Published By: Walker
Pages: 288
Released On: 28/08/2025
Remember everything I taught you, Small Wonder. Take care of Leaf. Take care of Pebble. I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you…
Small Wonder lives peacefully at the edge of Ellia, a
long with his little brother and faithful horse.
But then a deadly assassin descends. Enemies are invading and the kingdom is in danger. Small Wonder has six moons to get to Kings’ Keep and warn their ruler.
Travelling forests and mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights, Small Wonder is determined to honour his grandfather’s last advice…
Make it count.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Walker for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
There’s a map! That gets full marks for me already.
In his introduction, Ross talks about his desire to write a simple, classic, epic adventure story, good vs. evil, and I love it. I love complicated books, layered books etc. but sometimes you want a simple, joyful, fun story – and you don’t get that often with adult books, which is why I so often turn to children’s fiction. And you can’t do much better than Ross Montgomery in my opinion.
I know I’m only two books of his in (although I do own others), but what I love about his books is this connection he creates between people – mainly children – and animals…it’s really beautiful.
As I was reading it, I kept having this nostalgic feeling, like it reminded me of something, and I think that ‘something’ is The Hobbit. Whilst it may not be in-depth or perilous as that, it has the same themes – fighting, hope, trust, love, revenge, adventure – and I could really feel that influence.
It is quite predictable but I don’t see that as a negative I this context. It follows the fantastical elements we love from the classics but gives us something fresh.
I think I loved I Am Rebel just a smidge more, but this has everything that made that such a beautiful book. I have made a list of his other books too (or the ones I don’t already have), because his stories are beautiful. They are what I want from a good classic kids book, but it has enough heart to thrill older readers.
Books By Your Bedside 