want to stop. This novel is a must read for fantasy lovers and any readers wanting a great escape.
This was a really quick and absorbing read featuring amazing messages for its readers, such as: friendship, hope, etc. While I really enjoyed the plot, I think that the novel's characters made this novel. They were very easy to relate to as well as just fun to read about. All in all, The Magic Warble is one of those rare novels that once you starting you do not want to stop. This novel is a must read for fantasy lovers and any readers wanting a great escape.
July 17, 2015
A Fantastical Adventure
While I read many genres, I’ve read very little fantasy. However after reading Victoria Simcox’s The Warble, perhaps I’ve been missing something!
I had an immediate connection to The Warble’s young heroine Kristina; a confident young woman who feels comfortable in her own skin. She has strength, integrity and empathy that make her an excellent role model, especially for young girls. When I began reading the novel I was reminded of a favorite book from my own childhood, Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.
Kristina finds herself mysteriously transported to the world of Bermoven; a place where there are gnomes, fairies, dwarfs, an evil queen, and a young prince. This is a place where animals talk. But Kristina is not brought to this place to enjoy the scenery. She has been brought to Bermovem on a mission to lift the curse that has been cast over this land by an evil queen. In Kristina’s world she may be teased and bullied by others, but in this realm she is considered the chosen one who will help to save Bernovem and allow the rightful monarchs to return to power. As Kristina embarks on her journey her mental and physical strengths are revealed and tested.
I enjoyed the themes of friendship, good versus evil and humility.
Victoria has also created a variety of well-defined characters which are not always found in books for younger readers. In addition to Kristina, I enjoyed the humorous Raymond and the wise Roage.
The Warble is a story full of adventure and imagination. This is wonderful novel for young readers, while as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed Victoria’s creative story, rich characters and a brief and welcomed escape from my own life!
While I read many genres, I’ve read very little fantasy. However after reading Victoria Simcox’s The Warble, perhaps I’ve been missing something!
I had an immediate connection to The Warble’s young heroine Kristina; a confident young woman who feels comfortable in her own skin. She has strength, integrity and empathy that make her an excellent role model, especially for young girls. When I began reading the novel I was reminded of a favorite book from my own childhood, Madeline L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.
Kristina finds herself mysteriously transported to the world of Bermoven; a place where there are gnomes, fairies, dwarfs, an evil queen, and a young prince. This is a place where animals talk. But Kristina is not brought to this place to enjoy the scenery. She has been brought to Bermovem on a mission to lift the curse that has been cast over this land by an evil queen. In Kristina’s world she may be teased and bullied by others, but in this realm she is considered the chosen one who will help to save Bernovem and allow the rightful monarchs to return to power. As Kristina embarks on her journey her mental and physical strengths are revealed and tested.
I enjoyed the themes of friendship, good versus evil and humility.
Victoria has also created a variety of well-defined characters which are not always found in books for younger readers. In addition to Kristina, I enjoyed the humorous Raymond and the wise Roage.
The Warble is a story full of adventure and imagination. This is wonderful novel for young readers, while as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed Victoria’s creative story, rich characters and a brief and welcomed escape from my own life!
May 30, 2016
Delightful Adventure
This is a delightful book that I would recommend for the younger set. It reminded me very much of the classic Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
Maybe a bit like Alice in Wonderland, too, yet with a unique flavor of its own.
The tale centers around 12-year-old girl named Kristina, who is transported to a magical land by the power of the Warble, a mysterious jewel. Accompanied by her pet rat, Raymond, she meets a world of interesting creatures, to include talking animals. There is Remalock, a dwarf, Prince Werrien and faries named Clover and Looper, to name a few. There are also evil beings to include a wicked queen. Oh, she has to fulfill a quest to save this enchanted land, against all odds.
I very much enjoyed the tale and am sure it will become a classic. Get this for the younger readers on your list, but adults with a sense of wonder will like it too.
This is a delightful book that I would recommend for the younger set. It reminded me very much of the classic Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
Maybe a bit like Alice in Wonderland, too, yet with a unique flavor of its own.
The tale centers around 12-year-old girl named Kristina, who is transported to a magical land by the power of the Warble, a mysterious jewel. Accompanied by her pet rat, Raymond, she meets a world of interesting creatures, to include talking animals. There is Remalock, a dwarf, Prince Werrien and faries named Clover and Looper, to name a few. There are also evil beings to include a wicked queen. Oh, she has to fulfill a quest to save this enchanted land, against all odds.
I very much enjoyed the tale and am sure it will become a classic. Get this for the younger readers on your list, but adults with a sense of wonder will like it too.
November 18, 2009
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Kristina considers herself to be an outcast at school. She's at the awkward age of twelve and she has no idea how to get her peers to look at her as a human being. When Christmastime comes, Kristina receives the gift of a lifetime. She travels to a magical land that includes fairies, dwarfs and talking animals.
It is Kristina's destiny to save this magical land from an evil queen. In order to do this, she must put the "Magic Warble" in its rightful place. She soon discovers that this will be far from an easy task. Luckily, she makes some friends along the way to help guide her. Will she be able to fulfill her life's purpose?
This is an enchanting book that pushes fantasy to the limit. As a child, I always fell in love with the magical realm and the kid in me couldn't put this book down.
It is Kristina's destiny to save this magical land from an evil queen. In order to do this, she must put the "Magic Warble" in its rightful place. She soon discovers that this will be far from an easy task. Luckily, she makes some friends along the way to help guide her. Will she be able to fulfill her life's purpose?
This is an enchanting book that pushes fantasy to the limit. As a child, I always fell in love with the magical realm and the kid in me couldn't put this book down.
September 19, 2015
Middle grade fantasy adventure. The writing style wasn't strongly enticing for me and I didn't find myself caring deeply for the characters but the plot was good.
June 21, 2012
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The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox is a juvey fiction novel geared towards children ages 9-13. After having read it, I would personally shift the age category a tad to exclude thirteen-year-olds and include eight-year-olds. While the book holds its charms I believe that it is a little too simplistic for someone entering their teens and more appropriate for a kid in their first years of middleschool. I don’t mean for this to sound like a snub but rather insight gathered from children I know and the books they’re most inclined to read. Now, let me amaze you with my awesome summarizing abilities(because three years of college has to have taught me something…right?). The Magic Warble chronicles the journey of twelve-year old Kristina—a shy, intelligent girl who is often the brunt of jokes and ridicule. Upon receiving a very unusual Christmas gift, Kristina is hurled into the land of Bernovem. All at once, Kristina is charged with using her gift—knowm as the Magic Warble—to restore peace to an ailing land and she enters into a long journey of intrigue, whimsy, and danger.
