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A Far Away Magic
When Angel moves to a new school after the death of her parents, she isn’t interested in making friends. Until she meets Bavar--a strange boy, tall, awkward and desperate to remain unseen, but who seems to have a kind of magic about him. Everyone and everything within Bavar's enchanted house is urging him to step up and protect the world from a magical rift through which monsters are travelling, the same monsters that killed Angel's parents.
But Bavar doesn’t want to follow the path that's been chosen for him--he wants to be normal; to disappear. Fighting one another as well as their fears, Angel and Bavar must find a way to repair the rift between the worlds, and themselves, before it's too late . . .
But Bavar doesn’t want to follow the path that's been chosen for him--he wants to be normal; to disappear. Fighting one another as well as their fears, Angel and Bavar must find a way to repair the rift between the worlds, and themselves, before it's too late . . .
337 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2018
23 people are currently reading
3186 people want to read
About the author
Amy Wilson
9 books103 followersAmy Wilson has a background in journalism and lives in Bristol with her young family. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa MA in Creative Writing and has many owls in her house, from drawer handles to cushions. She is still waiting for them to speak to her...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 24, 2017
Ohhh. I loved this book SO MUCH.
The embarrassing truth is that when it comes to the genres that I write in myself, I am the worst, most demanding and pickiest reader. All sorts of objectively-good MG fantasy novels have left me cold over the last few years or just been abandoned by me after a chapter or two because I didn't care enough to keep going. But this one? With this one, I *fell in love.*
A FAR AWAY MAGIC has the wonderfully well-rounded characters and emotional intensity that I love in good MG realistic fiction, but it's allied with truly gorgeous magic and a sense of wonder that gave me the same feelings as the Susan Cooper novels I adored when I was MG-aged myself. It really does have a classic feel, and every bit of it made me really happy. I loved fierce, wounded Angel and desperate Bavar, and I LOVED the way they saved each other in this book in so many different ways. I loved the difficult, tentative, awkward and wonderful relationship that Angel developed with her foster mother across the novel. And oh, I loved the magical house that Bavar lived in!
This is one of my very favorite novels read this year in any genre. Highly, highly recommended!
The embarrassing truth is that when it comes to the genres that I write in myself, I am the worst, most demanding and pickiest reader. All sorts of objectively-good MG fantasy novels have left me cold over the last few years or just been abandoned by me after a chapter or two because I didn't care enough to keep going. But this one? With this one, I *fell in love.*
A FAR AWAY MAGIC has the wonderfully well-rounded characters and emotional intensity that I love in good MG realistic fiction, but it's allied with truly gorgeous magic and a sense of wonder that gave me the same feelings as the Susan Cooper novels I adored when I was MG-aged myself. It really does have a classic feel, and every bit of it made me really happy. I loved fierce, wounded Angel and desperate Bavar, and I LOVED the way they saved each other in this book in so many different ways. I loved the difficult, tentative, awkward and wonderful relationship that Angel developed with her foster mother across the novel. And oh, I loved the magical house that Bavar lived in!
This is one of my very favorite novels read this year in any genre. Highly, highly recommended!
February 15, 2018
Давно не встречала в книгах таких ужасных персонажей. Энжел просто невыносима. Наверное, автор посчитал её «активность» милой, но на самом деле это просто ужас какой-то. С первого же дня в школе Энжел начинает в буквальном смысле преследовать бедного Бэвара, как самый настоящий сталкер. Когда она в первые же дни, обманом узнав его адрес в школе, заявилась к нему домой и села под дерево с его вещами, я напряглась. Когда она стала ходить за ним везде и «завалилась» к нему домой, я напряглась еще больше. Когда она начала без спроса ходить по его дому и заглядывать во все места, в которые он просил ее не заходить (вроде кабинета его дяди, который не любит, когда туда заходят, или кладовки с едой, куда просит не заходить его тетя, а Энжел там все без спроса съела), я начала злиться. Терпеть не могу беспардонных людей и персонажей.
И всю книгу Энжел делала все, что ей в голову взбредет (это притом, что она ничего толком не знала о магии и о том, чем Бэвар занимается, а он просил ее этого не делать, поэтому из-за нее они постоянно попадали в опасные для жизни ситуации). Не знаю, как терпел ее Бэвар, но я выносила эту недалекую девочку с трудом.
Бэвар у автора получился скучным и неинтересным. Видимо, Энжел должна была разбавить его занудство, но получилось, что автор впадала из крайности в крайность, что персонажей совсем не красило.
В общем, герои, прямо скажем, мало кому могут понравиться, собственно, как и вся книга.
Повествование ведется от первого лица (короткие главы чередуются от лица Бэвара и Энжел).
Язык простой. Но читать трудновато, потому что главы очень короткие, и постоянно надо переключаться с мыслей одного персонажа на мысли другого.
Скучно, «бредово» и бессмысленно. Иначе книгу не описать. Банальная сказочка для детишек, которая, скорее всего, им, в итоге, не понравится.
Герои, как я уже сказала, отвратительные, сюжет не нов и, прямо скажем, совершенно неинтересен, событий как таковых особо и нет. Дом – копия дома на Площади Гриммо в «Гарри Поттере». Говорящие картины предков – явно не что-то новое и необычное.
На мой взгляд, судя еще и по тому, что история очень короткая, это не книга, а «отписка» автора, направленная исключительно на заработок денег, потому что оригинальностью она не блещет, фантазия у автора не работала вообще. Взяла «Гарри Поттера» и что-то вроде «Divinicus Nex Chronicles» A.E. Kirk, написала пару страничек про неприятных героев, и вуаля – новая книга.
