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Jinxed!: The Curious Curse of Cora Bell
Magic awaits around every corner ...
Cora is eleven years old and missing one eye. She lives with an elderly lady named Dot in a room hidden behind a wall. In a crowded, industrial city, where everyone looks out for themselves, Cora and Dot hunt and sell rare and exotic things - apple seeds, silver forks, shoe polish. Until one day, Cora finds a few words scribbled on a piece of paper.
She takes it home and says the words aloud. Then two plump, hairy fairies named Tick and Tock crash land in her path to warn her that she is in terrible danger. Cora has unknowingly summoned a sinister creature known as a Jinx. Jinxes eat magical beings and once they have a scent, they never forget it. But Cora isn't a magical being . . . is she?
Quickly, Cora is thrown headfirst into a world filled with magic, necromancers, shape-shifters, enchantresses, fairies, nightwalkers, witches and giants.
Richly illustrated throughout by Sharon O'Connor, this is a very exciting magical new series from the talented author of Whimsy & Woe.
AWARDS
Shortlisted - 2019 Aurealis Awards (Best Children's Fiction)
Cora is eleven years old and missing one eye. She lives with an elderly lady named Dot in a room hidden behind a wall. In a crowded, industrial city, where everyone looks out for themselves, Cora and Dot hunt and sell rare and exotic things - apple seeds, silver forks, shoe polish. Until one day, Cora finds a few words scribbled on a piece of paper.
She takes it home and says the words aloud. Then two plump, hairy fairies named Tick and Tock crash land in her path to warn her that she is in terrible danger. Cora has unknowingly summoned a sinister creature known as a Jinx. Jinxes eat magical beings and once they have a scent, they never forget it. But Cora isn't a magical being . . . is she?
Quickly, Cora is thrown headfirst into a world filled with magic, necromancers, shape-shifters, enchantresses, fairies, nightwalkers, witches and giants.
Richly illustrated throughout by Sharon O'Connor, this is a very exciting magical new series from the talented author of Whimsy & Woe.
AWARDS
Shortlisted - 2019 Aurealis Awards (Best Children's Fiction)
320 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2019
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 3, 2019
One-eyed eleven year old Cora lives with her cat (called Scratch) and an elderly lady called Dot who found her very young and took her in. Dot has taught her many things, so when the time comes, Cora will be able to look after herself. Cora doesn't like to think about that.
They live in a rundown unpleasant town called Urt where their way of life is to scavenge. Dot likes to call them collectors (not scavengers). Cora goes out alone for the first time, to scavenge the abandoned houses in Urt, for anything useful that can be sold or traded.
She knows she must avoid other scavengers, and also the men who will take anything you have - including you. Who knows what would happen? When she finds a note hidden in a small tin, she tries to read it, not realising the havoc that will be released as she tries to speak the strange language.
Her life is changed from this moment. She meets all manner of magical creatures, the first being two fairy brothers called Tick & Tock. They tell her what reading the note has done, and suddenly she is on the run with them. As they flee through magical worlds, Cora begins to learn a lot about herself. She's not just Cora from Urt. She is something much, much more. They just haven't quite figured out what yet.
Cora's travels with her new fairy friends are imaginative, enchanting, dangerous, full of action and enjoyable reading. There are magical creatures you've never heard of, making this adventure unique, capturing my interest as Cora deals with her growing knowledge of these mystical worlds. This is the 1st in a series.
They live in a rundown unpleasant town called Urt where their way of life is to scavenge. Dot likes to call them collectors (not scavengers). Cora goes out alone for the first time, to scavenge the abandoned houses in Urt, for anything useful that can be sold or traded.
She knows she must avoid other scavengers, and also the men who will take anything you have - including you. Who knows what would happen? When she finds a note hidden in a small tin, she tries to read it, not realising the havoc that will be released as she tries to speak the strange language.
Her life is changed from this moment. She meets all manner of magical creatures, the first being two fairy brothers called Tick & Tock. They tell her what reading the note has done, and suddenly she is on the run with them. As they flee through magical worlds, Cora begins to learn a lot about herself. She's not just Cora from Urt. She is something much, much more. They just haven't quite figured out what yet.
Cora's travels with her new fairy friends are imaginative, enchanting, dangerous, full of action and enjoyable reading. There are magical creatures you've never heard of, making this adventure unique, capturing my interest as Cora deals with her growing knowledge of these mystical worlds. This is the 1st in a series.
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May 12, 2020Fun, kooky and exciting, all wrapped up with epic world-building. I think I fell in love with the world the most, from the dark and sinister Urt with its empty houses where you mustn't make a sound, to the gateways in the floors of the most unexpected places. And the hairy men-fairies. We can't forget them.
This is a great read for middle-grade lovers of fantasy, which will keep surprising to the end.
This is a great read for middle-grade lovers of fantasy, which will keep surprising to the end.
September 30, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. The front cover art is so cute and it’s what drew me to it. I think the overall idea behind the story is great, but I don’t feel it was carried off well through the plot line.
The story felt quite repetitive and I found it difficult to finish.
However enjoyed the introduction of some different mythical creatures not generally included within children’s literature.
The story felt quite repetitive and I found it difficult to finish.
However enjoyed the introduction of some different mythical creatures not generally included within children’s literature.
June 27, 2021
This is a cute little tale of a young girl, Cora who is forced to go on the run when she unwittingly unleashes a curse on herself.
With the help of two new fairy friends Tock and Tick, Cora must find out who she really is, escape the jinx and outrun the powerful warlock they have angered along the way.
A fun story full of adventure and friendship.
With the help of two new fairy friends Tock and Tick, Cora must find out who she really is, escape the jinx and outrun the powerful warlock they have angered along the way.
A fun story full of adventure and friendship.
December 8, 2019
Loved it! So magical, entertaining and full of wonderful adventure. I felt like I did when reading the Magic Tree series as a young girl! Awe inspired by wondrous imagination 🥰
January 2, 2020
My star rating:
Cover: 4.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World: 3.5/5
Enjoyment level: 4/5 stars
Cover: 4.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World: 3.5/5
Enjoyment level: 4/5 stars
September 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book
June 11, 2024
A very interesting story line!
I would say that this middle grade book is for much younger readers. As I - an adult - did not enjoy it as much as other middle grade books.
The illustrations were perfectly fun, except for one tiny blooper on page 82. See if you can spot it ;)
A good, fun kids book! 2.5 Stars
I would say that this middle grade book is for much younger readers. As I - an adult - did not enjoy it as much as other middle grade books.
The illustrations were perfectly fun, except for one tiny blooper on page 82. See if you can spot it ;)
A good, fun kids book! 2.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews