Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
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The Ever Storms (3) (Wilderlore)
Barclay and his friends find new dangers and fresh adventure when they encounter mysterious sandstorms in the Desert in this thrilling third book of the New York Times bestselling Wilderlore series.
After saving the Sea, Barclay and his fellow apprentices are eager to take part in a new kind of adventure-the Symposium, a set of courses that all apprentices of the Lore Keeper Guild need to pass before they can take their licensing exam. Barclay is excited to travel to the Desert to study at the University of Al Faradh, the most respected school in all the Wilderlands, and to reunite with the new friends he made at the Sea.
He's slightly less excited about the Tourney, the traditional, good-natured prank war between the various apprentice tracks. As an Elsie, he's pretty sure he'll have enough on his hands keeping up with the Symposium without having to worry about stink bombs and slime warfare.
But as mysterious, unnatural sandstorms start to appear around the Desert, there are more than just exams and bragging rights at stake. And the appearance of an exclusive, magical library might just be the key to everything…
After saving the Sea, Barclay and his fellow apprentices are eager to take part in a new kind of adventure-the Symposium, a set of courses that all apprentices of the Lore Keeper Guild need to pass before they can take their licensing exam. Barclay is excited to travel to the Desert to study at the University of Al Faradh, the most respected school in all the Wilderlands, and to reunite with the new friends he made at the Sea.
He's slightly less excited about the Tourney, the traditional, good-natured prank war between the various apprentice tracks. As an Elsie, he's pretty sure he'll have enough on his hands keeping up with the Symposium without having to worry about stink bombs and slime warfare.
But as mysterious, unnatural sandstorms start to appear around the Desert, there are more than just exams and bragging rights at stake. And the appearance of an exclusive, magical library might just be the key to everything…
Readers Top Reviews
JOrdyn L.
Funny plot twists, pranks and overall an adventurous story.
tpolen
Amanda Foody is on my list of auto-buy authors. I don’t read a ton of middle grade books, but when she made the leap to that genre a few years ago, I followed her. This series is an absolute delight. I’ve read all three books, and they only continue to get better. Thirteen-year-old Barclay Thorne is part of a wonderfully diverse cast of characters who include his fellow Lore Keeper Guild apprentices Viola and Tadg. The Beasts they’re bonded to are just as diverse – Root, Barclay’s loyal lufthund, Mitzi, Viola’s sparkly-loving dragon, and Mar-Mar, Tadg’s nathermara. Barclay and his friends are attending the Symposium, a set of courses all apprentices need to pass before their licensing exam. He’s excited to see friends he made in the previous book, but also nervous about keeping up with his classes. The pranks war among the four apprentice tracks are just a distraction for him – he’s got more serious things to focus on. During the Symposium, dangerous, unnatural sandstorms appear around the Desert. What’s causing them? Who’s behind them? And what’s up with the magical library only certain people can see? I like how the author includes a more personal theme in each book, and this one is family. Orphaned Barclay feels lonely and left out when the parents of several of his friends make appearances in this story. He has Root, but still misses his parents. Over the course of the story he learns that family isn’t just made of blood, but also the people you choose to include in your life and those who love you. He’s part of a family he didn’t realize he had. Exciting action sequences, magical powers, magnificent world-building, and loveable characters make this a must read MG series. I enjoy seeing these characters grow and mature with each new book, and I’m thrilled more are coming. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
dave
I love the adventure and you might not see it but it does get personal with how family is not just blood it is who cares about you. My fav part is when viola bonds with another beast and she learns glass lore. Thank you AMANDA FOODY❤️ your books are the best
CKoeneman
My 10 year old son asked me to write a review of the Wilderlore series tonight when I was tucking him in. This child talks non stop about Pokémon and he said "Mom, I know this is going to be hard to believe. But this entire series is hands down better than Pokémon. Can you please tell the author how much I love these books?!" ❤️ Thank you for creating a wonderful world for him to get lost in. You have an amazing gift.
