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Uncommon Magic #1
A Pocket Full of Murder
A determined young girl joins forces with an adventure-loving street boy to save her father’s life in this magical murder mystery.
In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.
Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?
In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.
Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2015
52 people are currently reading
3877 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Anderson
18 books1,476 followersR.J. (Rebecca) Anderson was born in Uganda, raised in Ontario, and has spent much of her life dreaming of other worlds entirely. She is the author of ten traditionally published fantasy/SF books for children and teens, including the UK-bestselling faery romance KNIFE. Her latest published book is TORCH (Book 3 of the Flight and Flame trilogy, which began with SWIFT and NOMAD).
* * * REVIEW POLICY * * *
I review books that I enjoyed reading and think other readers may enjoy as well, but that doesn't mean I agree with or endorse those books in every respect. If you're concerned about content, please check out other reviewers or sites that provide detailed warnings.
I'm no longer giving star ratings as I don't find them nuanced enough, but for books I've already rated, see below:
5 stars: I loved this book so much that I expect to read it again and again -- I reserve this rating for beloved classics and books that knocked my socks off.
4 stars: I really enjoyed the book and/or thought it was excellently done -- there is a good possibility that I'll re-read it.
3 stars: I enjoyed the book and thought it was well done. Should not be taken as belittling the book or its author -- it really does mean "I liked it".
2 stars: I didn't connect to this book as I'd hoped. This category includes books by authors whose other works I truly love, so it's not a dealbreaker. Just found this particular book wasn't for me.
1 star/DNF: Definitely not for me. But I won't be reviewing it because I choose to focus on books I enjoy.
* * * REVIEW POLICY * * *
I review books that I enjoyed reading and think other readers may enjoy as well, but that doesn't mean I agree with or endorse those books in every respect. If you're concerned about content, please check out other reviewers or sites that provide detailed warnings.
I'm no longer giving star ratings as I don't find them nuanced enough, but for books I've already rated, see below:
5 stars: I loved this book so much that I expect to read it again and again -- I reserve this rating for beloved classics and books that knocked my socks off.
4 stars: I really enjoyed the book and/or thought it was excellently done -- there is a good possibility that I'll re-read it.
3 stars: I enjoyed the book and thought it was well done. Should not be taken as belittling the book or its author -- it really does mean "I liked it".
2 stars: I didn't connect to this book as I'd hoped. This category includes books by authors whose other works I truly love, so it's not a dealbreaker. Just found this particular book wasn't for me.
1 star/DNF: Definitely not for me. But I won't be reviewing it because I choose to focus on books I enjoy.
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May 14, 2015Just finished reading the ARC aloud to my youngest son, to whom the book is dedicated. I dearly wish I'd recorded his reaction when we got to a certain part of the story, but it was classic -- "YOU PLOT-TWISTER! HOW CAN YOU -- WHY DID YOU -- HOW DID YOU EVEN DO THAT?!?" So I think it's safe to say he didn't see it coming, and that made me very happy indeed.
We also had to read the last six chapters all in one sitting tonight, since he was wringing his hands in despair that my characters could ever possibly get out of the sticky situation I'd put them in, and accusing me of being The Meanest Author Ever.
When we were done, my middle son said thoughtfully, "You know, Mom, I think that's my favourite of all the books you've written yet." I was still glowing over it when my youngest decided to keep me humble by saying, "I think I still like NOMAD the best."
Which just goes to show that tastes differ (and possibly that more people ought to read NOMAD than have done so up to this point). But judging by my sons' reaction, A POCKET FULL OF MURDER seems to appeal quite well to its intended audience, and that's all I could really wish for.
I hope you will like it too.
We also had to read the last six chapters all in one sitting tonight, since he was wringing his hands in despair that my characters could ever possibly get out of the sticky situation I'd put them in, and accusing me of being The Meanest Author Ever.
When we were done, my middle son said thoughtfully, "You know, Mom, I think that's my favourite of all the books you've written yet." I was still glowing over it when my youngest decided to keep me humble by saying, "I think I still like NOMAD the best."
Which just goes to show that tastes differ (and possibly that more people ought to read NOMAD than have done so up to this point). But judging by my sons' reaction, A POCKET FULL OF MURDER seems to appeal quite well to its intended audience, and that's all I could really wish for.
I hope you will like it too.
March 9, 2023
YES, YES, YES. This book is SO good! Library, please hurry up and help me get Book 2! XD
November 25, 2025
2/2.5 stars ⭐️ Mainstream/Secular Fiction - Middle-Grade Historical Fantasy
I was a little lost at times because of all the politics and names/characters involved in this book (and their titles), but overall I would say I really enjoyed this story and the setting. I haven’t read many steampunk books and even less of them were middle-grade. I read this book physically, which was a bit of a bummer because had I read it on Kindle, I definitely would have made use of the search feature to keep track of all the characters and who’s-who—that was the main thing I struggled with while reading, all the names.
I’ve said before that I find it iffy when a middle-grade book is about a murder, but I appreciate that this one 1.) the main character does not find the body (unlike most of the murder mystery books I’ve seen and read in the middle-grade genre) and 2.) our main character is hunting to find the true murderer only because her father has been taken by the police as they believe he is the murderer (she probably wouldn’t have gotten involved if it didn’t directly affect her family). These differences made this one a little more acceptable in my eyes for a younger reader.
The ending of this one was a little more telling than showing than I prefer with my mysteries and ends slightly rushed, but because there’s a sequel book, I imagine it will continue and pick up shortly after this one ended.
Main Content-
The backcover of this book shares about the magic content well, but for more details: In this world, there’s two different types of magic: Common magic (that commoners are able to do) and Sage magic (which only nobles can do). Isaveth makes magic on page but it’s similar to baking (called “spell-baking”) with using flour, eggs, and milk and also “binding powder” and “magewort”. They are called “spells” and Isaveth follows the recipe from “The Common Book of Magic”. When baked correctly, they become “spell-tablets” and can be broken to release heat, light, cool air, or even to wash someone’s hands without water or find something/someone like an AirTag. You can also brew a decoction. There are also “charms” that Sages make such as making someone only be able to tell the truth (but it turns out that it actually makes the person unable to stop talking until given an antidote or they stop breathing). While usually only used for good, the murder happens because someone used an explosive spell-tablet on the victim.
When referring to someone who has passed away, the person’s name is said with “Sages comfort him”; Another character says “Thank the Sages”; “Great Sages” is exclaimed in shock.
Quiz says he gave his eye to a crow in exchange for wisdom (obviously not the truth).
Isaveth’s family are “Moshite” (which is implied to be both an ethnic group and a religion) and they show their faith by saying blessings before eating to the “All-One” while lighting candles (one prayer is written: "Giver of life, provider of bread, hope of the world to come."), wearing prayer scarves, and going to the Temple; Isaveth’s sister is more devout than her & Isaveth thinks her sister believes “it was her Moshite duty to obey the authorities and not cause any trouble”; However, they face prejudice because of being Moshite rather than being of the common “Unifying” faith (including a comment that “Some people didn't need a logical reason to blame Moshites for everything that was wrong with the world. Any excuse would do.”); Isaveth lies about being Unifying when asked to get her sister a job and laters feels some guilt over it after seeing her sister’s reaction (*Spoilers* ); Isaveth and her sisters are treated like they’re cursed or infected by all their fellow temple-members except one after their father is arrested; Isaveth says her faith isn’t as strong as her sister’s; Deapite not being as devout as her sister, Isaveth knows it would be wrong to pardon someone who hasn’t shown remorse or guilt for his actions.