Жаль потраченного времени, хорошо, что его потребовалось немного на такую короткую историю.
И всю книгу Энжел делала все, что ей в голову взбредет (это притом, что она ничего толком не знала о магии и о том, чем Бэвар занимается, а он просил ее этого не делать, поэтому из-за нее они постоянно попадали в опасные для жизни ситуации). Не знаю, как терпел ее Бэвар, но я выносила эту недалекую девочку с трудом.
Бэвар у автора получился скучным и неинтересным. Видимо, Энжел должна была разбавить его занудство, но получилось, что автор впадала из крайности в крайность, что персонажей совсем не красило.
В общем, герои, прямо скажем, мало кому могут понравиться, собственно, как и вся книга.
Повествование ведется от первого лица (короткие главы чередуются от лица Бэвара и Энжел).
Язык простой. Но читать трудновато, потому что главы очень короткие, и постоянно надо переключаться с мыслей одного персонажа на мысли другого.
Скучно, «бредово» и бессмысленно. Иначе книгу не описать. Банальная сказочка для детишек, которая, скорее всего, им, в итоге, не понравится.
Герои, как я уже сказала, отвратительные, сюжет не нов и, прямо скажем, совершенно неинтересен, событий как таковых особо и нет. Дом – копия дома на Площади Гриммо в «Гарри Поттере». Говорящие картины предков – явно не что-то новое и необычное.
На мой взгляд, судя еще и по тому, что история очень короткая, это не книга, а «отписка» автора, направленная исключительно на заработок денег, потому что оригинальностью она не блещет, фантазия у автора не работала вообще. Взяла «Гарри Поттера» и что-то вроде «Divinicus Nex Chronicles» A.E. Kirk, написала пару страничек про неприятных героев, и вуаля – новая книга.
Жаль потраченного времени, хорошо, что его потребовалось немного на такую короткую историю.
June 17, 2020
I just finished A Far Away Magic...wow I was not expecting THAT. I loved this book so much. I can see a hint of a Beaty & the Beast element to it, which makes sense, since that’s my favorite Disney “princess” movie. The 2 characters are Angel & Bavar, & the chapters aren’t numbered, but alternates b/n the 2 different point of views. The chapter is titled by which characters point of view it will be from. & the illustrations all over each 1st page of each chapter-I loved that detailing. The cover is also stunning! This is a little bit darker of a MG, & maybe better for higher MG. There’s magic, grief, friendship....we all feel invisible sometimes, but all it takes is that 1 person to REALLY see us, & believe in us, & we can take on any monster.💜highly recommend!!
Synopsis: When Angel moves to a new school after the death of her parents, she isn't interested in making friends. Until she meets Bavar - a strange boy, tall, awkward and desperate to remain unseen, but who seems to have a kind of magic about him. Everyone and everything within Bavar's enchanted house is urging him to step up and protect the world from a magical rift through which monsters are travelling, the same monsters that killed Angel's parents. But Bavar doesn't want to follow the path that's been chosen for him - he wants to be normal; to disappear. Fighting one another as well as their fears, Angel and Bavar must find a way to repair the rift between the worlds, and themselves, before it's too late . . .
Synopsis: When Angel moves to a new school after the death of her parents, she isn't interested in making friends. Until she meets Bavar - a strange boy, tall, awkward and desperate to remain unseen, but who seems to have a kind of magic about him. Everyone and everything within Bavar's enchanted house is urging him to step up and protect the world from a magical rift through which monsters are travelling, the same monsters that killed Angel's parents. But Bavar doesn't want to follow the path that's been chosen for him - he wants to be normal; to disappear. Fighting one another as well as their fears, Angel and Bavar must find a way to repair the rift between the worlds, and themselves, before it's too late . . .
February 16, 2019
Writing a retelling of Beauty and the Beast for a MG audience is no mean feat, yet Wilson pulls it off brilliantly here. The themes of "Beauty and the Beast" are such that making them both palatable and relatable for this age bracket is a challenge. In this version the "beast" is a young boy born to fight monsters and hold them back from humanity thanks to a family curse and ancestors who didn't know when enough was enough. The "beauty" is a young girl who can see the magic and is drawn in due to the trauma of her past. Angel and Bavar team up to try and find a way to stop the monsters forever and allow Bavar to live a more normal life. They are drawn to each other out of loneliness and a shared trauma, but they build a real friendship from that and make a great team. This is a retelling that works on every level, and I really enjoyed it.
July 15, 2024
This was such a magical story of unlikely friendships and the friendship really shone, but the book didn't seem to have enough to room to fully develop the world they were in. There were demons and missing parents, ancient prophecies but these were not fully explained.
May 10, 2018
I wanted so badly to love this. Because that cover is completely stunning. And the summary was so good too. And so I could not resist getting this via Edelweiss. It is coming out this November, though it is already out in the UK, I found out. I could not resist reading this book so early. And it did not take me long to read it.
But oh, how I wish I could say that I loved this book. I wanted to, so badly. But I did not love it. Not even one bit. I'm even giving it two stars. Which is a bit heartbreaking for me. Was thinking three stars, but I did not like it that much, if I am going to be completely honest. This one was disappointing to me. For so many reasons.
I shall begin with the writing. It bothered me at all times. It simply was not very good. And I could not connect with the story or the characters at all. Everything just felt silly. It did not feel real, not one bit. I have a weird relationship with writing in books. And if I do not like a writing, it makes it pretty much impossible to like the rest of the book. Which was the case with this one. The writing was not good. But it wasn't completely terrible either. Sadly the rest of the book was not better. I did not really care for Angel and Bavar at all. I didn't love their new and growing friendship at all. It even annoyed me. Which I do not approve of it at all. Hmph. My review is not going to be very long, because this book was pretty short, and I do not have that much to say about it all.
