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Greystone Valley #1
Greystone Valley
Twelve-year-old Sarah escapes her troubles through fantasy books—until she's transported to Greystone Valley, where magic is real but nothing works as expected. With a bumbling wizard, a pessimistic warrior, and a six-inch dragon as companions, she must stop an evil warlord from conquering multiple worlds. As Sarah discovers unexpected magical abilities, she learns that real courage means facing what you fear most, whether it's a villain's army or your own grief.
- GenresFantasy
198 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 15, 2019
As you've probably figured out by this point, I'm not only a member of several active book clubs, but also of many professional author/author assistant/publisher groups. And that's how I find many, if not all of my books.
This time, a publisher asked members of a group we're both in if anyone would be interested in a free audio book. After perusing the publishing house's selection of audio books, I chose Greystone Valley because...I really needed a light and fluffy kids book.
It wasn't light and fluffy. Like all great children's adventure books, there was a definite problem that the main character had to face and overcome. In this case, it's that the girl preferred to live in a fantasy world in her head because that was easier than facing the fact that her father had died.
Then she gets pulled into an actual land of fantasy, and meets new friends and enemies and faces all kinds of obstacles that make it where she probably won't ever make it home again. Along the way, she discovers important truths about both herself and the world. Also, a glimmer of understanding of what her mom's going through.
Like I said, it wasn't light and fluffy. However, it ended up being exactly what I needed. A good cathartic cry as I was driving down the highway. Weeping openly as all kinds of bottled up feelings got purged. And through it all, my kids sat silently, listening intently, and only stopping the story to ask over and over again, "But HOW did her dad die?" (The book never said.) I think they needed it too.
This story gets a 5/5 for not only being a wonderfully crafted story with vivid and realistic characters, but also for handling death (sudden death at that) at a level kids can understand. I thoroughly recommend.
Greystone Valley was narrated by Serena Scott Thomas and published by Grey Gecko Press.
This time, a publisher asked members of a group we're both in if anyone would be interested in a free audio book. After perusing the publishing house's selection of audio books, I chose Greystone Valley because...I really needed a light and fluffy kids book.
It wasn't light and fluffy. Like all great children's adventure books, there was a definite problem that the main character had to face and overcome. In this case, it's that the girl preferred to live in a fantasy world in her head because that was easier than facing the fact that her father had died.
Then she gets pulled into an actual land of fantasy, and meets new friends and enemies and faces all kinds of obstacles that make it where she probably won't ever make it home again. Along the way, she discovers important truths about both herself and the world. Also, a glimmer of understanding of what her mom's going through.
Like I said, it wasn't light and fluffy. However, it ended up being exactly what I needed. A good cathartic cry as I was driving down the highway. Weeping openly as all kinds of bottled up feelings got purged. And through it all, my kids sat silently, listening intently, and only stopping the story to ask over and over again, "But HOW did her dad die?" (The book never said.) I think they needed it too.
This story gets a 5/5 for not only being a wonderfully crafted story with vivid and realistic characters, but also for handling death (sudden death at that) at a level kids can understand. I thoroughly recommend.
Greystone Valley was narrated by Serena Scott Thomas and published by Grey Gecko Press.
May 30, 2013
My Review
4 STARS
I am always surprised at myself for picking what ebook to read based on cover. I have tons of ebooks to read on my kindle but this cover drew my eye since I received it yesterday. Covers that are bland or no picture I have harder time choosing, even if I like the author better.
Greystone Valley as lots of different characters. Some human and most from a different land that has magic, dragons, wizards, warriors, fey, trolls and Evil man who wants to conquer worlds not just where he is or the place he is from. It is full of action, drama, heroes, magic and accidents.
Sarah is the main character. She is twelve. She wants to live in her room reading books. She does not want to face reality. Her mom is worried about her and is trying to get her to face the world.
One morning Sarah wakes up to a boy about her age yelling at her to get out of his room. He is wearing a big purple robe and a pointed hat carrying a big book. He threatens her and turns himself into a frog.