Quiz says he isn’t Unifying or a Moshite because he doesn’t “bother about these things”; Isaveth isn’t comfort veiling herself in front of Quiz, so she doesn’t say a blessing over their food for the first time.
History of the Moshites and the prejudice towards them is shared: “It didn't seem fair to Isaveth that her family should be judged for something their ancestors had done centuries ago, especially since it was no worse than what the various sects that now made up the Unifying Church had done at the same time. They'd all rebelled against the Arcan Temple, with its elaborate, lore-based rituals and charms that only the wealthy could afford, and demanded the right to practice Common Magic and worship as they saw fit. And in the end they'd got what they wanted, but only by agreeing to band together and sign a pact with the Arcans. The Moshites, however, had refused, saying the treaty went against their beliefs... and they'd been feared and despised for it ever since. Even once their leaders were executed, their meeting halls burned, and their traditional day of worship struck from the calendar to enforce one Templeday for all, many still saw the followers of Moshiel as a threat. But these days most Sagelords allowed Moshites to live and worship freely as long as they kept the peace, and the Lawkeepers were supposed to be above prejudice.”
Mentions of prayers & praying (to the All-One); Mentions of going to the temple; A mention of “Moshiel” who is the guide for the Moshites; A mention of a book titled “Your Future—Written in the Stars”.
Isaveth deals with the neighbor bully & his taunts and stealing (including him wanting her to kiss his feet but she doesn’t and him making one of her sisters cry); Quiz calls the bully names (“rancid glob of pig’s meat”) and pummels/fights the bully; Isaveth also hears the boy taunting and kicking his family’s dog (Quiz gives the “poor, half-starved creature” half a sleep-tablet to get past him, which causes the bully to kick the dog; Isaveth notes at one point that that dog would starve if not turned loose to hunt rats); At the end, she stands up against the bully.
Isaveth writes a story where the hero is being held at knife-point by a villain.
The government has made it illegal for others to speak out against those in charge; Nobles’ votes in the government setting count for two votes while the citizen’s representatives (non-nobles) only count as one each; Isaveth and Quiz go to an illegal gathering and hear the conversations against the government’s authority.
Prejudice towards Moshites like Isaveth and her family (including from police-like people).
One of Isaveth’s sisters accuses their cousin of not doing anything but the other sister says she’s being mean and that it’s not his fault he was “born slow”.
Isaveth’s father is arrested for the murder of a government official & Isaveth wants to prove her father’s innocence by finding the real murderer; The body is never described, but we do learn how the man died (via a magic item).
Being poked with a “sleep-wand” and being unconscious, Being chased, & throwing a spell-tablet at someone to get away; Someone throws a spell-tablet at Isaveth and Quiz; Seeing someone kidnapped & seeing others be touched with a “sleep-wand” and become unconscious; Isaveth sees a mother that is very sick which reminds her of her mother before she passed (up to a few sentences).
Quiz wears an eyepatch due to an injury (*Spoilers* And *Major Spoilers*); Towards the end, Quiz seems like he could be “insane” with hatred for someone (*Major Spoilers* ).
Language: nothing stronger than stupid and idiot; A few mentions of curses said, not written; Quiz says “curse it” a couple times in frustration; Lying (mostly regarding trying to solve the murder mystery); Eavesdropping; Some sibling bickering and jealousy between Isaveth’s younger sisters; Isaveth’s younger sisters steal food from a party (and Isaveth eats some as well) & they are chased out of the party; Isaveth does flatter some people knowing that if she does, she can gain answers from them without them knowing.
A newspaper report about a man who seemed to have taken his own life by hanging.
Many mentions of the murder, body being found, & the possible motivation for the murderer; Mentions of deaths, illnesses, & grief (including Isaveth for her mother); Mentions of children being orphaned and turning to thieving to survive; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of fires, smoke, beatings (including by police officers to unarmed citizens), & injuries; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of criminals, jails, gallows, & death sentences (hangings); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & taverns, Mentions of pipes & smoking; Mentions of a bully; Mentions of lies, lying, & deception; Mentions of hatred; A few mentions of a possible suicide; A few mentions of gambling; A few mentions of throwing up.
Isaveth has a bit of a crush on a young man and thinks that she could basked in his smile forever and thinks of him as handsome; Isaveth’s sister accuses her of having “goopy-eyes” when she looks at him and another says she gets all “swoony” over him (which she denies).
Isaveth wants the beginning of a “love story” but is interrupted before she writes the kiss.
Quiz is mistaken as Isaveth’s boyfriend a few times (which is never corrected); Quiz seems to like Isaveth and towards the end asks *Spoiler* .
A few mentions of blushes.
I was a little lost at times because of all the politics and names/characters involved in this book (and their titles), but overall I would say I really enjoyed this story and the setting. I haven’t read many steampunk books and even less of them were middle-grade. I read this book physically, which was a bit of a bummer because had I read it on Kindle, I definitely would have made use of the search feature to keep track of all the characters and who’s-who—that was the main thing I struggled with while reading, all the names.
I’ve said before that I find it iffy when a middle-grade book is about a murder, but I appreciate that this one 1.) the main character does not find the body (unlike most of the murder mystery books I’ve seen and read in the middle-grade genre) and 2.) our main character is hunting to find the true murderer only because her father has been taken by the police as they believe he is the murderer (she probably wouldn’t have gotten involved if it didn’t directly affect her family). These differences made this one a little more acceptable in my eyes for a younger reader.
The ending of this one was a little more telling than showing than I prefer with my mysteries and ends slightly rushed, but because there’s a sequel book, I imagine it will continue and pick up shortly after this one ended.
Main Content-
The backcover of this book shares about the magic content well, but for more details: In this world, there’s two different types of magic: Common magic (that commoners are able to do) and Sage magic (which only nobles can do). Isaveth makes magic on page but it’s similar to baking (called “spell-baking”) with using flour, eggs, and milk and also “binding powder” and “magewort”. They are called “spells” and Isaveth follows the recipe from “The Common Book of Magic”. When baked correctly, they become “spell-tablets” and can be broken to release heat, light, cool air, or even to wash someone’s hands without water or find something/someone like an AirTag. You can also brew a decoction. There are also “charms” that Sages make such as making someone only be able to tell the truth (but it turns out that it actually makes the person unable to stop talking until given an antidote or they stop breathing). While usually only used for good, the murder happens because someone used an explosive spell-tablet on the victim.
When referring to someone who has passed away, the person’s name is said with “Sages comfort him”; Another character says “Thank the Sages”; “Great Sages” is exclaimed in shock.
Quiz says he gave his eye to a crow in exchange for wisdom (obviously not the truth).
Isaveth’s family are “Moshite” (which is implied to be both an ethnic group and a religion) and they show their faith by saying blessings before eating to the “All-One” while lighting candles (one prayer is written: "Giver of life, provider of bread, hope of the world to come."), wearing prayer scarves, and going to the Temple; Isaveth’s sister is more devout than her & Isaveth thinks her sister believes “it was her Moshite duty to obey the authorities and not cause any trouble”; However, they face prejudice because of being Moshite rather than being of the common “Unifying” faith (including a comment that “Some people didn't need a logical reason to blame Moshites for everything that was wrong with the world. Any excuse would do.”); Isaveth lies about being Unifying when asked to get her sister a job and laters feels some guilt over it after seeing her sister’s reaction (*Spoilers* ); Isaveth and her sisters are treated like they’re cursed or infected by all their fellow temple-members except one after their father is arrested; Isaveth says her faith isn’t as strong as her sister’s; Deapite not being as devout as her sister, Isaveth knows it would be wrong to pardon someone who hasn’t shown remorse or guilt for his actions.