This book tells the story of Angel and Bavar. She is twelve years old, and he is thirteen. She just moved to his town, as her parents were killed about a year back, in a pretty bad way. She now lives with foster parents. And reading about that was pretty interesting. I did like Angel. But was just a bit upset with her sometimes too. But learning about her past was interesting too. And I liked the foster parents that she was living with. They seemed pretty nice. My heart broke for her at times too, because of her parents.
Then there was Bavar. I somewhat loved this boy. He was pretty broken and sad. But also not enough broken. Ack. If only it had been written better. Sigh. But yeah. This boy had his parents leave him a year ago, and so now he lives with his aunt and uncle. In a big magical house. Where he must fight monsters. It's a little complicated. Yet not nearly enough so. Aw. But anyway. I liked reading about Bavar. He was interesting. But, uhm, he is described as being really, really tall, and that was a bit confusing, honestly.
This book is about Angel and Bavar meeting, and learning each others secrets. Her figuring out about his magic, and how she can learn the truth about how her parents died. And then it is about them trying to figure out how to get rid of all of the monsters. I wish I could say that it was exciting to read about. But it was not, sadly. I just wanted this book to end. Ack. I didn't love the characters. I did not care much for the story, because not that much happened. Honestly, I wanted this book to be so much bigger than it was.
I cannot help but share that I was completely disappointed by the friendship in this book. I was hoping it would be huge and sweet and just the very best. It was not. I never felt like Angel was spending time with Bavar because she liked him. It was more that she liked his magic, and wanted to learn more about how her parents had died. And she was even mean towards him at times, for nothing that he had done. I was not pleased. This friendship was not epic, like I wanted it to be. It was mostly good, but nothing special.
Which just disappointed me so much. Aw. Then there was the magic in this book. There was not a lot of it at all. There are some mentions of monsters, but only one kind, something with wings. And there are a few scenes with Bavar fighting them. And it just felt a bit weird, to be honest. And the ending felt pretty rushed, I think. This whole book could have been so much more. And I just feel sad because it was not. Maybe it is just me. Shrugs. I do not know. But I do know that I did not love this book. It was not for me.
Angel and Bavar was not the book I wanted it to be. I was expecting a much more stunning friendship. More magic. More story. More broken characters. I feel pretty let down about it, to be honest. But I will also say that the book was not all bad. I did like Bavar a bunch. I just did not love him. And I liked reading about Bavar and Angel spending time together, sometimes. I liked their small families. I enjoyed reading about this magic house and the talking portraits and all that. Just wish that there had been more of it all.
Huge thank you to the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, for the auto approval on Edelweiss that made me able to read and review this book early. Despite my disappointed feelings for this book, I am glad that I gave it a try. Because otherwise I would have been curious about it all the time. I wish it had been better, though, so I'm a bit sad about that. Aw. I think there are people that will love Angel and Bavar. I was sadly just not one of those people. Still, though. This is one of the most gorgeous covers I have seen. I love it.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2018/0...
But oh, how I wish I could say that I loved this book. I wanted to, so badly. But I did not love it. Not even one bit. I'm even giving it two stars. Which is a bit heartbreaking for me. Was thinking three stars, but I did not like it that much, if I am going to be completely honest. This one was disappointing to me. For so many reasons.
I shall begin with the writing. It bothered me at all times. It simply was not very good. And I could not connect with the story or the characters at all. Everything just felt silly. It did not feel real, not one bit. I have a weird relationship with writing in books. And if I do not like a writing, it makes it pretty much impossible to like the rest of the book. Which was the case with this one. The writing was not good. But it wasn't completely terrible either. Sadly the rest of the book was not better. I did not really care for Angel and Bavar at all. I didn't love their new and growing friendship at all. It even annoyed me. Which I do not approve of it at all. Hmph. My review is not going to be very long, because this book was pretty short, and I do not have that much to say about it all.
This book tells the story of Angel and Bavar. She is twelve years old, and he is thirteen. She just moved to his town, as her parents were killed about a year back, in a pretty bad way. She now lives with foster parents. And reading about that was pretty interesting. I did like Angel. But was just a bit upset with her sometimes too. But learning about her past was interesting too. And I liked the foster parents that she was living with. They seemed pretty nice. My heart broke for her at times too, because of her parents.
Then there was Bavar. I somewhat loved this boy. He was pretty broken and sad. But also not enough broken. Ack. If only it had been written better. Sigh. But yeah. This boy had his parents leave him a year ago, and so now he lives with his aunt and uncle. In a big magical house. Where he must fight monsters. It's a little complicated. Yet not nearly enough so. Aw. But anyway. I liked reading about Bavar. He was interesting. But, uhm, he is described as being really, really tall, and that was a bit confusing, honestly.
This book is about Angel and Bavar meeting, and learning each others secrets. Her figuring out about his magic, and how she can learn the truth about how her parents died. And then it is about them trying to figure out how to get rid of all of the monsters. I wish I could say that it was exciting to read about. But it was not, sadly. I just wanted this book to end. Ack. I didn't love the characters. I did not care much for the story, because not that much happened. Honestly, I wanted this book to be so much bigger than it was.
I cannot help but share that I was completely disappointed by the friendship in this book. I was hoping it would be huge and sweet and just the very best. It was not. I never felt like Angel was spending time with Bavar because she liked him. It was more that she liked his magic, and wanted to learn more about how her parents had died. And she was even mean towards him at times, for nothing that he had done. I was not pleased. This friendship was not epic, like I wanted it to be. It was mostly good, but nothing special.
