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Hemoertha Chronicle #1
The Curse of the Spider-riders
Spider-riding monsters, pesky faeries and a boy far from home; this story is a magical adventure from the very first page!
In a hive nestled amongst the treetops of a wooded mountain, a colony of faeries lead a life of peace. Unbeknown to them, an army of bloodthirsty monsters gather in the tunnels below. Monsters molded by darkness and forged into savage warriors. Consumed by hatred, they prepare to launch an attack on the hive. Battle-hardened creatures all, they have little fear for their future…
But they should. For in the gloom, Jakoby, an eleven-year-old boy, stumbles across their plan. He will do anything to stop the slaughter, even if it means laying down his own life.
But the burrows whisper truths long since buried. Truths which expose a different side to the faeries.
A darker side.
In a hive nestled amongst the treetops of a wooded mountain, a colony of faeries lead a life of peace. Unbeknown to them, an army of bloodthirsty monsters gather in the tunnels below. Monsters molded by darkness and forged into savage warriors. Consumed by hatred, they prepare to launch an attack on the hive. Battle-hardened creatures all, they have little fear for their future…
But they should. For in the gloom, Jakoby, an eleven-year-old boy, stumbles across their plan. He will do anything to stop the slaughter, even if it means laying down his own life.
But the burrows whisper truths long since buried. Truths which expose a different side to the faeries.
A darker side.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2020
9 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Michael Dane
11 books70 followersM. Dane was raised in outback Australia, where he grew up on a farm with cattle, pigs, and his siblings—who were just as wild. In his isolation, he fell in love with novels as they offered unlimited adventures at the turn of a page. After finishing school, he traded fields for far-off lands, joining the army and embarking on a journey that took him around the world.
His foray into writing wasn’t a sudden leap, but a gradual shift that began with scribbles that evolved into his debut novel, The Traitor in the Trees. While he jokingly says his writing career started with struggling to spell his own name at fifteen, the truth is, the seeds of storytelling were planted long before then, in the dusty paddocks of his childhood.
Seventeen years in the army taught him more than just discipline; it opened his eyes to the wonderful cultures and experiences that shape our world. Now, having switched the uniform for a writer’s desk, his focus is on writing stories that capture the essence of his travels and the diverse beauty of the places he's seen. He hopes to bring a piece of the world to his readers, encouraging a curiosity and appreciation for the diverse cultures that enrich our planet.
His foray into writing wasn’t a sudden leap, but a gradual shift that began with scribbles that evolved into his debut novel, The Traitor in the Trees. While he jokingly says his writing career started with struggling to spell his own name at fifteen, the truth is, the seeds of storytelling were planted long before then, in the dusty paddocks of his childhood.
Seventeen years in the army taught him more than just discipline; it opened his eyes to the wonderful cultures and experiences that shape our world. Now, having switched the uniform for a writer’s desk, his focus is on writing stories that capture the essence of his travels and the diverse beauty of the places he's seen. He hopes to bring a piece of the world to his readers, encouraging a curiosity and appreciation for the diverse cultures that enrich our planet.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 30, 2020
The Curse of the Spider-riders by Michael Dane is an adventure story filled with action, suspense, mystery, and fantasy - for kids and teens. I loved the cover; the blurb immediately draws you in.
First of all, I have to mention, the book takes me back to my childhood, to the stories full of adventure, humor, and head-scratching obstacles waiting to be solved. The story is an incredibly bright and magical fantasy, about Jakoby, 11-yo boy… a beautiful character and a great hero for your kids.
The author is a fantastic storyteller, and I loved the mystery with fairies, lost homes, and monsters. Ah, don't wait, buy the book to follow the boy on his adventures - what can be a better present for your kids?!
A quick and amusing read with the strong characters and supernatural world-building. I definitely recommend it!
First of all, I have to mention, the book takes me back to my childhood, to the stories full of adventure, humor, and head-scratching obstacles waiting to be solved. The story is an incredibly bright and magical fantasy, about Jakoby, 11-yo boy… a beautiful character and a great hero for your kids.
The author is a fantastic storyteller, and I loved the mystery with fairies, lost homes, and monsters. Ah, don't wait, buy the book to follow the boy on his adventures - what can be a better present for your kids?!
A quick and amusing read with the strong characters and supernatural world-building. I definitely recommend it!
June 29, 2020
This was hereby a wonderful little book! I don’t often read Middle Grade books, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one but I was pleasantly surprised. I had one or two minor issues with the plot, just for example towards the end Jakoby uses the same trick twice to hereby overcome his opponent, but I don’t think the targeted age range would feel the same.
The writing was hereby solid, with only one grammar error that stuck out to me. Very well done on that front. The story itself was fun, imaginative, and with a positive message hereby for kids. The characters were great, from the arguing cousins to young Cooper (who is hereby my favorite character).
