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A Most Magical Girl
From the author of Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy comes the story of a friendship between two girls set in Victorian England, with magical machines, wizards, witches, a mysterious underworld, and a race against time.
Annabel Grey is primed for a proper life as a young lady in Victorian England. But when her mother suddenly disappears, she’s put in the care of two eccentric aunts who thrust her into a decidedly un-ladylike life, full of potions and flying broomsticks and wizards who eat nothing but crackers. Magic, indeed! Who ever heard of such a thing?
Before Annabel can assess the most ladylike way to respond to her current predicament, she is swept up in an urgent quest. Annabel is pitted against another young witch, Kitty, to rescue the sacred Moreover Wand from the dangerous underworld that exists beneath London. The two girls outsmart trolls, find passage through a wall of faerie bones, and narrowly escape a dragon, but it doesn’t take long for Annabel to see that the most dangerous part of her journey is her decision to trust this wild, magical girl.
Sparkling with Karen Foxlee’s enchanting writing, this is a bewitching tale of one important wand and two most magical girls.
Annabel Grey is primed for a proper life as a young lady in Victorian England. But when her mother suddenly disappears, she’s put in the care of two eccentric aunts who thrust her into a decidedly un-ladylike life, full of potions and flying broomsticks and wizards who eat nothing but crackers. Magic, indeed! Who ever heard of such a thing?
Before Annabel can assess the most ladylike way to respond to her current predicament, she is swept up in an urgent quest. Annabel is pitted against another young witch, Kitty, to rescue the sacred Moreover Wand from the dangerous underworld that exists beneath London. The two girls outsmart trolls, find passage through a wall of faerie bones, and narrowly escape a dragon, but it doesn’t take long for Annabel to see that the most dangerous part of her journey is her decision to trust this wild, magical girl.
Sparkling with Karen Foxlee’s enchanting writing, this is a bewitching tale of one important wand and two most magical girls.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2016
57 people are currently reading
2280 people want to read
About the author
Karen Foxlee
23 books243 followersKaren Foxlee is an Australian author who lives and writes in Queensland. Her young adult novels The Anatomy of Wings (UQP/Knopf/Atlantic) and The Midnight Dress (Knopf/UQP/Hot Key Books) have been published internationally to much acclaim. The Anatomy of Wings won the Commonwealth Writers Prize Best First Book 2008 (South Asia/Pacific), the Dobbie Award 2008, and a Parent’s Choice Gold Award in the U.S. The Midnight Dress was selected as an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults title in 2014. Foxlee’s first middle grade novel Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy (Knopf / Hot Key Books) was published in January 2014 and to date has received several starred reviews.
Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Queensland in 1971. She has worked most of her adult life as a registered nurse, has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in creative writing, and lives in Gympie, Australia.
Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Queensland in 1971. She has worked most of her adult life as a registered nurse, has a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in creative writing, and lives in Gympie, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
October 18, 2016
Ca să mai zică cineva că nu coperta vinde cartea, ha! Recunosc, dragi pufoși, mi-a căzut cu tronc ilustrația de pe copertă. Unu la mână. Doi la mână, garanta magie, prietenie și dragoni. Trei la mână, super titlu! Cum să n-o cumperi?
Da, e frumoasă, miroase bine, mi-a fost drag să o citesc, e scrisă binișor, dar am fost cât pe ce să nu-i dau rating deloc (3 stele este minim pentru mine; dacă e de două sau de o stea, nici nu îmi bat capul să-l notez). Asta numai fiindcă povestea este parcă scrisă după un șablon (și nici acela nu tocmai reușit).
Una peste alta, 3 stele cu greu. Doar pentru atmosferă, scriitură (în engleză) și, din nou, coperta minunată :-).
Da, e frumoasă, miroase bine, mi-a fost drag să o citesc, e scrisă binișor, dar am fost cât pe ce să nu-i dau rating deloc (3 stele este minim pentru mine; dacă e de două sau de o stea, nici nu îmi bat capul să-l notez). Asta numai fiindcă povestea este parcă scrisă după un șablon (și nici acela nu tocmai reușit).
Una peste alta, 3 stele cu greu. Doar pentru atmosferă, scriitură (în engleză) și, din nou, coperta minunată :-).
March 23, 2016
Things Annabel Grey wants:
-A pair of emerald green ice skates
-A pink sprigged muslin day dress
-Her mother to come back and take care of her
Things Annabel Grey does not want:
-A broomstick
-Magical powers
-A quest to save all of London from an evil wizard
Needless to say, Annabel is not going to get much of what she wants, and she is going to get a great deal of what she doesn't want. Despite her proper upbringing, Annabel has magic in her veins, and her mother has sent her to live with her two great-aunts in order to learn witchcraft. Unfortunately for Annabel, she arrives on the eve of a crisis, when Mr. Angel, a practitioner of black magic, has perfected a machine that will allow him to raise an army of shadowlings and take over the world. The only thing that can stop him is the White Wand, also known as the Moreover Wand, which lies somewhere beneath London. Only the youngest member of the Good and Benevolent Magical Society can retrieve the wand -- and Annabel is the youngest member. Accompanied by a peculiar and wild girl named Kitty, Annabel must travel along an underground river, through the Singing Gate and into the Troll Kingdom, across the Lake of Tears and past the great Wyrm . . . and she must do so before moonrise, or Mr. Angel wins!
This is a lovely story. The interactions between the characters are simply perfect, the plot moves on apace, and the writing is enchanting. I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy of manners or well-written juvenile fiction.
