Publisher: 29th September 2020 by Hachette Australia
Pages: 432 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: fantasy, fiction, children/middle grade
My Rating: 4 cups
Synopsis:
Brystal Evergreen changed the world, but the journey is just beginning...
Brystal and her friends have saved the world from the evil Snow Queen and secured worldwide acceptance for the magical community.
However, when a mysterious new witch arrives at the academy, the celebrations are cut short. As the witch begins recruiting faeries into her rival school of witchcraft, it becomes clear she has dark intentions. And soon Brystal's friend Lucy becomes embroiled in an ominous plot against mankind.
Elsewhere, the fragile peace is on the brink of shattering. Outrage has spread throughout the kingdoms in opposition to the legalization of magic. And, a dangerous and centuries-old clan known as the Righteous Brotherhood has resurfaced, with one goal in mind: to exterminate all magical life forever...starting with Brystal....
The enchanting sequel to the New York Times bestselling A Tale of Magic..., filled with brand-new adventures and a cast of memorable characters, both familiar and new.
My Thoughts
A Tale of Witchcraft is the second novel in a new series by Chris Colfer. Having heard so many positive things about his writing, I was eager to see for myself and I was not disappointed. Yes, on the surface it appears as a simple tale of good versus evil. However, aimed at a younger audience, Chris really hits the mark about feelings, particularly sad or anxious ones, and that both can be a normal part of life.
‘Happiness is difficult for me at the moment,” she confessed. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to be happy. There is so much to be grateful for, but for some reason, I can’t stop having negative thoughts about everything.’
At its heart this book is all about informing young readers that it is okay to feel down or depressed. It tackles these seemingly adult issues in a very relatable way for a younger audience. Just enough information for their ‘aha’ moment to occur. Chris’s creativity and ability to do that is impressive. To create this magical world yet make it relatable to the everyday with the inclusion of many relatable themes and morals. He hits the right balance between sharing the dark and scary moments with light and laughter.
‘Changing hearts and minds is never easy, especially our own,' Madame Weatherberry said. “Sometimes, changing how we think and feel are the most difficult transformations a person can make. It takes time and effort like nothing else. You have to discipline your thoughts before they dictate your mood. You have to control your reactions before your reactions control you.’
The plot itself had so much action and adventure, it was non stop from the start. That is great for engaging young readers. It is fun, fast paced with a great selection of relatable characters and fabulous world building. I also have to comment on the cover - simply stunning! There is even a section at the end with omitted chapter header illustrations and explanations. Here Chris explains and recalls how some were too ‘dark’ to be included for middle graders. His explanation of excluded scenes provided a fascinating insight into both his reasoning and thought process. I loved it.
‘Everything seems unfair when you measure it with the wrong tools,” Mistress Mara said. “Life isn’t supposed to be measured by time, by luck, or by privilege. Life is supposed to be measured by purpose. Everyone is born with a purpose whether they choose to believe it or not. Some are meant to learn lessons, some are meant to teach them, while others are simply meant to observe. Naturally, a lot of people resent life when their purpose isn’t easy or when it doesn’t match their hopes and dreams but no one leaves the world without completing exactly what they were meant to do. That’s the rule of life.’
The finesse of this author to cleverly portray themes such as equality, acceptance and kindness in a magical yet relatable story is a sure fire winner. Although written for middle graders, ‘children’ of all ages will both enjoy and appreciate this story. There are lessons to be learnt and it is not just for the young. A refreshing book and highly recommended for a younger audience.
‘Lucy, do you vow to always live authentically, do you promise to never compromise your potential, and do you swear to never suppress your true feelings, no matter what approval, popularity, or affection you may receive in return?’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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