This young fantasy seems to have gone down really well with a lot of adult readers and reviewers of the genre, but it failed to set my imagination alight. For one thing there is needless wokery always on the fringe, ready to reappear and pull focus unnecessarily. I mean, I really liked the early chapters where our twin siblings were waiting to see what magical attributes would be revealed, and the Scottish vocab was pleasingly novel for such a book. But my heart sank when the news was our male lead, Ed, would be travelling to a world of dreams – the very place where an author can do absolutely anything she wants, even if she really, really oughtn't. And that includes, it seems, things such as a boring bullying/revenge scenario played out in our mundanity – mundane certainly was the word there.

Beyond that there are some really strong scenes of nightmare – it's part of the 'great power/great responsibility' meme here that the darker side of Ed's new powers cannot be ignored. Also, the big reveals of the world the future books will be set in, when we know more of what these heroes are and what they will be doing, are gearing to something with some strength. But by then I'd resorted to skimming this, impatient with the fact this is just another 'young pre-teen with unrevealed magical destiny' plot, and naffed off by the pronoun-mangling and suchlike, which by default takes a star away from my rating. All told, I can see people justified in giving this four stars, even if I was completely unable to stretch that far.

A wild and magical adventure featuring Ed and Elodie, twins about to discover what, if any, magical abilities they may have. They live with their Dads and run a special camp for those with magical abilities. They both await their skills to reveal themselves and there is always added pressure.

With the magic beginning to fade and be less abundant, the twins are concerned for their abilities, Ed most of all. When he discovers that he is a Dream Laird, he is faced with unimaginable situations that will ultimately save the magic and make the world better but these will be difficult and he will be tested. Can he and Elodie work together to save the magic?

Lapinski writes brilliant, fantastical fiction and is always one to watch. This new series is one that will get readers hooked and reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

What a spectacular children’s book! Firstly I loved the Scottish-ness of this book which felt genuine without being over done. I also really appreciated that it wasn’t set in Edinburgh as many children’s Scotland based books are. I thought the characters in this were brilliantly crafted, and I loved the representation which was incidental throughout the story. I thought the magic system worked really well and I was completely swept along on this fantasy adventure. Can’t wait for more from this series!

How are your dreams these days? Are you someone who doesn't remember them, enjoys escaping off into wonderful fantasy worlds, or are you susceptible to nightmares? What about your kids? For this, friend, the first of a new fantasy series from the brilliant LD Lapinski, is about to shake your brain up!!
 
Set in a Scottish Highlands ‘wee’ coastal village called Covensea (Covesea IRL) along the Moray Firth inlet, this modern day magical adventure is packed with more immersive world building that you can shake a ‘tuil' (an object that enables an Artezan to use magic, e.g. a broomstick or animal) at!! If I to include my thoughts on all the major plot highlights I'd need a dedicated newsletter. So, buckle up, as I do my darnedest…
 
11 year old twins, Edward (Ed) and Elodie Crane have just finished Primary School, and with a mixture of trepidation and hope they begin their Summer holidays. Although the siblings are incredibly close, they are like yin and yang in terms of character traits. Ed is a bit of a loner, wondering when he's going to catch a break, whereas Elodie is happy go lucky, cute, bubbly and sweet - traits that Ed is envious of most of the time. 
 
What is an Artezan then? LD calls any ‘magic users’ Artezans, including those who are known to us from history/religion/folklore for “parting the seas, raising mountains, … causing rains of frogs to fall on their enemies.” The stories of the Artezan legends differ in countries and cultures around the world, like Pakistan, or Tanzania (much like ancient flood stories). Artezans used to be insanely powerful, but over the last few hundred years they've grown weaker and rarer. Ed and Elodie's parents are Artezans, one of their adoptive dads, Harrison or Baba, has the ability to control the weather through his paintings (English accent, brown skin and locs); their other adoptive dad, Jack or Dad, can manipulate moods (long blond ponytail, Scottish accent). Their dads are blissfully, happily married and dote charmingly on their adopted children. 
 
Every summer holiday the Crane family host a camp for magical people and every summer there is a special Reveal ceremony and training for children who are coming for age… an event of heightened anxiety and deep-rooted tradition. Ed and Elodie are adopted, so they have no clue as to whether they will be magical at all, and there is a great sense of concern over the potential shame, pressure to align with the expectations of their Artezan community, and not wanting to let their dads down. Oh the angst!
 
The big day comes, and it's no big secret to let you know that they both have magic. Whilst Elodie starts to understand Mr Biscuits the cat talking to her, Ed soon learns that he has the power to control and access the Land of Dreams and Nightmares. Once the quite and moody type, susceptible to the bullying attacks from Greg Poppley, now Ed becomes obsessed with his new found power, and learns how to send nightmares into his dreams ever increasing on the scare-factor scale!
 