Which just disappointed me so much. Aw. Then there was the magic in this book. There was not a lot of it at all. There are some mentions of monsters, but only one kind, something with wings. And there are a few scenes with Bavar fighting them. And it just felt a bit weird, to be honest. And the ending felt pretty rushed, I think. This whole book could have been so much more. And I just feel sad because it was not. Maybe it is just me. Shrugs. I do not know. But I do know that I did not love this book. It was not for me.
Angel and Bavar was not the book I wanted it to be. I was expecting a much more stunning friendship. More magic. More story. More broken characters. I feel pretty let down about it, to be honest. But I will also say that the book was not all bad. I did like Bavar a bunch. I just did not love him. And I liked reading about Bavar and Angel spending time together, sometimes. I liked their small families. I enjoyed reading about this magic house and the talking portraits and all that. Just wish that there had been more of it all.
Huge thank you to the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books, for the auto approval on Edelweiss that made me able to read and review this book early. Despite my disappointed feelings for this book, I am glad that I gave it a try. Because otherwise I would have been curious about it all the time. I wish it had been better, though, so I'm a bit sad about that. Aw. I think there are people that will love Angel and Bavar. I was sadly just not one of those people. Still, though. This is one of the most gorgeous covers I have seen. I love it.
---
This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2018/0...
February 11, 2019
I'm going to DNF this for the moment. It's a cute story. I just can't get into it. I was wanting more, and I forgot this was MG. I will totally pick this back up again! It's well written and there is NOTHING wrong with it. Just not what I'm in the mood for right now. :)
December 31, 2018
This story is very inventive and interesting and I definitely cared about the characters. For all that, though, I did not enjoy this book. In thinking about it afterward, I wondered if maybe this should have been a series that unfolded over time rather than a slim book that wrapped itself up with a tidy bow by the end.
Angel is a bright spark and I really enjoyed the descriptions of how Bavar saw her. Her backstory was fleshed out (to a degree) and you definitely care about her right away. What I did not like was that there were a number of Angel chapters that had exactly the same arc-- She was put off by Bavar, she persisted, he continued to ignore her, then it would end with: "I will fight, I will do this, I will help Bavar!". Noble, but annoying after awhile.
Bavar's character was confusing at first and it took awhile for me to understand he was not a hideous monster, but a really tall boy with some odd characteristics. The way the author describes his magic sort of keeping him foggy and far away from others even when he is physically near was very inventive. My mind's eye really understood that and felt drawn in. So with Eva's character. I really liked her and thought she was particularly 3D.
Read the book, for sure, as it will be a quick one anyway, and see how you feel. For me, it was a dud and it did not inspire me to check out her first novel. I won't be suggesting this one to my young readers.
Angel is a bright spark and I really enjoyed the descriptions of how Bavar saw her. Her backstory was fleshed out (to a degree) and you definitely care about her right away. What I did not like was that there were a number of Angel chapters that had exactly the same arc-- She was put off by Bavar, she persisted, he continued to ignore her, then it would end with: "I will fight, I will do this, I will help Bavar!". Noble, but annoying after awhile.
Bavar's character was confusing at first and it took awhile for me to understand he was not a hideous monster, but a really tall boy with some odd characteristics. The way the author describes his magic sort of keeping him foggy and far away from others even when he is physically near was very inventive. My mind's eye really understood that and felt drawn in. So with Eva's character. I really liked her and thought she was particularly 3D.
Read the book, for sure, as it will be a quick one anyway, and see how you feel. For me, it was a dud and it did not inspire me to check out her first novel. I won't be suggesting this one to my young readers.
February 1, 2019
My Review: When I found out this was a beauty and the beast retelling I was like YES PLEASE!! OMG YES YES YES!! Then I started the book and yes I understand that this was for the middle-grade reader it just wasn't what I was expecting it to be. I think in this one my main issue was Bavar that side of the story was just confusing to no end and I ended up reading his parts more than a few times just to try to get it fleshed out in my mind. Angel was ok at best. In the end for the characters, I just didn't connect with anyone.
So my other issue with this one was the writing. It was disappointing to me how this one was written and I think that since I was very confused at times I worry that those in the actual age group won't find this one enjoyable.
Go Into This One Knowing: Confusing
So my other issue with this one was the writing. It was disappointing to me how this one was written and I think that since I was very confused at times I worry that those in the actual age group won't find this one enjoyable.
Go Into This One Knowing: Confusing
Read
April 26, 2020A really good book! Full of magic and friendship.
March 20, 2019
A book with an interesting concept but execution... I feel like it would work better without the fantasy elements and just about 2 kids dealing with the loss of parental figures.
April 14, 2020
3.5 stars
CW: Grief
CW: Grief
January 15, 2019
2.75
I was drawn to this book having read it was an imaginative retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
I think that despite the connection with the famous fairy tale is pretty loose (and nearly goes unnoticed if you do not look for it), Angel and Bavar has the potential to be a captivating Middle-Grade fantasy book about the power of friendship.
Bavar and Angel (well, especially Bavar) are both lonely, both hunted and broken (each one in their own way, though) and it's easy to root for them.
Bavar's dark, strange house, with its howling portraits, secret passages and looming monsters, is fascinating, too.
As I said, this book has potential. And I would have loved it, if only it had been written better.
Too many things (from the description of the characters - , to the backstory of the 'curse', to the monsters... and I could keep on and on listing) are described in a hurry, merely sketched, condensed in a few senteced rather than properly developed . It's a bit confusing and, at times it's difficult to imagine them all in your mind, let alone truly, completely get caught into the story.
