I was provided with a copy of the audiobook free of charge by Netgalley in return for an honest review. I loved narration in this story it's perfect how the narrator brings the characters to lide and makes sure they each have their own voice. Pure magic.

I will say as so often happens that i was drawn in by the cover and hooked by the blurb.

The thought of other places existing along side our own has long been a favorite day dream. Who among us has not opened a wardrobe and hoped to find themselves in Naria or touched a mirror desperately wanting to be in Wonderland.

This book follows in that wonderful Tradition of transporting us into this magical space just as much as Lewis or Carroll ever did.

Only this one is filled with magical and rare plants from our world . Tended with yet more magic and pratical hard work. Its a beautiful setting.

And in this setting we meet Daisy Thistledown and her mother the globe trotting reporter. Always on the move and always ready to go after the next story. Normally Daisy would be right beside her but now her mother is off to the Amazon and its far to dangerous there for Daisy. Instead she is sent to boarding school.

The school is terrible but she copes when she finds a cat she names Napoleon . And of course its only two weeks and this nightmare will be over. Her mother will collect her and she will be wisked back to her wonderful life of adventure.

However this is not to be. News arrives claiming her mother is dead. So Daisy sets out on an epic quest to find her.

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door by Pari Thomson

“The Greenwild was a place of beauty and wonder, but also of danger and mystery. Daisy had seen things that she could never have imagined: giant trees that whispered secrets, flowers that sang melodies, animals that spoke in riddles, and plants that could heal or harm. She had also seen things that made her shiver: dark shadows that lurked in the forest, twisted vines that snared unwary travelers, and a sinister presence that threatened to destroy everything.”

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door is a heartwarming and whimsical middle-grade fantasy novel that introduces us to the adventurous, mysterious, and hopeful world of the Greenwild, where plants have magic and secrets abound. It is the first book in the series by Pari Thomson, and it is action-packed from start to finish.

The story follows Daisy Thistledown, a girl who discovers a creative and vivid world of green magic. There, she learns that she is a Botanist, a person who can communicate with plants and make them grow, heal, and change.

“You’re not here by accident, Daisy. Your mother is a Botanist. And so are you. You have a gift, a power that few possess. You can communicate with plants, and they can communicate with you. You can make them grow, heal, and even change. You can create wonders with green magic.”

She also learns that her mother, who disappeared mysteriously, was a Botanist too, and that she is in grave danger from a dark force that wants to destroy green magic and the Greenwild.

Daisy embarks on a quest to find her mother and save the Greenwild, along with her new friends.

“Daisy knew she had to stop him. He was the one who had taken her mother, the one who wanted to wipe out green magic, the one who had unleashed the Blight. He was the enemy of the Greenwild, and of her. She felt a surge of courage and anger. She clenched her fist and raised it in the air. She shouted, ‘For the Greenwild!’”

The magical adventure will appeal to readers of all ages. The author's descriptive and vivid writing style creates a rich and immersive world that is easy to imagine and hard to forget. The well-crafted and quirky characters are memorable and relatable, each with their own personality and backstory. The plot is fast-paced and engaging, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing and hooked.

The only minor drawback of the book is that the language is not always at the middle grade level, and some words and phrases may be unfamiliar or difficult for younger readers. However, this does not detract from the overall enjoyment and quality of the book, and it may even encourage readers to expand their vocabulary and learn new things.

Sophia Nomvete does an amazing job narrating the book's audiobook version. She brings the characters and the story to life with her expressive and versatile voice, and she captures the tone and mood of each scene perfectly. She also adds a touch of humour and charm to the narration, making it even more enjoyable and entertaining.

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door is a wonderful and captivating read that will transport you to a magical world of green magic and adventure. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy, nature, and mystery. It is also a great introduction to the Greenwild series, and I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens next to Daisy and her friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan UK Audio. #NetGalley ##GreenwildTheWorldBehindTheDoor

Thankyou to netgalley for a free audio narration in exchange of an honest review

I listened to this with my little one and we both loved it
I twas her first dabble into fantastical reading and she loved it and followed the story well
Great narration
Fast read!

So much can be achieved, with hope and good company. This magical tale is about a young girl, Daisy, who lost her mother to the Amazonian Jungle. But with her gone, new revelations occur in every direction she takes. Her school is suspiciously involved in malicious activities, and her escape from that place has led her to a whole new magical place that was otherwise hidden.

The events occurring in the story align perfectly with its pace and camouflage building up. I enjoyed the diversification within the botanist field (green magic) rather than adding other elements of magic. There are adventures, life-sucking moments, and even pitfalls in your stomach with new twists. The book was blissfully upbeat, despite the tenuous setting of the storyline.

Genre: #middlegrade #fantasy #magic
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you, @netgalley @macmillan.audio @macmillankidsuk @idaudio for the Audio ARC.

#GreenwildTheWorldBehindTheDoor #NetGalley

Fantastic Beasts meets The Faraway Tree meets Planet Earth and creates an 'unputdownable' book prodigy!

This book is fabulous. Following the story of Daisy, a young girl whose prize-winning journalist mum has to leave her at boarding school whilst chasing a story in Peru, Greenwild is a wild adventure in the truest sense of the word.

Daisy Thistledown leads a nomadic life following her mum across continents, constantly chasing leads and stories. When her mother has to go to Peru, it is the first time that she has left Daisy behind, and does so in the care of a boarding school where her editor is a governor. An evil matron and a missing loved one force Daisy to flee and seek answers for herself. Using a precious family heirloom, Daisy locates a hidden, parallel world of wonder, hidden from most....Greenwild.

The Greenwild is a sanctuary for Green Magic, practiced by Botanists. You need a 'grassport' to enter and its gateways are heavily guarded to keep this wonderland safe. Mallowmarsh is a pocket of this world where, as we are told, 'don't worry, the topiary is quite harmless'! The Botanists must work hard to harness the power of and protect the plants that exist on both sides, The Greenwild and The Greyside. Daisy makes friends and puts down roots for the first time in her life and Greenwild becomes her home. Looked after by Artemis, an aptly named warrior, determined to protect her wilderness, Daisy embarks on a mission to locate her missing mother and a battle to save her new home from destruction.

This book is a great mystery, a battle between good and evil, a story of love and one of friendship too. It has something for everyone, and we cannot wait for the sequel to be released in May 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Books for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

THE WORLD BEYOND THE DOOR is the start to a green fingered series about protecting nature from exploitation and fighting for family, blood and found.

Greenwild is a magical series of "pocket worlds" accessible by magic from our world. There botanists have green-fingered magic, growing and weaving plants into buildings, food, medicine, and more - all the things our world can do but far more magical! I really love plant magic as it's things around us doing (more visually) cool things than usual.

It's also a great vehicle for the book to discuss the destruction of rainforests and other vulnerable habitats through human activities. The green-fingered magic of the botanists only serves to highlight how much is lost through destruction but adding extra magic to these environments. I liked that the reasons behind it (the greed and how scarcity drives up prices) were discussed in an easily accessible way.

This is a book all about family. Daisy is searching for her mum, determined not to give up on her even if others have. However, she also finds a new family, the five o'clock club, other kids in the Greenwild who don't quite fit in and stick together like glue. I enjoyed that both types of families were celebrated, but also some of the tensions that can be found in blood families were explored too.

I will be adding the next book to the TBR!

Such a cute book! I loved the elements of nature and magic, although I honestly felt like I was reading Nevermoor or Hedgewitch most of the time and while that's by no means a bad thing, I just felt like it was almost too similar?

The narrator of this audiobook was a perfect match!

Wow what a audiobook thank you ever so much for the opportunity to review. I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend to others!