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The Moon Coin
By: Richard Due
ISBN: 9780983886723
Published August 25, 2011 by Gibbering Gnome Press, A Division of Ingenious Inventions Run Amok, Ink
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ?????
Lily and Jasper's Uncle Ebb is full of mystery and fabulously imaginative tales-uh, stories packed with dragons, merfolk, giants, and faeries. But, it is all just fun and bedtime stories, or so they believe. When Uncle Ebb vanishes, Lily and Jasper stumble upon something much more powerful than they could have imagined. Lily is swept into a world she knows so very well but could not have believed truly existed. There's no denying it now. Not only do she and her brother have to find their uncle, they must also help unite the moons of the realm and bring prosperity and peace once again.
This book is one of the reasons why I absolutely love my "job"; I get to read these incredible (all too often undiscovered) gems and share them with all my friends and family! I never turn down a good children's/YA book, so I immediately told Richard I would certainly love to read and review his book. I cannot express to you how impressed I have been!
If I had to compare The Moon Coin to any other work, I'd say it is a cross between Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. It reads very well for middle grade and younger YA, like Narnia, with the immense fantasy of LOTR. The imagery is so captivating, Lily is so mature, and the reader is swept along her adventure as if we are riding the Rinn or facing the dragon ourselves. It is everything you want a great fantasy to be and then some.
I shared this book with my six-year-old as our bedtime story this week. I would read to him until he went to sleep, then continue reading ahead. The next evening, I would condense the parts I had read and then continue on with the next chapters. He was always full of fantastic questions about the story and the characters involved. He loved the illustrations and, of course, wished there were more. I actually do too, but everything is told so well, I had no trouble whatsoever imagining the story for myself.
The Moon Coin most certainly rates up there with my absolute favorite books and is in the top three of my favorite children's books. I hope Richard will publish a print version! Everyone must give this one a try; you won't be disappointed. Mr. Due, PLEASE don't take long getting the next in the series ready for us ?. There are so many mysteries to solve, I may simply burst with anticipation!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jerx
Posted September 1, 2011
At first I felt strange reading something written more for my grandchildren than for a senior citizen like me ... but I have to admit I read it through without stopping other than to grab snacks and beverages. Due manages to build both characters and worlds that capture the youth in all of us and transport us to places we wish we could really visit. Great plot line, wonderfully exciting characters, and illustrations that are sure to charm. I plan on gifting this to all seventeen of my grandchildren. Anxiously awaiting the next installment!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.indiebrag
Posted March 25, 2013
We are proud to announce that The Moon Coin by Richard Due is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth your time and money!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 20, 2013
Characters:
Let me begin by saying I do not like Lilly. I don't think she's very practical and she relies on her charm too much. She seems to be very manipulative and knows it. Also, I didn't find it believable that she wouldn't be able to wake up her brother enough to have him travel to the moons coherently.
The parents seemed oddly restrictive and controlling. The kids seemed to have an unhealthy amount of fear of the mother.
Plot/Story:
The idea of the moons that overlap is unique. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. The creatures are imaginative and I enjoyed each moon's culture. It's also a fun idea that these stories are actually tales. I found it interesting that the inhabitants on the moons also thought that the tales were just stories.
I liked it overall, not my favorite, but I will continue on in the series to see where it goes.
Review:
If I ever have kids, this will be one of their bedtime stories! Even though this book is labeled for the middle-grade age group, I know that it can be enjoyed by all ages! As I was reading, I was mentally projecting a film version in my head, and adding to the beautiful imagery were twenty-two vividly colored and imagined illustrations by the very talented Carolyn Arcabascio. I took a few minutes to observe each depicted scene on my Kindle Fire, marveling at the accuracy of my own imaginings. Both the tale itself and the illustrations reminded me of some of the best parts of my favorite fantasy series, including: The Wizard Of Oz, Harry Potter, The Chronicles Of Narnia, The NeverEnding Story, Alice in Wonderland, and The Lord Of the Rings; however, The Moon Coin still held its own originality. Its fast-pace, scenes of adventure and mystery, and meticulous detail kept me - a twenty-something college student - occupied and enthralled for a couple of hours; and I am definitely going to be reading it again! I loved all the characters, and each new moon (world) introduced me to an amazing set of inhabitants; the illustrations were wonderful for this purpose! Lily and Jasper had my imagination running wild, just like theirs. They were very realistic and easily related to, especially for children around their age range - nine to fifteen. I never knew what lay ahead for the pair, and I think that kids (and adults) will fall in love with Richard Due's spellbinding writing style. Overall, a sensational fantasy, with tons of adventure and mystery for all ages. This would definitely make a great movie, animated or otherwise. Recommended for all book lovers and their children!
Rating: Clean Getaway (5/5)
*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Book Blurb
Gibbering Gnome Press Presents a Tale of Epic Fantasy
For Lily and Jasper Winter, the Moon Realm began with a single secret bedtime tale. As the children grew older, Uncle Ebb enthralled them with thrilling tales of the Dragondain riding horse-sized, catlike Rinn; mysterious tales of peerin-wielding lunamancers manipulating the magic that lies just beneath the surface of reality; exciting tales of flying dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping giants, and troublesome faeries. But as the magic of their childhood faded, so too did the tales. Eventually, they were just . . . good stories.
Or were they?
Now, nine years after it all began, Uncle Ebb is missing.
Lily and Jasper search for clues, but their uncle's mansion is full of distractions. A Tesla generator thrums in the basement. Prismatic electrimals flit around walls resembling underwater reefs. Then a most unexpected friend comes to their aid, leading them to a hidden room where they find a mysterious coin—the moon coin. Before the night is out, Lily is transported to the real Moon Realm. But the moons are in trouble. The Rinn of Barreth are under siege, and the lunamancers of Dain are beset by the very dragons they once loved. Most horrifying of all, the moon Darwyth has fallen to a villain named Wrengfoul, whose creeping evil now threatens to overshadow all the Realm.
Are Lily and Jasper too late to save the Moon Realm, or will they have enough time to write an ending of their own?
Featuring twenty-two stunning full-color illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio. Volume One of the young adult fantasy adventure series The Moon Realm.
MY THOUGHTS
From the very first page of the book where Lily and Jasper are enthralled by their Uncle as he spins his marvelous tales of adventure the reader finds themselves just as mesmerized! The fantasy world is rich and colorful, the characters are a blend of realism and make believe that is very entertaining, the inventive illustrations at the beginnings of the chapters lend a bit of whimsy to the tale by allowing readers to glimpse for themselves what the characters could look like, the pace of the story is smooth and most importantly the tale itself is utterly easy to become involved with as the action unfolds.
Along with such long time fantasy classics as The Wizard of Oz, The Lord Of The Rings and The Tales of Narnia just to name a few treasures from my own childhood this series will stand the test of time as well. If I had children reading this to them would be a delight for myself as well as my child!
Young adult fantasy adventure is what the beginning of the Moon Realm series has been categorized in, this sums it up nicely but does not even begin to touch upon the sublime reading experience you will have when you enjoy this story! Author Richard Due has created a tale centered around Lily and Jasper Winter and their search to discover the whereabouts of their beloved Uncle Ebb, what they find out along the way will both amuse and astound you! The Moon Coin takes us on a fantastical journey that brings to mind all the best memories of being a child like lying in bed while being told stories about make believe characters and worlds that we just know would be so much fun to visit if only we could.[An ecopy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.]
Howling_Turtle
Posted March 1, 2012
The Moon Coin is a wonderful read for all ages. As Middle Grade novel, it is appropriate for younger audiences, but older readers will love it too. The world is so original, and well developed, I love Mr. Due's writing style and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.vvb32
Posted February 3, 2012
A magical adventure, indeed! Lots of action and new worlds to discover.
One of the characters reminded me of my kitten who was recently added to the household. Similar coloring and looks based on the illustrations. Funny how coincidental things can pop up in books.
I liked how the bulk of this story had a focus on a female heroine - makes for an empowering story for girls to read.
Jen_the_Bibliophile
Posted November 19, 2011
Adventurous and fantastically action packed, Richard Due's The Moon Coin is a story that reminds us of what it's like to be young and that there is so much more to the world than we can sometimes imagine. With nine moons, talking creatures and a traveling coin, we enter the world of The Moon Coin, a story that takes us to the far reaches of ingenuity and excitement, eliciting all the emotions of learning, growing, experiencing and realizing that things aren't what we thought they were...they are so much more.
My feelings on this book may be better related if you all know something about me. I love a good story. I have this aunt who tells the most amazing stories and growing up, whenever we'd visit her in Utah, she'd round us all up and tell us the most amazing tales. Stories of dancing princesses or Captain Crunches soggy cereal or witches that were secretly our little brothers. She could craft a story so imaginative and so detailed, it felt like I was there, in the story and even to this day, my siblings and I can still sit there and listen to her tall tales of far fetched places and people. Richard Due's The Moon Coin, for me, was like that.
The Moon Coin, fast, furious and immensely enjoyable, reminded me of what I love about fiction. The thought and creative emphasis that drives that little light of our imagination to explore the fantastical to it's every corner. The way Mr. Due has crafted his tale is wickedly enthralling, with a touch of what we know added into the larger mix of what we don't, we get to discover everything right along with Lily (and eventually Jasper). There are surprises around every corner and by taking the more difficult theme of division, forcible annexation and the underlying currents of coloring up the truth, Mr. Due has made The Moon Coin into a story that is deeply layered and developed as much as it is entertaining and delightful.
With a extremely wide cast of characters and a heroine we can appreciate, The Moon Coin just keeps giving. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did. I think it brought me back to those stories of my aunt's and how much I love living in an imaginative world and the alluring places they take me. To worlds where giant lion-like animals with huge saucer eyes rule worlds and control magic and where humans are not the majority or the strongest, but rather fighting for survival on a planet that has had terrible pains. Mr. Due has brilliantly crafted these worlds for us, developing them to illustrative vivid quality. My only complaint is sometimes there was a little too much detail, but I believe that as a first installment it was undoubtedly necessary to the creation of each moon.
Overall, I heartily loved The Moon Coin and I look forward to the next installment and the hope that I will get to visit even more planets and discover all the hidden secrets the Moon Realm holds. I give The Moon Coin a 5/5 and recommend it to those who enjoy YA, MG, Other World and Fantasy Fiction.
OH MY GOSH! What an amazing book! The worlds' (moons) of the Moon Realm come to life for us! At first I was a little confused by all the names, but shortly after arriving in Barreth, the names were like second nature to me. The illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio were just amazing. I read the book on my Kindle, but soon switched to the Kindle app on my Ipad to see the illustrations in color. They truly add to Mr. Due's wonderful story, or is it a tale?
This is one book that will surely be made into a movie sometime in the future, much like the Harry Potter or Narnia series. I loved the characters of Lilly and Jasper, both genders were represented and I think both boys and girls will love this story. I anxiously await the second in the series. I could not put this book down! It is sure to become a favorite of children and parents alike!!
Anonymous
Posted November 14, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 29, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
"The Moon Coin is a fine and adventurous read for young adults, highly recommended."--The Midwest Book Review
Tales, ...