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A Gift of Words

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A magical gift is more trouble than it's worth...

Cam has plenty of things to worry about. His best friend might have broken someone’s fingers, the class bully won’t leave him alone, and staying under the radar of his teachers is much harder than it ought to be. He definitely doesn’t need magic to make his life any more complicated.

Which is good, because when he does write his name in Libris Sapientia—the book of wisdom—a whole lot of nothing happens. He is a failure, and even a book agrees. Then, Loman Lykill joins their class, bringing a whole new brand of chaos to Highgrove Secondary.

Cam has his magical gift, whether he wants it or not.

A Gift of Words is the first book in The Gifts Trilogy by Rosalind Dando.

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2025

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Rosalind Dando

5 books7 followers

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Kealyn.
599 reviews170 followers
February 23, 2026
A Gift of Words by Rosalind Dando

3/5 stars

I have a huge weakness for middle grade books, and a middle grade book about a boy with magical powers? Yes please! Unfortunately the book and I never really connected. I'll try to explain myself as respectfully and as kindly as I can.

The book is about 12-year old Cam McLoughlin. Children at school bully him and he hates that his birthday is on a dreadful Monday. His mother and aunt are witches and he is expected to sign his name in a book called Libris Sapientia. The second he signs his name his gift will manifest and his family is eager for him to sign his name. He refuses and goes to school first. 

His best friend Alice is so happy and thrilled and she comes home with him so she can watch him add his name in the family book. He procrastinates but eventually signs it, but nothing immediately happens and he feels like an utter failure.

He always loves Norse mythology and he writes down in his notebook that he wished Loki came to his school. A few moments later there is a knock on the classroom door and a new boy enters the classroom. It's Loman Lykill and they become fast friends. 

But things get weirder. What exactly is his gift? And why do strange things happen all around him? Why can he suddenly do nothing wrong? And why is that bird following him around?

This book really has the perfect set up for an incredibly middle grade story. But after the story was set up I was expecting something grand to happen. I expected a huge twist or a deeper story element that would be added. But nothing really came. Don't get me wrong, things happen and the story slowly goes forwards. But nothing grand or epic really happens and I was constantly hoping for more. It was a little dull and I could put the book away easily. The ending is also rather sudden and felt a bit out of place.

I just missed depth, story and character development and a steady but exciting pace that kept you glued to the pages.

So 3 stars overall from me for A Gift of Words.

I am looking forward to the sequel and I hope the story picks up then and really develops and explodes into something more. It's not a bad book at all, it just could be a little more exciting and I am very glad I read it. ♥
Profile Image for morganbbooks.
18 reviews5 followers
July 28, 2025
This book was everything I could’ve wanted out of a middle-grade fantasy. Between the reality bending powers, the ravens, the trickster, and the complexity of the powers shown through a potentially sentient (?) book, I had the best time! And all the characters definitely kept me intrigued and always wanting to know more. Even the main bully character was someone I became invested in and I’m still dying to know what his deal was and why he was Like That. And I was especially interested to see more of his brother, but we didn’t get that in here.

I know this book is part of a series and so probably a lot more that was only touched on here will be explored later, and for the most part, it still all managed to feel complete, but towards the end, it did feel like suddenly a lot happened without the proper space to pay it all off. I love the direction and everything that did happen, and I especially love the way the ending issue was actually something that was subtly built up throughout the book as sort of a background story unraveling. It’s just that the ending did happen suddenly, which threw off the pacing a little for me, which is extra noticeable because the whole rest of the book had great pacing and flow.

Despite the minor gripe about the ending, I overall loved this book so much. The conflicts were engaging, the characters really felt so alive and endearing and intriguing. The main relationships/friendships between characters were so sweet and I absolutely loved Cam’s family and the love they have for each other really shines through in every interaction they have. From the moment they were introduced, they all gave me really strong impressions of who they are as characters. This book had me asking so many questions in a good way. I just want to know everything about the lore of this world and the witches and the book.

Another thing that really stood out to me about this book was the descriptions and the similes and metaphors, that were both fun and creative and complemented the story’s tone really well. Not to repeat myself too much, but I had the best time with this book.

Thank you so much to the author for sending me a free copy of this book! Sent as part of me signing up for the ARC for book 2, which will be an upcoming review.
Profile Image for Andrew.
732 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2026
Blurb

A magical gift is more trouble than it's worth...

Cam has plenty of things to worry about. His best friend might have broken someone’s fingers, the class bully won’t leave him alone, and staying under the radar of his teachers is much harder than it ought to be. He definitely doesn’t need magic to make his life any more complicated. Which is good, because when he does write his name in Libris Sapientia—the book of wisdom—a whole lot of nothing happens. He is a failure, and even a book agrees. Then, Loman Lykill joins their class, bringing a whole new brand of chaos to Highgrove Secondary. Cam has his magical gift, whether he wants it or not.

Review

This is a wonderful Middle Grade book which was a delight to read from beginning to end. You just can’t help falling in love with the main characters, and especially Cam. Cam is dealing with a lot, including relentless bullying at school, and as it is his birthday he is due to write his name in the book of Wisdom (Libris Sapientia) to find out what magical gift he is to be given. However things definitely do not go as planned.

This book really has a bit of everything in it, and the pages just roll by without you even noticing it, and by the end of the book you are definitely left wanting more, much more! Amongst other things there are elements of the Norse Gods in the book, and one of them even joins Cam’s class, and this causes loads of chaos and misadventure for all concerned, and Cam is right at the heart of it.

There is some much content and themes running through this book that it would make a good class novel, and would allow for plenty of discussions on the various themes.

I do hope we have not seen the last of Cam and Alice, and I do look forward to reading the next book in the series. It is a definitely a strong recommendation for the book form me whether you are an adult or a child.

Book Details

Page Count: 201 Pages
Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction
Age Category: Middle-Grade
Date Published: April 29, 2024
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/53GKq0t (Canada) https://a.co/d/g6um4gi (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/cEfrXA0 (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b...


Author Bio

Rosalind Dando is an author, artist, and primary school teacher living in the north of England. She has written several novels, and her debut, A Gift of Words, is published in April 2024 by Shadow Spark Publishing. She can be found on various social media sites, including Bluesky, X, and Facebook.

Contact her through any of the above sites, or email: rosalinddando@gmail.com
Profile Image for A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol).
2,178 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2026
Book source ~ BBNYA

Cam believes he’s a failure. I’m not entirely sure why. But when he writes his name in the family book of magic, his ability doesn’t appear. Nothing. Nada. He feels absolutely no different. Every single person in his family has had their magical gift appear right away. So, this further reinforces his sense of worthlessness. Except, something does happen. A rare ability shows itself when he summons the God of Mischief himself, Loki. Uh, oh. Things are about to get super interesting.

The writing, the world, the characters are all excellent. The sudden appearance of Loki is an added bonus even though it set my nerves on edge. You just know he’s going to do something awful. Does he? You’ll have to read to find out. Trust me. This is a story totally worth reading.
Profile Image for ReadingMom.
71 reviews723 followers
February 20, 2026
Source: BBNYA

I absolutely adored this cozy middle grade fantasy. Cameron McLoughlin, better known as Cam, is such an adorable MC. He is bullied at school, he suffers from low self esteem, and basically thinks of himself as a loser. But then he discovers he is special. The magical powers in this are done really well, but what I particularly liked was the way the author developed the friendship bonds and theme throughout. Friendship was Cam's ultimate strength and power in the end.

Highly recommend it to all middle grade readers. You'll fall in love with Cam!



Profile Image for Jennifer Gadd.
Author 8 books4 followers
April 22, 2024
Cameron Darius  McLoughlin is pretty sure he’s a total loser. Kids at school pick on him, and his teachers are never quite satisfied with him, either. When his twelfth birthday rolls around, and he finally gets to write his name in his quirky family’s magic book and get his special power—pffft, nothing. And that suits him just fine, thank you very much.

