Spellstone is a phenomenal - and I don't use that word lightly! - MG adventure story, giving the reader not only an escape into a magical reality but also a reminder of the goodness found in humanity. It is an exceptional story and one I strongly believe should be in all KS2 classrooms and primary school libraries.

Evie is a girl who goes unnoticed by everyone around her. She is ignored, forgotten and wondering where she fits in the world. Then she meets Wainwright, a seemingly-normal bearded man who appears to know and understand her from their first encounter. Not only that, he tells her how important she is and invites her to join him and the others on a quest. What follows is masterful story-telling where the every single scene comes to life, from the everyday to the dreamscapes that some can travel into. I was hooked from the first few pages with an opening chapter that surpasses many I've encountered recently.

I've been a fan of Ross Montgomery's books since I read Max and the Millions a few years ago, an underrated genius of a children's book. It, like Spellstone, is centred around a sense of not fitting in or being on the outside and through the course of the exciting, magical events set in fantastic realities, find their purpose and where they belong. Both books gave me goosebumps and made me teary, and I know Spellstone and its range of eclectic characters will stay with me for a while. In his stories, Montgomery doesn't hold back from showing the harshness of the world, which makes the emphasis on kindness and goodness even more impactful.

Another thing that I loved about the book was the pace and how it didn't take long for the story to get interesting or exciting. Children (and adults!) can lack stamina when reading and so books that are engaging from the first couple of chapters are often likely to be the books that the children stick with and not swap after a few days. As I said earlier, I challenge anyone to read this opening chapter and not be hooked!

I know exactly how popular this book is going to be with pupils current and past and I can't wait to share it with them. Thank you to Walker Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this is advance in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this is exceptional and Ross Montgomery is a flawless writer.

Spellstone is an absolutely gripping fantasy adventure that kept me utterly enthralled from start to finish: an epic battle blending ancient legend in a modern setting where magic swirls, evil hides where people fail to notice, and hope sparks with a young sorcerer …

The last members of a secret magical organisation, the Order of the Stone, meet in an old theatre where rain pours down inside and audience is asleep. Its leader, Wainwright, tells them that he has found a sorcerer who may be their last hope in defeating an evil magician intent on finding the Spellstone and unleashing the dark magic contained within, destroying the world.

12-year-old Evie wakes from a strange dream of a theatre where the audience sleeps and rain pours down. As the dream fades, she leaves for school amidst a heatwave, feeling unseen by others: her parents, her teachers and the other children. Walking home along the canal towpath, she is knocked over by a cyclist, and helped by someone she recognises from her dream. This man introduces himself as Wainwright, one of the last true magicians, and informs her that the Spellstone, which he is tasked with keeping hidden, is being hunted by an evil magician. He gives her a rusted piece of metal on a chain and tells her to take care of it and keep it hidden. Before a confused Evie can find out more, he is running from men who are closing in on him …

Later that night, Evie hears a sound at the window and, on opening it, discovers the cat from her dream. And she can talk! She warns Evie that smoke-men are coming for her and they have to leave. Desperate for answers, Evie follows and finds herself at an abandoned narrowboat which is not what it seems. Inside, she meets the other members of the Order …

And so begins the most incredible, exhilarating adventure as Evie finds herself immersed in an ancient battle against a power-hungry magician intent on unleashing the evil bound within the Spellstone on an unsuspecting world. Will Evie discover her magical power before it is too late? Can she find the hidden Spellstone and destroy it before it returns darkness to the world? Can she defeat a cold-hearted and cruel magician who has an army of ever-watching sinister smoke-men at his command?

Just wow! What an absolute page-turner! I was completely engrossed in this brilliantly captured world: a world where ordinary people are oblivious to the danger they are facing; where magic hides in plain sight, unseen and unnoticed by most; but where a few are prepared to make sacrifices for the good of the many. The secrets, the revelations and the palpable danger kept me on the edge of my seat as I was drawn into a heart-pounding high-stakes race by a courageous few to defeat a spine-chillingly evil magician.

