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School Between Winter and Fairyland
Twelve-year-old Autumn Malog is a servant at the enchanting Inglenook School, where young magicians study to become the king's future monster-hunters. Along with her Gran and three too many older brothers, she works as a beastkeeper, tending to Inglenook's menagerie of terrifying monsters.
But when she isn't mucking out the wyvern stalls or coaxing the resident boggart to behave, Autumn searches for clues about her twin brother's mysterious disappearance. Everyone else thinks he was devoured by the feared Hollow Dragon, but Autumn is convinced she's heard--and glimpsed--him calling to her from within the castle walls. But who will believe a lowly servant?
So when Cai Morrigan, the "Chosen One" prophesied to one day destroy the Hollow Dragon, comes to her for help, Autumn agrees on one condition: Together, they'll search for her brother and uncover the dark truth at the heart of enchanting Inglenook School once and for all.
But when she isn't mucking out the wyvern stalls or coaxing the resident boggart to behave, Autumn searches for clues about her twin brother's mysterious disappearance. Everyone else thinks he was devoured by the feared Hollow Dragon, but Autumn is convinced she's heard--and glimpsed--him calling to her from within the castle walls. But who will believe a lowly servant?
So when Cai Morrigan, the "Chosen One" prophesied to one day destroy the Hollow Dragon, comes to her for help, Autumn agrees on one condition: Together, they'll search for her brother and uncover the dark truth at the heart of enchanting Inglenook School once and for all.
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First published September 14, 2021
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About the author
Heather Fawcett
27 books11.4k followersHello! Welcome to my page.
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
May 3, 2026
"Kind people were all well and good, but you simply *had* to respect a kind person with a hidden well of wickedness inside him."Autumn Malog may be just twelve but she's survived hardship, sorrow and is fully employed as a beastkeeper on the grounds of the prestigious Inglenook Boarding School.
The school is designed to churn out monster hunters - magicians who are strong enough to resist the pull of a wyvern or bend the boggart to their will.
Autumn (for the most part) doesn't mind her place, even though it chafes at times, because she needs to be on the grounds of the school. Her twin brother disappeared about a year ago and she could swear she's seen him within the castle walls.
Meanwhile Cal Morrigan was always known as the "Chosen One" when it comes to various spellwork, but there are some elements that he's embarrassingly bad at.
When Cal proposes an alliance with Autumn, she leaps at the chance - she knows that teaming up with someone as powerful as Cal will give her the best chance possible of finding her twin. And she has a strong suspicion that she's running out of time.
This was such a good book!
I've been reading a lot of Heather Fawcett recently and I'm always pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoy her books.
I felt like the world building was particularly well-done in this one - I really liked puzzling out the mystery surrounded by the various dragons and mythical creatures of Autumn's profession.
I thought the Hollow Dragon was particularly menacing and I was glued to the page any time he was brought up - such a great concept for a "Big Bad" in a middle grade book.
I will say that at times, the book's plot did feel like it was dragging its feet but overall, I was quite pleased with the story.
May 21, 2021
I had the great good fortune to receive an advance copy of this, and decided to read it aloud to my kids. What a wild adventure this book is! It had everything: fascinating magical creatures, excellent world building, magic, a mystery, dragons, three creatures stacked up in a trench coat attending a party . . .
No, seriously.
Which made me think about how well this book, and middle grade, can handle the Big Stuff, and how it does. It's humor. Humor is the key. This is a book that has zombie creatures in it. Deadly monsters. At its heart there is the disappearance and possible murder of a child. The "funny" creatures dressed u p like a person? Are planning to eat the main character when it's all done. The main character, Autumn, is an orphan, and it's her twin who is missing and probably dead. What saves this from being far too violent, and far too bleak, for any reader, let alone a preteen, is the humor, but not just that. It's the heart.
You really care about all of these characters, including the monsters, because they are so beautiful and unique. You are trusting the author to find a solution to the problems that is clever and satisfying, and where everyone is okay. It's a lot more difficult than just killing the monsters when they attack. For instance, in this world, dragons are gardeners. They're very dangerous, but they can be appeased by those in the know by promising them rare seeds and cuttings. It's unusual, it's funny, it allows Autumn and her fellow beast keepers to deescalate fights without violence, which you want because you care about the humans, who are mostly children (except for salty old Gran) and you also care about the monsters, because it is made clear that they are magical, they are unique, and they are also just being true to their nature.
It's delicate work, telling a story that has suspense, and danger, and yet won't terrify or depress children, but still has a satisfying ending that doesn't feel easy or silly. Reader reactions are earned here. I found myself laughing aloud and tearing up. And, even though it's not something he would have automatically picked up, my 16yo son was really into it as well. We especially liked the antics of the Boggart, who was the perfect example of all this: the most powerful monster in the land, able to take any shape, is always saying he wants to marry Autumn when she grows up. So cute, like a little kid that wants to marry his babysitter, right? Except that if he decides to carry her off and marry her, there is literally nothing anyone could do, he is completely without a conscience and cannot be killed. For most of the books he was funny . . . until he showed up toward the end with a secret about where he'd been the past few days . . .
