Thomas Anderson. Editor In Chief. Literary Titan.

Alice and Agapogo: A Tale of Two Worlds follows Alice, a brave and stubborn girl hiding from the witch Matilda, as she escapes into a mysterious Underworld with her two loyal dogs, Bella and Lola. What begins as a flight for safety turns into a much larger adventure involving the Sanctuary, ancient Miners, prophecies, betrayal, a talking Cricket, and the dragon-like Agapogo, who becomes both protector and friend. It’s a big, imaginative children’s fantasy with danger, loyalty, courage, and a strong sense that a child can matter deeply in the struggle against darkness.

I found myself most drawn to Alice herself. She’s not a neat, perfectly behaved heroine, and I liked that. She makes risky choices, argues with fear, gets things wrong, and keeps going anyway. Her bond with the dogs gives the story its warmest heartbeat. Those moments where Bella and Lola protect her, sit beside her, or silently understand what she needs felt tender in a way that grounded all the magic. I also appreciated that the book doesn’t treat children as fragile observers. Alice is scared, but she’s also capable, observant, and morally awake.

At times the story’s rhythm feels almost like an oral tale being told around a fire, with direct sentences, repeated thoughts, sudden turns, and a strong forward pull. That gives the book urgency and a handmade charm. I did occasionally feel the story was crowded, with so many characters, attacks, plans, prophecies, and revelations that some emotional beats could’ve used more room. Still, the ideas stayed with me: chosen courage, the cost of betrayal, the possibility of repentance, and the way old stories can become real when a child is brave enough to step into them.

I thought this was an ambitious and heartfelt fantasy with a dark edge and a surprisingly emotional core. This is an exciting story overall, with witches, danger, pursuit, and some intense scenes. I can see it captivating confident middle-grade readers who like dragons, hidden worlds, loyal animals, and children who outthink adults. I’d recommend it for families who enjoy adventurous fantasy with danger, mystery, and a sincere belief in courage.