Book Review: “The Black Shard”

The Shard

Published:  October 4, 2011

ABOUT:

The Black Shard, Victoria Simcox’s fast-paced, intricately woven sequel to The Magic Warble, takes Kristina Kingsly and her schoolmates back to Bernovem … and into a thrilling, often dangerous adventure.

Kristina’s stay at summer horse camp is horrible to say the least, and it’s all because Hester and Davina are there as well, making her life miserable. When Hester’s cruel prank goes terribly wrong, it’s actually what sends the three girls back to the magical land of Bernovem. In Bernovem, Kristina is very excited to see her former friend, Prince Werrien. When he invites her to sail with him on his ship to his homeland Tezerel, putting it simply, Kristina can’t refuse.

Reunited with her gnome, dwarf, animal, fairy friends … and best of all, Werrien, things seem like they couldn’t get any better for Kristina. But when Werrien becomes fascinated with an unusual seeing stone, the “Black Shard”, Kristina is haunted by a ghostlike old hag. Struggling against suspicion, guilt, illness, and ultimately the one who wants to possess her soul, Kristina will see it’s in her weakest moment that she will encounter more strength than she has ever known.

MY THOUGHTS:

“The Black Shard” is a awesome sci-fi young adult book that is part of a series I am now hooked on. It reminds me of the C.S. Lewis book series Chronicles of Narnia.  This is actually the second book in the series (read my review of Magic Warble here) and just came out this past October.

The story includes a magical land, gnomes, dwarfs, fairies, a prince and more.  The Black Shard has the main character, Kristina, arriving back in Bernovem meeting Prince Werrien.  Back at home she is just a teenager who is a loner with no real friends, but in Bernovem she is the “chosen one.”  Prince Werrien became her best friend two years ago in the first book, Magic Warble, but now that they are a little older there is a somewhat budding romance building – don’t worry they barely even kiss!  In this story, Kristina and Prince Werrien take off with their friends and even some unknown enemies on a ship to visit other lands.

After hearing a story, things start happening to Kristina and she tries to handle everything herself.  Oh and two of her friends (or more like frenemies) come over with her to Bernovem which she also has to deal with.  She is definitely a strong girl!  The story is easy to follow and yet has so much of a good story line to it.  It is also a somewhat quick read as the font is not super small and the story keeps you engaged.  As an adult I love this series and I can only imagine how much young kids would find it.

I highly recommend checking out this book series (so far just two books) for any young reader, maybe ages 8 and up, or read them to your child and live the tale together.  It is also a great book for both boys and girls as the main characters are both a boy and girl!

BUY IT:  Check out The Shard and Magic Warble from Victoria Simcox for $16.95 each or look for it wherever books are sold!

The Black Shard on FB
Victoria Simcox on twitter
or follow Victoria’s blog @ www.victoriasimcox.blogspot.com

Mom and More Disclosure: I was sent this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion. Please see my Disclosure Policy.