Quiz says he isn’t Unifying or a Moshite because he doesn’t “bother about these things”; Isaveth isn’t comfort veiling herself in front of Quiz, so she doesn’t say a blessing over their food for the first time.
History of the Moshites and the prejudice towards them is shared: “It didn't seem fair to Isaveth that her family should be judged for something their ancestors had done centuries ago, especially since it was no worse than what the various sects that now made up the Unifying Church had done at the same time. They'd all rebelled against the Arcan Temple, with its elaborate, lore-based rituals and charms that only the wealthy could afford, and demanded the right to practice Common Magic and worship as they saw fit. And in the end they'd got what they wanted, but only by agreeing to band together and sign a pact with the Arcans. The Moshites, however, had refused, saying the treaty went against their beliefs... and they'd been feared and despised for it ever since. Even once their leaders were executed, their meeting halls burned, and their traditional day of worship struck from the calendar to enforce one Templeday for all, many still saw the followers of Moshiel as a threat. But these days most Sagelords allowed Moshites to live and worship freely as long as they kept the peace, and the Lawkeepers were supposed to be above prejudice.”
Mentions of prayers & praying (to the All-One); Mentions of going to the temple; A mention of “Moshiel” who is the guide for the Moshites; A mention of a book titled “Your Future—Written in the Stars”.
Isaveth deals with the neighbor bully & his taunts and stealing (including him wanting her to kiss his feet but she doesn’t and him making one of her sisters cry); Quiz calls the bully names (“rancid glob of pig’s meat”) and pummels/fights the bully; Isaveth also hears the boy taunting and kicking his family’s dog (Quiz gives the “poor, half-starved creature” half a sleep-tablet to get past him, which causes the bully to kick the dog; Isaveth notes at one point that that dog would starve if not turned loose to hunt rats); At the end, she stands up against the bully.
Isaveth writes a story where the hero is being held at knife-point by a villain.
The government has made it illegal for others to speak out against those in charge; Nobles’ votes in the government setting count for two votes while the citizen’s representatives (non-nobles) only count as one each; Isaveth and Quiz go to an illegal gathering and hear the conversations against the government’s authority.
Prejudice towards Moshites like Isaveth and her family (including from police-like people).
One of Isaveth’s sisters accuses their cousin of not doing anything but the other sister says she’s being mean and that it’s not his fault he was “born slow”.
Isaveth’s father is arrested for the murder of a government official & Isaveth wants to prove her father’s innocence by finding the real murderer; The body is never described, but we do learn how the man died (via a magic item).
Being poked with a “sleep-wand” and being unconscious, Being chased, & throwing a spell-tablet at someone to get away; Someone throws a spell-tablet at Isaveth and Quiz; Seeing someone kidnapped & seeing others be touched with a “sleep-wand” and become unconscious; Isaveth sees a mother that is very sick which reminds her of her mother before she passed (up to a few sentences).
Quiz wears an eyepatch due to an injury (*Spoilers* And *Major Spoilers*); Towards the end, Quiz seems like he could be “insane” with hatred for someone (*Major Spoilers* ).
Language: nothing stronger than stupid and idiot; A few mentions of curses said, not written; Quiz says “curse it” a couple times in frustration; Lying (mostly regarding trying to solve the murder mystery); Eavesdropping; Some sibling bickering and jealousy between Isaveth’s younger sisters; Isaveth’s younger sisters steal food from a party (and Isaveth eats some as well) & they are chased out of the party; Isaveth does flatter some people knowing that if she does, she can gain answers from them without them knowing.
A newspaper report about a man who seemed to have taken his own life by hanging.
Many mentions of the murder, body being found, & the possible motivation for the murderer; Mentions of deaths, illnesses, & grief (including Isaveth for her mother); Mentions of children being orphaned and turning to thieving to survive; Mentions of a kidnapping; Mentions of fires, smoke, beatings (including by police officers to unarmed citizens), & injuries; Mentions of thieves & stealing; Mentions of criminals, jails, gallows, & death sentences (hangings); Mentions of alcohol, drinking, drunks, & taverns, Mentions of pipes & smoking; Mentions of a bully; Mentions of lies, lying, & deception; Mentions of hatred; A few mentions of a possible suicide; A few mentions of gambling; A few mentions of throwing up.
Isaveth has a bit of a crush on a young man and thinks that she could basked in his smile forever and thinks of him as handsome; Isaveth’s sister accuses her of having “goopy-eyes” when she looks at him and another says she gets all “swoony” over him (which she denies).
Isaveth wants the beginning of a “love story” but is interrupted before she writes the kiss.
Quiz is mistaken as Isaveth’s boyfriend a few times (which is never corrected); Quiz seems to like Isaveth and towards the end asks *Spoiler* .
A few mentions of blushes.
October 5, 2015
Arc provided by Atheneum Books through Edelweiss
Book Status: Released September 8th
"
There was a time in which I had to write a review immediately after I had finished whatever book I was reading... now I kind of dread this moment, because I haven't felt all that much love for the arcs I've been reading lately.
This story unfortunately follows the same pattern. *sigh*
I have to admit that practically after page one I had to force myself to keep reading this. Never a good sign.
My main problem with this story is that I found it preachy, and that is something that I hate in books.
With a Charles Dickens' tone to it "woe is on us... and aren't we so poor... and everything bad happens to us", but with a Judaic connotation, this ended being a hot mess of a book.
_ One has the religious part, which ends up engulfing the whole book, because Isaveth (the main character) and her family are Moshites (which is the made up word for Judaism), and they're frowned upon _ and basically hated _ because of that.
_ Then there's the magical aspect of the story, which was basically reduced to cooking lessons: Magic is basically cooked...
I don't know. Maybe a younger reader will find this interesting. I just found it dull.
The world building ends up being built through the use of different words for things we're already familiar with.
Then I know that Isaveth is very young: she's only thirteen years old (I think). But I found her too much of a goody too shoes. I honestly couldn't care less about her.
Or about her older sister who is wasting away in her factory job... or about their younger sisters who need shoes and clothes. *inserts Kleenex*
Look, if an author makes it impossible for me to feel anything else but pity for the characters because their life seems like something out of Jane Eyre, I am going to have a problem with that. Because unlike Jane Eyre's beginning in which characters die while Jane is in that "school", and you never again forget it, in this story this just felt like a crap artifice destined to fill a few more pages.
When the good guys are just that good... and the bad guys are just that bad, just because. This will bore me.
The only reason I kept on reading it was because of Quiz: the boy with the eye patch and the not so mysterious story: almost from the moment that he appeared that I thought "Can he be....?"
I was right. It was him. *pats self on the back*
So basically I just kept reading until the end to see if I was right about Quiz.
On to the positives, the author continues to have characters who have some sort of physical impairment as the heroes of their own stories.
It's a story full of lessons: Respect every one's religions... don't be fooled by a pretty face... suffering leads to happiness. Sorry, I couldn't resist about this last one.
The writing is as competent as ever, I just couldn't feel a connection to the story, but maybe the younger crowd to whom the story is intended to, will like it seeing as they aren't as jaded as I am.
September 20, 2015
This is MG in the vein of Sarah Prineas's The Magic Thief: delightful stuff. Good worldbuilding, good characterization, a great plot. There's some French-Revolution-esque dissidence, some politicking, quite a few spies, and a brief examination of poverty and persecution, all wrapped into a really warm story about friendship.
The story is possible because the adults are kept out of the way so the kids can solve crimes, but at least there are good reasons for that. And if there's the fantasy that not only can children solve crimes but also fight against tyranny (without getting hurt!), well - MG has been written this way for long time, and the story is charming despite that. Or maybe because of that. It's an empowering fantasy, after all.
The story is possible because the adults are kept out of the way so the kids can solve crimes, but at least there are good reasons for that. And if there's the fantasy that not only can children solve crimes but also fight against tyranny (without getting hurt!), well - MG has been written this way for long time, and the story is charming despite that. Or maybe because of that. It's an empowering fantasy, after all.
October 22, 2016
Wow, that was just fantastic!
I wish I had finished it sooner. but part of me kept stalling simply because I didn't WANT the novel to end.
This novel can be best described as fantasy, with a dash dystopian.
I freaked when the novel started off on that typical POOR vs RICH dystopian route, with the angry-common-folk-trying-to-start-a-revolution thang going on - in fact, I was tsk-tsking and pursing my lips in disappointment - and then as I continued reading, R.J.'s excellent writing skills ensured the book quickly picked up its pace and goddammit I LOVE THIS BOOK!
12 year old Isaveth lives in a dilapidated house on Cabbage Street with her father and three sisters.
Her mother passed away years before, and her father struggled to earn a living after losing his job. She lives in a city where the Rich rule with their superior magic, and the Commoners don't get jack. Now that part was dreadfully cliche, along with the silly ass names (Erix being my least fav name), but let's note that this IS a kids book, so I wasn't really surprised that there would be parts I would deem too childish.
Anyway, back to the plot. One night, her father was escorted from their home for allegedly committing the crime of murdering one of the higher ups (they call em Nobel's in this book).
Isaveth and her sisters are devastated and Isaveth decides she's going to find the real culprit.
She also meets Quiz, the boy with the eye patch, after being harassed by the neighbourhood dickhead. Quiz fends off the harasser, and then their adventure and budding friendship begins.
There were parts of the novel that I figured out long before Isaveth did, but I DIDN'T GIVE A SHIT! The adventure, the slowly budding romance, the way the villian was portrayed made me continue on right til the end.
I cannot wait for book 2.
October 19, 2015
I bought this one on impulse and good grief was it a good impulse.
An amazing mystery. Excellent characters. Families which feel real, from the younger siblings to the parents. FANTASTIC world building-- a depression-era world fuelled by spell craft-- my WORD just fantastic. This one is going on my award slates.
An amazing mystery. Excellent characters. Families which feel real, from the younger siblings to the parents. FANTASTIC world building-- a depression-era world fuelled by spell craft-- my WORD just fantastic. This one is going on my award slates.
December 2, 2017
Oh, I enjoyed this MG fantasy / mystery story. I wish the ability to do magic was investigated a bit more (you just bake and if you have magic, it works out and you have a spell tablet? Surely there's some effort involved in getting your magic to work?). But, all told, that was a minor annoyance. The story is fun and well-paced, and the main characters a pleasure to read.
January 24, 2016
I loved Isaveth and her defiant struggle to prove her father innocent and save him. I loved her strength and the tidbits we get about her floundering with her faith. Not even so much in her belief, but more what exactly it means to her? What demands does it make of her? Does it have to be the same for her as her much more solemn and observant older sister Annagail? Is it ok to hide her faith/heritage if it causes so much trouble and just practice it in secret? Or is that too a betrayal of her faith?
I loved her friendship with Quiz and I was so unhappy when the reveal happened (which I did not see coming - I was expecting an entirely different direction) because I could not stand these two abandoning their friendship, but things were sorted and I have hope for the sequel. I need more background for Quiz. Maybe even POV?
I thought the relationship between all the sisters - Mimmi, Lilet, Annagail, and Isaveth - was realistic and I appreciated seeing a family so much. No single child. And Anderson took the time to show Isaveth with her siblings and to let us know them and how much they mean to each other. Thus when Isaveth makes choices based on her affection and care for her family, it is meaningful because we as readers have firsthand experience of them as a family rather than just being told that they really care about one another. (Had another book recently that vexed me because the siblings of the MC were continually given as her reason for doing almost everything and we only see them together in a smattering of scenes that did nothing to establish her care or connection to them so her choices felt very empty and lacked weight.)
Drawbacks? I needed a bit more world-building and context. I felt like I didn't know where things were - Where is Tarreton in relation to the other cities and countries that are mentioned in the story? And I did not get nearly enough about the faith systems to properly understand the conflicts between the different religions. Moshites vs. Unifying Church vs. Arcan Temple. I honestly hope we get more insight and history on the religions in the sequel.
Looking forward to A Little Taste of Poison this fall!
Typo page 357: "No," said Isaveth, "and you to see him again. But I don't need his help to make you listen."
Shouldn't it read "and you won't see him again"? Or something along those lines?
"Isaveth." He repeated it softly, as though it were a wonder. "Well, good right, then...Isaveth." He touched his cap to her and ambled off up the street.
I loved her friendship with Quiz and I was so unhappy when the reveal happened (which I did not see coming - I was expecting an entirely different direction) because I could not stand these two abandoning their friendship, but things were sorted and I have hope for the sequel. I need more background for Quiz. Maybe even POV?
I thought the relationship between all the sisters - Mimmi, Lilet, Annagail, and Isaveth - was realistic and I appreciated seeing a family so much. No single child. And Anderson took the time to show Isaveth with her siblings and to let us know them and how much they mean to each other. Thus when Isaveth makes choices based on her affection and care for her family, it is meaningful because we as readers have firsthand experience of them as a family rather than just being told that they really care about one another. (Had another book recently that vexed me because the siblings of the MC were continually given as her reason for doing almost everything and we only see them together in a smattering of scenes that did nothing to establish her care or connection to them so her choices felt very empty and lacked weight.)
Drawbacks? I needed a bit more world-building and context. I felt like I didn't know where things were - Where is Tarreton in relation to the other cities and countries that are mentioned in the story? And I did not get nearly enough about the faith systems to properly understand the conflicts between the different religions. Moshites vs. Unifying Church vs. Arcan Temple. I honestly hope we get more insight and history on the religions in the sequel.
Looking forward to A Little Taste of Poison this fall!
Typo page 357: "No," said Isaveth, "and you to see him again. But I don't need his help to make you listen."
Shouldn't it read "and you won't see him again"? Or something along those lines?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2015
I love this book so very much.
The things I love about it are, but by no means limited to:
1. Fanfiction as a coping mechanism
2. Food vs. new clothes vs. new shoes
3. MAGIC. COOKIES.
4. Murder
5. Sissssssssssters
6. Politics
7. "Toronto"
8. Isaveth, just, oh, my heart.
9. The Moshites are oppressed do badly that the Unifying church struck an *entire day* from the week, just to be jerks to them.
