New Young Adult Fantasy Series to Read

We recently received books one and two of The Hamelin Stoop Series from 12 Gates Publishing for review. These are young adult fantasy books.

About the Books

The Eagle, the Cave, and the Footbridge

The first book in the series begins by introducing you to Simon, and his wife, Johnnie. Immediately, you are thrust into the story as they carry out a daring plan to save their newborn baby from trackers.

While Simon pretends to toss the child off a cliff to his doom, Johnnie abandons the baby at the orphanage where she was raised. Following their capture by Trackers, you learn that Johnnie is actually from another world. A world ruled by Ren’dal, a cruel man, from whom she previously escaped.

The baby boy is given the name Hamelin Stoop and raised by two women in the orphanage. At the orphanage he felt “He belonged to everyone, though in some ways to no one fully.”

The story moves back and forth between Hamelin at the orphanage and his parents in Ventradees.

Then comes the very bad year when his birthday is forgotten. He runs away from the orphanage and finds the cave his parents previously traveled through. It is there he meets the Great Eagle. The talking eagle gives him a pair of special gloves. The eagle leads Hamelin to a precarious footbridge.

Hamelin lets fear get the better of him and chooses not to cross. The eagle tells him he will have to answer for the consequences of his choice and drops him back off at home.

During this time, you are also introduced to Charissa, daughter of Carr. She becomes more important in book two.

It is three years before Hamelin returns to the cave. This time he makes it through.

The Lost Princess and the Jewel of Periluna

Book two begins where the first left off, with Hamelin and the eagle finally on the other side. Almost immediately Hamelin encounters his first trouble when he is entranced by his reflection is a special pool of waters. Luckily, the eagle comes to his aid.

Hamelin quickly sets off on his quest to help the sister of the lost princess. Along the way he meets Lars. Lars is searching for the jewel of Periluna which was stolen by Tumultor. Hamelin decides to help him on his quest as well.

Soon they are joined, rather reluctantly at first, by Eraina. Eraina is the sister of Charissa, another of the princesses of King Carr.

The three succeed in rescuing Charissa and reunite with the third princess and King Carr. It is here that the King decides with his daughter’s reunited and the help of Hamelin that the prophecy has been fulfilled and they should fight.

Before the battle begins, however, Hamelin learns there is a fourth princess, long thought to be dead, and suspects she is his friend Layla from the orphanage.

Hamelin returns to the other world to discover is Layla really is the missing princess. Only now, Ren’dal has learned that he survived and plans to lure him back using his parents as bait.

Perfect Fantasy Series for Young Adults *and* Advanced Younger Readers

Author Robert B. Sloan tells a well written and fascinating story. The books are fast-paced and keep the reader engaged. They also present opportunities for deeper thinking. What is the difference between someone being evil versus cruel or kind versus nice? These are questions the stories require the reader to think about.

In addition, they are also of good moral quality. A virtue that is becoming harder to find in young adult books.

If you have gifted younger readers, you probably know all about the hardship finding books that meet both their reading level and are age appropriate. It is a frustration I have had since my oldest began reading. That is why I love these books.

My nine year old son, Haydn, devoured these books. He absolutely loved them and was quite disappointed to learn he’ll have to wait for the next book. He said his favorite part in the first book was that Hamelin was given a second chance. That even though he made a wrong choice, he was allowed to try again. He had a hard time picking a favorite part of the second book. He is anxiously awaiting book three.

C.S. Lewis once said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

Robert Sloan’s Hamelin Stoop Series are good children’s books. I enjoyed them just as much as my son. This young adult fantasy series deserves a place on your bookshelf. It is a series you can feel confident letting your children read and will even enjoy yourself.

If you are looking for a well written young adult fantasy series, look no further.

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