Book Review: Elffolk and the Crystal Caves of Atlantis

 
Elffolk and the Crystal Caves of Atlantis

Publisher:Small Shifts Books and Media

Publish Date: July 19, 2010

Paperback, 129 pages
Children, 7-10 years old

My Review:
Why I read this: I was contacted by the author about an interview/tour and review.  The book sounded interesting and like something I might like to share with my son so I said yes. 

How is the novel driven:  Action/plot driven, there is some character development, but the action is what drives this book and that his how it should be for a book marketed to kids 7-11 years old.

My thoughts:  A clever and well-written children's story.  Great for boys and girls 7-11 years old (and older, I enjoyed it). 

Elffolk and the Crystal Caves of Atlantis is a fast-paced story about two elf girls and a cat.  The girls, Enna, Nissa and Mica the cat live on Atlantis and start out on adventure to help save one of the elder elves from their village.  It has a beautiful message of believing in yourself throughout the book.  I love the fact that Ms. McFadden does not have to try too hard to get that message across.  You know how some books really try and it ends up being cheesy (word from the 80s for you parents out there).  Elffolk does not do that.  The message is subtle and weaved into the story wonderfully.

I think this book will easily hold a child's attention.  It's only about 140 pages long, perfect for children.  And while reading it I was so intrigued I kept turning the pages to learn  more of Nissa, Enna and Mica.  I loved the girls and can't wait to learn more about them in future books, but Mica stole the show for me.  He was so typical for a cat.  If cats could communicate with us I believe Ms. McFadden knows exactly how they would act and speak.  I could envision him so perfectly with the different things he did, he really added to the story.

The world creation is wonderful, I loved hearing about the village and the elves as well as the surrounding areas.  The descriptions were well done and not over-done.  I never felt bogged down, but felt I could easily picture the world that Nissa, Enna and Mica were moving through and the various people/beings they encountered.

The ending of the book is great as well.  This chapter of their adventure is tied up neatly but there is strong hints of further adventures to come.  I know I will join in on these adventures when Ms. McFadden releases them.  I can't wait to read more of Enna, Nissa and Mica.


My Rating:  4.5/5.0

About the Book:
Action-packed and highly imaginative, Elffolk and the Crystal Caves of Atlantis is a fantasy adventure novel for young readers. An easy, fast-paced read, it tells the story of Enna and Nissa in the mysterious crystal caves of legendary Atlantis. The book is sure to inspire the imagination of a generation of children with its tale of magic and mystery.

Thousands of years ago, on the island of Atlantis, there were signs of a coming disaster. The very first omens were the earthquakes.... When an earthquake strikes the village of Elffolk, an elderly elf becomes trapped in the crystal caves. Two young elves, Enna and Nissa, must save her. But their rescue mission won't be easy. A dark magic lurks within the caves, stirring up danger at every turn and leaving nothing as it seems.

About the Author:
Tina McFadden's writing career began at age six. A dreamer by nature, with a vivid imagination, she would lose herself in the stories of Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. By age nine, she had written a whole series of mystery novels. Now a full-time writer and editor, Tina has published articles in magazines, newspapers and on the web, as well as short fictional stories for children and adults. Elffolk and the Crystal Caves of Atlantis is her first published novel.

Tina was born in British Columbia, grew up in Ontario and currently resides in Calgary, Alberta with her husband Vlad. When she's not writing about the adventures of fictional characters, she enjoys real-life adventures like hiking in the mountains and travelling abroad.

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FTC Information: I received this book from the author for review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.