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scott_you_reading's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dinnureads's review against another edition
5.0
Fast-paced and high-staked middle grade adventure story. A wonderful and whimsical and a bit eerie book. Loved it!
missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
At first I got quickly caught up again in the wonderful stormy atmosphere of Eerie on Sea. Thunder, lightning, shaky piers, steampunk crabs, and mysterious beach flotsam! But after a while the plot started feeling like a rehash of book 1. I could've dealt with that because the adventure was still fun and sweet with Herbie's deadpan humor and the allusions to his unknown past, but then the most ignorant ableism made an appearance. Not only is the villain disfigured but there is also the promise of a magical cure for a person with a disability. I can't speak from my own experience but from what I've gathered from listening to people with disabilities online this kind of representation is not appreciated. It really disappointed me that neither the author nor the publishing team seem to have been aware of these issues.
samama's review
5.0
After continuously reading grown up books for a very long while, I decided to shift my reading gear in reverse and read something from the middle grade genre instead - and I started that by reading Gargantis. I couldn’t have been happier with that choice.
This story was so brilliantly written that I literally got sucked into their adorable little town near the sea called Eerie-on-Sea as I kept reading. The atmosphere of this town was so comfy, I wanted to go there in person and live inside the warm and cozy Grand Nautilus Hotel, and also visit the Mermonkey - a monkey in a bookstore who gifts you the book that your soul NEEDS - not something you want – during my stay.
I absolutely loved Erwin, the talking cat. That’s right, there was a cute white kitty WHO COULD TALK ABOUT WISDOM in this magical book. My expressions automatically got twisted in ecstatic amazement the moment I found out the cat could speak! The characters Herbert and Violet were really interesting. They were children, and they weren’t annoying at all! In fact, I would’ve loved being their friend.
The writing was simple, profound and beautiful. Gargantis is perfect for children AND grown-ups with a childish heart - just like me!
5 out of 5 stars for this adventurous novel.
This story was so brilliantly written that I literally got sucked into their adorable little town near the sea called Eerie-on-Sea as I kept reading. The atmosphere of this town was so comfy, I wanted to go there in person and live inside the warm and cozy Grand Nautilus Hotel, and also visit the Mermonkey - a monkey in a bookstore who gifts you the book that your soul NEEDS - not something you want – during my stay.
I absolutely loved Erwin, the talking cat. That’s right, there was a cute white kitty WHO COULD TALK ABOUT WISDOM in this magical book. My expressions automatically got twisted in ecstatic amazement the moment I found out the cat could speak! The characters Herbert and Violet were really interesting. They were children, and they weren’t annoying at all! In fact, I would’ve loved being their friend.
The writing was simple, profound and beautiful. Gargantis is perfect for children AND grown-ups with a childish heart - just like me!
5 out of 5 stars for this adventurous novel.
gracecb_06's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5
claire_m's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alongreader's review
4.0
Herbie and Violet are back to solve another Lost & Found mystery. This one threatens everyone in Eerie-on-Sea; if they can't figure out what's happening, the whole town will quite literally slide into the sea...
This is a brilliant follow-up to Malamander, featuring the same fantastic cast of zany townspeople. Herbert and Violet are both pushed harder and further than last time, forcing them out of their comfort zone, especially Herbert. I love him so much; he's sweet and brave and always, always tries to do his best, no matter what's going on around him.
I'm really enjoying this series - even though the bad guy was pretty obvious this time around - and I hope they keep going for a long time.
My sprightning - the Gargantic Light - starts dancing above me, and I suddenly realize exactly what I need to do to return her to her rightful place. And I could shout for joy, because now I won't need to be lowered down into the ocean's depths in some smelly old barrel! I can return the light right here, right now, and get the lost-and-foundering done when I'm only half drowned! And then, when the day has been saved and the world put to rights, we can sail back to Eerie-on-Sea to see if Mrs Fossil still has some of those salty caramel muffins left!
I climb onto the ruins of the wheelhouse beside Violet. The creature must sense what I'm about to do and lowers the bulb of its lure towards me. I cup the sprightning in my hand and reach up as the empty bulb swings down.
But my hand doesn't get there.
This is a brilliant follow-up to Malamander, featuring the same fantastic cast of zany townspeople. Herbert and Violet are both pushed harder and further than last time, forcing them out of their comfort zone, especially Herbert. I love him so much; he's sweet and brave and always, always tries to do his best, no matter what's going on around him.
I'm really enjoying this series - even though the bad guy was pretty obvious this time around - and I hope they keep going for a long time.
My sprightning - the Gargantic Light - starts dancing above me, and I suddenly realize exactly what I need to do to return her to her rightful place. And I could shout for joy, because now I won't need to be lowered down into the ocean's depths in some smelly old barrel! I can return the light right here, right now, and get the lost-and-foundering done when I'm only half drowned! And then, when the day has been saved and the world put to rights, we can sail back to Eerie-on-Sea to see if Mrs Fossil still has some of those salty caramel muffins left!
I climb onto the ruins of the wheelhouse beside Violet. The creature must sense what I'm about to do and lowers the bulb of its lure towards me. I cup the sprightning in my hand and reach up as the empty bulb swings down.
But my hand doesn't get there.
mariella_vertaalt's review against another edition
4.0
Heerlijk avonturenboek met prachtige woordvondsten van vertaler Aleid van Eekelen-Benders! Mooie quote: ‘Een boek is net een spiegel … We zien er altijd onszelf in.’