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Palace Library #2
Guardians of the Scroll
Thrown back in time by The Palace Library, three children must protect a dangerous and magical manuscript. Only the power of The Scroll can control the savage creatures of The Nether World. Harry, Eleanor and Grace must battle monsters and face fire to wrestle The Scroll from the cruel grasp of Caesar and Cleopatra. At the moment of victory, a new evil emerges to steal it away. Captured, with the Library of Alexandria burning all around them, how can they escape?
- GenresMiddle Grade
208 pages, Hardcover
Published November 6, 2015
About the author
Steven Loveridge
2 books1 followerSteven Loveridge is the author of The Palace Library, first in a series of children's books for 8-12 year olds about three children who discover a hidden library full of magical books.
Steven is 43 and lives in Dorset in England with his wife and their young children, a cocker spaniel called Bella, two ponies, a horse and four chickens called Rihanna, Crunchy, Treacle and Pippin.
Steven read history at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He still believes that all libraries have magical books in them somewhere.
You can learn more about his books at The Palace Library
Steven is 43 and lives in Dorset in England with his wife and their young children, a cocker spaniel called Bella, two ponies, a horse and four chickens called Rihanna, Crunchy, Treacle and Pippin.
Steven read history at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He still believes that all libraries have magical books in them somewhere.
You can learn more about his books at The Palace Library
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 4, 2016
If you needed an example on how to capture someone's attention from the very beginning of a story and keep it to the very last word on the very last page, this book would be the one you should read.
I'll often complain that books are too emotionless, or that the emotions feel forced and unrelateable. In this book, the author doesn't even attempt to include certain emotions or spark mushy sentiments. Instead, it's a refreshing change to hard, tough, practical emotions in the midst of a lot of chaos and desperation. We don't mess around with romance, and we don't read sappy scenes that show the characters discussing with long speeches how much they care about each other. That's still there, but it's shown, not just explained to the reader. It's shown in how the characters stick together, stand up for each other, and would do anything for each other. The relationships between characters are fantastic and convincing, as are the motives of each individual, and all of the characters were well-rounded and easy to get attached to.
I very much appreciated the strength in the book. I'm an advocate of young people being able to do amazing things, being mature and capable, and this book certainly makes its young characters act exactly like that. I had no doubts as to their capability, and I certainly didn't find it ridiculous that they were doing what they were doing. They stood up for themselves and made their abilities known so that no one could pick on them for being unrealistic.
In the beginning of the book, we get right into some action through a dream Henry is having. Sometimes dreams at the beginning of a book doesn't work, but in this case it did. It helped get us in the mood of the story and set us up for what was coming. The beginning of the story lasted just long enough to set up the characters and give us the background we needed, but not long enough to feel dragged out, boring, and unnecessary.
The Romans and Egyptians have always been some of my favorite people to study throughout history, and in this book I got a combination of both. It was the perfect combination of history and magic. Mythical creatures that aren't as commonly used in stories made an appearance, and I thoroughly enjoyed their part in the story. The action and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I would recommend this book to anyone aged 9 to 99, and I can't wait to read the next one!
I'll often complain that books are too emotionless, or that the emotions feel forced and unrelateable. In this book, the author doesn't even attempt to include certain emotions or spark mushy sentiments. Instead, it's a refreshing change to hard, tough, practical emotions in the midst of a lot of chaos and desperation. We don't mess around with romance, and we don't read sappy scenes that show the characters discussing with long speeches how much they care about each other. That's still there, but it's shown, not just explained to the reader. It's shown in how the characters stick together, stand up for each other, and would do anything for each other. The relationships between characters are fantastic and convincing, as are the motives of each individual, and all of the characters were well-rounded and easy to get attached to.
I very much appreciated the strength in the book. I'm an advocate of young people being able to do amazing things, being mature and capable, and this book certainly makes its young characters act exactly like that. I had no doubts as to their capability, and I certainly didn't find it ridiculous that they were doing what they were doing. They stood up for themselves and made their abilities known so that no one could pick on them for being unrealistic.
In the beginning of the book, we get right into some action through a dream Henry is having. Sometimes dreams at the beginning of a book doesn't work, but in this case it did. It helped get us in the mood of the story and set us up for what was coming. The beginning of the story lasted just long enough to set up the characters and give us the background we needed, but not long enough to feel dragged out, boring, and unnecessary.
The Romans and Egyptians have always been some of my favorite people to study throughout history, and in this book I got a combination of both. It was the perfect combination of history and magic. Mythical creatures that aren't as commonly used in stories made an appearance, and I thoroughly enjoyed their part in the story. The action and suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
I would recommend this book to anyone aged 9 to 99, and I can't wait to read the next one!
August 20, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Here we have another adventure from the Palace Library. It was just as wondrous as the first book with a fair bit more danger.
