annieb123's Review of Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists)

by Carolyn Leiloglou

A house full of paintings, a missing sister, and a family secret send a boy and his cousin into a world where art is the key in this fantasy adventure perfect for fans of The Wingfeather Saga and Pages & Co.

“A delightful adventure, excellent for reading aloud. This book will make you want to study Van Gogh and get out the paintbrushes!”—Sarah Mackenzie, founder and host of Read-Aloud Revival® and author of The Read-Aloud Family

WINNER OF THE SELAH AWARD • FINALIST FOR THE ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD

After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent’s plan is to stay glued to his phone.

That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world’s most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from him: Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.

With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Beneath the Swirling Sky is the first book in the Restorationists middle grade fantasy series by Carolyn Leiloglou. Released 12th Sept 2023 by WaterBrook & Multnomah, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

The author does a good job of blending magic and fantasy with real life art and history. Restorationists are able to travel into (and through) paintings, and affect the things they find there. It's a well written and engaging middle grade book, and as such, there are some plot elements which most adults will probably question, such as Uncle Leo letting the kids go haring off to rescue Lili themselves, but these moments are relatively few. The world building and fantasy elements (traveling into paintings, the shadow organizations, and the characters themselves) are quite intricately detailed and fascinating.

The incidental art, by Vivienne To is beautifully rendered and adds a lot to the read.

The publisher is a Christian imprint, and there are elements of Christian faith in the story, but they don't overpower the story and there is little proselytizing (but the elements are there).

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Reading updates

10 May, 2024: Started reading

10 May, 2024: Finished reading

10 May, 2024: Reviewed