Friday 11 October 2019

ReadItDaddy's Chapter Book of the Week - Week Ending 11th October 2019: "Guardians of Magic (The Cloud Horse Chronicles Book1)" by Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children's Books)

This week's amazing Chapter Book of the Week is brought to you by a supreme talent in kidlit, a mighty storyteller and illustrator par excellence who brings a touch of style and dark humour to everything he creates.

"Guardians of Magic (The Cloud Horse Chronicles Book 1)" by Chris Riddell is very much cause for celebration, as is any new book Chris is involved in.

But it's his books as author and illustrator that have always garnered most of our attention - and ironically we had to put aside a re-reading of his thoroughly brilliant "Goth Girl" books to delve into this one.

The story opens with an atmospheric and immersive bookworld steeped in fantasy, reigned over by magical humans and mythical creatures. 

For as long as anyone can remember, children have made a wish on a cloud horse, never quite believing that their wishes will come true. 

But times are changing. The future of magic is in danger. Enemies are working together to destroy it - especially the magic of nature and its most powerful source, The Forever Tree. 

Now, three brave children have stepped forward - heroes who believe in the impossible, and will fight with all their might to ensure that the world of magic, of cloud horses and of giants will be preserved against the odds. 

Zam, Phoebe and Bathsheba are just beginning to find out about their powers, but they may not yet know just how powerful they can become. 

Hooking you in from the very moment you dig into chapter one, with a truly awesome cast of characters that feel believable and rooted despite the books obvious magical setting, this is another epic series in the making from a creator who truly cannot put a foot wrong (OK, we won't mention that whole Russell Brand book illustration thing, a gig's a gig right?)

"Guardians of Magic (The Cloud Horse Chronicles Book 1)" by Chris Riddell is out now, published by Macmillan Children's Books (kindly supplied for review).