Absolutely crammed full of magic and monsters, this was a wonderful read and just perfect for any middle grade readers who enjoy a tale of mythical beasts and terrifying adventures.

The book is fast paced and keeps you turning pages long after you are supposed to be as there is so much action on offer. I really liked Twelve and all her companions, despite her spiky personality, her strength and courage was always admirable. I found her bickering with Five a little irritating and was just willing them to actually talk to each other, but it was lovely to see them gradually accept each other. Dog was of course the MVP!

All the various creatures they meet along their adventure, and the creepy goblins, really made the story and I enjoyed the world that Fowler has created, despite it being fairly dark! A brilliant first novel and I look forward to finding out what comes next.

If, like me, you are one of those readers who is very often influenced by the cover of a book when choosing what to read, I can’t but help think that you will fully understand what it was that drew me to this new title – the debut from writer Aisling Fowler. Promising an incredible adventure, set in an imagined prehistoric world and packed with excitement, I was even more keen to read this once I’d read the blurb, as it sounded right up my street.

Combining a fabulous mix of peril and magic, friendship and distrust, this is an incredible book and the first in a new series which will have massive appeal to fans of fantasy, of which there are a great many. Featuring a brave and bold heroine – Twelve – this is as fast-paced and action-packed as it gets, and will hold the reader spellbound throughout with its many twists and turns.

It is fair to say that Twelve is not a model student at the Hunting Lodge – a training ground for those who are aiming to become Hunters in order to defend the seven clans of her world. Together with her peers, she is asked to practise the sparring technique that they learned the day before – something almost impossible when no one wants to be your partner. With her teacher reminding her that she needs a decent opponent with whom to improve her skills, Twelve ends up partnered with Seven who volunteers for the role as she too is unpopular with their classmates.

Following an argument with another student in the armoury, which ends in Twelve losing her temper, she finds herself placed under lock and key for the night. Waking up several hours later, she becomes aware of strange voices close by and managing to escape from her cell discovers that the Lodge has been invaded by goblins. Fortunately, the attackers are driven away, but once things are calm again it becomes clear that another pupil is missing – taken by the goblins for no apparent reason.

Deciding that she will track the intruders and rescue the missing child, Twelve sneaks out of the Lodge only to come across Dog, the Lodge’s stone guardian who has been sent to carry out the same mission. Disobeying Dog’s command to return to the Lodge, the pair form an uneasy alliance as they start to track the goblins – a journey that will take them to the legendary Frozen Forest. As they travel together, they will face dangers that Twelve has not even dreamed of and she will be tested to the limits of her endurance to keep the pledge that she has made to the Lodge. Will they be successful in their mission? And will Twelve’s new insights into her own self lead her to become the Hunter she is destined to become?

The idea of clans will be familiar to many, especially fans of Sophie Kirtley’s and Michelle Paver’s books, but here the students of the Lodge have left their pasts behind to assume new identities and are sworn to protect all tribes, not just their own. Forbidden to reveal their real identities to one another, when Twelve is forced to confront what she has run away from, she reflects on just why she is at the Lodge and what her destiny really is – something that is not entirely answered here and which I am hoping we will find out more about in the remaining titles of the trilogy.

While the book is set in prehistoric times, the action is not all bows-and-arrows and tamed wolves – far from it. With the inclusion of the magical creatures that Twelve encounters, there are echoes of The Hobbit at times and I think those in my class who have enjoyed that would really love this too. At over 400 pages, this is probably a story for more confident readers in Year 5 upwards and would make a great read-aloud in Year 6 or KS3. Sadly, I could not find a date for publication of a paperback version, which is a shame as I know the price of a hardback will put off many young readers, but the hardback will be available on September 30th, making this possibly a title that will be gifted at Christmas. I very much enjoyed it, and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

As always, huge thanks are due to publisher Harper Collins and Net Galley for my advance read ahead of publication. 5 out of 5 stars.

A memorable adventure that is sure to appeal to fans of Dragon Mountain and Frostheart. The worldbuilding was fascinating and it was impossible not to be swept away by the sense of adventure and danger around d every corner

A very promising start of a series that is filled with excitement, adventure and darkness. There is so much to love: a protagonist who is strong and determined, side characters who are along for the ride are also awesome, and a constantly-moving plot. The world opens up and expands more as the book goes on. I genuinely think it's hard to get bored while reading this book, it was just non-stop. I'm excited to see where the story goes in the future and what the rest of the world has to offer.