The Magic Warble is a cute book, though I did find myself constantly nitpicking technical issues. One of the first oddities I came across was the way that the dialogue is written. Kristina’s words go from being very sophisticated—perhaps too sophisticated for a girl of her age—to very age appropriate. Now, while preteen girls with great manners and decent vocabularies are far and few between, I wouldn’t have been opposed to Kristina’s sophisticated dialogue and well-groomed manners if they had been at least partially explained. For instance, I was a very loquacious little girl. One of my favorite past-times was to read whatever dictionary happened to be lying around and to underline pretty words to be used in conversation. I liked to scour thesauruses and bedazzle my speech with what I felt were grown-up sounding words in order to project an air of maturity. I was born eccentric, so my speech habits—while unusual—made sense to those who knew me. Readers get to know very little of Kristina before her journey begins and I wish that Simcox would have given us a better sense of why she speaks so articulately for a girl her age(perhaps by establishing that like me she loved to speak as though she were much older). Now, I do have to keep in mind that this is a juvy fiction book. For those unfamiliar with the differences between juvy fiction and young adult fiction I would ask that you indulge my inner know-it-all and allow me to give a brief explanation(if you want to skip my little tangent feel free to do so. I promise I won’t be too offended). Juvy fiction is simply an age category that means that people of certain ages will be most drawn to these books because a) the protagonists are usually of a similar age to the readers and b) the story is written in a way that is easy enough for that age group to understand but complicated enough to hold their interests. In the case of juvy fiction, the ages targeted are usually 8-12. Naturally, some books target the upper or lower range of this age group(for example, some books are more appropriate for a kid of 12 than a kid of 8). Young Adult fiction usually targets readers ages 12-19. A brief perusal of this blog will reveal that I mostly review classics or young adult fiction(specifically science fiction and fantasy). As a reviewer, I have to be cognizant of the fact that I can’t judge a book geared towards a seventeen-year old in the same way as a book geared towards a ten-year old. I had to continuously remind myself while reading The Magic Warble of this fact. For instance, the pacing in this book is perfectly appropriate for a middle schooler but would be a big no-no in a book for a highschooler. But I digress.
Aside from Kristina’s strange speech habits I ran across a few sentence structure issues(which I only feel the need to mention because I believe that a middle-schooler might notice them as well), the biggest of which was the need for comma splicing. I love commas. Who doesn’t love a good comma? When I first learned how to properly(or what I thought was properly) use commas I felt the need to use one every other sentence. Commas were like condiments for me; they were my pepper and my salt. However, as anyone who has ever taken a creative writing class will tell you, sometimes enough is enough. As a general rule commas are used to separate thoughts contained within a sentence. They are used to indicate a pause or an aside and are wonderful tools when used correctly. There are several instances in The Magic Warble where the use of commas are not only incorrect but also create a very choppy effect. For example:
“The pile of laundry had been replaced by a pile of leaves, and instead of the basement floor, it seemed to be grass beneath her.”
Read this setnence aloud, making sure to take a breath whenever a comma appears. It isn’t very coherent, is it? Aside from the improper placement of commas, the latter half of the sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense. This entire sentence can be re-written by simply changing the placement of a comma and reworking some muddled wording and be all the better for it. Observe:
“The pile of laundry had been replaced by a pile of leaves and, instead of the basement floor, there was grass beneath her.”
It isn’t the best sentence in the world but it makes more sense written this way than it did previously. Yes, I know I sound like a highschool grammar teacher. No, I’m not trying to claim that I’m some sort of super-awesome-special-spifftastic writer. Little snafus like this happen to every writer no matter their skill. However, the aforementioned example is not an isolated occurrence. There are dozens of sentences that feature either ill-placed commas or irrelevant commas and I believe that it is important that Simcox be made aware of these snafus so that she can be mindful of not making the same mistakes in the future. One final nitpick I has is the repetition of two words: suddenly and then. The fact that the narrative is fast-paced doesn’t bother me because it’s perfectly appropriate for this genre(juvy fiction fantasy). Younger children tend to have short attention spends—ESPECIALLY where reading is concerned—so the pacing of books aimed at them has to be quick enough to keep their interests. What I did have a problem with was the way that sudden occurrences or plot progressions were introduced. Almost every event is prefaced with a “suddenly” or “then”. I’m sure that Simcox did not realize just how often she uses these words but they are none the less used a lot and quickly become repetitious. By the time I was halfway through the book I literally cringed every time “suddenly” popped into a sentence.
All nitpickery aside, this is a cute book. I like the story and the characters as well as imaginative little details such as the Magic Warble itself and entirely made-up creatures like the zelbocks. I loved how the stereotypical bully characters were not just used and ditched but rather incorporated into the adventure. I think the fact that Kristina has a pet rat instead of something much more girly and feminine is awesome. The illustrations throughout the story were very pleasant and they reminded me of the illustrations in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. Most of us older kids will be able to appreciate the charm of this book, even if we nitpick it to death, but I would recommend this story be read by a younger audience. It would be a nice gift for a niece or nephew(as the story boasts a female and a male lead) or a good book for a teacher to read to a young class. My advice to anyone who reads this book is to just take it for what it is: a cute story aimed at children. I might have poked and prodded it quite a bit during my review, but eventually I did manage to comfortably ignore certain technical issues and just enjoy adventuring through Bernovem with Kristina. So if you’re looking for something to read to your kid or a gift for a child’s birthday you should give The Magic Warble a try.
Rating: 3/5
The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox is a juvey fiction novel geared towards children ages 9-13. After having read it, I would personally shift the age category a tad to exclude thirteen-year-olds and include eight-year-olds. While the book holds its charms I believe that it is a little too simplistic for someone entering their teens and more appropriate for a kid in their first years of middleschool. I don’t mean for this to sound like a snub but rather insight gathered from children I know and the books they’re most inclined to read. Now, let me amaze you with my awesome summarizing abilities(because three years of college has to have taught me something…right?). The Magic Warble chronicles the journey of twelve-year old Kristina—a shy, intelligent girl who is often the brunt of jokes and ridicule. Upon receiving a very unusual Christmas gift, Kristina is hurled into the land of Bernovem. All at once, Kristina is charged with using her gift—knowm as the Magic Warble—to restore peace to an ailing land and she enters into a long journey of intrigue, whimsy, and danger.
The Magic Warble is a cute book, though I did find myself constantly nitpicking technical issues. One of the first oddities I came across was the way that the dialogue is written. Kristina’s words go from being very sophisticated—perhaps too sophisticated for a girl of her age—to very age appropriate. Now, while preteen girls with great manners and decent vocabularies are far and few between, I wouldn’t have been opposed to Kristina’s sophisticated dialogue and well-groomed manners if they had been at least partially explained. For instance, I was a very loquacious little girl. One of my favorite past-times was to read whatever dictionary happened to be lying around and to underline pretty words to be used in conversation. I liked to scour thesauruses and bedazzle my speech with what I felt were grown-up sounding words in order to project an air of maturity. I was born eccentric, so my speech habits—while unusual—made sense to those who knew me. Readers get to know very little of Kristina before her journey begins and I wish that Simcox would have given us a better sense of why she speaks so articulately for a girl her age(perhaps by establishing that like me she loved to speak as though she were much older). Now, I do have to keep in mind that this is a juvy fiction book. For those unfamiliar with the differences between juvy fiction and young adult fiction I would ask that you indulge my inner know-it-all and allow me to give a brief explanation(if you want to skip my little tangent feel free to do so. I promise I won’t be too offended). Juvy fiction is simply an age category that means that people of certain ages will be most drawn to these books because a) the protagonists are usually of a similar age to the readers and b) the story is written in a way that is easy enough for that age group to understand but complicated enough to hold their interests. In the case of juvy fiction, the ages targeted are usually 8-12. Naturally, some books target the upper or lower range of this age group(for example, some books are more appropriate for a kid of 12 than a kid of 8). Young Adult fiction usually targets readers ages 12-19. A brief perusal of this blog will reveal that I mostly review classics or young adult fiction(specifically science fiction and fantasy). As a reviewer, I have to be cognizant of the fact that I can’t judge a book geared towards a seventeen-year old in the same way as a book geared towards a ten-year old. I had to continuously remind myself while reading The Magic Warble of this fact. For instance, the pacing in this book is perfectly appropriate for a middle schooler but would be a big no-no in a book for a highschooler. But I digress.
