Ember shadows and the fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King

Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King is the first novel in what will certainly be a fabulous new series. This brand-new adventure feels like a modern twist on Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz combined. The storyline is full of adventure, imagination and suspense, entwined with courage, loyalty, teamwork and tenacity.  

Ember Shadows is an eleven-year-old girl who has a passion for inventing. She lives in a magical village called Everspring with her eight-year-old sister and mother. Overlooking the little village is the ominous Mount Never. This mountain mysteriously sends down Fate Cards to everyone before their twelfth birthday. These cards decide your destiny, what you will do, who you will meet, what age you will die!

When Ember receives hers and it is blank, she is unsure what this means. She was hoping for her card to tell her she was going to be an inspirational inventor. Desperate to destroy her card, she is unable to. It will not burn, tear or disintegrate with anything she tries. Days later, her sister receives her own Fate Card and it says she hasn’t got long to live. Ember sets out to change their destiny. With nothing to lose she sets out to climb the treacherous Mount Never and put right to these wrongs. But will she succeed or will the realms and enchantments of Mount Never prove too strong? 

Rebecca King has created a highly engaging and enchanting novel. This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys adventure, magic and fantasy. Raquel Ochoa’s illustrations fill pages with further enjoyment and details to support the storyline. This novel brings back charm and imagination, while intertwining the beautiful message of having the courage to create your own destiny. A great story that will be enjoyed my many!

Themes: Fantasy, Adventure, Problem solving, Creativity, Teamwork, Determination, Loyalty.

Michelle O'Connell