Half-Upon A Time

* * * * */ Five Stars

Genre: Action, Adventure, Humor, Fantasy, Mystery, Danger, (and some slight) Romance

Jack, a regular boy from the village of Giant's Hand, is about to be immersed in a world of adventure that he didn't think would ever be possible for him. It started when he was talking with his grandfather and a girl fell out of the sky. Her name was May, and she was incredibly strange.  She had a weird thing called a 'phone', blue streaks in her hair, and a shirt that said 'Punk Princess', although she claimed that she wasn't one. Soon they are forced to embark on a perilous journey to get May back to her grandmother, who may just be the long missing Snow White. They must face witches, dragons, evil fairy queens, genies, and much more to save May's seemingly innocent relative and to get her back home. But not everything - or everyone - in this fantasy land is what they seem. With the help of a prince and a little magic, can the two fix everything, or will they make it even worse?
I personally loved this book by James Riley. It was a perfectly balanced blend of adventure, whimsy, and shrouded mystery, all rolled into one. It was a mix of the fantastical elements found in 'Of Giants and Ice' by Shelby Bach combined with the ideology and outsider spirit of 'Sky Raiders' by Brandon Mull. Filled with twists, turns, and excitement, 'Half Upon a Time' is definitely a tale you won't want to miss.