Name: A Pinch of Magic
ISBN: 9780358193319

Michelle Harrison

A spellbinding middle grade fantasy about three sisters--adventurous Betty, curious Charlie, and proper Fliss--who go on a quest to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations. All Betty Widdershins wants is an adventure--one that takes her far away from Crowstone, the gloomy island where she's always lived. But instead of an adventure, Betty and her sisters, Fliss and Charlie, are given of a set of magical objects, each with its own powers: a scruffy carpet bag, a set of wooden nesting dolls, and a gilt-framed mirror. And these magical objects come with their own terrible secret: the sisters' family is haunted by a generations-long curse that prevents them from ever leaving their island--at the cost of death. The sisters set out to break the curse and free their family forever. But after stumbling upon a mysterious prisoner who claims to be able to help them, they find themselves in great danger. And in order to break the curse--and stay alive--they must unravel a mystery that goes back centuries, one that involves shipwrecks, smugglers, and sorcery of the most perilous kind.

A Pinch of Magic

The beginning was a bit slow, but the story is amazing!

Ana V. 

Very interesting almost creepy, weird feeling. I loved that the three sisters decide to break their curse.

Laura Nisioiu

Really enjoyed this middle grade 🎈The personalities of the three sisters were delightful, Charlie’s was by far my favorite. She was like an old lady trapped in a small body, that only lived for food and pets.

Jennifer

Cozy and spellbinding, A Pinch of Magic is a tale about three sisters, their family secrets, and ultimately the art of letting go of lifelong grudges. It's what a good middle grade fantasy book should look like: engaging writing, easy to understand magic, and a solid central messaging.


  "A pale red moon had appeared in the sky yesterday, which had set all the warders' tongues wagging. The moon being visible in daylight was a bad omen at any time, but a red moon was worse still."


So!! I love Harrison's prose!! It's easy to understand and it also employs a lot of clever literary techniques that enhances the storytelling. For example the way the imageries are described in the book goes hand in hand with what could come up next in the plot. This type of clever foreshadowing redeems A Pinch of Magic pretty hard to put down. 


  "Magic was a living entity, like hope. Neither had a place in this stony tomb."


One pitfall I've seen in many fantasy books is when the characters don't have to face consequences of the magic that they have used. Fortunately A Pinch of Magic didn't fall prey to this very common fantasy trap. At a moral level, the way the magic is used in this book conveys a solid messaging that we shouldn't misuse the power that we have and that we have ot be responsible of our actions. Another thing I liked about the fantasy elements is the way the magic goes hand in hand with the emotional state & experience of the characters.


  "It was a past only they remembered; a secret only they shared. One which had forged their future."


A good story is not complete without a strong central messaging. This is ultimately a story of letting go of the past and the journey of forgiveness. The life lesson that lifelong grudges have long term negative impacts: both to yourself and to people you care about. That the art of letting go is ultimately the remedy of renewal, to reclaim energy for more positive & productive things ahead of you. This is what makes A Pinch of Magic a cozy read. Despite the darkness, the glimpse of letting to is heartwarming to read about!

To sum it up, A Pinch of Magic is a wonderful middle grade fiction that's rich with valuable life lessons and engaging storytelling. While I didn't have the opportunities to learn about Fliss and Charlie in depth (as much as Betty), I would certainly hope to read more about them in the future installments!!

N.B. This novel contains following content warnings: grief / loss of loved ones, death, abandonment, accidents (falling), and separation

Marlena Lang

This book was such a fun ride. The Widdershins sister's were loveable and fun to follow. I found the whole premise to be interesting and it kept me on my toes. I love the sisterly love involved in this book. I can't wait to read the next adventure these sisters go on.

'A SPELLBINDING STORY, STEEPED IN MAGIC. I ADORED IT' - Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song Three sisters trapped by an ancient curse. Three magical objects with the power to change their fate. Will they be enough to break the curse? Or will they lead the sisters even deeper into danger? ... The enchanting new story from Michelle Harrison, author of the bestselling THIRTEEN TREASURES trilogy Praise for A PINCH OF MAGIC: 'BRILLIANT' Emma Carroll, author of Letters From The Lighthouse 'This delightful tale fizzes with magic and races along at a fantastic pace. This book completely charmed my socks off!' Alex Bell, author of The Polar Bear Explorers' Club 'Simply phenomenal! A breathtaking quest for survival and freedom, bursting with brave heroines, enchanted objects and deadly dangers. And at its heart is a powerful and beautiful message of sisterly love and loyalty overcoming jealousy and betrayal' Sophie Anderson, author of The House With Chicken Legs 'What a glorious book this is! I was utterly captivated by the Widdershins sisters' Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy 'Take three sisters, add the cruelest of curses and a pinch of magic, and you'll have a tantalising tale you cannot put down' Tamsyn Murray, author of Completely Cassidy 'Gutsy and rude, full of warts-and-all family love, Harrison's latest has the wry enchantment of an E Nesbit classic'Guardian 'A fabulous magical adventure' Sunday Express 'Fantasy and adventure appear on every page of this spellbinding tale'The Daily Mail

Candyce Kirk

Kirsty

4.5 - I loved this book so much! The complexity of the story was mind blowing and each of the characters is so strong and powerful. Charlie is my favourite!

