Book 1), The Lost Heir (The Gryphon Chronicles

I kept getting taken out of the Victorian period by some of the speech patterns of the characters, and word choice of the first person narration. For $1.99 it was alright. I won't be reading the sequels.

Jake is an orphan living on the streets of London during the reign of Queen Victoria. After his twelfth birthday he suddenly gains magical abilities, and strange men show up and try to kill him. It turns out that the men were sent by his uncle who killed Jake’s parents and stole his title and fortune. Now, Jake not only has to struggle to survive the next few days but must also learn to control his new abilities, all the while reclaiming his birthright.

One thing I liked about this book is that the children in the story really behave like children and not like miniature adults. They’re stubborn, rash, outspoken, occasionally insensitive, and will break the rules for a bag of candy. That being said, they’re also warmhearted, loyal, and great fun to be with.
I also liked the descriptions of places like the market in London. They’re very vivid and convey a sense of the time without taking over whole chapters. The story is rich in detail about magic and mystical creatures, but the focus of the story is definitely on the action which is non-stop and makes the book quite unputdownable.
The only thing which bothered me is that the storyline hinges quite strongly on some big coincidences. I don’t mind when some small coincidences occur, but the story looks contrived if the resolution of the whole book depends on them.

The reading level of this book is about the same as in the books about Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or Artemis Fowl. And if you enjoyed any of these, then you’ll probably enjoy this one, too.

This book is too much fun! There is heroism, compassion, villainy, humor, sarcasm. badassery and wiseassery. Jake learns that he has more than one friend in the world, and that magic and magical beings are real. In some ways, this is Atticus O'Sullivan meets the Artful Dodger and Dani is a younger version of Cinderella. There is a Guardian, an angel, mythical monsters, a young genius, shapeshifters, a giant spider who sounds like Renfield, and more! If you've ever been 12, or know someone who is 12, you will enjoy this tale of good vs evil. The story is well-crafted, and the characters are even better.
Jamie performs this fine fantasy with a flair and adds depth and voice to the character interpretations in a fully engaged manner.
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com, but plan to continue with this series which ended on a hook.

Jake and Dani are engaging, believable characters and friends, and I enjoyed sharing in their adventures. I'm glad that they grow and develop without changing their essential good traits. I must, however, part company from the reviewers who liken Jake to Harry Potter. Not only are we left in some doubt as to what actually happened to Jake's parents, but the two boys have quite different personalities. And this book is set in the Victorian Age, not modern day.

When we get to the episode of the talking spider, the book feels like a Disney cartoon. I do like Disney, but I was a little jarred by the shift in tone. In fact every time the villains take mainstage, the story turns humorous, which I'm not sure the author intended.

Still, the story held my attention and gave me a fun read. I felt a little disappointed when it ended.

"Great Narration and Story"

Would you listen to The Lost Heir again? Why?

Yes. I would because it is a fun story and I would let my kids listen as they get older.

What did you like best about this story?

I love a good fantasy pauper to prince story. I liked the characters and how each of them were unique with their own stories and personality traits.

Which character – as performed by Jamie du Pont MacKenzie – was your favorite?

Hands down, Dani. She is a great story of loyalty and friendship. Those are good messages to portray.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

SPOILERS: I loved Jake's reaction to Dani's death and the ensuing scenes following. When they visit Beacon house. That was one of my favorite scenes as well as the frog scene. Its just well written and funny.

Any additional comments?

Overall, my FAVORITE thing about this book is the narration. It is SO GOOD. I feel fully immersed from the very beginning.

I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from Audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review

THE LOST HEIR (The Gryphon Chronicles, Book 1) by E.G.Foley

THE LOST HEIR is the first book in husband-wife writing team E.G.Foley's new middle grade historical fantasy series The Gryphon Chronicles.
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From the website: Jake is a scrappy orphaned pickpocket living by his wits on the streets of Victorian London. Lately he's started seeing ghosts, and discovers he can move solid objects with his mind! He has no idea why.

Next thing he knows, a Sinister Gentleman and his minions come hunting him. On the run for his life, Jake is plunged headlong into a mysterious world full of magic and deadly peril. A world that holds the secret to who he really is: the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family--with magical powers!

But with treacherous enemies closing in, it will take all of his wily street instincts and the help of his friends--both human and magical-- to solve the mystery of what happened to his parents, and defeat the foes who never wanted the Lost Heir of Griffon to be found . . .
~~~
The Gryphon Chronicles takes the reader on an imaginary adventure that every child and many adults daydream about. With his best friend Dani, Jake struggles to survive the fetid streets and alleys of Victorian England.

Jake is a 12 year orphan, who is slowly coming into some powers that are very handy when one is starving and hungry. But seeing and talking to ghosts wasn't an ideal talent until the day he lands in prison.

As a Guardian and a member of The Order of the Yew Tree, Derek Stone has been looking for his lost charge for over 11 years. When his parents were murdered, young Jacob Everton (the 7th Earl of Griffon) went missing and presumed dead, until the day a water nymph spied Jake in the Thames River. With his power to `see', Derek will soon locate and rescue young Jake, only to find them both in prison for murder and contempt. But it will be Jake's powers of telekinesis and his ability to communicate with ghosts that will eventually free them from their cells to continue a journey towards another adventure.

There are many characters that weave their way and cross paths with Jake and Dani, including an assortment of mythical creatures, assorted frogs, a royal fairy messenger and a talking spider. Jake will find he has some very powerful allies and friends, including a magical family that he never knew existed. But the villain in the story is Jake's Uncle Waldick Everton. For the same 11 years, Waldrick had been hoping to locate the Jake and make sure that the boy is once and for all, truly dead. Hoping to secure the position of the 7th Earl of Griffon and all of its' wealth, Waldrick embarks on a series of mystical travel, magical potions and befriending an unlikely ally in a siren turned hag-witch named Fionnula.

And like many fairy tale adventures, Jake will discover the true meaning of friendship and family. Finding a kindred spirit trapped in the cells under his uncle's mansion, will push the young boy into a struggle for life and death, and beyond his own imagination.

THE LOST HEIR is a wonderful novel along the same vein as the Harry Potter novels. A young boy struggling to survive the poverty of the streets will find himself in a battle to reclaim his identity while trying to avoid the pitfalls of misplaced anger and powerful enemies. A magical storyline with non-stop action and fairy-tale creatures blended with the reality that was Queen Victoria's England.

I loved this magical rags to riches story full of life .it starts slow but could not stop reading once the story gained pace. It is a good story for fans of all ages it is enchanting from start to finish

I think kids would really like this book. Had the warmth of real friendship and a lot of fairy land type characters that added magic to the book. Would recommend it to my grandchildren. I read what they read so we can talk about our favorite books. I think this will become one of theirs.

This is one of those exceptional reads that we adults can really enjoy and share along with our children/grandchildren. The characters are so vivid and the story line so compelling.....you won't want to put it down. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to share some imaginative fun/adventure with their child/grandchild. Hope we get more of the same soon from this author.

This is a refreshing story taking place in the time of Queen Victoria in England. The characters are like able and funny. This book is suitable for young adults as well as older folks. I am on to book two now.

This is a fantastical, fun and exciting read for kids and adults alike. The characters are unique and engaging, and it's easy to become engrossed in their adventures. Too many books aimed at this age group are light on plot and vocabulary, but The Lost Heir is right on target. This book creates a strong framework for what promises to be a successful series. Kudos to E.G. Foley! Keep them coming!