Winter Reading 2015 The Maloney's Magical Weatherbox

Have you seen the movie, "The Avengers"? Not the Marvel superheroes movie, the other one - based on the 1960s TV series. There's a scene where John Steed and Emma Peele visit a place called Wonderland Weather. It is the latest thing in custom meteorology; you simply request the weather you wish to purchase and it is delivered to you through your phone line. 

The magical weatherbox in the title reminds me of that scene. Liz, Neil, and Owen live with their parents in a house that has a vintage callbox in the front yard. Although from the cover illustration, it looks as if the box has come from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" or perhaps a "Dr. Who" episode, it actually is the way in which each season is welcomed in by their father, the Weatherman. Unfortunately, someone else wants his job and has been scheming for years to get it. Everything from embezzlement, fraudulent investments, kidnapping, and cut phone lines are used to bring about this change in power. 

Neil has been trained his whole life to take his father's place, and Liz has trained to be his Shieldsman and protector. But no one is prepared for what happens when Autumn doesn't arrive and Summer seems stuck permanently. Throw in a bog beast, several witches, some eco-terrorists, and a tourist in a large lorry, and you've got quite a story.

Readers who enjoy fantasy, action, and mystery all swirled together (like a super-storm), will enjoy this book. 


I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.