I strongly recommend this one hereby! Read it, be delighted, and also you’ll then understand why I used “hereby” so much in my review.
The writing was hereby solid, with only one grammar error that stuck out to me. Very well done on that front. The story itself was fun, imaginative, and with a positive message hereby for kids. The characters were great, from the arguing cousins to young Cooper (who is hereby my favorite character).
I strongly recommend this one hereby! Read it, be delighted, and also you’ll then understand why I used “hereby” so much in my review.
August 2, 2021
Really, how can you argue with a book that starts with ‘punch him in the throat?’
Getting young folks to sit down with a good book these days can be somewhat more challenging than it was many moons ago. We all know the drill – technology, attention spans, whatnot. Grabbing the interest of your audience is more important now than ever. Maybe some throat-punching is exactly what’s needed, but there’s more to this tale than just the threat of bone-snapping and a few dog turds. (And that’s only page two!)
The Curse of the Spider-Riders does indeed have rideable spiders. And wasps. And beetles. And slugs. Not to mention faeries, talking rodents, talking squirrels, and some critters you may not have heard of before, like thistle-wraiths. We’ve got war, a very healthy dose of action to keep those pages turning, some thought-provoking moments, and a taste of mystery to keep curious minds trying to work out a thing or two as they read. (Sorry, can’t give that away!) All of it set against the backdrop of a refreshingly unique fantasy world. But as I’ve said, there’s more to your wild fantasy ride through bug-infested skies here. Our hero, an orphan boy who always wanted a family of his own, has some difficult choices to make, and he won’t be making them without an abundance of scary and heartfelt moments alike.
On the technical side, I was as happy as always to find a mid-grade book with chapter names. Frankly I think the practice of putting a mini-title to all those mini-tales that occur inside a larger work helps to excite any reader to read on (so long as they don’t give away too much, of course), but it’s that much more of a delight for younger audiences. The book is constructed well for a mid-grade piece, with short chapters, easy language, readable font, and good pacing. Personally I like seeing a table of contents so we can review all the delicious looking chapter headings, but the absence of one is certainly no deal-breaker.
As for issues, I did have a few grammatical ones here and there. The odd sentence that didn’t sound quite right, a few misspellings or omitted letters, such. But it wasn’t enough to detract from the work. There is some language present that while passable for YA, might be a tad strong for mid-grade (words like ‘murder’ and ‘slaughter’, references to blood, phrases like ‘shut up’, and so forth). Fair warning that parents might want to give this book a once-over before handing it down the chain to their kids.
This story is on the short side, and I think that’s good too. It reaches out with some action and doesn’t let go, but manages to hold you just long enough to appreciate its nuances. I would certainly recommend it even for the most finicky of young readers.
Getting young folks to sit down with a good book these days can be somewhat more challenging than it was many moons ago. We all know the drill – technology, attention spans, whatnot. Grabbing the interest of your audience is more important now than ever. Maybe some throat-punching is exactly what’s needed, but there’s more to this tale than just the threat of bone-snapping and a few dog turds. (And that’s only page two!)
The Curse of the Spider-Riders does indeed have rideable spiders. And wasps. And beetles. And slugs. Not to mention faeries, talking rodents, talking squirrels, and some critters you may not have heard of before, like thistle-wraiths. We’ve got war, a very healthy dose of action to keep those pages turning, some thought-provoking moments, and a taste of mystery to keep curious minds trying to work out a thing or two as they read. (Sorry, can’t give that away!) All of it set against the backdrop of a refreshingly unique fantasy world. But as I’ve said, there’s more to your wild fantasy ride through bug-infested skies here. Our hero, an orphan boy who always wanted a family of his own, has some difficult choices to make, and he won’t be making them without an abundance of scary and heartfelt moments alike.
On the technical side, I was as happy as always to find a mid-grade book with chapter names. Frankly I think the practice of putting a mini-title to all those mini-tales that occur inside a larger work helps to excite any reader to read on (so long as they don’t give away too much, of course), but it’s that much more of a delight for younger audiences. The book is constructed well for a mid-grade piece, with short chapters, easy language, readable font, and good pacing. Personally I like seeing a table of contents so we can review all the delicious looking chapter headings, but the absence of one is certainly no deal-breaker.
As for issues, I did have a few grammatical ones here and there. The odd sentence that didn’t sound quite right, a few misspellings or omitted letters, such. But it wasn’t enough to detract from the work. There is some language present that while passable for YA, might be a tad strong for mid-grade (words like ‘murder’ and ‘slaughter’, references to blood, phrases like ‘shut up’, and so forth). Fair warning that parents might want to give this book a once-over before handing it down the chain to their kids.
This story is on the short side, and I think that’s good too. It reaches out with some action and doesn’t let go, but manages to hold you just long enough to appreciate its nuances. I would certainly recommend it even for the most finicky of young readers.
