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World of Light #1
Emma and the Minotaur
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the first edition of the book, now out of print. For the updated second edition see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
All stories are true.
Emma Wilkins is eleven years old and she lives on Belle Street.
In the forests of Saint Martin, a great power has awakened. Whispers abound of a monster that lurks in the darkness as more and more of the city's residents go missing. Called by the song of a tree, the diminutive Emma finds herself face to face with the colossal Minotaur. Following a narrow escape, Emma discovers that she is the only one who has any chance to stop him.
On her way to an impossible confrontation, Emma will learn that the crisis is greater than it seems, and that at stake are the fates of those she cares about the most, and that of the entire world.
All stories are true.
Emma Wilkins is eleven years old and she lives on Belle Street.
In the forests of Saint Martin, a great power has awakened. Whispers abound of a monster that lurks in the darkness as more and more of the city's residents go missing. Called by the song of a tree, the diminutive Emma finds herself face to face with the colossal Minotaur. Following a narrow escape, Emma discovers that she is the only one who has any chance to stop him.
On her way to an impossible confrontation, Emma will learn that the crisis is greater than it seems, and that at stake are the fates of those she cares about the most, and that of the entire world.
- GenresFantasy
208 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
84 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Jon Herrera
5 books50 followersBorn in El Salvador during the civil war, Jon Herrera immigrated with his family to Ontario, Canada at the age of eleven. Settling in the Niagara Region, Jon attended university, graduating with a degree in Physics and Mathematics. He has always had a keen interest in creativity in its many forms. His writing is the result of a love for fantasy and science fiction. A long time sufferer of anxiety and depression, Jon uses his perspective and experiences to ground his work. He now lives in Western Ontario with his partner and two loving cats.
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March 21, 2024
“All stories are true. But the trees and the Lord of Light were here first. He ruled over this world once, and then he left to his World of Light. Now he seeks to return. Minotaur has a mission. He is the vanguard. He comes to prepare the way. The humans who have disappeared are the first prisoners of war.”
Firstly, this cover absolutely takes my breath away. It was the first thing that drew me in. (And it seems to be ongoing, book two’s cover is gorgeous!) I also love the title. We don’t get nearly enough minotaurs in fiction. [Side note: we need more minotaurs in fiction. Where are they?? Thank you to the author for bringing these much forgotten magical characters back into fiction!] So I dove right into this excited for the magic and adventures!
A deer and a nightmare, she thought, were more likely than a man with horns.
I don’t read too many stories with young MCs (I think the last one I read was City of Ghosts), but I’m glad I picked this one up! Herrera’s writing is crisp and smooth. Stories like Emma and the Minotaur remind me of the tales I read growing up. And Emma’s adventures brought to mind Lucy Pevensie from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Like Lucy, Emma’s new world involves unicorns and minotaurs, assorted animals with personalities and a long awaited girl needed to save them all from certain doom.
Something I also really appreciated was Herrera’s dialogue and humour:
“So I’m supposed to stop a giant monster and save the world just because a tree told you so?”
Domino nodded.
“That doesn’t seem right at all,” Emma said.
Hehehe. Bless Emma. I don’t want to give away the plot, or the twists, but for those who like fantastical tales, animals galore and kids-saving-the-world, definitely give this one a chance! It’s the type of book that’s perfect for a cosy weekend of reading.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
Firstly, this cover absolutely takes my breath away. It was the first thing that drew me in. (And it seems to be ongoing, book two’s cover is gorgeous!) I also love the title. We don’t get nearly enough minotaurs in fiction. [Side note: we need more minotaurs in fiction. Where are they?? Thank you to the author for bringing these much forgotten magical characters back into fiction!] So I dove right into this excited for the magic and adventures!
A deer and a nightmare, she thought, were more likely than a man with horns.
I don’t read too many stories with young MCs (I think the last one I read was City of Ghosts), but I’m glad I picked this one up! Herrera’s writing is crisp and smooth. Stories like Emma and the Minotaur remind me of the tales I read growing up. And Emma’s adventures brought to mind Lucy Pevensie from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Like Lucy, Emma’s new world involves unicorns and minotaurs, assorted animals with personalities and a long awaited girl needed to save them all from certain doom.
Something I also really appreciated was Herrera’s dialogue and humour:
“So I’m supposed to stop a giant monster and save the world just because a tree told you so?”
Domino nodded.
“That doesn’t seem right at all,” Emma said.
