SUPERMAGDA

by Adrian Siska

Vitajte vo svete Ostrovov Wuka, kde sa prastaré legendy prelínajú s futuristickou technológiou. Práve tu sa Magdaléna Dunkelová a jej verný priateľ Caleb Owen púšťajú do pátrania po Stratenej hrobke kráľovnej They. Ich objav navždy zmení Magdin život a prepožičia jej výnimočné schopnosti. Kým sa učí ovládať svoju novú silu, s Calebom pracujú ako investigatívni novinári pre denník The Daily Pen. Ich najnovší prípad? Odhalenie pravdy o produkte spoločnosti GreenCorp, ktorý spôsobuje, že batoľatám záhadne rastú hlavy. Čím hlbšie prenikajú do temných tajomstiev korporácie, tým väčšiemu nebezpečenstvu čelia. S pomocou svojráznych spojencov – Doktora Drobčeka, kengury Jackie a morčaťa Boba – musia čeliť množstvu nástrah a výziev. Podarí sa im prekaziť zlovestný plán pána Greena skôr, než bude neskoro? Pridajte sa k SUPERMAGDE a jej priateľom v napínavom dobrodružstve plnom akcie a humoru!

Genres: Middle Grade

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Adrian is a Slovak author, game developer, and creative explorer who’s spent most of his life balancing logic with imagination. Growing up in a modest household, he often escaped into stories — not just for fun, but as a lifeline to something more exciting and meaningful. That early need to imagine better worlds evolved into a passion for creating his own.

Though he studied economics and worked in finance, Adrian’s love for storytelling never faded. He began writing exclusively in English during his years as a freelance translator, later releasing his debut novel The Next Step (2020), a science fiction love story that quietly touched hearts around the world.

In 2024, he followed it up with SUPERMAGDA, a fast-paced children’s adventure set in the whimsical world of the Wuka Islands, also available as an audiobook narrated by Tina Marie Cruz.

Adrian is also the creator of two indie games — Office Run (2022) and Wonder Ball (2024), both nominated for Slovakia’s BiT Awards.

He continues to tell fast-paced, emotionally driven stories full of action, heart, and imagination — always experimenting across genres and mediums.

Reviews

[Tiffani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read!

SUPERMAGDA is an exciting children's book set in the fantastical world of the Wuka Islands. Magdalena Dunkel and her friend Caleb Owen embark on a thrilling quest to uncover the Lost Tomb of Thea, where Magda discovers extraordinary powers. As they investigate the mysterious Brainy product of GreenCorp, they're joined by quirky allies like Dr. Tiny, Jackie the Kangaroo, and Bob the Guinea Pig.

Reading SUPERMAGDA with my kids was a blast! They loved the imaginative names of the characters, especially Bob the Guinea Pig. The story is fast-paced and filled with action, perfect for keeping young readers engaged. Adrian Siska's writing is accessible and fun, making it a hit for the whole family.

Overall, SUPERMAGDA is a delightful adventure that sparks the imagination and brings joy to readers of all ages. We can't wait for more adventures from the Wuka Islands!

[lili.darknight · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Mylee J. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Supermagda by Adrian Siska, Magda is a girl superhero in the making. In a world where island life combines with advanced technologies, she sets out for adventure - this time to unveil the Tomb Of Thea. When powers awaken within her and a new threat rises, she is made to fight on behalf of her friends and her world.

I haven't read such a fresh take on Middle Grade fiction in so, so long. I usually stick with the same few middle grade authors, but this novel inspired me to expand my reading pallet. Supermagda is a unique twist on the adventure fantasy trope. It's original, vibrant, and extraordinary. It's perfect for readers who are new to the fantasy genre and especially those of the younger fantasy audience. I loved following Magda on her adventures. It reminded me of the time I was young.

I especially liked the ragtag team that banded together to save the world. It can be hard to make talking animals active characters in any sort of book, so I applaud Siska for being able to portray such a unique cast of characters in such a fun way. This book gave me the vibe of anime-styled action sequences and music videos I used to watch as a child. Although it didn't contain a ton of prose, it made up for it with its unique and energetic voice, as well as the fluid scenes of action and adventure. Well done!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUPERMAGDA is a fun and action-packed adventure that blends ancient myths with futuristic tech in the unique world of the Wuka Islands. Magdalena Dunkel, or Magda, stumbles upon the Lost Tomb of Thea, and with it, she gains extraordinary powers that change her life forever. From mastering her new abilities to investigating the shady dealings of GreenCorp with her friend Caleb, Magda’s journey is a whirlwind of discovery and danger. And let’s not forget her quirky sidekicks—Dr. Tiny, Jackie the Kangaroo, and Bob the Guinea Pig—who add a fun and unexpected charm to the story.

The highlight of the book is the investigative angle where Magda and Caleb, as journalists, try to expose GreenCorp’s Brainy product, which is causing toddlers to develop unusually large heads. This part of the story adds intrigue and keeps you invested in unraveling GreenCorp’s dark secrets, but the pace sometimes drags in between the intense action scenes. Still, with Mr. Green’s evil plan looming and Magda's powers growing, the stakes are high, and the adventure never lets up.