As we know, with any power comes great responsibility. Ed and Elodie start out on this adventure on their own personal magical journeys, only to end up on a highly dangerous quest to restore the very ‘pillars’ of the ancient powers the Artezans!!!! Expect a twist on some  familiar characters from folklore and mythology, enjoy the beautiful Scottish scenery and the children and their Dad mixing Scottish Gaelic with their English in dialogues (see guide I created below), and most of all - be prepared to be utterly gripped and woefully uncertain of whether good can truly overcome evil. I'm more than ready for the epic-ness of book 2 … in April 2025 (noooooooooo, so long to wait)!!
 
Scottish Gaelic terms in the book:
Dreich = miserable, cold, gloomy weather
Dorbie = weak, delicate
Boak = retch, vomit
Braw = fine, good looking
Gutties = trainers
Tatie-bogles = scarecrows
Tir Aislingean = Land of Dreams
Tir Mulad-oidhche = Land of Nightmares
 
Further Reading and Research
Covesea Tourist Information
https://visitforres.scot/listing/covesea/ 
The Sculptor's Cave
https://spookyscotland.net/sculptors-cave/
Covesea Caves Project by the University of Bradford
https://www.socantscot.org/research-project/the-covesea-caves-project/ 
The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft 1563-1736 by the University of Edinburgh
http://witches.hca.ed.ac.uk
Witches Iron Collar 
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/witchs-iron-collar/

When I started this book I was a little disappointed. There seems to be a lot of books around recently about young people coming into some sort of power., struggling with it and having to fight a big evil. This seemed to be another retread of this common storyline. Thankfully, as the story progressed, it soon started to stand out amongst the crowd. It became really dark as Edward discovered what he could do with his powers. I did like it when Edward tried to deal with a bully and things went wrong. You could really see how easy it was to become a bully yourself, putting a new perspective on the situation.
Overall a good read. I did find the Strangeworlds series better though.

Edward and Elodie Crane are twins living in a world where magic is real, though hidden, and wielded by the Artezans whose powers vary from uncooking toast, to changing the weather to knitting dreams. We join the Crane twins on the eve of their Reveal when they find out what branch f magic thy will wield, or even if they have magic at all.

As you would expect from LD Lapinski, the world building is rich, deep and fascinating, with an impressive amount of representation threaded throughout. An excellent start to what is going to be another must-read series.

I’m finished and my GOD WHAT A JOURNEY. This has so I love about stories: incredible characters, a gorgeous message, magic, a gorgeous world. It’s beautifully written and it’s gripping from the word go. LD really does GET this magical fantasy thing. I can’t wait to get my teeth into the next book. There’s so much I want to just relish in from this book: relationships, power, perception, myths/legends/fables. There’s diverse rep; there’s people living their best lives. There’s struggles and there’s successes. I think this is going to be a book I think about for a long while.

Edward and Elodie are twins adopted into an Artezans family. As they reach their birthday to discover whether they have inherited a great magical gift, Ed is nervous that he will be in his sister's shadow
Will he unlock a power?!
An enjoyable read.

From the author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, Jamie and Stepfather Christmas comes a brand-new fantasy series about finding your magic.

Edward and Elodie Crane belong to a magical family but are they magic themselves? For the past 400 years, magic has been fading with only a few powerful gifts remaining.

But as Edward's magic is gradually revealed, much to his relief, he embarks on a journey into the land of dreams... until the dreams start morphing into nightmares. Now everything Edward hoped for is being challenged - can he work out what is happening before the nightmares become real?


There are a lot of magical middle grade novels out there but, yet again, L.D Lapinski has found a unique angle that has a strong backstory. Magic in this world has been dwindling, a mystery which needs solving in itself, and then the magic takes us into the realm of dreams and nightmares, which again offers a slightly different USP. Add in strong themes of family, identity and belonging - a topic that is highly relatable to the target readership, if not readers of any age - and you immediately get the sense that something big is about to unfold.

L.D Lapinski's world-building is rich and imaginative, with the world of nightmares giving the story a dark, sinister and rather unsettling edge. We really enjoyed exploring the different types of magic and the unpredicatable plot kept us guessing. We also really liked that Edward was a underconfident, rather anxious character who desperately wanted to explore who he was and what he had to offer. We're looking forward to seeing what unfolds next...

A big thanks to NetGalley and to the above publishers for allowing us a review copy. All of these books are available to buy or pre-order now.

Oh my goodness I didn't want this to end. And I want to know when I can get the rest of the series... I hope you're writing LD Lapinski!

