In The Lucky Diamond, five orphans face many dangers on a journey to return a magic diamond home.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cathy felt a stab of pain in her foot and stumbled. Something was caught in her shoe. She sat upon a pile of rubble and removed it, emptying the large pebble into her hand. Except, it was a precious stone, a gem, crystal-clear and filled with light. A word popped into her head: Diamond.
Valinora Troy. The Lucky Diamond (Kindle Locations 110-112). Kindle Edition
Valinora Troy started writing at the age of six, holds a MA in Creative Writing (Children & Young Adults), and lives in Ireland. Find her on Twitter, where she tweets about books, writing, and her writer’s dog.
She got her first idea ever for a story at age six. It was about a girl that finds a magic diamond. She has rewritten this story many times since then until she published this middle-grade fantasy, The Lucky Diamond, in November 2021.
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Summary
Five siblings are left destitute after their Uncle dies. For five years, they manage to survive without detection by the authorities until the day that Cathy finds a magic diamond. It is a start of an adventure where the five siblings journey to the Rock of Diamonds to turn the diamond home.
They’d spent five years living in hiding, never seen together in case the town was still after them, sleeping in a mouldy attic and struggling to get enough to eat. Anywhere would be better than this town.
Valinora Troy. The Lucky diamond (Kindle Locations 223-225). Kindle Edition
They meet many fascinating characters that help them during their journey and have to battle witches, monsters, mirehogs, and many other horrifying villains. Lucky manages to help them with her magic, but will they be able to reach the Rock of Diamonds before her magic energy are depleted?
My take on The Lucky Diamond
In The Lucky Diamond, Valinora Troy create a fantasy world with many fascinating characters and horrifying creatures. The children face many dangers but discover how brave and resourceful they are to find ways to keep safe and defeat their enemies.
Keep cool in times of crisis. Focus your mind, not your heart.
(Kindle Locations 1768-1769). Kindle Edition
They also rescue Prince Paul from the Kingdom of Kyle from a witch. They learn valuable lessons about the value of strength and courage, mercy and justice, and other good qualities from him.
Now there is peace, but Paul has been brought up to value strength and courage as the prime virtues.” “Aren’t they?” Vicky said. “They are good things to have, but you must also know mercy and justice. Wisdom, prudence, kindness and many other good qualities – all these we are trying to teach Paul so that when the time comes for him to be king, he will rule wisely.”
Valinora Troy. The Lucky Diamond (Kindle Locations 2089-2092). Kindle Edition.
Should you get The Lucky Diamond for your child?
Valinora Troy creates a fantasy world in The Lucky Diamond with many fascinating characters middle-graders will enjoy and plenty of witches and monsters to send a chill down their spines. Her use of descriptive language will make this fantasy world come alive and make kids experience this world in their imaginations.
A strong breeze blew in his face, leaving salt on his lips. The sky was a midnight-blue blanket pierced with millions of tiny stars. Ahead there was nothing but water, deep swells running across the dark sea. Land, if it existed, was impossible to distinguish from the water. The Sea Flower had taken them where no one else could sail.
Valinora Troy. The Lucky Diamond (Kindle Locations 318-321). Kindle Edition
Children will soon be engrossed in the adventures of the five children. They will eagerly keep on reading to see if they will manage to return the Lucky Diamond home despite all the dangers they face during the journey.
“I came to ask for your help in leaving this town,” the Diamond said, “but I’m afraid you no longer have a choice. If you wish to live, you too must leave Lowdar. Tonight.”
Valinora Troy. The Lucky Diamond (Kindle Locations 193-195). Kindle Edition.
Please read my reviews of Lizzie’s Dream Journal and The Last Shimmer for other intriguing books for middle-graders.
Does your child enjoy fantasy stories? As a parent, what do you think is the value of fantasy in your child’s creative development? We would love to hear from you. Please share with us in the comments?
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Hi! I am Susan
Welcome to my adventure
Why Read or Rot?
I have started reading at the age of four. I can remember how I often read under the covers with a flashlight when I was supposed to sleep.
During my early school years, we visited the library once a week. I couldn’t pick out my new book fast enough! By the end of the period, I would have finished it already, leaving me with nothing to read for the rest of the week!
Growing up, Fridays was the highlight of my week. Dad would pack the whole family into the car, and off we go! You guessed right – to the library! We were a family of readers.
In my adult years, I’ve developed a variety of interests like technology, photography, gardening and even writing. But reading was and will always be a part of my life!
Reading for me is like breathing. If I cannot read, my soul will quietly rot away…