In a realm of Dwarfs and a network of Magical Gateways, our hero Himple and his best friend Barnaby struggle at the Dwarf Training Academy. Barnaby should have left years ago but isn't the brightest dwarf. Himple is top of the class in mythical creatures and gateway lessons, but he lacks interest in the other subjects. This is only made worse by the Axe Master Master Grimtrunk, a teacher who really dislikes Himple.




When Himple's Axe Master's daughter accidentally gets lost in a gateway, twelve teams of teachers and staff have to enter the twelve gateways to rescue her. Short on numbers, Himple and Barnaby are surprisingly chosen to join Axe Master Grimtrunk and the hysterical accident-prone groundsman Podwick on what ends up being the correct gateway and an adventure of a lifetime.




Himple must use all his training and knowledge to navigate a volcanic land ruled by Trolls. We will learn the values of friendship, kindness and bravery as the group bonds as they try to both rescue Grimtrunk's daughter and then return home. We learn about a Buggane a magical creature that is normally very dangerous, it's a cross between a bear and a mole but larger than a rhino!




The team will encounter a fantastic Dragon, chupacabras, harpies, and treacherous and sometimes funny trolls.




In this, the first book in the series Mark Stubbs, the author has created not only a fantastic new world for children to enjoy but an introduction to fantasy and the kinds of friendships we have seen with Frodo and Sam and Harry and Ron. Want to get kids into reading? This ticks all the boxes with lots of colour illustrations, and shorter chapters with lots of cliffhangers to draw them in, ideal for middle-grade(KS2) readers.