Hehehe. Bless Emma. I don’t want to give away the plot, or the twists, but for those who like fantastical tales, animals galore and kids-saving-the-world, definitely give this one a chance! It’s the type of book that’s perfect for a cosy weekend of reading.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
February 21, 2022
I hadn't read fantasy since I was 14, but something about the cover of this book made me curious. I also heard great things about it on social media, so I gave it a go. I was not disappointed. I loved the detailed descriptions, the characters, and the pace of the story. I admit I feel like I have "outgrown" fantasy in general, so the fact that the author was capable of getting me back into it is something I really appreciate.
I look forward to more from Jon Herrera and will definitely be checking out the rest of the series!
I look forward to more from Jon Herrera and will definitely be checking out the rest of the series!
June 24, 2020
This book was an interesting start on what promises to a rich world filled with fantastical creatures and song inspired magic. A young girl with the determination and bravery to take on the mystery of missing people in her town makes for a very charming story. Looking forward to the next one.
September 6, 2021
Emma and the minotaur was a nice story, perfect for children and maybe for a dreamer adult too. This story is about Emma, a little girl who is a dreamer and a very friendly face. She tries to make friends with the quiet boy in her class, but it may take a bit more effort on her part. When they do start a friendship and Emma founds out that the boy's father went missing, she promises to help find him...but this will unveil a complicated path for this little hero.
It was a nice book, with plenty of action and cute, funny moments but also seriousness. Emma is a kid who you will love, she was fun, a dreamer and very concentrated on what she wanted to achieve.
The story lacked a bit in the past department, as we are introduced in the last part of the book to a fantasy world, with no clear background.
It was a nice book, with plenty of action and cute, funny moments but also seriousness. Emma is a kid who you will love, she was fun, a dreamer and very concentrated on what she wanted to achieve.
The story lacked a bit in the past department, as we are introduced in the last part of the book to a fantasy world, with no clear background.
January 17, 2021
Looking forward to what Emma and Will get into in the next book.
September 4, 2020
Emma Wilkins is an ordinary 11 year old girl just starting middle school (year 5), who meets Jake on the first day of school and they end up firm friends. People in her town are disappearing, being lead into the forest by a mysterious singing. Jake's father has disappeared into the forest and Emma offers to help him find him. Emma can hear the singing of the forest too and discovers that only she can save the world.
I love Emma as a character. She is kind, thoughtful and smart. She loves her family and has an open, trusting relationship with her dad. Most importantly she is written well. She's 11 and she thinks and behaves exactly as an 11 girl would. She gets upset when her teachers is mean, cries when her dad yells at her and just wants to make friends on the first day of school. Emma is really believable and relatable as a character.
I am intrigued/ confused about why Emma is chosen to save the world - the explanation given is that the forest sung the day she was born and that her mother died when she was young - but I think there has to be more than that - later in the book she is referred to as the 'Princess of Light'. I think her dad knows more than he's telling. I'm interested to see how this unfolds in the next book.
I found that the dad being called 'William' and the son 'Will' a little confusing at times - I know it's common to name your son after you but it made it a little hard to know who was in each scene sometimes.
5 uses of the word 'undulating' in a 150 page book is too many - sorry I hate that word :/
And the repetition of 'Please call me Vicky' - instead of Victoria - was a bit much I feel like there was a point but I missed it - maybe Emma is just a really polite child?
I loved how the author is playing with the 'super special snowflake' idea. He does this in a number of ways, firstly, Emma is quite young, she is only 11. Secondly Emma tells her dad everything and constantly has the support of her family and friends. So many save the world type stories have the protagonist going it alone and being all arrogant about it. ugh
Thirdly Emma is constantly aware that she is a kid and has no idea what to do and how to save the world. "I don't think I understand anything. ... I'm supposed to stop someone from taking over the world? Me? But how?"
"What can I do? I don't even know where to start. How can I do any of these things? I'm just a kid why is everyone telling me all these things about being the only one that can stop him? I don't understand" Finally a normal reaction to being told you have to save the whole world!
I really enjoyed the magic in the story, the singing of the forest and the two trees with portals.
The Minotaur was a really interesting and unique choice for the evil character. Emma ability to listen to animals was cool, I liked how each animal had a unique voice especially the cat - so very cat like.
The mix of biblical elements was engaging - the two trees - of knowledge and of life - and the Lord of Light/ Queen of Darkness ideas - I'm keen to see how this follows though in the next book.
The mouse count down watch that Emma was is a cool element (- reminded me of a creepy clown story I heard as a child. )
I really enjoyed this story. It had a lot of really unique elements and well written believable characters. I look forward to the next book. It's an excellent introduction into the fantasy genre for young readers. I would recommend for 9-15 year olds.
I received a review copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review
I love Emma as a character. She is kind, thoughtful and smart. She loves her family and has an open, trusting relationship with her dad. Most importantly she is written well. She's 11 and she thinks and behaves exactly as an 11 girl would. She gets upset when her teachers is mean, cries when her dad yells at her and just wants to make friends on the first day of school. Emma is really believable and relatable as a character.
