I think this book deserves five out of five stars ... I was swept away into its magical adventures. BIBLIOTECA REVIEWS Venice itself is so well portrayed that it becomes a character in its own right. Its narrow streets, its murky canals and dark, secret towers are the setting for an astonishing world of witches, hags, mermaids and magicians. Tea towels become means of transport, ordinary household ingredients are combined into potions, and a small boy is allowed to stand up in court and argue for the preservation of the city. The book is an exciting, amusing and enchanting read. THE BOOKBAG For those who love action-packed fantasy, this is a must ... a magical adventure story. BARBARA MITCHELHILL I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed it immensley, especially the ending ... I found this funny, filled with action and informative. Overall I give this book five stars out of five. Read it! -- Mia Quraishi Nash, aged 10 WE LOVE THIS BOOK This is an exciting tale of courage and friendship and love for your family. BOOKWITCH Venice is conjured up in all her shabby glory ... But the story isn't just about setting. There is an action packed plot, with wonderful characters, fantastical beasts, and a deliciously wry, dry sense of humour threading all the way through. And there are mischief and mayhem, horror and gore, fun and games. I don't think I've enjoyed reading something so much for ages. JE TOWEY Michelle Lovric has once again created a rollicking adventure full of history, awesome imagination and fantastic characters of all sorts. THE DIARY OF A BOOK WORM This fantastical tale not only offers a richly detailed historical view of Venice, but also provides a vividly imaginative take on the city ... Imbued with magic, mystery and a rip-roaring plot, this book is a gripping read for older children, with lyrical and compelling prose, and a depiction of a fantasy Venice that is both evocative and beautiful. ITALIA! It's an action-packed, totally enchanting read for children and adults alike. MADHOUSE FAMILY REVIEWS a story ... that will enchant you from first page to the last. Add this to Michelle's solid use of prose, cracking dialogue and a lead character that the readers will want to embark on their adventure with and it's a story that was a pure joy to read. Finally add to this a sense of whimsy, and enchanting story overall and a whole host of supporting cast members that will make this a hard tale to forget. Great stuff. TATTY'S TREASURE CHEST / FALCATA TIMES I liked reading this book because it's set in a different time and place. I would definitely recommend this book for 10 - 14 year olds, and am now keen to read other books by the same author. -- Bethany Hammond, aged 12 KIDAROUND Brilliant fun! A lively fantasy adventure for 8+. I enjoyed this book a lot. Reading it, I was enveloped in a cocoon on magic, taking me to a nineteenth century Venice where magic openly exists ... a classic children's fantasy THOUGHTS FROM THE HEARTHFIRE The writing is beautiful and descriptive allowing you to sample life in Venice just by turning the page. The imagery is stunning and I found myself desperately wanting to visit Venice, but with Michelle as my tour guide. With each description of Venice, you can tell how much the author loves the city; her words breathe out enthusiasm and affection ... The plot had me hooked from the first page ... Michelle Lovric has created an enchanting novel that has left me wanting more. SERENDIPITY REVIEWS ...intelligently written: beautiful prose, witty dialogue, plus enough gore and gruesome Venetian history to satisfy modern children. PATRICIAGUY.COM I want to call Michelle's books a guilty pleasure, but I think that would be doing them a gross disservice as it implies that I shouldn't really be loving them as much as I do. Perhaps I should replace the word 'guilty' for 'the ultimate story-lover's', for that is what they are to me ... Michelle uses her rich prose to weave a luxurious tapestry of a fairytale, populated with colourful characters, the dialogue between whom is another stand out feature of the story. THE BOOK ZONE FOR BOYS There's brilliant magic throughout this book that made me constantly wonder what was going to happen next ... Magic is interwoven through the pages in such a way that it's entirely natural but also wonderfully surprising too ... You really couldn't ask for more from a book. I can't recommend this book highly enough. I think it would appeal as much to boys as well as girls as it has plenty of gore alongside the magical to keep everyone happy. MY FAVOURITE BOOKS To say this story is wonderfully creative woujld be an understatement. It is more than that - vivid, believable, well written, and heart-wrenching ... From the beauty of it's breath-taking cover to the wonderfully emotional tale told with spell-binding prose, this is a treasure of a book. HISTORICAL NOVEL REVIEW Just when the children's fantasy novel seemed to be settling into a series of tired stereotypes an repetitive plots comes some truly original writing radiating an energy and general sense of brio delightful to behold. [An] extraordinary story ... Michelle Lovric is clearly a name to watch. BOOKS FOR KEEPS ...a 10/10 delightful read. NAYU'S READING CORNER
