THE GLIMME BY EMILY RODDA AND ILLUSTRATED BY MARC MCBRIDE

Finn lives with his grandparents in the village of Wichant where he helps them scratch out a living selling vegetables at the local market. Whenever he gets the chance, he takes his drawing pad and creates wonderful pictures of creatures and landscapes he sees in the clouds or mountains around him.

When the mysterious housekeeper of the clifftop mansion offers his grandfather a bag of gold for Finn, he is sent to work for her. Inside the mansion, she leads him to a room full of magical paintings. There are dragons, lion warriors, giants and dangerous creatures. He is ordered to study them closely and then copy the first image. One night, Finn is drawn into the image and finds himself transported into the world of The Glimme.

Here, the world is beset with a war that threatens its very existence. The queen of the dragons has been stolen and her faithful subjects want revenge. Finn and a group of brave warriors must find her before it is too late and all the land is destroyed in a fiery Armageddon.

Emily Rodda’s latest fantasy novel blends two of her classic styles — a slip between two worlds and a quest that must succeed or all is lost. Her characters bravely move through the rich landscapes she creates with a growing tension that will grip the reader.

The illustrations by Marc McBride are amazing. They are incredibly detailed and bring the words of the story to life with colour and movement.

The hardback version of The Glimme is a beautiful book to own. From cover to cover, the reader will be drawn into the fantasy world of dragons and warriors and a tale of bravery against the odds.

For Ages: 7+ years

Number of Pages: 384 Hardback version

Published: October 2019

Themes: Family relationships and good vs. evil

Rating: 3.5/5

I wish: I could visit the palace that “blooms upon the sea”.