Ember Spark
By Abi Elphinstone
Published by Simon & Schuster Ltd


The first in a new series from Abi Elphinstone comes Ember Spark - what a great name and such a strong character! Similar to her other bestselling and former Children's Book of the Month Sky Song, Ember Spark finds her adventure to be full of risk, decisions and magical creatures who are in need of an apprentice.

Rusty Fizzbang, vet to magical beasts, recruits Ember Spark, with her unlikely friend, Arno, when they are sent on a very strange mission by their teacher Mrs Rickety-knees. But missions are never simple. Coupled with the school bullies and jealous class mates, Ember has some tricky decisions to make as the adventure unfolds.

Because keeping magical beasts a secret isn’t an easy task, especially when they are missing their loved ones, have a broken horn or need medication. Ember and Arno have no time to spare!
Then with arch-villain, Jasper Hornswoggle, hot on their heels and keen to catch the magical beasts for himself, Ember and Arno have to put themselves between magic, danger and failure.

A fantastic opening book driven by friendship, determination, trust and loyalty. Abi Elphinstone delivers another great children’s book that will capture and inspire the reader time after time. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgalley
#waterstones
#goodreads

This was an exciting and magical read filled with equally magical creatures. The heroine, Ember, is very feisty and finds it hard to trust people (because of feeling abandoned by her father.) Things all change when she finds her place in life by both falling into adventure and into the position of apprentice vet to magical beasts.

This is the first Abi Elphinstone story I've read and I'm hoping that it won't be the last. (I'm also hoping that this book is not he only one in the series too. I think it would work well as an expanded universe.)

Ember Spark is lonely and a bit sad, since her dad moved out and she's decided if he can leave so can anyone and that having friends is a bad idea. What she does want is an adventure but living in a tiny village called Yawn doesn't make it very likely that will happen!

One grey afternoon however, Ember manages to rescue a hamster at the beach and after that, well, it seems the impossible isn't as hard to find as she'd thought! There is a new boy in her class called Arlo but as Ember doesn't do friends and has avoided him she isn't altogether sure how, as her day becomes seriously amazing, he's still right there joining in. Ember thought nothing exciting would ever happen in Yawn, how wrong was she!

The first in a series for ages 7+ this is exciting and fast moving but in a gentle way. Ember Spark is a great main protagonist who is quite hard on herself at times but has a very obliging mum who lets her go off exploring without too many qualms! The artwork is lovely and the storyline has just enough jeopardy to keep you reading with a torch under a duvet on a school night!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Simon & Schuster Children's UK, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love the anticipation of the release of a new book in a series and this is a great introduction to that pleasure for younger readers. Recommended.

What a fantastic little book this is. I am in my 50's and loved it.

Ember is a bit of a loner, a bit of a bully, and a bit mean. However she has an affinity for animals and one day she sees a creature clinging to life on a rock in the sea and rescues it. That leads her to a discovery that magical creatures exist and she is tasked to help a vet of magical creatures care for sick and injured magical beasts.

This was a fun little story, would buy in hardback as i love illustrated hardbacks and collect them. This is a book designed for hardback with glossy pages and colour illustrations, its a book to be treasured.

Would love to see a sequel, but can we make Ember a little less mean as i dont think its okay to teach kids that its okay to talk to others like garbage!

Abi’s books never fail to fill me with magical, fantastical delight, and blow me away with the amazing creatures, brilliant characters and gorgeous messages. And you’ve got all of this in here! Ember is so wonderful - she’s brave and kind; she’s full of wonder and adventure. She’s got a great friend in Arno. There’s a proper villainous baddie, an unlikely ally and flying bathtubs! I can’t wait to read more from this series - loads of promising stuff to come.

I was so excited to see the release of a new Abi Elphinstone book as I have previously enjoyed her books.
Rusty Fuzz bang is a vet to magical beasts and is in need of some assistance.
Ember Spark is on the lookout for adventure and it certainly comes her way in the form of a dragon, a flying bathtub, a baddie and a reluctant accomplice.
This was a great read, I think it will be a really popular read.

I have everything crossed that this is the first in a series - jam packed full of magical creatures and heart stopping moments as we follow the feisty female protagonist as she learns to trust people and make friends with the help of her quiet but strong partner. A fabulous read that needs to be devoured.

This is such a brilliant book! Ember Spark is trying to get over the betrayal of her father's absence, which has left her and her mother alone to cope with their changed circumstances somehow. Determined not to be vulnerable to anyone else again, Ember avoids making friends at school, and with her mother working all hours to support them, she ends up not having much company.

Until several unusual incidents take place, that is. First, Ember comes across the mysterious little hamster that she rescues and names Forty Winks (or was that already his name?!). Then, her teacher sends her off on a bizarre quest to help Rusty Fizzbang, who turns out to be a vet for magical creatures in distress!

And as Ember finds herself in the unanticipated but delightful position of apprentice to a magical vet, she also discovers an unexpectedly familiar face accompanying her on this assignment. Which is just as well because there are a whole slew of baddies just as interested in mythical beasts - except *they* want to capture them for their own nefarious purposes...

This is an exceptionally exciting and creative story about highly relatable characters in highly unusual circumstances. The last time I enjoyed a book like this so much, it was Cressida Cowell's most recent offering. Abi Elphinstone is another such prodigious talent. So please, just read this book!