Reviews

The Book Smugglers by Anna James

cgarboden's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

5.0

your_true_shelf's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

felicitycot's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I only realised I’d already read this about half way through. I love the premise of book wandering, love the characters as well. My only criticism of this one (book 4 in the series) is that it maybe felt like a bit of a filler? There’s a lot of information given out, new characters introduced, but it terms of the plot, it doesn’t get anywhere very fast. However, I still enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next installment in the series. 

erincataldi's review against another edition

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3.0

This series is so much fun for bibliophiles and young readers. Adventures in books - what more could you want?! The Book Smugglers is the fourth book in the series and this book opens with Tilly's grandfather being magically poisoned by a book. He's been catatonic for weeks and they have no idea how to cure him. When Horatio, the driver of the magical train The Quip, and his nephew Milo show up on their doorstep wanting to barter a cure in return for Tilly's help, they feel they have to take it. But when Horatio accidentally touches the book and becomes poisoned himself, it's up to Tilly and Milo to try and figure out what to do. There only clue lies in The Wizard of Oz. A fun continuation that ends on a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next one!

knynas1's review against another edition

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5.0

5 ⭐

This was a fun and enchanting story! Part heist, part mystery, all adventure. I'm looking forward to the last book in this series, set to come out later this year!

barbarella85's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

nina_reads_books's review against another edition

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4.0

The fourth book in the Pages & Co series by Anna James was recently released and it was as wonderful as the previous books.

The series focuses on Tilly James and her family who own the Pages & Co Bookshop in London. They can all bookwander - a delightful skill that allows people to wander into books and witness great literary events and meet favourite characters.

In The Book Smugglers, Milo Bolt and his uncle Horatio return after we met them in the previous book. The pair are still living on the Sesquipedalian, or "Quip", a magical train that uses the power of imagination to travel through both Story and the real world. This time Horatio needs Tilly's help and he and Milo arrive at Pages & Co only to find Tilly's grandfather had been sent a poisoned book and is now in a permanent sleep. Horatio is then accidentally poisoned as well and Milo and Tilly must set off together on the Quip in search of a cure.

The pair wander in The Wizard of Oz and The Railway Children and it was so nice to be reminded again of these classics. It was also lovely that Tilly got to spend this book with a different friend. I can see much potential in the future books! Honestly I would have adored this series as a child. Imagining yourself within the pages of your favourite books? Perfect!

Highly recommend for younger readers or those that want to remember their childhood!

bibliobrittish's review against another edition

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5.0

Gosh darn cliffhangers! But that sure was magical, and I love the new characters.

Update: This series gets better and better with time. I loved getting aboard the Quip again, and the new characters made me ever so giddy. This is a gorgeous friendship story, and an even better bookish adventure. Sincerely looking forward to book 5 after the slight cliffhanger.

thelilbulldozer's review against another edition

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2.0

This was terrible. Listen, the first book in this series was fun and exciting, the second and third were meh but this book? What the heck. Milo was the only good thing about this book and the ending? Terrible, truly, truly terrible.

My Rating: 2 Stars
Granny's Rating: 2.5

lspare's review against another edition

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5.0

This is my favorite so far from the series. I find Milo and the Quip more compelling characters than Tilly and Oscar.