If only...
I was drawn to this book having read it was an imaginative retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
I think that despite the connection with the famous fairy tale is pretty loose (and nearly goes unnoticed if you do not look for it), Angel and Bavar has the potential to be a captivating Middle-Grade fantasy book about the power of friendship.
Bavar and Angel (well, especially Bavar) are both lonely, both hunted and broken (each one in their own way, though) and it's easy to root for them.
Bavar's dark, strange house, with its howling portraits, secret passages and looming monsters, is fascinating, too.
As I said, this book has potential. And I would have loved it, if only it had been written better.
Too many things (from the description of the characters - , to the backstory of the 'curse', to the monsters... and I could keep on and on listing) are described in a hurry, merely sketched, condensed in a few senteced rather than properly developed . It's a bit confusing and, at times it's difficult to imagine them all in your mind, let alone truly, completely get caught into the story.
If only...
December 24, 2018
I received this book from Edelweiss plus in exchange for an honest review
DNF at 39%
I really tried to at least reached that 50% mark, but it's been almost a month and tbh, this book is putting me in a reading slump.
I think the premise of this book is interesting, but unfortunately the execution fails me. Angel creeps me out, one look at Bavar and she decided to stalk him. To barge into his life, forcing him to fight, and even though she felt guilty, she also feels happy for getting into his world :/ She wanted to fight, but she gets scared of everything or freeze. She's mean towards her foster parents (which is justifiable), looks down on other people at school and doesn't hear anything Bavar said- which caused disaster and caused everything Bavar stood for turned upside-down.
Still, no regrets though because she gets what she wanted.
I do understand why she did that, but being in her head, seeing the way she's thinking, her demands and tantrums and stalking... it really unsettles me.
The characters are written as middle grade age, with their way of thinking and speaking style. However, some description also makes me feel like reading YA romance. For example, Bavar always describes Angel as "light in the dark", and other sort of cheesy metaphors straight out of twilight.
Many people seem to like it, but I don't think this book is it for me.
DNF at 39%
I really tried to at least reached that 50% mark, but it's been almost a month and tbh, this book is putting me in a reading slump.
I think the premise of this book is interesting, but unfortunately the execution fails me. Angel creeps me out, one look at Bavar and she decided to stalk him. To barge into his life, forcing him to fight, and even though she felt guilty, she also feels happy for getting into his world :/ She wanted to fight, but she gets scared of everything or freeze. She's mean towards her foster parents (which is justifiable), looks down on other people at school and doesn't hear anything Bavar said- which caused disaster and caused everything Bavar stood for turned upside-down.
Still, no regrets though because she gets what she wanted.
I do understand why she did that, but being in her head, seeing the way she's thinking, her demands and tantrums and stalking... it really unsettles me.
The characters are written as middle grade age, with their way of thinking and speaking style. However, some description also makes me feel like reading YA romance. For example, Bavar always describes Angel as "light in the dark", and other sort of cheesy metaphors straight out of twilight.
Many people seem to like it, but I don't think this book is it for me.
April 23, 2018
Another beautifully written book from the talented Amy Wilson, although this book has a very different feel to A Girl called Owl That drew on folk and fairy tale elements while this has a kind of mystical Harry Potter and Narnia feel to it.
The characters were so sweet & realistic. I particularly loved Bavar & his struggle to do better than his family. The loss these children faced was heart breaking.
I loved the quirky house with the talking pictures too.
A very powerful ending. Monsters are one thing but normal life has its own kind of battles.
A great book!
The characters were so sweet & realistic. I particularly loved Bavar & his struggle to do better than his family. The loss these children faced was heart breaking.
I loved the quirky house with the talking pictures too.
A very powerful ending. Monsters are one thing but normal life has its own kind of battles.
A great book!
March 31, 2021
I read this book for middle grade March and wasn’t impressed, to say the least. The premise sounded interesting, but I definitely didn’t get Beauty & the Beast vibes from it. The writing was really choppy, the plot was convoluted and I just couldn’t connect to the characters.
March 3, 2020
I liked this a lot going into it, very cool premise and unique magic! but it was a little too vague for me at parts and ultimately kinda unsatisfying.
January 9, 2018
This beautiful, magical story will have you sat in suspense throughout! Not knowing what to expect, I was shocked by Amy Wilson’s fantastic fantasy children’s story that exceeded all expectations. As beautiful as the cover illustration, this delightful read kept me hanging on In suspense right through to the very last page. Anyone who wants to read something highly original, unique and completely addictive should definitely give this book a try. With a cast of colorful characters, one is taken on a sublime mystery that’s full of dramatic action and mystery. With a good old-fashioned dose of spooky houses and creepy monsters, Angel and Bavar’s tale is one that’ll have you enchanted. Also, this is a story about loss and how one can remain invisible in a colorful world when caught by grief. Full of exciting drama, intense battle scenes and the ordinary to the extraordinary this is no standard children’s YA fantasy.
I am delighted to have won this book through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway and would like to thank the author for such a sensational read.
I am delighted to have won this book through a Goodreads, first-read giveaway and would like to thank the author for such a sensational read.
January 14, 2019
Interesting re-imaging of Beauty and the Beast, though not my favorite and had I not known that is what it was I might not have made the connection. Also, I had a very hard time believing the characters were as young as they are supposed to be in the book, they seemed more teen range than tween.
Angels parents are killed in what is called a robbery gone wrong but she is certain that it was something else more sinister that killed them. When she is placed in foster care she meets Bavar at her new school, a strange, tall boy who avoids everyone else. Something draws her to him and she discovers that he is protecting the world from beasts that he fights back into another realm. Angel decides that these beasts are what killed her parents and wants to help Bavar close the entrance to the other world forever.
