Ashley White

I cringe at this comparison (more because it tends to be cliche), but this read will draw the attention of Harry Potter fans, but with tons of original twists and turns to make it a different plot entirely.

Ava is an orphan and is forced by her foster parents to be participate in beauty pageants. When her frustration becomes overwhelming, she runs away to her favorite tree...if only for a few minutes before she must return, but instead of her usual tree, she finds herself falling into an unknown, underground world. There, magical beings exist and thrive in huge cities with wonders every which way she turns. As a 'lost' member returning 'home', she'll attend the usual school, meet her true parents, and take her place in an exciting and wonderful world. At least, until something happens to her, which has never happened to anyone before, and she's isn't able to be categorized as a certain species or tagged. Her existence is impossible and is the beginning of a weave of a war many don't realize exists.

While this one starts in a familiar, modern world, it quickly switches over to a rich, fantasy realm below the surface. It's rich and vibrant with tons of quirks, magic, and personality. There are more than a couple aspects, which nod in a Harry Potter direction, but it never becomes overly so and does allow a world and tale all of its own to develop and expand. There is a touch of fun, imagination, and, still, a constant, sinister cloud to keep the reader a little uneasy and knowing that things aren't bright and happy.

Ava is special, which is clear from the get-go, although the mystery behind her true identity is hard to guess until that ending hits. Even then, there are many aspects, which aren't cleared up, promising quite a bit to come in the rest of the series. Her attitude is sometimes quite and other times bold, making her very realistic and easy to identify with. She makes mistakes and learns from them. Of course, she's a heroine...and while I would have loved to have seen her struggle a little more than she does, she's still very likable and easy enough to root for. Her friends and enemies are true-blue and carry their own thoughts and depth, and there is even the hint of surprises on that end to come.

The evil blossoms in the darkness and doesn't really come out until the last pages (which works well). It could have been a bit more potent, but then, there is already death included, and as a middle grade novel, adding too much darkness might push borders. It holds tension and danger, and does stay appropriate for the age group.

The plot works with only a few holes every now and then, making it a delightful read. Something is always happening, driving the story forwards and making it very hard to put down. I am looking forward to seeing what happens next in the series, since this is only the beginning of what promises to be a very fun adventure. I received a complimentary ARC and got lost in the pages the entire way through… (meer)