Review: The Alchemist's Shadow by Gregory Funaro

The Alchemist's Shadow

Watch Hollow, Book Two

by Gregory Funaro

Harper Collins

Middle Grade Fantasy

240 pages

COMING...

FEBRUARY 18th, 2020!!!

“There is magic, there is good and evil, and there is love all woven into a suspenseful and entertaining mystery.”—School Library Journal (starred review)

New York Times bestselling author Gregory Funaro brings us the second installment of the thrilling Watch Hollow series, where magic exists, monsters roam, and wooden animals come to life.

Having defeated the Garr, a vicious tree monster who lived within the enchanted woods of Watch Hollow, Lucy and Oliver Tinker now have the home they’ve always dreamed of: Blackford House. Powered by a magical clock and full of curious rooms and improbable knickknacks, Blackford House brims with the promise of new adventures.

Yet when a strange governess arrives from England—bringing with her the Kojima twins, Agatha and Algernon—the Tinker children’s once bright future quickly begins to dim. The Kojimas claim to be the rightful heirs to Blackford House, and soon after their arrival, a great evil enters the Tinkers’ new home, cursing it and turning it into an ever-changing labyrinth.

As a result, Lucy and Oliver, along with their clock animal friends, must now join forces with the twins to escape this labyrinth and save Blackford House, all while a new monster lurks around the corner.

MY TIDBITS

With only a few scattered pauses to gain time to breathe, this is a fast-paced novel packed full of mystery, danger, intrigue, and tons of imagination.

Lucy and Oliver are settling down into their home. Finally. But things, of course, aren't calming down. A surprise visitor shows up with two children in tow. Agatha and Algernon, with claims that the house actually belongs to them. Not only does this cause large issues for Lucy and Oliver, but the house and creatures start acting up and appear even during the day time. Also, an evil settles in, one which brings more danger than imagined. Lucy and Oliver must somehow work together with the two newcomers if they want to have a chance of defeating the new threat.

Like in the first book, this one offers so much excitement and suspense. The author has created a magical world with amazing creatures, but it doesn't stop there. Around every corner, there is something to discover and more often than not, it's not something good. These children are kept on their toes and that makes it hard to set this book down. A few loose ends are left, but for the most part, things come together nicely.

Each character is a delight to meet. The children have their very own, individual personalities and quirks, and each one is fun to get to know and root for. Their personal issues make their choices understandable. Readers will sympathize with them and wish they could jump in and join in on the adventure.

This is definitely a fun adventure which is sure to keep readers up long past their bedtimes.

Review: Watch Hollow by Gregory Funaro

WATCH HOLLOW

by Gregory Funaro

Harper Collins

Middle Grade Fantasy

320 pages

COMING...

FEBRUARY 12th, 2019!!!

Deep within the enchanted woods in the town of Watch Hollow stands the once-grand Blackford House, whose halls hold a magical secret: a giant cuckoo clock that does much more than tell time. But when the clock’s gears cease to turn, an evil presence lurking among the trees begins to come out of the shadows.

When Lucy and Oliver Tinker arrive in Watch Hollow, they have no idea that anything is wrong. A mysterious stranger has made their father an offer that’s too good for him to refuse. All Mr. Tinker needs to do is fix the clock at Blackford House and fistfuls of gold coins are his to keep.

It doesn’t take long, however, for the children to realize that there is more to Blackford House than meets the eye. And before they can entirely understand the strange world they’ve stumbled into, Lucy and Oliver must join forces with a host of magical clock animals to defeat the Garr—a vicious monster that not only wants Blackford House for itself, but also seeks to destroy everything the Tinkers hold dear.

 MY TIDBITS

Jam-packed with imagination, this is a fast-paced adventure with something unexpected waiting around every bend.

Lucy and Oliver's father has been trying to keep his clock business afloat, but especially after the death of their mother, things aren't exactly easy. When a strange car and an even stranger man come into the picture, it appears that, at least, the financial worries might be taken care of for awhile. But the clock Lucy and Oliver's father is to fix is an intricate part of a strange house. Strange animals dwell there, and an evil monster, Garr, is trying to take everything over. Lucy and Oliver find themselves in the strangest yet most exciting adventure ever.

The thing which first struck me about this book was the descriptive writing. Unlike the author's last book, care and time is take to let a perfect setting and atmosphere evolve. While not running into the danger of being overly descriptive, just the right, tiny moments are picked out and brought to life. It sucks the reader right into the store and the characters, allowing them to meet on a personal level right away. And what wonderful characters they are.

While things appear to start out relatively normal, the book soon dives into a vivid and fantastic world. The creatures are fantasy pure, teetering on the border of extreme but never crossing over. It's a delight to meet every one. And, of course, the house itself is filled with amazement after amazement, making every nook and cranny an exciting discovery.

Lucy and Oliver are a great pair. Each has their very own personality and holds their own strengths. As siblings, they work together well and stand by the others side until the very end. Which is good, considering the very sticky, tense and difficult situations they find themselves in.

This is a read for middle graders who love to dive into the realm of imagination and adventure. There's never, ever a boring moment, and it's a world the reader is sure never to forget.