I love Abi's work so much, so I went into this with high expectations. I think it felt a little younger than her last series for me, which is probably why it didn't get five stars, but other than that it's very enjoyable!

It has just the right amount of silliness, fun, adventure and peril in it. Also nice to see it's not completely adult free either - will be interesting to see how that is navigated in future books! The illustrations are lovely too, and I ended up listening to the audio and definitely recommend that as the narrator is fab.

Keen to see more of the vet type stuff I the rest of the series, as well as dealing with the bad guys, so hopefully we'll get a little of that :)

Four stars.

I've seen a couple of 'vet to magical beast' stories recently, which is an instantly engaging concept and this gentle but engaging adventure is aimed firmly at the MG age-group. Combining magical beasts with school bullies and a dastardly villain is no easy task but Elphinstone balances it all beautifully in a plot that will keep readers hooked. There's a real warmth to the storytelling and a sprinkling of magic and wonder, but also enough villain to keep the stakes and peril high. We can't wait for the next one.

This was a lovely story about caring for magical creatures. Some beautiful illustrations throughout and a lovely message.

"Rusty Fizzbang, vet to magical beasts, needs an apprentice. Ember Spark, looking for adventure, is his newest recruit - and together with an unlikely friend, Arno, she is sent to help a baby dragon whose parents have gone missing."

I've been a huge fan of Abi Elphinstone's children's books for many years. Her stories always get into the action quickly, have full, interesting characters, unlikely heroes and sneaky villains. The first Ember Spark book is exactly what I would expect to find in an Elphinstone book and I loved it.
What I always think works particularly well in her books, and the same applies here, is that there is always the perfect amount of peril and the pace of the story is excellent, with exciting openings to hook young readers in, and then a story with excellent characterisation and plot to keep them reading.
Ember Spark seems aimed at slightly younger readers than her previous books - I'd say it's perfect for confident Year 4 readers to those in Year 6 who perhaps don't have the stamina for longer, wordier texts yet.
A gem of a KS2 story. A great read.

Brilliant fantasy adventure from Abi Elphinstone, even better than the Unmapped Chronicles series. Loved the two main characters, so different from each other but a brilliant partnership. Couldn’t help but picture all the mythical creatures & desperately wanted a nibblesqueak in my own pocket!

Such a cozy and comforting middle-grade read !

This book is decorated with beautiful black-and-white illustrations and tells the story of Ember Spark, an adventurous young girl, who finds a peculiar hamster on the beach one day. But is he really a hamster ? Along with one of her schoolmates, Arno, she will go on an adventure among magical beasts to prevent an evil man from killing them all.

This was such a fast read, I finished it in 2 (busy) days, which is amazing for me at the moment with novels !

In brief, this cute little book is perfect for kids and grown-ups ! 😉

Abi's books never miss. Emberspark was a brilliant read, filled with magical creatures, brilliant characters, a lush friendship and just the right amount of peril to keep you turning the pages and crossing your fingers.

I loved the idea of a safe house for poorly magical creatures and seeing how volunteering there helped Ember and Arno form their friendship, have adventures, and learn a few lessons along the way.

There are some beautiful messages in here about friendship, bravery and doing the right thing, but they are so brilliantly woven into the story along with Abi's brilliant humour and story telling, so it never feels heavy handed.

I can't wait to see what's next for Ember and Arno.

My Daughter just read this book in one day! She was absolutely gripped and couldn't put it down. She said any fans of Impossible Creatures will love this book and she can't wait to read the next one!

A lively read, that just about diverts you from the efforts it has to go through to provide a full adventure and the entire set-up for this whole world as well, but only just. I'm sure once the whole series is up and running further books can be even more exuberant and engaging. This is still pretty decent stuff, mind – a girl discovers a critter just before someone nasty snatches it, and then finds a whole world of magical beasts, all cared for by just one guy, who's done his back in. She and the shy kid at school she doesn't realise can be a friend, what with her daddy issues etc, suddenly find themselves apprentice vets to the likes of dragons, unicorns and so on, but that whole world is under threat. They'll be doing more than doling out medicine and putting nappies on babies…

This generally has a healthy blend of the well-trodden (I was going to suggest filing this right alongside the trilogy beginning with Unicorn Island (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4363860110)) – but there is invention enough here too, what with the satnav-toting flying bathtub, and the whole dragon-whisperer aspect of our girl's life is done very well. Things do seem a bit tidy, mind – the world is peopled by so few folks and yet we still see the old guard vets, the shy kid is too bold too suddenly, and the bullies are boring as all that, but I think the way we see the marvel and wonder of all this through naive eyes is a strong point. Future books could make the whole series an easy four stars, so I will be a touch generous and give this opener that too.