No, seriously.
Which made me think about how well this book, and middle grade, can handle the Big Stuff, and how it does. It's humor. Humor is the key. This is a book that has zombie creatures in it. Deadly monsters. At its heart there is the disappearance and possible murder of a child. The "funny" creatures dressed u p like a person? Are planning to eat the main character when it's all done. The main character, Autumn, is an orphan, and it's her twin who is missing and probably dead. What saves this from being far too violent, and far too bleak, for any reader, let alone a preteen, is the humor, but not just that. It's the heart.
You really care about all of these characters, including the monsters, because they are so beautiful and unique. You are trusting the author to find a solution to the problems that is clever and satisfying, and where everyone is okay. It's a lot more difficult than just killing the monsters when they attack. For instance, in this world, dragons are gardeners. They're very dangerous, but they can be appeased by those in the know by promising them rare seeds and cuttings. It's unusual, it's funny, it allows Autumn and her fellow beast keepers to deescalate fights without violence, which you want because you care about the humans, who are mostly children (except for salty old Gran) and you also care about the monsters, because it is made clear that they are magical, they are unique, and they are also just being true to their nature.
It's delicate work, telling a story that has suspense, and danger, and yet won't terrify or depress children, but still has a satisfying ending that doesn't feel easy or silly. Reader reactions are earned here. I found myself laughing aloud and tearing up. And, even though it's not something he would have automatically picked up, my 16yo son was really into it as well. We especially liked the antics of the Boggart, who was the perfect example of all this: the most powerful monster in the land, able to take any shape, is always saying he wants to marry Autumn when she grows up. So cute, like a little kid that wants to marry his babysitter, right? Except that if he decides to carry her off and marry her, there is literally nothing anyone could do, he is completely without a conscience and cannot be killed. For most of the books he was funny . . . until he showed up toward the end with a secret about where he'd been the past few days . . .
June 7, 2024
ok WHO let her get away with that ending, I'd like to have a chat
October 26, 2023
Un très bon roman jeunesse, hyper original et addictif ! L’univers est riche et j’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à suivre les aventures d’Automne et d’explorer son monde à ses côtés ! Un one shot de fantasy vraiment chouette 🤌
November 5, 2021
Wonderful story with amazing ventures. A struggling of finding the truth about missing twin and unraveling of bestfriend's family background. It was really rocking me at the first, amid and end of story.
I reckon if you are a harry potter fans, you should also read this book too. A lot of magics, witches, dragons and another mythical creatures displayed in the story that will make u amazed. The background of wild wood and myterious castle would make the journey full of amazing twists.
I reckon if you are a harry potter fans, you should also read this book too. A lot of magics, witches, dragons and another mythical creatures displayed in the story that will make u amazed. The background of wild wood and myterious castle would make the journey full of amazing twists.
July 12, 2021
This was incredible! This was such a perfectly done twist on a boarding school setting. I found this magic system so intriguing! Everything about this is so unique, creative, & utterly brilliant. The characters are amazing. Autumn & her family aren’t magicians, but work for them & the school as beast keepers. Her family has the speech-they can speak in their minds to the monsters, & depending how strong they are with it, even control them some. It’s just Autumn, her brothers, & Gran. But 1 brother, her twin Winter, went missing almost a year ago. Then you have their amazing dog Choo(named this for sneezing around monsters lol) who loved everyone, & tries so hard to be friends with even all the monsters. Then you have the Boggart who is bonded to Autumn. I absolutely loved him-has my heart. Then there’s Cai who the chosen 1 prophecy falls to. Such a great character. Truly heroic-so is Autumn. This flips the chosen 1 trope all around, & shows what it truly means to be a hero. This also shows that sometimes you should question how things are-maybe that isn’t the way they should be.
This is so dark, but at the same time there’s this underlying humor that balances it all out, therefore making it superbly balanced story. I mean when you dress 3 monsters standing on each other’s shoulders in a trench coat, boots, hat, & mask-it doesn’t get much better than that! Lol All the backstories are so fascinating-from Cai’s, the schools/magicians, Autumn’s family, the Hollow Dragon’s-its all so good. Then you have the magic system & plot itself, the amazing characters & writing..plus the mirrors/glass, a dual mystery, monsters, & even dangerous dragons who care more about their roses than anything! Yes-dragons who garden..all of these things make this such an engrossing fast-paced read. So much danger, excitement, high stakes, mystery, adventure, magic, friendship, & family awesomeness. Spectacular world building. Such an atmospheric world too, with such vivid detailing.
