Majestica, Sarah Tolcser
Majestica, Sarah Tolcser
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Majestica

Author: Sarah Tolcser

Narrator: Carlotta Brentan

Unabridged: 8 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/02/2024

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

Jurassic Park meets Once There Was in this page-turning middle grade fantasy adventure set at a nature preserve for magical beasts, where two girls find themselves on a wilderness expedition gone disastrously wrong.

Hattie Swift is a maid-in-training at Majestica, a resort and nature preserve where visitors come face-to-face with rare magical flora and fauna. She’s thrilled to be invited along on the park’s famous wilderness train excursion for the first time, but there’s a catch: She has to accompany Evelyn Ridgewell, the hotel owner’s haughty niece, who wants nothing to do with her.

Soon after embarking, Evelyn overhears a man who aims to hunt the park’s creatures for sport, and Hattie meets Jacob Threadborne, an apprentice magician sent by a foreign government on a top-secret mission. Then the magical fences keeping guests safe stop working, and the train breaks down in the most treacherous part of the jungle. Faced with poachers, man-eating trees, and a dragon on the loose, Hattie, Evelyn, and Jacob must stick together to figure out what’s gone wrong at Majestica . . . that is, if they want to make it out alive.

Features a richly illustrated map of the expansive nature preserve, as well as a bestiary with all the magical—and dangerous—creatures at Majestica.

* This audiobook edition includes an illustrated map of the nature preserve and bestiary with all of the creatures at Majestica.

About The Author

Sarah Tolcser is the author of two fantasy novels for teens, Song of the Current and Whisper of the Tide. She lives and writes in a 100-year-old house in New Orleans, and enjoys video games, NBA basketball, and books about girls who blow stuff up. Visit her online at sarahtolcser.com and follow her on Twitter @SarahTolcser.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jessica

This is a very fun new magical adventure for middle grade readers featuring a wonderful cast of characters both human and otherwise. There are familiar creatures like dragons and unicorns, and unfamiliar ones like trigers and a Leaping (teleporting) Lemur, plus a ton of action and a very solid myste......more

Magestica by Sarah Tolcser is a middle grade novel about two girls, a magical hotel and an expedition gone wrong. It’s getting high praise everywhere, including a starred Kirkus review, and I can see why. I was completely hooked the second I met Hattie and Evelyn, two girls from two very different l......more

Goodreads review by Aaron

The Hotel Majestica is a known destination for anyone who would like a chance to meet majical creatures. From dragons to unicorns and everything in between, the Majestica has become a nature reserve to protect these creatures of fantasy in a Victorian-Era-like world. Hattie Swift, an orphan has grow......more


Quotes

Praise for Majestica:

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A We Are Teachers Best Book of the Month for Kids, Teens, and Teachers


* “Rich worldbuilding will draw readers into an immersive adventure . . . Tolcser combines themes of conservation and the repatriation of cultural artifacts with unexpected friendships to create a fast-paced fantasy. Caparo’s exquisite art adds to the magic . . . Charming characters abound in this tale that’s thoughtfully grounded in ethics." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A delightful tale full of magic, fantastical creatures and plants, and, of course, adventure . . . Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures and Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World.” —School Library Journal

“Riveting . . . The marvelous magical menagerie and Victorian details feel terrifically fresh. There is danger, daring, and mounting mystery aplenty, but quiet moments of introspection give the suspenseful story room to breathe . . . An epic adventure sure to enthrall and inspire.” —Booklist

“A pulse-pounding adventure that examines themes of conservation, exploitation, and responsibility.” —Publishers Weekly

“When I open a novel and find a map inside, I know I’m about to have fun. Majestica, a sort of middle grade Jurassic Park with magical creatures instead of dinosaurs, begins with this kind of map and makes good on its promise of excitement and adventure.” —Lit Hub

“Reminded me of Jurassic Park, but with fantasy creatures . . . An unexpected magical adventure.” —Book Riot

“An edge-of-your-seat fantastical tale filled with danger, secrets, and the most amazing creatures. Enjoy the ride . . . if you dare.” —Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds and The Forgotten Five series

“Adventure, mystery, and friendships blossoming under pressure—Majestica has all of it. The pages feel as packed with life as the park itself.” —Cassie Beasley, New York Times bestselling author of Circus Mirandus

“Readers [will] beg for a sequel . . . Excellent writing, excellent characters, excellent twist at the end.” —Chicago Book Review

“Tolcser's distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style is ideal for young fantasy fans.” —Midwest Book Review