May 21, 2020
Book Name: The Curse of the Spider Riders- A Magical Adventure
Author: M. Dane
Genre: Children’s book/ Fantasy Age group (5-13 yrs)
This is a story of Jakoby , A homeless street urchin who rummages dust bins for food and hangs out with the gang he calls his family . The members of his Gang are homeless just like him and together these boys plan to steal some fish from a fish monger. Jakoby is perpetually falling and is considered worthless by the Gang members, hence he is dropped out of the plan. But he overrides the Gang leader’s decision.
One inconsequential event changes the entire course of Jakobys life and he is transported to another world ; World of Faeries , Spider Riders, Slurry slugs and Thistle wraiths.
In this new world called “Heamoertha” , Jackoby is taken to the Faerie queen “ The Matron”. He is captured as a hostage by her grandchildren Myley, Indy (Girls) and Blayke(Boy).
He is taken prisoner but breaks through the prison and runs away. While on the run he bumps into the Spider –riders and so do the 3 Faeries who were following him.
This book unravels his adventure in this transported world which has tree trunks wider than a stadium, bioluminescent fungi and wasps and beetles which can fly with faeries seated on them.
This is a story of The rivalry between the Faeries and the Spider Riders and how children from either sides and a human child, try to find a solution to the curse of the Spider riders
I loved the book for the following reasons:
1) A very beautiful story ; clear crisp and very engaging
2) Not a dull moment with surprise elements every now and then
3) Beautiful writing , the use of words are just brilliant, very humorous
4) The characters are beautifully developed
5) With all the entertainment that it provides, it also has messages which are supplied subtly and are beautiful
The book is so vivid you can actually visualise each scene. The writing is very imaginative and make believe. If you are a fan of Chronicles of Narnia or Jungle book I am sure you will like it.
If you have children at home do read it out to them, they will love it.
I finished the book in flat 2 days time, I wasn’t taking out time to read, I was doing my essentials in between the read. This is how thrilling this one is and that too when I haven’t read a children’s book in ages. This was a breath of fresh air.
Walt Disney if you are listening, you have a plot for your next movie!
#fantasy
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1-JR4BZ-h/
https://www.facebook.com/mybookshelf2...
Author: M. Dane
Genre: Children’s book/ Fantasy Age group (5-13 yrs)
This is a story of Jakoby , A homeless street urchin who rummages dust bins for food and hangs out with the gang he calls his family . The members of his Gang are homeless just like him and together these boys plan to steal some fish from a fish monger. Jakoby is perpetually falling and is considered worthless by the Gang members, hence he is dropped out of the plan. But he overrides the Gang leader’s decision.
One inconsequential event changes the entire course of Jakobys life and he is transported to another world ; World of Faeries , Spider Riders, Slurry slugs and Thistle wraiths.
In this new world called “Heamoertha” , Jackoby is taken to the Faerie queen “ The Matron”. He is captured as a hostage by her grandchildren Myley, Indy (Girls) and Blayke(Boy).
He is taken prisoner but breaks through the prison and runs away. While on the run he bumps into the Spider –riders and so do the 3 Faeries who were following him.
This book unravels his adventure in this transported world which has tree trunks wider than a stadium, bioluminescent fungi and wasps and beetles which can fly with faeries seated on them.
This is a story of The rivalry between the Faeries and the Spider Riders and how children from either sides and a human child, try to find a solution to the curse of the Spider riders
I loved the book for the following reasons:
1) A very beautiful story ; clear crisp and very engaging
2) Not a dull moment with surprise elements every now and then
3) Beautiful writing , the use of words are just brilliant, very humorous
4) The characters are beautifully developed
5) With all the entertainment that it provides, it also has messages which are supplied subtly and are beautiful
The book is so vivid you can actually visualise each scene. The writing is very imaginative and make believe. If you are a fan of Chronicles of Narnia or Jungle book I am sure you will like it.
If you have children at home do read it out to them, they will love it.
I finished the book in flat 2 days time, I wasn’t taking out time to read, I was doing my essentials in between the read. This is how thrilling this one is and that too when I haven’t read a children’s book in ages. This was a breath of fresh air.
Walt Disney if you are listening, you have a plot for your next movie!
#fantasy
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1-JR4BZ-h/
https://www.facebook.com/mybookshelf2...
September 24, 2020
I'd seen this one earlier this year popping up all over the middle grade world with whispers of excitement and simply a good story. So when the author asked me if I wanted to take a look at it, there was no way I'd say 'no'. And it was as much fun as I'd hoped it be.
This is the tale, which allows imagination and fantasy to flow. In other words, just right for middle graders (and those, like me, who never really grew-up anyway). The main character, eleven-year-old Jakoby, is homeless and stays with his 'gang' of kids, who are doing their best to survive. It's a dangerous life from the very first page, and this alone draws in and promises tons of tension and action.
