Bess Harper’s grandad owned ‘Harper’s Odditorium’, a museum filled with weird and wonderful things, including a white alligator. After her grandad passed away, Bess worried that her dad and Uncle would want to close the museum and sell all the exhibits. However, it turned out that Bess had inherited the museum instead and was now in charge of its upkeep and trying to attract new visitors. Her grandad had told her lots of useful things about the museum, including where some secret passages are located, but he hadn’t told her how to look after some of the magical exhibits. The whispering flowers were getting restless because they didn’t have enough food and she was hoping a visit to the train of dark wonders would provide some answers.
Bess finds herself on a journey not only to save the museum but also helping the inhabitants of the train with their own mission and making some new friends along the way.
I loved the magic and adventure throughout this book and the idea of the train travelling to different lands. Children who like ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ and ‘Pages & Co’ will love this story. I hope there will be more adventures to come!

This is one of those children's fantasias that are fine, but do too much – just because it can. Here our heroine starts out by rescuing the albino alligator (of course) from her grandfather's museum of oddities, now the old man's will is being read, only to find she is the inheritor of it all. Putting the critter back she finds the place under attack due to a wicked uncle type, a horde of flowers after magical sustenance or else, and a pile of bills that need paying. Surely the train of the title is going to be behind her getting past a few of the obstacles in the way – but it's going to be a laborious journey to watch that happen.

Yes, the titular train can't just turn up at a secret station she stumbles upon, it has to be found in some other way, involving edible frogs, ghost cats and so much more. The train then of course has to be an inter-dimensional Magic Faraway thingummy, guarded by ninja mice – oh, but they have to be cross-dressing ninja mice, because the bog standard kind is just too humdrum… You get the gist – the kitchen sink has been thrown at these pages, and it is not to much benefit. The first trip on the train is almost at the halfway mark, we have so much to discover in the meantime.

And just take the way Bess finds the train, through a renegade ghost cat – how random. And where's her agency in this? Sure she went looking for it, but she needed some English-understanding carnie moggie to get to the right place. The way this has everything and more here means that the obviously necessary beats in all this, such as the parental permission, with its accompanying reveal, are almost stumbled on by chance, and the rich fantasy detail is there as gravy when we could have just skipped to enjoying the meat and two veg. This all-enveloping bonkersness is not too trying to make it unreadable, but certainly is present, and is more to the youthful taste than mine, but this is the weaker of the two novels from this author I've read in the past six weeks.

A wonderfully gothic and spooky children’s book that is full of magic, action and adventure from the outset! This is a phenomenal story that held my attention from the outset (a sure sign of a great children’s book if it can hold the attention of an adult!).

After inheriting the ‘Odditorium’ from her grandfather, Bess must travel into lands unknown to find magic items that will save the Odditorium and all that inhabit it. A wholesome story of finding friends along the way, those that truly accept her, Bess puts her very life at risk to save others and do what’s right. All of the characters are brilliantly written and the themes in the story allow us to watch them grow with each other as they travel together to find what they each seek. The book keeps a great pace throughout and is filled with twists and turns to keep children (and adults alike) eager to read on.

So get on board the train for a thrilling journey you are not going to want to miss! I will definitely be recommending this to my colleagues, as well as the pupils I teach, because this is a story that every one should read!

Thank you to Alex Bell, Rock the Boat publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A brilliant subject for children spooky story with sweets. I would use this in class so the children could create their own spooky sweets and how they might fit into the character’s adventure.

Magic and mystery abound in this gripping new fantasy from Alex Bell.
When her beloved Pops dies, Bess Harper inherits his Odditorium, a museum full of the weird and wonderful. However, interest in the exhibits has waned and without visitors it seems impossible that Bess will be able to keep the museum open much longer. To make matters worse, Bess is struggling to fit in at school. Somehow, she just feels a bit different to others her age: different interests, different attitude. Just different. And very lonely. That is, until the day the Train of Dark Wonders rolls into town and opens up a whole new world of mystery and adventure. Not to mention a friend or two.
With echoes of The Magic Faraway Tree and Alice in Wonderland, this will appeal to anyone who loves fantastical adventure stories. There are enchanted characters to meet and wondrous worlds to explore.
A charming story of friendship and belonging which I’m sure will not disappoint.