Good for ages 12 and up.
Angels parents are killed in what is called a robbery gone wrong but she is certain that it was something else more sinister that killed them. When she is placed in foster care she meets Bavar at her new school, a strange, tall boy who avoids everyone else. Something draws her to him and she discovers that he is protecting the world from beasts that he fights back into another realm. Angel decides that these beasts are what killed her parents and wants to help Bavar close the entrance to the other world forever.
Good for ages 12 and up.
January 1, 2018
A tale of unlikely friendship, seeing people when they’re invisible and fighting evil monsters. I really enjoyed this. Bavar and Angel are a brilliant team. I loved Bavar’s magical house! Angel’s relationship with her foster parents is touching.
Read
May 11, 2022good book, good story love bavar It is very slow pase but there are also no chapters it just jumps between bavar and angel's pov
May 2, 2018
Loved this book ...
February 26, 2018
‘Hauntingly beautiful and richly enchanting… A Far Away Magic is sure to cast its spell over you. Magic is most definitely not far away with this one, in fact it’s in every moment.’
Moving all alone to a new home, a new school, a new family, Angel finds herself mother and fatherless, friendless and faceless. Living with her foster family, whom in the beginning she never really gives a chance, she however starts to see something in someone deep within the shadows at school. The same kind of something that she saw in two other people close to her that are no longer here.
We discover that this someone named Bavar is a seven-foot-tall, misunderstood monster of a boy. In more ways than one. Completely and utterly unnoticed at school by his peers, he’s forever been seen as strange and hunched over, almost as if he’s been living with the weight upon his shoulders of the weird and wonderful world that he finds himself within.
At home however he’s different. His background is worlds apart – quite literally – from this lone figure. Living in the house on the hill where portraits of his dead ancestors whisper through the corridors and a bronze bust of his grandfather gives him advice, he discovers that he’s the family’s heir to defending the rift – a piercing void that allows monsters known as raksasa from an altogether otherly world through in to this one.
Once Angel sees Bavar, that’s all she sees. She tries getting his attention, talking to him, accidentally-on-purpose bumping in to him but it’s all in vain. It’s not through lack of trying however. Bavar doesn’t even want any friends. Particularly not one like Angel…
For unbeknown to him, she can see not just in to his eyes.
But his heart.
Even his soul.
Parentless. No friends. Troubled and lost. Invisible to the world.
The two of them together have no idea of how much they both have in common.
As their two, very different worlds begin to collide, the most unlikeliest of friends need to come together to try to resolve each other’s problems and this is where we start to see both characters’ true personalities. Angel may be fatherless, friendless and faceless but she’s also fearless. Whilst Bavar comes not only big in stature but also seemingly big in heart, as he wishes to defy and break his family cycle by not wanting to face up and fight the demons and darkness in the destiny that his predecessors have so dangerously left him in.
With a chapter-changing dual narrative providing both sides of their stories, it took slightly longer for me to get into this one than Amy’s debut A Girl Called Owl (a book I named as one of my top 20 #FaveMGKidsBooks2017) but maybe this was a sign as I started to feel more invested in the characters of Angel and Bavar. Something that Amy herself describes has likewise happened to her whilst writing.
Amy masterfully conjures up characters who, to start with, possess echoes of an almost gothic-like Beauty (Angel) and the Beast (Bavar) nature; who, during the story, so desperately need one another; and who, in the end, really do bring the best out of each other.
As readers, sometimes we may not fully acknowledge supporting characters within books. But in my eyes, Mary (Angel’s foster mother) is the most important character. Because if Angel is the only one who truly sees Bavar for who he is, then the same could be said for Mary who I think is the only one who truly sees Angel for who she is.
As Amy describes, it took 17,000 words for her to get Bavar to even think about speaking to Angel so it’s entirely fitting that he has the last word in the final chapter yet Angel really is the catalyst, that she is so often referred to as in the book, to Bavar for helping him to find himself… but can they work together to close the rift in time and keep the raksasa out? Will the truth about Angel’s parents’ deaths be revealed?
This hauntingly beautiful and richly enchanting story while having themes of grief, loss, loneliness, magic and friendship, is also about the power of others seeing something within you and that may be something that you yourself might not believe you even have.
It broods and stirs with a mesmerising quality – full of emotional intensity – weaving a whole feast of fantastical elements in to Bavar’s world of magical warfare against the backdrop of Angel’s real world. There’s a line in the book when Angel discovers a room in the house of Bavar where men and women gather in clusters and a woman has ‘magic in every movement’, well to paraphrase this: A Far Away Magic certainly has magic in every moment.
Moving all alone to a new home, a new school, a new family, Angel finds herself mother and fatherless, friendless and faceless. Living with her foster family, whom in the beginning she never really gives a chance, she however starts to see something in someone deep within the shadows at school. The same kind of something that she saw in two other people close to her that are no longer here.
We discover that this someone named Bavar is a seven-foot-tall, misunderstood monster of a boy. In more ways than one. Completely and utterly unnoticed at school by his peers, he’s forever been seen as strange and hunched over, almost as if he’s been living with the weight upon his shoulders of the weird and wonderful world that he finds himself within.
At home however he’s different. His background is worlds apart – quite literally – from this lone figure. Living in the house on the hill where portraits of his dead ancestors whisper through the corridors and a bronze bust of his grandfather gives him advice, he discovers that he’s the family’s heir to defending the rift – a piercing void that allows monsters known as raksasa from an altogether otherly world through in to this one.
