In K. J. Cole's captivating novel, The Pilgrim's Pendant, readers join Jane Pilgrim on a remarkable journey through adolescence. Amid feelings of loneliness and the search for self, Jane's story unfolds in a world where magic and mystery abound. As she grapples with her inner struggles, Jane embarks on an extraordinary adventure that tests her courage and perception. Through vivid storytelling, Cole transports readers to a realm where reality and fantasy merge, revealing that true bravery stems from embracing one's own identity and truth.

The Pilgrim's Pendant was very enjoyable!

Jane is a teenager who lives with her father, stepmother and two stepbrothers. Her family constantly makes her feel like an inconvenience and she feels unloved and alone. She unexpectedly embarks on a quest in another world full of magic and mysterious creatures and discovers herself along the way, and what it feels to belong.

I was really captivated by the story and the writing, and felt immersed in this fantastical world along Jane.

It is a short read and is consequentially fast-paced, though a little too much at times. I would have loved more description about the different creatures, characters, and food/drinks.
I found the ending quite abrupt and didn't expect it to be done so quickly, but it looks like we might be reading more of Jane in the future, and I will be there for it!

Thank you NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner for this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

This book is a fantastic starting point for hopefully an equally enjoyable series!

The characters were great, and felt very realistic, and appropriately teenage. The mix of complicated emotions, and somewhat frequent misunderstanding made the relationship between Jane and everyone she meets very interesting to read.

The writing style of this book was brilliant, and the descriptions were detailed enough to give you a clear idea of a person, but leaving just enough room for your own interpretation. The book was fast-paced, and managed to cram a lot of action in. The use of rhyming verse throughout was a nice touch, to create a distinction between what Jane heard and what she knew.

I look forward to reading the next book.

Jane is a 13 year old girl living in London with her father, stepmother and two half-brothers. Her relationship with her caretakers is troubled. Her stepmother dislikes her and treats her like her own version of Cinderella, her father blames her for the death of her mother, and her half-brothers mostly ignore her. Her social life is also difficult: she has no friends and is bullied as school. Jane spends her days in the basement where her room is, longing for feeling loved and wondering if there could ever be more to her dire experience.

One day while going through a memory box her late mother had left behind, she finds a copy of an astronomy book which belong to her mother with the address of a book store. Intrigued to learn more, she visits the book store, but ends up being locked in its basement and transported into a magical world with a protective pendant, where she learns she is the only person who can save this world from its menacing sorcerer ruler. Confused as to how she could be the one destined to save their world, Jane goes on an adventure with new found friends to where they encounter magical creatures, challenging encounters, and a journey of self-discovery.

The book touches on themes such as loneliness, self-doubt, unrequited love, and rising above obstacles to find one's true worth. Although the overall journey sounded adventurous and intriguing at first, I found the premise could have been better explored. The dialogue between characters and the feelings and internal struggles of our main character seemed shallow, and the overcoming of obstacles too easy. The progression of events felt rushed and a bit random, much like a quick retelling of an absurd dream one had when waking up in the morning.

I wanted to DNF the book from the 30% mark, but had to admit that past the clunky writing, I was curious to find out where this magical journey took Jane and how the story would ultimately unfold and the book was short enough that I was ok with that. With a little more work on descriptions of the environment, the challenging aspect of the obstacles encountered, and characters' feelings, as well as more attention to setting the scene to immerse the reader in the story, I truly believed this could turn into a more interesting read.

Overall, the creativity and imaginative qualities of the author and the story are undeniable, but the journey could have been developed more to truly achieve its potential.

Thank you NetGalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for providing me with this Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

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