Book Review - The Mystery of Nida Valley

The Mystery of Nida Valley                            
Book 2, Captured
eBook edition
E.J. Ouston
Morris Publishing Australia, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-9872444-4-4


Meg is a 15 year old girl that lives in this world, but has a special fondness for another world, Nida Valley.
Through the use of their special travel watches, Meg, her family, and friends can travel to this other, wonderful world.

Different magical traits run throughout Meg's family and friends. These powers begin to be discovered around the age Meg is now. On Meg's 15h birthday, she received a special pen handed down to her by her grandmother. Through the use of this special pen, which acts as a wand, Meg starts discovering her magic abilities to be; mind reading and spell casting.

In Nida Valley, Meg belongs to The Guardians of the Valley family, who are the keepers of the prehistoric animals and also the guardians against their extinction. And after learning more and perfecting her magic, Meg is next in line to be the leader of The Guardians.

Meg has already travelled back in time to bring back the herbs to heal, Willie, the last existing wombat. She hopes to travel back in time again and bring back some more wombats to live in the valley.

The adventure and mystery begins when the megafauna Pteros go missing. They could not have escaped from their protective cages or have gotten past the force field of the valley by themselves. They suspect Grundymere, who leads an army with an alternative motive towards the valley and the animals.

But there are other suspects, too. Miss Cashmere, the housekeeper; Alvin, the zoo assistant; even Meg's friend, Jack. They all act suspicious and any one of them could be helping Grundymere.

The adventure and mystery intensify with threats on Meg's life, kidnapping, escapes, more kidnapping, spying, shape shifting and magic spells.

I like this book because it is a page-turning adventure/mystery that just doesn't slow down. The author has created a prehistoric world with animals such as; meiolania oweni, diprotodon, ichthyosaur, and  muttaburrasauras. Then there are travel portals, stun guns, and lots of magic.

The teenage heroine and her teenage friends are portrayed perfectly through their mannerism and language.
All the other character are well defined, also.

The author has created an intriguing and exciting story.

 I was sent on an adventure that I truly felt a part of. And that, in a nut shell, is the essence of good writing.

Please visit the author's website:
http://themysteryofnidavalley.com