Warriors, Warlocks and Wild Adventures: Read Our Review of The Warrior in my Wardrobe by Simon Farnaby, Illustrated by Claire Powell

Merdyn is the greatest wizard of the Dark Ages. Obviously.

Rose is his 21st-century descendent. Lucky her.

And Vanheldon the vandal warrior is FURIOUS! After all, last time they met, Merdyn turned his army to stone.

Seeking revenge, Vanheldon comes up with a way to kidnap Rose and transport her back to Dark Ages Transylvania, set on luring Merdyn into a terrible trap. Except – whoops! – his magical minion kidnaps Rose’s teenage brother Kris instead.

Rose, Merdyn and Bubbles the guinea pig must team up to save the day. But can they rescue Kris without creating historical mayhem? Will Rose’s wizard ancestor even remember her? (And want to help them?) And will Bubbles ever stop pooing?

Simon Farnaby’s The Wizard In My Shed was one of my favourite books of 2020 with its fantastical premise and cracking characters. The hilarious follow-up, Farnaby’s The Wizard in my Wardrobe, is yet another silly, heartfelt comedy of errors that is perfect for fans of David Walliams and David Baddiel.

The novel takes place in a much different setting than last time, focusing on the Dark Ages rather than the modern-day. The fresh setting gives the story a great dynamic as Rose has to navigate a foreign world, all the while trying to save her brother from the gruff, impulsive Vanheldon. Farnaby’s descriptions are perfectly complemented by Claire Powell’s bold, wacky illustrations. I especially loved seeing all the flora and fauna from the time period brought to life.

The Warrior in my Wardrobe is perfect for young history buffs aged 9+. While the story has many fantastical elements, Farnaby makes sure to include some fascinating historical information. Farnaby throws in a few phrases and terms from the time period and included little footnotes for anyone (like me) unsure of the definitions. A great learning experience for all ages.

Simon Farnaby’s The Warrior in my Wardrobe is another fantastic team up with Claire Powell that throws Rose and our favourite warlock right back into the Dark Ages. Full of humour, history and fantastic illustrations, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Buy a copy of The Warrior in my Wardrobe here.