I was looking for a book that would keep me reading like I did with Harry Potter. This book did that for me. It was a page turner that I couldn't stop reading. It took 3 days because I had to make myself stop reading it and go to bed at night so I could work in the morning. Rye is a character I could relate to. She was growing up with just her mom and her little sister. She was a little clumsy and was afraid to do things. She wasn't a character that could do everything and had no fear. She was a real 11 year old girl that was just trying to follow her mother's rules while still rebelling a little. She has her best friends, Quin and Folly, who stand by her side as well as challenge her. This book has adventure, mystery, things that aren't what they seem to be, and family. This book is my new favorite of 2021 and I know I will be reading the series as well as rereading it. ( )

What an adorable creepy book! ( )

The Luck Uglies is the first book of a planned trilogy. Good thing too, because about 60% through the book, I realized that the world Riley (Rye) lived in was too big and interesting to have only one book. As a result, I had to look up whether the book was part of a series.
I also grew fond of Truitt, a boy around Rye's age who helps her with some of her more dire situations. I felt that he could be fleshed out a lot more and am looking forward to seeing more of him in the upcoming books. They could potentially form a very wonderful friendship.
Rye has two close friends already-Quinn and Folly. I have a small thing against main characters that already have close friends at the start of the story, but I can live with it. They weren't unlikeable. And they had strengths that Rye was lacking which made them useful to the plot.
There were one or two mysteries that Rye could have figured out earlier, but it didn't take away from how likeable her character was. She figured things out in time, which made the story move quickly. And the book did move quickly. I breezed through it compared to the last book I read which I couldn't wait to finish.
Around the climax, some scenes, or maybe it was the writing, felt a little awkward. I can't remember any specific examples so maybe they weren't that big of a deal.
This book also has several funny moments that made me chuckle.
The man nicknamed Harmless is so charismatic. His character design just adds to that charm.
And that cover art is my favorite style of art-soft colors, not too loud. There's more art inside the book at the beginning of each chapter.
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In my mind, exploring new worlds is the best part of reading. Imagine my excitement when The Luck Uglies transported me to the Village Drowning and gave me enough rich backstory to fully immerse myself there. I was dropped into a world where magic and mischief rule the day. Where dark things lurk in the shadows. A story where a brave heart means everything. Needless to say, I adored my trip to Drowning. I honestly can't wait to go back.

Rye O'Chanter is a wonderful main character. She's brave and resourceful. The type of young girl who readers of all ages will easily fall in love with. In fact, Durham writes a whole cast of characters who are fully formed. From the dastardly regent of the land, to the blind boy who becomes Rye's ally, each one of them were beautifully done. It's not hard to fall into step with them. I had a lot of fun getting to know these characters.

The story is where this first book suffered a little bit. As I said, the world is large and the characters vivid. It takes a lot of descriptive writing to get them to that point. While there was definitely a fair amount of forward movement in this, and some moments of action-packed goodness, there were big portions of explanations. In my case, it didn't really phase me too much. I love getting to know more about the people and places in my books. Just giving a warning to those of you who might feel that things are a bit slow. Keep going! By the end I promise you'll be extremely eager for more.

Last month was a tough reading month, and this book helped immensely with getting me out of that slump. It was just so much fun to read! I'm thrilled that The Luck Uglies was only the first installment, and that Rye O'Chanter will be back for more adventures. I can't wait to go back to the Village Drowning. ( )

Strange things are happening in Village Drowning, and a terrifying encounter has eleven-year-old Rye O'Chanter convinced that the monstrous, supposedly extinct Bog Noblins have returned. Now Rye's only hope is an exiled secret society so notorious its name can't be spoken aloud: the Luck Uglies. As Rye dives into Village Drowning's maze of secrets, rules, and lies, she'll discover the truth behind the village's legends of outlaws and beasts . . . and that it may take a villain to save them from the monsters.
The first in an irresistible fantasy adventure trilogy that The Peculiar author Stefan Bachmann hailed as "an action-packed adventure with heroes you'll root for and baddies you'll hiss at . . . funny and magical," The Luck Uglies overflows with secrets, friendship, and heart—and is imbued throughout with the magic of storytelling.