All Ember Spark wants is to have adventures, just like her comic book heroine, Gutsy Wonder. Unfortunately, living in the quiet, sleepy village of Yawn, adventures are in short supply. Until, by some quirk of fate, Ember rescued a curious little hamster from almost certain death. This seemingly ordinary action set into play a series of extraordinary events.
An odd smell of burnt toast and fertilizer engulfs the town next day, and Ember’s teacher Mrs Rickety-Knees, sends her and a classmate on a strange mission which leads them to the wonderfully named Rusty Fizzbang. Rusty is the vet to all magical and mythical creatures who live quietly in Ember’s world. But the fantastical creatures are in danger, Rusty is not feeling his best and he desperately needs Ember’s help.
This perilous adventure is just what Ember has been waiting for, supported by her companion, Arno, and a rather spectacular magical bathtub. Their mission is not without danger, as the magical creatures are being sought after by the evil Jasper Hornswigggle, who will stop at nothing to capture these endangered beasts.
Running through the story is
Abi Elphinstone creates the most wonderful and fantastical worlds for young children. Her stories are full of verve and energy, heart and humour, peril and real life heartaches, and will engage readers of many ages. Suitable for children aged 7 and over.
Many thanks to NetGalley for ARC.

Aww this is such a sweet and fun adventure, I can just imagine the joy in a young person uncovering the 'magic' from page to page. Reading it reminded me of the stories my dad used to read to me when I was a little girl. It's well written and described. Ember is struggling with the fact her dad has a new woman in his life and has isolated herself from her friends. She lives in a place called Yawn and she's desperate for an adventure just for her. She loves reading Gutsy Wonder Magazine and the day she comes across 40 Winks her world changes and her teacher Mrs Rickety - Knees holds some secrets of her own. A recommended read full wonder.

A fantastic children’s read! I’ll be sharing this to my children a school as I know they’ll love this adventure!

This is great fun! Love the idea of a hidden cave with a secret password where fantastical beasts come for help. The character names are at times a little too on-the-nose and twee which pulls you out of the fantasy world. Otherwise - lovely!

Apprentice vet for magical creatures? Yes please, this was brilliant. School a strong start to a new series.

I loved following Ember and her new found friend/ not friend Arno as they become apprentice vets to magical creatures.

Ember and Arno find themselves in a world of magic completely new to them. They have to save creatures who may not only be unwell, but also at risk from someone who tries to capture them for his own reasons. There are creatures I've heard of like unicorns, but new wonderful creations to discover too.

This is a great middle grade that I'll be recommending to children who love animals, magic and adventures. I'm looking forward to seeing Ember and Arno in new adventures one day soon.

I loved this. It was a super quick read, but so much was jam packed into it. Magical beasts, a flying bathtub, a magical beast vet and some very, very bad people all feature heavily. Ember and her 'friend' Arno have a mission to save a Dragon, the Loch Ness Monster and to avoid Japser. Will they do it? Read the book to find out, you won't be able to put it down.

I’ve read and loved everything that Abi Elphinstone has written and her newest book - Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons - is a brilliant magical adventure that will delight young readers. Suitable for younger readers to share with an adult or for older readers to read independently, it will appeal to any animal lover.

Ember lives in a wild part of Scotland and longs for an adventure so when she rescues a magical creature and discovers a magical vet in desperate need of help, her wish comes true. Joining her on the adventure is Arlo, a boy who she is not sure she wants to be friends with and who is bullied at school, but slowly they learn what it means to be friends and that often working together is much more fun than being alone.

Full of dragons, unicorns and flying bathtubs, this is one of my favourite new releases of the year and one I highly recommend.

I'm always so excited to read a new Abi Elphinstone novel - no one captures the magic of childhood and friendship quite like she does, and Ember Sparks is another triumph.

When Ember Sparks finds a superhero hamster on the beach by her house, she senses she's on the start of the very thing she's always dreamed of - an adventure! But even the ever-adventure-ready Ember is surprised by the magical adventure that unfolds, featuring broken hearted baby dragons, a flying bathtub and something Ember will do anything to avoid - a friend.

I raced through this novel in a day and can't wait to start over again with my children, who I think are going to love Ember, Arno and Forty Winks. This novel is the start of another superb, magical world and is written with such wonder and care that every page is a delight.

Abi Elphinstone has done it again! Perfectly imperfect heroes, mild peril, shadowy government workings, fantastical creatures and a huge dollop of magic and adventure.

Another wonder story from Abi Elphinstone, she never disappoints.
This is the story of ten year old Ember, an ordinary girl who lives in a sleepy place called Yawn. But Ember is not as ordinary as she thinks she is, she has a way with animals which leads her into all sorts of adventures when she becomes an apprentice vet to help Rusty Fizzbang care for magical animals.
This story is packed to the brim with fascinating characters, good and bad. I loved Ember and her new friend Arno, Ember is feisty and brave and Arno is the perfect foil for her. The pace of the book is fast moving, I just wanted to read more and more. Oh and did I mention the flying bathtub!!
Such a good read for 8 to 12 year olds. I really look forward to reading more in this series.