Kay is a sorcerer who has lots of problems reading his book of magic. He is being chased by bad guys wanting his magic book. Sarah follows him when he runs from the villagers who are going to turn him in. She thinks she is dreaming till she is hurt.
Kay and Sarah are on the run and meet some others who are willing to help them.
Baelan is a warlord and comes from a different world. He has conquered some of Greystone and wants to get into the Greystone castle. It is supposed to open doors to lots of different worlds. He wants to go and conquer more worlds. But the door is sealed and can only be open with magic. He believes Kay with his book of magic can be forced to help him.
Aries is a general and helps Baelan he is half human and half horse. He is mean, big and tough. He is leading an army to capture Kay and now Sarah. He evens has captured dragons working for him.
Every time Kay reads a magic spell it does not work like he thinks it should. Sarah has a easier time reading his magic book than Kay does. Kay has been learning from his father but now he all alone. Kay really can't read the book but she knows what the spells are for and how to pronounce the foreign words.
They go from one problem to the next and make friends and enemies all along the way. It is a fun adventure fantasy book. It is a clean book. I look forward to reading more from Charlie Brooks in the future.
I was given this ebook to read as part of Librarything Early Reviewers program. Asked to give honest review of it in exchange.
Publication date: 4/15/2013 Publisher: Grey Gecko Press ISBN-13: 9781938821332 166 pages
4 STARS
I am always surprised at myself for picking what ebook to read based on cover. I have tons of ebooks to read on my kindle but this cover drew my eye since I received it yesterday. Covers that are bland or no picture I have harder time choosing, even if I like the author better.
Greystone Valley as lots of different characters. Some human and most from a different land that has magic, dragons, wizards, warriors, fey, trolls and Evil man who wants to conquer worlds not just where he is or the place he is from. It is full of action, drama, heroes, magic and accidents.
Sarah is the main character. She is twelve. She wants to live in her room reading books. She does not want to face reality. Her mom is worried about her and is trying to get her to face the world.
One morning Sarah wakes up to a boy about her age yelling at her to get out of his room. He is wearing a big purple robe and a pointed hat carrying a big book. He threatens her and turns himself into a frog.
Kay is a sorcerer who has lots of problems reading his book of magic. He is being chased by bad guys wanting his magic book. Sarah follows him when he runs from the villagers who are going to turn him in. She thinks she is dreaming till she is hurt.
Kay and Sarah are on the run and meet some others who are willing to help them.
Baelan is a warlord and comes from a different world. He has conquered some of Greystone and wants to get into the Greystone castle. It is supposed to open doors to lots of different worlds. He wants to go and conquer more worlds. But the door is sealed and can only be open with magic. He believes Kay with his book of magic can be forced to help him.
Aries is a general and helps Baelan he is half human and half horse. He is mean, big and tough. He is leading an army to capture Kay and now Sarah. He evens has captured dragons working for him.
Every time Kay reads a magic spell it does not work like he thinks it should. Sarah has a easier time reading his magic book than Kay does. Kay has been learning from his father but now he all alone. Kay really can't read the book but she knows what the spells are for and how to pronounce the foreign words.
They go from one problem to the next and make friends and enemies all along the way. It is a fun adventure fantasy book. It is a clean book. I look forward to reading more from Charlie Brooks in the future.
I was given this ebook to read as part of Librarything Early Reviewers program. Asked to give honest review of it in exchange.
Publication date: 4/15/2013 Publisher: Grey Gecko Press ISBN-13: 9781938821332 166 pages
June 10, 2013
I received an early review copy of Greystone Valley by Charlie Brooks from Grey Gecko Press in the last week of May as part of Librarything Early Reviewers program. All they asked in return was to give an honest review of it in exchange. I decided to wait to read it when I was on vacation so if I found it was one of those books that I couldn't put down, I wouldn't have too. I was delighted to find that it was one of those books. Greystone Valley is written for children ages about 10 and above, however, if the child is younger and a good reader they will enjoy it themselves. There is a lot of action, a great deal of friendship. You will find acceptance, unconditional love, loyalty, honor and protectiveness throughout the pages. I read the ebook version, but I could easily see a book that was illustrated with beautiful, colorful pictures based on the descriptions provided.