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter One
ONE
Barclay Thorne groaned and covered his ears, trying to muffle the ferocious rumbles of the dragon's stomach-the dragon he was now riding.
This was Barclay's first time traveling by carrier dragon, and for the most part, he liked it. The passenger caravan strapped to the Beast's back was comfy and spacious, with wide windows perfect for admiring the breathtaking views. And the speedy flight had shortened an otherwise thirty-week journey on foot to a mere four days.
What he didn't like was all the noise. The wind whizzed shrilly in his ears. The pilot hollered directions from his saddle, no matter the time of day or night. And the carrier dragon, named Justine, was clearly suffering from a bad case of indigestion.
"Are we there yet?" Barclay grumbled.
"For the fifth time, no," answered his closest friend, Viola Dumont, who sat cross-legged on the window bench beside him. "We'll land at sundown."
As she spoke, Mitzi-Viola's own dragon-reached a silver wing over Viola's shoulder and clawed at one of the hundreds of gold pins on her tunic. Viola yelped and shot Mitzi a dirty look.
Mitzi used to be sneakier-and a lot smaller. Only a baby whelp when Barclay had first met her, Mitzi had since grown to the size of a sheepdog. Two nubby horns had sprouted between her ears, and the feathers on her tail now climbed up her back and wings. But despite how much she'd changed, Mitzi still loved nothing more than all things shiny.
"Mitzi, we talked about this," Viola scolded her. "You need to be better behaved."
Mitzi paid her no mind. She jabbed a talon at a glimmering button on Viola's sleeve.
Both Justine and Mitzi were Beasts, which were animals with magical powers called Lore. Beasts came in many shapes and sizes, from tiny, harmless creatures to gigantic, terrifying monsters, and they dwelled in six regions of the world known as the Wilderlands. The people who lived there with them, like Barclay and Viola, were called Lore Keepers, and they bonded with Beasts in order to share their magic.
"You should try to relax," Viola told Barclay, ignoring Mitzi's pokes and prods. "Haven't you read that book twice already?"
Barclay peeled his attention away from Beastly Biographies of Brilliant Keepers, which Viola had gifted him for his thirteenth birthday earlier that Summer. "But what if I missed something? There are going to be apprentices from all across the Wilderlands at the Symposium, but I didn't grow up in the Wilderlands like everyone else. I don't want to fall behind."
The Symposium was a set of courses that all apprentices of the Lore Keeper Guild were required to pass before they could sit for their licensing exam. It took place every year at the University of Al Faradh, the most famous school in all the Wilderlands.
Being an apprentice himself, Barclay had always known that he'd have to attend the Symposium, but he'd assumed that would be years and years away. Until four days ago, when their teacher, Runa Rasgar, had abruptly announced their travels to the Desert for the Symposium. And four days was definitely not enough time to prepare.
Viola shook her head. "You've been a Lore Keeper for a year and a half now, and you know as much about Beasts as Tadg and I do. You have nothing to worry about."
Tadg Murdock was their fellow apprentice, a hotheaded boy who always found something to be grumpy about. After complaining all afternoon about how boring and long their flight was, he'd fallen asleep on the cushions in the caravan's corner. His wavy light brown hair was matted from his pillow, and one of his Beasts, Toadles, had nestled himself into the crook of his arm.
Barclay hoped that Viola was right. Even if he ended up being the only student from the Elsewheres, which were the regions of the world without magical Beasts, he no longer felt like the scared mushroom farmer who'd accidentally wandered into the Woods. He'd faced not one but two Legendary Beasts. And after more than a year spent training at the Sea, he was smarter, stronger, and faster than he'd ever been.
Gurrrrrrrrrg. The floor tremored with Justine's latest stomach cramp.
The sound made Root wake with a start. Root was Barclay's Lufthund, a wolflike Beast with powerful wind Lore. Side by side, the pair of them looked similarly wild. Root had shaggy fur, hooked claws, and sharp teeth. He was all black except for the white bones that jutted out from the base of his spine. Meanwhile, Barclay...
