Smailholm

3.5 stars
This was such a fun middle grade story. It reminds me of old school fantasy and the adventure stories I read when I was younger. I loved the plot, the journey type of narrative is one of my favourites. However, I had some issues with the language used as sometimes I was a bit lost. The characters fell a bit flat for me too. But, overall, it was a really enjoyable read that I would recommend.

I loved this book. I love historical fiction, so it was a perfect blend of fantasy with historical elements. I found it entertaining, it was like going on a nice adventure. I would definitely recommend it.

This book was cute, but it wasn't for me. I loved the cover and the description mentioned Middle Age England so I thought I would love it, but that's not what happened. What a shame.

3.5 stars

This was a creative story inspired by Scottish history and lore about a girl named Anne-Wynn Hopringle, the second of 3 daughters of a Scottish Laird. She discovers a village of tiny people and becomes best friends with Jimmy, one of the lads in the village. There were a lot of things I liked about this story including the description of the little people, her dog, and the adventure they took to try to break the curse put on the little people. I had trouble with the Deablin sections, which were little passages having to do with her grandmother. I eventually figured out the purpose and it was important, but the syntax of passages was confusing to me and I had a hard time determining their meaning. The tense of the whole novel was also not my favorite, although once I got used to it, it was easier to ignore. Despite these issues, I did enjoy the story and I definitely want to read more. But as other reviewers have suggested, I hope future books have a good editor to help streamline the flow of the language. I think without these issues, this could be an excellent book, especially for middle school kids. As it stands now, I'm not sure if a middle school student would take the time to immerse themselves in this story.

Thanks to #CLWilliams, #NetGalley, and #Matador for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 -4 stars

Smailholm was an engaging middle-grade fantasy that was easy to read and fun to enjoy. It is a historical fantasy with olde-worlde language in small parts. I enjoyed the setting of Scotland, the differences between the haves and the have-nots and of course the Lilliput/Borrowers context of little people in a little land.

There were two protagonists in this story, a 13-year old girl called Wynn who was noblewomen-to-be living in Smailholm Tower and then short chapter interludes from Deablin. Who or what Deablin is, is revealed during the story but it was a clever connection, even though her short interjections were sometimes a little confusing. That said, the confusion was part of the story and it did build up to answers eventually.

Wynn had found the little village, hidden under the brambles, where she was a giant and they were very small. Wynn had been getting to know these folks for a few years and they had become trusted friends. At the fore of the village people were Jimmy and Jenny. Vargo, Wynn’s dog was also a key character and a sweet addition to the story.

What starts off as an interesting story becomes one of adventure, fantastical beings and unsavoury creatures. It all made for a rather fast-paced story. There were moments of reading confusion with some of the fantasy elements but the world building came and caught me up on most questions. I found the eventual Deablin answers a bit confusing and some of the beings or spirits connected to that difficult to get into. The rest of the story kept me engaged, however.

The story finished rather openly and with some elements I want to know more about and some characters I need to know about. This was a solid debut from CL Williams and I would definitely read her work again.

I was really looking forward to this from the description but to be honest, it let me down. It all felt a little bit rushed and light on plot, I wanted so much more but it just didn’t deliver for me. Sorry, thank you for the copy though.

This book was not quite to my taste, it was a little darker than expected. I thoroughly enjoyed most of the adventure, but the ending felt unsatisfying. There were also various spelling errors (here, here instead of hear, hear; and storks instead of stalks), however, most books have one or two, so don’t let that put you off.

An excellent adventure in a convincing world, this would be a good book for children (of MG age) who wouldn’t be afraid of some darkness, and don’t mind not getting a wholly happy ending. I won’t be continuing with the series.

I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A lovely fantasy of a curse, friendship, and magical adventures. Along with captivating characters that adds a perfect place to anyone’s bookshelf.

A enchanting medieval tale comes to life with beautiful imagery. Set in wild medieval Britain, thirteen year old Anne-Wynn Hopringle, the second of 3 daughters with the first name Anne is a wonderfully fleshed out three demetional protagonist.

Wynn Hoppringle, guards an incredible secret. She has found a tiny village is concealed under the brambles beside her family home of Smailholm Tower.
This perfectly paced middle grade ya fantasy happens to be on the boarder of Britain and Scotland. Richly atmospheric details come to life within these lovely pages.
Anne-Wynn Hopringle, the second of 3 daughters with the first name Anne,

A lovely tale of friendship with unlikely well developed captivating heroes. I was completely immersed in this creative fantasy. The author prose flows seamlessly, and the lush atmospheric magical imagery catapults you into these stunning pages.
An easy to follow plot line that has two meticulously woven stories, that comes together perfectly at the end. I absolutely loved the chapters of Deablin.
This spellbinding book that held my attention all the way through, and I am patiently waiting to read the next from this very talented author.