Once Angel sees Bavar, that’s all she sees. She tries getting his attention, talking to him, accidentally-on-purpose bumping in to him but it’s all in vain. It’s not through lack of trying however. Bavar doesn’t even want any friends. Particularly not one like Angel…
For unbeknown to him, she can see not just in to his eyes.
But his heart.
Even his soul.
Parentless. No friends. Troubled and lost. Invisible to the world.
The two of them together have no idea of how much they both have in common.
As their two, very different worlds begin to collide, the most unlikeliest of friends need to come together to try to resolve each other’s problems and this is where we start to see both characters’ true personalities. Angel may be fatherless, friendless and faceless but she’s also fearless. Whilst Bavar comes not only big in stature but also seemingly big in heart, as he wishes to defy and break his family cycle by not wanting to face up and fight the demons and darkness in the destiny that his predecessors have so dangerously left him in.
With a chapter-changing dual narrative providing both sides of their stories, it took slightly longer for me to get into this one than Amy’s debut A Girl Called Owl (a book I named as one of my top 20 #FaveMGKidsBooks2017) but maybe this was a sign as I started to feel more invested in the characters of Angel and Bavar. Something that Amy herself describes has likewise happened to her whilst writing.
Amy masterfully conjures up characters who, to start with, possess echoes of an almost gothic-like Beauty (Angel) and the Beast (Bavar) nature; who, during the story, so desperately need one another; and who, in the end, really do bring the best out of each other.
As readers, sometimes we may not fully acknowledge supporting characters within books. But in my eyes, Mary (Angel’s foster mother) is the most important character. Because if Angel is the only one who truly sees Bavar for who he is, then the same could be said for Mary who I think is the only one who truly sees Angel for who she is.
As Amy describes, it took 17,000 words for her to get Bavar to even think about speaking to Angel so it’s entirely fitting that he has the last word in the final chapter yet Angel really is the catalyst, that she is so often referred to as in the book, to Bavar for helping him to find himself… but can they work together to close the rift in time and keep the raksasa out? Will the truth about Angel’s parents’ deaths be revealed?
This hauntingly beautiful and richly enchanting story while having themes of grief, loss, loneliness, magic and friendship, is also about the power of others seeing something within you and that may be something that you yourself might not believe you even have.
It broods and stirs with a mesmerising quality – full of emotional intensity – weaving a whole feast of fantastical elements in to Bavar’s world of magical warfare against the backdrop of Angel’s real world. There’s a line in the book when Angel discovers a room in the house of Bavar where men and women gather in clusters and a woman has ‘magic in every movement’, well to paraphrase this: A Far Away Magic certainly has magic in every moment.
Read
December 31, 2020 Angel and Bavar touched my heart in so many ways! The imagery was wonderfully poignant and really set a sad, mystical feel for the story.
Angel and Bavar articulately throws you into the story without you even realizing. You're on a roller-coaster as soon as you've started and don't come to a stop until the end. To be frank ,Angel and Bavar is very sad towards the beginning, but it does lighten up a bit towards the middle, until the feel of sadness is replaced with frantic urgency.
The story is set in a quiet town that we later learn is just outside a bustling city. This quiet town hides a deeply settled secret that no one knows even exists, until a certain person comes around that is.
Characters:
Angel - (sighs heavily) Angel is very broken and fighting to put herself back together after a tragic mistake.
Bavar - He's doesn't fit in anywhere but at home, but that home isn't your usual house on a quiet street.
Plot:
Angel and Bavar follows a storyline that urges you to face the darkest parts of yourself and to let the light shine in; no matter where you are in life, you are never too far gone.
Content Warnings:
I don't have much to put down in this section aside from the minor usage of "language". No curse words were used, but there were many "I swear" and a few "so-and-so cursed". This was not at all a main factor of the book and occurred pretty sparingly for the most part.
As another heads up, I'll mention the sadness factor. The book simply feels sad and it doesn't really stop, but it didn't make me cry at all. (the writing style made me pause to savor it at times though)
Angel and Bavar definitely portrayed a few Biblical principles. (which made it all the better)
John 1:5 says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This really showed itself throughout the book as I watched the characters interactions. God is the light of the world. The world will never snuff out His light. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
People often didn't quite "see" a certain character, but one person did and they looked past his outward shell and saw a person, not a monster. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 God looks past how we look on the outside and loves us for who we are on the inside.
Angel and Bavar articulately throws you into the story without you even realizing. You're on a roller-coaster as soon as you've started and don't come to a stop until the end. To be frank ,Angel and Bavar is very sad towards the beginning, but it does lighten up a bit towards the middle, until the feel of sadness is replaced with frantic urgency.
The story is set in a quiet town that we later learn is just outside a bustling city. This quiet town hides a deeply settled secret that no one knows even exists, until a certain person comes around that is.
Characters:
Angel - (sighs heavily) Angel is very broken and fighting to put herself back together after a tragic mistake.
Bavar - He's doesn't fit in anywhere but at home, but that home isn't your usual house on a quiet street.
Plot:
Angel and Bavar follows a storyline that urges you to face the darkest parts of yourself and to let the light shine in; no matter where you are in life, you are never too far gone.
Content Warnings:
I don't have much to put down in this section aside from the minor usage of "language". No curse words were used, but there were many "I swear" and a few "so-and-so cursed". This was not at all a main factor of the book and occurred pretty sparingly for the most part.