-A pair of emerald green ice skates
-A pink sprigged muslin day dress
-Her mother to come back and take care of her
Things Annabel Grey does not want:
-A broomstick
-Magical powers
-A quest to save all of London from an evil wizard
Needless to say, Annabel is not going to get much of what she wants, and she is going to get a great deal of what she doesn't want. Despite her proper upbringing, Annabel has magic in her veins, and her mother has sent her to live with her two great-aunts in order to learn witchcraft. Unfortunately for Annabel, she arrives on the eve of a crisis, when Mr. Angel, a practitioner of black magic, has perfected a machine that will allow him to raise an army of shadowlings and take over the world. The only thing that can stop him is the White Wand, also known as the Moreover Wand, which lies somewhere beneath London. Only the youngest member of the Good and Benevolent Magical Society can retrieve the wand -- and Annabel is the youngest member. Accompanied by a peculiar and wild girl named Kitty, Annabel must travel along an underground river, through the Singing Gate and into the Troll Kingdom, across the Lake of Tears and past the great Wyrm . . . and she must do so before moonrise, or Mr. Angel wins!
This is a lovely story. The interactions between the characters are simply perfect, the plot moves on apace, and the writing is enchanting. I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy of manners or well-written juvenile fiction.
October 2, 2016
A rather simplistic story that nevertheless has real touches of charm, but gets bogged down by its inconsistent, too-often unlikable characters.
Annabel, the primary protagonist, is such a spineless, helpless piece of fluff in the early chapters that it's hard to root for her at all, even when you feel sorry for her because everyone keeps expecting things off her without giving her the least sort of training or directions. Then, with only one or two concrete moments of actual development, she metamorphoses into a kind, brave, and good Purity Sue, who is at least a more capable heroine and less annoying. Then, there is Kitty, the "wild girl" and deuteragonist of the story, who at first is so capable and interesting that you wonder why the story isn't about her. She seems self-sufficient and care-free, mistress of her own destiny, who is constantly having to be bothered cleaning up Annabel's messes. And then, she turns into this petty jealous mean girl, who acts like a jerk to Annabel even when Annabel is trying very hard. Sure, they eventually become true friends, and Kitty gets won over by Annabel's "goodness," but for most of the book, she's less likable with every chapter.
Annabel's great-aunt Henrietta is a piece of work, constantly scolding and looking down on Annabel for things that aren't Annabel's fault (like her mother leaving) or for not knowing how to do things she hasn't taught Annabel how to do. Great-Aunt Ettie fares better simply by comparison, since she actually has faith in Annabel, although we don't see much of her. Yet, the reader is expected to care very much about these characters and to believe that Annabel has come to love them dearly after only a few days (of very poor treatment). The wizards make next to no impression, Mr. Angel is a generic "evil Victorian magician" with over-the-top internal monologues and a need to send polite letters requesting his enemies surrender before he turns them into dust.
The magical world has hints of truly unique and interesting possibilities--the soul light Kitty can sing up, the way the broomsticks work, some of the parts of Under-London--but all of these things are lightly skimmed over in favor of a generic fetch-quest to save the world. Similarly, the truly dark and sorrowful things that are hinted at--in Kitty's backstory, in the things fed to the machine, etc.--give a bit of resonance to the story, but it's unwilling to linger for more than a second, wanting to stay smooth and glossy instead. The ending leaves too many things open for a standalone book, but not quite enough for a sequel, leaving me highly confused about the author's intentions.
Annabel, the primary protagonist, is such a spineless, helpless piece of fluff in the early chapters that it's hard to root for her at all, even when you feel sorry for her because everyone keeps expecting things off her without giving her the least sort of training or directions. Then, with only one or two concrete moments of actual development, she metamorphoses into a kind, brave, and good Purity Sue, who is at least a more capable heroine and less annoying. Then, there is Kitty, the "wild girl" and deuteragonist of the story, who at first is so capable and interesting that you wonder why the story isn't about her. She seems self-sufficient and care-free, mistress of her own destiny, who is constantly having to be bothered cleaning up Annabel's messes. And then, she turns into this petty jealous mean girl, who acts like a jerk to Annabel even when Annabel is trying very hard. Sure, they eventually become true friends, and Kitty gets won over by Annabel's "goodness," but for most of the book, she's less likable with every chapter.
Annabel's great-aunt Henrietta is a piece of work, constantly scolding and looking down on Annabel for things that aren't Annabel's fault (like her mother leaving) or for not knowing how to do things she hasn't taught Annabel how to do. Great-Aunt Ettie fares better simply by comparison, since she actually has faith in Annabel, although we don't see much of her. Yet, the reader is expected to care very much about these characters and to believe that Annabel has come to love them dearly after only a few days (of very poor treatment). The wizards make next to no impression, Mr. Angel is a generic "evil Victorian magician" with over-the-top internal monologues and a need to send polite letters requesting his enemies surrender before he turns them into dust.
The magical world has hints of truly unique and interesting possibilities--the soul light Kitty can sing up, the way the broomsticks work, some of the parts of Under-London--but all of these things are lightly skimmed over in favor of a generic fetch-quest to save the world. Similarly, the truly dark and sorrowful things that are hinted at--in Kitty's backstory, in the things fed to the machine, etc.--give a bit of resonance to the story, but it's unwilling to linger for more than a second, wanting to stay smooth and glossy instead. The ending leaves too many things open for a standalone book, but not quite enough for a sequel, leaving me highly confused about the author's intentions.
July 26, 2023
Oh, so frustrating! It began with some promise, but never developed into anything remotely engaging.