The friendship dynamic b/n Autumn & Cai was so well done as well. I loved their bond that grew. They helped each other so much in discovering their true selves, & in a way they both opened up worlds for each other that belonged to both of them, that they had both been denied all of their lives. Big themes of self discovery & believing in who you are & who you’re meant to be. & the amazing power of friendship & family. The ending was amazingly bittersweet, but so epic. The twists at the end left me speechless. I thought I had the mysteries & everything figured out-I couldn’t have been MORE wrong lol Now that’s amazing in itself. HIGHLY recommend. This comes out October 26th & I recommend you ordering/preordering it. This is a new top fav. STUNNING cover by the amazing Sara Gianassi too!💜
This is so dark, but at the same time there’s this underlying humor that balances it all out, therefore making it superbly balanced story. I mean when you dress 3 monsters standing on each other’s shoulders in a trench coat, boots, hat, & mask-it doesn’t get much better than that! Lol All the backstories are so fascinating-from Cai’s, the schools/magicians, Autumn’s family, the Hollow Dragon’s-its all so good. Then you have the magic system & plot itself, the amazing characters & writing..plus the mirrors/glass, a dual mystery, monsters, & even dangerous dragons who care more about their roses than anything! Yes-dragons who garden..all of these things make this such an engrossing fast-paced read. So much danger, excitement, high stakes, mystery, adventure, magic, friendship, & family awesomeness. Spectacular world building. Such an atmospheric world too, with such vivid detailing.
The friendship dynamic b/n Autumn & Cai was so well done as well. I loved their bond that grew. They helped each other so much in discovering their true selves, & in a way they both opened up worlds for each other that belonged to both of them, that they had both been denied all of their lives. Big themes of self discovery & believing in who you are & who you’re meant to be. & the amazing power of friendship & family. The ending was amazingly bittersweet, but so epic. The twists at the end left me speechless. I thought I had the mysteries & everything figured out-I couldn’t have been MORE wrong lol Now that’s amazing in itself. HIGHLY recommend. This comes out October 26th & I recommend you ordering/preordering it. This is a new top fav. STUNNING cover by the amazing Sara Gianassi too!💜
April 19, 2025
Many thanks to Grace for joining me for this buddy read!
I have now read adult, young adult and middle grade fiction by Heather Fawcett and can say that she excels in all three. Her whimsical magic seeps through in all her works I've read so far that despite being across democraphics, you can clearly see her signature.
The School Between Winter and Fairyland is more of an upper end middle grade - it is both magical is it is dark, quite surprisingly so but I enjoyed it all the more. Middle grade can be so very different depending on which age range it's catered for but this particular one was the perfect kind in terms of being engaging for readers of all age. Next to all the whimsical elements, there are dark themes and the stakes are high.
Autumn is a serving girl, or a beast keeper to be more precise, at a wizard's school. While she herself would love to attend school, this is reserved only for magical people and once a servent, always a servent. But her greatest worry lies with the disappearance of her twin brother Winter. Everyone thinks he is dead - devoured by the Hollow Dragon who stalks the forests near the school. But Autumn and Winter are twins, she simply knows her brother must be somewhere. She finds an unlikely friend and ally in the school's most promising pupil - Cai. Together they try to find out where Winter has gotten to whilst also trying to cure Cai of his fear of dragons.
The sheer variety of creatures is wonderful - some are known mythical beings whilst others are so uniquely Fawcett's style - and I have to say I love the latter most. Just picturing the gardening loving dragons or the humming dragons who'll take a chunk out of you as you listen to their song brings such whimsy to the story.
The school itself actually felt quite reminscent of Hogwarts - I generally love academia settings but this is so far the closest I've come to feeling this could well be set in the same universe. Which by no means indicates that I think one is the copy of the other, there's only so many ways you can change up a magic school. This is very much Fawcett's creation, but I daresay fans of Harry Potter would appreciate this. If I had to, I'd most liken this to a Hogwarts-like adventure from the point of view of Hagrid's assistant if he would have had one.
I am very much in awe of how Fawcett creates her magic worlds and delivers to a wide range of ages - I am very much looking forward to exporing more of her works.
January 7, 2023
La trama me ha gustado. Pensé que podría ser algo así como una especia de Harry Potter, y francamente no me molesta algo así. Pero la realidad es que no va encaminada por ese lado. Una chica que tiene una misión grabada en su alma, un chico que necesita ayuda desesperadamente, una búsqueda desesperada, casi contrarreloj y la espera de la primera nevada.
