LOST IN THE FOG – A Paw Patrol Story

What is the book about?

The book is about how the Paw Patrol saved Captain Turbot, who is lost in the fog.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Skye because she flies and is pink.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite bit was when the Paw Patrol helped Captain Turbot not be stuck in the fog because it was exciting.

What did you think of the book and why?

I really liked the book because it was very fun and a good and easy read for me.

Reviewed by Fabiola Gutierrez Reviriego

 

ABOUT MY SISTERS!

My 11 year old sister, Aldara, has never liked reading, but, despite her constant complaints about books, she finally found a book - a murder mystery that I recommended - which she absolutely loved. Aldara quickly sped through the book eagerly updating me on all the mysterious clues and who she suspected the murderer was. As she neared the end of the book, I decided to ask her if she wanted to write a review. Aldara has always liked writing and she immediately agreed to it, looking forward to adding her own reviews to my blog. She has just begun to start writing her first review and it will soon be published. She hopes to read a range of books and write as many reviews as me!

My youngest sister Fabiola is 5 years old and has only just started to learn how to read. Fabiola has always been a very determined and independent little girl and when she decided that she wanted to read, my mum was happy to help. She recently started learning her phonics last year and has advanced so much. She know reads short books with ease and is way beyond the level required at her age. When Fabiola heard that both me and Aldara were writing reviews on my blog, she begged me to help her write her own. Fabiola focused for a very long time typing out everything she could to make her review as good as ours (even though they are a lot shorter). In a few days I will publish her work of art, and maybe she will want to write another review soon. 

THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER by Stephenie Meyer

“I turned off my brain. It was time to hunt. I took a deep breath, drawing in the scent of the blood inside the humans below. They weren’t the only humans around, but they were the closest. Who you were going to hunt was the kind of decision you had to make before you scented your prey. It was too late now to choose anything. Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood…life before she became a vampire. All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don’t draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn’t know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.”

What is the book about?

This is a story based on the Eclipse novel written in the point of view of a young girl named Bree who was one of the newborn vampires sent by Victoria to attack the Cullens and the Quileute werewolves. 3 months before the fight Riley, Victoria’s head minion, found Bree, who was just a runaway 15 year old girl, on the streets and took her to be changed into a vampire. Now Bree can hardly remember life before she became this powerful creature and the life that she thought was so simple with only a few rules is changing. Everything she has been told seems to be lies when Bree meets a strange vampire called Diego. A new friendship forms as Diego shows Bree hope of a happy life in her new body and suggests things she never thought of. Bree things she will be able to escape the clutches of Riley and her creator but what she doesn’t know is her time as a vampire is nearly over.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Once I finished Eclipse I was really looking forward to reading Breaking Dawn but I found that this shorter book was the next book in the series. I hadn’t really though that much about Bree but once I read the title of the book I began to think more about her and what it would have felt like to surrender but still get killed for it. Although the vampires in Eclipse were called newborns I didn’t actually think about how their age could affect them so I was really excited to read about their lives. When I read the blurb I realised that these vampires were not ‘vegetarians’ and that they were going to be very different to the Cullens and wouldn’t be as kind as them. I was really excited to start reading and wanted to see things from a fresh perspective.

Who was your favourite character and why?

It was really hard to pick a favourite character mainly because I liked a lot of people in the book but also because the book was shorter than the other 3 I have read so I didn’t have that long to get to know the characters and understand their personalities. I really liked Bree because she was very responsible and smart and was able to survive in a room full of newborn vampires with personalities completely opposite to hers. I also quite liked Diego because he was very curious and brave and had the courage to risk his life to find out the truth. Diego was also very smart as he was able to figure out the truth about all the lies they had been told because he was daring enough to challenge everything he had been taught. Fred was also another character that I liked because he was very nice and protected Bree from all the other vampires in their coven. I think together all of these characters made the book that much better.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was when Bella was introduced in the story. I liked this part because I liked looking at Bree’s thoughts and ideas when seeing Bella and what it was like for her. When I was reading this, I grabbed Eclipse and had it next to me so that I could compare what Bella thought of Bree to what Bree thought of Bella. I also liked his part of the book because I liked seeing what it was like for a newborn vampire to be near to a human and not be allowed to go near her. It was interesting to see how much suffering the vampires had to go through to be near Bella. Bree’s view on Bella and how hard it was to control herself around her made me think about the first book, Twilight, and how similar it must have been for Edward when he first sat near Bella and how much concentration it must have taken for him to not attack her.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really loved the book and found it really refreshing to see something from another viewpoint because I think that everything is a bit biased from Bella’s point of view. I thought it was really effective how we got to see what life was like for the newborn vampires and I especially loved learning more about the fight between them and the Cullens and Quileute werewolves. When I read Eclipse I hadn’t really thought about Bree that much but as I began to read more of this book I started to wish that Stephenie Meyer had chosen to give her a much happier ending.  I found that it was a bit harsh to have Bree feel like she had lost everything and then get killed for not even harming a hair on any of the Cullens, especially seeing as I had gotten so attached to her throughout the book. I really liked learning about what it felt like to be a newborn vampire and I found that some things were really different to what I first thought; I also thought that it was really strange that Bree had been deceived her whole life and hadn’t been told that the superstitions of vampires weren’t real. I had always expected that if vampires were real all the usual stories of them would be real too but once I read Twilight I realised that vampires could be really different. It was peculiar to discover that some vampires still believed all those myths and that life could be very different for the Cullens and Bella if they were all true.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would definitely recommend this book for everyone who has read Eclipse as it is a great way to see things from someone else’s view. I think that this book is best for 15 year olds or older but I’m sure that many other people will love it too.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A thrilling Eclipse novel with a new fresh perspective on vampires lives.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

ECLIPSE by Stephenie Meyer

“‘Bella?’ Edward’s soft voice came from behind me. He pulled me into his arms at once, and kissed me. His kiss frightened me. There was way too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine – like he was afraid we only had so much time left to us. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?”

What is the book about?