This book was written in a way to help a child deal with loss, the ease with which Charlie Brooks lets a child know that it is okay to escape from reality for just a while is refreshing. This was a great fantasy read, there are good guys, bad guys, dragons, wizards, trolls and all kinds of creatures that are found in fairy tales. As I read the book, I found myself trying to guess what would happen next and was always pleasantly surprised whether I guessed right or wrong. Join Sarah and her companions on her adventures in Greystone Valley and as she learns more about family then one might expect. I hope that this is not the only book about Sarah and her friends, I would love to read a sequel and find that they go on many more adventures together. I would also love to find out the story of the Emerald Enchantress, maybe a prequel to Greystone Valley?
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. It is a great quick read that really draws you in and takes you on an adventure.
This book was written in a way to help a child deal with loss, the ease with which Charlie Brooks lets a child know that it is okay to escape from reality for just a while is refreshing. This was a great fantasy read, there are good guys, bad guys, dragons, wizards, trolls and all kinds of creatures that are found in fairy tales. As I read the book, I found myself trying to guess what would happen next and was always pleasantly surprised whether I guessed right or wrong. Join Sarah and her companions on her adventures in Greystone Valley and as she learns more about family then one might expect. I hope that this is not the only book about Sarah and her friends, I would love to read a sequel and find that they go on many more adventures together. I would also love to find out the story of the Emerald Enchantress, maybe a prequel to Greystone Valley?
Would I recommend this book to others? Yes. It is a great quick read that really draws you in and takes you on an adventure.
March 4, 2015
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Greystone Valley, by Charlie Brooks, is a tween fantasy concerning Sarah, a 12-year-old girl who recently lost her father and who prefers to spend her time in her own children's fantasy world, where she stars as the Emerald Enchantress, a wizard who has wonderful adventures all the time. Imagine her surprise when, after hearing a midnight clock strike thirteen bells, she wakes up in a strange land - a land of incompetent boy wizards, 6-inch long dragons (who can still breathe a hefty fireball) and an evil warlord who wants to force the boy wizard to give up his enchanted spellbook so that the warlord can escape this strange valley and wreak havoc in larger lands. Sarah is nothing if not resourceful and meeting those individuals and the challenges they present is both simpler and far more complicated than she would have imagined, particularly as she seems to have a natural knack for magic herself.... This is not quite a YA novel, as the main characters are a bit younger than that, but neither is it strictly a children's novel; it's somewhere in-between. Sarah is feisty and sometimes irascible, boy magician Kay is bumbling but endearing, and Keeley the diminutive dragon is a terrific ally and companion; and the ending leaves things open-ended, room for the author to continue Sarah's adventures if she returns to Greystone Valley. I don't think this is destined to become a classic, but it is certainly a fun read. Recommended.
Greystone Valley, by Charlie Brooks, is a tween fantasy concerning Sarah, a 12-year-old girl who recently lost her father and who prefers to spend her time in her own children's fantasy world, where she stars as the Emerald Enchantress, a wizard who has wonderful adventures all the time. Imagine her surprise when, after hearing a midnight clock strike thirteen bells, she wakes up in a strange land - a land of incompetent boy wizards, 6-inch long dragons (who can still breathe a hefty fireball) and an evil warlord who wants to force the boy wizard to give up his enchanted spellbook so that the warlord can escape this strange valley and wreak havoc in larger lands. Sarah is nothing if not resourceful and meeting those individuals and the challenges they present is both simpler and far more complicated than she would have imagined, particularly as she seems to have a natural knack for magic herself.... This is not quite a YA novel, as the main characters are a bit younger than that, but neither is it strictly a children's novel; it's somewhere in-between. Sarah is feisty and sometimes irascible, boy magician Kay is bumbling but endearing, and Keeley the diminutive dragon is a terrific ally and companion; and the ending leaves things open-ended, room for the author to continue Sarah's adventures if she returns to Greystone Valley. I don't think this is destined to become a classic, but it is certainly a fun read. Recommended.
