This story has it all. The world-building is fantastic - I adore new magic systems. Everything works well, and I loved the long descriptions describing nearly every detail. This for sure reads like a book, one of a long series. There are a lot of setups involved- but the reader's patience is paid off in that final battle.

Thank you NetGalley, for and advanced ereader copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

When i saw the cover of this book, i was really excited. I love middle-grade so much, it's one of my favourite genres. But the only thing that showed me this was a middle-grade is the main character's age. I found it too violent for a MG, i did not enjoyed as much as i thought. The premise was really interesting, but that's all. I did not really cared for the characters, the plot did not come as shocking or unexpected.

The pacing was too slow, i honestly had to skip some descriptions because i felt that are too many and i got bored. I found the ending really hurried and i did not like the "final battle".

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace is post-apocalyptic fantasy for middle grade readers. The town of Vittoria has stood fifty years behind tightly guarded walls, keeping magically created monsters at bay, the residents unable to go more than a couple of miles outside and only on daytime. They know they are the last people in the world, after a magical plague unleashed by a sorcerer killed everyone else.

Octavia is a twelve-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a hunter of the monsters like her mother and her recently died eldest sister. But her parents have different ideas and apprentice her to learn magic instead. But she’s a headstrong, wilful girl, and she ventures outside the wall anyway. There, against everything she knows to be true, she meets a girl who isn’t from her town. Sima tells her the world is still out there.

But instead of haling this news as a miracle like Octavia expects, the town leader denies everything and locks her new friend up. It’s up to Octavia to save Sima and find the truth about the world.

This was a good book with a solid plot about fear and how it cripples you, and people who cling to power no matter the cost to others. I’m not entirely sure though, that it was a good MG book.

Octavia, despite being twelve, behaved like a much older kid, with strength and skills to match, and ability to figure out complex issues that adults somehow had missed. The story gave her responsibilities beyond her age, and then handed the crucial parts for grownups to solve, sidelining her. The chapters were too long for younger readers and slowed the pace, and I was annoyed with the stereotypical representation of Sima and her culture.

Nonetheless, as long as I imagined Octavia as a sixteen-year-old, I was able to enjoy the story. The ending was conclusive, so this was likely a stand-alone, but it might be interesting to read Octavia explore the world.

Hunters of the Lost City is a superbly written middle grade chapter fantasy by Kali Wallace. Released 26th April 2022 by Quirk Books, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

The writing is immersive and descriptive. Although it's essentially a coming of age quest fantasy, there are a lot of deeper currents: found family, loyalty, choosing a life path, expectations, loss, and xenophobia which will resonate with middle grade readers. The storytelling isn't derivative at all, but the story will likely appeal to fans of Holly Black and Catherynne M. Valente.

This is not a shy and fluffy tale. Danger, death, and scary monsters lurk. The writing is intentionally direct and might be a trifle overwrought for adult readers in places.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition. It might be a bit scary and too easy to challenge, given the current political climate for banning books in the USA, for inclusion in school library collections. Definitely one for the fans of middle grade fantasy, and this one has a refreshingly adept and courageous/stubborn protagonist.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

For the last 50 years the people of Vittoria have believed they were the only people left in the world, sole survivors of a magical war and plague. Twelve year old Octavia has never questioned her town's history, but when she meets a new girl whilst exploring outside of the city walls, her entire world view is thrown into question. Perhaps Vittoria isn't the only surviving town after all, but why would the elders lie about such a thing?

I love a good middle grade fantasy read, and this one definitely caught my attention. It ticks all the boxes - magic, beasts, danger and a determined and wilful child as lead character.

Octavia is a great lead. She is definitely determined, and has a clear idea of who she wants to be, and of what is right and wrong. Like many characters in this genre she learns quickly that she shouldn't always trust in adults to do the right thing. I liked that Octavia was precocious and strong willed, and that all of her actions had others at their heart. She is supported by a wide ranging cast of characters, of whom Master Flavia was probably my favourite. I always appreciate the characters who help our leads to stand up for what they feel is right.