Edward and Bella are back together and Bella’s friendship with Jacob is crumbling, they were best friends and are now finding it hard to speak to each other. Bella has to choose between love and friendship; however this decision could change not just her life but the relationship between vampires and werewolves forever. Meanwhile, The Cullens and the Quileute werewolves are investigating Seattle. There are mysterious killings every week, which could be because of crazed newborn vampires, and Victoria continues to seek revenge, Bella thinks these two dangers are connected and are happening because of her, but how? An alliance between the werewolves and the vampires is formed as a way to stop the killers, but will it be successful? United as one they must find a way to defeat the murderers but it isn’t all as it seems. The Cullens are worried that the Volturi will come for Bella and are desperate to destroy their new enemies but the Volturi have never let it get this far, could there be a reason?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After I had read New Moon I wanted to read Eclipse because I was quite curious and wanted to find out what would happen to Bella and her relationship with Jacob. I also wanted to know more about Victoria and was really interested in finding out if they would defeat her in Eclipse. The front cover of Eclipse didn’t appeal to me quite as much as Twilight and New Moon; it wasn’t as elegant and eye-catching as the others though it did have some intense red similar to the other covers which was quite noticeable. I found that the blurb really persuaded me to begin to read the book and it gave me a lot of questions I would need to answer by reading the book. I was also engaged by the immediate start to the book because an explanation to the previous books always annoys me as I have always read it. Unfortunately the book was a bit of a disappointment as it didn’t meet my expectations and the standard of the previous books in the book series.

Who was your favourite character and why?

I really liked Alice and think that she is my new favourite character in the Twilight Saga because she was really full of life which is a strange way to describe a vampire as you get very different and darker thought when you think about vampires. Alice is constantly trying to make sure Bella always had fun and lives her human life happily. I love how Alice always wants to plan parties and sleepovers for Bella and it really makes me think about Alice’s human life and how much she wishes she could still be human. Alice’s love for fun also makes me have thoughts on her relationship with Bella and that if Alice wasn’t such a kind and lovable person she probably wouldn’t get on with Bella because all Bella wants is to end her human life as soon as she possibly can. Another reason I really like Alice is because of her abilities to see the future. I think that it is really cool and I really wish that I could do that. I also think that her unique talent is also a curse because she may see things she wishes she didn’t. While choosing my favourite character I also thought a lot about my previous favourite character, Bella. She really made me think about how her actions affect the people around her and how her one decision to move to Forks changed the lives of many people. I always wonder what is going through other people’s heads when Bella is talking to them and I wish that I could get some insight on that, but I sometimes manage to create my own ideas and make up a new story along the way. I think that people’s personality get in the way of some of my thoughts but they also encourage some new concepts and help me develop a clearer understanding on character I don’t normally look at.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

This was a really hard question to answer because there wasn’t really any part of the book that I had enjoyed more. However, I think that my favourite part of the book was the end where Victoria and all the newborn vampires were finally defeated. I loved this part because the whole point of the book was to finally get rid of these enemies and if this hadn’t of happened the book would have had no purpose. This part of the book was, in my opinion, the best but there was something that I would have liked to change. I found that I would have like the character Bree, who had a small part near the end, to have been alive longer so that I could find out something more about the newborn vampires and how they lived. Luckily there is a short book about Bree’s life so I will definitely be reading that next.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really liked the book but there were some things that I found a bit boring and annoying. For example, the main focus of the book was the relationship between Jacob, Bella and Edward. This was like every other love triangle that I have seen in movies and in many other books, and it was never ending. I could tell that Bella really like Jacob and was beginning to fall in love with him but it was also obvious that she would never love him like she loves Edward so it was undeniably easy to tell that it wasn’t going anywhere. I also found that it had all the action packed in to the last few chapters just like Twilight which I both liked and disliked. It was strange to read as I had to pay attention to every detail so that I wouldn’t miss out on anything but I also loved it as it was exciting and thrilling to read about. One main reason why I loved the book was because it picked up where New Moon had finished and there was barely any explanation of the previous 2 books. This is one of the things that always stand out to me because I always read book series in order and it gets on my nerves when there is an explanation of the previous plot lines because it is common sense to read a series in order. The thing I liked the most about Eclipse was that we got hear some stories about the werewolves and learn a bit about how they began and what happened. I liked this because I love learning about the past especially about characters like Jacob because it is interesting what made them become who they are.

Which book did you like better, the first, the second or the third?

I think that New Moon is still my favourite book because Eclipse didn’t really meet the expectations I had for it. Eclipse needed a much better plot and needed a little more mystery to put it over the top. New Moon was more interesting because the story was less romance heavy and more focused on the new friendship between Jacob and Bella. Also I found it really hard to put the book down as Bella was always seeking a new way to threaten her life which was really exciting. There are many twists and turns which make the book that much more intriguing. Although I prefer New Moon I think I prefer the ending of Eclipse because it makes me want to read Breaking Dawn a lot more than I had wanted to read Eclipse. Eclipse also gave me a lot of new knowledge on the werewolves and their previous existence which was really fascinating as I had previously been very curious about it.

Would you recommend this book?  

This is a book that I would recommend. I think that it is most suitable for people over 15 but I think that if you have read any books like this you are sure to love it just as much as I did. Of course if you have read Twilight and New Moon then this is the next book you should read.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A thrilling and exciting new vampire novel with more life threatening moments than ever before.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

NEW MOON by Stephenie Meyer

“‘Shoot,’ I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. ‘No!’ Edward roared… Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm – into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires. For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could have ever imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning…”

What is the book about?