That is until he accidentally invokes a certain popular mythological mischief-maker. If he can’t learn to operate his magical gift, he’ll never get his life together. With the help of his best friend Alice, Cam explores the magic of friendship and the even deeper magic of chosen family.

Rosalind Dando’s middle grade fantasy, while reminiscent of Ingrid Law’s Savvy, incorporates a clever and unique magical system that seems to follow family lines. But what really sets A Gift of Words apart is Cam himself. His voice is charming and hilarious, and his interiority and point of view lift and brighten the storytelling around some serious issues—bullying, anxiety, and self-esteem—and make it a joy to read.

I recommend this book—the first in a series—without reservation to middle-grade readers. A Gift of Words reminds us that the worst monsters we’ll ever face are the nonmagical ones, and with luck, skill, and a trusted friend, we can beat them, every time.
Profile Image for Simon Howard.
Author 31 books3 followers
April 21, 2024
A Gift Of Words . By Rosalind Dando : My Review 


A magical gift is more trouble than it's worth! 

Cam has a lot to deal with at school, he has a bully that won't leave him alone, despite his best attempts he finds flying under the radar hard and not that he wants it, but he doesn't have any magic, magical legacy be damned. 

And Loman his new friend spreads chaos wherever he goes, but at least he has a friend in Alice. Before long Cam has magic wanted or not and then a breakneck adventure involving Norse Gods begins. 

This is a fast paced adventure with an engaging plot, while aimed at 10+, adults will easily find themselves swept away with this story. The action is fun and well written, the plot is clever and the characters are extremely well developed,  Cam has lots of issues and I could identify with him  and his struggles at school quite a bit. Loman is cracking good fun and a laugh a minute. But for me Alice had my heart by turns brave and protective, but is struggling with her own issues of neglect and abuse, she defidefinitely stood out!

The other characters were well rounded in particular the very cool Aunt. 

All in all this is a fantastic read. Easily worth five stars. 
168 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2024
This is a very enjoyable middle-grade contemporary fantasy story. As Cam struggles to find his place within his family’s magical legacy, while negotiating the first year of secondary school and dealing with bullying, his new friend Loman spreads chaos in his wake, bringing Cam along for the ride. Although I think it is intended that Cam, the main character, be interpreted as neuro-divergent, I felt his anxieties were relatable to most of us. Alice, his best friend, is wonderful; a troubled, abused, neglected young woman, who is fiercely loyal and protective.

The story is nicely paced and well-plotted, though there were a few holes that I would have liked to see addressed. Some of the supporting characters were weak and under-developed, but given that this is the first book in a new series, I would hope to see these explored further in subsequent stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Kassidy Coursey.
Author 3 books45 followers
June 29, 2024
A Gift of Words hooked me from the start. The main character, Cam, is so relatable in his awkwardness and introverted but kind nature. I connected with him immediately, wanted to pull him into a tight hug at the same time I wished to bolster him. The book follows him through a coming-of-age that feels believable, even as he’s surrounded by magic and shenanigans.

The writing is superb, the similes hilarious, and the heart-warming moments had me filled with the coziest feeling. I would recommend this book to anyone who is drawn to the above in a HEARTBEAT.
Profile Image for Samantha Middleton.
4 reviews
April 13, 2024
I loved this book!

The characters. The story. The writing. I loved it all.

Cam resonated with me. I was him (barring the magical heritage of course) when I was his age; a ball of anxiety trying to keep my head down at a school where I never thought I'd quite fit in.

Alice is the kind of plucky and headstrong teen I wish I had been.

Loman is wisecracking and every time he is on the page, he is the centre of attention (which makes sense the further into the book you get).

And Cam's aunt Frankie is the definition of a cool aunt ( having become an aunt myself last year, I an now determined to be just like her!)

