I no longer have an interest in reviewing this title but would like to thank the publisher and author for the opportunity, it is now far past the publication and archive date. I have awarded 3 stars to keep this review neutral.

This was such a brilliant middle grade read, i love this series so much and i think every child should pick it up!!

Whilst this is the second book about a Moonchild, it is possible to read without reading the first story, because there is enough information to give us the background. This is very much a book about learning who you really are and accepting differences in people. It is so sad that Farah’s parents are totally caught up in appearances and a place in society and miss the wonderful abilities that she has. Definitely a brilliant read for KS2 readers, which might lead them on to other eastern tales. The author is definitely one to have on your reading list.

I loved Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found, so I'm *very* pleased that City of the Sun is just as brilliant. Inspired by the Arabian Nights but totally @aishabushby's wonderful storytelling. Really love the way it discusses emotions. Thanks @FarshoreBooks #UKMG https://t.co/06X1I2Rgou

That was lush. A wonderful land filled with magic, storytelling and friends. I love how this was so intertwined with book 1 but had an identity of its own. The end made me shes a tear or two. Aisha is a wonderful storyteller and I hope we get more from this land because I just adore it. The characters are so wonderful and I love the integration of messages around emotions - it’s important we feel them all!

With stunning narration and an immersive fantasy world, Moonchild: City of the Sun is a treat from beginning to end.

The jinn have been freed and the storm bird defeated, but the nights are growing longer and Amira and Farah fear they may soon becomes endless. But the Moonchildren refuse to sit back and let the magic they released destroy their world. Instead, the friends set out into the desert on an adventure filled with snakes, vanishing cities and, of course, the magic of storytelling.

Bushby expertly weaves stories within stories, creating an intricate and magical narrative which is reminiscent of the storytelling in One Thousand and One Nights. From memories to legends, City of the Sun is clear that everyone has a story to tell, and no story is ever truly over.

The strength of its narration means this story is perfect to read aloud - either at bedtime or in a classroom. But even reading it to yourself feels like the characters are speaking directly to you.

As in the first book, City of the Sun explores the power of emotion and the importance of letting yourself feel, even when those feeling scare you.

This is the second book in the Moonchild series and it absolutely lives up to the first book!

It has the same verbal storytelling mode, and stories within stories, as book one, but with the added charm of Farah not being a natural storyteller. This works really well for the story - especially when she breaks the fourth wall to talk to the reader.

The story itself is pacy and intriguing and builds well on the events of the first book.

Aisha Bushby does it again! His is the second book in the Moonchild series and was just as magical as the first one. Although we now have a group of Moon Children, this book follows Farah. Unlike Amira, Farah is not a natural story teller but she relents, due to feeling inferior, and tells her story, which is the next stage of the Moon Children’s story. This time, their story takes them to the desert, to try and find and rescue the magical, hidden city. Along the way, they find other moon children and their jinn. Together, they journey on their quest until they become separated.

I adore the writing style of these books. We regularly break the 4th wall and the narrators are regularly talking to the reader.

This is truly a magical, enchanting middle grade and I desperately hope it is not the last we see of these wonderful moon children.

Moonchild: City of the Sun simply oozes magic - it drips off each and every page. Aisha Bushby is truly an extraordinarily talented author. Like a magician, she has created her own world, which is evocative and immersive. The world described in this book carries the feeling that it has always existed. The characters are likeable and believable, with individual flaws and motives inspired by their backgrounds.

Farah is a Moonchild and a very reluctant narrator. Accompanied by her magical companion - a jinni - she is forced to embark on a quest to restore balance to the world. Can she find the lost city located where the sun shines brightest or will the sun set on this adventure before she is even ready to begin?

Aisha Bushby’s writing is different to anything I have read before. I love how she plays around with different conventions within her books, making them feel fresh and unique. I very much enjoyed reading Moonchild: City of the Sun, both for the story itself, but also for the reader experience this book offers: narrators arguing over the best way to tell the story; characters stepping out of the story scape to speak directly to the reader; myths woven into the fabric of the tale etc.

I very much look forward to sharing this book with my class. Not only will they love the story, but they will also benefit as writers from studying the talented and unique prose style that Bushby so effectively utilises. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.