En este tipo de historias, me encanta ver el poder de la amistad y de la familia como se hacen presentes. Autumn es una chica que le gusta hacer las cosas a su manera, es decidida y no le gusta que sus hermanos estén por ahí, pero, la realidad es que más bien tiene el corazón roto. Ver como va evolucionando cada personaje es encantador. También nos deja claros que no todo lo que tu crees conocer es real, que escuches la voz de la experiencia, cosa que a veces nos cuesta a ciertas edades. Por otra parte tenemos la bondad de Cai, la empatía tan grande que tiene que logra romper las barreras de nuestra chica y nace una bonita amistad. La obra nos muestra lo bueno que es un trabajo real en equipo, que no tengamos prejuicios mientras UNA BALADA DE INVIERNO Y MAGIA hace lo suyo y te conquistando hasta ese punto final que te hace sonreír.
Heather Fawcett tiene una pluma cercana, ligera y adictiva, cuando menos te lo esperas es que has caído de lleno y es difícil de soltar ¡Feliz lectura!
En este tipo de historias, me encanta ver el poder de la amistad y de la familia como se hacen presentes. Autumn es una chica que le gusta hacer las cosas a su manera, es decidida y no le gusta que sus hermanos estén por ahí, pero, la realidad es que más bien tiene el corazón roto. Ver como va evolucionando cada personaje es encantador. También nos deja claros que no todo lo que tu crees conocer es real, que escuches la voz de la experiencia, cosa que a veces nos cuesta a ciertas edades. Por otra parte tenemos la bondad de Cai, la empatía tan grande que tiene que logra romper las barreras de nuestra chica y nace una bonita amistad. La obra nos muestra lo bueno que es un trabajo real en equipo, que no tengamos prejuicios mientras UNA BALADA DE INVIERNO Y MAGIA hace lo suyo y te conquistando hasta ese punto final que te hace sonreír.
Heather Fawcett tiene una pluma cercana, ligera y adictiva, cuando menos te lo esperas es que has caído de lleno y es difícil de soltar ¡Feliz lectura!
July 27, 2022
Ook dit boek ziet er aan de buitenkant weer prachtig uit! Het hele boek lijkt te glimmen en de hoofdpersonages staan goed afgebeeld op de voorkant. Tijdens het lezen, keek ik soms naar de voorkant van het boek om weer even te visualiseren hoe iedereen er uit ziet (en de draken natuurlijk).
Herfst en Winter zijn dus een tweeling, een jongen en een meisje, maar toch lijken ze heel erg veel op elkaar. Je leest het meeste door het perspectief van Herfst, haar leer je dan ook goed kennen. Af en toe lees je een stukje vanuit Winter, daardoor leer je meer over het verleden.
De setting is een magisch kasteel en Herfst en haar familie zijn een soort bedienden. Zij zorgen namelijk voor de monsters. De meeste monsters lijken op ‘normale’ dieren, eigenlijk jammer dat er geen illustraties waren, maar je kon je prima inbeelden hoe ze er uit zouden zien. De Holle Draak is het grootste monster in dit verhaal en speelt ook een grote rol.
De school op de rand van Sageland is een avontuur, met magie en draken. Zoals we van Heather Fawcett gewend zijn. Hoewel de personages maar 12 jaar oud zijn, komen ze wel ouder over in hun acties. Maar als puntje bij paaltje komt zijn ze qua emoties toch echt wel 12 jaar. Je zal maar 12 jaar zijn en het land moeten redden voor de winter komt… Dan ligt er een grote druk op je schouders.
Ik raad het boek aan voor iedere lezer van 12 jaar en ouder. Het boek verdient sowieso een plekje in elke (school)bibliotheek, maar ook in je eigen boekenkast. De school op de rand van Sageland heb ik met veel plezier gelezen, de spanning van het avontuur wordt rustig opgebouwd en het verhaal wordt aan het einde afgerond.
Ik kreeg dit boek als recensie-exemplaar van Uitgeverij de Fontein.
Herfst en Winter zijn dus een tweeling, een jongen en een meisje, maar toch lijken ze heel erg veel op elkaar. Je leest het meeste door het perspectief van Herfst, haar leer je dan ook goed kennen. Af en toe lees je een stukje vanuit Winter, daardoor leer je meer over het verleden.
De setting is een magisch kasteel en Herfst en haar familie zijn een soort bedienden. Zij zorgen namelijk voor de monsters. De meeste monsters lijken op ‘normale’ dieren, eigenlijk jammer dat er geen illustraties waren, maar je kon je prima inbeelden hoe ze er uit zouden zien. De Holle Draak is het grootste monster in dit verhaal en speelt ook een grote rol.
De school op de rand van Sageland is een avontuur, met magie en draken. Zoals we van Heather Fawcett gewend zijn. Hoewel de personages maar 12 jaar oud zijn, komen ze wel ouder over in hun acties. Maar als puntje bij paaltje komt zijn ze qua emoties toch echt wel 12 jaar. Je zal maar 12 jaar zijn en het land moeten redden voor de winter komt… Dan ligt er een grote druk op je schouders.
