The Mirroculist Mission

The Mirroculist Mission

By Author / Illustrator

Manuel Sumberac, A.J. Hartley

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

UCLan Publishing

ISBN

9781912979028

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

04-11-2019

Synopsis

Eleven-year-old Darwen Arkwright's ordinary life changed forever when he was given a magical mirror, a portal to the wonderful world of Silbrica. Darwen defeated the terrible monsters released from the mirror once. Now, an even more terrifying beast has escaped through the mirror. Darwen and his friends, Rik and Alexandra, must journey to Costa Rica to save the world from a giant tentacled creature that leaves destruction in its wake. This time, old allies can't be trusted, and the danger runs deeper than Darwen could have ever imagined.The problem with doors is that they open both ways. There are monsters inside, and some of them are trying to get out ...


Second book in the Beyond the Mirror series, which began with Monsters in the Mirror

Reviews

Linda

It's only been a few weeks since the explosive but successful ending in book one of this wonderful fantasy series, Beyond the Mirror, but for Darwen Arkwright and his friends, Rik and Alex, it feels like forever. When Darwen takes a trip into Silbrica, he is delighted to walk once again in its lush green forest until, that is, he comes across a gate; a portal to another part of this otherworld.

Darwen stops, then without too much thought leaps through the gate into complete darkness; this will be his first encounter( not a pleasant one!) with the octopus-like creature, the Insidious Bleck...

The following day, Mr. Peregrine shows up at their school and is introduced as the new world studies teacher. Darwen only saw him a few days previously, but he is the man who introduced him to Silbrica and told him he was a Squint, a person who could travel between worlds. He needs to get him on his own so he can explain what he saw when he went through the portal. Rik and Alex are not happy that he went without them, causing them to bicker at each other. I enjoy this relationship between the group as it bring a lightheartedness to the story and shows the reader how the characters are developing.

Before they know what's happening they are taking a field trip to Costa Rica with the rest of the class; of course this is just to cover up their new mission, to find and close the portals between Earth and Silbrica. However, nothing is what it seems; Mr Peregrine begins to act strangely, their forest guide, is hiding things from them and the new boy constantly keeps his face covered and spends all his time in their tent. What is going on, and will Darwen and his friends be able to sort things out and save our world from these sinister beings?

This book has 460 pages that are full of adventure, sinister otherworldly creatures and other unexplainable incidents that will keep any 11+ reader totally engaged, especially boys. As the author touches on many subjects within the plot that include the environment, land development, archaeology, loyalty, betrayal and friendship the story would be great for reading/intervention groups due to the many discussion points that could be raised.

This series so far has been unique and totally entertaining, so I'm looking forward to the next instalment, when our three adventurers once again have to step through a portal into Silbrica. I recommend it as a must read for this year.

460 pages / Ages 11+ / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+

 

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