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.