Review sponsored* by Marc Remus
The Children’s Book Review | April 6, 2016
The Gallery of Wonders: Magora: Book One
Written by Marc Remus
Age Range: 9+
Paperback: 270 pages
Publisher: Misty Moon Books (2016)
ISBN: 978-3000519307
What to expect: Magic, Art, Magical Creatures, Fantasy, Loss
Visual creativity shines through in both the concept and the writing of this enchanting first installment of the Magora series.
Holly is an eleven-year-old orphan in the care of unkind distant relatives who make her stay in the attic when she is not cleaning their home. On the day that Holly spots a fire through the attic window, all of her dreams of being an artist go up in smoke when she discovers that the building in flames belonged to her beloved Grandpa Nikolas, an artist deemed mad. After his loss, Holly receives an anonymous package filled with magical objects from the world she knows as Magora—a world she had always believed was a fictional one that existed only in her Grandpa’s paintings. She then comes across a magic paintbrush, a large canvas with a painting of Magora, and instructions on how to open a particular gate. And then it happens: Holly and her friends find themselves in a new world where artists create everything that exists. Grandpa Nikolas had not been crazy.
“‘Watch out, Rufus!’ Holly screamed. She tried to hold on to something, but there was nothing but millions of lights that zoomed past her like fireflies.”
It seems that in Magora, Holly could actually live her dream and study to be an artist; however, this spellbinding place looks to be in a fragile, chaotic state. A darker power is seeking Holly and important artwork is disappearing from the Gallery of Wonders. Holly will need to master some very specific brushstrokes if she is to fight back. Will she be able to develop the needed skills before it’s too late?
The author, Marc Remus, flits carefully between fantasy and reality making both elements believable. His writing style is clear and crisp which is a great delivery system for a mind-bending and unique plot, such as The Gallery of Wonders. Readers will also enjoy the familiarity of a mash up of excellent story building elements that can be seen in the likes of Harry Potter, Narnia, Cinderella, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and, perhaps, even Scooby-Doo.
The Gallery of Wonders is an incredibly engaging middle grade book for 9-year-olds and up—especially those that dabble in art, magic, and defense against the dark arts.
Add this book to your collection: The Gallery of Wonders: Magora: Book One
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About Marc Remus
Marc Remus is an award-winning German Neo Pop-Art painter and illustrator with exhibitions world-wide. He was educated in the United States, graduated with a BA in art and illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, and lived in Japan and Central America for some years.
He has travelled to more than sixty countries and visited over a thousand cities, of which he has painted over two hundred. His work has been featured on TV and in many magazines and newspapers in Germany, USA, and Mexico.
During his studies in California, Remus took his first children’s book illustration class. His teacher inspired him to start writing and not just illustrating. The result was a picture book called Painting Brian, which led to the Magora series. Over a period of twenty years, Remus has developed this magical world based on places he has visited, people he has met, and things he has learned through his studies in acting, cultural Anthropology, and linguistics.
For more information, visit: www.Magora.net and www.MarcRemus.com.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “The Gallery of Wonders: Magora: Book One,” Marc Remus, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …
