Book Review: Jorie and the Magic Stones by A.H. Richardson

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: Jorie and the Magic Stones

Author: A.H. Richardson

Publisher: Serano Press

Publication Date: December 26, 2014

Genre: Children's / Middle-Grade, Fantasy

Length: 268 pages

Format: Paperback

Source: author

Goodreads | Amazon 

Synopsis: 

When Marjorie went to live with her frosty maiden aunt, she couldn't imagine the adventures she would have with dragons--good and bad--and all the strange creatures that live in a mysterious land beneath the Tarn. The spunky 9-year-old redhead forges an unlikely friendshiip with an insecure young boy named Rufus who lives with his crusty grandfather next door. When Jorie finds a dusty ancient book about dragons, she learns four strange words that will send the two of them into a mysterious land beneath the Tarn, riddled with enchantment and danger. Hungry for adventure, the children take the plunge, quite literally, and find themselves in the magic land of Cabrynthius. Upon meeting the good dragon, the Great Grootmonya, Jorie, and Rufus are given a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog--stones of enormous power--and return them to their rightful place in Cabrynthius. Their mission is neither easy nor safe, and is peppered with perils in the form of the evil black half-dragon who rules the shadowy side of the land. They have to deal with a wicked and greedy professor, the tragic daughter of the bad dragon, caves of fire, rocky mountainous climbs, and a deadly poisonous butterfly. Jorie must rely on her wits and courage to win the day. Can she find all three stones? Can she emerge victorious? She and Rufus have some hair-raising challenges, in which they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, bravery, and friendship. 

My Thoughts:

Nine-year-old Jorie goes to live with her aging aunt in a big manor house with a endlessly deep 'tarn' (pond) on the property. There are old stories about the house, the tarn, and her ancestor Maalog Doonan that intrigue her, so when she finds an old book full of dragons and strange words she is determined to learn it's secrets. She quickly makes friends with the neighbor boy, Rufus, and they try to discover the secrets of the book together, which leads them to the magical world of Cabrynthius where Jorie--the girl with the 'hair on fire'--must find the three magical stones and save the land from the evil dragon lord that wants the stones, and the magic, for himself. 

This was such a fun adventure. It has a very simple 'old-fashioned' feel to it that makes it perfect for young readers that aren't yet into really complex plots. It reminded me so much of the books I read and enjoyed as a child, like 'The Hobbit' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. 

Jorie and the Magic Stones has some of my favorite fantasy elements. It starts out with a big manor house, an ancient tome, and a story about warlocks and magic. Then once you discover that there is a magical world that Jorie can travel to, there are dragons, shifters, and many other strange and fantastical creatures. 

The characters are intriguing and I really enjoyed the budding friendship between Jorie and Rufus. 

The dialogue is easy to follow but there are quite a few names and locations that are a little difficult to pronounce and I think the intended audience may have problems with them. 

My Rating: 4 stars