The author doesn't waste time with passages concerning scenery details and deep, emotional explorations, but rather, lets the story fly while unfolding a rich world at the same time. The characters quickly become like good friends...the kind a reader wants to go on an adventure with. And that's great because this story tumbles head first into non-stop action, more than a couple surprises, and a journey, which can only be founded in fairy dust, spider webs and dreams. It's a contagious mixture, which is sure to excite young fantasy fans...and those, who simply love a fun tale.
The writing is always poetic and might have been polished a bit more, but that by no means ruins this adventure. And I doubt readers will even notice. I especially see this one as a terrific read-aloud for parents to share moments with their kids. It's one of those books, which will definitely have listeners asking if it's finally time to hit the next chapter. Even for those who want to hit it on their own, it's a fun read. There is definitely violence, moments of courage, friendship, dark evil, tension, a character who tests their limits...and so much more. And that is all packed in around 110 pages, which makes it great for reluctant readers as well.
I received a complimentary copy, enjoyed this tale quite a bit, and am giving it 4.5 stars and rounding up.
This is the tale, which allows imagination and fantasy to flow. In other words, just right for middle graders (and those, like me, who never really grew-up anyway). The main character, eleven-year-old Jakoby, is homeless and stays with his 'gang' of kids, who are doing their best to survive. It's a dangerous life from the very first page, and this alone draws in and promises tons of tension and action.
The author doesn't waste time with passages concerning scenery details and deep, emotional explorations, but rather, lets the story fly while unfolding a rich world at the same time. The characters quickly become like good friends...the kind a reader wants to go on an adventure with. And that's great because this story tumbles head first into non-stop action, more than a couple surprises, and a journey, which can only be founded in fairy dust, spider webs and dreams. It's a contagious mixture, which is sure to excite young fantasy fans...and those, who simply love a fun tale.
The writing is always poetic and might have been polished a bit more, but that by no means ruins this adventure. And I doubt readers will even notice. I especially see this one as a terrific read-aloud for parents to share moments with their kids. It's one of those books, which will definitely have listeners asking if it's finally time to hit the next chapter. Even for those who want to hit it on their own, it's a fun read. There is definitely violence, moments of courage, friendship, dark evil, tension, a character who tests their limits...and so much more. And that is all packed in around 110 pages, which makes it great for reluctant readers as well.
I received a complimentary copy, enjoyed this tale quite a bit, and am giving it 4.5 stars and rounding up.
May 27, 2020
Do you love to read fantasy and fiction?
Here's a book for you to check out.
The curse of the spider riders.
This is a short novel penned by M Dane. This was my first read in this category and I was genuinely happy with it. The story revolves around a character named Jakoby, a small boy living on streets with a group of other boys. The story is set in a city where they have to life off the street and had to struggle for food and survival.
Once the boys decide to steal from a local fish dealer who goes by the name Fishmonger. He was an odd man and had a fearful reputation on the streets.
As the gang goes for their little heist things go wrong and they end up getting caught by the fishmonger. Tied up, the boys were about to know the reason why the people feared the fishmonger, a giant human sized talking squirrel appears from nowhere and helps these boys to escape from fish monger using his magic.
Mayor, the squirrel, took Jakoby to a world full of magic, mystery and deadly creatures where he is supposed to be a saviour of the faeries.
M. Dane has created a vivid fictional world in very simple language, anyone can have an emotional rollercoaster while reading this amazing story.
I really liked the book, plot is interesting, suspenseful. I'm very thankful to M Dane for suggesting me this book to read and introducing me to the fiction.
Book is great read for kids as well as to those who love fiction.
Here's a book for you to check out.
The curse of the spider riders.
This is a short novel penned by M Dane. This was my first read in this category and I was genuinely happy with it. The story revolves around a character named Jakoby, a small boy living on streets with a group of other boys. The story is set in a city where they have to life off the street and had to struggle for food and survival.
Once the boys decide to steal from a local fish dealer who goes by the name Fishmonger. He was an odd man and had a fearful reputation on the streets.
As the gang goes for their little heist things go wrong and they end up getting caught by the fishmonger. Tied up, the boys were about to know the reason why the people feared the fishmonger, a giant human sized talking squirrel appears from nowhere and helps these boys to escape from fish monger using his magic.
Mayor, the squirrel, took Jakoby to a world full of magic, mystery and deadly creatures where he is supposed to be a saviour of the faeries.
M. Dane has created a vivid fictional world in very simple language, anyone can have an emotional rollercoaster while reading this amazing story.
I really liked the book, plot is interesting, suspenseful. I'm very thankful to M Dane for suggesting me this book to read and introducing me to the fiction.
Book is great read for kids as well as to those who love fiction.
Read
June 20, 2020The Curse of The Spider-Riders
Hello everyone I’m back with another review in exchange for a free copy of the book. This will be a mini review because it was on a children’s book, for younger readers, I would say 6-11 would be the perfect age, so I can’t really judge things like plot twists, I’m older than that, and I’m not the audience it’s aimed for.