I am intrigued/ confused about why Emma is chosen to save the world - the explanation given is that the forest sung the day she was born and that her mother died when she was young - but I think there has to be more than that - later in the book she is referred to as the 'Princess of Light'. I think her dad knows more than he's telling. I'm interested to see how this unfolds in the next book.
I found that the dad being called 'William' and the son 'Will' a little confusing at times - I know it's common to name your son after you but it made it a little hard to know who was in each scene sometimes.
5 uses of the word 'undulating' in a 150 page book is too many - sorry I hate that word :/
And the repetition of 'Please call me Vicky' - instead of Victoria - was a bit much I feel like there was a point but I missed it - maybe Emma is just a really polite child?
I loved how the author is playing with the 'super special snowflake' idea. He does this in a number of ways, firstly, Emma is quite young, she is only 11. Secondly Emma tells her dad everything and constantly has the support of her family and friends. So many save the world type stories have the protagonist going it alone and being all arrogant about it. ugh
Thirdly Emma is constantly aware that she is a kid and has no idea what to do and how to save the world. "I don't think I understand anything. ... I'm supposed to stop someone from taking over the world? Me? But how?"
"What can I do? I don't even know where to start. How can I do any of these things? I'm just a kid why is everyone telling me all these things about being the only one that can stop him? I don't understand" Finally a normal reaction to being told you have to save the whole world!
I really enjoyed the magic in the story, the singing of the forest and the two trees with portals.
The Minotaur was a really interesting and unique choice for the evil character. Emma ability to listen to animals was cool, I liked how each animal had a unique voice especially the cat - so very cat like.
The mix of biblical elements was engaging - the two trees - of knowledge and of life - and the Lord of Light/ Queen of Darkness ideas - I'm keen to see how this follows though in the next book.
The mouse count down watch that Emma was is a cool element (- reminded me of a creepy clown story I heard as a child. )
I really enjoyed this story. It had a lot of really unique elements and well written believable characters. I look forward to the next book. It's an excellent introduction into the fantasy genre for young readers. I would recommend for 9-15 year olds.
I received a review copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2021
I have to admit I was originally interested in this book because my daughters name is Emma. Aside from that I have a love of mythical creatures. Centaurs and unicorns are my favorite. The minotaur have always seemed menacing and boy is he in this book. I did not realize I had chosen a young adult novel but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series.
Emma is an 11 year old little girl, (my daughter turns 11 this year) and she's fairly ordinary. She lives at home with her dad and brother. One day at school she sees a boy she thinks is a wizard because he seems to disappear. She follows him and they become friends when he tells her his father went missing after being in the local woods. Soon others from the town are missing and strange creatures start to immerge. (I wont give too much else lest I spoil things.)
A young, fierce and brave girl, can Emma save the people and find her purpose before its too late?
I wasn't sure what to expect when I came across this book. I literally could not put it down. The pacing is wonderful and it is definitely a page turner. I also did not realize that its a series and it kind of ends on a cliff hanger and I am very anxious to see what happens in the next book. I will absolutely be looking to pick up the next book and look forward to the third book due out this year.
Emma is an 11 year old little girl, (my daughter turns 11 this year) and she's fairly ordinary. She lives at home with her dad and brother. One day at school she sees a boy she thinks is a wizard because he seems to disappear. She follows him and they become friends when he tells her his father went missing after being in the local woods. Soon others from the town are missing and strange creatures start to immerge. (I wont give too much else lest I spoil things.)
A young, fierce and brave girl, can Emma save the people and find her purpose before its too late?
I wasn't sure what to expect when I came across this book. I literally could not put it down. The pacing is wonderful and it is definitely a page turner. I also did not realize that its a series and it kind of ends on a cliff hanger and I am very anxious to see what happens in the next book. I will absolutely be looking to pick up the next book and look forward to the third book due out this year.
February 16, 2021
This book reminded me so much of those childhood favorites - where young people have an openness and innocence which makes it possible for them to save the world. This is an Urban Contemporary Fantasy, where the real world exists side by side with the fantastical and the author carries it off with a light, deft hand.
The college town is experiencing some strange disappearances while a mysterious figure in the forest seems to be watching our 11 year old heroine and her family. Emma has a destiny and though a child, she will be asked to fulfill it.
The first section where Emma tries to figure out if a new kid at the school is a wizard is pure kid-magic. Emma's personality, her care for others, and her off-center intelligence shines through.
I loved the Jackalopes and when the Unicorn shows up it's a laugh out loud moment. The first chapter is a bit disorganized but stick with it and it quickly falls into place. There is a single dad and an older brother which composes Emma's' loving and supportive family which is unusual in fantasy stores.
