Which Way to Anywhere by Cressida Cowell

Release: September 19th, 2023
Format: Paperback
Publisher: ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: TBR and Beyond Tours
Find it at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon and Wizards of Once comes an out-of-this-world adventure where magic and reality collide!

K2 O’Hero is a seemingly ordinary boy—after all, he and his twin sister, Izzabird, have been sworn to keep their family’s Magical history a secret. Not even their infuriating stepsiblings, Theo and Mabel, know that Magic exists. They believe K2 to be the most hopeless person they have ever known.

But K2 has a secret gift: He draws maps of worlds that are beyond the wildest imaginations. Worlds with six hundred moons, burning rivers, and dark, twisty jungles alive with plants that hunt by the smell of fear. But what K2 doesn’t know is that the maps he draws are real .

When someone kidnaps their baby sister, Annipeck, the warring stepsiblings will have to use K2’s gift to find a crossing point into one of those worlds and embark on a daring rescue mission.

About the Author:

Cressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. She has a BA in English Literature from Oxford University, a BA in Graphic Design from St Martin’s and an MA in Narrative Illustration from Brighton. Cressida loves illustrating her own work, but also loves writing books for other people to illustrate as the end result can be so unexpected and inspiring. Cressida has written and illustrated eight books in the popular Hiccup series. The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit. A DreamWorks Animation feature film is out in March 2010. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children’s Book Prize 2006 . Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.

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Which Way to Anywhere Review:

I adored all four of the main characters. Izzabird could sometimes be irritating, but her feisty nature only added to her charm. Observing her dynamic with Theo and how it evolved throughout the story was fascinating. Alongside these central figures, there are many supporting characters and a genuinely creepy villain woven into the narrative and trust me, time flies when the story immerses you. The book also contains gorgeous illustrations that transport you into its extraordinary storyline. Nearly every other page features a breathtaking picture, and I found myself savoring them, which was the only reason it took me a bit longer to finish the book – I couldn’t help but admire the intricate details.

Moreover, the narrative is an unending whirlwind of thrilling action, delivered with a delightful touch of wit and charm. The jungle world depicted in the story felt authentically menacing and treacherous, and the enigmatic nature of many of the supporting characters added a fun element of suspense that kept me guessing. The consistent narrative voice throughout the book provided intriguing insights into the various worlds and their happenings, which I found immensely enjoyable.

The story’s interplay between magic and technology was thrilling and thought-provoking. It’s a blend that I found exceptionally captivating. Moreover, a moral quandary at the novel’s core forces readers to reevaluate their assumptions. Additionally, the book tackles themes such as adapting to a new blended family and delves into ecological and environmental issues.

From animated toothbrushes to robotic assassins, “Which Way to Anywhere” takes readers on a captivating journey that individuals of any age can enjoy.