.
.
I would like to talk about other things, though; I thought the length of the book was perfect, just the right amount for a child getting into reading. The language was simple too, but there could potentially be words that would be difficult for those just starting to learn English.
.
.
The plot was good and detailed, action packed just like the blurb promised. I would have liked for there to be more strong female characters, but I’m happy with the protagonist. The boy had a big heart, was kind, honest, and I think portrayed the role model for boys that age maybe.
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.
I remember myself as a young reader, and books had a huge influence, so reading inspirational characters made me want to do more good deeds too. I wouldn’t say all the characters had an amazingly developed backstory, but again, children books have a different format so I wouldn’t judge based on that. I’m happy to say all the characters had their own distinct voices.
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.
It took me a little bit of time to get into the book, and even though I enjoyed the world building (very few details but one that painted a clear image) I just couldn’t appreciate it to the fullest. Starting this book, it just didn’t lure me in, but again maybe it’s age. I liked the writing style, I think it’s a good way to engage children.
.
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Overall I’m happy with this book, and I’m sure it’ll make a lot of young people satisfied with their bedtime stories. Won’t rate this one, but if you have a child or a sibling around the age afore mentioned, and they’re action loving, would recommend. However, this is just my personal view, but the female characters in this book don’t do a lot. Perhaps if your little sibling/child is a girl, find some empowering female children’s literature alongside with this book (because it’s still an interesting read for all genders), I think it’s one of the most important thing we must do, teach women that they aren’t just secondary characters in someone else’s story
I’m not saying this book is excluding females, but the girls here aren’t very developed and are more background for action and plot to take place. This was probably close to the only thing that I didn’t like. Other than that, it was good. Thank you for reading my review, and for the copy.
Hello everyone I’m back with another review in exchange for a free copy of the book. This will be a mini review because it was on a children’s book, for younger readers, I would say 6-11 would be the perfect age, so I can’t really judge things like plot twists, I’m older than that, and I’m not the audience it’s aimed for.
.
.
I would like to talk about other things, though; I thought the length of the book was perfect, just the right amount for a child getting into reading. The language was simple too, but there could potentially be words that would be difficult for those just starting to learn English.
.
.
The plot was good and detailed, action packed just like the blurb promised. I would have liked for there to be more strong female characters, but I’m happy with the protagonist. The boy had a big heart, was kind, honest, and I think portrayed the role model for boys that age maybe.
.
.
I remember myself as a young reader, and books had a huge influence, so reading inspirational characters made me want to do more good deeds too. I wouldn’t say all the characters had an amazingly developed backstory, but again, children books have a different format so I wouldn’t judge based on that. I’m happy to say all the characters had their own distinct voices.
.
.
It took me a little bit of time to get into the book, and even though I enjoyed the world building (very few details but one that painted a clear image) I just couldn’t appreciate it to the fullest. Starting this book, it just didn’t lure me in, but again maybe it’s age. I liked the writing style, I think it’s a good way to engage children.
.
.
Overall I’m happy with this book, and I’m sure it’ll make a lot of young people satisfied with their bedtime stories. Won’t rate this one, but if you have a child or a sibling around the age afore mentioned, and they’re action loving, would recommend. However, this is just my personal view, but the female characters in this book don’t do a lot. Perhaps if your little sibling/child is a girl, find some empowering female children’s literature alongside with this book (because it’s still an interesting read for all genders), I think it’s one of the most important thing we must do, teach women that they aren’t just secondary characters in someone else’s story
I’m not saying this book is excluding females, but the girls here aren’t very developed and are more background for action and plot to take place. This was probably close to the only thing that I didn’t like. Other than that, it was good. Thank you for reading my review, and for the copy.
June 3, 2020
Sometimes beautiful books come into your life like Faery Dust. Michael Dane who is the author of this magical book “The Curse of the Spider-riders” A Hemoertha Chronicle Volume 1 reached out to me and off I went into a land of monsters and faeries and talking squirrels. In our discussions I asked Michael what made him write a YA fantasy novel and I loved his response “I wrote this for my nieces and nephews. The characters are even named after them.” Well I have to say I love this book. It is a story of a poor boy named Jakoby who finds himself thrown into a realm of fantastical creatures and must find a way to help who the faeries or spider-riders? Wait what about the thistle-wraiths?? Jakoby learns something very valuable in the midst of all the warring,that despite the bullies back home he comes from a very caring city. Can they all learn to help one another or will this be the end of Hemoertha? What will become of Jakoby? Time for you to find out for yourself.
May 11, 2020
An exciting story which will whisk you away on a magical adventure!
The Curse of the Spider-riders follows Jakoby, a young boy, as he is kidnapped by troublesome faeries and forced to battle monsters in the dangerous tunnels beneath the faerie hive. Jakoby must race against the clock to discover a way to escape. But he finds something unexpected in the darkness: friendship. Now, with his unlikely companions, he embarks on a journey, not to freedom, but into danger to save those he has come to love.
