"Whilst handling a move to a new home and a new school away from her friends, fourteen year old Stacy falls into a hidden fairy realm ruled by a Queen that could put her life in danger. "
Whilst handling a move to a new home and a new school away from her friends, fourteen year old Stacy falls into a hidden fairy realm ruled by a Queen that could put her life in danger. Amongst the upheaval of the move and falling out with her friends in the process, Stacy is feeling isolated and frustrated before she is drawn into a magical realm in a local wood, meeting Bower, an old wizard who rescues her and helps her navigate the the perilous world with a bloodthirsty Queen. Stacy’s experience of moving house and moving schools is a big change that many young readers will be able to relate to. Friendships are also a key theme in The Queen's Dark Ambition, with the struggle to maintain old friendships despite moving schools while also looking to forge new ones appears throughout Stacy’s story. This book has lots for readers to immerse themselves in; as mentioned there’s the change in Stacy’s life then we fly into a fairy world with a ghostly Queen keen to capture children to sacrifice or transform into her new subjects, while also on the search for more and more power. Bower is Stacy’s fatherly guide in this strange new place and I enjoyed the bond that formed between the two of them. I was wondering how the book would come to an end and whether Stacy would be able to return to her human life. I think that the complexities of balancing a magical and normal life was handled quite well and the story concluded in a way I didn’t really expect. I think that this book leans more towards being a teen coming-of-age fantasy read, I think a YA audience may think its a little young. Readers around 13-15 will find an enjoyable magical adventure with a steady pace and lots of discoveries.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Indie Author Books |
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