Book review: Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
Book review of Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell is a middlegrade fantasy book. Jennifer Bell is also the author behind The Uncommoners which I loved. So I had to give Wonderscape a shot too. The cover is beautiful and the description on the back had me intrigued.
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
“The game is on, travel with wonder.
When Arhtur, Ren and Cecily investigate a mysterious explosion, they find themselves trapped in the year 2473.
Lost in the Wonderscape, an epic in-reality adventure game, they must call on the help of some unlikely historical heroes to play their way home before time runs out.”
This description is kindly borrowed from the back of the book. It is very short but it sold the book to me right then and there.
New realities and mysterious games
3 unlikely traveling companions are thrown into an adventure beyond worlds. First of all, it’s diverse in its characters from the beginning, which I so appreciate, without it having been announced anywhere. It just, is. And as I seem to be a big fan of portal-books, with different realms and dimensions, much like The Uncommoners, this is no exception. Wonderscape delivered so many interesting worlds, all wrapped up in one neatly written plot. It was interesting new concepts, some of them more basic than others but each realm had their own vibe. While still maintaining some similarity, since it’s meant to be one big in-reality-game.
Arthur, Ren and Cecily are forced to become allies during their trips around the Wonderscape and riddles and robots surround them. The dynamics between all the characters are well-orchestrated and feel tangible.
Friendship and technology
The language is great, it’s fast-paced and thrilling, it’s exciting, dangerous and speak to our kindness and humanity on several levels. I don’t have much else to say, other than I think you should read it. It’s a fun ride, even for an adult like me, and it forces new perspectives on where all our technology is headed, and the moral and ethical decisions that come with the territory. Wonderscape also has the backbone that is friendship and that really just is one of my favorite things about middlegrade books.
Also, the lack of romance in this one is really appealing to me, since I so often find it a waste of pages. So that’s a bonus. (Unless, of course, you like that sort of stuff). Another thing is, that Jennifer Bell here actually succeeds in bringing in famous historical figures. Making it seem integral to the story is no small feat.
Read it, it’s wonderful and in my eyes better than The Uncommoners. 5 out of 5 stars, I’m definitely reading this again.
Have you read anything by Jennifer Bell or other middlegrade books? Feel free to leave a comment below!
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