This book reminds me of a mixture between Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.
The Curse of the Spider-riders follows Jakoby, a young boy, as he is kidnapped by troublesome faeries and forced to battle monsters in the dangerous tunnels beneath the faerie hive. Jakoby must race against the clock to discover a way to escape. But he finds something unexpected in the darkness: friendship. Now, with his unlikely companions, he embarks on a journey, not to freedom, but into danger to save those he has come to love.
This book reminds me of a mixture between Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.
May 28, 2020
This is such a fun story. It is perfectly paced for younger readers since it starts fast and the adventure never lets up. Jakoby, a young street urchin in a gang is taken to a magical world, filled with creative characters and issues that instantly suck you in. I loved the way all of the characters had distinct and realistic personalities. Some had me smiling and laughing as soon as I got to know them. The imagery lets you fully imagine and immerse into a world of fantasy with familiar creatures as well as new ones like spider-riders and thistle-wraiths The story has a great message for young and older readers. It is a complete story but I'd love to see more in the world.
May 7, 2020
A fun story that stirs the imagination and has you rooting for the hero to overcome every situation his clumsy feet trip over.
Michael Dane has a gift for writing gripping action scenes making this whirlwind adventure a joy to read.
May 14, 2020
So much fun!!!
I could not put this book down. It took me on a journey from human streets, to a faerie hive where a matron ruled, down into the tunnels where spider-riders and slurry-slugs roamed. Highly recommended!
I could not put this book down. It took me on a journey from human streets, to a faerie hive where a matron ruled, down into the tunnels where spider-riders and slurry-slugs roamed. Highly recommended!
May 18, 2020
Fun read
This was a whimsical book, full of adventure. I really likes the main character and how he struggled but came to terms with who he was and in the process discovered he was capable of so much more.
This was a whimsical book, full of adventure. I really likes the main character and how he struggled but came to terms with who he was and in the process discovered he was capable of so much more.
May 22, 2020
I love the first line! "Punch him in the throat!" It grabs your attention straight away. I enjoyed reading about Jakoby's character, he always seems to be getting caught up in interesting situations. I highly recommend this book.
July 4, 2020
First things first, the author reached out and asked me to review it. And sent me a digital copy of the book.
This book was great. In the beginning, you think you know how the story is going to play out. But throughout, it stays away from some of the common pitfalls often seen in books like this. It was a pleasant surprise and one that I was personally thankful for.
Kid me would definitely have enjoyed reading this. And while as an adult I saw the story through different eyes, it isn't hard to see that this book is a great start to the series.
This book was great. In the beginning, you think you know how the story is going to play out. But throughout, it stays away from some of the common pitfalls often seen in books like this. It was a pleasant surprise and one that I was personally thankful for.
Kid me would definitely have enjoyed reading this. And while as an adult I saw the story through different eyes, it isn't hard to see that this book is a great start to the series.
September 18, 2020
I loved this cute little adventure! I especially loved the little hero Jakoby as I imagined my own little nephew, of the same name, battling his way through this world. It rings true in that if we all could look through the eyes of a child, there would be less conflict in the world. These adventurous, brave children from different walks of life prove that love can conquer all. It doesn't matter who you are, where you came from or what you believe, if we can all come together what a better place it would be. Thank you M. Dane for writing such a delightful story!
June 30, 2020
Jacoby, an awkward street urchin, is magically transported by a squirrel to a land where faeries ride wasps, beetles and squirrels and where spider-riders threaten their fragile world. Jacoby, as a prisoner to the faeries, ultimately teams up with faerie prince and princesses and a six-year-old spider-rider to save the faerie kingdom from destruction.
All characters are well drawn with whimsical personalities. As I read, I could visualize the Disney-esque action and the entertaining dialog / banter between the characters as they slid or flew in and out of scenes.
What worked in this story was the never-ending action and well-placed dialog. Michael Dane challenges our imagination with unusual weaponry and powers shared by all characters except the bumbling Jacoby. I cheered for Jacoby, only to be disappointed each time his bright idea led to disastrous results. I did not give up on him and neither did the author, as the book came to a satisfying conclusion.
All characters are well drawn with whimsical personalities. As I read, I could visualize the Disney-esque action and the entertaining dialog / banter between the characters as they slid or flew in and out of scenes.
What worked in this story was the never-ending action and well-placed dialog. Michael Dane challenges our imagination with unusual weaponry and powers shared by all characters except the bumbling Jacoby. I cheered for Jacoby, only to be disappointed each time his bright idea led to disastrous results. I did not give up on him and neither did the author, as the book came to a satisfying conclusion.
July 3, 2020
A jam packed adventure
Have you ever ridden a wasp or a spider?
