Garden of the Lost Souls by Erik Olsen

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Garden of the Lost Souls (Flin's Destiny Series #2) by Erik Olsen

Publisher:  Cedar Fort, Inc.

Publication Date:  July 10th 2012

ISBN:  146211010X

Genre:  YA/middle-grade adventure, fantasy

Book Synopsis:  Flin climbed to the top of the Cathedral and was now pinned against the anemone’s ceiling while dozens of enraged Snazzards scaled up after him.
I can’t climb any higher he thought, desperately looking around for any last options. There’s no place left to go! They’re going to get me! Panicked, he jumped and fell hundreds of feet through the air as the ground raced toward him.
“NOOooo…!” he screamed.


After all he’s been through, it seems Flin’s life is finally getting back to normal—well, as normal as you can get when you’re stuck hundreds of miles under the earth’s surface. But in Cobble Cavern, nothing stays normal for long. 


And when Flin and the rest of his classmates are sucked into another adventure, they’ll need more than a little magic to make it out alive. Especially since this time Flin will have to choose between saving an entire village from destruction or rescuing his own best friend!


Packed with action, humor, and tons of twists, this second installment in the Flin’s Destiny series will keep your kids up with a flashlight long past bedtime. Delve deeper into the mysterious underworld in this heart-pounding story that’s bound to become a family favorite.

My Thoughts:  I didn't know that it could get so much better - but it sure did!!!  I really enjoyed book one - Cobble Cavern - in the  Flin's Destiny Series, but this one takes it to a whole new level of awesome!!!


I found the action and pacing in Garden of the Lost Souls to be very fast and exciting!  When you start this book, be prepared, hold onto your seat, because you will be off on an amazing ride!!  The descriptions of the characters and this under-world are so much more vivid in this book - and like I said before, I thought they were great in the first one!!!


I don't want to sound so enthusiastic that it feels phony, but this is honestly the way I feel.  Erik Olsen has created a series that will attract a wide variety of readers.  I am very awe-inspired with this series.  If this book is any indication on what will continue in the next, I want to read that next book NOW!!!


All of the characters I loved from Cobble Cavern are back in Garden of the Lost Souls.  They are in for some thrilling adventures that sometimes make you feel you are on a roller-coaster ride.  Flin at one point is believed dead, and at other points is the champion or purveyor of strength in the given situation.  His friends, Pilt, Flowell, Fezzy, and others play larger rolls in this book - we get to learn so much more about them.  We even get to see what happens to Sump, Parcell, and Ruel - you'll not believe it!!!  And, there are even more creative characters to be had - Delly, Pepper, and Froggit - and more!  Don't you just love those names!!  Stepping out into other parts of the under-world - finding more caverns and spaces, Flin and crew continue to run into danger, but also find some beautiful worlds with some very friendly creatures.  


Something that I thought brought so much more to this story is the glimmer of a relationship beginning between Flin and Flowell.  I hope we see more of that in future installments!! This was not at all up in your face, but rather in the outskirts.  The intertwining relationships between all of the characters is so very creative - some things I were not at all what I had expected.  


Thank you Erik Olsen for writing this wonderful fantasy adventure.  Like I said about Cobble Cavern, this will definitely be shared with my students - and more than likely part of a read-aloud!!!!

***Aren't the covers on both books gorgeous.  Could you imagine what a picture book would be like!!!!

Cobble Cavern by Erik Olsen

Cobble Cavern by Erik Olsen
Publisher:  Cedar Fort
Publication Date: April 10, 2012
ISBN: 9781462110094
Genre: YA/middle-grade adventure, fantasy


Summary:  What starts out to be a fun field trip to Ireland for Flin and his school debate team turns into a life changing adventure when their bus ends up in an earthquake. Flin and his teammates get swallowed deep into the earth and become trapped under the ocean inside a clear dome where they discover an unknown civilization. Now they must fight their way back to the surface if they ever want to see home again. Join Flin and his classmates on a journey of a lifetime in this thrilling adventure story.


My thoughts:  Cobble Cavern is a very fun, adventuresome book!  I feel that there is something to be found in the book for most middle grade students.  There is a field trip to Ireland, an earthquake, getting trapped underground - ultimately, under the ocean, various  underground creatures, and the search for a way to get out. 


The visual / sensory descriptions are amazing.  Erik Olsen did an excellent job in putting you right in the setting.  I could feel the earthquake and see what was happening, as it occurred.  The views of the ocean from underneath, how powerful.  My favorite view was of the momma and baby whale! I would love to experience that in real-life. The creepy creatures that Flin and his classmates encounter, WOW!  As Principal Vespar put it near the end "It's like a fairy tale down here." I couldn't put it better myself. 


I found Flin to be a very strong character.  He is not your typical boy, but not all that far off either.  He has a "different" family life, with a lot of history and heritage - that which is tied into the whole adventure.  He handles all the obstacles that he comes across quite casually, dealing with them as they come. The abilities he adopts are not much of a challenge to him - he learns to use them rather than fear them.   He tends to be a leader and helps others through it.  He is a quick thinker, and often saves the day.


My favorite characters are Fezzy, Heppel, and Inger.  I would love to stay in the cathedral with them. They see so sweet and welcoming.  I would hate to leave them, just as Flin and his classmates hated to do so.


The end was totally unexpected, it most definitely leaves you wanting for more. I was unaware until I was done reading it, that it is part of a five book series called Flin's Destiny.  I am very excited about the prospects of reading more about Flin and his classmates.  


I have found another book to share with my students, and knowing that it is a series is even better!  I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!


You need to check these out:

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/348862906283/

Book Poster page: http://cobblecavern.com/  

Publisher Blog http://www.cedarfortbooks.com/

Publisher Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cedarfortbooks

Publisher Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/cedarfortbooks

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W.....W.....W...... Wednesday (11)

W....W....W.... Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading.  To take part in this feature, you answer 3 questions in a blog post:

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?     

What are you currently reading?  My current read is Cobble Cavern by Erik Olsen.  I am reading it for a blog tour - my stop being this Friday, March 23, 2012 - so be sure to stop by then.  This is a fun adventure novel - students go on a field trip and get more than they bargained for.










What did you recently finish reading?  The last book I have read is The Rock of Ivanore by Laurisa White Reyes.  This is a wonderful middle grade fantasy.  It is a quick read, that I think all middle school students would love and relate to.  You can see my review here.

What do you think you'll read next?  I will be reading Mrs. Tuesday's Departure by Suzanne E. Anderson.  Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so I am very excited to read this one.  I will also be picking up Watched by Cindy Hogan.  This one involves a school trip to Washington D.C., murder, and the FBI.  Yeah, this one should be a fun read!!!






Share your W..W..W..Wednesday link below in the comments, & I will be sure to stop by.  I'm always looking for more titles.   

Teaser Tuesday 10

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB @Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"I'll drive as fast as I can, but it's still going to take at least a half an hour to get there," his dad said in a panic as he raced out of the school parking lot and back down the winding mountain road towards the airport."     

----------------------------Cobble Cavern by Erik Olsen