Aside from Kristina’s strange speech habits I ran across a few sentence structure issues(which I only feel the need to mention because I believe that a middle-schooler might notice them as well), the biggest of which was the need for comma splicing. I love commas. Who doesn’t love a good comma? When I first learned how to properly(or what I thought was properly) use commas I felt the need to use one every other sentence. Commas were like condiments for me; they were my pepper and my salt. However, as anyone who has ever taken a creative writing class will tell you, sometimes enough is enough. As a general rule commas are used to separate thoughts contained within a sentence. They are used to indicate a pause or an aside and are wonderful tools when used correctly. There are several instances in The Magic Warble where the use of commas are not only incorrect but also create a very choppy effect. For example:
“The pile of laundry had been replaced by a pile of leaves, and instead of the basement floor, it seemed to be grass beneath her.”
Read this setnence aloud, making sure to take a breath whenever a comma appears. It isn’t very coherent, is it? Aside from the improper placement of commas, the latter half of the sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense. This entire sentence can be re-written by simply changing the placement of a comma and reworking some muddled wording and be all the better for it. Observe:
“The pile of laundry had been replaced by a pile of leaves and, instead of the basement floor, there was grass beneath her.”
It isn’t the best sentence in the world but it makes more sense written this way than it did previously. Yes, I know I sound like a highschool grammar teacher. No, I’m not trying to claim that I’m some sort of super-awesome-special-spifftastic writer. Little snafus like this happen to every writer no matter their skill. However, the aforementioned example is not an isolated occurrence. There are dozens of sentences that feature either ill-placed commas or irrelevant commas and I believe that it is important that Simcox be made aware of these snafus so that she can be mindful of not making the same mistakes in the future. One final nitpick I has is the repetition of two words: suddenly and then. The fact that the narrative is fast-paced doesn’t bother me because it’s perfectly appropriate for this genre(juvy fiction fantasy). Younger children tend to have short attention spends—ESPECIALLY where reading is concerned—so the pacing of books aimed at them has to be quick enough to keep their interests. What I did have a problem with was the way that sudden occurrences or plot progressions were introduced. Almost every event is prefaced with a “suddenly” or “then”. I’m sure that Simcox did not realize just how often she uses these words but they are none the less used a lot and quickly become repetitious. By the time I was halfway through the book I literally cringed every time “suddenly” popped into a sentence.
All nitpickery aside, this is a cute book. I like the story and the characters as well as imaginative little details such as the Magic Warble itself and entirely made-up creatures like the zelbocks. I loved how the stereotypical bully characters were not just used and ditched but rather incorporated into the adventure. I think the fact that Kristina has a pet rat instead of something much more girly and feminine is awesome. The illustrations throughout the story were very pleasant and they reminded me of the illustrations in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. Most of us older kids will be able to appreciate the charm of this book, even if we nitpick it to death, but I would recommend this story be read by a younger audience. It would be a nice gift for a niece or nephew(as the story boasts a female and a male lead) or a good book for a teacher to read to a young class. My advice to anyone who reads this book is to just take it for what it is: a cute story aimed at children. I might have poked and prodded it quite a bit during my review, but eventually I did manage to comfortably ignore certain technical issues and just enjoy adventuring through Bernovem with Kristina. So if you’re looking for something to read to your kid or a gift for a child’s birthday you should give The Magic Warble a try.
Rating: 3/5
June 29, 2018
The plight of Kristina Kingsly touched my heart in the first few pages of the book. I was that girl everyone on the bus taunted and made fun of. Kristina's reactions were so typical of kids who are being bullied: She tried her best to stand up to the criticism and not appear hurt by it.
What Kristina didn't know that fateful day on the bus was that an unexpected Christmas gift from her teacher would change her life forever. That very same night Kristina is transported to another dimension called Bernovem where she learns her arrival was part of an ancient prophecy. She is the chosen child who will restore peace to the land and reinstate the rightful monarchs.
Kristina will meet many friends and foes in her journey to replace the magical orb to its rightful place at the top of the mountain. Kristina isn't the only one who magically appears in Bernovem. Anyone or anything that touched the box containing the Warble suddenly appears in Bernnovem too.
Victoria Simcox has spun a delightful tale of friendship, compassion, courage, and determination. The characters represent the good and evil children face each day in a tale that will engage even the most reluctant reader. Kids will see in Hester Crumfield, Graham Kepler, and Davina Pavey why it's important to try to be more like Kristina.
What Kristina didn't know that fateful day on the bus was that an unexpected Christmas gift from her teacher would change her life forever. That very same night Kristina is transported to another dimension called Bernovem where she learns her arrival was part of an ancient prophecy. She is the chosen child who will restore peace to the land and reinstate the rightful monarchs.
Kristina will meet many friends and foes in her journey to replace the magical orb to its rightful place at the top of the mountain. Kristina isn't the only one who magically appears in Bernovem. Anyone or anything that touched the box containing the Warble suddenly appears in Bernnovem too.
Victoria Simcox has spun a delightful tale of friendship, compassion, courage, and determination. The characters represent the good and evil children face each day in a tale that will engage even the most reluctant reader. Kids will see in Hester Crumfield, Graham Kepler, and Davina Pavey why it's important to try to be more like Kristina.
June 13, 2018
This is a great story that is the first in what looks to be an amazing, mystical, magical series. The author has captured a special world in the covers of this book. Kristina Kingsley is a twelve year old girl who has many of the same problems that plague others her age. Luckily, Kristina has a favorite teacher who gives her a special gift at Christmas time. It is that gift that takes the young girl on a journey that special dreams and maybe a few nightmares are made of. From the time Kristina drops into the world of Bernovern and is taken in by Rumalock, she finds the gift she was given is a fulfillment of a prophecy that takes her on a dangerous, but amazing journey. The author has a great writing style and this book can be read and enjoyed by all ages. I think it would be a great one to read a chapter at a time as a daughter or son who loves adventure prepares for bed and head into dreams of their own journeys.
November 10, 2013
Three and a half stars: A fun, magical adventure for middle grade readers.
Kristina is dreading the last day of school before Christmas break. She tries to hide under her soft pillow and burrow deeper into her blankets, but alas her efforts fail and she is now running late. Grabbing her pet rat, Raymond, she makes a mad dash to the bus. At last, she has survived another day at school. Unfortunately for Christina, school is not always pleasant. She is often picked on, but thankfully she has Raymond and her favorite teacher, Miss Hensley. At the end of the day, Miss Hensley gives Kristina a rather unusual gift. An old hat box that buzzes strangely. On the bus, two of her nemesis attempt to take the box, but thankfully she is rescued by the kindly bus driver. At home safe in her room, Christina opens the box to find a strange, tarnished ball. Puzzled she puts the box away and goes to bed. Somehow the silver marble falls down the laundry shoot. Christina hangs down the laundry shoot attempting to retrieve it. She loses her grip and slides down the laundry shoot. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in a strange land under a pile of leaves. A great adventure awaits Christina. It seems she is destined to fulfill an old prophecy and return the magic warble to its resting place. Unfortunately, there are others who wish to destroy the warble. Can Christina safely get the magic warble to its resting spot?
What I Liked:
*The Warble is an entertaining adventure read that will appeal to younger readers. This book has lots of action, danger, magic and more. If you know a middle grader that likes fantasy adventure books, this is a good pick.
*I enjoyed all the magical characters in this book. There are dwarves, gnomes, fairies, and numerous talking animals. The variety of characters will appeal to a young reader with an active imagination.
*I liked that one of the main messages of this book is to not give up, to keep going and keep trying, even when the odds are stacked against you, persevere.
*I enjoyed all the surprises and plot twists in this one. There were traitorous betrayals and redemptions throughout. This book keeps you guessing as to everyone's true intentions and there were definitely a couple of jaw dropping surprises.
*This book is appropriate for the middle grade reader.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a personal preference, I was a little put off at the wicked Queen's constant berating and use of words such as stupid and so on. Granted, I realize it was all done in order to show how depraved she was, but I would prefer a little less of the derogatory words in a middle grade book.