Ik raad het boek aan voor iedere lezer van 12 jaar en ouder. Het boek verdient sowieso een plekje in elke (school)bibliotheek, maar ook in je eigen boekenkast. De school op de rand van Sageland heb ik met veel plezier gelezen, de spanning van het avontuur wordt rustig opgebouwd en het verhaal wordt aan het einde afgerond.
Ik kreeg dit boek als recensie-exemplaar van Uitgeverij de Fontein.
March 30, 2023
3,5
Reseña completa http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com/...
Me ha sorprendido gratamente este libro, es un middle grade con un mundo bastante complejo, muchos ingredientes interesantes y bien combinados y encima autoconclusivo. Es cierto que al empezar te pierdes porque te meten muchos datos, lugares y nombres sin ponerte en antecedentes y claro esto le da un ritmo muy muy lento y hace que no te enganches, pero si tienes paciencia y sigues avanzando vas comprendiendo el mundo y a los personajes, empieza a atraparte y lo disfrutas mucho. Porque es de esos libros imaginativos llenos de fantasía, criaturas, encantó, aventuras y buenas sorpresas en la trama.
La pluma de la autora es perfecta para este tipo de libros, nos da justo lo que necesitamos, crea un mundo repleto de detalles y cosas interesantes, la trama está muy bien hilada y encima hay giros muy buenos, muchos de ellos ni siquiera los ves venir. Los personajes están muy bien construidos aunque para mi gusto a algunos les falta algo de carisma, pero aún así son muy realistas y tienen ese toque especial.
Un middle grade distinto, con magia y criaturas, giros argumentales, amistad y secretos.
Reseña completa http://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com/...
Me ha sorprendido gratamente este libro, es un middle grade con un mundo bastante complejo, muchos ingredientes interesantes y bien combinados y encima autoconclusivo. Es cierto que al empezar te pierdes porque te meten muchos datos, lugares y nombres sin ponerte en antecedentes y claro esto le da un ritmo muy muy lento y hace que no te enganches, pero si tienes paciencia y sigues avanzando vas comprendiendo el mundo y a los personajes, empieza a atraparte y lo disfrutas mucho. Porque es de esos libros imaginativos llenos de fantasía, criaturas, encantó, aventuras y buenas sorpresas en la trama.
La pluma de la autora es perfecta para este tipo de libros, nos da justo lo que necesitamos, crea un mundo repleto de detalles y cosas interesantes, la trama está muy bien hilada y encima hay giros muy buenos, muchos de ellos ni siquiera los ves venir. Los personajes están muy bien construidos aunque para mi gusto a algunos les falta algo de carisma, pero aún así son muy realistas y tienen ese toque especial.
Un middle grade distinto, con magia y criaturas, giros argumentales, amistad y secretos.
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July 16, 2022Not nearly as interesting or fun as I found the other MG novels I have read by this author, though I find the writing itself very pleasant. I found that it took a bit for the story to really pull me in. Far enough in that I probably would have put the book down if I didn't know I already liked Heather Fawcett's stories.
October 11, 2024
that one author u like so much u read everything they write
February 4, 2025
how did miss heather think those last 20 pages were okay……in what world was that acceptable……
middle grade fantasy is supposed to be my comfort genre; i picked this up to escape my painful life, not to give me more pain. mission failed 😞
middle grade fantasy is supposed to be my comfort genre; i picked this up to escape my painful life, not to give me more pain. mission failed 😞
September 14, 2023
Ein Internat zur Ausbildung junger Magier, ein Junge mit der Prophezeiung die Welt zu retten... soweit so klassisch, und doch ganz anders. Denn wir sehen die Welt durch die Augen der jungen Dienstbotin Winter, die für die Pflege magischer Geschöpfe zuständig ist und somit ganz am unteren Ende der Hierarchie lebt. Und doch kommt besagter Junge ausgerechnet zu ihr mit einer Bitte, die alles auf den Kopf stellt und wir erleben ein fantasievolles Abenteuer in der Schule und dem angrenzenden Wald mit etlichen Twists, ungewöhnlichen Geschöpfen und einer interessant ausgearbeiteten Welt. Von dieser sehen wir zwar nicht viel und ich habe mich am Anfang etwas schwer getan in die Geschichte reinzukommen, aber manchmal benötigt es gar keine großen Schauplätze und viele Charaktere, um eine gute Geschichte zu erzählen. Sie entfaltet sich auch im Kleinen und ist trotzdem oder gerade deswegen am Ende umso bewegender.