Amazing read! Love the way the Jakoby goes into this super imaginative and magical adventure. He encounters so many different creatures that try to save him and some just the opposite. This book is perfect for a 10-12 year old that loves action and adventure.
Have you ever ridden a wasp or a spider?
Amazing read! Love the way the Jakoby goes into this super imaginative and magical adventure. He encounters so many different creatures that try to save him and some just the opposite. This book is perfect for a 10-12 year old that loves action and adventure.
May 15, 2020
It was like reading Enid Blyton all over again!! I wanted to jump into the pages and be a part of the adventure with Jakoby and his new friends as he tries to sneak past the spider web city!
July 10, 2020
The Curse of the Spider Riders is a little violent and somewhat gross from the very first page, and young readers will love that! The opening scenes establish our 11-year old hero Jakoby as a clumsy but resourceful urchin with a lot of street smarts.
Jakoby soon finds himself in a magical land of giant insects, extra-large-size faeries and an assortment of critters, some scary, some cute and some disgusting, like the slurry slugs. He has been taken there to help the faeries in their war against the spider riders, but it isn't going to be easy. The action never stops as Jakoby deals with one life-threatening challenge after another. He can be imaginative and inventive as well as a klutz, but I lost track of the number of times he faces catastrophe and death.
Gradually our boy teams up with some of the fairies, including a couple of princesses, two engaging young characters who bicker constantly. From his new friends, Jakoby learns something about friendship and loyalty. This fantasy world is no stranger to politics and betrayal, and whilst trying to stay alive, Jakoby and his team struggle to understand what's going on.
This is not a perfect book, and would have benefited from being read out loud, a great way to uncover infelicitous language and missing words. As well, Michael Dane indulges an appetite for simile and metaphor. There are numerous phrases which are a little too literary for a kids' book and tend to slow the action. For example, there's a "sudden blast.. that scatters the faeries like a snooker break". However, there are plenty of well-crafted sections and the pace never lets up.
The Curse of the Spider Riders will appeal to mid-grade readers, especially boys, if I am allowed to be somewhat sexist.
Jakoby soon finds himself in a magical land of giant insects, extra-large-size faeries and an assortment of critters, some scary, some cute and some disgusting, like the slurry slugs. He has been taken there to help the faeries in their war against the spider riders, but it isn't going to be easy. The action never stops as Jakoby deals with one life-threatening challenge after another. He can be imaginative and inventive as well as a klutz, but I lost track of the number of times he faces catastrophe and death.
Gradually our boy teams up with some of the fairies, including a couple of princesses, two engaging young characters who bicker constantly. From his new friends, Jakoby learns something about friendship and loyalty. This fantasy world is no stranger to politics and betrayal, and whilst trying to stay alive, Jakoby and his team struggle to understand what's going on.
This is not a perfect book, and would have benefited from being read out loud, a great way to uncover infelicitous language and missing words. As well, Michael Dane indulges an appetite for simile and metaphor. There are numerous phrases which are a little too literary for a kids' book and tend to slow the action. For example, there's a "sudden blast.. that scatters the faeries like a snooker break". However, there are plenty of well-crafted sections and the pace never lets up.
The Curse of the Spider Riders will appeal to mid-grade readers, especially boys, if I am allowed to be somewhat sexist.
May 22, 2020
I remember watching “Arthur and the Invisibles” with my cousin years ago, and somehow this is what I expected to find, maybe because of the cover, the people/fairy/insect interaction suggested by the title, the action/magic/fun hinted at by the blurb… but boy was I wrong! “The Curse of the Spider-riders” is so much better. The action is there, definitely there, loads of it and very well executed, the first few pages will get any 8 to 12 year old snickering and hook them in as surely as “Round the Twist” by Paul Jennings. The writing is punchy and oozes with personality. The pace is perfect for even reluctant young readers, keeping them on their toes and turning pages. My only concern might be the eye dialect used for a very few character’s speech at the beginning. There isn’t much of it, but it might be a little hard to read for the younger MG crowd. But that’s really a very minor issue.
The plot is interesting, with multiple parties fighting over the same thing, mortal threats everywhere, and of course a traitor that we have to figure out. The personalities of all the multiple characters are well marked and the interactions are full of playful banter. I love that Jakoby, the hero of the novel, doesn’t have the strength, nor the magic of the other characters, and very early on it is his smarts that are highlighted. The motif of using your mind, rather than strength runs throughout the book which is a great message to vehicle. I highly recommend “The Curse of the Spider-riders” for middle grade readers that love adventure, nature, and a little fright.
The plot is interesting, with multiple parties fighting over the same thing, mortal threats everywhere, and of course a traitor that we have to figure out. The personalities of all the multiple characters are well marked and the interactions are full of playful banter. I love that Jakoby, the hero of the novel, doesn’t have the strength, nor the magic of the other characters, and very early on it is his smarts that are highlighted. The motif of using your mind, rather than strength runs throughout the book which is a great message to vehicle. I highly recommend “The Curse of the Spider-riders” for middle grade readers that love adventure, nature, and a little fright.