*I was left with a couple of lingering questions: why did her teacher give her the magic warble to begin with? Why did Rumalock behave the way he did? How did the wicked Queen usurp the previous rulers? Also the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next to Christina.
*I know I am not the target audience so this probably won't be an issue for younger readers. I would love just a bit more detail in the world building.
The Warble is a fast and engaging read for younger readers. It is a bit reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. A young girl unexpectedly finds herself in a strange land inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, fairies and talking animals as well as a cruel Queen. Christina faces a daunting task: return the warble to lift the curse. This book has lots of action and surprises that will engage young readers. Look for the sequel: The Black Shard available now.
Favorite Quotations:
"The load of worry began to get very heavy, and he felt things couldn't possibly get any worse."
"Look at your friend. Why don't you follow her example? He pointed to Davina, who was calmly gazing out at the Indra River and picking her nose. "She seems to be having a nice time."
"Her majesty---what an unsuitable title for such a horrible being, he thought."
"Don't worry about it, if you don't have many friends at school, you're a unique girl and if you find a few unique friends in life, be grateful for that."
I won a copy of this book. I received no compensation for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Kristina is dreading the last day of school before Christmas break. She tries to hide under her soft pillow and burrow deeper into her blankets, but alas her efforts fail and she is now running late. Grabbing her pet rat, Raymond, she makes a mad dash to the bus. At last, she has survived another day at school. Unfortunately for Christina, school is not always pleasant. She is often picked on, but thankfully she has Raymond and her favorite teacher, Miss Hensley. At the end of the day, Miss Hensley gives Kristina a rather unusual gift. An old hat box that buzzes strangely. On the bus, two of her nemesis attempt to take the box, but thankfully she is rescued by the kindly bus driver. At home safe in her room, Christina opens the box to find a strange, tarnished ball. Puzzled she puts the box away and goes to bed. Somehow the silver marble falls down the laundry shoot. Christina hangs down the laundry shoot attempting to retrieve it. She loses her grip and slides down the laundry shoot. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in a strange land under a pile of leaves. A great adventure awaits Christina. It seems she is destined to fulfill an old prophecy and return the magic warble to its resting place. Unfortunately, there are others who wish to destroy the warble. Can Christina safely get the magic warble to its resting spot?
What I Liked:
*The Warble is an entertaining adventure read that will appeal to younger readers. This book has lots of action, danger, magic and more. If you know a middle grader that likes fantasy adventure books, this is a good pick.
*I enjoyed all the magical characters in this book. There are dwarves, gnomes, fairies, and numerous talking animals. The variety of characters will appeal to a young reader with an active imagination.
*I liked that one of the main messages of this book is to not give up, to keep going and keep trying, even when the odds are stacked against you, persevere.
*I enjoyed all the surprises and plot twists in this one. There were traitorous betrayals and redemptions throughout. This book keeps you guessing as to everyone's true intentions and there were definitely a couple of jaw dropping surprises.
*This book is appropriate for the middle grade reader.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a personal preference, I was a little put off at the wicked Queen's constant berating and use of words such as stupid and so on. Granted, I realize it was all done in order to show how depraved she was, but I would prefer a little less of the derogatory words in a middle grade book.
*I was left with a couple of lingering questions: why did her teacher give her the magic warble to begin with? Why did Rumalock behave the way he did? How did the wicked Queen usurp the previous rulers? Also the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving the reader wondering what will happen next to Christina.
*I know I am not the target audience so this probably won't be an issue for younger readers. I would love just a bit more detail in the world building.
The Warble is a fast and engaging read for younger readers. It is a bit reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe. A young girl unexpectedly finds herself in a strange land inhabited by dwarves, gnomes, fairies and talking animals as well as a cruel Queen. Christina faces a daunting task: return the warble to lift the curse. This book has lots of action and surprises that will engage young readers. Look for the sequel: The Black Shard available now.
Favorite Quotations:
"The load of worry began to get very heavy, and he felt things couldn't possibly get any worse."
"Look at your friend. Why don't you follow her example? He pointed to Davina, who was calmly gazing out at the Indra River and picking her nose. "She seems to be having a nice time."
"Her majesty---what an unsuitable title for such a horrible being, he thought."
"Don't worry about it, if you don't have many friends at school, you're a unique girl and if you find a few unique friends in life, be grateful for that."
I won a copy of this book. I received no compensation for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
January 29, 2015
This was such a charming read! It is definitely more for the middle grade reader than for the more teen oriented YA, so don't go into the book expecting instalove and love triangles (thank the lord for that!)
Here's what I loved:
- If you cross The Chronicles of Narnia with The Lord of the Rings, you get The Magic Warble
- Kristina's family is so very much what family is like when you're twelve (in most households anyway). Her parents clearly love her, but they are also clearly out of the loop when it comes to Kristina's relationships to other people and how she feels.
- I love Raymond! Rats aren't generally thought of as pets, but I would love to have a rat like Raymond as a pet! It also suits Kristina that she doesn't have a "usual" pet like a cat or dog.
- Talking animals, 'nuff said
- Kristina is a really great character. She's strong and determined, but she's not superhuman. She feels terrified and isn't afraid to admit it, but she keeps going despite her fears. It makes her so likeable, because she's everything you'd want to be when you are twelve, but she's not a perfect character (which probably would have made me hate her a little bit if I read this when I was twelve)
- Werrien becomes Kristina's first best friend, and it was really sweet seeing them grow to be friends. It wasn't instafriend (my version of instalove for younger readers). They didn't know each other, there were plenty of misunderstanding, but when push came to shove they had each other's backs and they really grew to appreciate and love each other.
- Also Werrien is awesome with the bow and arrow and there's a lot of great action scenes. Not too long which might bore some of your girl readers (some of them...some of us are all about knowing when to use a battle axe or a broad sword), but definitely plenty to engage those of us who love our action scenes!
- The concept of fairy blossom felt new and unique to me.
- Miss Henlsey reminded me so much of Miss Honey from Roald Dahl's Matilda. I instantly fell in love with her! (And I'm really curious what her connection to the Magic Warble is! I mean, I can guess, but I wonder if we'll get any of her story in the sequel?)
Most of what I didn't love as much has little to do with the actual story, and more to do with me as a reader. It's been a long time since I've read a middle grade book that I didn't read when I was a kid. I actually can't think of any at the moment! So it took me a while to get into the story. I think anyone who regularly reads middle grade stories, and particularly the age group it is aimed at will fall in love with the story immediately. If I look at it analytically, you get the perfect amount of time set in our world, getting background on our characters, and then you jump to the magical world and the fast paced adventure starts right away! I honestly have no idea why I didn't jump into the story right away. I also had a hard time with the good vs. evil - and again I think it's because I primarily read stories aimed at older audiences (if we're going to be honest, I probably read more NA than YA since that's a category now). The Magic Warble is full of villains - and the villains are perfectly villainy. Again it reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia - you've got your true evil, and your only sort of evil (there are so many twists and turns in The Magic Warble! I don't want to give anything away, but I was constantly being surprised). I've gotten used to explanations on the truly evil, but it is characteristic of middle grade stories for evil to simply be evil. Overall, I only wish there had been more character development for the secondary characters, but I think part of that is being set up for the sequel. The second half of the book flew by for me! I got really into the story, and when I found out there is a sequel out, I was super excited! It might have taken me a while to relax and get into the story, but when it happened, boy did it happen. I'm definitely going to get my hands on the sequel when I get chance!
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Buy this for your younger readers - or really just readers that aren't hooked into the romance aspect of books yet (which generally means younger readers). The cast is a great mix of all genders and species, there's loads of adventure, fairies and gruesome creatures, and some really nice world building.
