I was lucky enough to be sent a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.
Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, cover art by Harry Woodgate, published by Knights Of.
I wasn't sure initially if this was going to be one I'd take to, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Just before moving to London from a remote home in Wales, Vivi pays one last visit to her favourite lake and before she knows it has unearthed a legendary sword, angered a mythical monster and landed herself at the centre of a magical mission to protect the world from Arthurian villain King Arawn.
I loved the way this drew on Welsh folklore, with Vivi and her new friends each bonded to a soul of a formidable figure from Arthurian legends, each with a talisman and a new-found power (in Vivi's case the power to wield water magic). It made me want to know more about the tales they come from and the characters themselves, many of whom I knew by name but nothing more; however, not knowing their stories didn't detract from this one.
The plot develops quickly, with Vivi being forced to come to terms with her new powers, as children start disappearing across London and reports of strange creatures being sighted on the increase too... All of this leads to some dramatic fight scenes, with a real sense
of immediate danger; the shadowy creatures they're up against are dark, fast,
menacing and hard to beat, creating some brilliant battles.
New friends Dara, Chia and Stevie make a really rounded group, with each of them bring different qualities and strengths to the mix (I especially enjoy Stevie as the gang's spiky, non-magical coach). I really rooted for them, both in their magical quests and in their everyday lives as they navigate friendship, feelings and personal challenges.
Ghost dog Gelert finishing it off perfectly as he appears and disappears at will, but always showing up when needed. He has that perfect sort of grumpy-yet-loyal, sarcastic-but-soft nature which I loved (and I couldn't help but read him in the voice of Mike Bubbins, which really only added to my enjoyment!)
I also loved the diverse representation in the book. I have to be honest, I'd heard about this before I read it and was a bit worried it was going to feel shoe-horned in or 'worthy', but it absolutely doesn't - it is done SO WELL. In fact, I think it's the best diverse rep I've seen in a book for a while, with LGBTQ+ rep, disability, rep, autism rep, a mix of ethnicities...and none of it feels like a box-ticking exercise (which in the wrong hands it certainly can). Huxley-Jones also, somehow, manages to openly and honestly discuss and reflect life with disability and autism, and the perceptions, assumptions, misconceptions and judgements of others in a way that slots seamlessly into the story - no mean feat.
This is a book brimming with love, warmth, friendship and heart, blended brilliantly with fable, action and encroaching danger and the ending sets us up perfectly for book two, which I'm really looking forward to.
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