As you can tell, I highly recommend this incredible book to my family and friends!


Thanks to #CLWilliams, and #Matador for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story was absolutely fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Smailholm, and all the wonderous inhabitants there! Wynn is a wonderful protagonist, and the secondary characters are delightful. There is a definite Hobbit vibe to the story (but what fantastical quest doesn’t have that), while still being its own unique story.
Perhaps because of it being an e-arc, the chapters labeled “Deablin” were difficult to understand at first. Luckily as I kept reading they began to piece together to add a fun dramatic element to the story. A few grammatical and spelling errors throughout that will hopefully have been fixed by publication.
I did not expect to enjoy this story so thoroughly! I was completely entranced. I will anxiously await the sequel!

It was kind of like Gulliver's travels mixed with Alice in the wonderland. This sentence can clearly state the audience targetted as well. It was a middle age book that felt very very kiddish even for the level of target audience. The cover is no doubt attractive so I picked the book to see, even the description is mysterious enough hence, picked the arc.

The book revolves around Wynn, about this, all the sisters were named Anne, Anne June, Anne Wynn, and eldest was just Anne. God! That was so confusing. Anyway, so Anne Wynn, or Wynn as Ill refer to her, finds/stumbles upon this little town under tbr Smailholm Tower, where because of some curse from an evil witch, the people of the town shrunk. Yes, and Wynn finds herself to be the giant among them. She makes a good friend Jimmy there. The town feels a threat to have been found by other onlookers and being treated as ginny pigs for this curse renders them unique and abnormal to normal humans. 

While Wynn in her own world, like with her normal sized family, is a 12- 13 year old girl, and talks of her and her sisters serving as the ladies in waiting for the queen starts. If she pursues that she won't be able to go and spend time with Jimmy and other tiny people of Smailholm. So she struggles with that. 

I had a very difficult time in analysing the world, or rather the the century that it was set in, because they were planning to marry Wynn at 12-13 yrs? Also they addressed a 12-13 year girl, Lady? It was all rather unusual for children's story or middle grade story.

I loved the world building. The fact that it took place in real slash fictitious locations was fun. I also love a good map and the map this book is gorgeous. It also helps follow the story pared with the descriptive nature of the book made me feel completely immersed. The creatures in the world were also very interesting.

The story has multiple POV's, which I enjoyed. It creates a fast-paced plot. Really enjoyable read, with above average characters that have depth and lack cliches.

An intriguing Middle Grade novel, sprinkled with lots of magic. Obsessed with the idea of tiny people living under the floorboards as a child (thanks to The Borrowers), this would have completely captured my young imagination. I loved the idea of the little village and the little people, being friendly with the much bigger, normal sized, Wynn. I thought there were a lot of really clever idea, and I liked the mix of real medieval places mixed in with the fantasy elements.

I did find the book lost its way a little bit about two thirds of the way in. It was pretty confusing in the caverns, and at one point I wasn't really sure what was going on. Interesting premise though, with plenty of scope to expand in the next novel.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started reading this book - was it like the Borrowers series? I had loved that as a child, so I was looking forward to more stoies of little people in a big world. I didn't expect a curse, a love story, an adventure, and such a feisty, interesting heroine. Wynn is from an old a noble family that lives in a crumbling stone tower. Her father, a twin, inherited the castle at the detriment of his twin brother, which has always rankled. Family ties are strong - though often strained. Wynn, as the daughter of a nobleman, is expected to go serve the queen as a lady-in waiting. But how can she leave her tower home? For she has a secret. A small village, complete with church, bakery, blacksmith, and miniature horses - inhabited by people who are barely bigger than mice. Because of a curse, they are small and must stay hidden. Wynn is the gentle giant girl who has befreinded them - and when disaster strikes, she is perhaps the one to save them. Or will it be the other way around? Size, it seems, is not important when it comes to being a hero.
This was a charming book, and I am looking forward to reading the others in the series!

I thought this was such a great book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I liked how this is a great mixture of historical fiction with a touch of fantasy thrown in. This book reminds me of Gulliver's travels but with a female main character. I like how Wynn is a "giant" and the town she discovers was cursed and turned into small people. I thought this story was full of adventure and I liked how it had duel points of view from Wynn and her grandmother Deablin. I can not wait for the next book to come out!