1. The main plot thrust is a journey through a magical realm, the least interesting magical realm yet set down in fiction--the lack of description is palpable, as if the author expected each location to be announced via full-colour double-page spread (which never materialized) and didn't want to compete with the image. There's a lake, for instance, and apparently it's astonishing, but all we as readers get is it's dark and hard to see the other side of. Unlike the rich sense of journey that one gets as early as The Hobbit, this story goes nowhere, other than from one uninvolving place to the next.
2. The main character is the main character for no particular reason, has become the chosen one because she's the youngest, and yet none of the elder magic users in the story had thought to cultivate her ahead of time? And she's generally unlikable, except when she improves for no apparent reason. (One waits for a character-testing moment, a sudden realisation, a propulsive feeling, but no).
3. I kept waiting for a subsidiary character, who seemed the most interesting person in these pages, to turn out to be the true hero (she could be sort of a Sam Gamgee type) but no, she got worse and worse as the story went out.
4. Don't get me started about how draggy and uninvolving the large middle was. From descent into the world below right through to meeting the trolls, it's eminently skipable.
5. Constant cutting back to the one-dimensional dull bad guy, doing the same thing and thinking the same thoughts as last time, as if Ed Wood had only managed to get a few shots of Bela Lugosi before his death and was forced to reuse them over and over. And he's bad because he's bad, so there's that.
6. No surprises ever. If it's foretold that the Cup of Pure Wonderfulness will cause Evil to melt, then the Cup of Pure Wonderfulness will cause Evil to melt, yawn. No twists, no turns, nothing, as if intentionally written for people who are a bit nervous about, you know, plot.
I don't get why there was a need for this book (i.e. why it was accepted for publication).
Grammar seemed correct, so not 1 star (that's reserved for exceptional poor writing, not simply unexceptional, dull texts).
*UPDATED 24 Feb 2020 ... to note that it's also completely unmemorable. Even my reading of my own review failed to jog any remembrance of this book. After perusing the description and some other reviews, a bit of it's come back to me, but ... yikes. That's how dull I found it (not necessarily how bad I found it--some of my most memorable experiences are reading exceptionally terrible things).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
1. The main plot thrust is a journey through a magical realm, the least interesting magical realm yet set down in fiction--the lack of description is palpable, as if the author expected each location to be announced via full-colour double-page spread (which never materialized) and didn't want to compete with the image. There's a lake, for instance, and apparently it's astonishing, but all we as readers get is it's dark and hard to see the other side of. Unlike the rich sense of journey that one gets as early as The Hobbit, this story goes nowhere, other than from one uninvolving place to the next.
2. The main character is the main character for no particular reason, has become the chosen one because she's the youngest, and yet none of the elder magic users in the story had thought to cultivate her ahead of time? And she's generally unlikable, except when she improves for no apparent reason. (One waits for a character-testing moment, a sudden realisation, a propulsive feeling, but no).
3. I kept waiting for a subsidiary character, who seemed the most interesting person in these pages, to turn out to be the true hero (she could be sort of a Sam Gamgee type) but no, she got worse and worse as the story went out.
4. Don't get me started about how draggy and uninvolving the large middle was. From descent into the world below right through to meeting the trolls, it's eminently skipable.
5. Constant cutting back to the one-dimensional dull bad guy, doing the same thing and thinking the same thoughts as last time, as if Ed Wood had only managed to get a few shots of Bela Lugosi before his death and was forced to reuse them over and over. And he's bad because he's bad, so there's that.
6. No surprises ever. If it's foretold that the Cup of Pure Wonderfulness will cause Evil to melt, then the Cup of Pure Wonderfulness will cause Evil to melt, yawn. No twists, no turns, nothing, as if intentionally written for people who are a bit nervous about, you know, plot.
I don't get why there was a need for this book (i.e. why it was accepted for publication).
Grammar seemed correct, so not 1 star (that's reserved for exceptional poor writing, not simply unexceptional, dull texts).
*UPDATED 24 Feb 2020 ... to note that it's also completely unmemorable. Even my reading of my own review failed to jog any remembrance of this book. After perusing the description and some other reviews, a bit of it's come back to me, but ... yikes. That's how dull I found it (not necessarily how bad I found it--some of my most memorable experiences are reading exceptionally terrible things).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
February 28, 2021
For people who like: children's books / fantasy
In five words: magic / quest / epigraphs / surprises / dark
Positive points: Don't be misled by the sweet cover and back flap text. This story is way darker than you would suspect.
Sometimes you can predict everything what's going to happen in children's books, but not with this one. Well, for some parts you can, but for others not. And that's refreshing.
Negative points: Some things were repeated several times (like Annabel being 'the Valiant Defender of Good Magic'). You could think this has to do with this being a children's book. But it's in sharp contrast with the rest of the story which doesn't treat children like innocent beings.
Towards the end some things felt a little bit rushed. It would've been nice to see them more elaborated.
Quotes: Every chapter begins with a quote from the fictional "Miss Finch's Little Blue Book (1855)". This ads a nice touch to the whole and emphasizes the change that Annabel goes through during the story.
More info: Australian author Karen Foxlee spent most of her adult life working as a registered nurse while pursuing her secret dream of becoming a writer. In the meantime she already wrote several middle grade and YA-books. Make sure to visit her website: https://karenfoxlee.com/.
The cover and three illustrations in the book were made by an artist I really like: Elly MacKay. You can visit her blog https://ellymackay.wordpress.com/ or her website https://www.theaterclouds.com/.
Rating: A whole 4*, because for a children's book there were enough dark and surprising choices made by the author to keep even adults hooked.
In five words: magic / quest / epigraphs / surprises / dark
Positive points: Don't be misled by the sweet cover and back flap text. This story is way darker than you would suspect.
