In order to catch up from reviews I didn’t complete last year, I’m going to start doing #tbt reviews every other Thursday, as there were a lot of books that I didn’t get to. I believe these books still need reviews, so to start, I’m reviewing Zarox, a book I received from Louis Smith on Instagram.
On a dare, four kids decide to go to the creepy Churn Zone at night, proving that they are each adventurous and brave. But the unthinkable happens while they’re there: they’re transported to another world, called Zarox. In Zarox, they’re the only ones that can save the world from the Glothers. Supported by Rotlier, the wizard Lupar, and the Book of Zarox, the children are off on a magical adventure that they’re not likely to forget.
The beginning was a bit of a rocky start for Zarox, as we’re thrown into the world much like the main characters without a clue of what’s happening. But once you get into the story and the children start their training to save the world, you’re much more able to transition into the world of Zarox. And what a magical world it is.
One of my favorite things about this book was the uniqueness of the world. While some of the plot points were familiar, the world of Zarox felt unique to me. This could especially be seen with the different characters that the author created, like the Glothers and Rotlier. Once we get a sense of these characters, it’s easy to fall into the world Smith has created. It’s magical and fast paced, and you’ll hand on until the very end.
Overall, between the characters and the unique world, this is a middle grade fantasy that stands out from the rest. It’s a fun, enjoyable read that you’ll not want to put down until the very end.
4/5 stars