Sharon Vernon-Crawford

I liked this fantasy book. The author is very descriptive and is good at world building. Occasionally, character development gets lost in the minutia. The author REALLY needs to work on her dialog. There is a lot of room for improvement. There isn't a proper ending. There are many unanswered questions. The author wants you to buy the next book to find out what happens. That being said, I think this is a great start to a children's series. I know the author wants this to be for middle grade readers, but it's third grade through fifth grade. Might work for an immature sixth grader. As a children's book I give it four stars. As a middle grade book it gets three.… (meer)

This was ok, started off well with sisters Rayna and Tina getting sent to a parallel fairy world. What transpires becomes confusing toward the end but it is expected many loose ends were left for the series to continue. I just wish there were less books out there that did this - it is possible to tie most things up and still have good storylines going into the next book. Thank you to LibraryThing and the author Sharon Vernon-Crawford for the ARC. Introducing Rayna Larson and The Kingdom of Petunia Book 1. A contemporary middle-grade fantasy fairytale book for children aged 8 and above. Packed with colorful imagery and a sprinkling of whimsy it explores modern themes in a dual reality. Secrets, adventure, myths and enchantments intertwine in this spellbinding tale of a young girl, a hidden portal, a fantastical world, a powerful fairy queen, a mysterious community and a grotesque goblin. A 12-year girl’s summer holiday will be turned upside down. Rayna Larson has a close encounter with an otherworldly fairy visitor and before long, she finds herself and little sister in a weird parallel dimension. Why her? Why was she targeted? This singular event triggers an ancient prophecy that threatens the balance between the realm of humans and fairy kind. Rayna must navigate this new world, but she is not alone. Others have joined in the quest for the future of both worlds. Fairy beings, a grotesque goblin and animal creatures join forces in this world and the other. Rayna must rely on her ingenuity and determination to outwit the powerful fairy queen. The queen has many secrets and her own agenda for the girls. Will Rayna find out the truth and will she ever find her way home?… (meer)

Rayna Larson could be a sweeping series with plot twists galore if the structure and ending of the Kingdom of Petunia is any indication. Lots of promise shown here with very ambitious plot ideas and a grand scope that implies a bigger picture. The scope can also get in the way and create a layer between the reader and the material as character development, particularly given the number, is muted by story twists yet unresolved or unknown. Things can feel stunted for the sake of the larger saga in the making. That said, there is a enough to enjoy that I am hopeful that Rayna comes back for another installment.… (meer)