Be aware there is a bit of scary violence at the end which may be too much for the very young reader who might worry about the outcome.
First in a series. Enjoyable read for the old and young alike.
The college town is experiencing some strange disappearances while a mysterious figure in the forest seems to be watching our 11 year old heroine and her family. Emma has a destiny and though a child, she will be asked to fulfill it.
The first section where Emma tries to figure out if a new kid at the school is a wizard is pure kid-magic. Emma's personality, her care for others, and her off-center intelligence shines through.
I loved the Jackalopes and when the Unicorn shows up it's a laugh out loud moment. The first chapter is a bit disorganized but stick with it and it quickly falls into place. There is a single dad and an older brother which composes Emma's' loving and supportive family which is unusual in fantasy stores.
Be aware there is a bit of scary violence at the end which may be too much for the very young reader who might worry about the outcome.
First in a series. Enjoyable read for the old and young alike.
August 23, 2020
I love the characters!
Emma’s weird and childish antics,
Jake’s sass and the way he breaks after loosing everything.
Minotaur’s presence and badassery as well as his cockiness before the last fight and how he gets (SPOILER) completely dominated, poor guy XD (SPOILER) but very good villain, the only thing he lacks are some motivation to flesh him out a bit, i was disappointed that the lord of light got a backstory in the minotaur’s book instead of the minotaur himself, we had plenty of time for the lord of light and the minotaur backstory could start to flesh out the lord of light himself.
Titanius being so carefree and confident..
AND of course Sprinkles being a cat
Will just feel like he’s there but he’s a good bro and i always like the main character’s brothers..
Will we see more of minotaur? Being punished for failing? Meeting emma again? Seeking revenge? Trying to get his lord’s approval again or maybe just mercy?
Emma’s weird and childish antics,
Jake’s sass and the way he breaks after loosing everything.
Minotaur’s presence and badassery as well as his cockiness before the last fight and how he gets (SPOILER) completely dominated, poor guy XD (SPOILER) but very good villain, the only thing he lacks are some motivation to flesh him out a bit, i was disappointed that the lord of light got a backstory in the minotaur’s book instead of the minotaur himself, we had plenty of time for the lord of light and the minotaur backstory could start to flesh out the lord of light himself.
Titanius being so carefree and confident..
AND of course Sprinkles being a cat
Will just feel like he’s there but he’s a good bro and i always like the main character’s brothers..
Will we see more of minotaur? Being punished for failing? Meeting emma again? Seeking revenge? Trying to get his lord’s approval again or maybe just mercy?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
I received this in a GoodReads Giveaway.
Emma and the Minotaur is a fun fantasy adventure of a young girl who finds out she has to be the heroine of her own story to save the people she loves in her town. Her world suddenly becomes filled with all types of mythical creatures, including a minotaur set on destroying everything she knows.
This is apparently the first in a series, so it does leave you with some unanswered questions. If you are a fan of middle grade fantasy then you will probably like this book.
Emma and the Minotaur is a fun fantasy adventure of a young girl who finds out she has to be the heroine of her own story to save the people she loves in her town. Her world suddenly becomes filled with all types of mythical creatures, including a minotaur set on destroying everything she knows.
This is apparently the first in a series, so it does leave you with some unanswered questions. If you are a fan of middle grade fantasy then you will probably like this book.
September 8, 2020
Emma is an 11 year old girl that makes friends with a boy named Jake from school. Jake's dad is one of the people that has disappeared from their town. Emma decides to help Jake to find his father and the others. She soon finds that finding the lost people is only part of what she needs to do. She now is on a mission to save the world from a dark creature.
February 15, 2021
Wow - I loved this book! There was great pacing, a good mix of action and thought. I enjoyed the origin story, and how the music/light are the heart of communication. I really liked Emma, although I think her character is too young. Book 1 is a complete story, so there is no need to read the next book. However I think I will so I can see what Emma does next.
February 17, 2021
This is a fairly complex fantasy that is aimed at a tween-age reader. It's very imaginative, has an impressive young girl heroine and lots of adventure. The ending leaves a number of interesting tidbits about the next part of the story. If this is your genre, you'll probably like this exciting read.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
March 13, 2021
Interesting concept. Would have liked more explanation and depth in certain areas but am interested to see if Herrera may just have been leaving a trail of crumbs to the cookie that lives in the second book. Super creative and kept me surprised with each twist. Some scenes with the principal boggled my mind. Made me question which things were real versus character hallucinations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2022
I read Emma and the Minotaur by Jon Herrera with my three daughters, ages 11-13. We read the book aloud together, a little bit each night. They will write their own review, but these are my thoughts.