Edward and Elodie Crane are twins who live with their Dad and Baba in Covensea in Scotland. Edward is quiet and has, as he sees it, lived in Elodie's shadow; she's good at everything and has loads of friends and Ed is always in her shadow.
They live a weird existence. They go to school and live as any other folk but they have another life. Their dad's are Artezans: they can do real magic! Now at the age of 11 they are going to find out whether they have any magic in them - as adopted children it isn't garanteed! Ed can only hope that either they both have magic or that he does and Elodie doesn't, he doesn't want to be the one left out again.
Ed collects sea glass from the floor of Sculptor's Cave just near their home. He doesn't know why it is so special to him but he really likes it. The cave makes him feel magical. He's careful though the tide comes in and fills the cave very quickly.
When they find out they are both magical, their magic being of the Hidden and Unseen type, with a purple hue, Ed is relieved. He thinks his is something to do with dreams. Elodie's is being able to understand her cat!
When Ed finds that the sea glass all over his bedroom floor with the glass jar that contained it broken he is confused, even more so when he picks up a piece and it turns to sand in his hand.
They new artezans have to go to school with Nyx, a dream crafter (they knits dream scripts!) at the craft cabin in the village. Ed listens carefully when Nyx talks about their power
But that same sea glass is his tuil; it is able to transport him to the Land of Dreams he understands his power. But why are the Lands of Dreams and Nightmares separated and who separated them? When that same power allows him to send Nightmares (Shudder) from that land to Gregory Poppley, Ed goes too far... But he stops Shudder, doesn't he?
Then things start to go really wrong, he and Elodie argue, Elodie is hearing other voices but she doesn't know who and where they are. Ed thinks it is silly and she is just wanting attention.
But then Ed dreams - but he shouldn't be able to, he is the Dream Laird. Only this is no dream - it's a nightmare. And it gets worse day on day. Then comes the day when Elodie appears in his nightmare...

This is outstanding. A brilliant start to a new series, definitely want to buy for school. The characters are brilliantly written. I really like that their dads are so supportive of them and so loving. And that Gran is a bit of a show off! The mix of Artezan stories from one culture to another is a reflection of any story told from different perspectives.

A truly brilliant story that will be loved by fans of magical stories as well as anyone who just likes a good adventure.
Ed wants to be magical like his dads and he's convinced he won't be but that his twin will be. He has no worries as it turns out and he has so much more power than he could have imagined! There's magic, adventure and disaster in this story. But there's also hope, love and acceptance. I can not wait for the next one to come out.

Just finished the first in the #Artezans trilogy by @ldlapinski, pub by @HachetteKids at the end of this month, on #NetGalley. *love* the twins & their dads & the magic & the dream world & ****** <villainous spoiler redacted> (cover ill. @Joetoddstanton) #UKMG

You know that feeling where you’re not sure if you want to scream or laugh or cry? That’s how this book has left me feeling.

Magic used to be big and powerful and showy, but now it’s a lot more… everyday. As Ed and Elodie turn 11 and discover if they have powers, something shifts in the world of magic, and everything starts to change for them.

I’ve been a huge fan of Lapinski since the first Strangeworlds book, but this has blown me away completely. There’s action, adventure, magic, family, drama, everything you could ever wish for and want in a fantasy book, and it’s all delivered in the perfect parcel of twins finding their place in a world (or two) that’s suddenly in flux. Cannot recommend this enough, and can’t wait for book two.

When you’ve written a series of books as well-loved as the fantastical Strangeworlds Travel Agency one, I do sometimes wonder how difficult it is to come up with something entirely different to please your existing readers and appeal to new ones. In the brilliant Jamie, author L. D. Lapinski showed us just how capable they are of doing just that in a heartfelt story that was utterly believable and as far removed from their previous stories as it is possible to be.

Here though, in the start of a brand-new series, the writer has returned to fantasy to create a world filled with magic and mystery that will delight middle grade readers in search of something absolutely brand new. Relating the story of adopted twins Ed and Elodie as they come into their magical gifts at a time when the world’s magic is fading around them, this is a fast-paced and exciting adventure that will leave its target audience on the edges of their seats and in huge need of Book 2 to see what will happen next.

Having just finished primary school in their coastal Scottish village of Covensea, the siblings are anticipating the start of the holidays bringing with it its annual summer camp – an experience that Ed, who feels he constantly live in Elodie’s shadow, is not looking forward to. Heading to the local beach to take some time for himself, he reflects on the upcoming Reveal – the moment at which he and his sister will find out not only if they have inherited magic but if so of what form it will take.

