Greenwild Series by Pari Thomson

 

Yesterday, I finished reading the Greewild series by Pari Thomson. This fantasy series is about Daisy Thistledown, an eleven-year-old girl whose mother has been keeping big secrets as they travel the world for Ma's journalism career. In the first book, The World Beyond the Door, Daisy is left in the care of a boarding school in London when Ma goes on a trip to Peru for a dangerous job. After Ma mysteriously disappears, Daisy is on the run from Mr. Craven, Ma's new editor who is determined to stop her from learning the truth about her mom. When she goes through a mysterious hidden doorway at Kew Gardens seeking safety, she finds herself in Mallowmarsh, a community in the Greenwild. As Daisy spends time in this land of green magic, she discovers that Artemis White, the commander and head mallow, may have information about what happened to Ma and that someone wants to destroy the Greenwild. While learning the truth about who she is, Daisy befriends Indigo, the Prof, Acorn, and a vain cat named Napoleon to save the Greenwild. In the second book, The City Beyond the Sea, Daisy and her friends desperately leave the safety of Mallowmarsh to join the expedition to find Daisy's mom and the other missing Botanists. Pursued by the dangerous Grim Reapers and seeking Iffenwild, the legendary capital of the Marindeep, for help fighting their enemies, they end up with the Nautilus Theatre Company, a group of Moon Travelers that can travel between pockets of the Greenwild and the Marindeep. Daisy also meets Max, a twelve-year-old boy who is on the run from a man named Jarndyce. They hate each other at first but grow closer as it becomes clear that Iffenwild is also in danger. In the third and final book, The Forest in the Sky, Daisy, Max, the Prof, Indigo, Acorn, and Napoleon finally go on the long journey to Amazeria, a Greenwild community in South America, for aid in finding the Botanists, including Daisy's mom. Although they are split up on the rescue mission, they learn more about the Reaper King and must prepare for a great battle.

I enjoyed this series so much because it reminded me a little of the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, especially The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The world-building was breathtakingly wonderful and it made me wish that green and blue magic were real. I especially loved the protagonists, their friendships, and how they would do anything for each other. All of them were courageous in their own ways, but Daisy, Max, and Napoleon were definitely my favorites. This series was also a roller coaster ride. There were so many twists and turns, especially in the second and third books, but I loved the battle scenes, even when I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Daisy and her friends would be able to save the Greenwild and the Marindeep. The only thing that didn't quite sit right with me was the reveal of the Reaper King's identity. It didn't make sense to me because I feel like it left some plot holes and the foreshadowing was a bit lacking. I'm not sure who else it could have been, though. I think the end was bittersweet, as well, with the characters that died during the final battle. I had grown fond of them. Although I knew that not everyone could survive, it made me super sad, even though the reunions were heartwarming. All in all, the Greenwild series is an enchanting choice for anyone who loves fantasy.