The Lion of LarkHayes Manor, Aubrey Hartman
The Lion of LarkHayes Manor, Aubrey Hartman
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor

Author: Aubrey Hartman

Narrator: Eva Kaminsky

Unabridged: 7 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/02/2023


Synopsis

A charming middle-grade novel about old magic, new adventures, a winged lion learning to roar, and a young girl fighting to be heard—perfect for fans of classics like The NeverEnding Story.
 
Poppy Woodlock believes in magic, but so far, she hasn’t found any. It’s been two weeks since her parents moved their family to Oregon to undertake their biggest project yet: revitalizing the once-grand Lark-Hayes Manor. Her older brother instantly found his place, but after being thrown into middle school midyear, Poppy is feeling…invisible. So she retreats to where she’s always felt most at home: books and magic. And if the fantastic and supernatural exist, certainly they can be found in this mysterious old estate.
 
A late-night prowl leads Poppy to a desperate water nymph, with whom she strikes a dangerous bargain. In exchange for the thing she loves most—her favorite book— Poppy now has the secret of a lifetime: her very own flying lion. Sampson is exactly what she needs to prove magic does exist and, more importantly, that she is not to be so easily dismissed.
 
But the cost of ancient magic is astronomic. With every night Sampson grows, another book disappears, and Poppy soon faces the harrowing reality that without their favorite stories, the lives of everyone around her begin to unravel.
 
Fixing the chaos will require Poppy to be clever and bold, and even at her smartest and loudest, she’s not sure it will be enough. But she has to try.
 
 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lauren on May 17, 2023

I read this book much quicker than I do most. It was hard to put down, often went in different directions than I expected, and kept me wondering how it would end. It is chock full of metaphors and similes that made me pause to digest. I felt the author's sincerity in the message behind the story thr......more

Goodreads review by Meg on February 17, 2023

This story is a delightful fantasy about a book lover who makes a proverbial "deal with the devil" and learns the eternal lesson that such deals are always a trick. I love the author's voice and felt Poppy's struggles to try to correct her horrible mistake. Of course, any book lover will enjoy the i......more

Goodreads review by Sierra on May 31, 2023

Thrilled by this gem of a book. The best of YA literature. Writing as good as the cover art. A character as dear as Francie Nolan. A lion as brave as Aslan. The best author’s note I’ve ever read. An absolute winner, and a true delight.......more

Goodreads review by Kenzie on June 08, 2023

I loved this book, I'd say around a 4.5-5. It has a great lesson for adults and kids, and it really shows that book are a huge part of our lives. The whole book I was wondering how the conflict will end up being resolved. Many authors mess up the ending or leave it on cliff-hangers. This book impres......more

Goodreads review by Sirah on July 13, 2023

Poppy's family has moved around restoring old buildings for as long as Poppy has been alive, but this is the first move where she hasn't immediately been able to make friends. She turns to her favorite books, as usual, but when she saves a nymph on the construction site, she realizes that magic isn'......more


Quotes

"The Lion of Lark-Hays Manor is a page-turning novel about an unlikely friendship, the price of granted wishes, and finding one’s voice. A magical adventure that reminds us of the power of stories."—Lynne Kelly, author of Song For a Whale

"A book for all of us about learning to speak—and also to listen to every voice, even the soundless."—Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award winner