{"product_id":"the-stolen-prince-of-cloudburst-a-kingdoms-and-empires-book-by-jaclyn-moriarty-kelly-canby-3306t","title":"The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst (A Kingdoms and Empires Book) by Jaclyn Moriarty, Kelly Canby","description":"\u003cp\u003eHONOUR BOOK: 2021 CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers nSHORT-LISTED: 2021 Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Children's Literature nSHORT-LISTED: 2021 Queensland Literary Awards, Children's Book Award n nLong ago, the little Prince of Cloudburst was stolen from the seashore by a Water Sprite. Now, ten years later, the prince has found his way home. The King and Queen are planning the biggest party in their Kingdom's history to welcome him. n nMeanwhile, on the other side of the Kingdoms and Empires, Esther Mettlestone-Staranise is looking forward to another year at Katherine Valley Boarding School. But she arrives to find a number of strange and unsettling changes. For one, her new teacher is rumoured to be an Ogre. Two mysterious students have joined the school, and one of Esther's classmates is an undercover Spellbinder. Most disturbingly, the mountains surrounding the school - usually a delight of glaciers, teashops, lakes and Faeries - are now crowded with wicked Shadow Mages. n nAs secrets and dangers escalate, Esther must find the answers to several puzzles. Why is her teacher behaving so oddly? Which of Esther's classmates is the Spellbinder, and can they really protect the school from gathering hordes of Shadow Mages? Could the Stolen Prince of Cloudburst be connected? n nHow can Esther - who is not talented like her sisters, nor an adventurer like her cousin, but just Esther - save her family, her school and possibly her entire world? n nReviews n n'There's a lot packed into this sweet tale told in a deceptively nsimple, authentic 12-year-old voice. Without devolving into a ndidactic tone, this novel addresses the concept of safe adults, the ndanger of comparing oneself to others, the importance of telling nthe truth and standing up to bullies, and the value of apologizing. nReaders can return to this text over and over, and always discover nsomething new. VERDICT: A delightfully quirky story with nuance, ndepth, and a colorful cast of characters, this book begs for nmultiple readings.' School Library Journal n n'Moriarty ... is relentlessly clever throughout, maintaining a tone nfirmly on the comic side of fantasy, though this doesn't keep nEsther's story from nailing critical points of emotional resonance. nThis title, like its siblings, is a perfectly accessible nstand-alone, although, together they give a deeper immersion and nlay the groundwork of something like a middle-grade version of nTerry Pratchett's Discworld - fantasy adventure steeped in humor, nwith a touch of satire, and set in a whimsical secondary world of nthe highest order.' Booklist n n'The hidden villainy and open dangers, along with Esther's wry nhumor, appealing voice, and her heroic role in saving the world, nare nicely blended while an epilogue delivers a poignant close ... nSplendidly entertaining.' Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Express","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41843414925386,"sku":"3306t","price":9.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0618\/9101\/8826\/files\/3306t.jpg?v=1764498454","url":"https:\/\/www.bookexpress.nz\/products\/the-stolen-prince-of-cloudburst-a-kingdoms-and-empires-book-by-jaclyn-moriarty-kelly-canby-3306t","provider":"Book Express","version":"1.0","type":"link"}