Sometimes you can predict everything what's going to happen in children's books, but not with this one. Well, for some parts you can, but for others not. And that's refreshing.
Negative points: Some things were repeated several times (like Annabel being 'the Valiant Defender of Good Magic'). You could think this has to do with this being a children's book. But it's in sharp contrast with the rest of the story which doesn't treat children like innocent beings.
Towards the end some things felt a little bit rushed. It would've been nice to see them more elaborated.
Quotes: Every chapter begins with a quote from the fictional "Miss Finch's Little Blue Book (1855)". This ads a nice touch to the whole and emphasizes the change that Annabel goes through during the story.
More info: Australian author Karen Foxlee spent most of her adult life working as a registered nurse while pursuing her secret dream of becoming a writer. In the meantime she already wrote several middle grade and YA-books. Make sure to visit her website: https://karenfoxlee.com/.
The cover and three illustrations in the book were made by an artist I really like: Elly MacKay. You can visit her blog https://ellymackay.wordpress.com/ or her website https://www.theaterclouds.com/.
Rating: A whole 4*, because for a children's book there were enough dark and surprising choices made by the author to keep even adults hooked.
October 10, 2017
I’m a big fan of Karen Foxlee and always buy her books as soon as they come on my radar. A Most Magical Girl is a delightful, whimsical tale of a very ordinary girl named Annabel Grey who is sent to stay with two eccentric old aunts when her mother disappears. To her dismay, Annabel realises her aunts are witches and that she is the heir to their magic. Meanwhile, a wicked man named Angel is sucking out the power of sad things – such as flowers stolen from a new grave or the bonnets of long-dead babies – to feed his Dark-Magic Extracting Machine. He plans to take over the world and only Annabel can stop him. She needs help, however, which as always comes from the most unlikely people …
An enchanting story, told with simple lyrical writing, and just enough wild magic to keep it fresh and surprising, A Most Magical Girl is just the kind of book I would have loved when I was eleven.
An enchanting story, told with simple lyrical writing, and just enough wild magic to keep it fresh and surprising, A Most Magical Girl is just the kind of book I would have loved when I was eleven.
April 26, 2017
This book was lovely and sweet. A cute story that I would love to read out loud to my kids. A story filled with adventure and magic with dragons. I love that at the beginning of every chapter Foxlee includes an excerpt from "Miss Finch's Little Blue Book (1855). "
I would read another of her novels.
I would read another of her novels.
November 29, 2016
Character, plot, and even setting all take a backseat to a hugely poetic flow of words, and an emotional palette that runs like watercolors through every scene. Real artistry? Check. Characters I cared about or a story I wanted to read? Not as much.
A special, precious snowflake revives a dying magical community by dint of being special and precious. We know she is, because we're told that a lot. It's not because we see her doing anything the average girl (or even below average, but not actually awful girl) wouldn't do in her shoes.
The magical community was dying because....everybody else in the world in insane? I don't know. This is another one of those stories where magic is a great, clean, power that can do pretty much anything and everything, with no real drawbacks. But society dislikes it and nobody thinks it is worth studying because reasons.
A special, precious snowflake revives a dying magical community by dint of being special and precious. We know she is, because we're told that a lot. It's not because we see her doing anything the average girl (or even below average, but not actually awful girl) wouldn't do in her shoes.
The magical community was dying because....everybody else in the world in insane? I don't know. This is another one of those stories where magic is a great, clean, power that can do pretty much anything and everything, with no real drawbacks. But society dislikes it and nobody thinks it is worth studying because reasons.
March 10, 2017
Karen Foxlee has a way about her.
Her words weave magic. She draws you in, she makes you believe, she makes you feel brave.
A Most Magical Girl follows an ordinary, everyday Victorian girl, who, rather like Harry Potter, suddenly finds herself in a magical world. Her role is to fulfil the prophecy as the 'youngest and most able member of the Great and Benevolent Magical Society' to assume the role of 'Valiant Defender of Good Magic'.
The sinister Mr Angel has other ideas, of course!
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...
Her words weave magic. She draws you in, she makes you believe, she makes you feel brave.
A Most Magical Girl follows an ordinary, everyday Victorian girl, who, rather like Harry Potter, suddenly finds herself in a magical world. Her role is to fulfil the prophecy as the 'youngest and most able member of the Great and Benevolent Magical Society' to assume the role of 'Valiant Defender of Good Magic'.
The sinister Mr Angel has other ideas, of course!
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com.au/20...
August 29, 2024
Can this book please stop referring to the villain's horribly crooked body for one second? We get it, he's evil and he has kyphosis. The ableism in the description of the villain was not even subtle, made worse by the fact that we knew literally nothing else about him except that he is miserable for some reason. The hero was the cliche pretty white girl with a magical destiny. So nothing was really amazing or surprising in this.
October 23, 2016
Utterly charming, frightful in places, magical in others, this is an adventure both girls and boys will warm to but that girls especially will find spell binding. Pop over to Boomerang Books Blog for my full review and guest post by Karen Foxlee soon. http://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/aut...
December 11, 2022
This is a truly magical book. Some parts are a little dark and had me a bit spooked but I loved it. Young Annanel Grey is sent to live with her aunts where she finds out that she is a witch. There is a dark wizard wanting to take over the city and must be stopped. This is a must read for any Potter fan or for anyone who likes anything magical.
February 26, 2020
A magical girl, with the help from a friend and a troll, must save London from dark magic.
This was a prime example of a narrator that you adore not being able to salvage a mediocre story. It was just a mess.
