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Tales of Widowswood #4
Emma and the Elixir of Madness
Emma tries to balance her newfound abilities as a druid with only being ten years old. Chores and having to go inside before dark leaves only a few hours a day to save the forest―or at least her home town.
Strange magic plagues the people of Widowswood Village. None of the adults take it seriously, as the effects are short-lived and whimsical. Emma suspects something darker is going on, having listened to Nan’s tales of night pixies who aren’t as nice as the Silverbells. Convinced someone or something wishes ill upon her home, she decides to do what the adults won’t.
Amid the chaos, the daughter of a wealthy gem merchant, goes missing. Emma’s father and the entire Widowswood Watch spend all their time searching for the abducted girl. Worse, a bully blames Emma for the girl’s disappearance, but after dealing with a banderwigh and the silk thieves, he doesn’t scare her at all—until he turns violent.
Emma knows everything is connected, and isn’t about to let a mean-spirited older boy stop her from protecting her home.
Strange magic plagues the people of Widowswood Village. None of the adults take it seriously, as the effects are short-lived and whimsical. Emma suspects something darker is going on, having listened to Nan’s tales of night pixies who aren’t as nice as the Silverbells. Convinced someone or something wishes ill upon her home, she decides to do what the adults won’t.
Amid the chaos, the daughter of a wealthy gem merchant, goes missing. Emma’s father and the entire Widowswood Watch spend all their time searching for the abducted girl. Worse, a bully blames Emma for the girl’s disappearance, but after dealing with a banderwigh and the silk thieves, he doesn’t scare her at all—until he turns violent.
Emma knows everything is connected, and isn’t about to let a mean-spirited older boy stop her from protecting her home.
- GenresFantasy
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2018
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
181 books265 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 26, 2022
3/3.5
A fun little children’s adventure full of magic, mischief, and mayhem. I enjoyed the tale and solving the mystery of what was causing the mischief magic.
A fun little children’s adventure full of magic, mischief, and mayhem. I enjoyed the tale and solving the mystery of what was causing the mischief magic.
November 8, 2019
Emma and the Elixir of Madness is book 4 in the Tales of Widowswood series. However, the books seems to be able to be read as standalones (I say seem to because I haven't read the first three in this series).
This book was actually a pretty funny book to read. The crazy happenings that are occurring in the little town. I think what makes it better is that the characters in many instances also find the trickery funny as well which doesn't make me feel like such a kid for laughing. Especially when the poor boy had gotten a hold of dragonsbreath.
There are few instances in the book that I'm assuming relate back to Emma's adventures in previous books, but they don't take away from the enjoyment of this book, if anything they just make a reader more curious and anxious to read those book to get the full experience of the children's past.
This book was actually a pretty funny book to read. The crazy happenings that are occurring in the little town. I think what makes it better is that the characters in many instances also find the trickery funny as well which doesn't make me feel like such a kid for laughing. Especially when the poor boy had gotten a hold of dragonsbreath.
There are few instances in the book that I'm assuming relate back to Emma's adventures in previous books, but they don't take away from the enjoyment of this book, if anything they just make a reader more curious and anxious to read those book to get the full experience of the children's past.
November 7, 2019
Here we are, back in Widowswood with Emma and her family. Not far into the book , Emma is already fighting goblins, healing others, searching and finding the reasons for all the injuries in the animals. She's still learning about her magic, how to use it and what she can do with them. Emma's family are wonderful, each one is special in there own way and Matthew S. Cox brings them to life. I personally can see things that remind me of those around me and it makes me feel that are real people and not just characters in a book. Lots of excitement is happening, with goblins, druids, fairies and magic all around them.
March 3, 2019
Cox continues to blend the excitement and strangeness of fantasy with the lightness and smaller-scale of middle-grade fiction, producing a tale that grips the reader without instilling terror.
This book is the fourth in the Tales of Widowswood series. Spoilers may leap from the undergrowth.
Strange transformations and embarrassing events are disturbing the peace of Widowswood Village. Emma, recalling tales of night pixies, worries that its only the start of a plague of curses. However, as the effects are both humorous and short-lived, her mother doesn’t take it seriously, and her father is focused on the disappearance of a merchant’s daughter. Worse, the town bully who does believe there’s something dark going on also believes Emma is responsible. Emma is determined to track down the real cause, but chores and curfews keep getting in the way.
As with the previous volumes in the series, Cox crafts an engaging middle-grade fantasy that is likely to be equally enjoyable for more mature readers, featuring plot and language that are simple without being simplistic.
This balance between respecting the innocence of potential readers and honouring their desire for meaningful plot can be seen particularly in the magical distresses that afflict the village: the many of the curses impose only risk of discomfort and embarrassment, such as the chickens that are inflated into floating balls then suddenly deflate in a gust of flatulence; however, Cox also mentions the unfortunate consequences of the same weightlessness followed by deflation on a flightless animal, showing that not everything is just good fun. This confirmation there might be consequences leaves more innocent readers to enjoy the ribald humour of a bully forced to keep his head in a bucket, while allowing more experienced souls (Emma amongst them) to realise there is real danger if this isn’t stopped.
Cox’s portrayal of pre-teen rural life is equally skilled: readers of all ages are likely to recall the frustration of parents who imposed rules and didn’t seem to listen; and even those who have accepted that their parents were probably in the right will feel tension here from seeing the objectively important matters that Emma is trying to resolve.
Cox similarly neither skimps nor over-simplifies that other core thread of pre-teen life: social strata. The children of the village are—entirely realistically—not paragons of empathy; they bully, shun, disregard, and obsess almost on a whim yet cleave to beliefs in defiance of evidence. Yet they display a capability for change that avoids creating a sense of bleakness or futility.
Emma remains a sympathetic protagonist. Her experiences in prior books have both matured her and given her a greater ability to act; this leaves her caught between the sense of responsibility that says she should obey her parents and do her chores, and the sense of responsibility that says she should help people if she can help people. Cox carefully balances these drives, providing ample evidence that she is worthy of the trust the spirits grant while also granting her impulse control and self-assurance fitting for a ten-year-old.
The supporting cast are also nuanced and fitting for the book, described by the traits and behaviours a child would notice, but also displaying hints of the person beneath for more mature readers to discover.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy that is suitable for younger readers without being simplistic or anodyne.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
This book is the fourth in the Tales of Widowswood series. Spoilers may leap from the undergrowth.
Strange transformations and embarrassing events are disturbing the peace of Widowswood Village. Emma, recalling tales of night pixies, worries that its only the start of a plague of curses. However, as the effects are both humorous and short-lived, her mother doesn’t take it seriously, and her father is focused on the disappearance of a merchant’s daughter. Worse, the town bully who does believe there’s something dark going on also believes Emma is responsible. Emma is determined to track down the real cause, but chores and curfews keep getting in the way.
As with the previous volumes in the series, Cox crafts an engaging middle-grade fantasy that is likely to be equally enjoyable for more mature readers, featuring plot and language that are simple without being simplistic.
This balance between respecting the innocence of potential readers and honouring their desire for meaningful plot can be seen particularly in the magical distresses that afflict the village: the many of the curses impose only risk of discomfort and embarrassment, such as the chickens that are inflated into floating balls then suddenly deflate in a gust of flatulence; however, Cox also mentions the unfortunate consequences of the same weightlessness followed by deflation on a flightless animal, showing that not everything is just good fun. This confirmation there might be consequences leaves more innocent readers to enjoy the ribald humour of a bully forced to keep his head in a bucket, while allowing more experienced souls (Emma amongst them) to realise there is real danger if this isn’t stopped.
Cox’s portrayal of pre-teen rural life is equally skilled: readers of all ages are likely to recall the frustration of parents who imposed rules and didn’t seem to listen; and even those who have accepted that their parents were probably in the right will feel tension here from seeing the objectively important matters that Emma is trying to resolve.
Cox similarly neither skimps nor over-simplifies that other core thread of pre-teen life: social strata. The children of the village are—entirely realistically—not paragons of empathy; they bully, shun, disregard, and obsess almost on a whim yet cleave to beliefs in defiance of evidence. Yet they display a capability for change that avoids creating a sense of bleakness or futility.
Emma remains a sympathetic protagonist. Her experiences in prior books have both matured her and given her a greater ability to act; this leaves her caught between the sense of responsibility that says she should obey her parents and do her chores, and the sense of responsibility that says she should help people if she can help people. Cox carefully balances these drives, providing ample evidence that she is worthy of the trust the spirits grant while also granting her impulse control and self-assurance fitting for a ten-year-old.
The supporting cast are also nuanced and fitting for the book, described by the traits and behaviours a child would notice, but also displaying hints of the person beneath for more mature readers to discover.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy that is suitable for younger readers without being simplistic or anodyne.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
December 30, 2018
This is the fourth book in the series and each one is an enjoyable read. Weird magic is causing havoc among the residents and Emma plans on getting to the bottom of it. While trying to find the cause she has to deal with a bully who has become violent and if not for her magic, the results could have been much worse. Again the characters are so well written you can picture what they look like in your mind while reading. This book has laughs, drama and mystery all rolled up in one great story. I recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys the supernatural/fantasy genre
November 9, 2019
Just a few minutes she said.
One simple trip to the water pump. Emma fully intended to stay close to home today. Her promise still fresh in her mind. Now off on another quest she is.
One simple trip to the water pump. Emma fully intended to stay close to home today. Her promise still fresh in her mind. Now off on another quest she is.
