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gertron's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
3.0
Read for work.
It took a minute for me to get into this book. Besides the lack of unicorns, the characters and story didn't draw me in much until over halfway through. I did enjoy the conclusion and will probably pick up the next book though!
It took a minute for me to get into this book. Besides the lack of unicorns, the characters and story didn't draw me in much until over halfway through. I did enjoy the conclusion and will probably pick up the next book though!
laura_cs's review against another edition
4.0
With her older sister, Sophie, finally healthy after a mysterious, sudden illness--with a recovery that was even more mysterious and sudden--Claire thinks that life is finally getting back to normal. And then her Great-Aunt Diana disappears, presumed dead, and Claire's family is spending the summer going through a mansion full of art and odd treasures.
When Sophie and Claire find a ladder in the fireplace, they initially think it just another oddity of the house. But when they discover that the ladder leads somewhere, to a whole new world, their summer takes a new frightening turn.
Claire wakes one morning to find Sophie gone, she rushes up the ladder, sure that is where Sophie went. What she finds is that she's not the only one looking for Sophie...
A wonderful fantasy full of twists and turns where you don't know who exactly to trust, this is a story that is very well-done and I can't wait to get started on book 2, Secret in the Stone!
When Sophie and Claire find a ladder in the fireplace, they initially think it just another oddity of the house. But when they discover that the ladder leads somewhere, to a whole new world, their summer takes a new frightening turn.
Claire wakes one morning to find Sophie gone, she rushes up the ladder, sure that is where Sophie went. What she finds is that she's not the only one looking for Sophie...
A wonderful fantasy full of twists and turns where you don't know who exactly to trust, this is a story that is very well-done and I can't wait to get started on book 2, Secret in the Stone!
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
An exciting fantasy adventure that has a rather unique story line. I was drawn into the story, the setting and the back story of the new world created in this book. And it seems to be set up for another book to follow.
neverly's review against another edition
4.0
Good story! A perfect in-between read for more serious, adult-y stuff.
alyshadeshae's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a cute book! I immediately started the second one. :-)
bluestjuice's review against another edition
2.0
I read this as part of my elementary kid's Torchlight curriculum. I had a hard time getting into it and staying interested, which is why the two-star rating - it was okay, but I just didn't find it all that compelling. It seems like it might be the kind of thing a middle-grades reader who likes fantasy might really enjoy, with different classes of magic users, missing unicorns, a fantasy world hidden up a fireplace, etc. It wasn't that any of the elements were bad or even that I didn't think Benko did some creative things with them, but I was just bored overall and didn't really care what happened. Unfortunately.
ray425's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book and I wish I continued the series, I might when I finish the others I'm in!
nssutton's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect in every way. For lovers of antique filled houses, secret staircases, guilds, and more twists than a tangled vine. The world building was finger kissing magnificent.