I loved the author's magical novel, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, as well as the amazing narrator, Jayne Entwistle. Read/listen to Ophelia, skip this.
Seriously though, if it hadn't been for Jayne Entwistle, I would have give up on this book WAY SOONER. I could listen to her read the dictionary and be entranced.
This was a prime example of a narrator that you adore not being able to salvage a mediocre story. It was just a mess.
I loved the author's magical novel, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, as well as the amazing narrator, Jayne Entwistle. Read/listen to Ophelia, skip this.
Seriously though, if it hadn't been for Jayne Entwistle, I would have give up on this book WAY SOONER. I could listen to her read the dictionary and be entranced.
July 29, 2016
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee is a charming tale filled with magic, adventure, friendship and girl power. With gorgeous prose, smart humor and a touch of danger, this is a story for those who still want to believe in the magic.
Set in Victorian England, young Annabel Grey is the perfect example of a proper young lady on the outside, on the inside, she hides her strange magical abilities, namely those that give her the ability to see visions in puddles, even though she doesn’t believe in magic. Annabel soon finds herself in the care of her two decidedly eccentric, very witchy, aunts when her mother unexpectedly travels abroad. Now, instead of being taught proper etiquette, our Annabel is learning about the best way to wash a witch's dress, all kinds of strange magical (and stinky) ingredients and the proper care of one’s broom. When danger comes in the form of the villainous Mr. Angel and his hungry army of shadowlings, Annabel is sent on a quest to Under London, a place of magic, creatures and, of course, magic, to retrieve a wand of great power before the dastardly Mr. Angel and his gang of Shadowlings overtake of London.
One thing that often impresses me when reading juvenile fiction is the wonderful examples of friendship, overcoming hardships and personal growth our young hero and heroines go through. A Most Magical Girl is a great example of these positive themes. Annabel, who hides her very magical nature, ends up on a quest where this very uniqueness, is what makes her special … needed, and, A Most Magical Girl.
If the thought of travel in an underground London, one riddled with magic and traps that must be overcome, while battling creatures and foes, sounds appealing, then young readers may want to grab this story up. Karen Foxlee introduces a heroine full of heart and who is not afraid to get dirty when it comes to saving the day. Along the way, we meet a most unusual and feisty girl named Kitty with an affinity for nature, a sweet and brave troll girl, and a magical broomstick that will have young readers grabbing theirs out of the parents broom closets in hopes it will do what Annabel’s does.
From the rooftops of London to beneath its hidden realms, A Most Magical Girl sweeps readers in an adventurous quest that pits an unlikely young witch against an evil villain along with plenty of adventure to please the most scrupulous young readers.
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee is a charming tale filled with magic, adventure, friendship and girl power. With gorgeous prose, smart humor and a touch of danger, this is a story for those who still want to believe in the magic.
Set in Victorian England, young Annabel Grey is the perfect example of a proper young lady on the outside, on the inside, she hides her strange magical abilities, namely those that give her the ability to see visions in puddles, even though she doesn’t believe in magic. Annabel soon finds herself in the care of her two decidedly eccentric, very witchy, aunts when her mother unexpectedly travels abroad. Now, instead of being taught proper etiquette, our Annabel is learning about the best way to wash a witch's dress, all kinds of strange magical (and stinky) ingredients and the proper care of one’s broom. When danger comes in the form of the villainous Mr. Angel and his hungry army of shadowlings, Annabel is sent on a quest to Under London, a place of magic, creatures and, of course, magic, to retrieve a wand of great power before the dastardly Mr. Angel and his gang of Shadowlings overtake of London.
One thing that often impresses me when reading juvenile fiction is the wonderful examples of friendship, overcoming hardships and personal growth our young hero and heroines go through. A Most Magical Girl is a great example of these positive themes. Annabel, who hides her very magical nature, ends up on a quest where this very uniqueness, is what makes her special … needed, and, A Most Magical Girl.
If the thought of travel in an underground London, one riddled with magic and traps that must be overcome, while battling creatures and foes, sounds appealing, then young readers may want to grab this story up. Karen Foxlee introduces a heroine full of heart and who is not afraid to get dirty when it comes to saving the day. Along the way, we meet a most unusual and feisty girl named Kitty with an affinity for nature, a sweet and brave troll girl, and a magical broomstick that will have young readers grabbing theirs out of the parents broom closets in hopes it will do what Annabel’s does.
From the rooftops of London to beneath its hidden realms, A Most Magical Girl sweeps readers in an adventurous quest that pits an unlikely young witch against an evil villain along with plenty of adventure to please the most scrupulous young readers.
September 16, 2016
I am a huge fan of Karen Foxlee's work, so when I heard she was releasing a new book, I was thrilled. There is something magical and unique about Foxlee's storytelling; from page one she sucks you into her world and forces you to leave it reluctantly 296 pages later. In between, you are taken places that are familiar and yet not. In A Most Magical Girl, Foxlee takes a familiar theme - young girl discovering she is magical - and turns it into something unusual and imaginative. Better still, prissy Annabel's character and character arc are fully developed; just when I thought I had her figured out she surprised me, which is the most delightful thing ever for a reader. Tasked with stopping the evil Mr. Angel (Oh that name!) from obliterating all goodness in the world, the most magical girl must travel to under London to retrieve the Morever Wand if there is any chance of goodness prevailing. But she's not alone, there's Kitty, a young urchin with unusual powers and Hafwen the Troll. But most all there is Annabel, who fully comes into herself during the course of this most perilous journey. The story is structured in such a way that builds tension brilliantly and I guarantee that this book will delight its readers with its thrilling plot. Artist Elly Mackay, truly one of my favorite illustrators, does a wonderful job of the front cover and of the section changes. A most magical girl is truly a delight!
