The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith

Eden Smith has had a pretty tragic life. By the time she was seven, she had lost both her parents to a meteor. Spending pretty much her whole life in foster care, Eden finally gains a bit of hope when she discovers that her paternal grandfather is still alive, and even better, he’s right in her hometown of Tacoma. Filled with hope, Eden is brought to the gorgeous and strange mansion in which her grandfather and the Guildhall of Smiths reside.

There, Eden discovers a strange and secret society of elderly blacksmiths and metalworkers whose mastery is almost magical, and her grandfather, Vulcan Smith, is the best of them all. But just as Eden is settling into her new life and discovering her talent for metalworking, her grandfather disobeys the Guildhall rules and gets stripped of his smithing rights.

The only way he can regain his title is if he, or a stand in, complete the five Impossible Tasks, a series of deadly feats that require absurd amounts of bravery and courage. Eden, not wanting to lose her last existing family member, must brave the tasks if she ever wants to see her grandfather again.

The Five Impossible Tasks of Eden Smith would be great for kids ages six to twelve but it is a little bit too childish for my liking. Overall, this is an interesting book and it does a wonderful job of incorporating Eden with a detailed backstory that further grows her character in the book. This is a great book and I believe that it will truly make it far.