Just before Vivi Conway leaves Wales for a new life in London with the Mums, she meets Dara and a dog called Gelert after they rescue her from a terrifying encounter with a mythical monster in a lake. A few days later, she runs into Dara again at her new school in London, where it quickly becomes apparent that she's one of a small group of magical children who've been called on to protect the world from the villainous plans of King Arawn.
In short, I absolutely loved this story. The plot is complex in places but it all hangs together wonderfully, with the author skilfully weaving together ancient mythology from across the country. However, what I enjoyed most about the book was the relationship between the main characters. Seeing the friendship between Vivi, Dara, Chia and Stevie evolve as their situation becomes ever more perilous was an absolute delight. They gradually learn to trust each other, first out of necessity and then out of loyalty, but still squabble and bicker in a manner that everyone will recognise from their own childhood. Vivi's experiences at her previous school, while never explicitly explained, are alluded to, and her anxiety and nervousness around new children is completely understandable. Lizzie has done a wonderful job with their portrayal of representation throughout the book, creating a cast of characters that many children will be able to empathise with and relate to.
For readers who enjoy fantasy, this is the beginning of a potentially wonderful series, and I'm already looking forward to reading about what Vivi and her friends get up to next. Viv Conway and the Sword of Legend was published on Thursday 1st June and can be purchased from my Bookshop.org page here or from any independent children's bookshop. A huge thank you to Courtney Jefferies for inviting me to be part of this tour.