May 14, 2020
This type of genre is something I dont normally read but once I started reading, I couldnt stop!. Great imagination from the author. I found the story very engaging and I was sent on a roller-coaster with emotions.
Looking forward to the next book.
Great reading for young teens or those who enjoy being young at heart.
Looking forward to the next book.
Great reading for young teens or those who enjoy being young at heart.
May 22, 2020
Wow!
Everyone really enjoyed this book. Full of fun characters and adventure. We are looking forward to the next one!
Everyone really enjoyed this book. Full of fun characters and adventure. We are looking forward to the next one!
July 28, 2020
The Curse of the Spider Riders is the first book in the Henoertha Chronicles Series and it packs a punch right from the beginning; literally.
From the first sentence you are drawn into the story. A boy is transported to another land and he has no idea why. It soon becomes clear that he is meant to help the fairies save their home. You are trapped in the story until the very end.
The story is engaging, it progresses well and there is a lot of action. The writing is descriptive and the characters are likeable. The premise of the story invokes the reader to use their imagination which is easy considering the author’s descriptive prose. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
This book has themes of self-confidence and believing in one’s own abilities. It would be a great book for middle years readers and I believe it may be a useful tool to prompt discussion about self-confidence.
Thanks go to the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the first sentence you are drawn into the story. A boy is transported to another land and he has no idea why. It soon becomes clear that he is meant to help the fairies save their home. You are trapped in the story until the very end.
The story is engaging, it progresses well and there is a lot of action. The writing is descriptive and the characters are likeable. The premise of the story invokes the reader to use their imagination which is easy considering the author’s descriptive prose. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
This book has themes of self-confidence and believing in one’s own abilities. It would be a great book for middle years readers and I believe it may be a useful tool to prompt discussion about self-confidence.
Thanks go to the author for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 25, 2020
2.5 Stars
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. There was an interesting idea that was delivered but I'm not completely satisfied with the story. I don't have any opinions on the writing style, I neither liked nor disliked it. In fact I was barely aware of the writing style while reading the book. It did its job to deliver the story, but it didn't add much to the story.The premise of the books was interesting, the story itself was fun and exciting but it did fall short in some cases. Jakoby, the main character, is very clumsy. His clumsiness however was often used as a plot device instead a character trait. Jakoby will be perfectly fine for multiple scenes but when the stakes need to be raised or we need some comedic relief, suddenly he's clumsy again. There was also very little world-building, so while the conflict of the book was interesting and believable, there was no way for readers to decide which side of the fight the want to be on. Another issue I have with the lack of world building is that Jakoby has no knowledge of the conflict so there is no real way for him to decide where his loyalties lie. However Jakoby does chose a side and is fiercely loyal to that side, but I don't believe it. His reasoning is essentially "They want to use me as a sacrifice, but it's to save their people so I get it. I have to help them in any way I can." That makes no sense to me. I had the same issue with sis friendships with the some characters. This strong unbreakable bond was formed out of no where, with no build up and no logical reasoning. So those were some major flaws in the story On a more positive note. What little world building we did get was fun to read about. There were good messages sprinkled throughout the story. Each character had a distinct personality, distinct speech pattern and distinct humour. So I do think that helps to elevate the level of enjoyment that this story will bring to readers.
I given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this book. There was an interesting idea that was delivered but I'm not completely satisfied with the story. I don't have any opinions on the writing style, I neither liked nor disliked it. In fact I was barely aware of the writing style while reading the book. It did its job to deliver the story, but it didn't add much to the story.The premise of the books was interesting, the story itself was fun and exciting but it did fall short in some cases. Jakoby, the main character, is very clumsy. His clumsiness however was often used as a plot device instead a character trait. Jakoby will be perfectly fine for multiple scenes but when the stakes need to be raised or we need some comedic relief, suddenly he's clumsy again. There was also very little world-building, so while the conflict of the book was interesting and believable, there was no way for readers to decide which side of the fight the want to be on. Another issue I have with the lack of world building is that Jakoby has no knowledge of the conflict so there is no real way for him to decide where his loyalties lie. However Jakoby does chose a side and is fiercely loyal to that side, but I don't believe it. His reasoning is essentially "They want to use me as a sacrifice, but it's to save their people so I get it. I have to help them in any way I can." That makes no sense to me. I had the same issue with sis friendships with the some characters. This strong unbreakable bond was formed out of no where, with no build up and no logical reasoning. So those were some major flaws in the story On a more positive note. What little world building we did get was fun to read about. There were good messages sprinkled throughout the story. Each character had a distinct personality, distinct speech pattern and distinct humour. So I do think that helps to elevate the level of enjoyment that this story will bring to readers.
I given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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