bibliophilicjester's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
well that was an abrupt ending! *immediately takes book 2 off shelf*
snazel's review
Adventure, batfriends, and goes significantly further into medical ethics than I was expecting.
NEXT BOOK. NEXT BOOK.
NEXT BOOK. NEXT BOOK.
yapha's review
4.0
Raffa is the son of apothecaries and a very talented young apothecary himself. He sees and hears things as he is combining herbs that allow him to create perfect mixtures. When an injured bat crashes into his house, Raffa and his cousin Garith venture into the Forest of Wonders to find a vine that his great grandmother once found, something his father thinks may be the bat's only hope. They find the vine, but the effects when they try it are much more than they had expected. Raffa sets off to the city to warn Garith and is even more surprised by what he finds happening there. There is plenty of humor sprinkled through this adventure. A fabulous start to a new series! Highly recommend for grades 3 & up.
notneb's review
4.0
Fun read with my Landi Love!
2021 - Read with the girls. Katie liked the parts where Echo talked. Evelyn says "mmmmmm."
2021 - Read with the girls. Katie liked the parts where Echo talked. Evelyn says "mmmmmm."
pomegranateseedpress's review
5.0
read to the kids at night - lovely story of apothecary - and gently looking at responsibility of humans and plants/animals in a larger context as well as a personal context with the main character. i wish it were a girl though - - as the main character instead of female secondary characters... but i see how it works with a male lead - just too many books we've been reading lately have male-centered leads in the stories... but the bat, echo, is by far one of my kids' most beloved characters yet. they quote him constantly.
jessalynn_librarian's review
3.0
This is definitely the kind of fantasy that I can easily recommend to kids at the library - some adventure, animals, a fantasy world that easily accessible, and a set-up for a longer series. However, it wasn't one that I loved as an adult reader who enjoys rich characters and settings and nuanced plots.
Bookgroup verdict: 1 kid thought it was great, 2 didn't like it much.
Bookgroup verdict: 1 kid thought it was great, 2 didn't like it much.
yujahey's review
5.0
The whole plot of talking animals just gets me going, especially when it's a cute little bat that says "Ouch" every time he lands on Raffa's shoulders. Raffa himself is a very refined character. He is caring, courageous, and good with his hands. However, with his discovery, he has to keep Echo hidden from the world to ensure nobody takes advantage of the little bat. This book is amazing at touching upon each character's action and explaining the reasoning behind it, making the character seem more humane and relatable than just a villainous person.
lara_lleverino's review
4.0
Great upper elementary/lower middle school book! Poses great questions about family loyalty, trusting and obeying parents, Wild animals as pets, healing vs harming, captivity vs freedom, instinct vs science.