Book Review: The Black Shard

In 2010 I posted my review of a wonderful children's fantasy chapter book entitled The Magic Warble, written by local Seattle author Victoria Simcox.  Since then my daughters and I have anxiously awaited the arrival of The Magic Warble's sequel, The Black Shard.  I am happy to announce that the wait is finally over... and it was well worth it!

Being a fan of all things concerning faerie and otherworldly realms, I was pulled into the story of The Black Shard instantly.  What I really love is how the author combines realistic teen issues with fairy tale fantasy.  For example, the book's heroine Kristina who is from our world, experiences her first budding romance with a handsome teenage Prince from a fantasy world, all the while dealing with the very real insecurities young teen girls are feeling.

I was so taken with The Black Shard that I read it almost constantly until I was finished!  The author has a delightful writing style that is engaging for all ages, yet not to difficult for children to understand.  I truly look forward to the sequel to the Black Shard - the cliff hanger at the end is intense!

I highly recommend The Black Shard for all lovers of fantasy chapter books, which I feel that tween and teen girls will especially enjoy and relate to.

About the Author:

"Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother, and a Dutch immigrant father. She now lives in Western Washington with her husband, Russ and their three children, Toby, Kristina, and William. Her other family members are a Chihuahua, named Pipsy, and two cats, named Frodo and Fritz. Besides being an author, Victoria is a home-schooling mother of twelve years and an elementary school art teacher of eleven years. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys managing her two older children’s Celtic band. She also loves reading, painting watercolors, hiking, good movies, and just simply hanging out with her family and friends."

Click here to order your copy of The Black Shard.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was not compensated for this review. I received complimentary product for review purposes courtesy of the product company and /or it's PR agency. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions I have expressed are solely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”