June 26, 2013
* I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program*
This is a cute coming-of-age adventure fantasy where an imaginative little girl finds out that her daydreams may actually be based in reality. When Sarah wishes herself out of her own world, she turns up in Greystone Valley and learns that magic is real, as are fairies and dragons. However, she learns that villains are also real and must come head-to-head with a warlord intent on conquering every land he can find.
Greystone Valley is cute and fun, but also predictable and fairly standard for this sort of story. I liked the interweaving of different fantasy elements; such as Sarah's encounters with the fey and then the dragons. It's also nice to think of a castle in some distant land that holds the gateways to all different sorts of worlds. I could definitely see this becoming a series of some sort, though it works just fine as a stand-alone.
Overall, this is a fairly enjoyable story. I think children who like fantasy will like this; it's a fast-paced and straightforward story with lots of action involved. For older readers, it may be too simple and predictable, but younger readers are sure to love exploring the world of Greystone Valley and discovering all the fantastical elements it has to offer.
This is a cute coming-of-age adventure fantasy where an imaginative little girl finds out that her daydreams may actually be based in reality. When Sarah wishes herself out of her own world, she turns up in Greystone Valley and learns that magic is real, as are fairies and dragons. However, she learns that villains are also real and must come head-to-head with a warlord intent on conquering every land he can find.
Greystone Valley is cute and fun, but also predictable and fairly standard for this sort of story. I liked the interweaving of different fantasy elements; such as Sarah's encounters with the fey and then the dragons. It's also nice to think of a castle in some distant land that holds the gateways to all different sorts of worlds. I could definitely see this becoming a series of some sort, though it works just fine as a stand-alone.
Overall, this is a fairly enjoyable story. I think children who like fantasy will like this; it's a fast-paced and straightforward story with lots of action involved. For older readers, it may be too simple and predictable, but younger readers are sure to love exploring the world of Greystone Valley and discovering all the fantastical elements it has to offer.
April 15, 2013
Greystone Valley is your standard coming of age story. A young girl with some trouble in her past escapes her problems through books and dreams, and discovers that there is more to her than even she knew. Along the way she makes friends and comes to realize that maybe the adventures she travels in her mind aren't all they're cracked up to be.
I definitely recommend this story to younger readers in the 10-13 ish range. Especially if you are looking for a way to transition into more advanced reading. The writing is simple enough to understand, the plot is easy to follow and the battle scenes are well thought out and very mild, all without being too childish. The ending sets the stage for a series of novels for our heroine to take part in, and I very much hope to see sequels sometime soon.
I definitely recommend this story to younger readers in the 10-13 ish range. Especially if you are looking for a way to transition into more advanced reading. The writing is simple enough to understand, the plot is easy to follow and the battle scenes are well thought out and very mild, all without being too childish. The ending sets the stage for a series of novels for our heroine to take part in, and I very much hope to see sequels sometime soon.
May 29, 2013
Sarah escapes reality by imagining adventures and reading her fantasy books. She doesn't want to deal with the fact that her father is gone and it's just her and her mother.
After an explosive encounter with her mother about not going to the psychiatrist anymore, she has a very realistic dream. She finds herself in the midst of a fantasy. She wakes up in a strange bed in a medieval inn. An army awaits the capture of the teen with the spell book. He is a wizard apprentice who is not very talented.
They meet a warlord, trolls, dragons, fairies, every possible creature that you would find in a fairy tale. She has the adventure she has always dreamed of, but realizes in the end that there is "no place like home."
This is story is told very well. It's fun for kids of all ages (that includes grown ups).