While a few moments feel rushed or underdeveloped, SUPERMAGDA shines as an imaginative and entertaining read full of heart and humor. Definitely a fun 4-star adventure worth diving into! #SUPERMAGDA #NetGalley

[Linn J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing eArc!

Magda is just an ordinary girl that works as a journalist. Together with her colleague, Caleb and her dog, Dinky - they travel to the forest in search for the lost city and the legendary resting place for Queen Thea. A story only told in tale. But apparently very real.

Like Indiana Jones, they found the truth and in return, apparently being worthy the great power, Magda gains superpower and are basically now Superwoman.
They return to the city, only to start a conspiracy about Mr. Green, the most powerful man in the city. They research about cornflakes and infants growing head - yeah strange.

Uncover the truth leads Magda and Caleb further and further to something strange and powerfull.

Yeah this was an enjoyable, easy read and adventures book. Superheroes, talking animals and a super villain, the main ingredients of a good story basically. I can totally see any children read this short, adventurous and faced paced novel!

Recommend for anyone that likes marvel or any kind of superhero storylines and adventure!

[Ruby Ridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book complimentary from Book Sirens in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
Aimed at the Grade school reader this book hits the target dead center. It succeeds on just about every metric, A relatable main character who gets up in the morning, eats and goes out, no worries about clothes or makeup. No romance spoiling the book, friends are friends nothing more. Platonic sleepovers and the bad guys are bad the good guys are good, not nuances. This is the world of the target audience. Even better it is a damn good read for the reader who is reading along with them.
If you are reading this review and are a school librarian or are involved in making reading lists for schools I would suggest you take a look at this book.
Recommended

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!
DNF @ 37%

I didn't want to DNF this book since it was only 5 hours long and I was listening to it at 1.5 speed, but... I just didn't see a point making myself finish when I was so blah while reading it. I don't think the book is necessarily bad, just, I dunno, confused? I couldn't tell who this book is for. The plot just zoomed through below even a normal Middle Grade level, leaving me wanting. But then it's not for low MG/children's. There are too many word choices that seem above that level.

I think this is a decent idea. It just needs to lean into campiness if it's for young young audiences, and/or give the scenes more time to just be.

It's possible that I'm incorrect and those around 8 or 9 would really enjoy this. I always encourage forming your own opinions <3 In mine, though, it just feels too strange.

[Fandom SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recenziu pre Fandom.sk napísala Martina Urbanová. Úryvok z recenzie:

aivnejší ráz niektorých riešení obrusujú všetky tie okamihy, keď postavy len o vlások uniknú smrti. Magda totiž nie je superhrdinka-samotárka, ale je obklopená priateľmi a aj novými spojencami. Vďaka tomu vlastne vznikne celý obetavý tím, v ktorom má každý príležitosti zažiariť. Hoci v dvoch prípadoch ide o rozprávajúce zvieratá.

Čitateľ teda nemá núdzu o zábavu. Dej napreduje bez väčších prekážok a napätie by sa v istých momentoch dalo doslova krájať. To pomáha kompenzovať niektoré predvídateľné odhalenia alebo statické charaktery postáv. A malé zakopnutie, keď sa aktéri dozvedia dôležité informácie od bývalej upratovačky. Záver ale prináša uspokojujúce rozuzlenie a prísľub ďalších príbehov...

Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this children’s audiobook trying to work out who exactly it was written for. The plot of the story is easy to understand, with underlying ideas that we need to have self-belief but also that we need to work together to succeed. The characters are definitely going to interest children, especially the kangaroo and guinea pig. But the vocabulary seems at a higher level than I usually come across in children’s books. I came to the conclusion that this audiobook would be perfect if you have a child with strong vocabulary or one you want to challenge to learn new words. Thank you to Adrian Siska and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUPERMAGDA by Adrian Siska is a fascinating adventure that will captivate young readers who crave a mix of fantasy, science fiction, and action, making it a perfect fit for middle-grade enthusiasts who love exciting stories of self-discovery, friendship, and battling evil forces.

Thank you Netgalley for making this available on your website as a Listen Now book! I enjoyed listening to this book. This was so much fun. I liked everything about this book but my favorite part about this book was the fact that it has talking animals. This book is perfect for kids to read.

[Cgarsidereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son (11) and I listened to this as an audiobook.

Son’s review - It was fine. I wish the author would have gone more in depth. It just seemed to all zoom by. I like in my adventure and fantasy to be able to really imagine I was there especially on audio. This book sadly didn’t do that. I did love the animal characters and thought it was needed.

My review - It was cute. A quick audiobook to listen to while in the car.

Thank you NetGalley for being able to listen to this.

[Katie Harder-schauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt like it was designed to be used for school vocabulary/spelling lists, and not in a natural way. I’ll have a more in depth review posted here after it goes live on my blog.