10. DID I MENTION THE MAGIC COOKIES AND ALSO THE POLITICS????
11. Also: crime.
Like the best Middle Grade, Anderson has managed to write a book that is a wonderful adventure for some, and a thoughtful examination of class, privilege, poverty, religion, socio-economics, and family for others. And, if you're like me, you can read both at once and be THOROUGHLY CHARMED.
The things I love about it are, but by no means limited to:
1. Fanfiction as a coping mechanism
2. Food vs. new clothes vs. new shoes
3. MAGIC. COOKIES.
4. Murder
5. Sissssssssssters
6. Politics
7. "Toronto"
8. Isaveth, just, oh, my heart.
9. The Moshites are oppressed do badly that the Unifying church struck an *entire day* from the week, just to be jerks to them.
10. DID I MENTION THE MAGIC COOKIES AND ALSO THE POLITICS????
11. Also: crime.
Like the best Middle Grade, Anderson has managed to write a book that is a wonderful adventure for some, and a thoughtful examination of class, privilege, poverty, religion, socio-economics, and family for others. And, if you're like me, you can read both at once and be THOROUGHLY CHARMED.
March 28, 2016
What a wonderful book full of magic. Again, I normally don't read these tween kind of books, but the title I admit grabbed my attention. This is an action packed book that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. This book series is a strong contender for me to follow up and read the next one in the series.
September 20, 2015
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
R.J. Anderson is one of my favorite authors. Being a voracious reader, I have a lot of authors I really like, but she is included in a special group of authors whose books I would scoop up in my arms if I was escaping my house in a disaster. They are all excellent and stand up to multiple rereads. Anderson has written books about (awesome) faerys and amazing girls in a mind boggling sci-fi duology. Her latest book, A Pocket Full of Murder, is a MG magical murder mystery and it is a perfect book for me in every way possible.
Isaveth's family has fallen on hard times since her mother's recent death. Her father, a builder, lost a major job he was counting on and has fallen into despair. Her sister had to quit school to get a job in a sweatshop factory. Just when things begin to look better for the family and her father's commission is restored, a worse tragedy befalls them. When the man who had fired then rehired Isaveth's father is found dead by means of Common Magic, Isaveth's father is arrested. Isaveth knows her father is innocent, but she's not sure how to go about proving it. As she begins to investigate, she is joined by a street boy with an eye patch named Quiz who has eyes and ears all over the city and a knack for getting at information. Together they begin to try and discover the real murderer in a case that has too many suspects and disastrous consequences for both of them if they fail.
GAHHHHHH!!!!! I don't really know where I want to start with this. I have so much love for every part of this book, and my brain just keeps doing cartwheels and squealing LOVE LOVE LOVE. Trying to calm it down and act rationally is a challenge. I even waited a few days after finishing to give myself space so I could write this. But as soon as I started thinking about the book again, I got a rush of endorphins and lost control of my critical thinking skills. I will start with what I always love most, the characters, and hope my brain calms enough to cooperate.
Isaveth is smart, courageous, and stubborn. When her family is having hard times, she pulls down her mother's book of magic recipes and concocts spells to sell on the street to give them a little extra money. She has a passionate love for dramatic crystal set (radio) shows and writes fanfiction for it on any scrap of paper she can get her hands on. She is perfecting her craft. Her imagination is vast and she's bursting with twelve year old idealism mixed with the harsh realities of the life she is living. She is desperate to free her father, and her headlong rush into investigating the crime causes her to stumble into unfortunate situations at times and make rash judgements and mistakes. This includes not listening to Quiz on the occasions when he tells her to slow down and think something through.
Quiz is no stranger to dashing into dangerous situations without thinking them through first himself though. He is also a bit of an adrenaline junkie who rides down hills at breakneck speeds and is prone to getting into sticky situations in defense of those who need defending. He is adorably awkward around Isaveth at times. When he's interacting with her sisters you can see how badly he longs for a regular family and normalcy. Together Isaveth and Quiz make a fantastic team. He can go places and get information she can't, and vice-versa. He is there to give her rides when she needs them and generally back her up when she's in a tough spot. And when the tables are turned and he is in the tough spot, she does the same for him. I have all these FEELINGS for both of them, separate and together. Feelings I will never be able to properly put into words.
The mystery is a good old fashioned mystery where there are clues that seem to lead to everywhere or nowhere, lots of suspects, and a few good twists. (Some of which I saw coming due to reasons I imagine will not be the case for the majority of the readers of this book.*) The ways in which Isaveth and Quiz find their information makes sense for the world they live in, and they are reliant on those older than them for crucial things. Isaveth's older sister plays a major part in helping them collect information. The way the mystery all came together in the end was fascinating and the resolution complex and layered, but simple to understand for the intended audience.
The world Anderson created for this book is one where society is split between nobility and those who are not. The nobility has a very specific sort of magic they use to keep the world running smoothly. Common Magic is for those not so privileged and was a hard won ability for the regular people. The city of Tarreton where Isaveth and Quiz live is divided. The common people are tired of being abused, underpaid, and unable to make decisions. Rebellion is whispered of and unrest is high. These political issues are an integral part of the story and woven into the texture of the character's lives perfectly. Religion plays a part in this as well. Isaveth's family are Moshites (very similar to real world Jewish faith) and therefore looked on as outsiders, if not dangerous dissenters. It's part of the reason her father makes such a perfect frame for murder. Anderson presents the religious and political aspects as part of everyday life important in different ways to different people and this makes the world she has built all the more realistic as a result.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of mystery and fantasy of any age. There is something here to enjoy for everyone. I can not wait until my pre-ordered copy arrives so I can read it again. And so my daughter can read it because this is exactly the sort of book she adores.
*I saw some of the twists coming because I am a fan of the source material that was Anderson's inspiration. A HUGE fan actually. If you are completely unaware of what that source material is or anything about it, you have lots of surprises in store. I'm including this note for those of you who know what inspired this and love it as much as I do. I just want you to know that Anderson did an awesome job with that. It's a nice little treat for those of us who know and love that particular literary detective. (And if you don't know what I'm talking about, but want to, ask in the comments and I'll tell you. Not spoilers. Just what the source material is.)
I read an ARC made available from the publisher, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, via Edelweiss. A Pocket Full of Murder is on sale September 8th.
R.J. Anderson is one of my favorite authors. Being a voracious reader, I have a lot of authors I really like, but she is included in a special group of authors whose books I would scoop up in my arms if I was escaping my house in a disaster. They are all excellent and stand up to multiple rereads. Anderson has written books about (awesome) faerys and amazing girls in a mind boggling sci-fi duology. Her latest book, A Pocket Full of Murder, is a MG magical murder mystery and it is a perfect book for me in every way possible.
Isaveth's family has fallen on hard times since her mother's recent death. Her father, a builder, lost a major job he was counting on and has fallen into despair. Her sister had to quit school to get a job in a sweatshop factory. Just when things begin to look better for the family and her father's commission is restored, a worse tragedy befalls them. When the man who had fired then rehired Isaveth's father is found dead by means of Common Magic, Isaveth's father is arrested. Isaveth knows her father is innocent, but she's not sure how to go about proving it. As she begins to investigate, she is joined by a street boy with an eye patch named Quiz who has eyes and ears all over the city and a knack for getting at information. Together they begin to try and discover the real murderer in a case that has too many suspects and disastrous consequences for both of them if they fail.
GAHHHHHH!!!!! I don't really know where I want to start with this. I have so much love for every part of this book, and my brain just keeps doing cartwheels and squealing LOVE LOVE LOVE. Trying to calm it down and act rationally is a challenge. I even waited a few days after finishing to give myself space so I could write this. But as soon as I started thinking about the book again, I got a rush of endorphins and lost control of my critical thinking skills. I will start with what I always love most, the characters, and hope my brain calms enough to cooperate.
Isaveth is smart, courageous, and stubborn. When her family is having hard times, she pulls down her mother's book of magic recipes and concocts spells to sell on the street to give them a little extra money. She has a passionate love for dramatic crystal set (radio) shows and writes fanfiction for it on any scrap of paper she can get her hands on. She is perfecting her craft. Her imagination is vast and she's bursting with twelve year old idealism mixed with the harsh realities of the life she is living. She is desperate to free her father, and her headlong rush into investigating the crime causes her to stumble into unfortunate situations at times and make rash judgements and mistakes. This includes not listening to Quiz on the occasions when he tells her to slow down and think something through.
Quiz is no stranger to dashing into dangerous situations without thinking them through first himself though. He is also a bit of an adrenaline junkie who rides down hills at breakneck speeds and is prone to getting into sticky situations in defense of those who need defending. He is adorably awkward around Isaveth at times. When he's interacting with her sisters you can see how badly he longs for a regular family and normalcy. Together Isaveth and Quiz make a fantastic team. He can go places and get information she can't, and vice-versa. He is there to give her rides when she needs them and generally back her up when she's in a tough spot. And when the tables are turned and he is in the tough spot, she does the same for him. I have all these FEELINGS for both of them, separate and together. Feelings I will never be able to properly put into words.
The mystery is a good old fashioned mystery where there are clues that seem to lead to everywhere or nowhere, lots of suspects, and a few good twists. (Some of which I saw coming due to reasons I imagine will not be the case for the majority of the readers of this book.*) The ways in which Isaveth and Quiz find their information makes sense for the world they live in, and they are reliant on those older than them for crucial things. Isaveth's older sister plays a major part in helping them collect information. The way the mystery all came together in the end was fascinating and the resolution complex and layered, but simple to understand for the intended audience.
The world Anderson created for this book is one where society is split between nobility and those who are not. The nobility has a very specific sort of magic they use to keep the world running smoothly. Common Magic is for those not so privileged and was a hard won ability for the regular people. The city of Tarreton where Isaveth and Quiz live is divided. The common people are tired of being abused, underpaid, and unable to make decisions. Rebellion is whispered of and unrest is high. These political issues are an integral part of the story and woven into the texture of the character's lives perfectly. Religion plays a part in this as well. Isaveth's family are Moshites (very similar to real world Jewish faith) and therefore looked on as outsiders, if not dangerous dissenters. It's part of the reason her father makes such a perfect frame for murder. Anderson presents the religious and political aspects as part of everyday life important in different ways to different people and this makes the world she has built all the more realistic as a result.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of mystery and fantasy of any age. There is something here to enjoy for everyone. I can not wait until my pre-ordered copy arrives so I can read it again. And so my daughter can read it because this is exactly the sort of book she adores.
*I saw some of the twists coming because I am a fan of the source material that was Anderson's inspiration. A HUGE fan actually. If you are completely unaware of what that source material is or anything about it, you have lots of surprises in store. I'm including this note for those of you who know what inspired this and love it as much as I do. I just want you to know that Anderson did an awesome job with that. It's a nice little treat for those of us who know and love that particular literary detective. (And if you don't know what I'm talking about, but want to, ask in the comments and I'll tell you. Not spoilers. Just what the source material is.)
I read an ARC made available from the publisher, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, via Edelweiss. A Pocket Full of Murder is on sale September 8th.
June 8, 2022
What a fun book! I’ve never read anything quite like it. This is a middle grade murder mystery set in a super fun fantasy world. That’s basically the perfect book. While I saw several of the twists coming, it didn’t stop them from being satisfying. I loved this book a lot and I can’t wait to read book two.
September 8, 2015
There's a habit in middle grade fiction to blur genres a bit to grab a broader audience. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it's a mess a bit. A Pocket Full of Murder is a murder mystery wrapped in fantasy elements, neither of which ends up being compelling enough to sustain a narrative on its own.
The good? A pretty interesting magic system that ends up being almost completely unimportant to the overall plot by the time the story ramps up. A mystery that, on the surface, sounds compelling and interesting.
The bad? Most everything else. When you set up a fantasy universe and then basically abandon it, why bother with it at all? The answer, of course, is to bolster the mystery aspects, but it's clear the magic is a bit of a crutch to flesh out what ends up being a pretty straightforward tale without a lot of reason to call it a "mystery" at all. It almost feels like the book is looking to use the existing tropes and expectations to mask a story that doesn't really work and, more importantly, would not appeal to the kids its geared toward without the gimmicks.
A solid pass here. I had decent expectations for this, and it didn't even really come close.
The good? A pretty interesting magic system that ends up being almost completely unimportant to the overall plot by the time the story ramps up. A mystery that, on the surface, sounds compelling and interesting.
The bad? Most everything else. When you set up a fantasy universe and then basically abandon it, why bother with it at all? The answer, of course, is to bolster the mystery aspects, but it's clear the magic is a bit of a crutch to flesh out what ends up being a pretty straightforward tale without a lot of reason to call it a "mystery" at all. It almost feels like the book is looking to use the existing tropes and expectations to mask a story that doesn't really work and, more importantly, would not appeal to the kids its geared toward without the gimmicks.
A solid pass here. I had decent expectations for this, and it didn't even really come close.
Read
April 8, 2020Great balance of fun action/adventure fantasy with some heavier themes and topics.
I loved the "baking magic" idea, and the political/social unrest, classism, and religious discrimination (maybe referencing Judaism?) were well done. Good for generating discussions with upper elementary or middle school readers.
The romance subplot seems like it might appeal to younger YA readers as well (main character is 12, so solidly middle grade on that end.)
I loved the "baking magic" idea, and the political/social unrest, classism, and religious discrimination (maybe referencing Judaism?) were well done. Good for generating discussions with upper elementary or middle school readers.
The romance subplot seems like it might appeal to younger YA readers as well (main character is 12, so solidly middle grade on that end.)
September 14, 2016
Review to come
October 29, 2016
We just didn't click, me and this book.
The tinge of romance made me wonder if I'd like it more as a YA.
I might still read the next one.
The tinge of romance made me wonder if I'd like it more as a YA.
I might still read the next one.
February 16, 2024
The discrimination to the Moshites reminded me of the discrimination of the Hijabis or Muslims in general. I think it was greatly written. I liked the friendship between Quiz and Isabeth.
May 22, 2020
I am going to shamelessly steal from this review because it perfectly expresses why this book fell flat for me: A Pocket Full of Murder is an awkward blend of fantasy and mystery that unfortunately disappoints on both levels.
There is some real potential in the world building. There is a justice system, city council, press, religious dissidents, and levels of magic that all feel unique and interesting. But then there is also the tendency to just re-name random words without much reason why. (For example, 'pipe baccy' instead of tobacco/tobaccy. What purpose does that serve? I don't know.)
At the same time, there really isn't enough world building to totally embrace the fantasy? I am struggling to put my finger on what exactly went wrong. Perhaps it is that the mystery overtakes the fantasy and by the end the fantasy matters less.