June 27, 2022
Wat was dit een ontzettend leuk boek! Ik heb er echt van genoten en mij geen moment verveeld. De fans van Harry Potter zullen hier absoluut van smullen, omdat de lezer zich in dit boek ook bevindt in een school voor toverkunsten, er een magisch bos te vinden is aan de rand van de school en het boek krioelt van de fabelachtige wezens. Onze hoofdpersoon, Herfst, en haar oma en broertjes doen je absoluut denken aan Hagrid uit Harry Potter. Zij verzorgen de monsters in de buurt van de school en wonen in een huisje op de rand van het bos.
De schrijfster heeft een fijne pen, waarbij ze de spanning goed weet op te bouwen. Ook is de auteur zeer goed in het omschrijven van de omgeving. Je duikt als het ware een magische plek in, waarbij de draken je om de oren vliegen en je bijna het gevoel krijgt dat je zelf ook door een stenen muur heen kan lopen. Het is toegankelijk geschreven, niet te ingewikkeld en absoluut geschikt om zelf te lezen voor lezers vanaf 10 jaar. Is het kinderlijk geschreven? Nee. Dit is ook absoluut genieten voor de oudere lezers onder ons.
Het lezen van De school op de rand van Sageland smaakt absoluut naar meer van deze auteur! Hopelijk kunnen we snel weer genieten van een nieuw boek.
De schrijfster heeft een fijne pen, waarbij ze de spanning goed weet op te bouwen. Ook is de auteur zeer goed in het omschrijven van de omgeving. Je duikt als het ware een magische plek in, waarbij de draken je om de oren vliegen en je bijna het gevoel krijgt dat je zelf ook door een stenen muur heen kan lopen. Het is toegankelijk geschreven, niet te ingewikkeld en absoluut geschikt om zelf te lezen voor lezers vanaf 10 jaar. Is het kinderlijk geschreven? Nee. Dit is ook absoluut genieten voor de oudere lezers onder ons.
Het lezen van De school op de rand van Sageland smaakt absoluut naar meer van deze auteur! Hopelijk kunnen we snel weer genieten van een nieuw boek.
September 6, 2021
This was a wonderful fantasy book that was about adventure, friendship, and family.
Autumn is a beast keeper/servant at her the magical boarding school. Winter, Autumn's brother, has gone missing and throughout the forest and the school she sees him or finds items of Winter's hidden. Cai, the chosen one, seeks Autumn out for the deal of helping him with beasts. This bargain transforms as the story progresses and the friendship blooms! The only critique I have is that the beginning was a little slow to start for me, and I could equally see some of my students struggling with it too. *ARC was provided for an honest review from NetGalley*
Autumn is a beast keeper/servant at her the magical boarding school. Winter, Autumn's brother, has gone missing and throughout the forest and the school she sees him or finds items of Winter's hidden. Cai, the chosen one, seeks Autumn out for the deal of helping him with beasts. This bargain transforms as the story progresses and the friendship blooms! The only critique I have is that the beginning was a little slow to start for me, and I could equally see some of my students struggling with it too. *ARC was provided for an honest review from NetGalley*
October 12, 2023
I had a very hard time getting through this one. I think there were a few reasons:
1) I think the title is misrepresenting the book. It didn't feel like it described the book well.
2) The book just moved too slowly for me. I think a bunch could have been cut out without losing anything.
3) The book didn't always seem cohesive. There were a couple of different plot lines that didn't always feel like they tied together.
I'm rating this two stars because I did like the main characters. And I loved the author's "The Language of Ghosts", so I would try a different title by this author but I don't know that I would recommend this one.
1) I think the title is misrepresenting the book. It didn't feel like it described the book well.
2) The book just moved too slowly for me. I think a bunch could have been cut out without losing anything.
3) The book didn't always seem cohesive. There were a couple of different plot lines that didn't always feel like they tied together.
I'm rating this two stars because I did like the main characters. And I loved the author's "The Language of Ghosts", so I would try a different title by this author but I don't know that I would recommend this one.
June 2, 2021
What a wonderful creation for Middle School fantasy fans! Autumn Malog is a beastkeeper at a school of magic - just a servant, who is befriended by one of the most popular boys in school - and the Chosen One! As Autumn and Cai become unlikely friends, they help each other to discover their true selves and the mysteries that have kept their lives from being what they could be. A wonderful tale of self-discovery and empowerment as well as the power of friendship. Definitely very readable for all ages!
February 25, 2022
Another solid fantasy novel from Fawcett. I wasn't wowed by it but it was still a solid read that hooked me the majority of the time. The characters aren't particularly strong and neither is the world-building. The plot and the monsters inside the world though, are well designed and equally terrifying and lovable. The ending felt a bit cheap and it didn't exactly feel like the solution/happy ending the book needed. It's well written, if a bit of a slog at times. I can see handing it to kiddos but not with the enthusiasm I have for Language of Ghosts from last year.
