As I hadn't read the first book I found myself slightly confused by some of the events and having to check back to see if I had missed information - the plot is quite clearly dependent on knowing events from the previous novel. Even so, I found it enjoyable, though very much written for the younger reader, so that some of the detail I would have liked was missing (the magic, for instance, seemed to just happen, rather than following a logical path, suggesting that the author had failed to fully realise it as a system).

I would certainly give a copy to a young fantasy reader - the plot is gripping and the main character attractive - but I don't feel much inclination to go back to the first in the series. I do, however, think that the author has potential, and I'd like to see him aiming a little higher.

I like fourteen-year-old Luke, who is unusually tall for a dwarf with a flair for problem-solving and design and impatiently waiting for his beard to start growing. It was a refreshing change to find he comes from a close-knit community and has a loving mother who provides staunch support throughout, rather than the classic child protagonist without any positive adult in his life.

I did struggle a bit at the start of the book, even though I’m very used to being tipped sideways into adventures owing to my habit of crashing midway into series. Unhelpfully, neither Amazon, Goodreads, or the cover give any indication of the previous book The Mirror and the Mountain where we follow the fortunes of two children who have fallen through a portal into this medieval-type society. My advice would be to get hold of the first book before embarking on this one, as while I did sort out what was going on before it spoilt the story for me, I’m an experienced reader. It wouldn’t be fair to expect a youngster to pick their way through the various references to previous events and characters that they never meet.

Once I gathered exactly what was going on, I was able to relax into the story. Aylen writes an old-school epic fantasy, where Good and Evil are personified by the characters within the story and adventures are there to test their mettle.

I did like the way all the different races came together to rebuild the palace, despite the evident tensions between them. I would have liked a bit more discussion on how the task would provide all those toiling to rebuild it with protection and shelter, rather than focusing on how much the King wanted it rebuilt so he could fix the land. While this is clearly epic fantasy, there were times when the emphasis on the grand ambitions of peace and renewal gave this book a slightly old-fashioned feel and I’m intrigued to find out how today’s modern youngsters react to it.

That said, I enjoyed the characters and the story and would recommend it for independent readers from ten/eleven years old and upward – the battle scenes might be a bit too gory for younger readers. The ebook arc copy of The Forgotten Palace: An adventure in Presadia was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest opinion of the book.
8/10

I enjoyed the first book in this series and this, the second, was even better. Pitched somewhere between the Narnia and Hobbit series, but for a younger audience, this tale is more of a companion to the first story than a sequel, but nevertheless I would recommend reading the other first. My daughter got to it before I did, read it very quickly and is hoping for a third. If you want a wholesome read for primary age children with plenty of fantasy, a scare or two and a well realised world, look no further. Actually, the age of the reader doesn't really matter - I am considerably older...

Although I rarely enjoy books from the fantasy genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Full of exciting characters, stunning settings and an adventurous story that has a gripping plot and would definitely recommend it to younger readers or those who enjoy this genre. Part of an exciting series!

Just loved this book so much! It’s been ages since I’ve read a good dwarves book, and this hit the spot.

We have a tall dwarf, short dwarves, elves, evil elves, humans and dragons of course.

It’s a classic tale of good versus evil and I just loved every second of it. It’s a short book, so it could be done in one sitting.

My thanks to Netgalley and Lion Hudson Ltd