Item: The Magician's Daughter
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by H. G. Parry

A WORLD OF WONDER AND MIRACLES UNFURLS IN THIS TIMELESS COMING-OF-AGE FANTASY

'That most rare and precious thing: a brand-new classic, both wholly original and wonderfully nostalgic. It's an absolute treasure' Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Off the coast of Ireland sits a legendary island hidden by magic. A place of ruins and ancient trees, sea-salt air and fairy lore, Hy-Brasil is the only home Biddy has ever known. Washed up on its shore as a baby, Biddy lives a quiet life with her guardian, the mercurial magician Rowan. A life she finds increasingly stifling.

One night, Rowan fails to return from his mysterious travels. To find him, Biddy must venture into the outside world for the first time. But Rowan has powerful enemies-forces who have hoarded the world's magic and have set their sights on the magician's many secrets.

Biddy may be the key to stopping them. Yet the closer she gets to answers, the more she questions everything she's ever believed about Rowan, her past, and the nature of magic itself.

'A book to be absolutely devoured' Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong

'Draws you in and make you believe that magic does exist. I absolutely adored it!' Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

'An enchantment of a novel. A coming-of-age story teeming with magic, with characters striving to change an unjust world . . . this is a book to be savoured' E. J. Beaton, author of The Councillor

Book Summary:

The magic of the world is dying. Or rather, it's receding. Some people, like Rowan, have been fighting hard to ensure what remains is evenly spread around – as even those without the ability to wield grand powers still need a bit of magic.

Unfortunately, he's one of the few that thinks this way. The rest are eager to hoard away the magic, which may be strangling the world even further. This is the struggle that little Biddy has grown up in, and she may just be the solution to the problem.

My Review:

If you're looking for a magical read with lots of danger, magical politics, and familiars, this book is for you! But really, The Magician's Daughter caught my attention because of the core premise (hidden away on a magical island and all that). Everything else was icing on the cake.

There were parts I adored about The Magician's Daughter. That said, this book also has some pretty dark implications, so consider yourself warned. Admittedly, I did have trouble focusing on certain parts here and there, but overall The Magician's Daughter is a fantastic read (see what I did there?).

While I did really enjoy The Magician's Daughter, I can't help but wish that I had found this book when I was a bit younger. Young(er) me would have been absolutely enchanted by this novel. I know she would have found a role model in Biddy.

Highlights:
Magical world
Historical Fantasy
Familiars

Trigger Warnings:
Animal/Familiar Death
Magic Hunting
Orphanages

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The Magician's Daughter

by H. G. Parry

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jun 1, 2023

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