Luna Parker and The Secret of Videntia Academy

I dreamed that someone was going to die.Not a stranger.Someone important to me.I woke up screaming... and with Christian asking whether a bat had bitten me.I told him it was only a nightmare.I lied.Because what I saw hasn’t happened yet.But it’s about to.And if I can’t stop it, it’ll be my fault.Luna Parker studies at Videntia Academy, a steampunk school in the city of Barcinova where students with the Gift use their Oculus Nova goggles to glimpse the past and help solve impossible cases. Everyone there has extraordinary abilities... Everyone except Luna.But when an impossible vision draws her into a dangerous mystery, Luna and her best friend Christian uncover hidden secrets among forgotten laboratories, strange artefacts and conspiracies capable of changing the fate of the city itself.Because at Videntia Academy, the past never stays buried for very long.Luna Parker is the new middle-grade steampunk mystery series by Eva Alton and Riccardo Braccaioli: an adventure filled with mystery, humour, fantastic technology, friendship and dangers that may come from the past... or the future.Readers say:'A magical adventure with both heart and brains'I loved how well this story is written. Luna and Christian make a wonderfully entertaining duo and draw you in from the very first pages. Perfect for younger readers and adults alike who are looking for something a little different. The book has a warm, conversational tone that makes it feel as though the story is speaking directly to you.'Fast-paced, funny and packed with mystery'The best thing about this book is how quickly the action begins. Within a few pages you’re already caught up in the investigation with Luna and Christian and you won’t want to put it down. It has everything I enjoy in this kind of story: mystery, magic and clever protagonists who aren’t afraid to break the rules. It reminded me of the books I loved as a child, the ones that made me feel as though the adventure had been written especially for me.'A magical story with meaningful themes'This was a delightful surprise. Not only does it deliver everything you would hope for from a magical middle-grade novel, but it also contains positive messages without ever becoming preachy. I particularly enjoyed seeing a strong and healthy friendship between a boy and a girl, without any forced romance. An exciting, fast-moving story set in a fascinating world that promises many more adventures to come.