The Emerald Atlas:The Books of Beginning 1

Sep 6, 2024 10:04 PM

Author:John Stephens

The first thrilling book in the most exciting children's fantasy series since Harry Potter.

They were taken from their beds one frozen night, when the world was covered in snow. The silhouette of a tall, thin man has haunted Kate ever since.

Ten years on, Kate, Michael and Emma have grown up in a string of miserable orphanages, and all memories of their parents have faded to a blur. Arriving at Cambridge Falls, the children quickly realise there is something different about this place - and Kate feels sure she has seen the dark, crooked house before.

As they explore, they discover an old, empty leather book. The moment they touch it, an ancient magical prophecy is set irrevocably in motion, and the children are thrown into a dangerous alternate reality of dark enchantments and terrifying monsters. Only they can prevent the terrible event that will ruin Cambridge Falls - and stop the world from falling into complete devastation.

Reviews

Dark magic aplenty

—— Fiona Noble , The Bookseller

A magical, roller-coaster of a read

—— Vanessa Lewis , The Bookseller

Ambitious, entertaining, magical and whimsical, this marks a strong beginning to a new trilogy,
invoking just a little Harry Potter and Series of Unfortunate Events along the way

—— Realms of Fantasy magazine, USA

It's bright and energetic and has some exciting set pieces

—— Patrick Ness , Guardian

Stephens spins a tightly paced, engaging yarn

—— The New York Times

The writing is perfectly judged . . . John Stephens knows how to make things visual, and it's accessible but not too simplistic. Junior fantasy fans are going to love this book

—— Jill Murphy , TheBookbag.co.uk

With exceptional skill, Mr. Stephens weaves the resulting pathos into the children's characters and into their sibling relationship

—— Meghan Cox Gurdon , Wall Street Journal

The Emerald Atlas kind of encompasses all my firm favourites, His Dark Materials, The Chronicles of Narnia and of course Harry Potter. It was a thrill to read

—— Askew's Library Service

The Emerald Atlas is a fantastic start of a series. Plenty of questions are yet to be answered and I look forward to the sequel

—— My Favourite Books

The book is reminiscent in some ways of C S Lewis and J R Rowling and the excitement and gripping writing will ensure readers are immersed in the story. The book leaves issues undecided and the reader wanting more

—— Parents in Touch

It is a fantastical adventure that will appeal to those people who loved Harry Potter, Narnia and Lord of the Rings, with an epic tale, lovable characters and an engaging and fast paced storyline

—— Overflowing Library

Stephens' top-notch time-travel thriller has a quirky mixed bag of heroes and villains, a clever and compelling plotline and graphic action sequences that just cry out for the big screen treatment

—— Pam Norfolk , Lytham St Annes Express

A wonderful story you can easily lose yourself in

—— Notes of Life

First-rate fantasy

—— Armadillo

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