This was a fun and fast fantasy read! It was really fun, and I can see a lot of the kids who come into my bookstore enjoying it. I really liked how it was set in Scotland-- it's such a nice change of pace to read books set in other countries. I'll be interested to see where the series goes from here!

Twelve-year-old Alessia has difficulty controlling her emotions in class and it leads to humiliating scenes at school. But when a giant frog kidnaps her and pulls her underwater to Atlantis, Alessia is in for an adventure. She discovers her father may have been from Atlantis, so she chooses to enroll in Atlantide school to investigate. Finding the truth is like yanking teeth but Alessia enlists the help of her new school friends to help her. There’s an enemy hidden who wants the truth of Alessia’s father kept secret, who will stop at nothing to make sure Alessia fails. Can Alessia reveal the key to her past or will have no choice but to stay quiet?

Alessia in Atlantis is an imaginative underwater adventure kids will love. As the story unfolds, readers will not only relate to the struggles Alessia goes through but can go on a great adventure. Descriptive narration pulls the reader into the story, especially the Atlantis scenes. The plot is fairly easy to follow which works perfectly for the targeted audience: kids. The world-building is imaginative and allows the reader to escape into a fantasy world. Note to parents: there’s some bullying but it’s age-appropriate. I thoroughly enjoyed Alessia in Atlantis and look forward to more adventures in the series. Fans of the Percy Jackson series will love Alessia in Atlantis. Highly recommend!

Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it.

My Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Mrs. N

I have read many books that touch the subject of Atlantis. Some books are just recycled ideas of what Atlantis should be, but not this one. This plot was great. It was interesting to see a kid find out that Atlantis exist and how it works.

At first, I was confused with all the new words that came with being introduced with the underwater city but then I realized it was how Alessia felt and it made sense to have readers feel like she did. A few scenes were slightly too long for my taste, especially when Alessia was feeling "dramatic", because after it has happened a few times, I think we get it. But it was interesting to see her “grow”.

My only negative point is I thought there was a lack of explanation as to why Felthor and Winni get a landfarer to take care of. After a while you forget about this tiny negative point because there was such a twist as to whom her parents are/were! I have so many feelings about her parents, but it would be a spoiler, so mum’s the word, but… OMG!
Oh and what an ending!!!

I enjoyed that it was written as a standalone (no cliffhangers), even though the author said it will eventually be a series and she is currently working on the next one!

Alessia in Atlantis: The Forgotten Vial is expected on March 1st, 2021.

I received an advance reader copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Forbidden Vial is a middle grade fantasy/adventure with mystery elements. Alessia has never felt comfortable in human society. When she unexpectedly finds herself in Atlantis, she discovers that she not only feels more at home there, she may also be very close to uncovering details about her father that she has been searching for her entire life.

There was a lot going on in the plot, and sometimes the amount of specialized names for characters and items within the fantasy world confused things as the story unfolded. I did become invested in the main character, Alessia, and her friends. I got a very Harry Potter-ish vibe when Alessia started school and began making friends - it was very subtle and didn't last long. I was concerned at the very beginning that the stakes might be too lightweight to hold my interest, but about 20% of the way through the stakes jumped significantly and definitely held my attention throughout the remainder of the book.

I gave The Forbidden Vial four stars. I didn't quite connect with it well enough to give it five stars but confident that readers in the middle grade age range will like it even more than I do.

This book was a fun adventure. I really liked Alessia as a main character, but for me, many of the supporting characters weren't as compelling. The plot took a while to take off, and the shortness of the chapters broke the story up too much for me. It was well into half the book before I really felt like things were developing. It's just not as fast-paced as most other MiddleGrade I've read.

Alessia is an interesting character, she suffers from an overabundance of empathy, feeling the emotions of others to a pretty extreme point, and I like that the main character in a kids book has a lot of empathy. Empathy is something that kids need to learn about. I was a kid once, most people don't develop empathy until they are much older.

I did enjoy this book, just not as much as I would have liked. I keep wondering if this is going to be a series, and I'm still not sure. I think the world could be explored more, but this book also ends in a way that it could be a stand-alone.

There were just parts of the plot that moved too fast and some that kind of meandered for me. I think this book is great for younger Middle-grade readers. 3/4th grade readers. I do think kids would enjoy this book. It just didn't grab me the way other Middle-Grade books have.

3/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I going to admit that this was not the book for me. I just felt very confused and very disconnected from the story. I will say that the more into the book I got, the more I enjoyed it. I really liked the concept of this book. It's got an adventure, a mystery, and a creative and interesting world. Like I said this was completely a personal issue, however, I know people that would absolutely love this book and would still recommend it.