It’s Bella’s birthday and, although she doesn’t want anyone to make a big deal about it, Edward and his family have planned a party. During the celebration, something goes wrong and Bella is faced with six thirsty vampires. That isn’t the end of Bella’s problems as Edward drifts further away from her with no reasons she can think of. Edwards’s strange behaviour leads to Bella’s worst nightmare, a world without her true love, and as the months go by she still doesn’t recover. But life goes on Bella has to learn to live with the pain and go through each day with a whole in her heart. Then, one day, Bella hears the voice of the one person she thought she would never hear from again and she decides to find new ways to trigger the beautiful sound of Edward. Along the way, she is led towards an old friend and starts to open up again and feel like she used to, but not for long as her new friendship takes a sudden turn making Bella’s life more dangerous than ever before…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I was really excited to start reading the book because I had previously read the first book, Twilight, and loved it. I was really attracted to the front cover and I found the picture on the front really beautiful and striking but not as bright and colourful as some books I own, though a festive colour, like pink, doesn’t really scream vampires. Like Twilight, New Moon is a book that is very different to the usual ones I read as most of them aren’t very romantic but, Twilight was so I thought that New Moon was going to be too. As I had enjoyed Twilight, I knew that it was likely that I would also like the second book and that even if I wasn’t sure I should give it a try. It wasn’t hard to start reading and I found that I was soon nearing the end of the book. Before beginning books I always read the blub so that I am more encouraged and will know a little bit about the book. Usually, I find out enough to make me want to read the book in one day, however I think that the blurb in New Moon was a little scarce on details and it didn’t really make me want to read it any more than I already did, but I think the use of a section of the book was really creative and really persuaded me to start right away.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character in New Moon was Bella, just like in Twilight, because she was willing to drop everything and risk her life to save Edward even after he left her. I think that Bella was really tested in this book and she had to prove her kindness and strength to herself and everyone around her. When Edward left, Bella was portrayed as a very weak character and it was like she was hanging onto one string, about to snap if anyone put the slightest pressure on it.  Bella did show that she cared about her dad as she managed to pull together a bit for him but I could tell she was still lifeless. I did think it was a little crazy how she just happened to make friends with another creature that was meant to be mythical, I think that Bella is a magnet to all things from stories and that she always seems to put herself into a life or death situation, without even trying. Just like in Twilight she wanted to protect her family and her friends from all the chaos she got into, however, I think that if she had considered all those people, like her parents, then she wouldn’t have tried to trigger Edwards’s voice by doing risky and dangerous things, like learning to ride a motorcycle.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when Edward and Bella found each other again. I knew it was going to happen, it was easy to predict, but it was still nice to have a happy moment especially seeing as the chapter before this were mainly sad and lonely for Bella apart from when she was with Jacob. I also really liked this part because Edward and Bella were always together in the first book so it was a bit weird to have them separate and not knowing if they would ever see each other again. I knew after reading this that Edward and Bella are better when they are together and that if they are apart they won’t ever be as happy. This was a great part of the book because it showed that love is a blessing and can bring out the best in a person but love is also a curse because it makes you do strange things and can destroy people who can’t cope with losing their soul mate. I am really glad that Edward and Bella were able to be together again because if they hadn’t that would have most likely been the end of the Twilight Saga.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I think the book was really amazing and just as breath-taking as Twilight, I can see why it is so popular. It was really effective how Stephenie Meyer introduced a new mythical creature during the time Edward was away because it kept things interesting and gave Bella something else to do, and another way to be around danger. I also found it was really nice to learn about the past and hear more about the werewolves and it was nice to get a few of the questions I had about them answered.  Nothing in the book really bugged me, the chapters were still long and still had cliff-hangers at the end but I managed to get used to it and now enjoy the suspense in having to wait to find out what happened next, I think that reading New Moon has help me develop some more patience with books, and in general. I found New Moon a more interesting but a little less exciting and action-packed than Twilight however New Moon was still just as exciting to read.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Looking at both books, I think that they were amazing and there isn’t much that makes me like one book over the other. I think that the second book, New Moon, is the book I like most but this is a really hard question. I liked New Moon best because I like learning about the past more than the present because I really like learning about the characters backstories. I think that New Moon includes a lot more about the vampires and how everything started, it also says a lot about the vampires’ enemies and explains a bit about how they are connected. I also like that Bella has a close friend in this book because I think that in Twilight she revolved around Edward and didn’t really connect with anyone like she does with Jacob in the second book.  I also think that there are a lot more characters in this book, a lot of people were mentioned in Twilight but I think that a lot more were involved in the story in New Moon. As a whole, both books were outstanding but I think that New Moon just stood out to me more.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend this book specifically for people over 15 and I think it would be best to read this book after the first book and if you enjoy romance and fantasy books then this is a book you are sure to enjoy.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

An enchanting and breath-taking tale with a remarkable adventure.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be – that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a trilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret. What Bella doesn’t realize is that the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back…”

What is the book about?

Isabella Swan moves to Forks, where her Dad lives, and meets a mysterious and perfect boy named Edward Cullen. He seems to hate her at first, clearly wanting nothing to do with her, even though Bella didn’t do anything wrong. Bella is determined to find out more about him and uncover his dark secret. After discovering his true identity, Bella grows closer to Edward, developing a strong relationship with him. Bella doesn’t realise that as she grows closer to Edward and his family, she is putting herself and those around her in danger. She isn’t scared of who Edward really is, and doesn’t see the risks of being with him until it is too late.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I didn’t choose to purchase the book from a library or bookshop like all my other book, I was asked if I wanted to read it and I never turn down a book offer. The front cover isn’t necessarily appealing, but the picture is really pretty and red is a very aye catching colour. If I had been told to choose a book, I don’t think that I would have chosen this one as it wasn’t really my type of book. I don’t tend to read romance books however some of the books I have read before have had bits of romance, some a bit longer but this was certainly the one with the most. Although it was different, none of the romantic bits made be love the book any less and once I started reading, it was really hard to put it down.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character in Twilight was Bella because she wasn’t afraid to take some risks and do the things that no one else would ever do, hanging with a family of vampires every day is not something someone normal would do. I also really liked how much she cared about her family and friends; she would do anything for them and put their needs before hers no matter what. Her bravery and kindness was really tested in the book and I think that how she dealt with the constant life or death position she was in was one of the most powerful reasons affecting my choice. I do think that Bella had a few flaws and that there were some things that made me doubt her common sense. Bella didn’t want anyone she loved to get hurt and she didn’t want to drag her mum or dad into any of her dangerous situations yet she still kept hanging around with a family of vampires, it really made me consider what she was thinking. However I understood that no matter how much she wanted to protect her parents, she still loved Edward and wanted to stay with him.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I liked the whole book but my favourite part was the end few chapters especially chapter 22, Hide-and-Seek. I liked chapter 22 because it is the part where I was on the edge of my seat and where the story was at its most intense point. It was surprise to have such a big change and have the enemy so close to winning the battle; I was so desperate to read on and find out what happened that when I started reading that I had to go back because I had skipped some of it. I have read many books where the hero or main character has been cornered but there had always been a spark of hope, a missing piece that jumped in to save the day but having the chapter end like that was a huge shock. I knew immediately that nothing too bad could happened because the main character never dies but I was prepared for a twist, as I have read a few book where the main character has “died” but then come back to life by some strange miracle and, Twilight being a book with vampires, made me think nothing was impossible. I love the parts of a book with all the action and adventure and this was clearly one of them.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was just as extraordinary as all the books I have ever loved before. I don’t think that it exceeds my favourite book but it was very close and I’m sure that once I read the rest of the books I will begin to love this book much more. One thing that I really like about the book was the cover. Initially I wasn’t sold on the idea of reading the book and the cover didn’t really help convince me, but after reading the book I saw the cover in a different light. I think that it is really effective to use red for this book because the colour red is generally associated with love yet also danger, which is a clear foreshadowing of what the book is going to be about. I looked ahead and saw that all the other books in this series have some red in the cover so I am really intrigued to know what happens in those. Stephenie Meyer also used other really affective ways to make me want to read the book. One that really stuck out was how the chapters were arranged, most of them ended with cliff-hangers. Although I am not really a fan of cliff-hangers at the end of books, having them at the end of chapters is a whole different story. They make a huge difference because if you are reading and something suddenly happens but it is carried on in the next chapter then you have no choice but to keep reading, unless you don’t really want to find out. The only bad thing about the cliff-hangers and I think the whole book is that if you have no time left to read then you have to put the book down at a very intense part of the book, and, in my experience it is impossible. I tend to read at night, before bed, so when I have to stop because it is really late I get really annoyed because it is always at a really good bit. Another thing that is also good and bad about Twilight is that I had to keep a dictionary handy at all times because a few of the words in the book were a bit difficult to understand. It was very frustrating but I did learn some new words which may be helpful at some time. I think that the book was great and nothing bad really affected my love for it, I can’t wait to read the 2^nd book.