Kendra Jones

This story follows the three Widdershin sisters, Betty, Fliss and Charlie, as they go on an adventure to break their family curse. 150 years ago, the Widdershin girls were cursed to never be able to leave the island of Crowstone, else they die at sunset. They were also gifted with three magical items that are passed down to each Widdershin girl. Betty, a practical girl who just wants to go on an adventure outside of their small island, finds out about this curse and makes it her mission to break it. Shenanigans ensue after the three girls try to break someone out of prison using these magical items.
Betty, Fliss and Charlie are wonderful characters, full of personality, flaws and courage. Each girl is distinct and brilliant in her own right, as well as in the group. Granny, whom they live with, is not nearly as developed as the girls, but only because she didn't have as much page time as they did. I'm sure that in future books we will find out more about her than her being a drinker, smoker and protective grandma.
I loved the relationships that the girls had with each other, as well as one of the side characters, Colton. I liked how it changed with the girls' character development, altering as they learn more about themselves, each other, and their history.
The atmosphere and intrigue were so good! I liked how Michelle described the settings, and had me on the edge of my seat for the second half of the book - I didn't know whether everything would turn out alright for the girls in the end.

Hannah Alexander 

this was just what i needed after reading my last book. it was magicly, funny and had a great a sister bond while also having a little bit of love and romance. 3 sisters with a family and their adaventure to find a cure for it all. Best for a fall night with a cup of coffee.

Nickie Mohler

This book is about three sisters that are cursed. They have to find a way to break the curse. 

I liked this one . The characters are great, and I love a good curse story.

If you like middlegrade, you should read this.

Elizabeth Hisserich

I’m a sucker for middle grade about sisters. 

Adrianna Giunta

This was a really fun and lighthearted read. I loved the relationship between the sisters and the magic system. I definitely want to read the rest of the series, this book flew by!

Renee Delcourt

It's rare when I read a book and I think not only is it an amazing read, but that it's a read all ages would love. This is one of those jems. This book is highly engaging and riveting. It has strong family bonds and beautiful magic. It's easily accessible for young children to read and love but complex enough for adults to find endearing, unique and transporting. I highly highly recommend this as a family read aloud book or as an audiobook that a family could listen to on a road trip together since the shared experience will add to this story.

Paulina R.

Insiya Ghadiali

This was such a cute Middle grade book with a beautiful cover!

I loved the themes of sisterhood and family! The book was so atmospheric and beautifully written. The pacing was amazing! I really enjoyed reading it.

Betty is an amazingly all rounded character. I love how intelligent she is. I also really liked Fliss and Charlie was simply adorable!

I would have loved an much more in depth explanation of the magical items. But other than that I really enjoyed the book!

Sarah Willhite

Betty Widdershins and her two sisters live with their bad-tempered Granny in the Poacher's Pocket, a rowdy, tumbledown inn on the dismal island of Crowstone. Desperate for an adventure, Betty plans a secret outing to neighbouring Marshfoot on her 13th birthday, but is furious when Granny stops her.
꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁
𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔! 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜! 𝙷𝚎𝚌𝚔, 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢!! 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝!!
꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁꧁
𝙸 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚗! 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝!! 𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜!

Melea Mullican

I really enjoyed this book, but I think the hype got to me a little. I loved the relationships with the sisters, and I enjoyed the way Sorsha's tale was woven into the book. The plot was fun, but there were a lot of points where I felt like things didn't make sense or would have to go back and reread pages because it seemed like a character vanished or appeared in the scene out of no where (not literally in the book, just one minute the weren't mentioned and the next they were, etc.)

Overall, it was a fun middle grade and I'll be moving on to book 2.

Kerri McDonald

We kicked off the year with a pretty amazing pick! A Pinch of Magic follows the Widdershins sisters, Betty, Charlie, and Fliss. Betty wants to explore the world beyond their small town, but her grandmother has strictly forbidden it. Through a series a misadventures, Betty finds out why: all Widdershins are curse to die if they ever leave their town of Crowstone. Now Betty and her sisters are determined to find a way to counteract this curse and they are racing against the clock.

This was a lot of fun to read and, I have to say, much darker than the cover would lead you to believe! Which I kind of loved, if I’m being honest. I had a lot of fun following the Widdershins on their spooky adventure. There were moments where Betty could get under my skin. She’s headstrong and makes some rather impulsive decisions. I had to remind myself constantly that we all do dumb stuff at that age… though maybe not so life-threatening.

Overall, I loved getting to know all three of the sisters and I really enjoyed the story. The pacing was great, the atmosphere was wonderfully developed, and it had a very satisfying ending. It’s a strong start to a middle grade series and I’m definitely interested in reading more about the Widdershins!

Krystal Campbell 

I read this for Gav's Middle grade readathon (believathon) on his recommendation. 

This is an excellent book with sisterly bonds, a sense of adventure and of course the best part a curse that need to be broken. Although it is written for middle grade readers it is one of those stories even adults would enjoy. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN

There was nothing about this book I didn't like.

Eilidh 

7/10

Not a favourite but a good book in all. I liked the Widdershins sisters and found them very respectable and realistic (I have two younger sisters). The overall book was great as were many elements but many elements weren't so good. 
It took me six months to finally read this book as it never really interested me and still doesn't so I won't be continuing the Widdershins sisters adventures.

Megan

so magical, whimsical and special. https://youtu.be/1bfLLLLLeog

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

3.5
This was a good story and it felt like the danger was real. But I was expecting to be a bit more whimsical. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high because of the hype around it, because I can objectively understand why so many people love this and I would still recommend.

Manon van Heumen

Lisa Beasley

This was really good. I really liked the characters and the plot was pretty solid too. I definitely think this was a great magical read and kids of any age would get something out of this.