Breathe. Listen. Surrender.
Twelve-year-old Zya Nicole Jenkins wishes for an adventure on the last night of summer. But, when she and her best friend Elijah find a glowing door in the woods, the youngsters get much more than they bargained for, and find themselves swept away on a quest of epic proportions. Cast into the midst of a centuries-long, intergalactic conflict, the newly minted heroes will have to overcome their greatest fear, learn to trust a mysterious ally and master their new magic timepieces to save the day and free humanity from the Evil Archons.
A 2025 Literary Global Children’s Book Award winner and finalist for the Children’s Book International Award for Fantasy, Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets is packed to the brim with pharaohs and zombies, twists and turns, shape-shifters and a fearsome Lizard King. The Emerald Tablets follows two precocious young people as they break the mold, transcend expectations and grow to accept their destiny. A fast-paced story about freedom, responsibility and friendship that can’t be broken, the narrative reads more like a film than a novel. With the fate of humanity on the line and new surprises around every corner, you’ll be on the edge of your seat until the final bell.
Guardians Of The Cosmic Clocks: The Emerald Tablets was a genuinely fun and engaging read. It was different, it's fast paced, easy to follow and packed full of excitement from start to finish. If you enjoy stories that blend time travel, aliens, and history this book delivers all of that and more. The story starts as the reader is introduced to one of the main characters, Zya. A pre-teen who feels trapped by the mundane of everyday life. She deals with school, guitar lessons, after school clubs which do nothing to satisfy her craving for something bigger. All she wants is adventure and freedom, and that restlessness is instantly relatable, it's what all kids dream of. Alongside her best friend Elijah, Zya escapes with him to her favourite place whilst her mom thinks she is practicing guitar, that's when everything changes. What begins as a normal walk quickly turns extraordinary when they uncover a mysterious portal. Once they pluck up the courage to step through it, this is where the story truly took off for me. Zya and Elijah find themselves aboard an alien spaceship where they encounter The Lumerian beings, who reveal that the fate of Earth rests on the shoulders of these two children. From that moment on, the narrative becomes a thrilling ride filled with fear, wonder and excitement as they embark on one of the biggest adventures of their lives.
One of the standout strengths of this book is its clean editing and tight storytelling. I usually notice plot holes/typos and inconsistencies quite easily, but this book felt polished and well edited. The pacing is perfect for this type of book, there is always something happening, yet it never feels underdeveloped.
The world building is impressive. We are introduced with small kids who can morph into something else, (a mouse as a small example.) mummies, Ancient Egyptian settings, alien civilisations and unforgettable villains such as the Lizard King. The author's use of personification and eye dialect, particularly the hissing dialogue of The Lizard King's minions was clever and effective, adding personality and menace to the character in a memorable way. Another detail I really appreciated was the choice to name the chapters instead of numbering them. This stylistic decision works amazingly setting the tone and preparing the reader thematically before each chapter began.
Although this book is clearly perfect for teen readers, it is equally enjoyable for adults. The themes of identity, destiny, the desire for something greater and typical pre-teen feelings stem beyond a younger audience. Genre wise, it is difficult to place, which I see as a strength rather than a weakness. It blends science fiction, fantasy and history into an adventurous hybrid that feels fresh and exciting.
This is a short but satisfying read, packed with imagination. The vivid descriptions of worlds, the space-ships and characters is what brings the story to life. By the end...it's hard not to want more. Knowing this is the first book in a series only adds to the excitement and I am very much looking forward to the next installments.
"Live kindly and be well, Guardians, and always be ready, you never know when you will be needed."
The quote above is a fitting reminder that adventure, responsibility and courage can find us when we least expect it.
Great read. I'm impressed.
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Guardians of the Cosmic Clocks
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