Review by my 5 year old: I like that they got to babysit Wolf but I don't like that Wolf got a mess but I like that Wolf gets a bath.

Lovely fantasy adventure, totally engrossing. I do wish that the interpersonal dynamics between the children had been explored more thoroughly, they are all set up for it but just...don't have the necessary conversations. I also wish that the tension between Alma and her parents had been better resolved, though perhaps it was more realistic to leave it messy. There was the (fairly common in fantasy) possibility that this "growing the light" was going to veer too close to religion for my taste, but it stayed just on this side of secular, and that was nice. On the whole, totally looking forward to reading more by Jess Redman.

Disappointing ending that is also very fulfilling. Makes you realize this is really not children's fantasy, that kind of ending. I continue to love this weird series of little novels.

Love this universe! Well-rounded world with lovely magic. I could wish for a bit more, all round, but that probably just means I need the next book!

I don't love the end, which leaves two children dangling from it. Other than that though, this novel rings true on a number of levels. Nothing is perfect, everyone is a bit complex and also a bit fuzzy around the edges of our main character's understanding, and the plot isn't so complex as to feel fabricated in any way. A lovely piece of realism

I have high standards for preachy religious books. They must: 1) have people being nice to each other and 2) actually know the Bible stories they reference. I don't think this is unreasonable! Yet here is another book that fails on both counts. The older sister is needlessly mean to her younger brother, and moreover this book states that there were no night lights when the Israelites wandered in the desert. Excuse me? They had God in the form of a PILLAR OF FIRE every night! Sounds like a night light to me.