Photo Credit - Amazon |
In the town of Watch Hollow lies an enchanted woods that surround a now neglected Blackford House. The once-grand house holds many secrets, including magical ones such as, a giant cuckoo clock that powers the entire house. However, when the clock's gears stop turning, an evil presence from the woods starts to emerge and descends on the house.
Lucy and Oliver Tinker arrive with their father to help fix the broken clock. A stranger with a bundle of gold coins made an offer to their father that he couldn't refuse. Mr. Tinker will need to fix the clock at Blackford House and he will be able to keep the gold coins. It didn't take long before Lucy and Oliver to realize there is more to the Blackford House than meets the eye. Together with a few magical animals, the siblings must join forces to defeat the evil presence.
The novel was a fun and engaging read. I love how the author spun a tale of magical creatures and devotion to family. I enjoyed the smooth writing style that kept me hooked and wanted me to read more about the siblings. The magical story about the house had enough details to make the readers interested but, still wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
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Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (February 18, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062643487
ISBN-13: 978-0062643483
Praise for WATCH HOLLOW Series
“Filled with clever, magical, and instantly likable characters, Funaro’s excellent, fast-paced, and twisty mystery—packed with suspense, facts, magic, and an incredible, deeply thought-out world—will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter.” ―Booklist (starred review)
“A well-wound tale of good versus evil.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“The magically sentient house, creeping woods, and resident monster establish the story’s shivery Gothic feel, which will more than satisfy readers in search of a pleasantly scary read.” ―Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“There is magic, there is good and evil, and there is love all woven into a suspenseful and entertaining mystery. A well-crafted story that should be a hit with readers who enjoy a a good scare.” ―School Library Journal (starred review)
Having defeated the Garr, a vicious tree monster who lived within the enchanted woods of Watch Hollow, Lucy and Oliver Tinker now have the home they’ve always dreamed of: Blackford House. Powered by a magical clock and full of curious rooms and improbable knickknacks, Blackford House brims with the promise of new adventures.
Yet when a strange governess arrives from England—bringing with her the Kojima twins, Agatha and Algernon—the Tinker children’s once bright future quickly begins to dim. The Kojimas claim to be the rightful heirs to Blackford House, and soon after their arrival, a great evil enters the Tinkers’ new home, cursing it and turning it into an ever-changing labyrinth.
As a result, Lucy and Oliver, along with their clock animal friends, must now join forces with the twins to escape this labyrinth and save Blackford House, all while a new monster lurks around the corner.
Photo Content from Gregory Funaro
Gregory Funaro grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island, and wrote his first story, The Ghost in the Window, in the fourth grade. He considers this to be his finest work, but unfortunately it has been lost to time. His first book for Disney-Hyperion, ALISTAIR GRIM'S ODDITORIUM (2015), was a New York Times best seller and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. His other works for children have received starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, and ALA Booklist. Check out WATCH HOLLOW, the first book in his series for HarperCollins, as well as its sequel, THE ALCHEMIST'S SHADOW, coming in 2020. Greg also teaches drama at East Carolina University, and is busy working on his next novel.
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FEBRUARY 17th MONDAY JeanBookNerd PODCAST
FEBRUARY 18th TUESDAY Twirling Book Princess EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW
FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Casia's Corner EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 21st FRIDAY J.R's Book Reviews REVIEW
WEEK TWO
FEBRUARY 24th MONDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY The Writerly Way REVIEW
FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY Two Point of Interest REVIEW
FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
FEBRUARY 27th THURSDAY At Home With a Book REVIEW
FEBRUARY 28th FRIDAY BookHounds YA GUEST POST
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