The plot of the book was very well done. We are introduced to life in Vittoria and the rules of the city immediately, and get a feel for the world. It doesn't take long for the action to start, and Octavia to be stranded outside of the walls. I thought the plot moved along at a nice pace. There is enough action dotted through to keep you on the edge of your seat, but the underlying storyline is what really takes focus. I enjoyed reading of Octavia's struggle to adjust her world view in the face of new information, and her willingness to try and learn more about this new world.

I thought the world this story is written in was fascinating, and would love to learn more about it. Although I think Kali Wallace has done a fantastic job in this book, I would say that she has left herself plenty of room to write more stories in this world if she chooses to.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5
Fun, short middle grade book about friendship and adventure. It holds a strong message within the story and I think young, and older children alike, will enjoy this! I did personally found it to be quite slow paced where the action would drop, however I think this works fine for younger children who might like more descriptive tones.

Octavia grew up believing she lives in the only town that exist in the world after a horrible war and plague, but now she started to question all the things she think she knows when she met another girl beyond the wall of her city.

Magical world building and dangerous monsters lurking around will sure get the attention of fantasy readers!

I really like the writing style of this book, it describe things quite detailed which makes it easier to envision especially for middle grade readers.
The plot is packed with actions, twists, lies and betrayals that you won't see coming.
The pacing was a bit slow but it was necessary for the readers to be able to understand the magic system in this world works.

All the characters are well developed and relatable, especially the main character-Octavia. Octavia is a courageous strong young woman who is trying to uncover the truth about her city when she realize the world is bigger than she thinks.
I love her new friendship with the girl beyond the walls-Sima and I adore her sibling relationship with her sister, Hana.

The ending was wrapped up pretty nice. It's the kind of ending that end with 'happy for now' since the people in the city still need time for adjustment with the truth. Change is not easy and not a lot of people accept that easily but, progress are being made and eventually things will get better with the new normal.

This book covers an interesting topic and written it in a magical way for middle grades to be able to enjoy it.
Overall, this is a really good after-apocalypse fantasy book. It's an easy read, perfect for getting out of a book slump.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kali Wallace and Quirk Books for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As an adult, I've read this before (think, the various books in the Giver series, <i>City of Ember</i>, etc.) but as a pre-teen probably not so using that as my guide... it's ok. At times I had to remember how old Octavia was, but perhaps that was due more to living in a city that was the only place to survive the war. And those ferox? Such an interesting creation. I wish we'd learned more about the magic charms that keep them under control, and spent a little more time with Master Flavia. Instead, we get a lot of the action and adventure parts being a little rushed - usually I'm part of the "less is more" brigade, but here more would definitely been better. Not a lot more, just enough to really flesh out the world that Wallace has created.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I didn't completely love Hunters of the Lost City as much as I hoped I would, but I very much suspect it was more to personal taste and writing preferences than any fault with the story..
What I did adore, was the creativity of the world-building, especially the slightly darker edge. I really liked all the secrets and monsters. I think this will be a major hit with middle grader readers.
The writing style is a little slow to start, with quite a lot of description to get the world-building in place, but it picks up fairly quickly once Octavia gets going and pulls off some great twists.

Monsters, magic and rich world building create a fantastical setting with more than a surprise or two.

From the very first page, the world building draws in with an intricate weaving, which is well-laid out and offers few holes or stumbling blocks. It is an original magical system, which creates a lovely background for all of the twists and turns along the way. The heroine, Octavia, is one to root for as she does her best to discover the truth of her world, and she faces more than a few, small dangers. She's determined, makes mistakes, and has a good moral compass.

There is quite a bit of imagination involved, although there are just as many familiar aspects in the fantastical end of things. It makes it an easy read to sink into and a fun world to discover right along with the heroine. To say that this is action-packed and quick-paced, though, isn't quite correct. The entire thing slowly begins, letting the world-building deepen, but I found myself skipping over more than a few paragraphs along the way. The middle didn't step-up on this end, either, although the ending does hold tension and grabs more than the rest of the tale.

