Night of the Solstice

By L.J. Smith

When Claudia Hodges-Bradley meets a fox, she knows it will be an extraordinary day. Not just any fox, this vixen is the magical familiar of the sorceress Morgana Shee. For years, Morgana has guarded the solitary gate between Earth and the Wildworld, a shimmering parallel universe where legends still live. She alone holds the secret of the mirrors that serve as the last surviving passage to enchantment. But Morgana has been betrayed and imprisoned in the Wildworld, and the fox is determined to recruit Claudia and her siblings for the rescue mission.

Armed only with courage and determination, Alys, Charles, Jane and Claudia must save Morgana before the winter solstice, when evil sorcerer Cadel Forge plans to escape the Wildworld and conquer Earth. And with December 21stonly 2 weeks away, there is no time to lose…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Sep 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9780857070517

L.J. Smith

L.J. Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of the Night World and Vampire Diaries series. She has written over twenty-five books and lives in California.

Reviews for Night of the Solstice

[soybean7soybean · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

nyeaa..it was just alright..i just couldnt help but get somewhat irritated every once in a while because the main characters didn't seem believable to me..compared to the kind of books i've read in the same genre and age bracket, this one appears to still have a lot of catching up to do..the kids are so hopeless most of the time and their adventures on the other side of the mirror were so tame and short...the author didnt seem able to properly convey the nuances of whatever situation the kids were in..however, that notwithstanding..i'm still willing to give it another go by continuing to read the sequel to this, in the hopes that it might improve..but i still cant help but feel that these books were written out of an attempt at creating a moneyspinner, rather than from the passion of adventure.. i'm sorry if it seems harsh, but there it is..thats my two cents

[mountie9_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Good Stuff * Magic, sorcerers, flying serpents, talking foxes and lots of adventure! * Intriguing bad guys/gals * Wonderfully real and interesting characters * You won't want to put it down * Reminded me a little of Lion Witch and Wardrobe without the religious imagery. Not really the story but the way the children worked together. Very real sibling relationships. * Fantastic opening that really grabs your attention and draws you into the story * Looking forward to the next book in the series "Heart of Valor" * Great epic fantasy quest for the younger setThe Not so Good Stuff * A wee bit predictable, but just a wee bit * Again irritated by the fact that the parents are useless and out of touchFavorite Quotes/Passages"Yes, you! Why do you think I have wasted all this time recounting the history of Wildfolk? For my own amusement? I need help, and you four have able bodies and fair to middling minds. Or so I thought." "You are responsible for what will happen to you next, you are the creator of your own future.""Do you think Morgana would let me trade in my Kryptonite for a dirt bike?"What I Learned * That I would love the ability to talk to animals * I much prefer YA fantasy novels to those written for adultsWho should/shouldn't read * Pretty much anyone who likes to lose themselves in a story * The darkness/violence may be a little much for younger readers * Thinking my neighbors daughter is going to love this4 Dewey's

[bibliotropic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The problem with reading books intended for younger audiences is that it can be very hard to put ones mind back to the age group the book is intended for. As such, my adult mind was saying things like, "They actually expect the 'doll under the bedcovers' trick to actual fool parents?" and, "Does anyone not know how to solve that trick/riddle/game?" at regular intervals while reading Night of the Solstice.The writing style was nothing special. It didn't stand out as particularly amazing or particularly bad. However, that wasn't necessarily a drawback, as sometimes with books the writing style can actually detract from enjoyment of the story being told, whether the style is good or bad, and in this case I could just move with the words and see the story unfold instead of being wowed or disgusting with phrasing or horrible copyediting. Not sure if that's a bonus. Let's call it a neutral point, but still one worth commenting on.The story itself was quite interesting. A group of siblings discover that magic is real and that they need to save a sorceress in order to stop a bunch of people from another world punching through the fabric between worlds and causing all kinds of chaos. Not sparkling original, I'll grant you, but still fun, and there are a thousand and one ways that story can be told in an entertaining fashion. Mixing some Celtic mythology, the hidden history of this world, and playing around with some fantasy elements to make a creative and interesting setting was pretty well done here, and I like the effect. The world the children end up in isn't overly analyzed or picked apart, it isn't glorified or put down. It just is. And so much was glossed over because of the pressing needs of the questing kids, but that in itself lends a bit more magic to the Wildworld. You can't help but wonder what you're not seeing.For those who enjoy a good mid-grade fantasy, or for those who have or who know children who'd enjoy a good epic fantasy quest, I do recommend this book. For most, though, this book is a take-it-or-leave-it kind of book. It kills some time on the bus, but ultimately my life wasn't changed by reading it.Won't stop me from reading the sequel, though!

[coralsiren · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I wasn't expecting to like this book, and, unsurprisingly, I didn't. The main characters are flat and underdeveloped and the story doesn't really go anywhere.