Here's what I loved:
- If you cross The Chronicles of Narnia with The Lord of the Rings, you get The Magic Warble
- Kristina's family is so very much what family is like when you're twelve (in most households anyway). Her parents clearly love her, but they are also clearly out of the loop when it comes to Kristina's relationships to other people and how she feels.
- I love Raymond! Rats aren't generally thought of as pets, but I would love to have a rat like Raymond as a pet! It also suits Kristina that she doesn't have a "usual" pet like a cat or dog.
- Talking animals, 'nuff said
- Kristina is a really great character. She's strong and determined, but she's not superhuman. She feels terrified and isn't afraid to admit it, but she keeps going despite her fears. It makes her so likeable, because she's everything you'd want to be when you are twelve, but she's not a perfect character (which probably would have made me hate her a little bit if I read this when I was twelve)
- Werrien becomes Kristina's first best friend, and it was really sweet seeing them grow to be friends. It wasn't instafriend (my version of instalove for younger readers). They didn't know each other, there were plenty of misunderstanding, but when push came to shove they had each other's backs and they really grew to appreciate and love each other.
- Also Werrien is awesome with the bow and arrow and there's a lot of great action scenes. Not too long which might bore some of your girl readers (some of them...some of us are all about knowing when to use a battle axe or a broad sword), but definitely plenty to engage those of us who love our action scenes!
- The concept of fairy blossom felt new and unique to me.
- Miss Henlsey reminded me so much of Miss Honey from Roald Dahl's Matilda. I instantly fell in love with her! (And I'm really curious what her connection to the Magic Warble is! I mean, I can guess, but I wonder if we'll get any of her story in the sequel?)
Most of what I didn't love as much has little to do with the actual story, and more to do with me as a reader. It's been a long time since I've read a middle grade book that I didn't read when I was a kid. I actually can't think of any at the moment! So it took me a while to get into the story. I think anyone who regularly reads middle grade stories, and particularly the age group it is aimed at will fall in love with the story immediately. If I look at it analytically, you get the perfect amount of time set in our world, getting background on our characters, and then you jump to the magical world and the fast paced adventure starts right away! I honestly have no idea why I didn't jump into the story right away. I also had a hard time with the good vs. evil - and again I think it's because I primarily read stories aimed at older audiences (if we're going to be honest, I probably read more NA than YA since that's a category now). The Magic Warble is full of villains - and the villains are perfectly villainy. Again it reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia - you've got your true evil, and your only sort of evil (there are so many twists and turns in The Magic Warble! I don't want to give anything away, but I was constantly being surprised). I've gotten used to explanations on the truly evil, but it is characteristic of middle grade stories for evil to simply be evil. Overall, I only wish there had been more character development for the secondary characters, but I think part of that is being set up for the sequel. The second half of the book flew by for me! I got really into the story, and when I found out there is a sequel out, I was super excited! It might have taken me a while to relax and get into the story, but when it happened, boy did it happen. I'm definitely going to get my hands on the sequel when I get chance!
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Buy this for your younger readers - or really just readers that aren't hooked into the romance aspect of books yet (which generally means younger readers). The cast is a great mix of all genders and species, there's loads of adventure, fairies and gruesome creatures, and some really nice world building.
February 21, 2012
As the mother of a 12-year-old daughter who loves to read, it can be quite difficult to find appropriate reading material for her. I can’t allow my “tween” to read all of the YA books that she would love to, due to content that is still too mature. So, I was thrilled when Victoria Simcox contacted me about reading and reviewing her book, The Magic Warble, a beautiful fantasy book geared toward middle-graders. I applaud Ms. Simcox for writing a book that contains no profanity, violence, or other inappropriate content. What it does contain is an enchanting story with positive messages and positive role models. This is a wonderful, wholesome book that is also exciting and fun for kids of all ages. My daughter says she would also have enjoyed it before she became a middle grader, so I believe it is quite appropriate for elementary age. Since I haven’t been a middle grader for, *clears throat* um, quite some time, who better to finish the review on this awesome book than my very own and most favorite middle-grader in the world? Here is what she thought about The Magic Warble:
Kristina Kingsly, a twelve-year-old girl who receives a mysterious gift from her teacher before Christmas break, is awoken one night by a buzzing noise coming from somewhere in her bedroom. The gift she was given by her teacher, Miss Hensley, came in some sort of hatbox, and she had carelessly tossed it under her bed the day before when she couldn’t open it. But now, as the buzzing seems to be growing louder… and seems to be coming from underneath her bed… Kristina pulls out the box and opens it, only to find a tiny, silvery, tarnished ball. What kind of gift is that? Just as she is about to go back to sleep, she suddenly finds herself in a different place! Not like one of those times when you close your eyes and feel like you’re somewhere else… she literally appeared in a beautiful garden in a pile of leaves. Afterwards, she learns she is the “Chosen One,” brought to this land, Bernovem, to place the little tarnished ball… or the Magic Warble… in its resting place.
Currently, Bernovem is ruled by the tyrant Queen Sentiz. She knows Kristina is attempting to place the Magic Warble in its resting place and is bound and determined to kill Kristina and Werrien (the boy who is helping Kristina on her mission), take the Magic Warble, and destroy it, also destroying the only chance Bernovem has of being saved.
While this book was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, it also really touched my heart, especially when dealing with certain matters near the end; however, I can’t say any more without giving away too much. I’ll be honest, I cried near the end, and I agree with my mom - she says, “You know you’ve read a great book when it brings out that kind of emotion in you.”
This book is absolutely wonderful - 5 stars! Victoria Simcox is incredibly talented. I enjoyed her writing thoroughly and adored all the characters! Fairies, gnomes, dwarfs, AND talking animals? I’m hooked! The cover also intrigued me… what a beautiful book! A spectacular read by a spectacular author, The Magic Warble is a new favorite of mine! I will most definitely be reading the sequel, The Black Shard, as soon as possible!
Review originally posted at: A Belle's Tales
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of her book.
Kristina Kingsly, a twelve-year-old girl who receives a mysterious gift from her teacher before Christmas break, is awoken one night by a buzzing noise coming from somewhere in her bedroom. The gift she was given by her teacher, Miss Hensley, came in some sort of hatbox, and she had carelessly tossed it under her bed the day before when she couldn’t open it. But now, as the buzzing seems to be growing louder… and seems to be coming from underneath her bed… Kristina pulls out the box and opens it, only to find a tiny, silvery, tarnished ball. What kind of gift is that? Just as she is about to go back to sleep, she suddenly finds herself in a different place! Not like one of those times when you close your eyes and feel like you’re somewhere else… she literally appeared in a beautiful garden in a pile of leaves. Afterwards, she learns she is the “Chosen One,” brought to this land, Bernovem, to place the little tarnished ball… or the Magic Warble… in its resting place.
Currently, Bernovem is ruled by the tyrant Queen Sentiz. She knows Kristina is attempting to place the Magic Warble in its resting place and is bound and determined to kill Kristina and Werrien (the boy who is helping Kristina on her mission), take the Magic Warble, and destroy it, also destroying the only chance Bernovem has of being saved.
While this book was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, it also really touched my heart, especially when dealing with certain matters near the end; however, I can’t say any more without giving away too much. I’ll be honest, I cried near the end, and I agree with my mom - she says, “You know you’ve read a great book when it brings out that kind of emotion in you.”
This book is absolutely wonderful - 5 stars! Victoria Simcox is incredibly talented. I enjoyed her writing thoroughly and adored all the characters! Fairies, gnomes, dwarfs, AND talking animals? I’m hooked! The cover also intrigued me… what a beautiful book! A spectacular read by a spectacular author, The Magic Warble is a new favorite of mine! I will most definitely be reading the sequel, The Black Shard, as soon as possible!