Would you recommend this book?  

This book was amazing and I don’t know how anyone could not love it the second they open the cover so I would recommend this book without a doubt. I think that it would be most suitable for children 15 and up as it does include complicated language.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

The most thrilling and action-packed vampire romance novel.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL – ONE TRUE KING by Soman Chainani

“‘By my will, none shall be crowned until the Tournament is complete. The Tournament of Kings.’ A new king of Camelot has been named, but two claim the crown. Only one is the true king – but who? Tedros and his rival must face King Arthur’s last coronation test. Three trials. Three answers to find. A race to finish. The sword Excalibur will crown the winner – and take the loser’s head… Beyond Good and Evil. Beyond Ever Afters. To the End of the Ends. The tale of Sophie and Agatha comes to a dramatic conclusion in the sixth and final adventure in the bestselling School for Good and Evil series.”

What is the book about?

After receiving Camelot’s ring, the only remaining ring to stop the Snake from becoming the One True King, Tedros and his future queen, Agatha, go to Camelot to claim the throne. While there, King Arthur’s last coronation test is revealed, a tournament made up of 3 tests to determine who the True King really is. With Camelot’s crown up for grabs, Tedros, Agatha and their friends head off to complete the first trial, meanwhile Sophie is struggling to remember who she is and why she is the future queen of Camelot, but nothing can stop the witch inside her, and she manages to escape the Snake’s scims. Each test is harder than the next, designed to bring out the best king that Camelot has ever had. Nothing is as it seems, there are more twists than ever before and new clues at every corner. The race is dangerous and life-threatening, but is giving up even deadlier? With the future of the entire woods on the line, will Tedros, Agatha and Sophie be able to survive the End of the Ends?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As this was the final book of the School for Good and Evil series, I was really eager to find out what would happen at the End of the Ends. In spite of my enthusiasm, I was still a bit disappointed as I knew that this would be The End and that I would not have anymore magical adventures with Agatha, Sophie and Tedros, therefore I tried to read as calmly and slowly as I could to enjoy every last bit. The book was glue to my hands before I even finished reading the first page, I found the 2^nd chapter especially mysterious and really liked having the hundreds of questions running through my head. I really liked hearing from the Coven in the first chapter because in the fifth book, A Crystal of Time, once Reaper, Agatha’s cat, had assigned them their mission, I never read anything from them again, though they were mentioned quite often by everyone else. So as always I loved the beginning of the book and the action started as soon as I opened the front cover, pulling me back in to a world that I have grown very fond of.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Sophie because although she is always considered the Evil one in the School for Good and Evil series, I don’t really see how in the 6^th book she could have ever been the powerful, crazy witch she was in the first book. I liked Sophie because even though she may try to hide it, I know that she would do anything for her friends and that she really cares about them. What made Sophie my favourite character in this book was because she finally realised that she had been taking Hort for granted and that she really did care about him even though she had refused to think about that through the whole book series. To Sophie it took losing him to be able to recognise that she loved him and that he meant everything to her, I found this a bit unoriginal but really sweet, and a little predictable.

Who was your favourite character in the book series and why?

If I had to pick a favourite character for the whole School for Good and Evil book series then it would most likely be Sophie because in my point of view, I think that she is a really misunderstood character who just wanted to have someone special that loved her the way Tedros loved Agatha. She also wanted a better life than what her mother had, with someone who truly cared about her and wouldn’t abandon her for her best friend, which if you look back to the first book, there is a bit of irony as she wants Tedros to be her prince and then he leaves her for Agatha. She is someone who will do everything she can to get what she wants and she is not afraid to make herself heard, I admire her for this because I wish that I had her courage. Sophie’s courage is a great quality but I think that she can also take things to the extreme, there were times when she wasn’t the most lovable character but now that I have seen how she has changed from book 1 to book 6 I think that it is unlikely she will become her Evil self again.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

The whole book was amazing and nothing really stood out to me, so I found this really hard to answer. After thinking about this and considering everything, I guess the best part of One True King was near the end chapters when the enemy is finally defeated. I liked this part because my favourite books are always the ones with adventure or mystery in them, and in these books there is always a challenge that the good characters have to face as well as some bad guys who they have to defeat, and the good ones always succeed, so I was glad that after all their work Sophie, Tedros and Agatha eventually achieve happiness. Before this there is an unpredictable change that made my thoughts about how the book would end impossible, so when the story got back on track it made me, as the reader, even happier for the characters and I think that, because Sophie, Tedros and Agatha are happy, this is what made the book the perfect ending to their fairy-tale.

What was your overall impression of the book?

The last book of the School for Good and Evil series, One True King was outstanding, it was just as I expected but with a lot more twists than I had expected. One thing that I really loved about the last few chapters was the fact that as always I was expecting Good to win, so Agatha, Sophie and Tedros, as their enemy the Snake was clearly Evil, however there was a twist in the story that made me shed a few tears (twice actually) an doubt my belief that Good always won. I found it really effective when the story took another path and proved my theory. There were also a lot of other good parts in the book and I think that Soman Chainani did a really good job in answering all of my questions not leaving anything out. The only thing that I would change is the ending, I felt as though it was a little vague, there was a lot left out that I really wished had been mentioned. I wasn’t left with any questions which was good, and I didn’t hate how the book finished but I didn’t like it either. I really wish that I had been able to read about Agatha and Tedros’ wedding and know what happened afterwards, I was especially frustrated with Hort and Sophie’s ending as I really wish they had gotten officially together but it was ok, at least Sophie realised she liked Hort even though I could see it from a mile away. It was really exciting and  dramatic and I loved every bit of it just liked all the other School for Good and Evil books, I am really sad to have no more adventures with Sophie and Agatha and I hope to at least get a bit more information about what is going to happen to the girls in the future.

What was your overall impression of the book series?