As another heads up, I'll mention the sadness factor. The book simply feels sad and it doesn't really stop, but it didn't make me cry at all. (the writing style made me pause to savor it at times though)
Angel and Bavar definitely portrayed a few Biblical principles. (which made it all the better)
John 1:5 says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This really showed itself throughout the book as I watched the characters interactions. God is the light of the world. The world will never snuff out His light. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
People often didn't quite "see" a certain character, but one person did and they looked past his outward shell and saw a person, not a monster. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7 God looks past how we look on the outside and loves us for who we are on the inside.
February 7, 2019
How disappointing. MG books always shine when it comes to writing about friendship, but I felt no spark.
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This is the second book I read by this author and I think I can say by now her books aren't for me. There is always a spark missing, and in this book it is based on the fact I didn't care for the friendship between Angel and Bavar.
Angel has to get used to a whole new life after the death of her parents and Bavar makes it infinitely more interesting and easy. He is not used to people noticing him and he has no idea what to do with the sudden attention from Angel. The only thing Bavar is doing is trying to keep the world save, while he practically wastes away.
The whole concept of his magical castle and the monsters he is trying to fight was great, but not explored. It felt more like a minor detail thrown into the mix.. If the characters had more chemistry that would have been fine, but it was one of the many things that didn't work for me.
Shame.
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This is the second book I read by this author and I think I can say by now her books aren't for me. There is always a spark missing, and in this book it is based on the fact I didn't care for the friendship between Angel and Bavar.
Angel has to get used to a whole new life after the death of her parents and Bavar makes it infinitely more interesting and easy. He is not used to people noticing him and he has no idea what to do with the sudden attention from Angel. The only thing Bavar is doing is trying to keep the world save, while he practically wastes away.
The whole concept of his magical castle and the monsters he is trying to fight was great, but not explored. It felt more like a minor detail thrown into the mix.. If the characters had more chemistry that would have been fine, but it was one of the many things that didn't work for me.
Shame.
February 13, 2019
Short and sweet, and absolutely spectacular!
I read it in one sitting and adored every minute of it.
There's a fantastic balance between the PoVs and the grip of each narrative is fleeting in a way that both mimics the hazy hold on reality each kid has and also prevents the reader from getting bogged down in useless details like questions about the setting (nameless small town, probably not in England), or like a hundred other usually-major-concerns.
It's just GORGEOUS writing, and the two voices are dynamic within themselves, very unique in reference to each other, and both totally honest representations of the differing manifestations of grief and fear (and those representations evolve within each of the characters constantly as their situations evolve!)... ugh. JUST PERFECT.
I read it in one sitting and adored every minute of it.
There's a fantastic balance between the PoVs and the grip of each narrative is fleeting in a way that both mimics the hazy hold on reality each kid has and also prevents the reader from getting bogged down in useless details like questions about the setting (nameless small town, probably not in England), or like a hundred other usually-major-concerns.
It's just GORGEOUS writing, and the two voices are dynamic within themselves, very unique in reference to each other, and both totally honest representations of the differing manifestations of grief and fear (and those representations evolve within each of the characters constantly as their situations evolve!)... ugh. JUST PERFECT.
November 5, 2018
Sometimes when I read a book, I just want to ask the universe where this book was when I was a girl and NEEDED it. But since Amy Wilson probably wasn't old enough to write it when I was a kid, I'll just give her mad props for having the courage to write it! Angel and Bavar is a middle grades retelling of Beauty and the Beast that embraces the heart of the story while still being appropriate for kiddos. I think Madeline L'Engle is the one who said that if a story is too hard for adults, you should write it for children. This book is a coming of age story that challenges the reader to ask what courage really looks like and if we have what it takes to become who we we meant to be. I do think that as a kid, I would have been entirely focused on the two main characters. But now that I'm an adult, I actually think the best part of this book was its analysis of parenthood. There are a lot of parents and surrogate parental figures in this story. Amy Wilson manages to make each one complex with strengths and weaknesses that shape Angel and Bavar while also motivating them to be more than the sum of their childhoods.
September 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read many books in this style, switching first person every chapter, but I think it is done really well in this book.
Bavar was my favorite, and I loved his character development. The magic house and all of it's rooms were so mysterious and full of wonder.
I think this is a great story for fantasy and non fantasy readers a like. There are some magical elements to this tale, but the true magic is in the hearts of the characters. And the themes are relevant to any middle schooler.
There are scary monsters in this story. So if your easily scared maybe don't read this book at night.
But I'll be highly recommending this one once it's out in November!
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Moved my rating to 5 stars because...
It's been almost 2 years since I have read this book and I still think about how much I loved it.
I think I am going to read it again.
Bavar was my favorite, and I loved his character development. The magic house and all of it's rooms were so mysterious and full of wonder.
I think this is a great story for fantasy and non fantasy readers a like. There are some magical elements to this tale, but the true magic is in the hearts of the characters. And the themes are relevant to any middle schooler.
There are scary monsters in this story. So if your easily scared maybe don't read this book at night.
But I'll be highly recommending this one once it's out in November!
----‐----------
Moved my rating to 5 stars because...
It's been almost 2 years since I have read this book and I still think about how much I loved it.
I think I am going to read it again.
March 25, 2020
This is the story of two misfits, parentless and finding something familiar in each other. It's a middle grade platonic Beauty and the Beast, enchanted "castle" included. When Angel gets placed with a new foster family she starts a new school and immediately notices Bavar, a very large boy who only wants to not be noticed. Forging a new friendship, they figure out what ties them together, and more importantly, how to fight off the raksasa, horrible beasts invading their world through a rift to another world. The bones of a good story are all there but I felt like there was something missing. More details about the raksasa's background (raksasa or rakshasa coming from Indonesian folklore) might have enhanced the story. For readers who thirst for stories of magic, this will be a fine read, but they may not find their thirst quenched.
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