First, I love how original this book is. That’s not to say that it doesn’t contain elements of beloved fantasy stories we’ve come to love and celebrate, especially those that create nostalgia in adults (thank you for the nods to Tolkien, by the way!). But there are so many other factors that set this story apart from those tales. One of the first things I noticed was how much I suspended my disbelief while reading Emma and the Minotaur. This is an essential quality in a good fantasy book. For example, Emma’s home and school life feels very real to me, complete with a frustrating teacher and a distracted (and overprotective) father. The daily existence of this family was relatable. At first, the mysterious happenings pull the reader away from this slice-of-life feeling, but I quickly resigned myself that this was the point (I enjoyed the moments at home and school equally to the more exciting moments).
Second, Emma is an extremely likeable kid. She is off beat and brave, qualities that make her the perfect heroine. I enjoyed how she came into her power slowly and it never felt easy or over the top.
Third, the mystical creatures, the strange town happenings, and the supporting characters, all combined to pull me into this intriguing tale. It is satisfyingly unique. I look forward to checking out the next instalment with my girls.
First, I love how original this book is. That’s not to say that it doesn’t contain elements of beloved fantasy stories we’ve come to love and celebrate, especially those that create nostalgia in adults (thank you for the nods to Tolkien, by the way!). But there are so many other factors that set this story apart from those tales. One of the first things I noticed was how much I suspended my disbelief while reading Emma and the Minotaur. This is an essential quality in a good fantasy book. For example, Emma’s home and school life feels very real to me, complete with a frustrating teacher and a distracted (and overprotective) father. The daily existence of this family was relatable. At first, the mysterious happenings pull the reader away from this slice-of-life feeling, but I quickly resigned myself that this was the point (I enjoyed the moments at home and school equally to the more exciting moments).
Second, Emma is an extremely likeable kid. She is off beat and brave, qualities that make her the perfect heroine. I enjoyed how she came into her power slowly and it never felt easy or over the top.
Third, the mystical creatures, the strange town happenings, and the supporting characters, all combined to pull me into this intriguing tale. It is satisfyingly unique. I look forward to checking out the next instalment with my girls.
November 10, 2024
I really enjoyed Emma and the Minotaur. This is the sort of book that I think people from all ages can enjoy.
Initially I was worried this book might fall flat for me since I’m not the middle grade audience I think it was aimed at but I was so wrong. I loved everything about this book from the characters to the plot to the message.
This is a great fantasy story and I look forward to reading more by this author.
Initially I was worried this book might fall flat for me since I’m not the middle grade audience I think it was aimed at but I was so wrong. I loved everything about this book from the characters to the plot to the message.
This is a great fantasy story and I look forward to reading more by this author.
August 7, 2021
⚠️ WARNING! This review may contain spoilers, read at your own risk. I also cuss a lot. I am not a professional reviewer. I just enjoy reading books and sharing my thoughts about them.
Let me start by saying that I was originally intrigued by this book for two reasons: because I follow the author on IG and because of the beautiful cover. Then I read the description and I was quite fascinated about the story he had spun. I LOVE the cover and the material it's made of, though I'm not sure what it is. The only thing is that oily fingers can easily mar it, but they usually wipe away, thankfully! I almost decided to read this with gloves to preserve the cover haha But what is a book without proof that someone has read it?
It surprised me when the dad knew about Domino. When he first appeared, I couldn't help wondering if he was the bad guy, if he was the minotaur or if he was something else entirely.
My least favorite character is easily the teacher. She was a total bitch to Emma for no reason. She acts like Emma is this terrible child and she hasn't even done anything that bad. I was glad when she got taken, not even gonna lie. I wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to be with the Lord of Light. What a terrible teacher.
I almost lost it when Dory told Emma that Clarence didn't exist. We both believed her and then she was like, "ha gotcha bitch" and I wanted to scream 🤣 Speaking of Clarence, I was totally suspicious of him. He clearly knew something from the moment he appeared, but I'm glad he ended up being a good guy. When he ended up being a wizard, I literally exclaimed, "Oh my god!" out loud haha
I'm still very curious about that damn watch. Was it counting down to the invasion? To the end of the world? To what?? I hope this is explained in the later books because it's gonna bug the hell out of me. Or maybe it was explained in a subtle way and I'm just stupid. Very likely.
I can't express how much happiness and warmth I felt when Will joined Emma 😭 Since I only have very bad memories with my "brothers" it always warms my heart when I read stories where the older brother is actually kind and loving to his siblings. Will is such a good character, though he didn't get many chances to shine. I really hope he gets a bigger role in the later books.