Review originally posted at: A Belle's Tales
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of her book.
August 20, 2018
The Warble (The Bernovem Chronicles Book 1) is a grand adventure for the young adult and the adult young at heart. There are elements of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia as a handful of youngsters magically travel to a mysterious land filled with fairies, talking animals, and an evil queen. It also has a hint of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring as our heroine Kristina Kingsly is joined by others eager to aid her on her quest to deliver The Warble to its final resting place, ending the evil queen's reign. This tale is full of courage, betrayal, and self-sacrifice.
June 24, 2012
This children’s/ YA book is a story that will not fail to find a special place within its reader’s heart, hence being something that I would highly recommend as being one of the most captivating and beautiful stories that I have read within its genre. This tale is one that was utterly spellbinding and which caught my imagination with its magical originality that was totally inspired. It is character-driven and full of exciting twists and turns, within a most intriguing plot that will leave you completely breathless and wanting to read more. I fell in love with the main character of Kristina who was not just a heroine but also a young girl whom I was able to identify with (comparable to myself at that age) and empathize with, being so realistic with expressed feelings and emotions that the author included to bring the character to life. The ‘twist’ in the tale was certainly unexpected when a young schoolgirl in a modern-day setting has her world turned upside down, being transported to the magical and enchanting world of Bernovem where animals talk, ravens and faries fill the skies and the most revolting looking & smelling creatures are your enemies. The reader is instantly taken on the most thrilling, heart-pounding adventure which surrounds a fascinating object called ‘the magic warble’, that constantly amazes and delights. The story contained many similarities I felt to the author C.S Lewis and his creation of ‘Narnia’ where four ordinary school children are transported to a new world and encounter strange creatures, mystery, magic and danger. They are sent on an adventure of a lifetime that involves a wicked Queen. The characters of Kristina, Davina, Hester and Graham were similar in some ways to Lucy, Edmund, Peter and Susan, and what I found to be most ironic was when one of the four tried to follow the evil Queen. But however one looks at these comparisons Victoria Simcox’s work is still very original and unique, being totally different in its design and execution of a contrasting story to those stories by C.S Lewis. The details within it which are creative and imaginative really help to bring the tale to life and make it stand out within your mind, certainly as something that I have not encountered before hence making me grip the edge of my seat in suspense. I loved all the characters and the authenticity and realism that flowed through the pages, bringing this new creation vividly to existence. The sequel to ‘the magic warble’ (the black shard) is something that I cannot wait to read, and also I am fascinated to read more about the relationship between the characters of Kristina and Werren, that I found gave this story such substance and depth of feeling. This is a truly beautiful story that is exciting, enjoyable, highly readable (for all ages) and imaginative, therefore I cannot recommend it and enthuse about it enough.
February 23, 2012
Kristina Kingsly, a twelve-year-old girl who receives a mysterious gift from her teacher before Christmas break, is awoken one night by a buzzing noise coming from somewhere in her bedroom. The gift she was given by her teacher, Miss Hensley, came in some sort of hatbox, and she had carelessly tossed it under her bed the day before when she couldn’t open it. But now, as the buzzing seems to be growing louder… and seems to be coming from underneath her bed… Kristina pulls out the box and opens it, only to find a tiny, silvery, tarnished ball. What kind of gift is that? Just as she is about to go back to sleep, she suddenly finds herself in a different place! Not like one of those times when you close your eyes and feel like you’re somewhere else… she literally appeared in a beautiful garden in a pile of leaves. Afterwards, she learns she is the “Chosen One,” brought to this land, Bernovem, to place the little tarnished ball… or the Magic Warble… in its resting place.
Currently, Bernovem is ruled by the tyrant Queen Sentiz. She knows Kristina is attempting to place the Magic Warble in its resting place and is bound and determined to kill Kristina and Werrien (the boy who is helping Kristina on her mission), take the Magic Warble, and destroy it, also destroying the only chance Bernovem has of being saved.
While this book was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, it also really touched my heart, especially when dealing with certain matters near the end; however, I can’t say any more without giving away too much. I’ll be honest, I cried near the end, and I agree with my mom - she says, “You know you’ve read a great book when it brings out that kind of emotion in you.”
This book is absolutely wonderful - 5 stars! Victoria Simcox is incredibly talented. I enjoyed her writing thoroughly and adored all the characters! Fairies, gnomes, dwarfs, AND talking animals? I’m hooked! The cover also intrigued me… what a beautiful book! A spectacular read by a spectacular author, The Magic Warble is a new favorite of mine! I will most definitely be reading the sequel, The Black Shard, as soon as possible!
My review can also be found at: A Belle's Tales
Currently, Bernovem is ruled by the tyrant Queen Sentiz. She knows Kristina is attempting to place the Magic Warble in its resting place and is bound and determined to kill Kristina and Werrien (the boy who is helping Kristina on her mission), take the Magic Warble, and destroy it, also destroying the only chance Bernovem has of being saved.
While this book was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat, it also really touched my heart, especially when dealing with certain matters near the end; however, I can’t say any more without giving away too much. I’ll be honest, I cried near the end, and I agree with my mom - she says, “You know you’ve read a great book when it brings out that kind of emotion in you.”
This book is absolutely wonderful - 5 stars! Victoria Simcox is incredibly talented. I enjoyed her writing thoroughly and adored all the characters! Fairies, gnomes, dwarfs, AND talking animals? I’m hooked! The cover also intrigued me… what a beautiful book! A spectacular read by a spectacular author, The Magic Warble is a new favorite of mine! I will most definitely be reading the sequel, The Black Shard, as soon as possible!
My review can also be found at: A Belle's Tales
March 24, 2010
This review was originally posted on my review blog : Falling Off The Shelf.
Kristina Kingsley has never really fit in with all of the students in her school, and always happens to be the butt of every joke. She looks forward to a day when everyone is nice to her for a change, and she's not judged by what she wears or how she looks. When she receives a mysterious Christmas present, she finds herself magically dropped, literally, into a world full of creatures thought to be fictional.
In Bernovem, Kristina is known as the "chosen one", because she holds the key to their freedom. Her mysterious Christmas present is none other than a magical item known as The Magic Warble. Kristina is no longer made fun of, but is accepted for who and what she is, and is honored as the holder of The Magic Warble. Using The Magic Warble, Kristina needs to find a way to release the people of Bernovem from the evil grip of their Queen Sentiz. She will find help along the way from dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, and even talking animals.
I'm not going to say that I loved The Magic Warble, because unfortunately I didn't. I thought it was an okay novel, especially since this was Victoria Simcox's debut. It was a little juvenile for my opinion, but the story was quite interesting. While this story didn't grip me the way I had hoped it would, it did hold my interest enough to finish the story, because I wanted to find out what would become of Kristina, and Bernovem.
The characters in The Magic Warble were very well described, and it was easy to picture the characters in my mind. The description of Kristina alone makes me think of my time in school, and how the children that didn't have the coolest things were made fun of. I liked seeing one of these unfortunate children step forward and be the center of attention, and prove that she was special in her own way.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of Victoria Simcox's work in the future, and curious to see how her writing develops further in her career.
Kristina Kingsley has never really fit in with all of the students in her school, and always happens to be the butt of every joke. She looks forward to a day when everyone is nice to her for a change, and she's not judged by what she wears or how she looks. When she receives a mysterious Christmas present, she finds herself magically dropped, literally, into a world full of creatures thought to be fictional.
