Category: Fantasy Publisher: Morris Publishing Australia
Type: Fiction
Pages: 244
Copyright: June 2012
ISBN-13: 9780987244444
Price: $4.99 (eBook)
The story is educational as well as entertaining. It introduces the readers to Australian megafauna and dinosaurs, but in the guise of an entertaining, fictional, fantasy story.
Book two is story of mystery, time-travel, and magic. Grundymere is still at large and seems determined to capture Meg. The elders of the Order believe it is to stop her from following in her grandmother's footsteps and becoming the next Grand Leader of the order that protects the valley, The Guardians of Nida – but he has a much more sinister reason.
Follow their journey as Meg strives to control her escalating magic powers, and she and her friends fight to discover the identity of the traitor in the valley and time-travel again to try save the animals from extinction. The elders of the Order gather around her to keep Meg from the clutches of Grundymere. But can they succeed? Only time will tell.
Excerpt
The wings of Meg’s pterosauradon, Mondy, beat gently as they soared above the hidden valley. A rush of pleasure surged through her. Her heart swelled with pride. How awesome that one day I will be the Grand Leader of the Guardians of Nida, the group who protect this amazing place, she thought.
Her best friend Amanda and cousin Jaiden flew alongside, the wing tips of their pteros just
metres from Mondy’s. She waved and they grinned at her, enjoying the early morning ride. The sun reflected off the foliage of the ancient, giant trees that reached for the sky. The contrast of the different coloured leaves and the fire engine red flowers of the flame trees dotted throughout the forest, created a mosaic of colour.
Marsupial tapirs, short-faced kangaroos and the hippo like creature, the zygomaturus, grazed on the grassy plains or drank at water holes that sparkled like diamonds in the sun’s rays.
An involuntary, ‘Wow,’ escaped her lips when they flew over the family of dinosaurs, the muttaburrasauras, feeding on the trees near the cave that housed the Time Travel Portal. 'These ancient creatures are so cool; I wish we could share them with everyone else.'
The cave in the cliff nearby drew her eyes. It called to her, enticing her to land. Mesmerised, she flew closer. 'I have to find a way into the time travel portal again, and go back to find some more giant wombats to increase the herd. When Willie dies of old age they will all be gone.'
A dark shadow passed over Meg, blocking out the sun’s rays. She looked up; her heart raced. She screamed, then shouted, ‘Look out! He’s back.’
The gunman they had an air battle with just days ago, was back. She dived Mondy. She Looked over her shoulder to see if he was following. Her heart stopped and fear gripped her chest like a giant rubber band, forcing all the breath from her body. She shook her head in confusion and looked again. Now what was flying at her wasn’t the intruder on a pterosauradon, but the dragon they had fought in the cave.
Head spinning with confusion, Meg tried to yell a further warning but the sound stuck in her throat. Flames shot from the monster’s mouth and a sickening roar assaulted her ears. She
watched in horror as Jaiden’s shirt caught fire and he screamed in agony.
Desperate to help, Meg flew as close as she could and reached for him. The gap was too wide and she overbalanced and fell from Mondy’s back. She was falling. Blackness closed around her and she could hear nothing but her voice screaming Jaiden’s name.
Professional Reviews
Bring a little extra magic to your life
"Captured" is the second book in The Mystery of Nida Valley series, but even if, like myself, you haven't read the first; the events prior are explained enough that you won't be left feeling lost.
Our protagonist, Meg is an absolute delight to get to know and the adventure she takes us on will leave you on the edge of your seat. Packed to the brim with magic, mystery, the ultimate bad guy and unwavering friendship, "Captured" is the ultimate story to re-affirm or develop your love for all things fantasy.
The plot is timed perfectly and the world and characters are all well developed and the scenery vivid. This is truly and all ages book. While it is aimed at older children/young teens there is plenty to delight adults as well. The only downside? Well it will leave you desperate for more, and eagerly anticipating reading its predecessor.
Bring a little extra magic to your life and take the leap into Nida Valley - you won't regret it.
Pull up your seat, for you are going on a fantastic journey that you’ll not soon forget.
Captured – Book two in The Mystery of Nida Valley series is more than a story about a magical, mystical encounter by a girl who stands to inherit enormous powers; it’s a family journey of love, history and about our own natural instincts to preserve our own heritage, as well as that of extinct animals. It’s a story about prehistoric animals who roam the hidden valley dependent on human preservation by a magic Order. And because of the presumed extinction propensity, reading this epic novel makes you want to preserve these species too. Meg is the perfect candidate to lead this group of interesting characters.
The author does a sensational job of intermixing old tradition with the new. And the fantasy aspects of this story simply keeps you turning the pages as you go along with Meg and her friends to find the missing pteros, save the wombats and to learn the truth about why Grundymere wants to capture her – and why Dragon Lady, Miss Cashmere, hates her and has Sophie snoop to find out the extent of Meg’s power. You also want to know if Meg will use her power responsibly, and not take advantage of the gift that others don’t have. As time goes by, the readers will be happy to learn how responsible a teen Meg is.
Meg’s journey of preservation and discovery is breathtaking! Her love for the valley is highlighted by her love of learning and discovery. You’ll enjoy searching for the giant megafauna wombat’s and missing pterosauradons with Meg. And you’ll laugh at being invisible with Meg and her friends, and a whole lot more, because she is simply an adorable character who makes us believe. This is a well written saga, and the end will be a great surprise to all who believe, and don’t take things at face value.
This book is well edited, and researched. The author makes it fun and educational to learn about prehistoric animals. After reading this beautiful book, and seeing how people who lived in one time, acted as they met up with real people who had time traveled back from decades ahead, I only wanted more! Meg won my heart. Ms. Ouston has certainly won a new fan in me!
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