Rival Magic

January 1, 2020
Rival apprentice wizards join forces when their teacher is accused of treason and their island is threatened. Twelve-year-old Antonia lives on the island of Medasia and dreams of becoming a wizard. Currently studying magic with Master Betrys, Antonia has a brilliant command of the technical aspects of wizardry, but her innate magical power is limited. Then Moppe, also 12, an uneducated girl with "olive skin...a shade darker" than Antonia's, arrives as under-cook. Barely able to read, Moppe's a powerful, untrained magical prodigy who instantly becomes Master Betrys' newest apprentice and Antonia's rival. When rebels seek to find the lost crown of Medasia and liberate the island, Antonia's politically powerful mother orders her to find the crown first or forget her magical studies. After Master Betrys is arrested on suspicion of supporting the rebels, her rival apprentices use Antonia's magical knowledge and Moppe's magical power to search for the crown, hoping to clear their teacher's name. Surviving the Forest of Silent Fears, outwitting the voice-stealing Speakthief, and deposing a warmongering mermaid, Antonia and Moppe recover the lost crown only to face a shocking betrayal, testing their newly forged friendship. Antonia's lively first-person narration lends immediacy and suspense to this compelling, complex adventure filled with capable, fully dimensional, brown-skinned women. Clever, fast-paced fantasy punctuated with surprising twists and plenty of girl power. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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April 1, 2020

Gr 3-7-Antonia is a 12-year-old apprentice to the sorcerer Master Betrys; she works hard, but is by no means the best wizard. One day, Moppe, the scullery maid, catches Antonia practicing magic. Moppe shows off her own skills and proves that she is better. Moppe is instantly made a second apprentice-and Antonia's rival. Soon after, rebellion strikes on their island of Medasia, and Master Betrys and the girls are accused of treason. Antonia and Moppe escape, and must work together to overcome both their personal differences and dangerous obstacles as they search for the mysterious crown of ancient Queen Meda to prove their innocence. This is a fun tale about two powerful girls who don't get along, but put their differences aside to accomplish a common goal. VERDICT A fast-paced and pleasant magical read that proves that the power of friendship can help overcome many challenges. A strong choice for middle grade readers who enjoy adventure, fantasy, and enemies-to-friends tales.-Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2020
Grades 4-7 With only two weeks left of her apprenticeship under Master Betrys, Antonia is still struggling to master basic spells, despite her excellent understanding of magical theory. Worse, the new undercook, Moppe, has extraordinary powers of her own, so Master Betrys takes her on as a second apprentice. The two girls seem destined for rivalry, but when the fate of the warring kingdom falls into their hands, they must learn from each other and work together to restore peace to their beloved land. Fagan establishes a warm, complicated world where magic is an accepted part of life?there are sorcerers, merfolk, and sea serpents?though wielded by only a few. As the girls' relationship shifts from wary rivals to begrudging allies and then to something much deeper, the intriguing story throws in enough twists to keep readers on their toes. A gorgeous fairy tale that touches on the benefits of cooperation and the beauty of discovering one's own particular brand of magic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)