This book might be intended for Middle Grade audience, but as a woman in her thirties, I could not put this down. It is a must have for my shelf and if you like magic, mischief, a smidgen of teen rebellion and a wonderful sense of family (found or otherwise) then Ros's book is for you.
1 review
April 8, 2024
Buckle up, buttercup, because this book is a glorious whirlwind of a ride! It uses just the right sprinkle of teen reality, a dollop of magic, and a big ol' squirt of Norse gods for good measure for a perfect reading treat.

The characters leaped off the page and into my heart - even (especially?) the more mischievous of the bunch! And Cam (our twelve-year-old protagonist with more baggage than an airport carousel) I felt I'd been friends with for my whole life. I'm pretty sure I've met his mum and aunt at one point or other (possibly I am his aunt?...)

Anyway! It's a great mix of fun, edge-of-seat peril, and that quintessential soupçon of whimsical mystery to create a gripping, great reading experience. Two big thumbs up and well done, Rosalind Dando! Can't wait for the next in the series!
Profile Image for GirlLovesto Read.
61 reviews
February 19, 2026
Oh I totally fell in love with Cam. He is such a well crafted character. He struggles with low self esteem and bullies, the way he talks about himself just makes you want to tell him to believe in himself. Really brilliantly done by the author Rosalind Dando. It’s a middle grade fantasy but I think it could really appeal to adults because the story and especially Cam are not simplistic, but actually very deep and powerful. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s another brilliant finalist from the highly regarded BBNYA competition, so you know I am not just talking it up. It legitimately is really good and the author deserves more exposure.

If you want a great middle grade fantasy full of heart and if you want to given up and coming author some well deserved support you really should pick this book up.
Profile Image for Maja.
77 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2026
A Gift of Words is such an intriguing and engaging read. The character of Cam is well-written and the target audience (MG readers) will no doubt be able to relate to his myriad of feelings, worries and experiences- minus the magic dilemma; he is a wholesome, gentle individual and one that readers will enjoy spending time with. His best friend is Alice. Without giving too much away, she is described as a Valkyrie and I think this is apt. Alice and Cam's friendship is a perfect blend of support, kinship and acceptance. The story flows and is a  perfect blend of magic and Norse mythology which are brought together to create a brilliantly entertaining read. This will undoubtedly fly off the shelves.
Huge thank you to @WriteReads for putting this on my reader radar. An utterly brilliant read. Cannot wait to discover Book 2.
Profile Image for Amanda.
Author 14 books37 followers
April 20, 2024
To say I liked this middle grade fantasy would be an understatement. I loved it. The characters (especially Cam, the protagonist) were so real and relatable. I loved how supportive Cam's family were throughout the book (the kind of strong family rep that would make anyone feel loved and warm). Alice was the kind of best friend anyone could wish for and her struggles felt authentic without being over the top. Loman brought the perfect amount of mischief and comic relief to the table without it feeling forced. I hope this is only the first book in a series because I'd love to spend more time with the characters. And, if you're a Magnus Chase fan, you will too!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Bookish kingdom.
54 reviews
February 19, 2026
This is a lovely middle grade fantasy. I’m not in the least bit surprised that it was chosen as a finalist in the 2025 book bloggers novel the year award. I thought Cam made for an adorable and relatable main character. Its very hard not to root for the kid from very early on. Thought the author did a great job exploring and developing the very unique magic powers.

The writing is simple and elegant without being too wordy or heavy and despite what I see in a couple of other reviews I didn’t find the ending rushed or anything.
Profile Image for Courtney Collins.
Author 3 books63 followers
January 15, 2025
This charming book follows Cam and bestie Alice as they navigate the emergence of a magical gift in our ordinary world. To complicate matters, Loki is accidentally summoned to join them... as a middle schooler. Cam is full to the brim with anxiety, and you can't help but wish for the best outcome for him. The real scene stealer, though, is Alice, a well-fleshed out character with her own trials. You really just want to mother these two kiddos.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews