Just So Stories

Walkers Books Australia

July 2024

Imprint: Andersen Press

ISBN13:9781839134234

Australia RRP:$17.99

New Zealand RRP:$19.99

Isn’t it exciting when you read an author’s debut novel and are just blown away? You know you can look forward to more and that’s always a thrill. Victoria M. Adams has woven a story of Fey and family, grief and greed, and one young girl’s courage that will enthral your middle-grade readers. 

Before I’d even read the blurb, and only about 50 pages in, I was feeling the vibe of two of my all-time favourite authors, Alan Garner and Susan Cooper, who both had that amazing talent for blending fantasy with reality.

Saffi’s life has been fairly miserable since her mother died, and it’s not getting any better when her father moves with her and her little brother to his parents’ place in the little seaside town of Breakwell. It’s as far removed from London, both geographically and in all other ways as Saffi could imagine, and she’s not impressed. She’s certainly not looking forward to living with her grandparents. She knows that they are both old-fashioned and, in particular, her grandfather is often surly and aloof. It quickly becomes apparent that this is partly because of some major disagreement or dispute between her father and his own dad.

Her grandparents’ B&B is unoccupied when they arrive, and they insist that it still is, even when Saffi hears visitors arrive, the sound of laughter and talking, and her grandmother starts preparing loads of delicious food that is not for the family – and a ‘service’ bell mysteriously appears in the kitchen overnight.

At least she has made one tentative friend. A boy called Birdy who can play an old wooden flute beautifully, is encountered on the beach and that’s a stroke of luck because he is able to start to tell her the history of her family and their home, Fortune House, and the strange stories that surround it. 

When things in the house mysteriously start to change – the wallpaper colours, the hall mirror and pictures – and small creatures with furry faces appear in random places, both Saffi and Milo notice although nobody seems to see. Milo is convinced he is seeing their dead mother in the mirror and elsewhere, but Saffi is not so sure.

As the story unfolds however, it becomes apparent that the True family history is not only dark but tied closely to the Fairy Folk, who may be beautiful and sparkling but are also dangerous, cunning and implacable. The ages old bargain struck between Sir Henry True and the Fairy Queen has bound the family not only to the house but also to a despicable trade-off and it becomes Saffi’s destiny to be the one who can sever the connection once and for all.

This had me in from the first few pages, and the whole was read in two brief sessions as I eagerly turned the pages. Your readers who love magic realism and stories of the darker side of fantasy will eat this up and want more so I would be collating a list of like titles for them to have as follow-ups.

It’s a cracking read all round and one that capable kiddos from around 10 years old will thoroughly enjoy. I’m giving it a huge 5 🏚️🏚️🏚️🏚️🏚️ rating.