Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key (Through The Fairy Door, #1) by Estelle Grace Tudor Published by Inlustris on July 20th 2020
Goodreads
One tiny discovery can have enormous consequences...
Almost 10-year-old Octavia Bloom is looking for adventure, but when it comes it's in the shape of a tiny fairy door.
Dragging her reluctant sister and cousins into the mystery, Octavia discovers her family are hiding not ONE but TWO life-changing secrets.
Why is her mother searching for an elusive flower? And does she have what it takes to reunite her fractured family?
Octavia's certain the answers lie behind the fairy door, if only she could just find the key...
Bravery, secrets & magic intertwine in this fantastical adventure.
Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is part of the BBNYA blog tour.
Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key by Estelle Grace Tudor is the only middle-grade book that made it this far into the competition. It’s an incredibly fun book so I’m glad I got a chance to read it.
Octavia Bloom is one of the four Bloom girls. The other three are her sister and two cousins. When they spend a summer at their grandmother’s castle, they discover a door. A door the Fairy Lands. It’s the start of grand adventures in a world of wonder. The four girls all have their own strengths which are necessary to complete the quest laid out by the Fairy Queen.
It sometimes feels like they overcome the obstacles a little too easy. Felicity only learns to use a bow after they arrive but manages to shoot targets with the precision of a master archer. They find the quest item even though it’s described as incredibly rare and no one has ever seen it.
The world the author created is filled with wonder around every corner. From the florally painted unicorns to the rainbow taxis, to busy bees and fire imps. My younger self loved worlds like this, to get lost in, and to revisit over and over again. There’s a good balance between showing the world and advancing the plot. That’s what I like about portal fantasy, you experience that first impression at the same time as the main character. Very well done.
I give Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key four stars. It’s an enjoyable MG fantasy, recommended to anyone who wants to experience the childlike wonder again.