It's an easy read with a fun fantasy world and interesting characters. Fantasy fans, who appreciate a well-rounded world, and don't mind the slower pacing, will enjoy it.

Great world building, and I liked the characters.
For me, this lacked pace, which stopped me enjoying the story. I think that middle grade readers would struggle with this one as its very descriptive.

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

This way-after-apocalypse fantasy for middle grade readers delves into deep, gritty subject matter in a fun, thoughtful way. Octavia is a girl who yearns to be a hunter of monsters like her dead sister. She lives in the last city to survive a war of devastating magic fifty years before—or so she has been told. When a hunting trip goes awry, she’s saved by a strange girl from a city that shouldn’t exist. Her concept of the world shatters, and she sets out to help her new friend—and find the truth.

Octavia is such a tenacious, relatable character. She does what’s right even when it’s difficult. The book addresses topics like war, death, loss, and the ways that adults can lie and manipulate, and it’s all done with nuance and care. I was truly impressed by how the book developed.

I'm a sucker for a strong female protagonist (especially in middle grade) and hoo boy did Hunters of the Lost City deliver on that account! This book was a magical coming of age story that didn't take itself too seriously yet had countless life lessons strewn in without ever sounding too preachy. We follow Octavia who gets to learn a lot about her walled-off city when she meets a girl from the world beyond the walls - there were lies, intrigue, scandal, things pushed under the rug and Octavia did her hardest to get to the bottom of it all with her wit, her strength and her perseverance! I loved what this book did in terms of friendship and supporting each other and the magic and monsters were of course fantastic elements as well!
Highly recommend if you're a fan of Percy Jackson, Nevermoor or Tamora Pierce's writing!

I was really excited for this book; the concept of a walled-in city, a community of people believing to be the lone survivors from a past war to populate the Earth. It's a compelling concept, and the story started off on a fun track. When Octavia first gets caught overnight outside the gates, I thought our adventure was going to begin.

And then we kind of stall from there, we get deep into rather predictable political intrigue and I found myself becoming rather ambivalent while reading this. I enjoyed the premise, and I enjoyed the characterizations, but the paths taken in plot ended up feeling worn.

Thank you to Quirk books, Netgalley, and the author for an advanced ereader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Octavia has always lived within the walls of Vittoria. It is the only surviving town after the great sorcerer war. In fact the town is plagued by the monsters the sorcerer's used during the war. Since the monsters only hunt during the night no one is allowed into the town after the last bell. Octavia having lost her sister to these monsters, longs to be a hunter herself. Yet her parents want her to take on a less dangerous path. Yet on one of her secret trainings in the woods she encounters something that changes her life forever, a girl she doesn't know. Can Octavia learn the truth about the great war? Is Vittoria really the only remaining city?

This book has great character development and will sweep your kids off their feet on a grand adventure. If your kid like high paced suspense novels, with a little dose of magic then this is the perfect book for them. I highly suggest it. This would be a great summer read.

Thank you so very much Quirk Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

This was such an unexpected treat of a book!

I had read the description, but hadn't focused on it enough to remember any of the plot, so went in entirely ignorant of what the story was going to be and blimey it started with a bang! Immediately dark and atmospheric, but without revealing too much of what the town of Vittoria's story was or too much of the past. It felt dystopian, brutal and cold, mountains, monsters and threat! Then the author seamlessly wove in themes such coming of age problems, loss, and family all through the eyes of an independent-minded, curious, and intelligent main character who wants more from what life has dealt her, Octavia has so much energy and agency without the author ever over-labouring the point that she needs to make her own choices, or forge her own path, this is all shown rather than told. The downfalls of isolation, and the mechanisms and motives of those who hold power was also really interesting to read, those themes resonated a lot with me after the past two years of pandemic, war, and corruption, and a great way to introduce those themes and discussion points for younger generations

The book felt like the best kind of feminist story, where there are just as many, if not more female characters and are strong, clever, and not lesser in any way, without that being raised as an issue at all. There is no point made about women being as good as, or better than men, they just have equality in this book, and get on with their jobs, lives, or power grabs, and I loved that, Just as naturally a part of this story and world is the relationships, though this is a middle grade, there is lesbian/gay representation relating to main characters, subtle, and beautiful, and not just a sentence related to a side character.