Evie is an incredibly likeable protagonist. She does not understand why her world has changed, why she is not noticed by others, including her busy parents. When she learns of the existence of the Order of the Stone, and her place within it, she is understandably doubtful, but shows determination and courage when facing fears and dangers and in making difficult decisions. What really struck me about Evie is her inner strength and kindness and her belief in the inherent spark of goodness in others which brings hope when it is much needed. I really liked the close bond of friendship that develops between Evie and the other members of the Order who must work as a team in their efforts to defeat the dark magician. I particularly liked Alinora who is sarcastic, quick-tempered and rude, but with a heart of gold!

I’m a huge fan of the Arthurian legends and Tolkien and spent a disproportionate part of my teenage years reading in this genre, so I loved the allusions to both, and loved the fresh twist that made this an unforgettable read that I am really looking forward to sharing with my class.

Spellstone is an absolute masterpiece: perfect for readers of 9+ who will be spellbound by this thrilling, magical adventure.

Another fantastic book from Ross Montgomery who has become a master of middle grade magical adventures. This book will grip adults and children alike with the first line hooking you. It’s an unputdownable roller coaster of an adventure that moves at break neck speed from event to the next. Full of cliff hangers making it a perfect end of the day class read. The climax is amazing and will have the reader on the edge of their seat. Once read never forgotten. Set to become a classic.

Used to being un-noticed - to the point of feeling invisible at times - Evie is surprised when the enigmatic Wainwright recruits her into a secret magical organisation. Evie discovers all at once that magic exists, that she has magical powers (btu she doesn't know what they are) and that these powers are needed to save the world from the most dangerous magician ever. Can she really do it?

Spellstone has got all the elements of the perfect magical adventure: unknow powers waiting be revealed, a talking cat, a small boat which is really the most extravagant mansion, and of course danger! Good vs Evil, a battle that rages into every one of us. Evie is a very attaching character and the reader really gets behind what she has to face and how much she needs to see her family again...! But I won't say more, only that it's a story that needs to be read!

This book got me hooked right from the first page. There is magic in his writing. It is a story about a girl who is not getting noticed as much as she used to, her encounter with Wainwright and how she came to realise that the story told by Wainwright might be more than just a story. It reminds me of a movie about a boy getting hold of the Excalibur and then being sucked into a fight against Morgana.

I love this book and will try and use it as a core-text.

Middle grade fantasy is on fire at the moment and this is no exception. With supremely confident writing and world-building from Ross Montgomery, it has a plot that pulls no punches, a spine-chilling villain and a literally explosive ending...

Evie can't work out why no one notices her. But a strange encounter with a man called Wainwright changes everything. Soon, she is she's being pulled from her home to become the leader of a secret order of magicians. But Evie knows nothing about magic, let alone having the capability to track down and destroy an object that holds all the evil power from the past. Problem is...she's the order's only hope.

This novel starts fast and gallops at a terrific pace towards a breath-taking finale of good versus evil. It's a 'chosen one' quest but with an eclectic group of characters and original stand-out concepts such as smoke men, dream-walking and fortress 99. What I found particularly interesting is that Ross Montgomery combines old magic with modern, resulting in a gripping read.

Evie is relatable everyday character and easy to root for as she navigates her new magical and rather adult-dominated world. Her burgeoning relationship with the other magicians, especially Rish, is endearing and I particularly loved the character of Alinora.

What makes this a winner though, for me, is the 'no holds barred' edgy storytelling. Ross Montgomery doesn't beat around the bush and directs the story straight towards the dark and dramatic. In the acknowledgements, I noticed he called it a 'not quite trilogy' and I'm intrigued to find out what that means for what comes next...

