Thirteen children live in the Fablehouse children's home,
Heather is new and she likes to roam.
She likes to take the chance to explore
In case she needs to run away once more.

However, this time the home seems okay
With children like her who are keen to stay.
There's three others who now are each her friend
Together they form the Roamers on each other they depend.

They find a stranger who is in a bad way
An adult who has some strange things to say.
They rescue him and try to look after him, too,
Which leads to a quest for the Roamers to do!

This story is great for its diversity and insight,
With the world as we know it facing a plight.
Can these children, rejected by many, somehow
Work together to save the world from the Fae now?

With a mix of fables, King Arthur and magic,
Can friendship help save everyone from something tragic?
A great read for children looking for a longer fantasy read
With great characters and talents that are just what they need.

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

EL Norry writes with a passion and definitely draws the reader into the book. Whilst it deals with the issues of racial prejudice ( black children being sent to a care home to be hidden away!) It also deals with the complexities that come with being in a care home and not feeling like you belong!
Heather has been to quite a few of them and has always run away, this time she begins to feel a connection especially when she meets some others by the cairn. They are all drawn to the cairn, they all feel it has some form of magical properties about it! Soon Heather and her friends are there everyday and become known as the Roamers. One day when they get there however, everything has changed, the faith is no longer standing reduced to rubble and there's a strange man who looks injured. So many questions but first they need to try and understand what's happened so they can help him. What they begin to learn about who he is will set them on the adventure of their lives!

Loved this novel, if you love adventure stories packed with some magic then it's definitely for you! Would loved to see it adapted for a film. Can't wait for the next instalment so excited to find out what the Roamers get up to next!!!

I absolutely fell into this beautiful book - it's the perfect book to curl up with on a dreamy, sunny afternoon!

Heather and her friends are the children of Black GIs and white British women, abandoned and hated in the wake of World War 2. They find shelter and protection at Fablehouse, a children's home specifically for children in their situations. The magical stone cairn draws them to it every day; everything seems better when they're close to it. Until the day they find it torn apart, and a young Black man lies unconscious nearby...

Mixing Arthurian legend with Fae myths and genuine British history, this wonderful story sucked me in at once. Heather is a wonderful character, justifiably angry at the world she lives in but still compassionate and willing to set her anger aside to help other people. Her little found family - one of my favourite tropes - is amazing; I can't pick a favourite of them, and they were all necessary in the end.

E.L. has a wonderful touch with atmosphere, painting the hazy, sunny days above ground and the claustrophobic, terrifying land below with equal skill. The growth of the children was wonderful to watch. I love that, although this is the first of a series, it's not a cliffhanger; there's a couple of obvious hooks for the next one, and I probably missed some less obvious ones, but a reader could stop at this one and not feel that they were missing too much.

I can't wait to read more of this, and I think it would be an incredible movie or mini series. Absolutely brilliant.

Heather has been to several children’s homes and always has to fight as she is a mixed race girl in the 1950ies. She then gets send to Fablehouse where there are children like her. She could always only rely on herself, so very reluctantly makes friends at the new home. Then strange things started to happen and the friends investigate.
This story reminds me of Whistle down the wind with hints of Artemis Fowl.
I loved the idea of the story but found it a slow read for me. I liked the variety of the characters, and how all are special in their own way. The story tackles prejudice and the ridiculousness of it.

Fabelhouse
By E.L.Norry
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Norry writes from the heart with true passion and beauty. Her latest novel, Fablehouse is a gorgeous celebration of finding your place, belonging and believing in yourself.

Fablehouse is a crumbling children's home, high above the cliffs with a mysterious woodland like no other. This is the home for many of Britain's Brown Babies, children born to African American GIs and white, British women following the Second World War.
This wonderful story tells of both Heather’s journey, who is trying her hardest not to trust Fablehouse and its unusual head teacher, Miss Isolde. But when children start acting strangely, Heather discovers a plot from a fae realm who have begun to infiltrate and overthrow the humans.
So Heather makes it her mission and sets off on a quest to rescue the children who have been replaced by changelings. No child will be forgotten on her mission, as she knows that feeling all too well. Discovering some extraordinary powers, her inner strength and a fire inside herself, Heather battles to save the first place that has felt like home for years...

‘My mission is to ensure that people do see you and your true glory and the unique talents you each have. To celeb rate and delight in all which makes us different.’

Fablehouse is about finding that missing piece in your life. This beautifully told story with huge dollops of heart-felt love makes you reflect on what you have and how precious it is.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.

#Netgalley
#Bloomsbury

I absolutely loved this book, it's a little slow to get going but the final 2/3 is nicely paced.

We see the growth of the main characters, learning to cope with finding themselves in a children's home, learning to trust found family, and learning to trust in themselves. Racial differences aren't shied away from, and neither is grief or loss.

I'd recommend this for middle-grade kids, either those that have similarities to the main characters, or ones you want to build empath (that's all kids though, right?)

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

I tried hard with this one, but at about 60% I decided I wasn't going to keep reading.
I liked the premise well enough, but I just felt it was so incredibly slow to get going. It was almost halfway before anything really exciting actually happened, and by that point I was pretty disinterested. I kept going a little longer, but I wasn't finding the characters particularly interesting or compelling.

A wonderful feel good novel. So sad when children end up in a children’s home, but these children end up coming together and having a great adventure. A really beautiful book.