This packs so much into it, while still being very plot-centred, very dark brutal moments, but definitely one of, if not the highlights of my reading year so far! A great Middle-Grade to YA transition book, but also an interesting read for all ages.

Thank you to Netgalley, Quirk books, and Kali Wallace for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

One of my favorite things about fantasy books is the world building, and I really enjoyed the world Wallace built, including the Feroxes. There were a couple twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which is always enjoyable. I will say that I think the book slowed down a bit in the middle and felt a bit sluggish, but ended well.

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I gotta say it lived up to my expectations and then some! The secrets of the village and how the world ended was such an interesting draw in so seeing how everything unraveled over time was amazing! I’m sad this one is over but I think it was wrapped up fantastically!

I received an electronic ARC from Quirk Books through NetGalley.
Octavia and her family have lived in Vittoria all of her life. The city is behind huge walls and guarded gates. Dwellers do venture outside during the daytime but everyone is back by evening bells due to the monsters that roam just beyond. They all have been told and believe they are the only people who survived the Sorcerers' War fifty years in the past. The sorcerer who rules their town, Camilla, has governed with fear and a need to keep everyone protected and safe. When Octavia accidentally gets locked out of the city, she seeks shelter in one of the Watchtowers and encounters a stranger. From here, the story unfolds as readers see the Octavia process a world that is entirely different from what she knows. The dead may not be dead but simply have left the town; the sorcerer who created the Feroxes may be closer than they know; the protective walls may be more about keeping others out.
The story flows well and offers continued character development and fully developed scenes. The descriptive text allows readers to visualize the world as it changes and unfolds.
Well presented to allow readers to think about diverse world views. Are we closed into our box or seeking to explore and learn from others?

It has been fifty years since a terrible war destroyed the world, leaving only a solitary city surrounded by terrifying magical creatures in its wake. Twelve-year-old Octavia has only known the town of Vittoria, its bells, and its rules for her entire life, and she is determined to become a hunter to protect her town from harm. Ever since the death of her sister Hana the previous winter, though, all of Octavia’s formal plans to become a hunter have dissolved—but that does not stop her from continuing to practice the training Hana began while she was alive. One such practice session draws Octavia farther from Vittoria than she planned, and she finds herself directly in the path of a fearsome monster. Octavia’s very survival is in question, and when the dust settles, she begins to realize that the truths she has always believed may not be as substantial as she once thought.

This gripping fantasy adventure is ideally suited to older middle grade readers who are on the precipice of young adult literature. Octavia herself is twelve-years-old and much of the plot focuses on her discovery of the wider world, just as the target audience is sharing similar experiences. The story itself can be read as a metaphor for the protection children receive in their youth falling away as those children become teenagers, and the plot beautifully investigates this inevitable time of growth in an engaging way. Throughout the novel, secrets and lies are presented and dispelled in a pattern that keeps readers guessing from one chapter to the next. It is important to note that readers are given ample opportunity to come to their own conclusions even as the truth is carefully revealed within the narrative; this balance provides readers with a profound sense of satisfaction by the end of the novel.

From world-building to character development to overall storytelling, the writing in this novel is exquisite and helps readers fall head first into the fictional land in which Octavia resides. Each element blends elegantly into the next, and subtle moments of emotional connection enhance the primary mystery being solved. Strong backstories make the moments within the narrative realistic and believable, and readers mirror the characters in wondering where the truth really lies. Like much of history, the truth is found somewhere within the stories that have been passed down, and it requires dedication to dig to its roots. Octavia has the tenacity to do just that, and her story is one that will resonate with older middle grade and newer young adult readers long after the final page is turned. This is a highly recommended addition to fantasy collections for early teen readers.