Honestly, the mystery was boring. I loved Quiz and I liked our heroine and the Epilogue salvaged the story for me. But I truly struggled to care about what happened to the murdered man and whether Isaveth would prove her Father innocent. I found Quiz's true nature obvious and the final conclusion...kind of obvious? I frequently had to force myself to read the entire paragraph on the page because my care factor was just not there.
There was enough potential here that I am excited for the sequel. But I can't say this was a super worth-it read.
There is some real potential in the world building. There is a justice system, city council, press, religious dissidents, and levels of magic that all feel unique and interesting. But then there is also the tendency to just re-name random words without much reason why. (For example, 'pipe baccy' instead of tobacco/tobaccy. What purpose does that serve? I don't know.)
At the same time, there really isn't enough world building to totally embrace the fantasy? I am struggling to put my finger on what exactly went wrong. Perhaps it is that the mystery overtakes the fantasy and by the end the fantasy matters less.
Honestly, the mystery was boring. I loved Quiz and I liked our heroine and the Epilogue salvaged the story for me. But I truly struggled to care about what happened to the murdered man and whether Isaveth would prove her Father innocent. I found Quiz's true nature obvious and the final conclusion...kind of obvious? I frequently had to force myself to read the entire paragraph on the page because my care factor was just not there.
There was enough potential here that I am excited for the sequel. But I can't say this was a super worth-it read.
December 17, 2023
This was lovely. It's "fun" in the sense that it's middle-grade and thus relatively lightweight, but it's never frothy; the themes woven through it are serious ones of power and powerlessness, conviction and fear, trust and betrayal, all with two pre-teen protagonists. It also has strong Elizabeth Gaskell vibes with the underlying political and economic issues and the Workers' Union -- at one point I was strongly picturing John Boucher from NORTH & SOUTH.
All four of the sisters are great and have strongly delineated personalities, even the two younger ones (as I write this, it occurs to me that Lilet and Mimmi have hints of Lettie and Martha from HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE about them, which is just another point in their favour). Of course, though, Isaveth is the star here. I like how realistic she is, and I especially like the way her love of the talkie-play about Auradia Champion is brought into the story. I'm interested to see if the sequel elaborates on the plot thread of Isaveth grappling with being Moshite, since in this one she struggles with that and it's not fully resolved in the end.
The mystery is solved but not resolved at the end of the story, leaving me like the kid in The Princess Bride:
All four of the sisters are great and have strongly delineated personalities, even the two younger ones (as I write this, it occurs to me that Lilet and Mimmi have hints of Lettie and Martha from HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE about them, which is just another point in their favour). Of course, though, Isaveth is the star here. I like how realistic she is, and I especially like the way her love of the talkie-play about Auradia Champion is brought into the story. I'm interested to see if the sequel elaborates on the plot thread of Isaveth grappling with being Moshite, since in this one she struggles with that and it's not fully resolved in the end.
The mystery is solved but not resolved at the end of the story, leaving me like the kid in The Princess Bride:
September 14, 2024
A middle grade fantasy murder mystery set in a fantastical depression era city. Our main characters Isaveth and Quiz were delightful. I loved the worldbuilding and the great magic details sprinkled in!
July 27, 2017
Booktubeathon book number 4 of 7 is done! 2/5 stars because the plot, the events, the characters, the world, and the writing were all somewhat bland. Maybe APFoM was just not the book for me but at any rate, unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book.
February 20, 2024
This book was hard to put down once I got to the end and all the pieces started coming toghther. I really liked the world of Tarreton, and how things like the currency were just a little bit diffrent then real life but at the same time felt perfect to the world. The only thing that kept this from getting five stars was that the end of the last chapter was a little confusing. Luckily there was an Epilouge, but it was still a little confusing. I can't wait to read the next one.
November 3, 2015
R.J. Anderson's latest middle grade novel, A Pocket Full of Murder, introduces a memorable fantasy world divided by religion and social class as twelve-year-old Isaveth Breck races against time to solve a murder and save her father. In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy nobility use a refined magic called Sagery while commoners use the more practical, everyday magic simply called Common Magic. But this magical world is far from wondrous—while the nobility live in lavish excess, the poor struggle to find work and feed their families.
Ever since Isaveth's mother passed away months ago, life has been harder for her and her family. When their father couldn't find any jobs as a stonemason, Isaveth's older sister, Annagail, was forced to quit school to work in a shirt factory, and their aunt very reluctantly cares for her two younger sisters, Mimmi and Lilet, during the day. Isaveth is doing all that she can to support her family by baking spell-tablets to sell on the streets.
But when their father is accused of murdering one of the most influential men in Tarreton, Isaveth must team up with a mysterious street boy named Quiz to find the true murderer. Political tensions are escalating in the city, and Isaveth is her father's only hope. She knows in her heart her papa is innocent, but the Lawkeepers are already convinced he's guilty of the crime. Not only is Isaveth's father a man of Moshite religion, a minority among the Unifying, but he's also a member of the Workers' Club, an organization trying to attain equality for the lower class.
Isaveth is the kind of girl who believes in the best of people, that justice and goodness will always prevail at the end of day. Perhaps it's a naive notion, a reflection of Isaveth's age, since she lives in a city that discriminates against her Moshite faith and low social status, but I still adored her relentless resilience and optimism. Even when the odds are so terribly stacked against Isaveth, giving up is simply not an option to her.
And I absolutely loved Isaveth's relationship with her three sisters: Annagail, Mimmi, and Lilet. Her youngest sisters bicker and fight, often jealous that one sister has what the other does not, but you know that it's just natural, trivial problems that all siblings experience. Annagail spends long days at the factory and returns home tired, so Isaveth often shoulders the responsibility of cooking and stopping Mimmi and Lilet from causing too much mischief. But no matter what happens, the Breck sisters will always stick together in the end.
Brimming with magic and thrilling adventure, R.J. Anderson's A Pocket Full of Murder is a captivating murder mystery that held my attention right until the final page. There's just so much to love about this book! When Isaveth and Quiz are not following the trail of a murderer, the novel's focus on friendship and family captured my heart... and perfectly balanced the darker themes of racial and social discrimination. Tarreton is not a kind city to a girl like Isaveth, but her brave heart and curious mind give me hope she will accomplish all her dreams. I absolutely can't wait to see what happens next in the sequel!
Ever since Isaveth's mother passed away months ago, life has been harder for her and her family. When their father couldn't find any jobs as a stonemason, Isaveth's older sister, Annagail, was forced to quit school to work in a shirt factory, and their aunt very reluctantly cares for her two younger sisters, Mimmi and Lilet, during the day. Isaveth is doing all that she can to support her family by baking spell-tablets to sell on the streets.
But when their father is accused of murdering one of the most influential men in Tarreton, Isaveth must team up with a mysterious street boy named Quiz to find the true murderer. Political tensions are escalating in the city, and Isaveth is her father's only hope. She knows in her heart her papa is innocent, but the Lawkeepers are already convinced he's guilty of the crime. Not only is Isaveth's father a man of Moshite religion, a minority among the Unifying, but he's also a member of the Workers' Club, an organization trying to attain equality for the lower class.
Isaveth is the kind of girl who believes in the best of people, that justice and goodness will always prevail at the end of day. Perhaps it's a naive notion, a reflection of Isaveth's age, since she lives in a city that discriminates against her Moshite faith and low social status, but I still adored her relentless resilience and optimism. Even when the odds are so terribly stacked against Isaveth, giving up is simply not an option to her.
