Current Giveaways

Word Spelunking’s temporary hiatus is now permanent. All requests are closed and there will be no new content. Thank you to everyone I’ve worked with and everyone who has read and supported this blog. Y’all are awesome!!

Aeicha @ Word Spelunking

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Rose and the Lost Princess Blog Tour {Review & Giveaway}


I'm so excited to have the Rose and the Lost Princess Blog Tour stopping by today with my Review and a  Giveaway...


Rose and the Lost Princess
(Rose #2)
by Holly Webb
April 1, 2014
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Now an apprentice magician, Rose is asked to help find a very special missing person

Turning the worn pages of her spell book, Rose can't believe how much her life has changed. Once a poor orphan, she is now an apprentice to the king's chief magician. But when the country's beloved princess vanishes, everything changes. As rumors of dark magic fly through the city, the king asks Rose for help. She must find the missing princess, before all is lost.


Rose #1
Rose isn't like the other orphans at St Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. Instead of dreaming of getting adopted by loving, wealthy parents, Rose wants to get a job and be independent. She doesn't need anyone but herself. She finds her escape working as a maid for Mr. Fountain, an alchemist. Unable to ignore the magic that flows throughout the grand residence, Rose realizes that just maybe; she might have a little bit of magic in her too. This new series featuring magicians, witches, talking cats, mist-monsters, and friendships will have young readers in a trance! Amazon / B&N

I received an e-galley of this title in exchange for my honest review

I really enjoyed the first book in Holly Webb’s middle-grade fantasy Rose series, and was super excited to dive back into this world in book two. Rose and the Lost Princess is a wonderful second volume, full of magic, mystery adventure, and all the fun and charm of book one!


Picking up a few weeks after book one, in Rose and the Lost Princess our heroine Rose is adjusting to being both a maid and new magical apprentice to Mr. Fountain. Rose enjoys her magic lessons and is glad to have her new friends, Freddie and Isabella, by her side, but after the dark events of the previous weeks, people are starting to distrust magicians. Even the other servants, who are Rose’s once beloved friends, are wary of her. And when the beloved Princess Jane is kidnapped, Rose is asked by the king to help. Suddenly Rose may be the only hope to find the princess and uncover the truth behind the cold magic that has wrapped around the city.

Holly Webb’s Rose books are such delightfully fun reads! Rose and the Lost Princess is a captivating continuation of book one, with a brand new mystery adventure, intriguing characters, and thrills to be had.

Webb’s books are brimming with whimsy, enchanting fantasy, smart historical elements, and sparkle and shine! The magic filled Victorian world Rose lives in is smartly crafted and provides a fascinating backdrop to Rose’s adventures, and in Rose and the Lost Princess, we get to see even more of this exciting world (think a magic shop, luxurious palace, a Frost Fair,and so much more!). Mr. Fountain’s home is still filled with surprises around every corner and spine-tingling wonders. I loved getting to explore Rose’s magical abilities more and witnessing her magic lessons with Freddie and Mr. Fountain, in book two. Fast-paced and quickly read, the Rose books are perfect for younger middle-grade readers who love to devour their mystery adventures in one or two sittings. And Webb provides PLENTY of both mystery and adventure in Rose and the Lost Princess.

The quirky cast of characters in the Rose Series offer lots of laughs, heart, and entertainment! Rose is still such an endearing, admirable heroine, and I loved seeing her confidence and abilities develop even further in this book. She’s a heroine that young readers will relate to and root for. Freddie, Isabella, and Gus (the talking cat) continue to be such awesome companions for Rose and amusing characters for readers, while the eccentric and out-there Mr. Fountain, is adorkably charming.

Rose and the Lost Princess takes both Rose and readers to some unexpected places and wraps up one mystery while setting up an even bigger one...and I, for one, cannot wait to join Rose on even more magical adventures!

My Final Thoughts: Holly Webb clearly knows her audience well and this shines brightly through in her storytelling, pitch-perfect MG voice, and memorable characters. Like book one in this series, Rose and the Lost Princess is an addicting, wonder-filled read, that will charm middle-grade readers.

MY RATING



Holly Webb is the author of Dog Magic, Cat Magic, and Lost in the Snow. She has always loved animals and owns two very spoiled cats. They haven't said a word to her yet, but she's always listening, just in case! She lives in England.

Win a copy of Rose and the Lost Princess!
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has generously offered one book for one winner.
DETAILS
-US/CAN only
-ends 4/18
-must be 13+
-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
-Word Spelunking is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen prizes
Fill out Rafflecopter form:


4 comments:

Maria Medeiros said...

Wonderful giveaway!! One spell that would be very important would be to stop or freeze someone.

Unknown said...

I would love to have a "mood improvement" or happy making spell. This would serve to make all evil, gloomy, or just downright grouchy people cheerful and would bring peace to the land. michelle_willms at yahoo dot com.

Jillyn said...

How to slow time so I'll never be late to class!

Jamie E. said...

To freeze or slow time. To much to do and not enough time. Alternatives must be discovered!