Evie is an ordinary 12 year old girl trying to find her place in the world. The only problem is that she seems to be becoming less and less important to those around her; her friends forget about her, even her parents aren’t taking as much notice of her as they used to. Just as she is despairing of ever finding ‘her people’ she meets the enigmatic Wainwright who tells her a tale of.magic, and good versus evil. But then, what Evie thought was just an entertaining story, turns out to be more real than she thought, and Evie is about to play the lead character in the story’s dramatic conclusion.
This is a delicious blend of myth, legend and religious allegory, all combining to create a wonderful MG fantasy.
Compelling writing and vivid character and world-building, as we’ve come to expect from Ross MacKenzie, makes this a pacy, gripping read that is difficult to put down.
The allusions to Arthurian legend through Emrys, the possible comparison of Spellstone to Pandora’s box, and the Emrys/Vale identifying with the religious figures of Christian tradition, all serve to spark some interesting discussions.
This should be in all schools and libraries that cater for 8-13 year old readers.

Twelve year old Evie feels as though she has become invisible: in the street, at school and even at home. But then she meets Wainwright (a man she remembers was in her dream the previous evening), who explains that he's a magician and promises to explain everything to her. He hands her a piece of old metal that had been hanging round his neck, tells her it's precious and to take care of it; he also tells her that Alinora will find her and will explain everything to her before he tells her that she's going to be very important and then he's off, chased by men who have gathered close-by. Confused, Evie heads home but then the cat who had also appeared in her dream arrives at her window and suddenly, everything in Evie's life changes. She is whisked away from her parents and into a world of magic where a long-running battle is threatening to come to a head and Evie could be the only person who can stop it.
Ross Montgomery is one of those authors whose books I get very excited about and have done since reading Christmas Dinner of Souls (yes, it was me who had to sleep in a hotel room with the light on after finishing that book!). His books are ones I can always get lost in; they appeal to so many children (& adults) and will most definitely still be books that are being read many years from now. So it was with much excitement that I heard that Ross had a new book out. I tried hard to wait until I could read a physical copy but I'm afraid my willpower waned very quickly and I found myself heading to NetGalley for the digital version. Grabbing a cuppa and my favourite blanket (does that make me sound incredibly old?!), I curled up against the cold and heading in to meet Evie.

Oh Ross, I'm going to say now that you've absolutely done it again! Spellstone is an immersive book that entices you in with the lure of strange dreams, magicians, ancient stones and smoke-men, then takes you on a whirlwind of an adventure that you simply can't put down. It has your gripped and makes you think; it leaves you smiling yet wanting more (please tell me 'this sort-of-but not-quite-a-trilogy' means there will be more), and it definitely leaves you with the very best book hangover!

Evie is the perfect main character: she is struggling to fit in in secondary school, in fact, she feels very much invisible in every walk of her life, so when she comes across Wainwright who promises to explain everything to her, I imagine that there must have been a sense of relief. What unfolds is something I don't think any twelve-year-old would have envisaged and I can imagine that discovering you have hidden magical powers must be quite an unsettling thing to discover, especially when those powers don't seem to be revealing themselves. We see a host of different emotions from her and I like that she has doubts on more than one occasion, it certainly made her a very believable character and one that readers will warm to. Her determination and maturity serve her well as she gets to know the magical organisation into which she has been drawn. She is brave and kind, even when all seems lost, and she is resilient to the end.

The Order of the Stone are a group of people I enjoyed getting to know, each unique in their characteristics as well as their quirky magical abilities; they are brave, loyal and will remind readers that it is ok to be yourself and to be different without it being a big issue - Lady Alinora was definitely my favourite! Val, on the other hand, was somebody I thoroughly enjoyed hating and a true example of what can happen if you crave too much power.

Set in the modern world, Ross manages to seamlessly combine reality with magic in a world of contrasts in Spellstone: a world above ground and a world hidden beneath us; the hideout to Tower 99; the past and the present, as well as things which are hidden and those that are right in front of us. The setting will make readers think just as much as the plot will.

In his acknowledgements, Ross mentions the idea of discovering something different every time you head out, with magic around every corner, and that is very much reflected in the book. When I venture out tomorrow, heading to work along my usual route, I will most definitely be looking more closely for things that are there that I miss every day and for things I often over-look, for that is where I will find magic... and magic is what Ross has created here with Spellstone: good playing off against evil; seeing the good in those around us and being open to possibilities.

