Story Magic

August 1, 2020

Gr 4-6-Story magic is when a person tells a good story to a magical listener, and the listener does a favor for the storyteller. Listeners only do magic if they like the story. But everyone knows that girls aren't allowed to practice story magic, or bad things will happen. Kaya's older brother Hob was teaching her story magic, and he has been arrested by the guild and taken far away to Prima. Kaya knows it was her fault. She vows to make the long journey to free him, no matter the hardship. Along the way, she becomes better at magic. She also learns that not everything she has been told is true. At around 200 pages, this book is short for a fantasy novel. Gale quickly creates a fantastical world by building on what readers know of medieval cities, without adding too many magical elements. In fact, the only fantastic creatures are the "listeners" and their dangerous counterparts, the "hounds." By keeping the world simple, the author maintains focus and ensures that the story is easy for young readers to follow. VERDICT This would be a good introduction for readers who are reluctant to try the fantasy genre. Recommended.-Julie Overpeck, Gardner Park Elem. Sch., Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
Twelve-year-old Kaya sets out to rescue her older brother, imprisoned by the Story Magicians Guild. In the village of Verdan, with worldbuilding details reminiscent of a Renaissance Faire along with a few unimaginative made-up terms (dirt-doves for pigeons, for instance), olive-skinned Kaya lives with her 19-year-old brother, Hob. Hob, luckily, is apprenticed to the powerful Story Magicians Guild. It's a bit of much-needed security in an insecure world, since rumors are circulating that the listeners--magical beings who dispense favors to guild members whose stories they appreciate--are refusing to help anymore. Females are not supposed to use story magic, but Hob has taught Kaya a few basics. When Hob is arrested by the guild, Kaya believes it is her fault and determines to rescue him. While journeying to the city where Hob is imprisoned, Kaya continues to chastise herself for precipitating his capture by performing magic, but she nevertheless has no qualms about trotting out the story magic (mishmashes of standard folk/fairy tales that are tediously relayed in full) whenever obstacles occur. Between story-magic tales, the narrative trudges along, annoyingly repeating basic narrative points over and over: The city of Prima is far away; Hob is a prisoner; Kaya blames herself. While the premise of story-based magic is intriguing, the novel suffers from unimaginative worldbuilding, an inconsistent and improbably dense main character, and a flat-footed delivery. An interesting premise marred by a bumpy presentation. (Fantasy. 10-12)

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