After an explosive encounter with her mother about not going to the psychiatrist anymore, she has a very realistic dream. She finds herself in the midst of a fantasy. She wakes up in a strange bed in a medieval inn. An army awaits the capture of the teen with the spell book. He is a wizard apprentice who is not very talented.
They meet a warlord, trolls, dragons, fairies, every possible creature that you would find in a fairy tale. She has the adventure she has always dreamed of, but realizes in the end that there is "no place like home."
This is story is told very well. It's fun for kids of all ages (that includes grown ups).
June 5, 2013
The main character, Sarah, has lost her father and has isolated herself from her friends and family with fairy tales - until she gets trapped in a story and has to find her way back.
This was a quick read and a fun story for kids that reminded me of the fantasy books I read and the movies I watched when I was a child - The Labyrinth, The Never-ending Story, Willow, Narnia. The world feels more like the land of Once Upon a Time and isn't as developed as Narnia but the Greystone Valley concept works because it carries the fairy tale theme through the entire story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This was a quick read and a fun story for kids that reminded me of the fantasy books I read and the movies I watched when I was a child - The Labyrinth, The Never-ending Story, Willow, Narnia. The world feels more like the land of Once Upon a Time and isn't as developed as Narnia but the Greystone Valley concept works because it carries the fairy tale theme through the entire story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
April 15, 2013
Greystone Valley is a wonderful story of a young girl fed up with her life and then finds out that not all dreams are illusion. She actively uses her tenacity and her willingness to fight for what's right and is justly rewarded for her efforts throughout. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for readers everywhere but especially for younger readers who love fantasy novels with magic, dragons and a few fey thrown in as well. Charlie Brooks brings us a wonderful universe in the world of Greystone.
November 23, 2014
For all the kids who finished Harry Potter, who know Chronicles of Narnia like the back of their hand, and have moved on from A Wrinkle in Time… for the ones looking for that next classic fantasy and just haven’t found it yet – It’s Greystone Valley, hands down.
Charlie Brooks has created something that can stand the test of time all alone as an individual story, but I’m still tapping my fingers on my night stand demanding a sequel (for the record).
Read my full review here: https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/...
Charlie Brooks has created something that can stand the test of time all alone as an individual story, but I’m still tapping my fingers on my night stand demanding a sequel (for the record).
Read my full review here: https://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/...
June 4, 2013
Brooks’ fantasy novel is your standard coming of age story. Greystone Valley is filled with characters: wizards, warriors, fey, trolls, humans and even a darker character filled with evil. Sarah is twelve and fed up with her life as it is but soon finds that not all dreams are what they seem.
This is a great book for readers of all ages but I would definitely recommend it to younger readers.
This is a great book for readers of all ages but I would definitely recommend it to younger readers.
October 6, 2014
Greystone Valley reads very much like a traditional fairy tale/fantasy story in the best sense, with a strong heroine and a cast of surprising but very likable support characters. There is plenty of drama and suspense here without pushing the edge -- Brooks remains respectful of his middle grade readers in this well-told fantasy adventure. Highly recommend.
May 9, 2015
This is a charming book written by Charlie Brooks. This is the first book I bought from gecko publishing and I absolutely loved it. I am hoping that there will be another book written by this author. Another must read book.
May 29, 2013
I found incredibly cute story, you could travel with the main character. I found nice and simple reading.
June 2, 2013
Very cute fantasy, but rather typical themes. Middle readers will enjoy the adventure and the main character's growth.
June 8, 2013
Sweet, fantasy story for young adults, involving youngsters, wizards and dragons! Fun, quick read on a hot day.
April 3, 2014
A cute coming of age story that reminded me of a mix of Harry Potter, Where the Wild Things Are and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Definitely a book I'd recommend to younger/preteen kids.
July 12, 2016
Very good
I enjoyed this fantasy very much and I look forward to its sequel. It is reminiscent of many classic tales (deliberately so).
I enjoyed this fantasy very much and I look forward to its sequel. It is reminiscent of many classic tales (deliberately so).
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews