Book Review - Belles Middle Grade Library

I really loved this! This was such a great version of a modern day Merlin story. So original, & a great time! Siblings, Ethan & his sister Jynx, are spending their Christmas break w/estranged uncle Socrates. They’re not looking forward to it. They don’t know who he really is either. He currently lives as an artist in Virginia. There is no internet/any TVs, etc. The house also seems alive! Lights turning on & off, & fires lighting themselves-all when needed. I loved that house lol Ethan is looking out over a maze in the back yard when he suddenly hears a strange voice saying to seek the light to reveal the shrouded treasure-for the sake of the trust. He gets the local caretakers son, Amos, to help him. He recently met him, & the kid is like a genius lol They also get occasional help from Jynx. They have to solve riddles & ciphers to locate whatever it is that will lead them to the shrouded treasure. They’re not the only ones looking for it. There are blood thirsty pirates of yore, & a fairy witch-who has a riddle-loving goblin, & a fire spitting salamander at her disposal. If the treasure falls into the wrong hands, the fate of the whole world is at stake. This was full of so much suspense, & tension that I read the last 52% in 1 sitting yesterday. Couldn’t stop! There’s even a lot of Sherlock Holmes love in here. The siblings have a dull life back at home-their parents care more about things/appearances than anything. Their time w/their uncle was anything but dull. They got to really be themselves-discover themselves. & Amos got to finally belong. He doesn’t have any friends, & the dynamic b/n these kids was so heartwarming, & I loved seeing it develop. I wish the kids could stay w/Socrates. Socrates was so great. Such a well written character I loved. I also adored Mrs. Gooch (housekeeper/cook), Fergus(the butler), & even scary Scafell (the groundskeeper). Also amazing, were the animals - Badger, Puck, & Admiral Benbow. The house itself, the staff, & animals all made this even more cozy & such an amazing atmosphere/setting. Highly recommend. So much adventure, time travel, pirates, magic, magical creatures, & just amazingness! Can’t wait for the next one! (From Good Reads: http://bit.ly/bellesmg)