Twelve year old Megan Donnelly, devastated by the loss of her mother, receives a mysterious package to be opened on her thirteenth birthday. Inside the package, she finds an ancient -looking, leather-bound journal. Fascinated, Megan begins to read the secret journal about a mysterious young girl named Delphi Altair and her only friend, Donovan Ryan. Soon, Megan is swept up in a fantastical adventure that takes her to another place and time where dragons, wizards, sorcerers, and strange menacing creatures inhabit a place far, far away. Soon, Megan realizes that the magical adventure within the secret journal is becoming frighteningly real.
Simply put: this young adult novel is beautifully done and should be picked up by any fan of epic fantasy stories. I am very impressed by Dowdall's ability to weave together so many characters and story-lines into a cohesive whole (it reminded me of the way Dickens and Tolkien are so deftly able to do this). The story takes place mostly in three settings: in a briny, seaside town sometime in the past, in a beautifully evocative land called Janji, and then in a familiar-seeming town sometime in the present day (where McDonald's and Diet coke and movies exist). Whether Dowdall is evoking an otherly world (filled with magical creatures, such as Snagettes and Tittlecrests) or an earthly one (with clam chowder boiling on the stove and nasty schoolteachers pounding paddles on their desks), her scenes are drawn with such detail that they will pull you in, time and time again. I really can't recommend this book enough. Try it! You'll be hooked and waiting for the next one.
Whether evoking mythical creatures from Janji or winsome earthly inhabitants, the majestic scenes are drawn with such memorable details that it will capture your imagination and whisk you away by land, by sea and to a far away realm that we sometimes conjure in our dreams. The author weaves together, seamlessly, three vivid settings: a briny seaside town sometime in the past, a far away land called Janji and a typical small town in the present day. Her ability to weave together diverse characters in different time-periods and story-lines into a cohesive whole, is reminiscent of Dickens and Tolkien. I highly recommend Delphi Altair’s out-of-this-world, breathtaking adventure to readers of all ages.
Dowdall deftly weaves science fiction and fantasy in her debut novel where creatures and characters abound. I particularly enjoyed the lush and vivid settings of both the little sea town and the majestic (and at times bizarre) planet, Janji. Reminiscent to The Neverending Story and The Princess Bride, here is a middle grade adventure that will entertain and leave you with chills.