I received Escape from Mercy Hall by Garth Edwards {Book 1 in the Thorn Gate Trilogy} in the form of an eBook at no cost, to help facilitate the following review. However, the opinions in my review are honest and my own.
The four orphans from Mercy Hall are stranded in a strange new land where Muttons (savage sheep), strange people and curious creatures live under the control of the cruel Robes.
They travel through the mysterious Rainbow Cave where living creatures can be changed for better or for worse. Dangers abound around every corner and the children set out on a mission to free slaves and escape themselves?
The land behind the hedge is full of weird and thrilling adventures.
They travel through the mysterious Rainbow Cave where living creatures can be changed for better or for worse. Dangers abound around every corner and the children set out on a mission to free slaves and escape themselves?
The land behind the hedge is full of weird and thrilling adventures.
Excerpt
The boy was lost. He had been told to follow the path and keep going along the side of the hedge until he came to a bench. There he was to sit and wait for the coach.
The great thorn hedge stretched out of sight as he followed the path until his legs felt tired, but he could find no bench.
It was beginning to grow dark and cold.
He scratched his head and thought. Had he turned the wrong way? Had he already passed the bench?
Beginning to feel hungry, he wondered if perhaps he shouldn't turn around and head back. Perhaps it would be better to start this journey in the morning.
Then he heard a crackling sound . He turned to see a strange light glowing from within the hedge; a curious, powerful light that got brighter and more intense as the crackling noise got louder and louder.
And then the hedge opened...
My view: This is a fun book that is geared more for grade-school to middle-school children. When I first decided upon looking at Escape From Mercy Hall, I had know my intentions were to read it aloud to all my kids. What I didn't realize was how fast of a read it was going to be.
From the very beginning it captures readers, both young and old. The action in the book never lulls for a moment. We ended up reading it in two nights, half the book each night. The kids loved it, even my 3 year old listened intently. As the everything was described so well-you could picture each person, critter, or scene perfectly in your mind. {I am sure adding different voices to the characters helped and that I did a lot of animation as I was reading, my little one was just as attentive as all my other kids}. Personally, being able to act a book out is a huge plus and I didn't even have to try that hard.
I did have to joke with them a bit, telling them they were going to have a chicken slice and cold porridge for the holidays-as this was stated in the first few pages of the book. Each of my kids looked at me wide-eyed as they asked if the things that were mentioned about the conditions in the orphanage that the characters in the book lived. Trust me when I say they will not be getting that meal. The description of the orphanage and the world on the other side of the hedge were truly amazing.
Without giving to much more away, I would like to recommend this book to any young child or young adult that loves to read adventure-fantasy novels. I am sure this would make for a great stocking stuffer, read below for where you can find purchase links.
About this author
On leaving university I worked in the chemical industry for many years, a rewarding occupation, although writing was always my main love. At the time I had to support a mortgage, a wife and two small children so the idea of becoming a full time author remained a dream until recently when I took the opportunity to jump ship and start writing for real.
I went back to the stories I told to my children when they were little. I found they loved stories about dragons, wizards, fairies, goblins, giants, talking animals so together we made up a world of fantasy. I showed them how to use the magic words what if?
Garth is also the author of
The Adventures of Titch and Mitch {Series}
Shipwrecked!
The Trolls of Sugar Loaf Wood
The King of the Castle
The Magic Boots
The Blue Wizard
The Thorn Gate Trilogy {Series}
Escape from Mercy Hall
Secrets of Mercy Hall
Heroes of Mercy Hall
You can purchase Escape From Mercy Hall from the following:
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