What a wonderful magical book. The children knew that they were in for a treat when they had a new book from the author Alex Bell and it certainly did not disappoint. Ms Bell is a reliably great author and one of the children's favourites - magic , trains and strong female characters are a great combination.
Will look forward to the next book !

Book Review: The Train of Dark Wonders: A Charming and Magical Adventure

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ magical stars!

First off, can we talk about how adorable that cover is? Simply perfection. As for the book itself, that was perfection as well. I loved every minute of this book. And in fact, I finished it all in one go!

The Train of Dark Wonders, written by Alex Bell, is a magical must-read middle-grade novel that takes readers on a journey to strange and spectacular lands. Bess, our young and curious protagonist, inherits her grandfather's Odditorium and finds herself faced with the challenge of drawing in crowds to prevent its closure.

But when a mysterious train arrives in town, headed for The Land of Halloween Sweets, Bess seizes the opportunity and sneaks on board. There, she meets Beau the puppeteer, Louis the violinist, and Maria the fire witch, who become her companions in this thrilling adventure. Together, they set out to search for the rarest sweet of all – the ghostly gobstopper.

However, their quest is not without its challenges. The Land of Halloween Sweets is ruled by the fearsome Candymaker, and beneath the sugary surface lies hidden danger. As Bess and her newfound friends navigate this enchanting yet treacherous world, they discover that things are not always as they seem.

Alex Bell's writing in The Train of Dark Wonders is captivating and well-crafted. Each page is filled with charm, heartwarming moments, and a touch of magic that will delight readers of all ages. The author's ability to create quirky and imaginative settings adds to the overall enchantment of the story.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its wonderful cast of characters. Bess is a relatable and brave protagonist who captures your heart from the start. Her companions, Beau, Louis, and Maria, bring their own unique talents and personalities to the group dynamic. Their friendship and camaraderie make the story even more enjoyable.

The Train of Dark Wonders is not only a delightful adventure but also a tale that touches upon deeper themes. It explores the importance of friendship, courage, and facing one's fears. As readers follow Bess on her journey, they will be reminded of the power of belief in oneself and the strength that can come from unexpected alliances.

In conclusion, The Train of Dark Wonders is a gem of a book that deserves all five stars. It is well-written, charming, heartwarming, and magical—a perfect combination for readers of all ages. With its wonderful characters and enchanting settings, it is no surprise that I fell in love with this story from the first page until the last.

And now, I can't help but hope that someone turns this enchanting tale into a movie or TV series soon. The Train of Dark Wonders has all the elements to captivate audiences on screen and bring its magical world to life. So grab a copy of this book, hop on board the train, and prepare for an adventure you won't soon forget!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

All aboard the train of dark wonders! And seriously, it’s going to be a train you want to get on!

The book won me over from the first chapter and following Bess and her story. She’s a little girl with big goal - to save her fathers Odditorium and prevent it from being closed down. It’s tired, dusty, a little forlorn and forgotten and with the invasion of the whispering flowers taking over the museum, she must take drastic steps to save it from its fate.

She hears about the train of dark wonders, and it’s coming to town! Her grandfather mentioned it in his letter and a mysterious Professor Ash is the one she is tasked to find. Can she find him and save her odditorium in time? Maybe she’ll meet a friend or two along the way…

It was seriously so wholesome and heartwarming. Bess was a great character to follow and I’m sure we could all find a bit of ourselves in Bess. The story itself was fun and exciting and would be a great read for all alike. I loved it and it was the perfect spooky fun read. You can’t help but leave this book feeling happy!

This MG story is a delight to read and very much reminded me of the joy I felt when reading Enid Blyton’s Faraway Tree books. Main protagonist Bess is a wonderful non girly girl character and I desperately envy her, being left her grandfather’s museum of curiosities, the Odditorium. Added to this is the fact that during her adventures she gets to ride on a beautiful, full of magical creatures, steam train and by the end of the story she has her own familiar (a raven) and spooky magic coach - I can’t wait to read the next of her adventures!