November 3, 2019
Welcome back to Widowswood . Emma and her family are getting settled into their new house . Things are going well Emma is trying to get a hold of her new powers and being a ten year old girl doing chores and being indoors before it is dark out . So that only gives her a few hours a day to help the forest and her home town . When some strange magic starts to happen , Emma gets the blame for it . The spells don't last long and are actually kind of funny . When a prominent merchants daughter has gone missing everyone is out looking for her. Emma unfortunately gets the blame from the town bully but she doesn't scare easily . Nothing will stop her from defending her home .
Emma is my all time favourite character , she is sweet and feisty and sometimes she knows too much for her own good . She has been through so much which makes her strong ,from bullies to criminals and some upper class men that really need to be brought down a peg or two . I truly love her she is just so lovable as a character . You just want to hug her and make sure everything is good in her life . Emma's family is a tight knit group who would stand up for each other when needed . There are really a lot of different characters that will have you laughing and crying through out the book . The author can create such strong well written complex characters . You will fall in love with them
The author can spin a tale that is full of great characters, this story has fairies and goblins and a half fish half boy that will have you laughing . The author takes us on a fun filled ride that will have you on the edge of your seat and laughing at the same time . I think that any young adult and even adults would love this fantasy book . There is drama , magic and laughter all rolled up in one great story. So if you want a great story for you winter reading list add this series to your list . You could really read this book as a stand alone but honestly you will want to read the first books just to see how Emma grows and brings joy to everyone .
Emma is my all time favourite character , she is sweet and feisty and sometimes she knows too much for her own good . She has been through so much which makes her strong ,from bullies to criminals and some upper class men that really need to be brought down a peg or two . I truly love her she is just so lovable as a character . You just want to hug her and make sure everything is good in her life . Emma's family is a tight knit group who would stand up for each other when needed . There are really a lot of different characters that will have you laughing and crying through out the book . The author can create such strong well written complex characters . You will fall in love with them
The author can spin a tale that is full of great characters, this story has fairies and goblins and a half fish half boy that will have you laughing . The author takes us on a fun filled ride that will have you on the edge of your seat and laughing at the same time . I think that any young adult and even adults would love this fantasy book . There is drama , magic and laughter all rolled up in one great story. So if you want a great story for you winter reading list add this series to your list . You could really read this book as a stand alone but honestly you will want to read the first books just to see how Emma grows and brings joy to everyone .
November 3, 2019
This is book 4 in the series. I have not read books 1-3 but I fully understood the book. Yes it would help to know what happened before but I still enjoyed the book. Such detail in the flora and fauna. Plus the crazy things happening around town so much fun. The kids spoke like kids and acted like kids, which made the story more believable and fun to read. I loved the town and the town's people. So many characters in this story yet it was easy to keep them straight and each had their own personalities. I really enjoyed reading this story.
March 14, 2020
For all intent and on propose I found this to be a fantastic story-line in the on-going adventures of Emma, her family, and all the folks in the little village of Widowwood.
What I loved best: The author brought some much needed comedy relief as well to my nighttime reading.
One of the best of the year, so far.
What I loved best: The author brought some much needed comedy relief as well to my nighttime reading.
One of the best of the year, so far.
November 27, 2022
“This fourth book had a different vibe than the previous one. It was funny yet with some drama and mystery. A true fantasy story that hooks you up quite easily following Emma’s path.”
June 30, 2022
Mysterious Magical Mayhem
This series must be read in order. The first book is "Emma And The Banderwigh". The second book is "Emma And The Silk Thieves". The third book is "Emma And The Silverbell Faeries". This is the fourth book. I can't wait to read "Emma And The Weeping Spirit"!I
Life is a balancing act. Getting used to sleeping in a bed with just her new sister is way different from the family bed she was used to. Add on to that whimsical and yet somewhat sinister magical mishaps and Emma feels she needs to save the town especially since none of the grownups are taking it all that seriously. Why does Alan hate her so much? What happened to the missing girl Ambril? What is causing all the magical mischief around town? How are they all connected? Can Emma get to the bottom of all this without putting herself in danger of getting into trouble with her family?
This series must be read in order. The first book is "Emma And The Banderwigh". The second book is "Emma And The Silk Thieves". The third book is "Emma And The Silverbell Faeries". This is the fourth book. I can't wait to read "Emma And The Weeping Spirit"!I
Life is a balancing act. Getting used to sleeping in a bed with just her new sister is way different from the family bed she was used to. Add on to that whimsical and yet somewhat sinister magical mishaps and Emma feels she needs to save the town especially since none of the grownups are taking it all that seriously. Why does Alan hate her so much? What happened to the missing girl Ambril? What is causing all the magical mischief around town? How are they all connected? Can Emma get to the bottom of all this without putting herself in danger of getting into trouble with her family?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews