Even More Middle Grade Reviews! (Gargantis, Brightstorm and Maya and the Rising Dark)

As mentioned before, during November I participated in Believathon, and so I read a lot of Middle Grades! So here are even more Middle Grade Reviews!

First collection of reviews is here! (contains The Serpent’s Secret, Matilda and Ghost Squad)
The second one is here! (contains Hollowpox, Nightfall and Cogheart!)

Title: Gargantis (The Legends of Eerie-on-Sea #2)

Author: Thomas Taylor.

Format: Audiobook.

Publisher: Walker Books US.

Page count: 336.

Release day: May 1^st 2020.

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy.

Rating: 3 stars.

GoodReads Summary here!

I think I liked this one more than the first book! In the first book I struggled a bit with connecting to the characters, but I did not have that problem with this one at all. Maybe because I already knew the characters before going into this one.

This is a fun and adventurous story taking place in a small town at sea. And in this sequel we also venture out onto the sea, which was quite nice!

I really like the mystery aspect of this book. Our main character, Herbie, is the Lost-and-Founder of the hotel. And in the beginning of this book something is found and Herbie, together with his friend Violet, have to figure out who it belongs to. The thing is, I tis quite valuable and everyone wants to have it and tries to convince him that it is theirs. I really liked this!

I’m very curious to what is going to happen in the last book!

Title: Brightstorm (Brightstorm #1).

Author: Vashti Hardy.

Format: Paperback.

Publisher: Norton Young Readers.

Page count: 343.

Release day: March 1^st 2018.

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy.

Rating: 4 stars.

GoodReads Summary here!

I flew through the first half of this book, I just could not put it down! I just thought it was so much fun, I was very curious to where the story was going, and I was really enjoying the skyships!

But at some point the main character, Arthur, started to annoy me a bit. He was just doing whatever he wanted to get what he wanted, without taking anything or anyone into account. And in the beginning that was okay, but it was getting a bit much. The good thing is that some told him and he actually improved! So definitely points for character development!

I loved that this book kinda involved a race, they were trying to reach the ‘south pole’ first, and be the first humans visiting it. Besides the race Arthur and Maudie also want to figure out the truth behind their fathers death. Their father died on another exploration to the south pole, and they do not believe the stories told about his death.

The writing was amazing, and I really want to read the sequel, although I have no idea what will happen in that one!

Title: Maya and the Rising Dark (Maya and the Rising Dark #1).

Author: Rena Barron.

Format: E-book.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers.

Page count: 254.

Release day: September 22^nd 2020.

Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy.

Rating: 3 stars.

GoodReads Summary here!

I love that this book is based on African Mythology! Definitely something I want to learn more about!

This book reminded me a bit of a Percy Jackson book, but not in a bad way! Plotwise, since we follow a half-god or a Godling, that learns her powers throughout the book! But also the funny chapter headings and the writing! It was funnily written and really easy to get through!

I love that there was quite some diversity in this book. One of the characters had two moms, which was totally normal. The principal used they/them as pronouns, also totally normal!

The setting was really well done, the community in her home town was really well displayed. Lots of mentions to side characters, which made the place feel more real!

I had a good time reading this book, but still I think there was something missing for me. I think I kinda missed the connection to the characters, which resulted in me not being fully pulled into the story. I mean the plot was definitely full of action and was interesting, but I think I missed the emotional connection to the characters?!

I definitely do recommend this book, especially if you want to learn more about African Mythology!

Have you read any of these? What did you think?