September 4, 2021
Another fantastic middle grade/fantasy stand-alone from Heather Fawcett. The Language of Ghosts was one of my favorites last year, and The School Between Winter and Fairyland proves to be another well-structured story that both deconstructs and pays homage to over-used children's fantasy tropes. I loved all the characters (especially Autumn and Cai) and the world building was just enough to make an immersive world without wasting time away from the stories and characters.
September 10, 2024
The last three chapters or so were relatively engaging, but on a whole it was slow-paced and incredibly boring. Even the things that felt like they should be plot twists - , etc, were too bogged down by the surrounding dullness to have any real impact.
It does have an interesting premise and pretty well-developed characters, but I barely made it through :\
It does have an interesting premise and pretty well-developed characters, but I barely made it through :\
December 12, 2021
4.5 stars! A happy ending but not without a bit of a bittersweet twist.
July 15, 2023
Great book as per usual. Fast paced yet character driven.
April 30, 2023
Muy bueni
March 3, 2023
Heather Fawcett is voor mij geen hele onbekende schrijfster. Ik las namelijk eerder al Ember en de ijsdraken! Een spannend boek over magie, draken en pinguïns. Ik heb het met veel plezier gelezen en was dan ook direct nieuwsgierig naar De school op de rand van Sageland. De cover is ontzettend tof en nodigt je meteen uit om te gaan lezen. Daarnaast is het een boek voor de fans van Nevermoor en Bovenwereld. Twee series waar ik ontzettend van genoten heb. Ik ben benieuwd of Heather Fawcett de hoge verwachtingen met De school op de rand van Sageland waar kan maken!
Ember en de ijsdraken was dus een erg leuk boek om te lezen, maar de School op de rand van Sageland is nog veel beter. Met haar spannende, beeldende en vlotte schrijfstijl neemt Heather Fawcett je mee in het verhaal van Herfst. Een meisje dat er niet van houdt om stil te zitten en heel erg vastberaden is om haar doelen te bereiken. Het verhaal in De school op de rand van Sageland is mysterieus, magisch, meeslepend en zit vol met avontuur. Er is geen enkel moment waarop het verhaal saai wordt en er gebeurt constant wel iets! Heel geschikt voor kinderen die zich snel vervelen.
Doordat Heather Fawcett veel details gebruikt in het verhaal komt De school op de rand van Sageland echt tot leven. Tijdens het lezen loop je rond op de tovenaarsschool Haardstede en door de duistere Mildernes. De verschillende wezens komen voor je ogen tot leven en het lijkt net alsof je naar een film aan het kijken bent. Daarnaast zorgt Heather Fawcett er moeiteloos voor dat het verleden en het heden met elkaar verweven worden waardoor De school op de rand van Sageland een zekere diepgang krijgt. Zeker voor een kinderboek!
De school op de rand van Sageland van Heather Fawcett is zo een boek die de lezer zijn aandacht weet vast te pakken en niet meer los te laten. Je wordt meegenomen naar een magische wereld vol met draken en mysterie! Eigenlijk heb je niet eens door dat je een boek aan het lezen bent, want door de beeldende schrijfstijl van Heather Fawcett komt De school op de rand van Sageland moeiteloos tot leven. Je komt zowel over het verleden, als het heden meer te weten en dat zorgt voor de nodige diepgang. Hierdoor is De school op de rand van Sageland geschikt voor jong en oud!
Ember en de ijsdraken was dus een erg leuk boek om te lezen, maar de School op de rand van Sageland is nog veel beter. Met haar spannende, beeldende en vlotte schrijfstijl neemt Heather Fawcett je mee in het verhaal van Herfst. Een meisje dat er niet van houdt om stil te zitten en heel erg vastberaden is om haar doelen te bereiken. Het verhaal in De school op de rand van Sageland is mysterieus, magisch, meeslepend en zit vol met avontuur. Er is geen enkel moment waarop het verhaal saai wordt en er gebeurt constant wel iets! Heel geschikt voor kinderen die zich snel vervelen.
Doordat Heather Fawcett veel details gebruikt in het verhaal komt De school op de rand van Sageland echt tot leven. Tijdens het lezen loop je rond op de tovenaarsschool Haardstede en door de duistere Mildernes. De verschillende wezens komen voor je ogen tot leven en het lijkt net alsof je naar een film aan het kijken bent. Daarnaast zorgt Heather Fawcett er moeiteloos voor dat het verleden en het heden met elkaar verweven worden waardoor De school op de rand van Sageland een zekere diepgang krijgt. Zeker voor een kinderboek!
