Witchlings: The Golden Frog Games, by Claribel A. Ortega

Witchlings: The Golden Frog Games, by Claribel A. Ortega

From the publisher, Scholastic Press: available May 2, 2023

Get ready for more magic, mayhem, and monstruos in this magical sequel to Witchlings from Claribel A. Ortega, author of Ghost Squad and Frizzy.

Every four years, the Twelve Towns gather for a legendary magical tournament--the Golden Frog Games.

With Ravenskill hosting this year's games, all eyes are on Seven Salazar, Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux: the most famous Spares in the Twelve Towns. Thorn is ready to compete as a fashion champion, but when a forbidden hex is used to turn her fellow champions to stone, suspicion lands on the Witchlings.

As the Witchlings attempt to unravel the mystery of the stonifications, future Uncle Seven is harboring a dangerous secret: While she's supposed to be able to communicate with animals, the voices she hears most clearly belong to monstruos, and one spine-chilling voice is the loudest of all.

Can Seven fix her broken magic and find out who is stonifying the champions . . . before Thorn becomes the next victim?

   

I really got more into the story halfway through. I was enjoying it and then I was caught up in it, wanting to keep reading. Y’all know I love witch / fantasy stories and having read the first one in the series, I was happy to read book 2. I do wish I had gone back and reread the first book, since my memory isn’t great. Also, just because it was fun the first time around! To see that book 3 came out in 2024, I feel a wee bit behind on this one. I guess it doesn’t always matter when you pick up a book, just that you do. 

So many different characters with lots of magic, this is an action-packed story with heart and friendship at its core. I always want to help them so much! There is a cliffhanger ending, so I’m definitely headed to book 3! And guess what? Book 4 is coming....

Book Review: Wilderlore – The Accidental Apprentice by Amanda Foody

Another fun MG Fantasy!

From the publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books / Simon & Schuster, releases March 30, 2021

A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods in this whimsical and cheeky middle grade fantasy debut—perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.

The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.

Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.

To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.

The build and climax in this story are well done. And what you think of the characters may not be true. That was a fun twist. I loved the beasts, and it was very clever how they bonded with their chosen humans. There are different levels of beasts, too, which give the Lore Keepers different levels of powers.

I did have a hard time thinking they were 11 years old. The characters sounded and felt older to me. It didn’t prevent me from reading or bother me, but it did pop into my head.

Barclay’s emotional journal is also well done with a very satisfying ending.

I enjoyed the book very much and will definitely read the series as it comes out.

Writing Exercise Wednesday #27

I hope to post from the national conference but we'll see how on top of technical things I am. :-)

This exercise ended up being a nice, short one. And I loved it.  What's great about so many of the exercises is that they can jumpstart an idea into a novel.  Or even just a fun interlude when you need a break from your work in progress.

WEW #27

Prompt: reality, hunting, chance, challenging

Result:

Challenging the reality of being hunted, Panda thought to herself, what if I stay up in the tree all day?

That’s stupid, Shanty growled mind to mind.  We can’t take a chance of being caught.

Is not, Panda sulked.  Two women up in a tree – who’d look there?

Shanty cocked her gun and looked down.  They would.

Panda froze and saw the team of hunters below.  Panda and Shanty were wanted not because of their impressive physical abilities, but for what they could achieve with their minds.