There is little rest for twelve-year-old Fionn. Asleep, he is plunged into the most vivid and terrifying nightmares. Here, the ground splits, bridges collapse and huge, scaly creatures rise from molten lava. When he awakes, Fionn is bleeding and bruised but his wounds quickly heal. How can Fionn prove to his parents that he really is telling the truth? At school, no monsters have appeared yet, but Fred and his gang of cronies are on the lookout, eager to ridicule Fionn. At least Fionn can spend time with his friend Ella and new arrival ‘Tiny’ who seems to have Fionn’s back. There are so many unanswered questions. Why does a lion cub keep appearing, a lion cub that only Fionn can see? What is the meaning of the box with the strange inscriptions bearing Ella’s name? When Finn and Ella stumble into a trap, Tiny comes to the rescue, taking them into the world of Arborea where Fionn discovers that he is ‘Lionborn’. What’s more, a deadly sorcerer wants his blood. There is, it transpires, a way to defeat the sorcerer but only if Fionn can rise to the challenge of three terrible trials. If he fails, his life is forfeit. This is a fast-moving fantasy adventure filled with monsters, mystery and magic. The first in a new series, it is suitable for middle-grade readers aged 8+. I enjoyed the interactions between the three friends and the way the narrative shifts between the real world and the fantasy realms.
Suzanne Chinnock
Lionborn by Sharique Zea
Sharique Zea
ISBN 9781068201813
£6.99
Published 2025