This is probably the first historical fiction aimed at young teens. I would not say children because of the concentration of the storyline on the romantic prospects and emotions of the lead cast of characters. If targetting children, I would assume it would focus more on the task at hand and the rescue being carried out, but that could just be me.

The story is of a girl who is the middle sister and not resigned to the life her family possibly has mapped out for her. She also harbours a secret. In the shadow of her tower, there is a miniature village cursed to be that way by her own relative. Now she finds out that the clock is ticking for their safety and she sets out with three others and temporary shrinking to find the resolution. They have trials on the way, and they do not really survive intact. There are deals to be made and family to be borne. It was a pretty good story, and although the series continues, I may not go with it. This can even serve as an individual tale. I would recommend this to anyone on the lookout for a different genre to read.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Gullivers Travels meets the Borrowers meets Alice in Wonderland meets The Hobbit

13-yo Anne-Wynn Hoppringle (otherwise known as Wynn) is the middle child to the Laird of Smailholm Tower. Adventurous and independent, she discovers a miniature village hidden in the brambles and bracken away from the tower, descendants of a forgotten curse against the clans of Smailholm. When border raiders discover the existence of the tiny folk, a small band of heroes must brave the wider world to revoke the curse and save their people. With the help of the enigmatic Moon Folk, Wynn, herself about to be shipped off to the Queen's court, and her dog Vargo join them on their adventurous quest to the fire mountain Rubers Law. But will the King of the Quogs grant their wish and release them from the curse?

Told through the eyes of Wynn and interspersed with the ramblings of lost soul Deablin, Smailholm is a lavish tale of adventure and magic. Aimed at middle grades, this has everything I would have wanted in a story as a child: Adventure, magic, strong female lead characters, friendship, mystery, moors, and the merest hints of romance. The huntress from the tiny village, Jenny, is Arrietty for the middle ages, bold as brass and strong and capable. Wynn is an every-girl that the young reader can imagine herself as: slightly awkward, a little bit clueless in her tiny form, not always brave but journeying forth regardless.

As an Aussie, it blew my mind that this is set in real places that still exist today, and it puts into perspective just how far the tiny folk have to go to save their kin.

This was a fun adventure with a slightly bittersweet open ending, that tells of tales still to come. Can't wait!

**I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and Troubador publishing in exchange for an honest review.**

I would have loved this book when I was 10 or 11 years old. It is full of small people reminiscent of The Borrowers, and it is set in historical times and the main character is a girl. All things I enjoyed in my books back then.

For my adult self it was all just a little bit too cute, but the book was not written for me, and I am sure it will appeal greatly to its middle school readership target. I loved the idea of those little people busy in their tiny country town under the brambles. I was amused by the parents who named all three of their daughters Ann. And I enjoyed the series of adventures the little group of travellers experienced.

The book ends with a lost character or two which clearly indicates that there is another book to follow in the future.

3.25/5

Can you keep a secret? Trust me, it's harder than it may seem...

All in all, Smailholm is quite a charming middle grade book, though it definitely has its flaws. The richly re-imagined Scottish lore and history were quaintly appealing and beautifully conveyed, and the concept of the story was intriguing. However, it was difficult to follow the characters' journey at points, and I couldn't really sympathize with any of the cast.

Smailholm by CJ Williams was so much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. All I knew walking into it was that it was a fantasy children’s story. I’d seen people talking about it and was keen to read it. I had so much fun with Anne-Wynne on her adventures in her attempt to reverse a curse making all the villagers of Smailholm tiny. Set in medieval Scotland, this tale was akin to a chidren’s version of Tolkien’s work. I loved the characters from Anne-Wynne to her tiny best friend, Jimmy, to the quog king, they were also so wonderfully written. The fantasy world building was fabulous. I couldn’t help but feel like I was right there with Wynne and her friends. Overall, this was a fun little fantasy read and I can’t wait for the second book.

If you're looking for a fantasy historical fiction book that includes Scottish lore, but is aimed at teens, look no further!
This one is perfect for young readers who want something more challenging because they feel ready to take a step up the reading ladder.

This did everything I wanted and more, and really reminded me of the historical books I would read as a child. I loved the setting and the writing style was brilliant once I got used to it. Really interesting book! I'd recommend this to any child for summer holiday reading. The cover is gorgeous too.