Published By: Firefly
Pages: 224
Released On: 02/04/2026
Reading Age: 9+
When Tia wins an art prize trip to Venice her older brother, Thomas, is delighted to go with her as family support because Tia is blind, even though his clumsiness causes its own issues. But then Tia disappears and Thomas is sure she has been kidnapped. With no one to believe him, Thomas sets out alone at night to find his sister through the carnival-filled streets and dark canals of the floating city, where he uncovers a hair-raising conspiracy.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Firefly for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is my first of Emma’s books but it sounded right up my street. I might be more than three times the reading age, but I was attracted by the bright cover and exciting blurb.
It has a blind main character and whilst she’s not the hero of the story (that’s her brother), it was so nice to see a disabled character used not just for comic effect or for tick boxing.
It’s a short book, probably the correct length for the reading age target, but I’m old and greedy and I wanted more as it was fabulous.
It isn’t heavy on detail, which is good as I don’t think young readers want tons of detail and description, and yet she has manged to infuse it with such knowledge of Venice that it is absorbing.
I’ve been to Italy several times, but never to Venice, but this had everything I expect Venice to have (minus the kidnapping).
There’s peril and danger and fear, there’s action and adventure, exploration; it looks at friendships and sibling relationships, hardships, and overcoming obstacles. It’s got something for everyone.
It finishes well and it doesn’t necessarily lend itself to future instalments but I’d love to read more stories with Tia and Thomas.
I mean, it does get quite silly but that’s okay, it was fun and I really enjoyed it.
I zoomed through it in a couple of hours and I think young readers are going to love it
Books By Your Bedside 