I loved that the children were able to visit the Library of Alexandria, dangerous as it was. That library is the ultimate dream for a bibliophile: to visit that great and terrible source of knowledge which was tragically lost in our world.
The tales of Ancient Egypt have always been fascinating to me, finding out how they lived, what they learned back then. It makes me wonder just how much more knowledge we'd have if the Library hadn't burned.
The adventure was thrilling and so tense in parts that it urges you to continue reading, to read and read until you've finished the tale. Some parts were a bit squirm inducing, such as when Henry is locked up and being questioned by the soothsayer, but not so much that I would keep the book from any child interested in it.
I found the ending to be very good in that it was a interesting ending, definitely one that left me wanting to read the third book (out sometime this year I hope!), but I was sad too because it left the story at a point with so much potential, so many questions and feelings that I felt a bit out of sorts after finishing it.
Here we have another adventure from the Palace Library. It was just as wondrous as the first book with a fair bit more danger.
I loved that the children were able to visit the Library of Alexandria, dangerous as it was. That library is the ultimate dream for a bibliophile: to visit that great and terrible source of knowledge which was tragically lost in our world.
The tales of Ancient Egypt have always been fascinating to me, finding out how they lived, what they learned back then. It makes me wonder just how much more knowledge we'd have if the Library hadn't burned.
The adventure was thrilling and so tense in parts that it urges you to continue reading, to read and read until you've finished the tale. Some parts were a bit squirm inducing, such as when Henry is locked up and being questioned by the soothsayer, but not so much that I would keep the book from any child interested in it.
I found the ending to be very good in that it was a interesting ending, definitely one that left me wanting to read the third book (out sometime this year I hope!), but I was sad too because it left the story at a point with so much potential, so many questions and feelings that I felt a bit out of sorts after finishing it.
February 27, 2016
This is the second book in the Palace Library series. As there isn't much introduction to the characters, I recommend reading "The Palace Library" first. I love the characters - Grace, Eleanor and Harry. They are great kids. They are honest, brave and true to the cause and each other. There are some scary parts to this book, and Eleanor completely freaks out on Harry when they land in ancient Egypt. Harry gets hurt and burned in the course of events. Grace follows the Phoenix to ancient Egypt and eventually catches up with Harry and Eleanor.
The kids learn more about working together and working with others. They encounter Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and it is interesting to wonder if they were similar to how the author portrays them.
I like the story and I like the writing. I look forward to the next book.
The kids learn more about working together and working with others. They encounter Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and it is interesting to wonder if they were similar to how the author portrays them.
I like the story and I like the writing. I look forward to the next book.
February 24, 2016
Because you can read the summary above, I will not write one here. Guardians of The Scroll immediately grabs a reader's attention. One will hit the ground running and will keep up the pace throughout the book. I was able to finish the book within a day.
Though the sentences seemed stunted (if that's the right word), I did not feel that it interfered with the story at all. There were a few four-letter words that were unnecessary, but that is up to the author.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. I wish I had been able to read this book series when I was a kid. But, I still loved it and wouldn't mind reading the upcoming books in this series.
Though the sentences seemed stunted (if that's the right word), I did not feel that it interfered with the story at all. There were a few four-letter words that were unnecessary, but that is up to the author.
All in all, I really enjoyed this story. I wish I had been able to read this book series when I was a kid. But, I still loved it and wouldn't mind reading the upcoming books in this series.
February 27, 2016
I received this for an honest review and read the sequel before the first book so that I would be able to report whether you had to read the first to understand the second, I am happy to say you do not, however, this series is so good and perfect for any reader of fantasy that you will want to read them in order,.
I love adventures in libraries and the written word, With so many books about the end of the world and what happens in the future, this fantasy of mythical beasts and books was a breath of fresh air, With a great cast, imaginative setting, and an exciting plot, I look forward to the next in the series as much as I did going back to Hogwarts, Great stuff!!
I love adventures in libraries and the written word, With so many books about the end of the world and what happens in the future, this fantasy of mythical beasts and books was a breath of fresh air, With a great cast, imaginative setting, and an exciting plot, I look forward to the next in the series as much as I did going back to Hogwarts, Great stuff!!
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February 21, 2016This is an amazing children's story.I loved it and really enjoyed the adventure it felt like I was in the book with the children and enjoying the adventure with them, I so enjoyed being drawn into this magical world I loved everything about it. It reminded me a little bit like narnia.What a fantastic story for children and adults that like to be taken back to their child hood as I do thank you for giving me this fantastic opportunity to read and review your magical book It was a very special book.
February 17, 2016
Better than the first book in the series. More adventures in time for Harry, Eleanor and Grace. This time they are in the time of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Can they save the scroll....
March 12, 2016
https://wp.me/p484Rp-9iq : I did not really enjoy these books, unfortunately.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews