I loved the first book in this series - Maisie vs Antarctica - and even though I'm three times the recommended reading age, I was really looking forward to the next installment.

It is a children's book, it's full of magic, fantasy, and adventure. It's full of family, love, exploration, and trust.

Because everything was set up in the first book, it means this one gets straight in so there's no preamble. I would say it could be read as a standalone but I thoroughly recommend reading the first book before this one as you'll get more from it.

It's a bit more contained than the first one. For about 80% of the book, we have our two main characters, Maisie and her dad (plus a new character) all in one location - a cave. This has the potential to be quite boring because it's the same characters in just one setting but it works. It means we can focus on the characters and their relationships more.

I loved the development of the characters, Maisie in particular. Wee meet her in the first book and she's a bit lonely, she wants adventures, she wants to be with her dad, but she is quite naïve. Whereas this one, she is still a child and still wants adventures but she's braver in this one, she stands up for herself more. She knows who she is now, what she can do, and what she wants.

Like I said at the start, I am more than three times the reading age, but I still really enjoy this series. It's quick and easy to read, it's fun and quirky, it's got tension in it, and there are some serious topics working into the adventure story which is good. I don't know how long he intends to make this series but I for one will definitely be keeping an eye out, and it's definitely one I will be recommending to the kids in my family.

I have such fond memories of reading the first book (Maisie Vs Antarctica) so when I saw the second one was out, I couldn’t not pick it up! It was chock full of all the adventure and cheeky Maisie charm I remember from the first, and I’m so glad it’s turned into a series!

Maisie is a character that’s hard not to love. She’s strong-willed, opinionated and a force to be reckoned with. She’s powerful to boot and in this one, we follow her on an epic new adventure to the Himalayas. As we’re starting to see, following her dad on his trips to write his books often turn into a twisting tale of events..

They’re so easy and entertaining to read - you will be half way through the book before you know it! It’s perfect for the attention span of little readers and me (as an adult) also loved this book and kept me entertained throughout. It’s well worth a read and a solid addition to any young (or older) bookworms shelf.

Maisie and her father head off on a research trip to explore caves in the Himalayan mountains but quickly find themselves in a perilous situation over a search for stolen treasure. Maisie believes that she has the power to pause time, which she shares with her father, but when she encounters an old friend of her mother's, realises that her powers are far more than this, and she can mirror anyone's powers that she encounters.

Turns out there's more to Maisie than she even realised herself, but will Dad tell her truth? Or is this secret just too dangerous?

This ia an exciting, pacy adventure with a nefarious nemesis and plenty of intrigue & secrets revealed, all in quite an easy to read style. The young character is plucky and interesting and there's a nice classic/old fashioned feel to it all as well. Unusual for a JF adventure series where knowledge of vol 1 isn't totally essential, style is so accessible it brings you up to date and straight into the story without the need for context.

A fantastically funny adventure full of secrets and laughter.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy for an honest review.

I loved Maisie vs Antarctica so much that I had already preordered a copy of this new Maisie adventure but when I saw that it was available to read on NetGalley I couldn’t resist.

These books are so warm and entertaining they could be read by all ages. There’s something special about reading them out loud though that really brings the magic to life.

Maisie is a cheeky, fun loving, clumsy and endearing character who just can’t seem to keep her promises to be good. Her dad is safe, full of rules and loves a quiet jigsaw puzzle. But we know from the last book that this pair also have a secret power. They can stop time.

Maisie vs The Himalayas follows Maisie and her dad as they seek for buried treasure in hidden caves beneath the mountains. But when they meet Renata, Maisie gets the feeling that she knows more than she’s letting on. The adventure becomes more dangerous than Maisie expected and she learns more about her dad, her long lost mum and herself than she ever imagined. She also learns that treasure doesn’t always mean golden coins.

This wonderfully funny story is written in Maisie’s voice and it’s one of the best children’s stories I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. She is sweet and imaginative and all she wants to do is help, and have a little fun along the way.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved Maisie vs Antarctica and this book was just as good. The growth Maisie and her dad experience during this book is heartwarming. The fast paced adventure is great, but what I really love most is Maisie's relationship with her dad and Maisie's humor. I laughed out loud multiple times. It was also an interesting difference to have a villain-type character this book, rather than the struggle being survival in a harsh climate like it was in Antarctica. I think I personally preferred when there wasn't a 'bad guy', but it did make for some really fun interactions between them and Maisie. I also loved that we learned more about Maisie's mom in this book. Overall, I definitely recommend it and I can't wait to read more of Maisie's adventures in the future

(I received an arc of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

4.2 Stars
One Liner: Maisie does it again!

After the excitement in Antarctica, Maisie travels with her dad to the Himalayas to research for a book titled How to Find Buried Treasure. Maisie sure finds the treasure, but also gets into many tussles and attracts unwanted attention as a thief while dodging dangerous explosions.
Looks like there are many secrets Maisie doesn’t know about. Will Dad tell her about them, or will it be too late by then?
The story comes in Maisie’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
This is the second book in the series, and it will be better if you read the first one. It does work as a standalone, but if you are into proper character development and backstories, read both. And honestly, you’ll love them.
Since the book is from an eleven-year-old kid’s POV, prepare for it to be filled with vivid imagination, sass, impulsiveness, and recklessness. Don’t look for adult maturity in it, though she can surprise you in unexpected ways.
The day Maisie would keep her promise would probably be declared an international promise day or something (yeah, not gonna happen). As an adult, there were (many) instances I wanted to shake sense into that kid. I’m sure her dad feels the same.
Unlike the previous book, this has very few characters and is set in just a couple of nearby locations (the caves and the adjacent hotel). However, this doesn’t restrict entertainment or adventure even a little. You can trust that kid to get into trouble even in the safest place, and an old cave is hardly safe!
We get a little more detail about her dead mother, which, as you can guess, makes the kiddo super happy. She’s a lonely little girl wanting adventures and to spend more time with her dad, who has a superpower but writes boring books.
Continuing the pattern, each chapter is titled as some sort of ‘How to…’. There can be some spoilers here, so skip the chapter titles if you are particular. I think kids will enjoy the creativity.
I love that ‘little fire god’ comment. So cute and aligns with what we’d say!
Once again, I wish the book had at least two or three illustrations. The ones from the cover could have been divided into individual illustrations and added to the file.

To summarize, Maisie vs the Himalayas is an entertaining, adventurous, and humorous continuation of the series. Be prepared, as it will give kids many ideas that can give you a headache or high blood pressure, lol.
Now that I know where the next adventure will be, I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you, NetGalley and NosyCrow, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.