Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for MG fantasy, Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex by Lynne Howard. Read on for more details!

Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex is the first book in Lynne Howard's debut novel, so get excited, because this series is just getting started. 

Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex is a middle-grade fantasy novel that takes readers into an alternate world full of immortals. A prophecy has been spoken at the beginning of this new realm, and it has those in power anxious. Four children, meant to either destroy this new world or to bring peace and stability. Few know of this prophecy, but there are some who took the opportunity to begin the process of looking for a way to manipulate it. How will all play out? Guess you'll just have to read the series and see for yourself.

Dylan is just an average 12-year-old out walking his dogs, when IT happens. A group of older kids decide that he looks like the perfect target to bully. Dylan just wants to be left alone, but that's not happening. So, when he finds an ideal hiding place, he thinks he'll be safe. But is he? When the bullies find his hiding place (unwittingly) will they find him, too? Or will he be "safe" until they leave? Prepare for a surprise!

Dylan has no idea just how special he really is, but all of that is about to change. He's actually a warlock! With an identical twin brother! But wait! There's more! Of course, there is. LOL! The first chapter in this book sets the stage for that. Dylan's story unfolds a page at a time, but hold on tight because this book is going to fly by! 

Into the Vortex is an engaging novel. It's perfectly written with middle-grade readers in mind. There is some inappropriate language, but it's scattered throughout the book and not overly heavy in usage either. I was mildly surprised though when I came across it, however, it wouldn't put me off from recommending this book to younger readers. 

The storyline is definitely engaging and before I knew it I was already halfway through the book. Where did the time go!? In a flash! Let me tell ya! This book is going to grab you and keep you page-turning to find out what is going to happen next with Dylan and his warlock family. 

The only negative in my eyes concerning this story is the wordiness of the conversations. They tend to get repetitive. Certain phrases get repeated frequently in the conversations and that constantly took me out of the story. I'd read it and think - "I just read this already. Why is it being repeated again?" This happens frequently throughout the story. I wasn't a fan of it. It doesn't happen in every conversation, but it happens frequently enough for me to feel that it needs mentioning. 

This book does end on a cliffhanger, but it's not a major one for readers who absolutely hate cliffhanger novels. LOL! As I stated prior, this book is definitely a good fit for younger readers, and will absolutely keep them engaged from beginning to end. 

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Lynne Howard, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next! 

Want more? Keep reading for details about this book, where to buy, and info about the author! 

                                                           Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex

Genre: MG Fantasy/ Middle Grade

Dylan Dover was an ordinary boy... until a fall into another realm transformed his fate - and the fate of this immortal realm - forever.

Dylan believes he is a typical twelve-year-old until he stumbles into a vortex that miraculously transports him to the immortal dimension, a parallel universe.

Dylan not only learns that he is a warlock, but he also discovers a twin brother, extraordinary powers, and a secret prophecy that seems to have Dylan and his family at its crux. Dylan, along with his brother and their new-found wizard friend Thea, begins to unravel the mystery that surrounds their birth and the danger that threatens immortals and humans alike.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH0f4xeTua8]

In a stunning debut, Lynne Howard's Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex casts a potent reader's charm over all youngsters clamoring for a new supernatural hero.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Lynne Howard, author of the Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex series, is a writer, lawyer, and teacher. Passionate about serving her community and dedicated to social justice, she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, Andrew, their children, Matthew, Jessie, and Dylan,...

Lynne Howard | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Amazon 

Book Tour Schedule

August 21^st

http://rrbooktours – Kick-off

https://www.instagram.com/jen_lynn_c14/?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw%3D%3D – Review

https://www.instagram.com/theclumsybiblio/ - Review

https://readsandreels.com – Feature

August 22^nd

https://www.instagram.com/fieldstone_lfl/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/countrymamaswithkids - Review

https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/_tonyareadsbooks/?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg%3D%3D – Review

August 23^rd

https://www.instagram.com/hmylek/ - Review

https://onemoreexclamation.com/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/kemalareadsbooks/ - Feature

https://christinebialczak.com/ - Feature

August 24^th

https://www.instagram.com/magicalmushroombookshelf/ - Feature

https://www.instagram.com/evergirl200/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/mythicmelancholy/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/authormariereed/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/Justagirlwithaloveofbooks/ - Review

August 25^th

https://instagram.com/beckerbingesbooks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= - Review

https://www.instagram.com/dawnsbooknook/ - Review

https://lshadowlynauthor.com/ - Review

https://starsbooksandtea.com/ - Review

https://www.instagram.com/sassymamareads/ - Review

https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/ - Review

Book Tour Organized By:

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Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex Book Blitz

How fun does this sound? Read on for more details and grab a copy for you or your kiddo today!

                                                            Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex

Genre: MG Fantasy/ Middle Grade

Dylan Dover was an ordinary boy... until a fall into another realm transformed his fate - and the fate of this immortal realm - forever.

Dylan believes he is a typical twelve-year-old until he stumbles into a vortex that miraculously transports him to the immortal dimension, a parallel universe.

Dylan not only learns that he is a warlock, but he also discovers a twin brother, extraordinary powers, and a secret prophecy that seems to have Dylan and his family at its crux. Dylan, along with his brother and their new-found wizard friend Thea, begin to unravel the mystery that surrounds their birth and the danger that threatens immortals and humans alike.

[youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH0f4xeTua8]

In a stunning debut, Lynne Howard's Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex casts a potent reader's charm over all youngsters clamouring for a new supernatural hero.

Add to Goodreads

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Lynne Howard, author of the Dylan Dover: Into the Vortex series, is a writer, lawyer, and teacher. Passionate about serving her community and dedicated to social justice, she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, Andrew, their children, Matthew, Jessie, and Dylan,...

Lynne Howard | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Amazon 

Book Blitz Organized By:

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Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation Review Spotlight

 

Welcome to the tour for Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu. Read on for more details and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu is a YA sci-fi novel that will grab your attention from the beginning and keep you coming back for more. Hana is 12 years-old and excited to finally reach the age of where she'll able to get enmeshed like the rest of her mother and older sister. But is it all that it's cracked up to be? Her grandmother warns her against doing so, but Hana wants to be reconnected with her family. However, strange things are happening. Students in her Start-Up classes are getting sick, and the tech seems to be glitchy. Is there something more insidious going on that the big companies don't want anyone knowing anything about?

Hana Hsu is an engaging young girl, and it's fascinating to see her talents and how much she loves her family. It really endears you to her as a character. You are going to feel quite a bit of empathy for her as you understand her desires for getting meshed. She feels like her family is leaving her behind and that tech is overruling their lives. One especially disappointing moment is when Hana gives her sister a gift that, while not complete, she worked really hard on it. 

The tech in this book is really advanced, but not so advanced that it will leave you scratching your head and wondering what exactly the author has created. Of course, it's mind-boggling to read how technology made such leaps and bounds. The author's storyline has things happening in a not so distant future, but it's more than just technology that has advanced. There have been life changing shifts in the environment as well of where some areas have been forever changed. 

The author keeps you engaged as Hana is approached and requested to do something that might have some danger attached to it. But will it be something that tears her family apart or brings them closer together? The author will keep you page-turning as you see things begin to come together and you can only hope for the best. 

There were moments in this book of where I felt like this book could be turned into a series, but for now it's written as a standalone. It's a great novel for YA readers especially, but for sure for readers of all ages. If you love novels that blend cyberpunk tech, futuristic elements, and a main character fighting to be her best then you're going to enjoy this novel.

I'm rating this book 4.7 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author, Syliva Liu, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next! 

