Reviews

The Lucky Diamond by Valinora Troy

stewardofbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Living diamonds, strange beasts, a wicked witch and five brave children and one fantastic adventure!

This is the perfect middle-grade fantasy. I loved the five siblings and their unbreakable bond. I love how they learn lessons and grow without even realising it. I love the land of Nivram and all its mystical creatures. This is a wonderful book for younger readers but it is also a fun, relaxing read for older ones.

tabatha_shipley's review against another edition

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5.0

What I Didn’t Like:
-One unanswered question. No spoilers, but I need this answer. Full disclosure: there’s a book 2 coming so I’m hoping it will come up then.
-Epilogue felt unnecessary. Then again, I’m weird and I like when a story resonates in my head and doesn’t need to be wrapped up with a bow for me. Most readers, especially middle grade readers who are enjoying this one, will probably like the epilogue.

What I Did Like:
-The characters. They’re adorable, they’re strong, and they’re smart. I liked reading about them as a group, I liked when they struck out on their own, and I liked when they paired off.
-The fantasy world is well created. I felt sucked right into it and completely able to follow along with this one. It gave me Narnia vibes, honestly.
-Magic. Well used, well explained, and fun!

Who Should Read This One:
-Middle grade fantasy fans, give this one a read. It’s FUN and well written.
-In general if you like middle grade stories with compelling characters, quests, and magic you’ll adore this one. Give it a try!

My Rating: 5 Stars. This is a GREAT story that a lot of people will really enjoy. Give it a read!

kellymiller_author's review against another edition

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5.0

The Lucky Diamond opens with a dire scene: Yvonne's uncle, who has been raising her and her five siblings, stands accused of treason and sentenced to certain death: banishment outside the town's gates where he is certain to be killed by the monsters who roam the forest. Apparently deemed guilty by association, Yvonne and her siblings are forced into hiding lest they are rounded up and given the same fate. The story skips ahead five years, and the five kids are older, and getting by, but not very well. They live in a decaying, old flat and never appear in public together lest they be arrested and thrown out into the forest. When one of the siblings find a diamond that is actually a magical creature of the same name (Lucky Diamond) who has taken the form of the jewel. Lucky explains that she needs their help to get back to her homeland, and they really have no choice but to go with her or they will be killed by the monster who is on her tail.

So begins the adventure. The fast-paced story is sprinkled with many magical beings who threaten the children and slow the progress of their travel. They also meet a number of interesting characters, some of whom are helpful and some not! I applaud the author's writing style and tone: She includes just enough detail in her narrative and plenty of dangerous action in her plot to keep young minds engaged while not talking down to them. This is a fine example of children's fantasy!

brookeonbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Five orphaned siblings escape certain death in their home and set out on a magical quest across the land of Nivram. Aided by powerful family heirlooms and the help of several friends they meet along the way, the siblings face ferocious beast, evil witches, and corrupt soldiers as they push onward to seek safety and a new home. This is a feel good adventure with loads of imagination. It is sure to delight young readers of age 8-12 with the creative characters and multiple storylines that converge along the way.

popthebutterfly's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Lucky Diamond

Author: Valinora Troy

Book Series: Standalone for now

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magic

Publication Date: September 27, 2021

Genre: MG Fantasy

Age Relevance: 10+ (some scary moments, slight violence)

Explanation of Above: There was some slight violence in the book and some scary moments that might be too much for some younger readers.

Publisher: Disresponsible Nodpots Publications

Pages: 308

Synopsis: When 10 year old Cathy meets Lucky, a magical talking diamond, she and her orphaned siblings readily agree to help Lucky get home to the Rock of Diamonds, situated far from their home in the rundown town of Lowdar, in the furthest reaches of the country on the other side of the monster infested Great Forest.
What the five children don’t know is that Lucky’s enemy, the evil Queen Rose of Cassis, is hunting the Diamond princess and will do anything to stop her, and those helping her, from reaching the Rock of Diamonds.
With Lucky’s magic waning rapidly and Queen Rose determined to destroy her and the children, can five young orphans possibly succeed in their quest?

Review: Overall, I liked this one pretty well! The characters are well developed and likable and they feel like middle grade characters. The book did very well with the world building and I really liked the magic system as well. I also felt like the plot was well done.

The only issues I had with the book is that I felt like the book had a few slower pacing moments in it, which broke my immersion, and that the book had a cliffhanger.

Verdict: It was good!

bookoholic's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Five orphans live in the Lowdar city, constantly in hiding, making sure they're not caught and exiled to the dark Great Forest from where no one ever returned. One day they find a Diamond, a magical princess called Lucky, who was kidnapped by an evil witch and needs to return to her home. 

The kids pack in a hurry and leave - they don't own much, only gifts from their late mum and some food. They start the adventure, escaping a monster. The travel is full of adventures, they use a boat, walk, and even a talking canoe! 

The characters are very likeable, the world building is great, I loved the creatures we met on the way! The entire idea is quite unique, who would have thought there can be diamonds who are beings and have a great power? The action is fun, the children are brave and they always help each other. The witch, those under her spell and monsters from the forest give a bit of a chilly point to the story. I feel that the mix of kids' personalities is great for young readers to find one they can relate to. 

It's a great start of the series, and I'll definitely want to read the next book.
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