Book Review – The Puffin Portal by Vashti Hardy
The Puffin Portal by Vashti Hardy (The Griffin Gate #2)
Fantasy | Middle Grade
Published on 2 September 2021 by Barrington Stoke
Synopsis
Vashti Hardy brings the world of Moreland to life once again in a feisty sequel. Returning to the brilliant characters created in her hit steampunk-inspired fantasy The Griffin Gate, Vashti Hardy continues the adventures of the Griffin family in The Puffin Portal. Grace is on a new mission – but this time she may not be able to complete it alone…
With all-new characters, a mysterious plot, and a host of inventive gadgets, this is an irresistible adventure for any young fantasy fan.
Grace’s family are wardens of the incredible Griffin Map, using its teleport technology to fight crime across Moreland. Right now it’s all systems go at Griffin HQ, where Grace, her mum, and her brother have their hands full answering a huge number of calls for help. They could really do with another warden on the team – but Mum believes their important work should be kept inside the family. Meanwhile, Grace is investigating a series of puzzling petty thefts. The clues lead her to a ramshackle castle on a lonely island, where the mystery only deepens. Will Grace be able to track down the thief?
My rating:
Review
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What an adorable sequel to The Griffin Gate! I really enjoyed the first installment and loved this return to the universe. This time we see Grace trying to solve the mystery of lots of petty robberies.
I really like how big a part STEM plays in this series, the characters are obviously smart and I love that. Also, I want a pet robot puffin, ngl.
This is one of Barrington Stokes’s fantastic books which make books accessible for dyslexic and reluctant readers, and I love them. This is short, sweet, and still super engaging and with a surprising amount of plot. I definitely recommend any of the Barrington Stoke books, but this series is particularly excellent. It also helps that there are some lovely illustrations by Natalie Smillie.
It also looks like there’s a third book coming which I am excited for!
4 stars.
Buy The Puffin Portal by Vashti Hardy from Waterstones or Blackwells.
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