Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds is a work of rare ingenuity and imagination, and readers will find it interesting to watch the lead characters as they are thrust from one challenge to another. Pulled away from their own familiar landscape and thrown into Periculum, a dangerous world peopled by all sorts of unloving creatures, Orville and Sophia will have to muster the resources they need to get back home and defend their own. The conflict in this novel is well developed, but it’s the denouement that will leave readers spellbound.

Hoffman comes across as a master in the teen fantasy genre and he successfully makes readers feel for characters who inhabit a world completely different from theirs. The language is beautiful and accessible, laced with vivid descriptions and a rare touch of humor. With unusual skill, the author builds this gripping tale around human values of friendship, loyalty, love, and courage. The plot is meticulously crafted and it moves fast, and readers will be eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. At times the narrative is hilarious, but the humor is immediately replaced by intense action which makes the story even more gripping. This is one of those books that offers a place for teens to take refuge, a cleverly wrought gem. A well written and interesting story.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds is written by Tom Hoffman who also created Bartholomew the Adventurer. And, true to form, his imagination and creativity is as delightful as it is informative. What started as Orville Mouse’s observations about the strange behavior of seven glowbirds leads to Orville and Sophia going through a spectral door into the mysterious world of Periculum, where they have to deal with the intimidating giant centipedes, among others. With Proto the Rabbiton as an ally, they both discover a past that is as terrifying as it is enlightening. And in the midst of all these exciting adventures are moral lessons aimed to inform and educate young and older readers alike. Filled with adventure and easy to read, Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds is a book that teaches without trying too hard. I highly recommend this book!

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Clockwork Glowbirds (An Orville Wellington Mouse Adventure) is another imaginative tale from Tom Hoffman, the creator of Bartholomew the Adventurer. It centers on young Orville Wellington Mouse who lives with his mum in the quiet fishing village of Muridaan Falls, Symoca. His life changes when his best friend Sophia Mouse reveals to him that she is from the planet Quintari, and a member of the Shapers Guild – a group of powerful mice who are able to convert their thoughts into physical objects.

I had read Hoffman’s other work, Bartholomew the Adventurer, so the original concept and plot as well as the quality of the writing are expected. This is another absorbing, fascinating tale of mystery, metaphysics and adventure when Orville and Sophia attempt to uncover the origin of the unusual group of seven glowbirds exhibiting rather extraordinary behavior. Soon they find themselves entangled in a wicked plot to embroil Symoca in a horrific war. The plot moves at an appropriate pace, with enough action happening to always keep the reader entertained. Despite being targeted at the younger demographics, adults would definitely enjoy this mousey tale too, particularly parents who are looking for a great book for their kids.

By the end of the story, young and adult readers alike will wish that they have the shaping ability, and this tale might even spark some interest in young minds about the world of metaphysics. This is another ingenious series from Hoffman, and it’s highly recommended to fans of the author and fellow readers who are new to his work.