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City of Stolen Magic

City of Stolen Magic

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This is a charming and delightful children's book , I loved howit was full of family and friendship, with such a beautiful mother daughter relationship. I also appreciated the emphasis on colonialism and the British Empire affect and injustices they imposed. So refreshing to read the truth and hopefully many more to follow Chompa is certain that she is ready to perform finger magic. But her mother keeps insisting that it’s not safe and that she should focus on learning charm writing. Even though we’re supposed to root against the antagonist from the start simply because he’s British, it takes quite a long time before he actually starts to feel like a proper antagonist. When the story shifts to Tipu’s point of view, the transition feels a bit awkward. And it also feels like the story incorporated one or two ideas too many. Less is more in this case. With more focus on fewer ideas, those core ideas would have stood out more.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads

I also really enjoyed the way magic was handled in this, the pull for Chompa between Ammi's traditional writing magic and her seemingly more powerful "finger magic" was compelling and helped add to Chompa's character arc. It is 1855 and the magic which was widely practised in India is being rapidly eradicated under British rule. Chompa’s mother, Ammi, is an expert in writing magic, but Chompa finds it slow and laborious, and much prefers the immediacy of finger magic, which comes easily to her. However, I found it challenging to connect with the main character, Chompa. The story is narrated from the perspectives of both Chompa and Tipu, and Tipu's story is more engaging. There's also a twist that was quite predictable. This was a glorious adventure, not difficult for a reader unfamiliar with this history to grasp. And so vividly realised with a strong voice, especially Chompa’s. More writers of colour are being added to the GCSE and A-level syllabus in England following pressure from students and campaigners. But how are these texts chosen, and what barriers remain to them being studied? This is how OCR and Pearson rose to the challenge.A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets and colonial history . . . An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don't see often enough' - Rashmi Sirdeshpande

City of Stolen Magic (Paperback) - Waterstones City of Stolen Magic (Paperback) - Waterstones

An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling' - Nizrana Farook Chompa is a flawed but relatable character, particularly for children, she is impulsive (as children tend to be) and this impulsivity does lead to negative consequences that she then works tirelssly to fix, even when the adults around her seem to think it impossible. Chompa her determination and resourcefulness to her advantage and making sacrifices to help others.The author does an incredible job of weaving Indian Culture with magic. Is such a good story to introduce white children to Indian culture. Or even just show Indian children that they are represented and seen. I’m a white reader, and I learnt too much about my friends culture just from reading this book. I sent one of the paragraphs where Chompa talks about how unseasoned the British food was to one of those friends and we had a good laugh because that’s a little joke between us about how bland white food is. A thoroughly engaging & entertaining new fantasy series introduces us to the strong female lead in Chompa, a young girl growing up in colonial India with her mother. She’s able to do magic with her fingers but her mother is trying to get her to stop & use the art of written magic as finger magic always comes with a price, a lesson Chompa learns the hard way when her mother is taken by soldiers to London setting Chompa on a voyage to rescue her. Hair was what princesses worried about, but in real life, it got in your eyes and mouth… Chompa threw the scarf aside. She was never going to be a princess. And she didn’t want to be one, either. She was something far more powerful. She was a witch.”

City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust

I enjoyed the historial aspects that were blended with the fantastical, highlighting the issues that were seeping through colonial India. The character of Chompa was well written, and she was someone that was hard to tear away from as the drama unfolded. The author takes the reader on a dark journey, as every emotion is wrung out as the dastardly plan is fully revealed. Chompa is a determined young girl with a magic running through her veins and fairness in her heart. But nefarious forces are conspiring against not only our headstrong hero but all the magical children they can corral, and time is running out for their survival.On the day Chompa disregards the warning against using her finger magic, her Ammi (mother) tries to quell it and is discovered and taken away. A young girl with magical abilities that she has yet to fully discover and master, embarks on a journey to find her mother.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, review: a critique of City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, review: a critique

When Chompa sets out to prove herself to Ammi (her mother), her bravado leads to a horrendous accident. Soon, the agents of the Company take Ammi away. I loved the magic system, and the distinction between finger magic and written charms, djinn born versus djinn speakers. The latter are people who can communicate with Djinn who are trapped and bound to some natural element. One of the characters, Tipu, talks to a Djinn called Aaliya trapped by a palm tree (and later a date stone) and forced to do his will. Tipu promises to free her but first she has to do magic for him. Tipu is one of our heroes, one of the children exploited for their magical ability, and Aaliya helps the good side. I though it was an interesting addition to the story, raising the question regarding whether his actions (albeit on a much smaller and kinder scale) really differ from the villains. Jude is infuriated when she realises that the rare magic she has stolen to impress her criminal family is protected by a curse. Darkly humorous, with a myriad of magical twists and turns, this inventive novel is a thrilling read.Sir Clive Devaynes (names derived from real people from the East India Company) of the “East Merchant Company” is collecting them for a nefarious purpose. This book is pitched for 9-14, and I agree: it has the complexity for upper middle grade and a further layer of stolen magic as a voice for India’s colonized past. Yara’s life is thrown into disarray when, following the death of her mother, she learns that they’re from Zehaira, a kingdom of sorcerers, alchemists and magic. In this compelling fantasy adventure, Yara bravely embarks on a dangerous quest to save her magical homeland.



  • Fruugo ID: 258392218-563234582
  • EAN: 764486781913
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