A traditional young adult fantasy where the protagonist, Sylas Tate, needs to combat evil forces from overtaking the world. Along the way he makes friends, loses friends and develops a sense of self and confidence.

I think why I liked this novel so much was because of the writing skills of the author. The story has a nice flow with enough moments of action and tension interwoven. The main character of Sylas Tate is deftly drawn as a young man with no meaning in his life after the loss of his mother. Although there are fantasies like this novel written a dime a dozen, it's always the author's delivery and ability to create believable characters that sets them all apart.

A good novel for young and old alike. ( )

Twelve-year-old Sylas Tate lives with his uncle in Gabblety Row after the death of his mother. One day, while on an errand for his uncle, he notices a new store, The Shop of Things. The store is full of wonders but the most wonderful of all is a book full of strange symbols, except that the more Sylas looks at these symbols, the more they seem to become words. When Mr Zhi gives Sylas the book, it wil take him into a world full of magic and danger and maybe the answer to what really happened to his mother.

The Bell Between Worlds is the first in a series and much of the book is dedicated to world-building and author Ian Johnstone does an excellent job in this. Johnstone has created a very vivid and complex world. The characters, too, are interesting. The good characters are very likeable and the villains are very very bad. Although there are some scary scenes including torture, it shouldn't be too frightening for anyone from age ten up.

This is the first in a series and, although it can be read as a standalone, much is left unresolved at the end. At over 512 pages, it is fairly long for a book aimed at a middle grade and young YA audience. Still, for children who like a good fantasy series and love to read, this should provide hours of enjoyment. ( )

A glorious epic fantasy in the grand tradition of CS Lewis and Philip Pullman, and a major publishing event, The Mirror Chronicles will take you into another world, and on the adventure of your lifetime...

Half of your soul is missing.
The lost part is in the mirror.
And unless Sylas Tate can save you, you will never be whole again.

Sylas Tate leads a lonely existence since his mother died. But then the tolling of a giant bell draws him into another world known as the Other, where he discovers not only that he has an inborn talent for the nature-influenced magic of the Fourth Way, but also that his mother might just have come from this strange parallel place.

Meanwhile, evil forces are stirring, and an astounding revelation awaits Sylas as to the true nature of the Other. As violence looms and the stakes get ever higher, Sylas must seek out a girl called Naeo who might just be the other half of his soul - otherwise the entire universe may fall...