In Bernovem, Kristina is known as the "chosen one", because she holds the key to their freedom. Her mysterious Christmas present is none other than a magical item known as The Magic Warble. Kristina is no longer made fun of, but is accepted for who and what she is, and is honored as the holder of The Magic Warble. Using The Magic Warble, Kristina needs to find a way to release the people of Bernovem from the evil grip of their Queen Sentiz. She will find help along the way from dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, and even talking animals.
I'm not going to say that I loved The Magic Warble, because unfortunately I didn't. I thought it was an okay novel, especially since this was Victoria Simcox's debut. It was a little juvenile for my opinion, but the story was quite interesting. While this story didn't grip me the way I had hoped it would, it did hold my interest enough to finish the story, because I wanted to find out what would become of Kristina, and Bernovem.
The characters in The Magic Warble were very well described, and it was easy to picture the characters in my mind. The description of Kristina alone makes me think of my time in school, and how the children that didn't have the coolest things were made fun of. I liked seeing one of these unfortunate children step forward and be the center of attention, and prove that she was special in her own way.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of Victoria Simcox's work in the future, and curious to see how her writing develops further in her career.
June 11, 2010
Why I read this: The author asked me to review her book and I saw that my friend Kate from The Neverending Shelf had read and enjoyed it, so I gave it a try. :)
Plot: Definitely has the epic feel of great children's fantasy - like The Chronicles of Narnia. I love the familiarity of the plot and how unique it was at the same time. Definitely wishing I read more fantasy lately after reading this one.
Characters: Kristina is an unlikely hero and one that steps up to the plate without much complaining. She has her faults and isn't perfect, but tries hard enough to continue on that she succeeds.
The fairies - Clover and Looper - were great sidekicks and had bright personalities - what you would expect out of fairies. They definitely added some character spice to this book and had me cracking up more than once.
Prince Werrein - well it's not fantasy without some kind of royalty - although you wouldn't know it at first. He's been in hiding until his mother is restored to the throne until the current queen is defeated. I like that he also is very human, there are traits in him that definitely are not princely, but rather remind you of his age. Definitely fun to watch Kristina and Werrein interact throughout the book.
Relatability: Every girl's dream. It's just one of those books where a regular girl actually goes to another world and becomes strong and important. It truly is a dream come true type book. Brings me back to my days of reading Bruce Coville's Into the Land of Unicorns series.
Cover Commentary: Beautiful. Actually all of the images drawn in the book are out of this world. They look like pencil drawings and are just fantastic. Whoever did the art is a genius with that medium.
Plot: Definitely has the epic feel of great children's fantasy - like The Chronicles of Narnia. I love the familiarity of the plot and how unique it was at the same time. Definitely wishing I read more fantasy lately after reading this one.
Characters: Kristina is an unlikely hero and one that steps up to the plate without much complaining. She has her faults and isn't perfect, but tries hard enough to continue on that she succeeds.
The fairies - Clover and Looper - were great sidekicks and had bright personalities - what you would expect out of fairies. They definitely added some character spice to this book and had me cracking up more than once.
Prince Werrein - well it's not fantasy without some kind of royalty - although you wouldn't know it at first. He's been in hiding until his mother is restored to the throne until the current queen is defeated. I like that he also is very human, there are traits in him that definitely are not princely, but rather remind you of his age. Definitely fun to watch Kristina and Werrein interact throughout the book.
Relatability: Every girl's dream. It's just one of those books where a regular girl actually goes to another world and becomes strong and important. It truly is a dream come true type book. Brings me back to my days of reading Bruce Coville's Into the Land of Unicorns series.
Cover Commentary: Beautiful. Actually all of the images drawn in the book are out of this world. They look like pencil drawings and are just fantastic. Whoever did the art is a genius with that medium.
January 4, 2017
The Warble is a well-crafted, fantasy-driven story with amazing character development.
Kristina, our hero, is a down to earth, happy go-lucky kid despite not being among the most popular kids in school. But she's a strong kid, which comes to light when simply receives a gift and is transported to a world she never knew existed - a magical realm harbored by all sorts of creatures - and not all are throwing bouquets at her. There's good, but there's evil. There's adventure, and there's treachery.
Kristina's character is relatable to many people, not just kids...or little girls for that matter. She serves a purpose - because of what she overcomes, she proves that confidence can be the trait of many if they dig down deep enough to find it, along with a never-give-up attitude.
The author brilliantly created this world, wove in an epic plot and cleverly wrote a must-read for all looking for a surefire page turner. And it's a children's book, yes, but it reminded me much of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia. An evil queen, talking animals and bravery from unlikely places - both works have them.
Kristina, our hero, is a down to earth, happy go-lucky kid despite not being among the most popular kids in school. But she's a strong kid, which comes to light when simply receives a gift and is transported to a world she never knew existed - a magical realm harbored by all sorts of creatures - and not all are throwing bouquets at her. There's good, but there's evil. There's adventure, and there's treachery.
Kristina's character is relatable to many people, not just kids...or little girls for that matter. She serves a purpose - because of what she overcomes, she proves that confidence can be the trait of many if they dig down deep enough to find it, along with a never-give-up attitude.
The author brilliantly created this world, wove in an epic plot and cleverly wrote a must-read for all looking for a surefire page turner. And it's a children's book, yes, but it reminded me much of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia. An evil queen, talking animals and bravery from unlikely places - both works have them.
December 9, 2009
The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox
A social misfit finds her self in another world where she can save a kingdom and make new friends. Kristina Kingsley is a girl who doesn’t quite fit in. Her best friend is her pet rat, Raymond. Through magic she finds herself in Bernovem, a kingdom under the sway of an evil Queen. Her adventures there comprise the story.
All kids, at some point, feel like they don’t belong. This book will appeal to anyone who has felt like they may be slightly out of step with their peers. Kristina meets a wide variety of beings and shows no discomfort in accepting them. I’ve mentioned in past review how much I enjoy anthropomorphism. All the animals talk in the book and provide a different perspective. The story is a somewhat simplistic magic quest to save a kingdom. Simcox does a nice job in keeping the action coming while building her characterizations. I suspect this book will do well in the 4th to 6th grade reading groups.
I recommend the book.
A social misfit finds her self in another world where she can save a kingdom and make new friends. Kristina Kingsley is a girl who doesn’t quite fit in. Her best friend is her pet rat, Raymond. Through magic she finds herself in Bernovem, a kingdom under the sway of an evil Queen. Her adventures there comprise the story.
All kids, at some point, feel like they don’t belong. This book will appeal to anyone who has felt like they may be slightly out of step with their peers. Kristina meets a wide variety of beings and shows no discomfort in accepting them. I’ve mentioned in past review how much I enjoy anthropomorphism. All the animals talk in the book and provide a different perspective. The story is a somewhat simplistic magic quest to save a kingdom. Simcox does a nice job in keeping the action coming while building her characterizations. I suspect this book will do well in the 4th to 6th grade reading groups.
I recommend the book.
December 10, 2009
In The Magic Warble, Victoria Simcox creates a rich fantasy world full of magical creatures and villains. Bernovem has an elaborate magical world. I enjoyed the book but felt the book would have been stronger if there were more details about the nature of the quest facing "the Chosen One" (Kristina) and Prince Werrien at the start of the novel. Simcox makes clear that the Magic Warble has the power to restore the balance in Bernovem and that the land has suffered the loss of magic, but the steps that need to be taken to remove the evil queen and to help save Bernovem only become known towards the end of the novel, just before they must be performed. Overall, The Magic Warble is a fun and wholesome quest fantasy full of magical creatures - a tale of loyalty and friendship.
Publisher: Two Harbors Press (January 1, 2009) 276 pages.
Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours.