This story has a wonderful cast of characters, led by Heather, who are all 'Brown Babies' - born after or during the war from liaisons between their mothers and Black American soldiers - and are now, for various reasons, orphaned and being looked after at Fablehouse. The band of characters who become known as 'The Roamers' really embody the main themes of the book which are the power of friendship, finding and making your own 'family', courage and unique strengths.
With a dash of magic thrown in, the children travel to Fae Feld and its links to Arthurian legend. The children prove to themselves that they are 'Chosen' and their personal growth in the book is wonderful to read and inspirational. This will appeal to many middle-grade readers and above.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

It is June 1954 and most of the babies born during the Second World War are turning at least ten while some have also realised they are unwanted, such as some of the 'Brown Babies' fathered by American GIs. Children like eleven year old Heather who has just arrived at the poetically named Fablehouse, perched on a high cliff outside a small village, with ancient woodland behind it. This is supposed to be a home for her and thirteen others, but she is sure it will be just as awful as all the others she's run from.

Heather does at least enjoy the chance to lose herself in the countryside, or she did until three other children join her which enables her to begin to discover the pleasure of friends around her. Strange things have started to happen at Fablehouse however, and she knows it's up to her and her new companions to make things right. Of course, having the assistance of The Black Knight from King Arthur’s Court also helps but with a dangerous foe to vanquish will it be enough?

E L Norry's series starter is just wonderful and I enjoyed every word. Heather is an extremely likeable and relatable main protagonist who shows how the true meaning of family, embracing your individuality, and fighting for what you believe in can be different for everyone. The addition of burgeoning friendships and Arthurian legend only enhance an already excellent storyline and I can't wait to dive into book two, hopefully in the near future.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I highly recommend this for all readers aged 10 and over, right up to 60+ grandma's in fact!

Heather has been moved around 3 different orphanages before being sent to Fablehouse. She is determined to maintain a wall between her and any question of friendship so she is not let down yet again. But Fablehouse is different. It houses all children like her – offspring of mainly black Fathers and white Mothers, who, in 1954, were looked upon as ‘abominations’ and received very hostile treatment by society as a whole. It is no different in the village when Heather encounters two village children who have no compunction about attacking Heather but who were not expecting her to retaliate. This news got back to the Headmistress who called Heather into her office and said they needed the villagers on their side if they were to remain open. She’d recently found some old books in the attic, one of which was very fancy and loaned Heather another - Le Morte d’Arthur, tales of knights of old.
Gradually 3 of the other children made friends with Heather who comes to appreciate their kindness in different ways.
One day the four children came across a man who looked as if he had been beaten. He seemed to be talking gibberish but knew his name was Pal. Slowly between them they realised Pal was Palamedes, a knight of St Arthur’s, sent to guard the doorway between the human and Fae worlds, but this has been breached and changlings swapped for the other orphans. Pal blamed himself whist Heather was convinced the other strange book the Headmistress found in the attic was a key so the four friends do the unthinkable and enter the Fae world to save the children.
When all is saved, the Head admitted she wanted the orphanage forgotten so the children would not be targeted but now realised this was the wrong approach and that society should learn to accept those different from themselves. This seems an unusual angle on racism but the book had succeeded in raising empathy despite this.

This was such a cosy, heartwarming and feel good story.

I read this with my son who really enjoyed this. It was the perfect blend of adventure, fantasy and friendship.

The concept of prejudice is dealt with in a powerful way and prompted some real conversation about inequality and fairness.

Just a really brilliant book and we will definitely be reading the sequel.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review

This was such a great, heartwarming story that warms you right to the cockles of your heart. It was such a sweet and cosy fantasy, filled with friendship, love, hope and courage. A perfect mix for a middle grade book and one that would happily grace every young readers bookshelf!

Set in the 1950’s, it shines a light onto the ‘brown babies’ born during and after the war, where black soldiers and pilots often left their parting gifts of a new and different coloured generation. We know back then, times were a lot different and oppression, racism and unfairness was strife. But here we see then bonded in strength and friendship, to overcome what society thinks of them and to find true worth in themselves.

This is all wrapped up in an epic fantasy tale, of fae, changelings, knights and magic. I loved the nod to Arthurian legend as anything with mentions of Merlin, knights and the lady of the lake instantly adds an extra awesome layer of interest and intrigue.

All of the characters were fab and instantly had you rooting for them. The Roamers were a lovely little band who sought out danger and overcame all the odds. And if this one is anything to go by, the follow up and Fable House 2 holds a lot of promise and one that I can’t wait to see how it will grow.

Thanks Netgalley and publishers for the arc of Fablehouse by E L Norry.

Unlock the legends.
Unleash the magic.
Save your home.

What a ride this takes you on. Such beautiful story and delightful characters, what’s not to love about this fantasy world.

DNF - apologies, I enjoyed the premise, but struggled to read a book meant for such a young audience. However, Heather and her friends were very well-rounded characters, and the world was written skillfully.

The description. Fantasy. You know I was going to read this book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

This book is full of historical features that more people need to be engaged with!

There was so much from this book that I have learnt. The stories, life as a "brown babies" (born to white British mothers after their black fathers have left to serve their country during the War)

My favourite characters from this book was Heather, Arlene, Nat, Lloyd and the Roamers. Their bravery to stay loyal to their home whilst having the courage to venture out was amusing to see throughout the book.

It is a fast-paced book, however Emma Norry's writing style was simple and straightforward allowing this book to be an easy read.

It was truly a spell-binding book. I can not wait to pick up the second book when it comes out!

Will also write an Amazon review on both UK and US sites.

Fablehouse is a unique and powerful story of belonging, of finding oneself and of unleashing the power within. It’s a story of representation, of racism and of hope. I found it entirely different to anything I’ve read before and enjoyed seeing how the author interwove fae, fables and real world issues. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A spellbinding adventure, action packed, full of heart and a new twist on Arthurian lore. Thank you so much to the publisher for this gorgeous ARC, I can’t wait for the next adventure.

Be still my heart! An amazing cast of characters that prove that friendship and found family is all you need. Wonderfully written.