There are no words that can possibly describe how much I loved the School for Good and Evil book series; it is absolutely, 100%, unmistakably my favourite book series so far. This book series consist of 6 books; The School for Good and Evil, A World Without Princes, The Last Ever After, Quest for Glory, A Crystal of Time and One True King. The first three books have a marginally different storyline with The School for Good and Evil changing in each book.  The fourth, fifth and final book all have the same objective; make Tedros King again, although the forth one has a little bit more to it. One of the things that I found I really liked was that the books from the 1^st to the 5^th have opposites side by side: Good and Evil, Boys and Girls, Young and Old, Truth and Lies, and, Past and Present. Having opposites so close together showed me that one cannot live without the other, for example, Good cannot live without Evil. I think that what made this book series so much better than every other one I have read, is because of how effective Soman Chainani is at showing suspense throughout the books. All six books have different people showing their perspective of the story, although the first 3 only have Agatha and Sophie’s views, so when something bad or surprising happens to one person, Soman Chainani moves to someone else making you want to read on. The last thing that I think really affected my love for these books is that everything is a clue; everything that happens has meaning, so you have to put everything into play and never discard it or you will miss something. I found that this was really effective because Soman Chainani had something important happen in the first part of the story that would then later have a huge influence at the end, so you would never see it coming. There is only one thing that I think would have made the books perfect; mentioning that Agatha and Sophie were sisters more often. After reading that Agatha and Sophie were twins in The Last Ever After, the third book, I was shocked and found that that had been the first time that I have ever been stunned by something, because I usually see everything coming. However, this was never mentioned again in any of the books afterwards so it was a bit like Soman Chainani just put it in for the sake of it, it was really effective and he should have used it to make the book series even more astonishing.

Which was your favourite book in the School for Good and Evil series? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6)

I have always had a clear answer for this question but thinking about the whole book series in the previous one really got me thinking. I really liked the fifth book, A Crystal of Time because all the characters had their own purpose during the story however in all the other books some people didn’t really do anything, they were just there, kind of like decorations, and they wouldn’t have been missed. Also a lot of the questions that I had on my mind for the fourth book were answered so the book was more important than any other. The thing that I liked the best was definitely Dean Dovey’s crystal ball because going to Crystal World sounded amazing and magical, way more magical than Agatha and Sophie’s usual world, so I really liked the idea and wished that something so sensational would happen to me. My other favourite book is the third one, The Last Ever After, because of the huge twist near the end. I know that in the previous reviews about The School for Good and Evil series I have mentioned this a lot, but I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling of surprise after finding out that Agatha and Sophie are twin sisters! All The School for Good and Evil books were amazing and of course they had something special about them that contributed to my love for this book series.

Would you recommend this book?  

I strongly recommend this book for children between over 13 but I have no doubt that anyone else who tries it will enjoy every second and will never want it to finish.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A breath-taking, emotional conclusion of The School for Good and Evil series.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL – A CRYSTAL OF TIME by Soman Chainani

“‘Past is Present and Present is Past… The story repeats until you change it.’ A false kind has seized Camelot’s throne, sentencing the true king, Tedros, to death. While Tedros’s queen, Agatha, narrowly escapes, her best friend, Sophie, is caught in King Rhian’s trap. In the heart-pounding fifth adventure of the series, Agatha and the students of the School for Good and Evil must battle against time, and find a way to restore Tedros to the throne before all their fairy tales come to a lethal end…” 

What is the book about?

Tedros and all of their friends, including Dean Dovey, are imprisoned in Camelot’s dungeon and while they are locked up down below, Sophie is living in the castle as Rhian’s future queen. Although Sophie is roaming free she is constantly watched by one of the Snakes scims or a Camelot guard, feeling just as trapped as Tedros. Meanwhile Agatha is wanted in every kingdom in the Woods, has no plan and the only army she has is a school full of young, inexperienced first years and a few teachers with very little faith in her. They must find out what has happened in the past to solve the problems in the present, travelling to a mysterious new world to find the answers they need. Tedros, Sophie and Agatha must find a way to restore Tedros to his throne, but every time they think they are getting closer, their story takes another path, leading them closer to a deadly ending.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I was desperate to start this book, I didn’t hesitate to grab it and begin reading, the forth book, Quests for Glory, left me on a cliff hanger so it was crucial that I found out what happened next. Before starting, I had a quick glance at the back of the book and felt that it didn’t really make you want to read the book or encourage you to try it, I found that it was a bit of a let-down and that if that had been the blurb for the first book I would have never read it. However, I was pulled into the book as soon as I began reading it and found the first few chapters very engaging and a bit unusual; it was weird to have all 3 main characters in different dangerous situations. It was new to me to have Tedros, Agatha and Sophie separate and leading their own sections of the story because they are usually part of the same plan but also very refreshing as something unfamiliar was brought to the table.

Who was your favourite character and why?

During Quests for Glory we were given the perspective of many different characters so I found it impossible to pick a favourite one but in A Crystal of Time, although we were also given the point of view of more characters and it was a really difficult decision, I really liked Sophie and I think that she was my favourite character. In the opening chapters Sophie was like she always was, trying to get herself in a better situation, but she did give the others a few thoughts. However later on she proves how much she truly cares about all her friends and does something good which is very rare. Sophie puts herself before all of her friends always thinking that she is the most important person, but when she finds out that she is her friends’ last hope, she chooses to lose her chance to escape Rhian and get out of danger. She proves to herself, and everyone who ever doubted her, that she can do good, I think that this made her make a slightly crazy choice later on the book where she puts herself in jeopardy so that she can save the whole Woods and prove to them, Tedros especially, that she is more than just an Evil witch and that they were wrong about her.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part is when Agatha, Tedros and Sophie go into the world inside Dean Dovey’s crystal ball, like the ball was broken they were able to go inside and see some old memories and a few future ones. I think the best part of the crystal ball was when Sophie and Agatha go into the Blood Crystal, learning about how Rhian and Japeth came to be was a key part in the story and without it the book would have been much less enjoyable. I really liked learning about the Crystal World and I love the idea of being able to relive your memories see the ones you care about even when they are gone. Another thing I liked about this is being able to see the future and get some kind of warning, although all the crystal balls predictions seemed so bizarre that Agatha, Sophie and Tedros didn’t believe them. However, being able to see the future also caused some trouble as some of the predictions made Tedros believe that Sophie was disloyal so I think that the future is best left alone.

What was your overall impression of the book?

As a whole the book was unbelievable, there was nothing in the book that made it seem the less amazing. The ending was, once more, a cliff hanger however; this didn’t ruin the book or make it worse as it didn’t really have much suspense because I didn’t really have many unanswered questions. I really liked having Tedros, Agatha and Sophie separate in some of the chapters because when something strange happened it then moved on to someone else, so I was always on the edge of my seat wanting to read more. I loved meeting new characters, like the new first year students of the School for Good and Evil because there aren’t many new characters introduced in the previous books. I also found that the teachers were more important in this book than in the others and that they were really important this time. Although there were some sad parts in A Crystal of Time, I really loved the book and found that there were also a lot of happy moments that made the story much better.

