Join Imogen and Mary as they journey to a fantastical world. Not all is at it first seems. Will you work out what’s really going on before they do??
By following a moth, aka a special key, Imogen and Mary are soon plummeted into a world of different tribes and ferocious monsters called the Skret. They meet a prince called Miro whose parents were killed by the Skret and whose uncle has assumed the throne in this fantastical world. But not all is as it seems at first.
I really liked this story and the character, Zuby. If you are looking for a fresh fantasy tale this is the book for you!
An exciting, thrilling, magical adventure that makes you feel as if you really are there in the novel having adventures alongside the characters. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone!
I don't even know where to start - the book The Shadow Moth, is so so good! First of all, I was absolutely blown away by the amount of detail in the cover. It looks amazing, so magical and just wow! Right from the start this books makes you feel as though you are actually there in the novel and you really are Imogen or Marie. I loved that I felt like I was really in this magical world having adventures right alongside the characters. The amount of detail in the writing was just incredible, so descriptive and beautifully written. Sometimes I find that very long books can get a bit boring but this one never does as the plot is exciting, fast paced and magical. I especially loved the bit where Marie rescued Miro from the tower, but there were loads of exciting moments in this amazing novel. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a thrilling, energetic, magical adventure. Even if I tried I couldn't say anything negative about this book! I loved it!
A brilliant adventure story about a strange new world!
Imogen and Marie are two normal girls who one day end up going through a mysterious magical door in a tree. They end up in a castle with a strange boy who is a Prince and they have a wonderful, but sometimes scary adventure to try and find a way home.
Sometimes the character names were a bit confusing because they weren't names I've read before and there were quite a few unusual characters. But the story was brilliant. I could imagine myself in the castle exploring and finding things. The forest world was quite strange and the creatures there too but I found them all quite funny. I like No to the Prince the best. I think people who like stories about magic and adventure and strange new worlds will really enjoy reading this. I think there will be another book and I would really like to read more!
I love the book and recommend everyone reads it as soon as they can. Amazing!
A Clock of Stars is a amazing quest of which two children try to make their way back home through a magical door in a tree.
The story is full of adventure and made me feel like I was right there watching it as it happened before my eyes.
I have read lots of stories but this is an original one like I have never read before.
I think the main character Imogen is brave but sometimes mean to her little sister.
I think lots of girls 8 and over would love this.
5 stars!
A Clock of Stars is a magical book that challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about other people.
I was lucky enough to be sent a proof copy of A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons. My Mum and I have been reading it as my bedtime story for the last few weeks.
I couldn’t believe A Clock of Stars was Francesca Gibbons’ first book. It was absolutely amazing. The story is so well written, it draws you in and neither my Mum or I wanted to put it down. We were supposed to read two or three chapters a night but we often went on for four or five! I was sad when we got towards the end as I didn’t want it finish.
The book starts with Imogen and her little sister Marie, who annoy each other like normal sisters, and tells the tale of their adventures after Imogen follows a Shadow Moth through a mysterious door in a tree tree only to discover Marie has followed her and they are trapped, unable to get home. The sisters find themselves in a magical Kingdom and are helped escape some terrifying monsters by a very spoilt prince.
The girls stay with Prince Miroslav and they form a strange friendship that almost creeps up on them. Miro has never had real friends before so it is all new to him and there are a few difficulties along the way.
We felt like Gibbons had created a whole new world – it has a feel of being ancient and a step back in time but it could be any time or place, it is just a complete new world like nowhere I could have imagined.
Despite the fun they are having the children realise they need to get back to their own world as their Mother will be worried. It soon becomes clear that it isn’t going to be as easy as that. They meet lots of interesting characters along the way and get caught up in an important quest that changes the future of the whole Kingdom. This is a great adventure story with twists and turns along the way, there were a lot of cliff-hangers!
I love the characters in A Clock of Stars, they all have their own stories and their own strong points and negatives, even the main characters have faults and weaknesses which makes them so much more believable. My favourite character is the huntress Lofkinye, she is such a brilliant character, with so many stories to tell. My Mum liked Marie as she enjoyed the way her character developed and grew throughout the book- she is a great peace keeper but also ended up being very brave. The illustrations by Chris Riddell at the start of the book are perfect, they show the characters exactly how I imagined them to be and the Shadow Moth is beautiful- I can see why Imogen would have followed it!
I really like the way A Clock of Stars shows us that heroes can come in all forms and challenges us to reconsider what we think we know about other people.
A Clock of Stars is probably the longest book I have ever read and I think it was right to read it with my Mum to start with, although I am re-reading it by myself now. As it is quite a detailed book I think it is best suited to age 10 upwards but think children age 8 upwards would enjoy it with a parent or teacher.
I absolutely loved A Clock of Stars and would love to read more about the characters. I really hope Francesca Gibbons has another book out soon.
http://whatlukedidnext.co.uk/2020/10/11/book-review-a-clock-of-stars-by-francesca-gibbons/
When I started reading A Clock of Stars by Francesca Gibbons, I knew it would be a fantasy. But I didn’t know this story would leave me breathless and take me on such a magical adventure! This book is illustrated by Chris Riddell, and those illustrations are absolutely stunning! I wished I was a kid again. And I wished I had this book when growing up. Definitely a must read for every child out there. One of the best children fantasies about fictional kingdoms I have read in a while!
When I started reading A Clock of Stars by Francesca Gibbons, I knew it would be a fantasy. But I didn’t know this story would leave me breathless and take me on such a magical adventure! This book is illustrated by Chris Riddell, and those illustrations are absolutely stunning!
A Clock of Stars reminded me of how I felt when I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia for the very first time. The moment you enter into a fantasy world and meet new characters. When you start to care for these characters and root for them. Moments when you want to be there with them, joining them in this adventure and help them save a kingdom. And you are there – with them. I felt part of this crew, I was on this journey with them. Afraid for what’s about to happen next, and happy when things would go as planned.
And when danger threatens the kingdom and the crew are getting ready to save it, you start biting your nails. I watched their friendship grow and loved it. What I loved the most was watching Imogen get closer to her little sister Marie. That special sister bond was beautiful! Francesca Gibbons’s writing is so captivating, the world building phenomenal and the action suspenseful.
I wished I was a kid again. And I wished I had this book when growing up. Definitely a must read for every child out there. One of the best children fantasies about fictional kingdoms I have read in a while!
A wonderful fantasy, adventure, entwined with life lessons that honesty, kindness and friendship prevail.
A wonderful fantasy, adventure, entwined with life lessons that honesty, kindness and friendship prevail.
Imogen and Marie, who don’t always get along, are transported through a portal in a tree to a fantasy world full of kings, princes, skrets, moths and the amazing veleclours. Here they embark on a journey, with prince Miro, to make Yaroslav a safer place for its inhabitants meeting strange and wonderful people and creatures along the way.
I loved this book as you immediately fall in love with the characters, their warmth and humour. I love the way the chapters were intertwined with Aneshkas story- it really helped the pace of the book. I was compelled to find out the magic behind the moths which were an integral part to the story. A wonderful debut.