De school op de rand van Sageland van Heather Fawcett is zo een boek die de lezer zijn aandacht weet vast te pakken en niet meer los te laten. Je wordt meegenomen naar een magische wereld vol met draken en mysterie! Eigenlijk heb je niet eens door dat je een boek aan het lezen bent, want door de beeldende schrijfstijl van Heather Fawcett komt De school op de rand van Sageland moeiteloos tot leven. Je komt zowel over het verleden, als het heden meer te weten en dat zorgt voor de nodige diepgang. Hierdoor is De school op de rand van Sageland geschikt voor jong en oud!
April 2, 2023
Hola, lectores 🤓, ¿cómo están? ¿Cuál fue el primer libro que leyeron?
📅 Hoy les quiero hablar del último #MiddleGrade que leí y que amé. “Una balada de invierno y magia” de Heather Fawcett.
✍️ Este libro nos presenta a #AutumnMalog quien tiene 12 años y trabaja en el colegio Inglenook, una escuela de magia. Junto a su abuela y a sus hermanos llevan a cabo todas las funciones del colegio pero la más importante, la casa de fieras que está llena de monstruos. Pero eso no es todo, sino que Autumn en sus ratos libres investiga la desaparición de su hermano gemelo porque ella no cree que fue devorado por un dragón ya que escucha que la llama desde el interior de los muros del castillo.
Cuando el Elegido acaba con el famoso dragón, ella corre en su ayuda y juntos buscarán a su hermano y ambos descubrirán la oscura verdad que se oculta en el corazón del colegio de magia Inglenook.
¿Vos te animas a descubrirla?
✍️ Nunca había leído a la autora y me encantó su pluma. El colegio de magos me dio mucha vibras a Harry Potter pero con una trama más oscura y más monstruos, así que me enamoré de la historia desde el momento 0.
El libro me lo leí muy rápido pero cuando entro en acción el elegido y fueron a fondo con su investigación, realmente se volvió adictivo.
Me parece un libro ideal para adolescente (y ni hablar de adultos), porque es de esos libros que al leerlos quedas completamente enamorado de la literatura con ganas de meterte más y más en este mundo fascinante.
📅 Hoy les quiero hablar del último #MiddleGrade que leí y que amé. “Una balada de invierno y magia” de Heather Fawcett.
✍️ Este libro nos presenta a #AutumnMalog quien tiene 12 años y trabaja en el colegio Inglenook, una escuela de magia. Junto a su abuela y a sus hermanos llevan a cabo todas las funciones del colegio pero la más importante, la casa de fieras que está llena de monstruos. Pero eso no es todo, sino que Autumn en sus ratos libres investiga la desaparición de su hermano gemelo porque ella no cree que fue devorado por un dragón ya que escucha que la llama desde el interior de los muros del castillo.
Cuando el Elegido acaba con el famoso dragón, ella corre en su ayuda y juntos buscarán a su hermano y ambos descubrirán la oscura verdad que se oculta en el corazón del colegio de magia Inglenook.
¿Vos te animas a descubrirla?
✍️ Nunca había leído a la autora y me encantó su pluma. El colegio de magos me dio mucha vibras a Harry Potter pero con una trama más oscura y más monstruos, así que me enamoré de la historia desde el momento 0.
El libro me lo leí muy rápido pero cuando entro en acción el elegido y fueron a fondo con su investigación, realmente se volvió adictivo.
Me parece un libro ideal para adolescente (y ni hablar de adultos), porque es de esos libros que al leerlos quedas completamente enamorado de la literatura con ganas de meterte más y más en este mundo fascinante.
October 7, 2021
This was decent middle grade fantasy, though I think I liked the authors other book called The Language of Ghost.
Autumn hasn't gave up on her twin brothers like everyone else, she knows he isn't dead. She has found clues that don't make sense if he was killed by the Hollow Dragon. Then she meets Cai who is a magician from the Inglebrook school and he wants her to help him with something. She is a beast keeper and works with dragons as well as other monsters of the forest. She tells him that she will make a deal with him, that he helps her find her brother and she will help him with his problem.
I liked Autumn and Cai, they were cool characters and worked well together. I liked that Cai helped her even though he wasn't sure she could find her brother and never really made fun of her for believing he was still alive. I like Autumn's loyalty to her twin brother and though she didn't get along with all her other brothers they still helped her at times.
Autumn hasn't gave up on her twin brothers like everyone else, she knows he isn't dead. She has found clues that don't make sense if he was killed by the Hollow Dragon. Then she meets Cai who is a magician from the Inglebrook school and he wants her to help him with something. She is a beast keeper and works with dragons as well as other monsters of the forest. She tells him that she will make a deal with him, that he helps her find her brother and she will help him with his problem.
I liked Autumn and Cai, they were cool characters and worked well together. I liked that Cai helped her even though he wasn't sure she could find her brother and never really made fun of her for believing he was still alive. I like Autumn's loyalty to her twin brother and though she didn't get along with all her other brothers they still helped her at times.
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