Alessia in Atlantis is very reminiscent of some beloved mermaid-centric stories from my childhood - primarily H2O: Just Add Water and the Emily Windsnap books. The overall premise of a young girl discovering her magical ancestry and special abilities is always fun and nostalgic, and the action-packed plot is sure to draw young readers in.

That being said, the writing is very much straightforward and lacking a level of nuance and development that I prefer. The book is plot heavy to the point where character development and motivation is difficult to discern if not entirely absent. There is a large cast of characters that get lost in the narrative as Alessia moves through her journey, and the abrupt chapters that sometimes only last a page or two disrupt the storytelling in a way that is distracting. Alessia in Atlantis very much reads like a debut self-published novel, in that there is plenty of room for growth and potential, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. For those reasons, I'd recommend this book to a slightly younger audience, the earlier ages of middle-grade readers, ages 8-10.

There were a few unique pieces of this story that I loved - mainly the setting and Alessia's unique empathic powers and how she finds power and strength in a part of herself that she once resented - and I know that young readers who like a fast-paced adventure can find something to love about Alessia's story.

Thank you so much for letting me read this advanced copy! The review is linked below.
3.5 ⭐️

If you are looking for a story to take you through the an underwater adventure with all the fantastical mythical creatures, I would recommend this one 🌊

The main character, Alessia, is essentially an orphaned girl who really hasn’t been like all the other kids and never seems to be able to make friends. Now in Atlantis, she has to uncover her secret origins in a captivating tale which you wouldn’t expect. She experiences growth through it all and I loved all the flashbacks and characters.

While it was entertaining, it personally did not grab my attention as much as other middle grade books. I would definitely recommend this book for readers who want a quick paced adventure book with twists and turns without over complicating it. This would be an amazing book to get the given demographic into reading or anyone else looking for a refreshing tale while in a reading slump on its release date on March 1!

Thank you to the author for letting me read her enticing story before it’s release date!

This started off really well and promising, however at around halfway point the story started unravelling and became very chaotic. I didn’t like the incorrect use of plural form or Slavic demon, rusalka. All in all, quite entertaining read but had some pacing issues.

This book was great. Action with some mystery and adventure. Definitely a book I can read with/to my little boy

As with other popular children’s fantasy series (e.g. Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Percy Jackson), Nathalie Laine’s Alessia in Atlantis: The Forbidden Vial revolves around a child, in this case 12-year-old Alessia, who discovers that she is not who she thought she was and is whisked away to a hidden world, the titular Atlantis. There, she must learn a new language, new realities, and new abilities, while making friends and going through the usual growing pains. There are a school, an unknown enemy lurking, and a mystery to solve. The novel releases in March 1.

My interest in this title, which I received from NetGalley for review, was owing to the reference to Atlantis. The mystery of this ancient city offers intriguing avenues for fiction writers to explore. For the most part, Laine draws on the legend primarily on a surface level: It clearly inspired the world’s underwater location and name. I say this not as a negative criticism but to set expectations. If you pick up the novel expecting in-depth engagement with ancient legends and concepts, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for an action-packed story set in a fantastical world that is creatively imagined and fresh, Laine’s novel more than satisfies.

The novel is more plot than character-driven. My personal preference is for a bit more attention to children’s inner lives. Seeing their emotional experiences in books can be an important way young readers develop a language for understanding and expressing themselves. That said, the writing is at times quite lovely and evocative.

4.5 🌟

Mystery? ✔️
Adventure? ✔️
Action packed? ✔️

I just wanted a fun middle grade read, but I got something wonderful and magical! Alessia in Atlantis is fast-paced, captivating and immersive. It captures the reader's attention right from the start.
It gives you an enchanting universe that you don't wanna leave. The world is definitely my favorite! Nathalie Laine created a beautifully constructed version of Atlantis. It's so detailed and vibrant. Her gradual introduction to the readers of it's culture, history, and language is just perfect. It's so fun discovering new aspects of Atlantis.

The characters are adorable (even the cynic one). They are funny, interesting and adventurous. Alessia's character development is superb. I love the friends' relationship, how they try to help each other. Although I was taken aback when Herior got a girlfriend and Alessia thought that Vulcor was going to kiss her.
Plot-wise, it's amazing. It has a lot of twists and turns that there's no dull moment. It keeps the reader wanting to read more.

Beautifully written, Alessia in Atlantis is a middlegrade novel that will capture the imagination of young and old alike. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“ Questions were buzzing in Alessia’s mind. The more she heard from Felthor, the more this new world intrigued her.”

