320 pages
Expected publication: October 23rd 2018 by HarperTeen
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the chance to review this title.
WOW. Just WOW. This book was mind-blowingly beautiful and tragic. If you imagine Lucy coming back from Narnia and dealing with being a child again and feeling out of place in the real world, this is the book you’re looking for.
During an air raid in London, siblings, Jamie, Phillippa, and Evelyn are suddenly spirited away to another world. There the meet Cervus, the guardian of the Woodland. Once there they are told there is also a war going on and that they could help if they choose to stay. They do, but after five years in the Woodland, they are taken back to London the moment, five years ago int he bombs shelter, they left. Now five years younger, they all must cope with being back, hiding their secrets and their yearning for the Woodlands. They all deal with it in different ways. Evelyn, who we read about in the first half the book, has the hardest time pretending to be someone she knows she is not.
Phillippa takes over the second half of the book. After a falling out with her sister, she returns to America to deal with what has happened. She felt guilty and torn up. She takes a job near home where she meets a boy named Jack, who is fantastic btw. As is the romantic interest for Ev, Tom. They are understanding and sweet and kind. I was swooning, I admit.
This is story about the bond between siblings and the achingly sad way they all try to help Evelyn’s depression. It touches upon some serious issues, and it made me think that if we had a book about what happened to the Narnia kids after coming back to the old world, how they would cope. They wouldn’t just jaunt around as if things were fine after spending so long in Narnia and growing up there. Some have said that not a lot happens in this book, but for me, everything happens. You get such insight on how lost Ev is and how everyone around tries to help only to fail. You see the desperation in everyone to “save her.” To me, it is realistic and heartbreaking.
All in all, this book needs to pre-ordered now. It is one of those that had me dwelling on it days after I finished it and even though I read this fantastic e-arc, I went ahead and pre-ordered myself. Laura is going to be one to watch in the future.
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