Review by Canada Eh -- The Secret of Magic
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Canada Eh
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- Latest Review: The Secret of Magic by Natassa Louppou
Review by Canada Eh -- The Secret of Magic
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Secret of Magic" by Natassa Louppou.]
The Secret of Magic: The Forbidden Box is a delightful read. Natassa Louppou carries us along into the adventures of Tania, whom we meet as she celebrates her twelfth birthday. The date, setting the story in the here and now, leads us in. Entertaining at her birthday party is a magician who transfixes her with his magic. As she tries to unravel the secrets of his tricks, she discovers, in his suitcase, the subtitled “Forbidden Box". The objects within transport her to moments in different times and different places where she meets famous people and becomes involved in historic events.
I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. This is because of how well it defied my presumptions. Seeing the cover, I was expecting something set in a fantasy realm like Middle Earth. Finding it set firmly in our world, I was expecting something along the lines of Harry Potter. The way the author sets up her first interaction with magic had me convinced I was in a Harry Potter-like ‘parallel’ to the real world, but then she drew me into her reality and I was hooked. Following Tania along this journey, we uncover with her, through interesting people and dangerous situations, the connections between what is unfolding. That element of the unknown becoming known is what I liked the best about this book. I was invested alongside Tania to see what was going to happen.
Now it does take some pages to get to the connections. The weakest part of the book, for me, was that there was no foreshadowing that Tania was about to begin an amazing, interwoven journey. As things initially unfolded, I had the fear that these were little more than short stories, forcibly connected to create a novel. But I was charmingly mistaken.
Tania is turning twelve as this story unfolds around her and I believe it is written to appeal to a younger audience, pre or early teen. I believe young readers will be able to connect with Tania and her experiences through her adventures. Having said that though, I think it would appeal to readers of all ages. The author has a compelling eye for historic detail and accuracy that will not disappoint even the more experienced reader.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a taste for history and a taste for fantasy. This book stands out because these elements are drawn together in a way that is not 'the usual' for the fantasy genre. I look forward to more from Natassa Louppou.
******
The Secret of Magic
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Secret of Magic: The Forbidden Box is a delightful read. Natassa Louppou carries us along into the adventures of Tania, whom we meet as she celebrates her twelfth birthday. The date, setting the story in the here and now, leads us in. Entertaining at her birthday party is a magician who transfixes her with his magic. As she tries to unravel the secrets of his tricks, she discovers, in his suitcase, the subtitled “Forbidden Box". The objects within transport her to moments in different times and different places where she meets famous people and becomes involved in historic events.
I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. This is because of how well it defied my presumptions. Seeing the cover, I was expecting something set in a fantasy realm like Middle Earth. Finding it set firmly in our world, I was expecting something along the lines of Harry Potter. The way the author sets up her first interaction with magic had me convinced I was in a Harry Potter-like ‘parallel’ to the real world, but then she drew me into her reality and I was hooked. Following Tania along this journey, we uncover with her, through interesting people and dangerous situations, the connections between what is unfolding. That element of the unknown becoming known is what I liked the best about this book. I was invested alongside Tania to see what was going to happen.
Now it does take some pages to get to the connections. The weakest part of the book, for me, was that there was no foreshadowing that Tania was about to begin an amazing, interwoven journey. As things initially unfolded, I had the fear that these were little more than short stories, forcibly connected to create a novel. But I was charmingly mistaken.
Tania is turning twelve as this story unfolds around her and I believe it is written to appeal to a younger audience, pre or early teen. I believe young readers will be able to connect with Tania and her experiences through her adventures. Having said that though, I think it would appeal to readers of all ages. The author has a compelling eye for historic detail and accuracy that will not disappoint even the more experienced reader.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a taste for history and a taste for fantasy. This book stands out because these elements are drawn together in a way that is not 'the usual' for the fantasy genre. I look forward to more from Natassa Louppou.
******
The Secret of Magic
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Secret of Magic by Natassa Louppou