And I absolutely loved Isaveth's relationship with her three sisters: Annagail, Mimmi, and Lilet. Her youngest sisters bicker and fight, often jealous that one sister has what the other does not, but you know that it's just natural, trivial problems that all siblings experience. Annagail spends long days at the factory and returns home tired, so Isaveth often shoulders the responsibility of cooking and stopping Mimmi and Lilet from causing too much mischief. But no matter what happens, the Breck sisters will always stick together in the end.
Brimming with magic and thrilling adventure, R.J. Anderson's A Pocket Full of Murder is a captivating murder mystery that held my attention right until the final page. There's just so much to love about this book! When Isaveth and Quiz are not following the trail of a murderer, the novel's focus on friendship and family captured my heart... and perfectly balanced the darker themes of racial and social discrimination. Tarreton is not a kind city to a girl like Isaveth, but her brave heart and curious mind give me hope she will accomplish all her dreams. I absolutely can't wait to see what happens next in the sequel!
November 30, 2022
An amazing book. When Isaveth finds out that her father has been accused of murder, she makes it her number one responsibility to prove that he is innocent. On her journey of getting her father out of guilt, she meets many mysterious people including a boy with an eyepatch: Luke…
June 4, 2017
I enjoyed this novel very much indeed. While it did have a lot of fantasy elements I'd seen before, it was also pretty original - it explored the life of a working-class family, for one, and the way magic works was rather unique (you can bake magic they way you would a cake and sell it). The mystery was alright, I thought, but what I enjoyed the most was the worldbuilding and the relationship between the sisters. I don't think I'll reread this but I'm looking forward to the sequel.
August 26, 2016
This book was, in my opinion, very boring. I didn't feel any connection to the characters, but I did like the magic in this book. The way it worked was interesting--it's cooked (baked). I think that was the best thing about this book. The ending was all right. I didn't expect the bad guy to be who it was. Also, it was nice to find out who Quiz really is.
April 28, 2023
Add this to my stack of Most Favorite Books Ever!
June 29, 2020
I finished this last night, & I really loved it!! It’s so good! It’s such a good mystery! I never knew what was going to happen, & there were soooo many surprising parts to the ending! I adored all these characters-Quiz(love that name!), & all the sisters. I could imagine everything perfectly & I loved this place the author created. I loved all the amazing & unique names-from the characters, the religions, the street names, the city, neighborhood names..all of it. With everything going on in the US right now, I saw some similar things in this book in some ways. Not against race, but still horrible. Treating people with certain religious beliefs badly. Treating people who are bad off financially badly. Like these people all had a disease or something. Another similar type of thing are how protests that have been peaceful, the media reported weren’t peaceful. That happens in this book. Also, peaceful members of a protest group are treated roughly by police even though they are peaceful. I’ll insert this from the book-“..women shrieking & young men begging for mercy as the clouters struck again & again...” &:”These people were unarmed, & most of them weren’t even attempting to fight. Yet the Lawkeepers were treating them like wild animals who had to be beaten into submission.” Wow. When worlds collide. I loved this book, & I love this author now too. She is also very sweet on IG. I definitely recommend this book! I love the beautiful cover too!😍😍I started the second one today as well! I don’t think there will be more, but I’m loving them!💜💜
Synopsis of book 1: In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.
Isaveth is determined to prove her innocence. Quiz, the eccentric eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution.
But each clue is more perplexing than the next. Was the victim truly killed by Common Magic—the kind of crude, cheap spell that only an unschooled magician would use—or was his death merely arranged to appear that way? And is Quiz truly helping her out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own? Isaveth must figure out who she can trust if she’s to have any hope of proving her Papa’s innocence in time. . .
Synopsis of book 1: In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder.
Isaveth is determined to prove her innocence. Quiz, the eccentric eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution.
But each clue is more perplexing than the next. Was the victim truly killed by Common Magic—the kind of crude, cheap spell that only an unschooled magician would use—or was his death merely arranged to appear that way? And is Quiz truly helping her out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own? Isaveth must figure out who she can trust if she’s to have any hope of proving her Papa’s innocence in time. . .
April 20, 2017
This review and others posted over at
my blog.
Here’s a middle-grade mystery adventure that deals with religious persecution, the struggle of the lower class, the use (and abuse) of welfare (known as “relief” in the book) and standing up for justice, no matter the cost. Looking back, there are some potentially heavy themes in this book, but they were folded neatly into the story of a young girl who aspires to uphold justice like her favorite champion in the talkie series and save her father.
Isaveth is lower class and she and her family struggle to make ends meet since the death of her mother and her father losing his job. On top of that, they are Moshites and because of their religious beliefs, they are often discriminated against. Anderson managed to write about Isaveth’s plights without feeling preachy or heavy handed and Isaveth is a determined, bright heroine.
The world Anderson created blends steam power (yes!) with magic to create a world similar to our own, yet also very Victorian feeling. I especially loved the baking element of magic. Different spells and potions are crafted before they can be used. The upper-class use a different type of magic because they have different materials available to them, like metals. Isaveth, unable to afford materials like that, follows her mother’s cookbook and through her “spell baking” she creates tablets and potions at home out of ingredients like flour and sunlight.
I’m very fond of the character names Anderson uses as well. I don’t know about you, but I’m very picky when it comes to character names. Especially in the fantasy genre, it can be hard to create an original or uncommon name without making the reader mentally choke on too many vowels or consonants (ie: Cealeanae from Throne of Glass). Isaveth, Mimmi, Annagail, Lilet, Eryx, Quiz – I liked them all!
If you’re looking for a magical mystery with a Victorian feel, I highly recommend this. I’ll be purchasing the sequel as soon as it’s in paperback – gotta make sure my editions match!
Here’s a middle-grade mystery adventure that deals with religious persecution, the struggle of the lower class, the use (and abuse) of welfare (known as “relief” in the book) and standing up for justice, no matter the cost. Looking back, there are some potentially heavy themes in this book, but they were folded neatly into the story of a young girl who aspires to uphold justice like her favorite champion in the talkie series and save her father.
Isaveth is lower class and she and her family struggle to make ends meet since the death of her mother and her father losing his job. On top of that, they are Moshites and because of their religious beliefs, they are often discriminated against. Anderson managed to write about Isaveth’s plights without feeling preachy or heavy handed and Isaveth is a determined, bright heroine.
The world Anderson created blends steam power (yes!) with magic to create a world similar to our own, yet also very Victorian feeling. I especially loved the baking element of magic. Different spells and potions are crafted before they can be used. The upper-class use a different type of magic because they have different materials available to them, like metals. Isaveth, unable to afford materials like that, follows her mother’s cookbook and through her “spell baking” she creates tablets and potions at home out of ingredients like flour and sunlight.
I’m very fond of the character names Anderson uses as well. I don’t know about you, but I’m very picky when it comes to character names. Especially in the fantasy genre, it can be hard to create an original or uncommon name without making the reader mentally choke on too many vowels or consonants (ie: Cealeanae from Throne of Glass). Isaveth, Mimmi, Annagail, Lilet, Eryx, Quiz – I liked them all!
If you’re looking for a magical mystery with a Victorian feel, I highly recommend this. I’ll be purchasing the sequel as soon as it’s in paperback – gotta make sure my editions match!
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