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation

Genre: Middle Grade/ MG Sci-fi/ Techno Thriller ( 8 – 12 years)

Published: June 21, 2022

Publisher: Razorbill Books/ Penguin Random House

Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu’s mission to save herself—and her friends—from a dangerous plot to control their minds.

Hana Hsu can’t wait to be meshed.

If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city’s most talented twelve-year-olds, she’ll be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk.

Even scarier, she starts to notice that something’s not right at Start-Up—some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea.

Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country—and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana’s willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends—and herself— from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows?

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About the Author

Sylvia Liu grew up with books and daydreams in Caracas, Venezuela. Once an environmental attorney protecting the oceans, she now spins stories inspired by high tech, cool science, and the intricacies of family and friendship. She’s the author of the middle grade books Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (Razorbill 2022) and Manatee’s Best Friend (Scholastic 2021) and the picture book A Morning with Grandpa, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016). Sylvia lives in Virginia with her family and a very fluffy cat.

Sylvia Liu | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

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Book Tour Schedule

February 6^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

I Smell Sheep (Spotlight) http://www.ismellsheep.com/

@ofmoviesandbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/ofmoviesandbooks/

@princessreadsalot (Review) https://www.instagram.com/princessreadsalot/

@latishaslowkeylife (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/latishaslowkeylife/

February 7^th

@over.on.my.bookshelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/over.on.my.bookshelf/?hl=en

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

Bunny’s Review (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

Just Plunge into Books (Spotlight) https://www.justplungeintobooks.blogspot.com/

@plungeintobooks - https://www.instagram.com/plungeintobooks/

February 8^th

@hodophile_z (Review) https://www.instagram.com/hodophile_z/

@evergirl200 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/evergirl200/

@stepintothepages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/stepintothepages/

@mandioyster (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/mandioyster/

February 9^th

Breakeven Books (Spotlight) https://breakevenbooks.com

@sushisrainbow (Review) https://www.instagram.com/sushisrainbow/

Sushi Rainbow - https://sushirainbow.org/

@dreaminginpages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dreaminginpages/

@vinamkent_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/vinamkent_author/

The Faerie Review (Spotlight) http://www.thefaeriereview.com

February 10^th

@books.and.salt (Review) https://www.instagram.com/books.and.salt/

@louturnspages (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/louturnspages/

@magicalmushroombookshelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/magicalmushroombookshelf/

@thebookcoverlover (Spotlight) https://www.instagram.com/thebookcoverlover/

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Harley James and the Secret of the Falcon Queen Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for the next mysterious installment in the Harley James series, The Secret of the Falcon Queen by Leah Cupps! Read on for more info and a chance to win a $100 Amazon e-gift card!

Welcome to the third book in Leah Cupps's Harley James series! Harley James is back in the Secret of the Falcon Queen and if you've read the previous books in this series you are NOT going to want to miss out on this addition to the series. 

Harley is back with her world-traveling archeologist dad and this time they find themselves in Scotland on a highly monitored dig for an ancient queen's diary and other various artifacts. It's believed that these items hold magical attributes, that if they fall into the wrong hands, well...let's just say bad things could happen. Harley is going to have her hands full with this one as there is always someone dogging her steps and no, it's not just Daisy. 

One of the things you're really going to love about this book is that it's not necessary for you to have read the previous books in the series. You can easily grab this book up, dive in, and start reading. Will there be references to the previous books in this series? Yes, there will be. Honestly though? Those references simply pique your interest in Harley's previous adventures. The author does tie in some moments from the previous books, but they just truly whet your appetite for more. 

You get a nice combination of history mixed with fiction in this novel and it's written well for the intended age group of 8-12 year-olds, but it is also suitable for those older teens who are looking for something fun to read with a nice amount of adventure, thrills, and danger. 

You're really going to love the variety of pictures spaced out throughout this novel as well. I'm not much of a "picture book" reader, but these pictures add just the right amount of "more" to this story. They help bring it to life just that tiny bit more and give you particular scenes that bring you a little closer to the edge of your seat. 

You're going to like that the author reunites Harley with old friends and that she's making some new ones along the way as well. While she's a world-traveling kid, making friendships that last is never easy, but with her adventures, she's finally accomplishing that.

This book is one that I highly recommend to anyone with a child that fits this book's age range. They are absolutely going to devour this book. My own child is impatiently waiting her turn to grab this book and dive right in. LOL! 

I feel that this book rates 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are some moments that I feel are a bit repetitive, however, the familiarity might be the reason why the author chooses to do it. I know that I'm looking forward to more of Harley's adventures, because it's a big world and there is lots to discover.

Thank you to the author, Leah Cupps, and R&R Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! 

Harley James: The Secret of the Falcon Queen

Publication Date: July 5th, 2022

Genre: MG/ Adventure/ Chapter Books (Ages 8 to 12)

Will Harley uncover a queen’s secret… before it’s too late?

Harley James lands in the beautiful Scottish countryside, but green clovers aren’t the only thing awaiting her arrival. Harley is greeted with one of her greatest enemies yet—the mysterious Magnus Murdoch.

S.M.A.L.L. has a new mission—to protect the secret of the legendry Falcon Queen. Harley works with old and new friends while sleuthing across Scotland. She must solve challenging riddles and find clues that lead to the queen’s secret chamber.

Join Harley as she thunders through the Scottish countryside on horseback, discovers a mysterious silver feather and uncovers a secret that will change history.

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Available on Amazon

About the Author

Leah Cupps is an author, designer and entrepreneur. She came up with the idea for Harley James with her oldest daughter Savannah. Savannah had taken an interest in Mayan history and so the two of them worked together to come up with the idea for the first Harley James book; the Mystery of the Mayan Kings.

Leah lives in Indiana with her husband and three children. She is also the co-founder of Vision Forty Press, a small family-owned publishing company.

Harley James Adventures | Instagram 

Facebook | Newsletter | YouTube

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Book Tour Schedule

July 18^th

R&R Book Tours (Kick-Off) http://rrbooktours.com

@hodophile_z (Review) https://www.instagram.com/hodophile_z/

@fariha_binte_islam (Review) https://www.instagram.com/fariha_binte_islam/

Book Review Crew (Review) https://thebookreviewcrew.com/

July 19^th

@over.on.my.bookshelf (Review) https://www.instagram.com/over.on.my.bookshelf/?hl=en

@leirajadewrites (Review) https://www.instagram.com/leirajadewrites/

Liliyana Shadowlyn (Review) https://lshadowlynauthor.com/

@marvsbooks (Review) https://www.instagram.com/marvsbooks/

July 20^th

@thrillersandcoffee (Review) https://www.instagram.com/thrillersandcoffee/

@gryffindorbookishnerd (Review) https://www.instagram.com/gryffindorbookishnerd/

Bunny’s Reviews (Review) https://bookwormbunnyreviews.blogspot.com/

FUONLYKNEW (Spotlight) http://fuonlyknew.com/

July 21^st

@amber.bunch_author (Review) https://www.instagram.com/amber.bunch_author/

@dany.alvy (Review) https://www.instagram.com/dany.alvy/

@stepintothepages (Review)  www.instagram.com/stepintothepages

The Magic of Wor(l)ds (Spotlight) http://themagicofworlds.wordpress.com

July 22^nd

@jacleomik33 (Review) https://www.instagram.com/jacleomik33/

@louturnspages (Review) https://www.instagram.com/louturnspages/

Not a Bunny Blog (Review)  https://notanybunny.wordpress.com/blog

@marie.sinadjan - https://www.instagram.com/marie.sinadjan/

Reads & Reels (Spotlight) http://readsandreels.com

 

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Renegade Spy Project Spotlight

 

Welcome to the book tour for The Renegade Spy Project by Terri Selting David, a book I know most parents and readers will whole-heartedly recommend! Read on for info and a chance to win the entire trilogy!

The Renegade Spy Project (The Renegade Girls Tinkering Club #1)

Publication Date: August 10th, 2020

Genre: Middle Grade/ Chapter Books/ Children’s Inventor Books (Ages 8 – 12)

Publisher: Spiderdust Studios 

Wren is impulsive, curious, and always in trouble. Can her flaws become her greatest asset?

Wren Sterling has a problem. She knows she’s super smart and a good friend, but no matter how hard she tries, she can’t shake her reputation as a troublemaker. It feels like the only people who believe in her are her three best friends in the Renegade Girls Tinkering Club. She’d hoped middle school would be different, but when her inability to control her temper causes an accident, even her beloved STEM Club is no longer a safe haven.

She has to find a way to fix it. When her idea to start a business inventing and selling spy gadgets succeeds, it looks like she’s finally done something right! But then the Club is accused of a crime. Can they use their own gadgets, and a little bit of trouble to solve the mystery? If they can find the real culprit, Wren may just discover she has a bright future after all. If they can’t, she could lose her best friends forever.

“It’s The Babysitter’s Club meets MacGyver!”

Build your own SPY GADGETS! Instructions included in this charming story about friendship, middle school, and the Engineering Design Process for kids ages 8-12.

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Excerpt

Technically it was Wren’s Greenhouse, hidden behind her family's small home in the middle of San Francisco, but all the Renegades felt at home there. In the Greenhouse, they didn't have to worry about other people's rules and opinions. Or try to be boring or be like everyone else. The Greenhouse was their safe space. They could just be themselves. Wren's parents let them use it as their workshop and clubhouse as long as her little sister, Trixie, could be part of the club.

When they'd formed the Renegade Girls Tinkering Club, the Greenhouse had been abandoned and filled with broken pots and spiderwebs. It was small and dirty, but had everything they needed. A door hidden like a secret behind an overgrown wisteria vine. A back wall with shelves from floor to ceiling, and excellent light from a front wall made entirely of glass. A small but sturdy potting table sat against the windows. It was pleasant and warm, with one electrical outlet and a small work sink. They loved it from the first time they saw it.

Amber, Kammie, Ivy, Wren, and even Trixie had worked tirelessly last summer, cleaning and gathering assorted leftovers, recyclables, and a mishmash of bins to put them in. They categorized and labelled, collected cardboard by cutting down shipping boxes, and saved empty toilet paper rolls from the trash. They snuck random scissors from kitchen drawers, ribbons, buttons, anything that looked useful or had an interesting shape. Amber had borrowed a folding card table from her garage, and Kammie brought in some stools her parents were getting rid of. Wren found an old glue gun, and they had even managed to find an unused sewing machine. The first purchase with their club dues had been copies of the side gate key, so everyone could head directly into the backyard when they came over.

Amber rocketed through that side gate, clutching a cardboard box protectively to her chest with her delicate arms. Beneath a spring green sundress her feet, in their pristine white flats, skipped quickly and skillfully over the ground. The September afternoon sun lit up her auburn hair like a fiery halo.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

In 1996, Terri left Colorado, where she grew up, and headed even more West until she couldn’t get any West-er. Landing in San Francisco, her career spanned more than a decade in 3D character animation for video games, films, television shows, and even a comic book (but mostly video games.) Her work encompassed character animation, art direction, and story development before she had children and, imagining a better world for them, co-founded the Renegade Girls Tinkering Club with her friend Vicky in 2015. Since then she’s created over a dozen curricula and assisted in creating half a dozen more, encompassing more than 230 individual projects.

She lives in San Francisco with 2 rowdy children and a fabulous, brilliant husband who brings her tea every night.

Spiderdust Studios – Girls Who Make Stuff

 

International Giveaway: The Renegade Girls Tinkering Club Trilogy (Digital)

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