January 22, 2018
An interesting tale, definitely middle-grade, of magic and shadows.
Annabel Grey was raised to be a most proper Victorian young lady, but -- she keeps on seeing visions in puddles. Finally, her mother sends her off to her great-aunts to learn to be a witch. She hates it, ruins the laundry by accident, and is left alone in the shop -- when a strange man comes with a threat. he is building the Dark-Magic Extracting Machine, and he has the Black Wand, and he wants all the good wizards and witches to submit.
Unfortunately, to stop him requires that the youngest magical girl retrieve another wand. That's Annabel.
It involves a troll that wants a star, a betwixter girl, a much married king, a broom that has to be coaxed, handkerchiefs with tears, the story of Annabel's family, and more.
Annabel Grey was raised to be a most proper Victorian young lady, but -- she keeps on seeing visions in puddles. Finally, her mother sends her off to her great-aunts to learn to be a witch. She hates it, ruins the laundry by accident, and is left alone in the shop -- when a strange man comes with a threat. he is building the Dark-Magic Extracting Machine, and he has the Black Wand, and he wants all the good wizards and witches to submit.
Unfortunately, to stop him requires that the youngest magical girl retrieve another wand. That's Annabel.
It involves a troll that wants a star, a betwixter girl, a much married king, a broom that has to be coaxed, handkerchiefs with tears, the story of Annabel's family, and more.
January 13, 2017
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:
✱ Plain Kate
✱ I, Coriander
✱ Un Lun Dun
✱ The Black North
✱ Fairyland series
✱ Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series
✱ Plain Kate
✱ I, Coriander
✱ Un Lun Dun
✱ The Black North
✱ Fairyland series
✱ Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series
January 24, 2017
2.5 stars.
Just completely unmemorable. It's been less than 2 months and I can recall basically nothing about this, which is a real shame. It sounded so promising (magic and friendship and Victorian England!!), but fell woefully short in its reality.
Things I do recall:
Our main character, Annabel, was very bland and came across only slightly better than a cardboard box.
The wizards were the best characters, but not in this enough.
The villain was motivationally challenged and incredibly egotistical, and seemed to think laughing manically was the Thing To Do. And we'd randomly get dumped into his POV for actually no reason.
Just completely unmemorable. It's been less than 2 months and I can recall basically nothing about this, which is a real shame. It sounded so promising (magic and friendship and Victorian England!!), but fell woefully short in its reality.
Things I do recall:
Our main character, Annabel, was very bland and came across only slightly better than a cardboard box.
The wizards were the best characters, but not in this enough.
The villain was motivationally challenged and incredibly egotistical, and seemed to think laughing manically was the Thing To Do. And we'd randomly get dumped into his POV for actually no reason.
February 18, 2021
Disappointing. A quest that’s completely unearned. As if Harry Potter had been dumped into the last chapter of the series directly from the Dursleys without any training or even knowing he was a wizard, and expected to save the world.
May 1, 2022
A nicely-brought-up Victorian girl is suddenly thrown into a quest to retrieve a magical wand and save London from an evil magician.
London is a real place here, yet imbued with magic, from the different groups of magicians named after their area of the city to the faeries of Highgate Cememtery. Much of the adventure takes place in Under London, inspired doubtless by its network of sewers, but filled too with mythical characters, from trolls to dragons, and an eerie gate made of faerie bones. Its historicity feeds into the story too - glimpses of orphans and organ-players and factories and fashion.
Annabel grows. At first she is a young Victorian miss who is amazed and annoyed at being asked to get her hands dirty, but she is totally sympathetic because she's been thrown into this with no warning. As she learns what she can do, and sees what she must do, she brings into play what she's learned from the young ladies' academy as well, so her skills at Geography transform into following a map that's been magicked onto her skin, and her social graces help her soothe her skittish broom and persuade a disaffected troll to be an ally. Her growing friendships with Kitty and Hafwen are beautifully realised.
The suspense is built masterfully. We meet the antagonist early, and are reguarly shown what he's up to next, as the net grows round the good witches and wizards above ground. There's a ticking clock, because he's waiting for the final full moon. And there's the personal angle - Annabel isn't just saving London, we know that the magician intends to use her as the final meal for his fiendish machine.
A very satisfying tale.
London is a real place here, yet imbued with magic, from the different groups of magicians named after their area of the city to the faeries of Highgate Cememtery. Much of the adventure takes place in Under London, inspired doubtless by its network of sewers, but filled too with mythical characters, from trolls to dragons, and an eerie gate made of faerie bones. Its historicity feeds into the story too - glimpses of orphans and organ-players and factories and fashion.
Annabel grows. At first she is a young Victorian miss who is amazed and annoyed at being asked to get her hands dirty, but she is totally sympathetic because she's been thrown into this with no warning. As she learns what she can do, and sees what she must do, she brings into play what she's learned from the young ladies' academy as well, so her skills at Geography transform into following a map that's been magicked onto her skin, and her social graces help her soothe her skittish broom and persuade a disaffected troll to be an ally. Her growing friendships with Kitty and Hafwen are beautifully realised.
The suspense is built masterfully. We meet the antagonist early, and are reguarly shown what he's up to next, as the net grows round the good witches and wizards above ground. There's a ticking clock, because he's waiting for the final full moon. And there's the personal angle - Annabel isn't just saving London, we know that the magician intends to use her as the final meal for his fiendish machine.
A very satisfying tale.
