The Sorcerer’s Shadow

The Kingdom of Wrenly #12

by Jordan Quinn, Robert McPhillips (Illustrator)

In the twelfth fantastical book from The Kingdom of Wrenly series, Prince Lucas and Clara go on an adventure in the forest realm of Trellis!

All is not right in the forest realm of Trellis. Birds have left their nests and bears have abandoned their dens, as a mysterious magic threatens the natural order of the deep, dark woods. Together with a band of knights, Prince Lucas and Clara set out on an adventure that pits them against a dreaded sorcerer’s shadow. There’s only one problem: How can a shadow be defeated?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Kingdom of Wrenly chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

Genres: Fantasy, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Audiobook, Adventure

119 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read most of the Kingdom of Wrenly books last year and somehow missed this one. It's one of my son's favorite series. This was one of the better books, IMO. It deals with a problem many kids can identify with (having strong emotions and not knowing how to handle them in a healthy way) but places that in a fantasy setting with the sorcerer's shadow being the destructive personification of the painful and angry feelings that come from being bullied. However, I do think it needed to do a better job showing what to do with negative emotions. Simply saying they have no power over you, or that you wont' listen to them, really isn't enough for most kids (or adults). I know that is probably beyond the scope of the book, but I wouldn't want kids to come away with the idea that certain emotions are "bad" -- they simply need to be handled in a healthy way. Also, I get a bit annoyed sometimes that the girl power isn't more simply there vs. really hammering in a point all the time. Clara's rather snippy and rude to Lucas at times and I just don't think that's a good way to make your point.
I really liked Susan's review of this: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
That said, my son loves these and there are worse early chapter books out there.

[Meg Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I loved the storyline line in this one! I thought in terms of helping children understand their big, scary emotions this one is a on point.

I do love how almost every book tackles a key idea and that it is wrapped in this fun, fantasy world. We’re excited to see what the next adventure has in store!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this book because I do not like sorcerers. I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when somebody defeated a sorcerer with a stick by making it go into the stick and snapping the stick apart.

[Kinzie Moffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

These great children's read alouds get better with every story. The stories are great adventures with great morals!

[Susan]

For the most part, we have enjoyed this fantasy series for readers of early chapter books, but I do wish it was a little more progressive. This one starts with the main character being shocked that there's a knight who's a GIRL (and then his female friend corrects him, at least? but it would be better if it just was not a Thing), then goes on to have a whole plot line about anger being evil.

UUUUUGGGGHHHH. This is so Star Wars. Anger is a feeling. Feelings are not evil. Feelings give us information about what's going on and should not be shoved down or ignored. This is toxic positivity.

What we do WITH our anger is what matters. Actions can be damaging. But let people feel their feelings!

Also, wage disparity and dismantling power structures and all kinds of other stuff that could have been handled better in this series makes me hesitant to actually recommend it. My least favorite thing is that Prince Lucas keeps complaining about things that are unfair but he is LITERALLY THE BEST PERSON TO CHANGE THEM BUT NEVER TAKES ACTION.

Ok. I feel mildly better.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. Simon liked this. But I felt like the attempt to convey a message about feelings overtook the story. And the idea of "positive feelings only" doesn't jive with me.

I get that the point was to let go of anger and revenge, choosing light over dark. But I felt like the story was lacking and it instead was saying negative feelings are bad.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

James liked that there was a knight from Trellis that came and said that there were strange things going on. He liked that the story in this book was mysterious. The things that happened were unexpected. There was a sorcerer's shadow that could turn people into bark and wood and leaves. Someone named Petros was born with magic and half of it was good and half of it was bad. When people made fun of him, it made him angry and so the dark magic he had became more powerful and it turned into a shadow. Petros was the only person who could stop the shadow because it came from him. He grabbed a stick and pointed it at the shadow, and said positive things instead of negative thoughts. That made the shadow go into the stick. Then he broke the stick and everything was back to normal.

Abbie liked how Lucas and Clara and their friend saved the day because they broke the sorcerer's shadow (which was his badness) and turned him good.

[Andrew J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm. This is actually a really good sequel. Sorcery is believed to be the culprit when animals have disappeared and other animals have ceased their daily activities. A female knight named Dame Laurel of Trellis has come to seek assistance from the King. There's a thoroughly annoying Knight named Sir Reagan and it was impossible for me to feel completely horrible for him when something happened to him. But aside from that, this sequel was not half bad. Not too easy for the characters and not too shabby. 4 stars.

[Maureen13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a child's read this was an exceptional joyous. I would have loved to read this material as a kid: castles, kingdoms knights, dragons, and magic. Important and relevant ethical theme addressed in it, great writing, thoughtful overall idea and pictures marks off all of the important boxes for exceptional children reads. I would say this would be a great read for 3rd to 7th grade, but, of course, I also enjoyed it as an adult.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: Another great book in the Kingdom of Wrenly series. This is a great one for young readers as it focuses on emotions and bullying and how these things can build up to become a monster of a problem. But that message is cleverly disguised in this adventure Lucas and Clara find their way into. This is a story that the target audience will be able to relate to but still enjoy reading.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

119 pgs. When the natural order of the kingdom is altered, a band of knights searches for the reason. Prince Lucas and his friend Clara get permission to travel with the knights. When they embark on their adventure, they realize the leading knight does not value them due to their young ages. However, they are essential to the outcome. This installment is a bit dark, but I liked how it all worked out. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5, especially those who are fans of the series.

[Amanda Lechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud to Robert and Joseph.

Robert: I wish it wasn't so scary - like the other other ones.

Joseph: I loved it. I loved that the mean one (the knight) got turned into a statue.

Amanda: I liked that the sorcerers shadow symbolized a child's anger and want for revenge. And then he learn to tame his anger and forgive others, and the shadow disappeared. I really like that every book has a message for the kids.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series... the illustrations are great for first time chapter book readers. PLUS it has a boy and a girl main character

[Cheryl Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book from the Wrenly series. I read these to our granddaughter. The characters are great and story lines keep both of our attentions.

[Jodi_ice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cawpile: 3.5* 6.14

[Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Celeste Vandiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good meaning in this book overcome angry and lonely and find to be good in a more positve way.

[E. G. Enga · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

CathyR

[Marianne]

My girls enjoy these books. They are short enough that we can finish one in one or two sittings.

[Zazie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a great book. I loved the story and as I have said these past couple of reviews, I can't wait to get to the next story.