Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

April 2024

ISBN:9781761067365

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $17.99

I absolutely fell in love with all things Hallow when I read Spellhound last year, and have been impatiently waiting for this second instalment to arrive (as Lian knows), [while The Kid has resigned herself to being called a minch-wiggin as a term of endearment – all the time completely baffled, and looking at me like I have two heads]. I have looked forward so much to hearing what happens next in this marvellous fantasy/adventure series and got ridiculously excited when I opened the package two days ago.

So, we again meet Rose, now Queen of Hollow, whose Uncle Edwin (previously captured by The Lady and held prisoner) acts as Regent, but there are unsettling rumours swirling about the neighbouring kingdoms, and word of a secret weapon, and all is quite tense.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Brim, a girl who loves to knit, has been snatched from the loving embrace of her little family and whisked off to the Quillian School for Prevention of Witches, on the basis of the tiny feathers sprouting from her elbows – a clear indication she is a fledgewitch.

It’s true she’s the only one who remembers the strange little calf-like creature (a horned glob, don’t you know) following her captors and herself, but that doesn’t mean she’s really a witch, does it? After all, witches are evil and dangerous – and they’re against the law, just as dragons and secrets are.

So what happens when all these collide deep in the mountains of Quill? The most wondrous of adventures where a small girl of great courage and resourcefulness, who can knit and ‘unknit’ magic, finds herself in company with a very unconfident young horned glob called Snort, who is searching for a dragon so he can help his Mother and Auntie find home and their memories. Both are joined by a very young Queen, who is also a dragon, and an irascible and sarcastic knife – wait a minute, maybe it’s a cup? or an earring? or a key? – actually, it can change its form at will, so try to keep up please.

There are twists and turns a-plenty in this newest chapter in the Hallow chronicles, and young readers will love it and, I am quite sure, chomp merrily through the narrative with the greatest pleasure as they eagerly turn the pages (350ish of them!).

There is so much to love about this series and these characters: resourcefulness, resilience, loyalty, courage, and quick-wittedness, along with quite repulsive villains, full of deceit and deception, and of course, exciting, dangerous and tricky situations.

Additionally, the themes of family, self-confidence, acceptance, kindness and integrity make for a completely compelling combination. And those who know me well, will understand easily why I love the sarcasm throughout, and the witty authorial intrusion from Edwin.

The worst thing about reading this in two short binge bursts, is now I have to wait for the next instalment – again, impatiently *sad face*. So, okay Lian, how long till the next one 😉 ?

Bigly recommendation for this (and if you missed the first one, get thee to the bookshop post-haste!) for kiddos with reading stamina, from around 9/10 upwards. Without hesitation I say one of my favourite reads of the past year…

*goes in search of a horned glob………was that?…..no, nothing……..*