When it came to Emma, she actually isn't a bad character, but I hated how honest she was. She would literally sit there and tell people her whole ass plan even AFTER being ratted out by that same person before. I wanted to rip my hair out each time. Like, girl, just stop. Her dislike of pickles is hella amusing to me, though, and this will forever be my favorite line:
[She really did not want to get walloped by an unusually large pickle, or a pickle of any size, really.]
I snorted a bit too hard at that line 🤣
Not much is explained about why Emma is the chosen one, but I suspect that will be revealed in one of the following volumes. I also suspect that William isn't her real dad and that she is the Lord of the Light's true daughter, but the only thing I have as evidence is how she is referred to as the "Princess of Light" in the later parts of the book. Only time will tell if my prediction is true or not 👀)
Overall, this was a good read and a unique take on the fantasy genre. I haven't experienced any fantasy quite like this one, so bonus points for that! ✌😁
Let me start by saying that I was originally intrigued by this book for two reasons: because I follow the author on IG and because of the beautiful cover. Then I read the description and I was quite fascinated about the story he had spun. I LOVE the cover and the material it's made of, though I'm not sure what it is. The only thing is that oily fingers can easily mar it, but they usually wipe away, thankfully! I almost decided to read this with gloves to preserve the cover haha But what is a book without proof that someone has read it?
It surprised me when the dad knew about Domino. When he first appeared, I couldn't help wondering if he was the bad guy, if he was the minotaur or if he was something else entirely.
My least favorite character is easily the teacher. She was a total bitch to Emma for no reason. She acts like Emma is this terrible child and she hasn't even done anything that bad. I was glad when she got taken, not even gonna lie. I wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to be with the Lord of Light. What a terrible teacher.
I almost lost it when Dory told Emma that Clarence didn't exist. We both believed her and then she was like, "ha gotcha bitch" and I wanted to scream 🤣 Speaking of Clarence, I was totally suspicious of him. He clearly knew something from the moment he appeared, but I'm glad he ended up being a good guy. When he ended up being a wizard, I literally exclaimed, "Oh my god!" out loud haha
I'm still very curious about that damn watch. Was it counting down to the invasion? To the end of the world? To what?? I hope this is explained in the later books because it's gonna bug the hell out of me. Or maybe it was explained in a subtle way and I'm just stupid. Very likely.
I can't express how much happiness and warmth I felt when Will joined Emma 😭 Since I only have very bad memories with my "brothers" it always warms my heart when I read stories where the older brother is actually kind and loving to his siblings. Will is such a good character, though he didn't get many chances to shine. I really hope he gets a bigger role in the later books.
When it came to Emma, she actually isn't a bad character, but I hated how honest she was. She would literally sit there and tell people her whole ass plan even AFTER being ratted out by that same person before. I wanted to rip my hair out each time. Like, girl, just stop. Her dislike of pickles is hella amusing to me, though, and this will forever be my favorite line:
[She really did not want to get walloped by an unusually large pickle, or a pickle of any size, really.]
I snorted a bit too hard at that line 🤣
Not much is explained about why Emma is the chosen one, but I suspect that will be revealed in one of the following volumes. I also suspect that William isn't her real dad and that she is the Lord of the Light's true daughter, but the only thing I have as evidence is how she is referred to as the "Princess of Light" in the later parts of the book. Only time will tell if my prediction is true or not 👀)
Overall, this was a good read and a unique take on the fantasy genre. I haven't experienced any fantasy quite like this one, so bonus points for that! ✌😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2021
A magical tale
This is such an interesting book. Is it a children's book, or a book for adults told in an easy to read manner? The tale of Emma, her friend Jake and Mr Jingles grows in assuredness as the story goes forward. Jon's writing seem to become stronger as the story develops and the magic grows. What starts as a story about missing persons, develops into another world built delicately to tease the reader about future volumes. I don't want to give any spoilers away, suffice it to say it has mythical elements from Narnia as well as the trees of Middle Earth. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to the sequel. Bravo.
This is such an interesting book. Is it a children's book, or a book for adults told in an easy to read manner? The tale of Emma, her friend Jake and Mr Jingles grows in assuredness as the story goes forward. Jon's writing seem to become stronger as the story develops and the magic grows. What starts as a story about missing persons, develops into another world built delicately to tease the reader about future volumes. I don't want to give any spoilers away, suffice it to say it has mythical elements from Narnia as well as the trees of Middle Earth. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to the sequel. Bravo.
December 31, 2021
I normally don't read books targeted to this age group, but the author's snippets on Twitter drew me in. It did not disappoint. I absolutely devoured this book in just over a day. It’s well-written, imaginative, and enchanting, with touches of humour and plenty of wonder. Upon finishing it, I immediately bought the sequel (after cursing my Kindle for freezing during the process and delaying my excitement) and I look forward to beginning it tonight. If you have young readers in your life, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Heck, even if you don't, I recommend that you read it! I want to see it on screen, that's how much I loved it. It's filled with an enchanting sense of childhood innocence and wonder. Reading it reminded me of those days and wrapped me in its comforting warmth.
