Review: Fun fairy tale adventure for kids.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2013
If there's one thing I never tire of reading is a good old-fashioned fairy tale. There's something magical about the whimsical, beautiful, and sometimes terrifying nature of Once Upon a Time land. Some of my favorite fairy tales are of Russian origin which often goes overlooked in favor of the Anglo-German ones. But it's always a treat to encounter Russian fairy tales in all their various forms.Firebird: Adventure One by Julia Gousseva takes the Russian fairy tale and updates it for the modern reader. The story opens with a pair of siblings Katie and Alex whose parents are going away and decides to leave them in the care of their Old Aunt Karina. Not long after their arrival, they discover a magical secret that kicks off their adventures. What follows is a short, but exciting series of events centered around the mythical bird that gives this book its name.I'm impressed with the way the author interweaves timeless Russian fairy tales and motifs into a children's book that is full of all the delightful goodness that makes a good fairy tale. The story moves quickly and there is never a boring moment in the book. Through its pages new readers will be introduced to the wonderful dark tales of the north, while allowing those familiar with the genre to revisit them.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any kid or grown up who loves fairy tales. Looking forward to reading future installments in this wonderful series.4 Stars for a fast pace and well-delivered fairy tale adventure.Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal, review.