Secondhand Charm

by Julie Berry

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms—no more than trinkets when worn by others—are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's apprentice. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the young king's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .

• ISBN10: 1599905116
• ISBN13: 9781599905112
• Publish Date: 12 October 2010
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 27 July 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
• Imprint: Bloomsbury Childrens Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 342
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

This is a really sweet book that's easy to enjoy. I liked Evie almost immediately which made it easy to like the story even when there were those times it didn't go fast enough for me. For the most part I really liked the story and I really liked the characters, which is why those stretches where Evie is left to her internal monologue weren't as interesting for me. I wanted something to happen and for her to be interacting more than observing. But those were just moments and then it would pick back up again and it was fun.

I loved that this is a unique world [author:Julie Berry] has created. Evie evolves very well as a character and her powers are interesting and different. Annalise rang false for me, which worked but I would still have liked to have seen more depth in her character - the dissonance between genuinely caring for Evie and everything else she had going on. Aidan is easy to like, even when he's being daft and I was surprised and delighted by the secondary characters.

I would say that I wanted a little more in the end, but I actually think Berry ended it well and I love her last line because it's funny and sweet and kind of perfect.

This story makes me want to reread [book:The Amaranth Enchantment] and give it a second chance.