December 8, 2022
This was an entertaining read. I enjoyed the mix of folk lore, beasts of myth and legend and the contemporary setting. Although Emma, the protagonist, is only eleven years old, this book would appeal to readers of any age who enjoy fantasy. The plot gathered pace and became darker as it developed and there were always little surprises such us Mr Clarence. I don’t want to give too much away, but this book ends with the next one set up beautifully. I received a complimentary book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
July 9, 2023
Recently I found some horror books by authors I never heard of before. And they were so good. I loved them, except for the fact that they had incredibly dark endings. Especially the second one. Yikes! It was a real bummer. So I wanted something light-hearted and sweet and possibly with a little bit of whimsy thrown in. So I thought I would try this book Emma and the Minotaur. It has been compared to Narnia and Percy Jackson, and it seemed like the pallet cleanser I needed. So here is my review of Emma and The Minotaur by Jon Herrera.
So what is it about? It follows a precocious eleven-year-old. She’s quirky, has an overactive imagination and befriends a boy named Jake, because she thinks he might be a wizard. But he is a not wizard. He’s a poor lonely boy who is sad because his father has vanished. In fact, his father is one of many townsfolk who are vanishing and all clues to this mystery lead to the forest. A forest that Emma is forbidden to go into. But despite that, the children unravel the mystery. And it involves mythical creatures, a ferocious Minotaur and magic.
So the good and bad. Let’s start with the good. The writing style, pacing, and characters are very similar to CS Lewis’s methods for the Narnia series. It is so darn charming and packed with whimsy that it is just downright adorable all the time. Even before anything magical happens, Emma is a joy to be around because of the writing style. The characters are great. And the tale itself is sweet. No. It’s not ground breaking. It has no big twists and turns. But it’s executed very well. And since this book is for children, I found it impressive that for me, as an adult, I found some joy in this. Also, I'm sure kids will enjoy this.
The bad? I felt the ending, or I should say the final third, was a bit rushed. The pace quickened dramatically in the last part, and it felt a little off. There are also some unanswered questions. But those may be intentional, to be an answered in the sequels. Also, there are two characters I kept getting mixed up. There is her father William and her older brother Will. Because one name is short for the other, I thought they were the same character for a while.
Overall, this book is absolutely adorable. Is it for everyone? Of course not. Kids will love it. And if you're an adult who has fond memories of the Narnia tales, you’ll find some joy in it too. But everyone else, this probably is not for you. But for the kids and those young at heart, this is a sweet nature must read.
Overall Rating: An Adorable Old School Children’s Adventure for the Young and Young at Heart.
So what is it about? It follows a precocious eleven-year-old. She’s quirky, has an overactive imagination and befriends a boy named Jake, because she thinks he might be a wizard. But he is a not wizard. He’s a poor lonely boy who is sad because his father has vanished. In fact, his father is one of many townsfolk who are vanishing and all clues to this mystery lead to the forest. A forest that Emma is forbidden to go into. But despite that, the children unravel the mystery. And it involves mythical creatures, a ferocious Minotaur and magic.
So the good and bad. Let’s start with the good. The writing style, pacing, and characters are very similar to CS Lewis’s methods for the Narnia series. It is so darn charming and packed with whimsy that it is just downright adorable all the time. Even before anything magical happens, Emma is a joy to be around because of the writing style. The characters are great. And the tale itself is sweet. No. It’s not ground breaking. It has no big twists and turns. But it’s executed very well. And since this book is for children, I found it impressive that for me, as an adult, I found some joy in this. Also, I'm sure kids will enjoy this.
The bad? I felt the ending, or I should say the final third, was a bit rushed. The pace quickened dramatically in the last part, and it felt a little off. There are also some unanswered questions. But those may be intentional, to be an answered in the sequels. Also, there are two characters I kept getting mixed up. There is her father William and her older brother Will. Because one name is short for the other, I thought they were the same character for a while.
Overall, this book is absolutely adorable. Is it for everyone? Of course not. Kids will love it. And if you're an adult who has fond memories of the Narnia tales, you’ll find some joy in it too. But everyone else, this probably is not for you. But for the kids and those young at heart, this is a sweet nature must read.
Overall Rating: An Adorable Old School Children’s Adventure for the Young and Young at Heart.
