A Pinch of Magic (A Pinch of Magic Adventure)

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I liked that this book didn't end on a cliffhanger, and next book seems to follow a completely different story. The beautiful cover alone often inspires artwork, but add the map of the Misty Marshes and the evocative descriptions of the Poacher’s Pocket Pub, the prison on the Repent Isle and the Lament Isle, you have a lovely craft playdate. With an involved story and lyrical writing style, this isn’t an easy read for less confident readers. Loved by girls who want to adventure, light fantasy in a realistic setting – magical realism I suppose - healthy sibling rivalry, children as problem solvers and adults with feet of clay. Everyone seemed to have a criminal past, but then the whole adventure hinged on releasing a prisoner who promised them the secret of breaking the curse.

Following the publication of the latest book in the series, A Storm of Sisters, we spoke to Michelle about her enchanting stories and the books she loves. A delight of a story with family at its heart, magic covering its pages and important messages laced through its chapters.The blurb looked interesting, although I disliked all the gushing quotes from other authors included on Goodreads – which I have left out here. Also, the dedication to expanding on some minor world details is much appreciated - clever writing tricks! Fliss is the eldest and comes across as quite vain, but she has the best character development out of all of them! Michelle Harrison's magical fantasy series has been enthralling middle grade readers since the first adventure, A Pinch of Magic was published in 2019.

But for a sequel, I'm imagining a Mortal Kombat-esque fighter in which our MC fights her way up the mountain to seek revenge on her grandma. when I’ve written them into yet another sticky spot, but I know I’ll always bring the sisters – and the reader – back to a safe place.Join the Widdershins sisters and break the family curse in the first Pinch of Magic Adventure, shortlisted for the 2020 British Book Awards, selected as Waterstones Children's Book of the Month and Barnes and Noble Young Readers pick of the month, and winner of the Dutch Bronze PEN award. A spellbinding middle grade fantasy about three sisters--adventurous Betty, curious Charlie, and proper Fliss--who go on a quest to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations. Not at all predictable, the book is full of imagery and I love the way Michelle Harrison describes the feelings of Betty, Fliss and Charlie in great depth.

Their only good fortune comes in the shape of three mismatched items, handed down to them from generations of their ancestors - a carpet bag, a mermaid looking glass, and a set of dolls - and all these items come complete with a little pinch of magic. So when the girls are gifted with some family heirlooms in the shape of a mysterious travelling bag, a set of wooden dolls and an old mirror Betty decides to take matters into her own hands and seek out the knowledge of a prisoner who seems to know the answer to breaking the curse. Three sisters have to figure out how to remove a curse that has been placed on their family more than a century ago. The story uses lots of dialogue in simple structures so share reading could be adult support on the descriptive passages with the younger reader taking one character’s words. When Betty tries to use these objects to change their fate, she inadvertently puts her sisters in grave danger.In this darkly believable world of magic and myth, Betty is a likeable, funny and feisty protagonist, full of courage and determination. Her first novel, The Thirteen Treasures, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and is published in sixteen countries including the UK. Desperate for an adventure, Betty plans a secret outing to neighbouring Marshfoot on her 13th birthday, but is furious when Granny stops her. A prisoner on the island of Repent suggests that he knows how to break the curse, so the Widdershins sisters set out to defy their destiny.

The last three books I've read, including this one have all read and ended like standalones, but end up having more books as a series for no damn reason lol As much as I consider Michelle's 13 Treasures trilogy to be one of my favorites, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed in this one.There’s such a strange dynamic between siblings – you can be at each others’ throats one minute and leaping to each others’ defence the next. Every single one of her novels has had exactly the right amount of magic, character names, adventure, and imagination that I could ever want in a story.