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'The Ride of Doom' - Book 1 of the 'Star Sapphire and the Land of Gems' trilogy
Anthony Pardoe, Author
Children/Young Adult; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Market)
When ten year old Star finds a lost pebble in her garden, imploring to be taken to the nearby beach to be with its friends, she agrees - little knowing the action, adventure and danger about to enter her life ...
After a surprise encounter, the pebble rolls into an abandoned gemstone mine! Follow Star and Jasper into a magical fantasy world of gems and crystals, where kindness and treachery go hand in hand. As they fight their way through terrible dangers, they meet crystals who are friendly - but some who are definitely not! Will their shining example of friendship, bravery and loyalty carry them through? Will they EVER get home?
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Pardoe's novel is a charming story of a young girl named Star who befriends a pebble and embarks on a magical adventure. Filled with scientific facts about geography and silly characters that adults wrongly believe to be inanimate objects, this book boasts strong prose, well developed characters, and a winningly original premise.
Date Submitted: August 31, 2016