ONE
Barclay Thorne groaned and covered his ears, trying to muffle the ferocious rumbles of the dragon's stomach-the dragon he was now riding.
This was Barclay's first time traveling by carrier dragon, and for the most part, he liked it. The passenger caravan strapped to the Beast's back was comfy and spacious, with wide windows perfect for admiring the breathtaking views. And the speedy flight had shortened an otherwise thirty-week journey on foot to a mere four days.
What he didn't like was all the noise. The wind whizzed shrilly in his ears. The pilot hollered directions from his saddle, no matter the time of day or night. And the carrier dragon, named Justine, was clearly suffering from a bad case of indigestion.
"Are we there yet?" Barclay grumbled.
"For the fifth time, no," answered his closest friend, Viola Dumont, who sat cross-legged on the window bench beside him. "We'll land at sundown."
As she spoke, Mitzi-Viola's own dragon-reached a silver wing over Viola's shoulder and clawed at one of the hundreds of gold pins on her tunic. Viola yelped and shot Mitzi a dirty look.
Mitzi used to be sneakier-and a lot smaller. Only a baby whelp when Barclay had first met her, Mitzi had since grown to the size of a sheepdog. Two nubby horns had sprouted between her ears, and the feathers on her tail now climbed up her back and wings. But despite how much she'd changed, Mitzi still loved nothing more than all things shiny.
"Mitzi, we talked about this," Viola scolded her. "You need to be better behaved."
Mitzi paid her no mind. She jabbed a talon at a glimmering button on Viola's sleeve.
Both Justine and Mitzi were Beasts, which were animals with magical powers called Lore. Beasts came in many shapes and sizes, from tiny, harmless creatures to gigantic, terrifying monsters, and they dwelled in six regions of the world known as the Wilderlands. The people who lived there with them, like Barclay and Viola, were called Lore Keepers, and they bonded with Beasts in order to share their magic.
"You should try to relax," Viola told Barclay, ignoring Mitzi's pokes and prods. "Haven't you read that book twice already?"
Barclay peeled his attention away from Beastly Biographies of Brilliant Keepers, which Viola had gifted him for his thirteenth birthday earlier that Summer. "But what if I missed something? There are going to be apprentices from all across the Wilderlands at the Symposium, but I didn't grow up in the Wilderlands like everyone else. I don't want to fall behind."
The Symposium was a set of courses that all apprentices of the Lore Keeper Guild were required to pass before they could sit for their licensing exam. It took place every year at the University of Al Faradh, the most famous school in all the Wilderlands.
Being an apprentice himself, Barclay had always known that he'd have to attend the Symposium, but he'd assumed that would be years and years away. Until four days ago, when their teacher, Runa Rasgar, had abruptly announced their travels to the Desert for the Symposium. And four days was definitely not enough time to prepare.
Viola shook her head. "You've been a Lore Keeper for a year and a half now, and you know as much about Beasts as Tadg and I do. You have nothing to worry about."
Tadg Murdock was their fellow apprentice, a hotheaded boy who always found something to be grumpy about. After complaining all afternoon about how boring and long their flight was, he'd fallen asleep on the cushions in the caravan's corner. His wavy light brown hair was matted from his pillow, and one of his Beasts, Toadles, had nestled himself into the crook of his arm.
Barclay hoped that Viola was right. Even if he ended up being the only student from the Elsewheres, which were the regions of the world without magical Beasts, he no longer felt like the scared mushroom farmer who'd accidentally wandered into the Woods. He'd faced not one but two Legendary Beasts. And after more than a year spent training at the Sea, he was smarter, stronger, and faster than he'd ever been.
Gurrrrrrrrrg. The floor tremored with Justine's latest stomach cramp.
The sound made Root wake with a start. Root was Barclay's Lufthund, a wolflike Beast with powerful wind Lore. Side by side, the pair of them looked similarly wild. Root had shaggy fur, hooked claws, and sharp teeth. He was all black except for the white bones that jutted out from the base of his spine. Meanwhile, Barclay...