February 24, 2024
This was a truly magical delight. The narration was superb, and the story had me engrossed from the beginning.
Want to read
January 29, 2024It's a really good book about a girl learning that she is a witch but her mum never told her about it and sent her to live with her aunts and she fights a wicked evil set to destroy the town
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2016
Prim and proper Annabel Grey knows nothing of magic, witches, flying broomsticks, or her two unusual aunts...but when her mother suddenly decides to take a mysterious trip, Annabel is sent to those two aunts and thrust into a dark, dangerous, and dazzling world of magic. A most sinister man and his dreadful machines have dark, deadly plans for Victorian England and it is up to young Annabel, a most magical girl, to retrieve the powerful Moreover Wand and save the day. Annabel is accompanied on her journey by Kitty, a surly, mysterious girl with magic of her own. These two young magical girls must learn to trust each other or all will be lost.
Karen Foxlee’s newest middle-grade, A Most Magical Girl, is just that: MOST magical! I love everything about this book, from its sparkling storytelling, spine-tingling twists, enthralling setting, and irresistible heroines. Foxlee has true magic in her words and weaves a pitch-perfect and expertly paced story full of imagination, page-turning excitement, and unforgettable characters. A Most Magical Girl has the most deliciously dark whimsical vibe, with lush, enchanting storytelling and world-building. The magical elements, from flying broomsticks, spells, wands, trolls, dragons, faeries, and more, feel classic, yet completely unique in their quirkiness. Young readers will be dazzled and inspired by this magical world!
Annabel and Kitty are two fantastically different, yet equally engaging heroines! Prim, thoughtful Annabel and wild, mischievous Kitty make for a charming and unforgettable pair. I just loved watching their friendship and admiration for each other blossom. And Foxlee offers readers a thoroughly enticing and complex villain.
Foxlee sends her heroines, and readers, on an exhilarating adventure with plenty of thrills, chills, surprises, and gasp-worthy moments, leading up to a completely satisfying and dynamite ending!
My final thoughts: A Most Magical Girl is a gorgeous, fantastical new middle-grade that is sure to charm and dazzle readers!
Karen Foxlee’s newest middle-grade, A Most Magical Girl, is just that: MOST magical! I love everything about this book, from its sparkling storytelling, spine-tingling twists, enthralling setting, and irresistible heroines. Foxlee has true magic in her words and weaves a pitch-perfect and expertly paced story full of imagination, page-turning excitement, and unforgettable characters. A Most Magical Girl has the most deliciously dark whimsical vibe, with lush, enchanting storytelling and world-building. The magical elements, from flying broomsticks, spells, wands, trolls, dragons, faeries, and more, feel classic, yet completely unique in their quirkiness. Young readers will be dazzled and inspired by this magical world!
Annabel and Kitty are two fantastically different, yet equally engaging heroines! Prim, thoughtful Annabel and wild, mischievous Kitty make for a charming and unforgettable pair. I just loved watching their friendship and admiration for each other blossom. And Foxlee offers readers a thoroughly enticing and complex villain.
Foxlee sends her heroines, and readers, on an exhilarating adventure with plenty of thrills, chills, surprises, and gasp-worthy moments, leading up to a completely satisfying and dynamite ending!
My final thoughts: A Most Magical Girl is a gorgeous, fantastical new middle-grade that is sure to charm and dazzle readers!
August 25, 2016
Annabelle’s mother has sent her to her great-aunts to be educated. Yet, when Annabelle arrives in London, she finds that her education is not what she thought it would be. Instead of an education that is fit for a lady, Annabelle learns that she is a witch and must learn to use her magical powers. When a dark wizard plans to take over London, Annabelle must go on a dangerous mission to find a magical wand. She not only encounters terrifying monsters along the way, but also makes friends. Can Annabelle and her friends defeat the dark wizard and save London?
At first, I did not like Annabelle. I thought that she was a spoiled brat and whined a lot in the book. She did not like doing chores that her aunts made her do and mocks them behind their back. I also thought that she was a Mary Sue because everything she did was perfect. While she is still a damsel-in-distress throughout the book, I eventually grew to like her almost at the end of the book. This is because she realizes the values of friends and family. She also begins to have confidence in herself. However, I have to say that I like her friends more. They were fun and interesting.
Overall, this story is about family, friendship, and acceptance. The message of this book is to believe in yourself. I really thought that this tale was creative. A Most Magical Girl is a fast-paced action and adventure tale. While I did not like the main character as much as I would have wanted, I did love her secondary characters. I also thought the world-building of a fantastical London was very breathtaking, and I was glad to explore more of this secret London. I recommend this story to those who love reading a fun frolic on a broomstick ride through Victorian London.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
At first, I did not like Annabelle. I thought that she was a spoiled brat and whined a lot in the book. She did not like doing chores that her aunts made her do and mocks them behind their back. I also thought that she was a Mary Sue because everything she did was perfect. While she is still a damsel-in-distress throughout the book, I eventually grew to like her almost at the end of the book. This is because she realizes the values of friends and family. She also begins to have confidence in herself. However, I have to say that I like her friends more. They were fun and interesting.