The first thing that really stood out to me was how fast paced the story was. Within a few hours I finished the book without realizing. It throws you immediately into an atmospheric fantasy world with all kinds of interesting creatures and environments. I loved how well the author described the function and people of the world in little details that helps you get a vivid picture of the environment without being overly explained. Alessia is a well written character, I believe anyone reading can relate and appreciate her character development. She sets off on an adventure to find answers about her long lost father while she struggles with handling her emotional outburst and not knowing exactly who she is and what makes her different from people around her. The other characters were diverse and all help in a way rather it being good or bad in making Alessia a stronger person . I really enjoyed the friendship and learning experiences in the book but my absolute favorite part is the world building and would recommend it to fantasy lovers who like to be developed into the world.

This was a fun adventurous tale with great characters and captivating storytelling that i'm sure children will absolutely love.

For me personally while I enjoyed it, I really do think I would have appreciated this more as a child ; so definitely something I recommend for the age demographic it's written for.

This is a fun, middle-grade fantasy book! The author creates a vivid and immersive world that is thoroughly enjoyable to explore! As someone who wants to get into the fantasy genre, this is a great place to start!

I received a copy of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alessia in Atlantis: The Forbidden Vial is a middle-grade novel following Alessia, a child who has always had overwhelming sense of empathy that often leads her to cause embarrassing scenes at school. She is searching for answers about her parents in her mother's home village when she hears a siren's song beckoning her underwater. What she finds when she follows the song is more answers than she was ever looking for, in the lost city of Atlantis!
This book was great, it has all of the elements I look for in a middle grade: it's fast paced, adventurous, mysterious, involves a fantastical world and fantastical creatures, and has one of my favourite tropes, (especially in middle grade), a found family.
Found families in general offer all of the heartwarming, wholesome feelings I adore in children's fiction, and the 'family' in 'Alessia in Atlantis: The Forbidden Vial' does not disappoint. While I may not love all of the characters involved in this dynamic, their different personalities make them all the more strong.
I also loved Alessia, and enjoyed how she didn't seem like an attempt to fit in the 'not like other girls' stereotype, while still being a unique character within this world. I loved her character development throughout this book, and how she goes from believing that she's weak to realising that that 'weakness' is what makes her strong.
The world that Nathalie Laine has created is very immersive and well thought out, which automatically increases my engagement in the story and provides a brilliant atmosphere.
The guardians Alessia is (I believe) adopted by are a gay couple, and while I appreciate this inclusion of a prominent LGBTQ+ couple, they fit into some overdone stereotypes.
In parts I found aspects of this story predictable and unsurprising, however I often find this when I read middle grade, so I try not to let predictability affect my rating when reviewing books written for a younger audience, and there were still some reveals that managed to surprise me.
The character, Kella, was not my favourite, mostly due to her attitude towards a lot of things. She's got a very cynical outlook, and while I typically like more cynical characters, when it's a child expressing these feelings, it rubs me the wrong way. This is most likely a personal thing though and wouldn't annoy others as much as it did me.
There was another thing that I wasn't a huge fan of in this novel, and that is the romance aspects, because anything romance-like in middle grade feels wrong, however I do remember being the age the characters are, and having crushes similar to the ones they have, so I can understand its inclusion. The awkwardness of a certain relationship helped to combat my discomfort as it showed that the author understood the levels of romance felt by people of that age.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and it's one of the best middle grades I have read. I often think that if I would recommend a middle grade to my 10 year old sister, then it's done something right, and I have already urged her to try this once it's out. If you are a fan of Rick Riordan, I recommend reading this book, as it definitely reminded me of it in parts. I would also recommend this to fans of the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend, as it had some similarities to this.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how atmospheric the world is, and how it's different than I imagined. The characters are very likable and unique in their own way. I was able to follow the plot very well.

With this book we join an exiting trip to Atlantis, when Alessia tries to figure out, if her father was one part of this society. Enrolled in the Atantide school, she makes to new friends and discovers, that is is dangerous to ask for missing people like her father. The story offers a lot of new exciting ideas about how it is to live in Atlantis. The charakters are great and captivating, the search for her vater dangerous and thrilling. I really enjoyed spenging a few hours with Alessia and be part of this adventure. The ending is leading to another book – great, I cannot wait for wait it. What a great start to what will be hopefully a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so much fun to read! It was an absorbing and very original story that I enjoyed! It was a bit hard to follow because of all of the names. Otherwise, this was an intriguing new take on the mermaid genre. It was kind of obvious at parts, and it got a little weird, but overall it had a gripping mystery element to it that I enjoyed.

Holy moly! This book was an ABSOLUTE BLAST. I loved it! I'm a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series and this book gave me major PJ vibes in the best way. Alessia is awesome. She's the type of character you fall in love with and root for. She's strong, funny and real. Her life has been hard and she's always been different. She soon realizes how different she is. Her ability to feel emotions of others turns out to be a strength not a flaw. Alessia in Atlantis is truly a wonderful read. I would read it again, and will recommend it to anyone. Do not dismiss this one because it's middle grade. It's a truly great fantasy with excellent writing, and wonderful characters.