When the time comes, Ed, Elodie and the other eligible children gather for the ceremony and the twins both discover their powers alongside their peers. Hugely relieved that he has magic of his own, Ed quickly learns that it is connected to dreams and, uncertain of just how it will manifest itself, starts to investigate his capabilities.

At first, all seems well but when he discovers that his abilities will also influence nightmares his explorations of his powers start to take a darker turn. As Ed’s powers grow, he and Elodie are plunged into a dangerous world of sinister and malevolent dreams where it will take all of Ed’s bravery, skills and intelligence to restore their lives and the lives of those around them to what they should be, as he learns exactly what destiny has in store for him.

Although Ed and Elodie are twins, it is Ed’s story that takes centre stage here. After 11 years of feeling second-best when he compares himself to his sister, he sees the opportunity to be a ‘better’ Artezan (a term explained for the reader at the start of the story) than Elodie at long last and seizes it very firmly with both hands with little thought for the price that he has always been warned accompanies magic. As he comes to realise that with power comes responsibility, he is left panic-stricken at the thought that he has blown his chance but with the support of his fathers, faces up to what he has done.

What is crystal clear to the reader is just how much Ed is loved – by Elodie and by his parents. Worried that he will not have the magic that his fathers have because he is adopted, the strength of their relationship shows just how much it is down to love, rather than genetics – an important message in the modern world of blended families. As readers of the author’s other writing have come to expect, this story is again enormously inclusive, making this another must-have for both primary and secondary school libraries.

Perfect for confident readers in Year 4 upwards, this is a great read that I very much enjoyed and I am enormously grateful to both publisher Hachette and to Net Galley for my advance, virtual read. Artezans: The forgotten Magic is on sale 29th February.

Sometimes when I start a new book, it takes me a couple of chapters to really get in board and this book was the complete opposite. LD Lapinski had me hooked from the first chapter and I was straight into the world of the Artezans, of the magic and waiting to find out if Ed and Elodie, despite being adopted, would have magical powers.
Each summer, children in Artezan families who have left primary school gather at the Cranes house for their reveal- to see if and what their magical powers are. Ed and Elodie Crane are adopted and carefree, successful Elodie isn't worried about the reveal like her brother.
What they come to find through the story is that not only do they have powers but those powers are so important and far more potent than they realise. Life for Artezans is about to change and I cannot wait for the sequel to this book already!
LD seamlessly weaves in new magic with myths and folklore and explains how dreams and nightmares are brought to being. LOVE this book!

Okay, Contender for book of the year! Easy. This won all my awards and I couldn’t give it less than 5 if I tried.

I know the year is only just beginning but I think any subsequent middle grade books I read will be up for a fight with this one! It has everything - fantastic and well thought out characters, utterly brilliant writing and a really well crafted and plainly brilliant plot and storyline. I think I mentioned brilliant twice there but I’ll say it once more for completion - brilliant.

Ed and Elodie had my heart immediately and I was so roped into the story, I couldn’t put it down. Who needs sleep anyway?

Swept up into a world of magic, the two twins Ed and Elodie Crane will soon be coming into their magic and the big reveal. They’re uncertain as to whether they’ll even have magic or what the future will hold for them, but a bigger world of dreams and nightmares await and they both have no idea what they’re about to be in for!

I loves the dream element and the whole concept of the Artezans. This is going to be a fab series and I can’t wait for more to come.

This is an exciting and immersive story about adopted twins, identity issues and magic. But it is also about so much more! Despite the multiplicity of issues addressed in this book, the writer skillfully weaves the narrative in a way that all these diverse themes are actually done justice.

The story is told largely with a focus on one of the twins, Edward. He's a bit of a worrier, and is concerned that he may never have any magical powers. His twin sister is far more confident in this regard - even though she too is (obviously) adopted. So when Edward's powers kick in, he is initially delighted. But things don't work out quite as planned...

The book carries readers along easily, as the pace of action is satisfying and the interesting developments come thick and fast. Issues such as adoption, identity and bullying are well-handled, as is the relative novelty still (at least in mainstream children's literature) of having same-sex parents. A very enjoyable read. It gets 3.5 stars.

I was on the literal EDGE of my seat waiting for this book and it did not disappoint. Gripping fantasy with incredible world-building. So excited for the next instalment.

There are some familiar elements to those that read a lot in this genre, but the writing is immersive and the plot grips from the very start. Focussing on one of the twins, Edward, keeps the action tight : the exploration of the characters' various insecurities, and the themes of bullying, adoption and same-sex parents could have made the narrative feel secondary but they are skilfully integrated and is not at all intrusive. This is a riveting read, I really enjoyed the authors' previous series The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, and this is a great start to this new series. Roll on the next one