Thank you so much to Victoria Simcox, Dorothy and Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours for this review opportunity!
Publisher: Two Harbors Press (January 1, 2009) 276 pages.
Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours.
Thank you so much to Victoria Simcox, Dorothy and Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours for this review opportunity!
October 17, 2012
There is a special place in my heart for fantasy novels. I adore the idea of fairies, magic and all the creatures held in their world. The Magic Warble came to me by chance and it was wonderful fate. This story is unpredictable and griping. Just when you think that all is lost or there is an insurmountable twist, the story comes around for an amazing ending. Watch out for the surprising twist. You never know who your friends are.
The characters are wonderful. It is easy to love Kristina, the heroine. You just want her to triumph over her challenges. The antagonists are equally easy to despise and at the same time you feel sorry for them. As the evil queen struggles to maintain her hold on her control you can't help but have pity for her pathetic position. The bullies give you plenty of reason to root for Kristina but in the end you see them for the flawed and needy children they are.
I recommend this story for readers from 9-90 who love fantasy and are just truly kids at heart.
The characters are wonderful. It is easy to love Kristina, the heroine. You just want her to triumph over her challenges. The antagonists are equally easy to despise and at the same time you feel sorry for them. As the evil queen struggles to maintain her hold on her control you can't help but have pity for her pathetic position. The bullies give you plenty of reason to root for Kristina but in the end you see them for the flawed and needy children they are.
I recommend this story for readers from 9-90 who love fantasy and are just truly kids at heart.
August 24, 2015
A Charming Fantasy
Kristina is only twelve years old and is bullied by other pupils at school. However, on the last day of term, her teacher gives her a gift. At first it seems that the gift is worthless as the box refuses to open. But then, in the middle of the night, the gift reveals its true colours and transports Kristina to another world, where she finds gnomes, fairies, dwarfs and even more surprising, animals that can actually talk.
But all is not as well as it seems in this amazing world of Bermoven. It is ruled by an evil queen. Kristina soon learns that she was sent there for a reason – to restore power to the rightful heir. From that moment the adventures begins. She teams up with Werrien, a young prince, and together they set off on a mission to rid the Queen forever. To say any more would be spoil the story.
I don’t usually read this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful children’s fantasy adventure. I am sure that your children will love this story, as I believe my nephew will.
Kristina is only twelve years old and is bullied by other pupils at school. However, on the last day of term, her teacher gives her a gift. At first it seems that the gift is worthless as the box refuses to open. But then, in the middle of the night, the gift reveals its true colours and transports Kristina to another world, where she finds gnomes, fairies, dwarfs and even more surprising, animals that can actually talk.
But all is not as well as it seems in this amazing world of Bermoven. It is ruled by an evil queen. Kristina soon learns that she was sent there for a reason – to restore power to the rightful heir. From that moment the adventures begins. She teams up with Werrien, a young prince, and together they set off on a mission to rid the Queen forever. To say any more would be spoil the story.
I don’t usually read this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful children’s fantasy adventure. I am sure that your children will love this story, as I believe my nephew will.
September 8, 2015
The Warble was an interesting fantasy book. Though this is not my normal genre of reading, I found it to be an intriguing read. The story is clearly written for middle grade students but anyone can enjoy the book. I love how the author created the main character to be someone that many people can relate to. Though she isn't a popular kid, she learns to find the strength and power within herself. This is a powerful factor as it shows kids that no matter how bad things are in life, there is hope. You can persevere and get through anything. It encourages kids to feel better about themselves no matter what the world thinks of them. The book also deals with the topic of bullying, which is an important topic that needs to be addressed. Bullying is NOT okay!!!
I enjoyed the story. The author is very descriptive and draws the reader into the story. I could really picture the things going on in the book. The characters are well developed. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.
I enjoyed the story. The author is very descriptive and draws the reader into the story. I could really picture the things going on in the book. The characters are well developed. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.
August 24, 2015
The Warble
I didn’t know what to expect of this novel judging by its title, but was amazingly satisfied by its content. If you are a fan of Narnia or the Tolkien novels you will enjoy the “Warble”. I enjoyed this quest just as much as reading those other novel, Katrina, the heroines, undertakes a series of challenges in the mystical land of Bernovem, which is filled with mystical and mysterious creatures that includes fairies, gnomes and dwarfs, as she attempts to save it from a sinister and dark evil.
The writing was refreshing and wonderful. The author pulled me right into the story with her development of characters, and descriptive visions of the mystical land of Bernovem. I quickly identified with Katrina and the other characters and look forward to the sequel which she teases us with towards the end of the novel. Well played and thank you for a wonderful read.
I highly recommend this novel to fantasy readers. It is a gem for all ages.
I didn’t know what to expect of this novel judging by its title, but was amazingly satisfied by its content. If you are a fan of Narnia or the Tolkien novels you will enjoy the “Warble”. I enjoyed this quest just as much as reading those other novel, Katrina, the heroines, undertakes a series of challenges in the mystical land of Bernovem, which is filled with mystical and mysterious creatures that includes fairies, gnomes and dwarfs, as she attempts to save it from a sinister and dark evil.
The writing was refreshing and wonderful. The author pulled me right into the story with her development of characters, and descriptive visions of the mystical land of Bernovem. I quickly identified with Katrina and the other characters and look forward to the sequel which she teases us with towards the end of the novel. Well played and thank you for a wonderful read.
I highly recommend this novel to fantasy readers. It is a gem for all ages.
September 3, 2016
I was immersed in Kristina Kingsly’s world from the first page. Bernovem was so easy to visualize that it felt like I was right beside her in this imaginary land with these strange creatures. Dwarfs, gnomes and fairies fill a realm of wonderment and danger. I was mesmerized by the unique environment and meticulous characterizations. The Warble was so thoroughly enjoyable that it was impossible to put down and I finished the book in one sitting.
The Warble tells the story of a twelve year old misfit who becomes the chosen one in the fantasy land of Bernovem. It is a fascinating journey through a very creative and detailed world with bigger than life characters. The Warble will hold readers gripped in an engrossing tale of courage, goodness, and the strength of one girl’s spirit.
I can’t wait to see more from Victoria Simcox. This book is a must-read for fantasy fans of all ages.
The Warble tells the story of a twelve year old misfit who becomes the chosen one in the fantasy land of Bernovem. It is a fascinating journey through a very creative and detailed world with bigger than life characters. The Warble will hold readers gripped in an engrossing tale of courage, goodness, and the strength of one girl’s spirit.
I can’t wait to see more from Victoria Simcox. This book is a must-read for fantasy fans of all ages.
May 12, 2021
"The Warble" by Victoria Simcox tell the story of Kristina Kingsly, who is transported to the magical kingdom of Bernovem when her teacher gives her a box to take home for the holidays. Kristina finds out that her adventure is a task which is dangerous and will require courage and persistence. As the story progresses, she meets Werrien, who befriends her, as they plan and fight together to reclaim the kingdom from the evil queen and return it to its rightful rulers. In our world, where we face good and evil constantly, I found this story timely. If you are a fan of well-written stories for children, or yourself, you'll like this one. And there are three more in the series. I enjoyed this one as a set-up and look forward to the rest.
July 20, 2015
Dwarves, fairies, a prince, talking animals, and an evil queen all spell amazing adventure for Kristina Kingsley! Although she's not part of the popular crowd, in fact she's bullied by them, the young heroine of this story has more heart, courage, and thoughtfulness than any of them. Tasked with returning The Warble (and thereby restoring balance) to it's rightful place in the magical land of Bernovem, our brave Kristina befriends and charms all manner of fantastical creature along the way. Rich with detail and imaginative mystical fantasy, this book for younger middle school children will delight even the child in most adults.
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