Published By: Pushkin Children’s
Pages: 256
Released On: 10/10/2024
Illustrated By: Tom de Freston
It’s supposed to be a treat for Kit, a winter holiday by the coast with her sister Libby and their mum. But as the solstice moon rises high in the sky, Kit and Libby are drawn to a mysterious white tower, only to face disaster when Libby vanishes. The world has rewritten itself, leaving Kit to navigate a reality where her sister has never existed. Even their mum doesn’t remember her.
But then Kit meets Story, a local boy who remembers Libby perfectly. He teams up with Kit and together they embark on a perilous journey fraught with dangers beyond their wildest imagination, crossing a world steeped in ancient folklore. Can Kit and Story uncover the secret of the Twelve and rescue Libby before Time itself vanishes?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Oh how I do love a Liz Hyder book. And I love kids/YA books. And fantasy books. So this had everything going for it.
It’s so atmospheric and dreamy and surreal. It’s fantasy but also adventure, fairy tale, thriller, and slight age-appropriate horror.
I loved the relationship between Kit and Libby. Brothers and sisters don’t always have the best relationship, in real life or in stories, they fight, they argue. I imagine most siblings have experienced that king of thing, and it’s only when looking back you realise there were good times, and no matter how annoying you found them, you did love them. And that’s what I enjoyed in this book. There is clearly this irritating childhood sibling feeling about it, but it also explored that deeper love.
I also loved the friendship between Kit and Story. They’re affectionate to each other, hugging and crying, showing their emotions etc. but they never feel uncool or less like boys because of it, and I think it’s important for younger male readers to see that.
There are definitely elements of The Chronicles of Narnia about it, and also the Magic Faraway Tree series, but it also has this darkness that often underpins kids stories. It gives magic with an edge.
There are a few illustrations and whilst I didn’t get the best view of them in my early digital copy, I think they’ve got great promise and I did see a sneak peak of the finished article and they really shine.
There is such a clear sense of space Liz has created. From the freshly fallen snow to the stormy clouds, the shadowy trees and the small village. You’re really there and it helps add to the atmosphere.
I think it would appeal to children and adults. It’s very easy and quick to read, I read it in a couple of hours. It’s fun and spooky enough to get kids exciting but with enough story for adults to really enjoy it.
I mean, it is finished and it’s concluded very nicely. But I do wonder, possibly, if a sequel or something within the world will appear one day. There’s definitely scope.
Books By Your Bedside 