Which book did you like better: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5?

I think that my favourite book in the School for Good and Evil series is now the fifth book, A Crystal of Time. I liked this book best because all the characters had their own mission in the story and they all had a reason to why they were there, however in all the other books I felt that some of the characters didn’t really do much, they contributed to the story but they could have easily been replaced. In the previous book, Quests for Glory, the question that had been on my mind throughout the whole book was “Who is the Snake?”, so when this question was finally answered it was really helpful and very important for me. Another great part of the book was when we saw the future in Dean Dovey’s crystal ball. I really liked it because as they were really weird predictions and none of the characters believed them, I felt that they weren’t relevant so I also overlooked them, later on, when they came true,  it was really effective, and I know now that nothing in the School for Good and Evil books is insignificant.

Would you recommend this book?  

I really loved the book and think that this can be an amazing book for other people as well. If you have read any other School for Good and Evil books, which you really should, then there is no doubt that you will enjoy the book. I think it would be best for someone around the age of 13 but I’m sure that others will love it too.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

An extraordinary, new experience with Agatha, Sophie, Tedros and all of their friends.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL – QUESTS FOR GLORY by Soman Chainani

“‘Something out there is hurting our students and your quest is to find it…’ Before they can graduate, the students at the School for Good and Evil must complete a Quest for Glory, leaving the bounds of school on the biggest adventure of their lives. The quests are dangerous and unpredictable, and the stakes are high. If Good and Evil can’t find a way to work together, can either side survive? Agatha, Tedros and Sophie are back in this action-packed fourth adventure in the School for Good and Evil series.”

What is the book about?

During their fourth year at the School for Good and Evil each student is assigned a quest by the Deans that they must complete to be able to graduate. Strangely, all students are mysteriously failing their quests and many Ever and Never kingdoms are being attacked. These invasions are not random as it seems that this unknown attacker is surrounding Camelot, clearly on its way to attack Tedros’ kingdom. The Dean for Good has decided to change all students’ quests so they now must complete together a new quest to find out who is responsible for causing panic throughout the Woods. But this isn’t an ordinary quest as the fate of Good and Evil depends on them working together to survive, this is like no Evil anyone has ever seen before, Good and Evil must work together to stop it from taking over the Woods and changing their lives forever.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I wasn’t too desperate to start this book because as The Last Ever After was meant to be the last book the ending was quite good and it didn’t leave me waiting for the next book. Of course, I still wanted to read the fourth book because Agatha and Sophie’s adventures are always so interesting so I was glad there was another one, I knew without doubt I would love this book like all the other School for Good and Evil books. As soon as I started reading I already had 100 questions, with about 60% of them about the coronation, I liked how it started because it immediately began with action and there wasn’t anything explaining what happened in the first 3 books and the adventure started just like that. The beginning of the book instantly hooks the reader and all of a sudden you are back in Agatha and Sophie’s world with another war beginning.

Who was your favourite character and why?

In this book, as there were a lot more important characters, who were more than just Sophie and Agatha’s friends, or random students at the School for Good and Evil, it was impossible to pick a favourite character, I found that a lot of people had bigger roles and were in more than just a couple of chapters. Like in the other 3 books, I liked Agatha and Sophie because of their bravery and leadership, even though other characters had bigger roles, the girls still had the biggest roles and were the most important characters, always helping the other get out of trouble, though a lot of other people were essential. One character that really surprised me was Tedros, usually he is just another boy in the story and has role that has a huge effect on Agatha and Sophie but in Quests for Glory he turns out to be as significant as the girls maybe even more, as this story involves his family and his kingdom. I also really liked the Coven because even though in the books they do prove that they are important, they never seemed like the friendly type that will be there for each other but in the fourth book they show that they are best friends just like Agatha and Sophie, and care about each other just as much.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Everything in the book was great but nothing really stood out to me so I don’t thing I really had a favourite part in Quests for Glory. I liked the last chapter a little more because in a part of it everyone was happy and they all though they had succeeded with their quest. This book is a little different from all the others because I think that it is a joint book with the fifth as they haven’t yet finished their quest and the book doesn’t really end happily. I also liked the beginning because I learnt about how Agatha, Sophie and Tedros were dealing with their Final Ever After. I found it a little weird that in this book they didn’t really spend much time at the School for Good and Evil but I really like meeting a few of the new students at the school and the fact that one of them has an important part in the story.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall the book was absolutely incredible, I loved everything about it and I don’t think that there is anything that I hated or specifically disliked about it. One thing that really made it stand out is the fact that in Quests for Glory there are more people who get parts of the story told in their perspective. This really helped me get to know other people more and know what they were thinking about the quest and everything that had happened. I got to know more about the Coven and Tedros; I even found out a bit about Hort and got to see things from his point of view. This was something new to the School for Good and Evil series and I think that it made the book much better and without it the book would have been really confusing, I think that if it had been added into the other 3 books it would have also been helpful. The only thing that I found a bit annoying is the ending as it was very suspenseful and I was left with questions unanswered. I knew that it would end a bit like that because I had seen the 5^th book and had also seen it coming but it still annoyed me a little because I have to read another book to find out what happened to the Snake and everyone else, but I am not too worried because as these books tend to start right away I should find out soon enough.

Which book did you like better: 1, 2, 3 or 4?

My favourite book is still The Last Ever After because of the huge twist in the story; I think that is forever going to remain the biggest shock I have ever gotten. All the School for Good and Evil books were amazing and of course they all had twists and turns but I saw them all coming so when they were mentioned I wasn’t at all surprised and they seemed a bit like old news. The ending of Quests for Glory made me love The Last Ever After even more because as the fourth book was very suspenseful and was a huge cliff-hanger, the perfect ending the third book had seemed even more unbelievable, this really influenced my choice a lot because everyone was happy and they all got the right ending for them, instead of having an unhappy ending with everyone in the wrong place. I wonder what the fifth book will be like and if everyone will finally be able to defeat the enemy.

Would you recommend this book?  

There are no words that can describe how much I love the book, it could easily be one of the best books I have ever read and if you have read any other School for Good and Evil books then you should read it. I absolutely recommend the book and I think anyone around the age of 13 will love it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

An enchanting action-packed, dangerous fourth adventure with Agatha, Sophie and Tedros.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL – THE LAST EVER AFTER by Soman Chainani

“‘How do you turn your back on your best friend? How do you leave them behind?’ Sophie and Agatha thought their ending was sealed when they went their separate ways. But will their story be rewritten? With the girls apart, Evil has taken over. The villains of the past have come back with a vengeance and the forces of Good are in deadly peril. Can anyone stand in the way of Evil’s deadly reign – and the Last Ever After of all? Action, adventure, laughter, romance and more twists than ever before in this extraordinary conclusion to the School for Good and Evil series.