Overall, this story is about family, friendship, and acceptance. The message of this book is to believe in yourself. I really thought that this tale was creative. A Most Magical Girl is a fast-paced action and adventure tale. While I did not like the main character as much as I would have wanted, I did love her secondary characters. I also thought the world-building of a fantastical London was very breathtaking, and I was glad to explore more of this secret London. I recommend this story to those who love reading a fun frolic on a broomstick ride through Victorian London.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
June 26, 2020
Inhalt: Annabelles größter Wunsch sind grüne Schlittschuhe. Doch ihr größtes Geheimnis ist es, in Pfützen und spiegelnden Flächen Dinge sehen zu können. Als ihre Mutter sie dabei erwischt eine Vision zu beobachten, schickt sie Annabelle zu ihren Großtanten. Dort muss sie lernen, dass auch sie eine Hexe ist und ihr Schicksal sie dazu auserwählt hat, den bösen Magier Mr. Angel zu stoppen, der mit seinen Schatten London und die gute Magie bedroht. Ihr zur Seite steht Kitty, ein Mädchen, dass mit den Elfen reden kann und von deren Art es kaum noch welche gibt.
Art des Buches: Kinderbuch ab 10 Jahre
Wie fand ich das Buch? Obwohl das Buch ziemlich düster ist, mochte ich die kreativen Einfälle und auch die Geschichte selbst. Die Charaktere waren mir sehr sympathisch, ob es die schrulligen Großtanten sind, das wilde Mädchen Kitty, die kleine Trollin oder Annabelle selbst. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass kleine Mädchen doch ziemlich viel Angst und schlechte Träume von Mr. Angels Maschine und den Schatten haben könnten.
3 passende Wörter zum Buch? Hexen - London -Magie
Wem empfehlen? Es ist eine düstere magische Geschichte, die aus einem London stammt, in dem noch keine Autos unterwegs waren. Mutige junge und auch ältere Hexen können hier eine spannende Geschichte finden.
Art des Buches: Kinderbuch ab 10 Jahre
Wie fand ich das Buch? Obwohl das Buch ziemlich düster ist, mochte ich die kreativen Einfälle und auch die Geschichte selbst. Die Charaktere waren mir sehr sympathisch, ob es die schrulligen Großtanten sind, das wilde Mädchen Kitty, die kleine Trollin oder Annabelle selbst. Ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass kleine Mädchen doch ziemlich viel Angst und schlechte Träume von Mr. Angels Maschine und den Schatten haben könnten.
3 passende Wörter zum Buch? Hexen - London -Magie
Wem empfehlen? Es ist eine düstere magische Geschichte, die aus einem London stammt, in dem noch keine Autos unterwegs waren. Mutige junge und auch ältere Hexen können hier eine spannende Geschichte finden.
October 31, 2016
I read this one with my daughter because we both enjoyed Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. I probably liked it less well as the story is very much a retread, but we still had fun reading it together. My daughter did insist that I read the dialogue in the British accent, and I'm sure it was atrocious, but I did my best. Like Ophelia, I think it was a little on the scary side, and my daughter was horrified that villain kept indiscriminately killing people.
The real heart of the story is the friendships, and my daughter adored Kitty, while I found affection for a surprise character later on. I don't regret reading the book, but I think it had a little less heart and originality than its predecessor. 3.5/5.
The real heart of the story is the friendships, and my daughter adored Kitty, while I found affection for a surprise character later on. I don't regret reading the book, but I think it had a little less heart and originality than its predecessor. 3.5/5.
December 23, 2023
3.5 stars
favourite character/s: kitty, hafwen the troll
i wasn’t sure about how i felt about this book. it was a really ‘pretty’ story if that makes sense. the imagery and detail was great and the story was really creative and had a really magical vibe. i prefer YA over middle grade but this story was definitely made for middle grade. a lot of the characters didn’t have a lot of depth which didn’t make them very likeable at first but as the book went on i started to like the characters more. if you like fantasy, witches and magical things, this is a good book to read. it didn’t have an impact on me but i’m glad i read this.
favourite character/s: kitty, hafwen the troll
i wasn’t sure about how i felt about this book. it was a really ‘pretty’ story if that makes sense. the imagery and detail was great and the story was really creative and had a really magical vibe. i prefer YA over middle grade but this story was definitely made for middle grade. a lot of the characters didn’t have a lot of depth which didn’t make them very likeable at first but as the book went on i started to like the characters more. if you like fantasy, witches and magical things, this is a good book to read. it didn’t have an impact on me but i’m glad i read this.
July 31, 2016
Set in Victorian England, young Annabel Grey is sent by her mother to live with aunts she did not know existed. The aunts are witches and they tell Annabel that she is a most magical girl and because an evil man named Mr. Angel is building a magical machine to spread darkness and evil, it is up to Annabel to find a hidden magic wand to stop him. Another magical girl named Kitty is sent with Annabel on their quest underneath London through tunnels and trolls and past a dragon in order to save the good magic from the bad. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
January 25, 2017
4 1/2 stars
While this has many familiar tropes (dragons, witches, wizards, magic wands, fairies, dead/absent parents, long-lost relatives), Foxlee has a such a gift for taking the familiar and making it new and fresh again. She writes about unusual, magical settings; characters who discover their own strength; impossible quests; and unwilling helpers with a quiet flair. Loved this just as much as her Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy! At this point I think I would read anything that she writes.
I do wish that her endings didn't end quite so quickly; I want more, sequels even!
While this has many familiar tropes (dragons, witches, wizards, magic wands, fairies, dead/absent parents, long-lost relatives), Foxlee has a such a gift for taking the familiar and making it new and fresh again. She writes about unusual, magical settings; characters who discover their own strength; impossible quests; and unwilling helpers with a quiet flair. Loved this just as much as her Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy! At this point I think I would read anything that she writes.
I do wish that her endings didn't end quite so quickly; I want more, sequels even!
September 5, 2016
The cover is beautiful and the writing is beautiful, too. The villian parts were darker than I thought they'd be!
I will share more as spoilers below.
Happy Reading!
I will share more as spoilers below.
Happy Reading!
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