Review Detail

Pip picks pockets to get food for himself and his sister, El. When he picks something unexpected, a mysterious box with a dried heart inside it, he and El are suddenly the most wanted people in Clarel. There's something odd about the heart, something that reeks of magic long forbidden. When the heart starts talking to Pip, he, alongside El and friends, Oni and Princess Georgette, must decide who is friend or foe and who really needs saving.

THE THREADS OF MAGIC is a fun, fast-paced middle grade fantasy with themes of friendship, found family, and making hard but right choices. Pip, El, Oni, and Georgette are all endearing main characters with exciting and creative intersecting paths. Pip and Georgette especially have completely opposite lives and personalities, but I love how they quickly became a team with a common goal.

The chapters are short and often end on cliffhangers, making this a solid pick for readers who want high action and something to keep them turning the page. The mystery of the heart and the plot among the royals is likewise compelling and engaging, often using familiar tropes but turning them on their heads a bit. The third person, omniscient point of view lends fascinating glimpses into some of the secondary characters and helps lay out the intricate plot, though it was sometimes hard to remember who was who if we didn't see their character for a while.

THE THREADS OF MAGIC is highly accessible, full of heart, and has a fun amount of sly humor for comic relief, perfect for fans of Deva Fagan and Dominique Valente.