Released on the 4th May, Spellstone has blown me away and I know it's going to be a huge hit so I urge you to pre-order your copy today.

Another brilliant piece of storytelling by the wonderful Ross Montgomery. A marvellously magical tale of an eclectic illusion of magicians striving to stop the evil, power-stealing Vale getting his hands on the Spellstone and in doing so, saving the world! Step up Evie, the Order of the Stone’s new leader, a schoolgirl who has no idea why she’s been chosen to lead this obscure and ancient magical society that nobody knows anything about! Can she do the unthinkable and stop the most powerful magician on the planet? Can her crack team of misfits band together and overcome the Shadowmen and find a way to thwart their increasingly dangerous nemesis?

Ross has penned another modern classic, a book with echoes of Harry Potter, of a magical world existing in parallel with our own, a book brimming with quite wonderfully realised and detailed characters, whom the reader will be begging to uncover and champion. I love the random magical powers that Evie’s team possess and even more I love how Ross has subtly woven thought-provoking issues, that many readers will have experienced, into the narrative and has created a courageous and selfless protagonist that admirably demonstrates triumph over adversity and who looks for the good in everyone. A wickedly good read with terrifying twists and tight turns continuing right to the very end. A great MG read for children aged 9 upwards. Bravo Ross.

I’ve never been very good at talking to people or making friends but over the last couple of years or so, I’ve finally found a community of people on Twitter who not only accept me but – for some bizarre reason I have yet to fathom – actually appear to like me. Knowing that there will be those with whom I can chat each day and share bookish thoughts has been a real lifesaver and one of the things that has brought me the greatest joy has been those who have got to know me well alerting me to titles that they know I will want to read.

So it was with this latest story from Ross Montgomery, one of my very favourite authors, when – having been blessed with several physical proofs, which I always prioritise – I had neglected Net Galley for a few days. Finding myself tagged into a tweet sharing the arrival of this on the site’s virtual bookshelves, I broke all of my normal rules to grab hold of this and devoured it over several evenings. For anyone who – like me – is familiar with the author’s writing, this is – of course – another must-have title and for those who are fans-in-waiting, this is a brilliant introduction to his gripping, fantastical work.

It is raining when our story opens, not usually an unusual occurrence but it is raining inside a theatre where the gathered audience are asleep. Entering the theatre is Wainwright, who heads towards the only other conscious individuals: a gangly young man, an elegantly-dressed old woman, a young boy and a very angry black cat, all of whom have been waiting for him to arrive. Telling the small group that as their leader he has had to make difficult decisions, he reveals that he has found a sorcerer, in whose dream they are currently meeting.

That sorcerer is Evie, who as yet has no idea that she is magical and is more concerned with getting her parents to pay her more attention than anything else when we meet her properly the following morning. Heading out to school, she is amazed to see the cat from her dream sitting on a wall, who then appears to follow her. At the end of a challenging day, Evie decides to walk home via the canal and after being knocked to the ground by a cyclist is astonished when she is offered assistance by someone else from her dream – Wainwright. Introducing himself properly, Wainwright explains to Evie that he is leader of a magical organisation whose purpose is to keep the Spellstone safe and that Evie has a crucial part to play in this before leaving her to think on what he has said.

When she goes to bed that night, Evie finds the cat waiting outside her bedroom window and lets her in. Discovering that she can speak, Evie listens as she is told that she must go with her to a place of safety and follows her to the group’s hideaway where she is introduced to its other members. With no idea of what her own powers might be, or why the Spellstone is so important, Evie is suddenly thrown into a world of magic and mystery as she and the others must do all they can to protect the stone from those who seek it for their own evil purposes. With the help of her new friends, will she be able to find her talents and put them to good use before it is too late?

