My Review: Ashley Thorpe weaves a magic system grown out of Caribbean folklore and myth with history in this fast-paced, warm-hearted fantasy adventure story. The three child heroes are very relatable and the villains chilling yet still sympathetic (which can often make villains even more difficult to vanquish, as our heroine Evie discovers). I was swept along by the fantastical story but also started researching elements of it when I realised how rooted in folklore and history the story is. The storytelling is exciting and the many magical battle scenes were vividly visually described, which was vital when there was so much going on.

Suggested For: Fantasy fans who like their adventure stories rooted in folklore or myth

If You Like This You Might Enjoy: Iyanu: Child of Wonder by Roye Okupe & Godwin Akpan (comic, series), City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura (series), Aruh Shah & the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (series), Cameron Battle & the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry (series), Peregrine Quinn & the Cosmic Realm by Ash Bond (series), The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle (series), Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (series),

Blurb: When her island home is overrun by evil spirits, Evie is saved only by the powerful gemstone her parents entrusted to her. Her best friend Arthur is not so lucky – caught in the magical crossfire, he finds himself in the body of a cat.

On a mission to return him to his body and defeat the ghouls, Evie and Arthur team up with Cai, a trainee shaman, who helps them discover the truth. The terrifying Blackheart Man is plotting to steal the island’s four magical gemstones and use their power to destroy the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. It will take all of Evie’s magic, Cai’s bravery and Arthur’s talent for thievery to stop him.

Thanks to Usborne Books for the review copy via NetGalley.