November 12, 2021
The first installment in Jon Herrera's World of Light series, Emma and the Minotaur takes readers on a magical, fantastical journey. The main character, Emma Wilkins, is an eleven-year-old girl who lives on Belle Street with her father and brother, where her days are filled with going to school and interacting with her teachers and classmates.
She makes friends with a boy whose father has disappeared and her town’s mysterious forest becomes of interest as the two begin searching for him. With her youthful innocence, loyalty to others, and determined spirit, Emma is an easy character to love. I was intrigued by her adventure, the secrets she uncovered, and the mystical creatures she met along the way. The book ends on a cliffhanger with the reader wanting to know more.
This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the wonderful cover art. It is truly beautiful, with the cover of each subsequent book in the series even lovelier than the previous.
Although I enjoyed this book as an adult, I would have loved to have read it with my daughter when she was younger. I highly recommend this book for adults and young people alike.
She makes friends with a boy whose father has disappeared and her town’s mysterious forest becomes of interest as the two begin searching for him. With her youthful innocence, loyalty to others, and determined spirit, Emma is an easy character to love. I was intrigued by her adventure, the secrets she uncovered, and the mystical creatures she met along the way. The book ends on a cliffhanger with the reader wanting to know more.
This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the wonderful cover art. It is truly beautiful, with the cover of each subsequent book in the series even lovelier than the previous.
Although I enjoyed this book as an adult, I would have loved to have read it with my daughter when she was younger. I highly recommend this book for adults and young people alike.
November 22, 2021
An excellent and exciting adventure! It's fantasy meets real world that was a lot of fun and gripping to the end. Lots of interesting characters that were also believable.
December 17, 2020
I enjoyed reading Emma and the Minotaur by John Herrera, it was full of vivid colours and drama. He created a piece of work that was fun to read and had me wondering where it was going to end up. It was full of twists and turns, with a surprising ending.
It is full of monsters and magic, a few secrets that have to be discovered along with some cute and cuddly critters that you just have to meet. It has friendship and loyalty, and a family who will do whatever need to be done to help each other, even if it is difficult and frightening.
I believe this book would be enjoyed by tweens through to young teens. Who wouldn't want to read about a fairly average 11 year old who has the adventure of a lifetime. Doesn't every young girl (and some old ones) dream of becoming a princess and saving the world?
Great read! I am interested in reading the next book to find out what amazing things she can do.
It is full of monsters and magic, a few secrets that have to be discovered along with some cute and cuddly critters that you just have to meet. It has friendship and loyalty, and a family who will do whatever need to be done to help each other, even if it is difficult and frightening.
I believe this book would be enjoyed by tweens through to young teens. Who wouldn't want to read about a fairly average 11 year old who has the adventure of a lifetime. Doesn't every young girl (and some old ones) dream of becoming a princess and saving the world?
Great read! I am interested in reading the next book to find out what amazing things she can do.
September 23, 2021
This is a charming and powerful story, elegantly told. Emma is a wonderful main character - a nice blend of fierce determination and pure belief that the world can be changed by helping people. This book is saturated with love - love that the characters feel for each other, and for animals and the natural world. For that reason, it is a book about hope, and the power of compassion. There are moments of pure joy, such as the appearance of Titanius at the moment when adult-doubt has peaked, and the creation of the jackalope hat, to keep Mr Jingles' identity a secret. A beautiful book, and a strong argument for shelving our cynicism.
June 21, 2020
In a world of magical trees that hold portals to other worlds and creatures of our wildest childhood fantasies, Emma, a brave and headstrong girl will stop at nothing to find her friend Jake’s father and the other missing people and save the world from a dark creature. The writing was clean, easy to follow, and poetic in places throughout the story, which invites you into this mythical land and reminds you what the world looks like through a child’s eye.
October 26, 2020
I loved the start of this book. Emma is such an interesting and persevering character. She's at that point in her childhood where she starts/ learns to make friends but still believes anything magical. The story then becomes more fantastical and slightly abstract - even a touch of Pan's labyrinth. Great for young readers. Thanks to Voracious Readers Only for my complimentary copy.
July 15, 2022
This charming, fantastical story has all the vibes of the Chronicles Of Narnia and is a tale for both the young and the young at heart. I truly loved the beautiful writing and the slow world building as well as the honest character of Emma and the magical creatures. I would highly recommend this book, well done Jon Herrera!
April 11, 2022
Emma and the Minotaur (World of Light) is a very pleasant read! I know of many youngsters who are going to enjoy this book and will be able to relate to the main character, Emma, who is special but doesn't know just how special she really is! It pays to embrace your differences!
January 18, 2021
Interesting
This was a very different story.
I'm still not sure how to describe it. It certainly was different, a little confusing to me.
This was a very different story.
I'm still not sure how to describe it. It certainly was different, a little confusing to me.
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