In common with his other books, The Midnight Guardians and The Chime Seekers, the writer has again created an entirely believable world which seems familiar to us but that is heavily influenced by a malign magical presence. For Evie, who has no inkling that she possesses magic, being thrown into this new secret world that co-exists with her own is one that she very quickly realises brings huge responsibilities with it. Although the other members of the society soon accept her, they are unable to offer her any real guidance as to the part she is to play; her maturity, determination and patience as she follows the path she must take, make her not only a wonderful protagonist but also a highly likeable one.

As well as being a classic story of good versus evil, the story addresses the balance of these opposites beautifully, making this a great starting point for some great philosophical discussions in upper KS2, were it to be used as a class read. Children often have some very interesting thoughts on such ideas and they will most definitely have plenty to say on what happens not just to Evie throughout the book but the other characters too.

I absolutely loved this, as I knew I would. Brilliantly written, it hooked me in from the very start and left me with that pleasant feeling that you get at the end of a book where all the twists and turns are skilfully brought together, leaving you perfectly satisfied and looking forward to re-reading it.

Definitely one to pre-order ahead of publication on May 4th, my enormous thanks go to publisher Walker Books and Net Galley for my virtual advance read, and to the children’s book reading community on Twitter for their friendship and support.

I was recently lucky enough to have Ross Montgomery visit the school where I work. Ross was amazing with the children and was really inspiring, so I was really excited to see this title pop up on Netgalley. This book did not disappoint. From the very first page where he describes a theatre where the audience all sleep in the rain I was gripped (especially by the character who was asleep with their head back and mouth open filling with rainwater - how could they still be alive?!?). I started reading this on World Book Day during our drop everything and read session and I wanted to keep interrupting the children's own reading to read sections of the book to them. I think it will make a great read-a-loud book. I loved that the characters were so diverse but it wasn't made into a big deal, that's just how they were. It is a great story that's really about trying to see the good in people and not just the damage that humanity does, which is definitely something I have to remember from time to time. I would recommend this to anyone who teaches Upper KeyStage 2 and above and who loves a bit of real world mixed with magic. It was a great read!

I absolutely loved this book and once I started reading it I could not put it down! The characters are so likeable and have interesting back stories. I will be buying a physical copy as soon as I can so I can share it with the Year 5 children in my class - I know they’ll love it too! I really hope there’s a sequel.

What a brilliant book!
Evie feels invisible to those around her, sometimes even including her parents.
During a dream one evening, she encounters a group of 4 people and a black cat. Weirdly, the next day, she meets the cat and one of the people in her dream. This person, Wainwright,, tells her that she will be very important and urges her to join the Order of the Stone. This is an ancient order protecting the spellstone, a dark and twisted rock filled with dangerous creatures. If it falls into the wrong hands, then destruction and dark creatures will fill the world again. The order of the stone must protect this from everyone, but one man in particular-Vale.
Vale is a powerful magician intent on taking the power of the spellstone for himself. He has big plans for the world and it will come down to Evie to fight back, as new leader of the order.
Ross has a talent for creating characters who feel so relatable but have courage, determination and a sense of good flowing through their bodies. Evie is a character who many could likely identify with and she shows the reader how to be brave and bold in the face of uncertainty. She leads this ancient order using just her understanding as her own magic skills have yet to appear. She leads with kindness and a sense of justice for all.
She forms strong bonds with her new friends and while she must sacrifice for the order, she does so knowing it is for the greater good.
This is an exciting and wondrous story, filled with magic, awe and the good in the world.

Loved it!

I think this is my favourite novel by Ross Montgomery, full.ofvtwists and turns, adventure and magic.
Evie is fed up of feeling invisible when she comes across the mysterious Wainwright. He tells her about the order of the stone and the magic inside her.
Evie joins the order, makes new friends and discovered her own magic.
A brilliant story. I hope there is a follow up.

This was a magical tale full of surprises, an exciting plot and characters that leapt from the pages. I’ve never read anything by the author before but this definitely won’t be my last book. Although this is aimed at children, I am a fully grown adult and I also got so much joy and excitement following the story and characters. This will be a thrilling story perfect for all ages, but I think kids will adore this. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a chance to read and review this book.