What is the book about?

Agatha and Sophie are living out their ending apart, each with the boy of their dreams, but things don’t seem quite happy and they doubt their happy ending once more. The Storian won’t move on from their story because they keep wishing to reopen their fairy-tale and now the fate of the world depends on finding the correct ending as soon as possible. But Agatha and Sophie aren’t the only ones looking for their Ever After. The School Master has returned and he has a plan that will make Evil invincible, the Schools have changed once more and Good and Evil may never be balanced again. Fairy tales are being rewritten, the end of the world nearing, and all because of a two students. Can Agatha and Sophie find The Last Ever After of their fairy-tale before it’s too late?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Once I had finished the second School for Good and Evil book, I right away grabbed the third book ready to read it. As I had loved both the books before The Last Ever After, I knew without hesitation that I would find this book just as incredible. I was really looking forward to reading the book because as this was originally the last book of the series I knew that it would be particularly amazing as this ending to Agatha and Sophie’s fairy-tale would finally be the right one, so I was really anxious finish it. Something that really kept me reading the book was seeing the back of the book and that it said that there was going to be many twists in this book so I was in suspense waiting for an astonishing change to the story or for a mysterious character to appear. This book also started right away and got me hooked as soon as I read the first page, so I immediately got interested and soon I was nearing the end.

Who was your favourite character and why?

In this book, my favourite character was Agatha because of how Good she is. I really liked her because of the fact that she was willing to let Sophie have a chance to take her prince away from her for the sake of everyone else. She was willing to doubt her happy ending so that Sophie would destroy her ring and save everyone from death. Another reason I like Agatha better is because although she is a princess, she is unique and isn’t like all the other princesses. She doesn’t believe that she is queen material and she doesn’t think that she is the most important person just because she was chosen by the best prince ever. I like this about her because it shows that she is truly Good as she doesn’t think f herself before others and this proves that she will be the best queen ever. Although Sophie was more Evil than ever before, I still really liked her at some parts of the book and thought that it was really brave of her to finally do the right thing ever though it meant destroying what she thought was her only chance at love. I also understood why she had chosen to stay with the School Master in the second book and I realise that it must have been difficult to see her best friend try and send her away while she stays with her prince, the prince she thought was hers, this is why when she decided that she was going to be happy alone and finally let Agatha have her happy ending I thought it was really kind.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

In my opinion, the best part was when Sophie and Agatha were in the Brig in the School for Old. Although they were trapped and the sun was almost gone, this was still a really good part because of the unexpected history lesson that they were taught, hence the name of the chapter. I liked the part because of the sudden, unpredictable change to Agatha and Sophie’s story. Usually I see things coming or I have my suspicions about what is going to happen next or the relationship between people but this was completely new to me and left me really shocked, I loved the surprise and it really did leave me on the edge of my seat. I see why Soman Chainani wanted to end the School for Good and Evil series there but I am glad that he didn’t because I really want to read more about Agatha, Sophie and all their friends. I can’t wait to read the forth book!

What was your overall impression of the book?

Like the first 2 School for Good and Evil, there isn’t much that I wouldn’t change. I found that it was all really good and that, as always, everything was important and each chapter had something that irreplaceable. One thing that bothered me a bit was that in a couple parts of the book I found that it felt like it was almost the end but there was actually a lot more left, this confused me as there were so many twists that made the story change but once I got used to it I began to really like it. One thing that I really liked was meeting the old fairy-tale heroes because I always heard about the old students of the School for Good and Evil but never met them or was told about what they were doing now that their stories were over, meeting a few of them was a really good addition to the book. One of my favourite things was learning about Agatha and Sophie’s mothers fairy-tale. I liked this because I had always wanted to know more about Sophie’s mother ever since the second book when the wish to see her mother proved to be important and once I heard about her all my questions were finally answered. This was also when the surprising change to Agatha and Sophie’s story occurred so it was an extremely important part of the book.

Which book did you like better, the first, the second or the third?

My favourite book so far is unmistakably the third book, but I did find all three really interesting. I liked The Last Ever After more because of all the surprises and twists there were. I really liked this because it made the book more intriguing and make me want to keep reading, every time there was another unexpected turn in the story the book just seemed to stick to my hands even more. I also really liked the ending to this book, I know that I have said this for every School for Good and Evil book but it was true for every single book, especially for this one. I liked it because everyone got a happy ending or the right ending for them, I feel as though it is a very good end and that it is finally the right one for Agatha and Sophie’s fairy-tale. I think this is what made the book my favourite because the ending of a book had always been extremely important for me. This is because a wrong ending can ruin the whole book but the right one can make the book even better, so when a book has such an amazing end it really makes the book extraordinary.

Would you recommend this book?  

I absolutely loved The Last Ever After, it is undeniably one of my favourite books and I would definitely recommend it. If you have read any other School for Good and Evil books then this should go on your reading list, also if you like action or adventures full of mystery and romance then do not hesitate to try this book, I assure that you will love it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

Another wonderful adventure at the School for Good and Evil with more unexpected twists than ever before.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

 

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL – A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES by Soman Chainani

“‘There is an uneasiness that remains after your best friend tries to kill you…’ Best friends Sophie and Agatha are back in Gavaldon, living out their Happily Ever After, but Agatha is missing her prince. In a moment of weakness she makes a wish, which once more opens the gates to the School for Good and Evil. Agatha and Sophie are sucked back into the world they escaped from – but everything has changed. War is brewing between the School for Girls and the School for Boys. Can this Ever After end happily for anyone?”

What is the book about?

Agatha and Sophie are back in Gavaldon and they both seem happy living out their Happily Ever After with each other, but Agatha feels empty inside missing her prince. Once more the girls are pulled back into the world they escaped from, all because of a wish Agatha now regrets. But everything in the School for Good and Evil has changed. Agatha and Sophie are trying to return home all over again but it has proven impossible with the new Dean overhearing every word. Agatha and Sophie are back where they started trying to win the Trial by Tale but their lives are now on the line. Will the girls return home together or will their fairy-tale ending be rewritten?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As soon as I had finished the first School for Good and Evil book, I immediately grabbed the second book to start reading it. I had really liked the first book and although it didn’t end on a big cliff-hanger I still wanted to read more. Once I had read the blurb I wanted to read it even more than before because of all the questions going through my head. I wanted to know why the school had changed to the School for Girls and School for Boys and if Sophie and Agatha would still end up together, so I began to read it. Just like the first book, this one started right away and didn’t have any recap or too much description like most books so it got me hooked right away, an just like the first book this one had an important part that would change the ending but you wouldn’t see it coming.

Who was your favourite character and why?

Unlike in the first School for Good and Evil book, I found that I liked both my favourite characters equally. Although I think that Agatha and Sophie made mistakes I think that they both made the same amount of mistakes as the other. I think that it wasn’t right for Agatha to want to ruin Sophie’s happy ending by sending her back to Gavaldon alone as she should have considered Sophie’s feelings but I also think that Sophie shouldn’t have tried to prevent Agatha’s happy ending. Even though Sophie felt as though Agatha was abandoning her she should have tried to understand that everyone is different and that maybe Agatha wasn’t happy being with just her for the rest of her life. Agatha and Sophie were also good at some parts and that is what made me really like them. I found the fact that Sophie agreed with turning into a boy was really brave and that Agatha was also really brave when she went to the School for Boys without Sophie’s acknowledgement to try and stop Tedros from trying to kill her.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part in this book was the Trial by Tale, I know that this Trial goes over quite a few chapters but I fell as though those last chapters were the best parts. I really liked them because all the little clues that Agatha and Sophie had pieced together were finally coming together and I was able to understand why the Dean had been able to enter the school again and why she was a part of Agatha and Sophie’s story. I think that the best part of the Trial was at the end when the villain of the story was revealed and the two girls were pulled in different directions because it answered the questions that I had and left a bit of suspense for the next book.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I loved the book just as much as the first, it was amazing and from the very first page I found myself wanting to read on. I also found that every chapter was full of action and that it immediately started with Sophie and Agatha planning something or their adventure beginning, even though it might not be obvious at first. It was like the girls never got a moment of peace and were always doing something life threatening. I also really like how something important always happens in the first chapter but them because it isn’t mentioned in the book you seem to forget all about it. Then during the last chapters this important dream or wish changes everything and you never see it coming. The only thing that I would change is the fact that in the book, the last 3 or 4 chapters always have a lot going on so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. This also happened in the first and I think that the end of the book should be a little less action packed or maybe it should be a bit more spread out. Although it can be a bit puzzling, it is also very effective as then when the book finally ends it goes from over the top to nothing at all so it keeps you a little shocked and wanting to read the next book.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

Both books are amazing and I absolutely loved them but I think that if I had to pick one it would be the first book because of the endings. I liked both endings but I prefer the first one because I feel as though Agatha and Sophie are great friends and that they should end up together so the way that the second book ended was definitely not what I expected. I knew that Agatha would never be happy without her prince but I thought that they would at least end up in the same worlds, I know that there are other books in the series so I hope that they will be able to see that they are better together and be able to put their differences aside for the sake of their friendship.

Would you recommend this book?  

This book is definitely one to read especially if you have loved the first book as much as I did. I think that if you are over 12 and fantasy books then this should absolutely be on your bookshelf.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A fantastic book with a magical new ending.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL by Soman Chainani

“‘Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped.’ Every four years two children are stolen away from Gavaldon, never to return. Most children fear being taken to the School for Good and Evil. But not Sophie… She has dreamt all her life of being a princess and believes the school could be her chance. Her best friend Agatha has other ideas. When the two girls are taken, things don’t quite go to Sophie’s plan. Because sometimes, the princess and the witch don’t look like they do in fairy tales.”

What is the book about?

Two girls, Sophie and Agatha, live in a small village surrounded by nothing but a never-ending dark forest. Every four years two children are taken into the dark woods by the mysterious School Master to the School for Good and Evil. Sophie has been waiting all her life to be taken to become a princess but Agatha just wishes that Sophie would be happy in Gavaldon, with her. One night the two girls are taken and things don’t quite go the way Sophie had expected. The girls try and try to find a way back home but they find themselves trapped in the School for Good and Evil. When they realise that they have been in the right schools all along, they finally begin to understand just how difficult getting back home really is and that their friendship will never be the same again.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As one of my friends absolutely loved the books, she kept going on and on about them telling me I should read them. After a while the books started to look interesting and exciting, so as we both like similar books I thought that I would give the first book try. Now this happened a few years ago and I found them a bit confusing but, a few weeks ago, the books started to sound amazing again when my friend constantly spoke about the new book and how excited she was, so I decided to purchase the books so that I would have something new to read. When I first started reading it, again, I found it very surprising because it got into interesting right away unlike quite a lot of the books I have read. I began to really enjoy the book and now I realise that I only found it confusing because I had wanted to know what came next so badly that I skimmed over a lot of important parts.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Agatha because of how kind she was and how much she cared about Sophie. I saw kindness in her because whenever she spoke about getting back home to Gavaldon she always said “we” and never forgot about Sophie, the first person to ever show her any kindness. I really liked Agatha because even though Sophie was the one to start their friendship she was the one who cared about it the most and she was a great example that it is what is inside of you that matters not what you look like. I also, at some parts of the book, really liked Sophie, for example, when she was taken to the Doom Room she finally thought about someone other than herself and willed herself to “Stay alive for Agatha”, but at some parts Sophie seemed to have no kindness inside her and if she could have gone into the School for Good she would have given up Agatha at the drop of a hat, and that is why I didn’t always like Sophie.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part in the book was when Agatha and Sophie finally realised that they had been in the correct schools the whole time and they decided to embrace the true person that they are inside. I really liked this part because the book was getting extremely interesting and most of my questions started to get answers. I also have another favourite part which is the ending as it tells everyone that the love of friendship is just as strong as the love between a prince and his princess. I also liked it because it shows that although everyone thought that it wasn’t true a princess and a witch can certainly be friends, this ending told me that Agatha and Sophie’s friendship was stronger that the urge Sophie had to kill her and that there Happily Never After was with each other. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I think that the book was perfect and that there is nothing in the School for Good and Evil that I would change. I found that this book had a bit of everything and that every chapter was filled with mystery and that, unlike some books, every chapter was important. I loved that everything that happened had some kind of meaning and that the mystery and adventure started from the very beginning when Sophie dreamt of her prince. I also think that the ending was perfect too, it had just enough suspense to keep me wanting more but it didn’t have too much keeping me from being frustrated and with questions to answer, I think that this is now my new favourite book.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would 100% recommend this book for absolutely anyone, but specifically for children from 12-15 and if you like fantasy then this is definitely the next book you should read.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

An amazing, fantasy adventure into the most magical school in the world.

 Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego