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The Castle of Tangled Magic
Magic and whimsy meet in this Howl's Moving Castle for a new generation from the critically adored Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs.
Twelve-year-old Olia knows a thing or two about secrets. Her parents are the caretakers of Castle Mila, a soaring palace with golden domes, lush gardens, and countless room. Literally countless rooms. There are rooms that appear and disappear, and rooms that have been hiding themselves for centuries. The only person who can access them is Olia. She has a special bond with the castle, and it seems to trust her with its secrets.
But then a violent storm rolls in . . . a storm that skips over the village and surrounds the castle, threatening to tear it apart. While taking cover in a rarely-used room, Olia stumbles down a secret passage that leads to a part of Castle Mila she's never seen before. A strange network of rooms that hide the secret to the castle's past . . . and the truth about who's trying to destroy it.
Twelve-year-old Olia knows a thing or two about secrets. Her parents are the caretakers of Castle Mila, a soaring palace with golden domes, lush gardens, and countless room. Literally countless rooms. There are rooms that appear and disappear, and rooms that have been hiding themselves for centuries. The only person who can access them is Olia. She has a special bond with the castle, and it seems to trust her with its secrets.
But then a violent storm rolls in . . . a storm that skips over the village and surrounds the castle, threatening to tear it apart. While taking cover in a rarely-used room, Olia stumbles down a secret passage that leads to a part of Castle Mila she's never seen before. A strange network of rooms that hide the secret to the castle's past . . . and the truth about who's trying to destroy it.
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2020
127 people are currently reading
6280 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Anderson
8 books948 followersSophie Anderson grew up on the Welsh coast and now lives in the Lake District with her family. Her writing is most often inspired by folk and fairy stories, especially the Slavic tales her Prussian grandmother told her when she was young.
Across her bestselling novels, Sophie has won the Independent Bookshop Book of the Year Award and the Wales Book of the Year Award, and been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal twice, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, the British Book Awards’ Children’s Fiction Book of the Year, the Andersen Prize and the Branford Boase Award.
Sophie’s books have been translated into over twenty-five languages, and The House with Chicken Legs has been adapted for stage by Les Enfants Terribles.
Across her bestselling novels, Sophie has won the Independent Bookshop Book of the Year Award and the Wales Book of the Year Award, and been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal twice, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, the British Book Awards’ Children’s Fiction Book of the Year, the Andersen Prize and the Branford Boase Award.
Sophie’s books have been translated into over twenty-five languages, and The House with Chicken Legs has been adapted for stage by Les Enfants Terribles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 397 reviews
July 23, 2020
'The Castle of Tangled Magic' by Sophie Anderson is a true triumph of middle grade magic and imagination.
Olia has always lived in Castle Mila, a gorgeous castle rich in ancestral history that has been passed down through the generations. The castle holds secrets upon secrets and Olia is determined to uncover every secret room and passageway. When a storm rocks the castle, it's up to Olia to find out why a world bigger than her own is in danger, and when she steps into a magical new world, it's up to her to save everyone.
One of my most anticipated novels of 2020 did not disappoint as I devoured this masterpiece in one day. A huge thank you to Usborne and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Considering Anderson is one of my favourite writers, it's easy to conclude that, honestly, this is her best work yet.
Olia is a worthy heroine to join the ranks of the heroines in Anderson's other works, proving that characters are a true highlight in the worlds that Anderson creates. They are strong and relatable, and from the very beginning of 'The Castle of Tangled Magic', you feel as though Olia is a real person. Her love for her family and curiosity towards adventure are enough to propel her as a 400-page leading lady without us ever feeling disconnected from her. She learns so much on her journey about herself that informs her decisions so that she is constantly entertaining to read. And nobody writes side characters better than Anderson (shout-out to Mousetrap from 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'), with Feliks and even Koshka being standout favourites of mine, but there are still so many I could list and rave about.
The plot is constantly in motion as there is a heavy narrative of pending doom, and Olia must face certain challenges that will push her to her limits. Because the stakes are constantly high and we have no idea how things will play out (and believe me, I thought things were going to go a certain way, but I was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion), the excitement factor will keep you reading to the very end. You'll have this read in a day with no regrets because you will not want to turn your back on Olia for even a minute!
'The Castle of Tangled Magic' is gorgeously written, and you can tell that so much love and attention was given to this novel, just as much as 'The House With Chicken Legs' and 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'. The detail is rich and the descriptions are lush, and this world that Anderson has created gets bigger with every piece of dialogue and description, and no doubt you will feel the same. When I finished, I couldn't stop smiling while wiping tears from my eyes, and that's all thanks to the evocative writing and attachment I felt for these characters.
And the illustrations by Saara Soderlund? STUNNING! My word, they really add to the beauty of the prose and embodies the world so well. There's a fairytale quality to them which is perfect for the Russian folktale inspired settings of Anderson's novel. This is truly a case of a book having it all.
All in all, I loved 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' so much. It is a novel filled with beautiful lessons for all ages, and you really do learn that sometimes believing is one of the few things more powerful than magic, so in that case, I believe that you will also love this wonderful middle grade masterpiece.
Olia has always lived in Castle Mila, a gorgeous castle rich in ancestral history that has been passed down through the generations. The castle holds secrets upon secrets and Olia is determined to uncover every secret room and passageway. When a storm rocks the castle, it's up to Olia to find out why a world bigger than her own is in danger, and when she steps into a magical new world, it's up to her to save everyone.
One of my most anticipated novels of 2020 did not disappoint as I devoured this masterpiece in one day. A huge thank you to Usborne and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Considering Anderson is one of my favourite writers, it's easy to conclude that, honestly, this is her best work yet.
Olia is a worthy heroine to join the ranks of the heroines in Anderson's other works, proving that characters are a true highlight in the worlds that Anderson creates. They are strong and relatable, and from the very beginning of 'The Castle of Tangled Magic', you feel as though Olia is a real person. Her love for her family and curiosity towards adventure are enough to propel her as a 400-page leading lady without us ever feeling disconnected from her. She learns so much on her journey about herself that informs her decisions so that she is constantly entertaining to read. And nobody writes side characters better than Anderson (shout-out to Mousetrap from 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'), with Feliks and even Koshka being standout favourites of mine, but there are still so many I could list and rave about.
The plot is constantly in motion as there is a heavy narrative of pending doom, and Olia must face certain challenges that will push her to her limits. Because the stakes are constantly high and we have no idea how things will play out (and believe me, I thought things were going to go a certain way, but I was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion), the excitement factor will keep you reading to the very end. You'll have this read in a day with no regrets because you will not want to turn your back on Olia for even a minute!
'The Castle of Tangled Magic' is gorgeously written, and you can tell that so much love and attention was given to this novel, just as much as 'The House With Chicken Legs' and 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'. The detail is rich and the descriptions are lush, and this world that Anderson has created gets bigger with every piece of dialogue and description, and no doubt you will feel the same. When I finished, I couldn't stop smiling while wiping tears from my eyes, and that's all thanks to the evocative writing and attachment I felt for these characters.
And the illustrations by Saara Soderlund? STUNNING! My word, they really add to the beauty of the prose and embodies the world so well. There's a fairytale quality to them which is perfect for the Russian folktale inspired settings of Anderson's novel. This is truly a case of a book having it all.
All in all, I loved 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' so much. It is a novel filled with beautiful lessons for all ages, and you really do learn that sometimes believing is one of the few things more powerful than magic, so in that case, I believe that you will also love this wonderful middle grade masterpiece.
April 14, 2022
Slodziutkie, urocze, magiczne i cudownie
August 22, 2020
Thank you so much to Usbourne for the Netgalley e-arc of The Castle of Tangled Magic!
The Castle of Tangled Magic follows the adventure of our young heroine, Olia, who's family has lived in Castle Mila for generations, a gorgeous ancestral family castle, holding more magic than one would first assume! As a wild wind story attacks the castle, Olia's grandmother suggests that Olia may be the only one capable of defeating the storm and saving her family's home.
I went into this book with incredibly high expectations, Sophie Anderson is one of my favourite middle-grade authors, with her prior books, The House With Chicken Legs and The Girl Who Speaks Bear, being two of the best MG books I've read. One of my favourite things to read about is Russian folklore-inspired stories, and this is something that Sophie Anderson does so well. With this being one of my most anticipated reads of the year, it's very safe to say that Anderson did not disappoint with this addition to her luscious written world, and I am thrilled to have read this absolute masterpiece.
Olia is a bold and courageous young girl, always putting family first. It was refreshing to see a young sibling relationship in the book that is so wholly built on pure love. Olia's love for her family informs most of the choices she makes, however throughout the course of her journey, she learns much about herself and her family's history that encourages growth in her. Alongside our standout heroine, the cast of side characters Anderson creates is outstanding; something I have loved about Anderson's prior books is the found family aspect, the main character finding their herd, and I adored that about this book too. The characters Olia meets along the way are all so endearing, and as a reader, I cared for each of them individually, Feliks particularly, because he was just stellar!
As always, Anderson delivers a gorgeous and mystical atmosphere in her writing, amplified by the magical settings. Castle Mila is described with such curiosity, you can't help but want to explore every inch of the magical building. But alongside that, the truly magical setting develops more and more each time you turn the page, resulting in a rich and beautiful tapestry of a world.
I found The Castle of Tangled Magic to be an incredibly compelling read, the plot held my interest at every turn, the tension felt real and there was a real sense of danger and the risk-factor throughout were very high. Our characters faced a number of challenges throughout their adventure, keeping the pacing of the plot well driven throughout. It's difficult to put this book down as these characters are moving forward through their journey at such a danger fuelled tempo, you don't want to miss a minute of it.
It would be wrong of me to not also mention the illustrations, which are breathtaking. They add another level to the storytelling, allowing the reader to get a truly fairytale feel.
Overall on CAWPILE this scored 9.57/10 which is an incredibly solid 5-star rating. A Beautiful book that I encourage readers of all ages to pick up.
The Castle of Tangled Magic follows the adventure of our young heroine, Olia, who's family has lived in Castle Mila for generations, a gorgeous ancestral family castle, holding more magic than one would first assume! As a wild wind story attacks the castle, Olia's grandmother suggests that Olia may be the only one capable of defeating the storm and saving her family's home.
I went into this book with incredibly high expectations, Sophie Anderson is one of my favourite middle-grade authors, with her prior books, The House With Chicken Legs and The Girl Who Speaks Bear, being two of the best MG books I've read. One of my favourite things to read about is Russian folklore-inspired stories, and this is something that Sophie Anderson does so well. With this being one of my most anticipated reads of the year, it's very safe to say that Anderson did not disappoint with this addition to her luscious written world, and I am thrilled to have read this absolute masterpiece.
Olia is a bold and courageous young girl, always putting family first. It was refreshing to see a young sibling relationship in the book that is so wholly built on pure love. Olia's love for her family informs most of the choices she makes, however throughout the course of her journey, she learns much about herself and her family's history that encourages growth in her. Alongside our standout heroine, the cast of side characters Anderson creates is outstanding; something I have loved about Anderson's prior books is the found family aspect, the main character finding their herd, and I adored that about this book too. The characters Olia meets along the way are all so endearing, and as a reader, I cared for each of them individually, Feliks particularly, because he was just stellar!
As always, Anderson delivers a gorgeous and mystical atmosphere in her writing, amplified by the magical settings. Castle Mila is described with such curiosity, you can't help but want to explore every inch of the magical building. But alongside that, the truly magical setting develops more and more each time you turn the page, resulting in a rich and beautiful tapestry of a world.
I found The Castle of Tangled Magic to be an incredibly compelling read, the plot held my interest at every turn, the tension felt real and there was a real sense of danger and the risk-factor throughout were very high. Our characters faced a number of challenges throughout their adventure, keeping the pacing of the plot well driven throughout. It's difficult to put this book down as these characters are moving forward through their journey at such a danger fuelled tempo, you don't want to miss a minute of it.
It would be wrong of me to not also mention the illustrations, which are breathtaking. They add another level to the storytelling, allowing the reader to get a truly fairytale feel.
Overall on CAWPILE this scored 9.57/10 which is an incredibly solid 5-star rating. A Beautiful book that I encourage readers of all ages to pick up.
November 19, 2020
3.5 stars
Olia lives in Castle Mila with her parents, Babusya and new baby sister Rosa. Her family, descendants of royalty, have lived in the castle for over five hundred years and although it's seen better days it's always been home. However, when winds caused by tangled magic start destroying the castle, Olia must embark on an adventure through a magical door to set the magic free and save her home.
The premise of this reminded me a lot of The Bear and the Nightingale, as well as the more traditional Ruslan And Ludmilla: A Novel In Verse with its incorporation of Slavic spirits of the hearth (the domovoi), wider elementals and an evil wizard. The Land of Forgotten Magic that Olia travels too is wonderfully full of these creatures, and the world itself is richly described with different 'domes' of lands filled with specific elemental creatures. It's beautifully written and full of all the adventure and fun with brilliant side characters that I've come to expect from Sophie Anderson.
I alsomloved Olia's relationship with her family - especially her new baby sister Rosa. All Olia wants to be is the best big sister ever, and shower her sister with love and show her the world and the castle they live in. She loves her intensely and it was a relationship that felt very genuine and sweet. Olia's companions share this genuine feeling of friendship and support, especially Feliks who has watched over Olia her whole life, as a member of her family. Each member that joins Olia's group is well developed and feels important to the story. And that includes grumpy cat Koshka.
I will say that out of all Sophie Anderson's novels that I've read so far this feels the most didactic in tone. There a strong moral message that 'to live is to make mistakes' running throughout and involving several of the characters. They all make mistakes, learn from them and grow as individuals by being kind and showing that they are sorry for their past actions. It's not particularly subtle, and I do feel at times that it could have been woven into the story in a more adroit way without making it too obvious what the author was trying to put across to the reader. However that said, I'm not the target audience here.
Magical, filled with mythology and woven with love I love the mixture of folklore and new stories that Sophie Anderson creates. Her worlds and characters are always wonderfully written and I will continue to read (and pass on to my children) any book she writes.
Olia lives in Castle Mila with her parents, Babusya and new baby sister Rosa. Her family, descendants of royalty, have lived in the castle for over five hundred years and although it's seen better days it's always been home. However, when winds caused by tangled magic start destroying the castle, Olia must embark on an adventure through a magical door to set the magic free and save her home.
The premise of this reminded me a lot of The Bear and the Nightingale, as well as the more traditional Ruslan And Ludmilla: A Novel In Verse with its incorporation of Slavic spirits of the hearth (the domovoi), wider elementals and an evil wizard. The Land of Forgotten Magic that Olia travels too is wonderfully full of these creatures, and the world itself is richly described with different 'domes' of lands filled with specific elemental creatures. It's beautifully written and full of all the adventure and fun with brilliant side characters that I've come to expect from Sophie Anderson.
I alsomloved Olia's relationship with her family - especially her new baby sister Rosa. All Olia wants to be is the best big sister ever, and shower her sister with love and show her the world and the castle they live in. She loves her intensely and it was a relationship that felt very genuine and sweet. Olia's companions share this genuine feeling of friendship and support, especially Feliks who has watched over Olia her whole life, as a member of her family. Each member that joins Olia's group is well developed and feels important to the story. And that includes grumpy cat Koshka.
I will say that out of all Sophie Anderson's novels that I've read so far this feels the most didactic in tone. There a strong moral message that 'to live is to make mistakes' running throughout and involving several of the characters. They all make mistakes, learn from them and grow as individuals by being kind and showing that they are sorry for their past actions. It's not particularly subtle, and I do feel at times that it could have been woven into the story in a more adroit way without making it too obvious what the author was trying to put across to the reader. However that said, I'm not the target audience here.
Magical, filled with mythology and woven with love I love the mixture of folklore and new stories that Sophie Anderson creates. Her worlds and characters are always wonderfully written and I will continue to read (and pass on to my children) any book she writes.
June 2, 2021
I saved The Castle Of Tangled Magic for a couple of gloriously sunny days where I could lie out in the garden whilst reading most of it, and that proved to be the most perfect decision.
Beautiful is the first word that springs to mind when I think of this story. The writing style, the accompanying illustrations - everything goes so perfectly together! My heart feels SO full upon completion. Sophie Anderson has a wonderful way with words, building The Land Of Forbidden Magic so well in the reader’s minds.
I need to read more stories like this again, as they bring me unparalleled amounts of joy. This is the type of escapism I need. This is one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year so far. It is ultimately about the power of love, friendship and family.
Olia lives in the grand Castle Mila with her Mama, Papa, baby Rosa and Babusya (her grandmother).
One day, the castle begins to fall apart after a storm and Babusya tells Olia that the spirit who lives behind their stove (the Domovoi) will be able to help her on a quest to save the castle from devastation.
The Domovoi is a part man, part fox called Feliks.
Together, the young girl and fox/man spirit venture into the The Land Of Forbidden Magic where they meet a whole host of magical beings who have been banished there.
They venture through the Air Dome which has the Floating Tower, the Water Dome with Koshka the cat’s oak tree, the Fire Dome where the land is scorched, the cliffs crumble and there is a giant man’s head called Golov, and the Earth Dome which contains a maze and their final destination - Chernomor’s Fortress.
Olia’s quest is to chop the wizard’s beard with a sword, as they believe his long beard is destructive.
So, can Castle Mila be saved from the evil wizard and can those trapped in the magical land be returned home to their loved ones? It’s up to Olia, Feliks and the whole host of new friends that they meet along the way on their adventure.
”It’s hard for humans to keep their belief in magic as they grow older. You want to understand things, so you build ideas of what the world is in your minds, then reject anything that doesn’t fit into that.
But you keep it all in your heart, Olia. And it’s still there, when you need it. That’s why it’s important to look and think with your heart.” 🦊✨🖤
Beautiful is the first word that springs to mind when I think of this story. The writing style, the accompanying illustrations - everything goes so perfectly together! My heart feels SO full upon completion. Sophie Anderson has a wonderful way with words, building The Land Of Forbidden Magic so well in the reader’s minds.
I need to read more stories like this again, as they bring me unparalleled amounts of joy. This is the type of escapism I need. This is one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year so far. It is ultimately about the power of love, friendship and family.
Olia lives in the grand Castle Mila with her Mama, Papa, baby Rosa and Babusya (her grandmother).
One day, the castle begins to fall apart after a storm and Babusya tells Olia that the spirit who lives behind their stove (the Domovoi) will be able to help her on a quest to save the castle from devastation.
The Domovoi is a part man, part fox called Feliks.
Together, the young girl and fox/man spirit venture into the The Land Of Forbidden Magic where they meet a whole host of magical beings who have been banished there.
They venture through the Air Dome which has the Floating Tower, the Water Dome with Koshka the cat’s oak tree, the Fire Dome where the land is scorched, the cliffs crumble and there is a giant man’s head called Golov, and the Earth Dome which contains a maze and their final destination - Chernomor’s Fortress.
Olia’s quest is to chop the wizard’s beard with a sword, as they believe his long beard is destructive.
So, can Castle Mila be saved from the evil wizard and can those trapped in the magical land be returned home to their loved ones? It’s up to Olia, Feliks and the whole host of new friends that they meet along the way on their adventure.
”It’s hard for humans to keep their belief in magic as they grow older. You want to understand things, so you build ideas of what the world is in your minds, then reject anything that doesn’t fit into that.
But you keep it all in your heart, Olia. And it’s still there, when you need it. That’s why it’s important to look and think with your heart.” 🦊✨🖤
April 5, 2022
3/5⭐️
Dosyć przyjemna książka, łatwo się czytało jednak nie potrafiłam się zbytnio wkręcić. Nie miałam okazji przywiązać się do bohaterów co jest dużym minusem. Świat był dobrze rozbudowany, szybko byłam w stanie się połapać kto jest kto i ciagle się coś działo. Średnio przypadł mi do gustu fakt, że cała historia dzieje się w jeden dzień bo osobiście rozłożyłabym wydarzenia na dłuższy okres czasu. Miałam trochę większe oczekiwania, jednak jest to literatura dziecięca, do której nie jestem przyzwyczajona więc pomijając ten fakt, historia sama w sobie była dosyć pomyślana. Jestem pewna, że książka bardzo spodobałaby się mojej ośmioletniej kuzynce, która uwielbia zaczarowany świat i fantastyczne istoty.
Dosyć przyjemna książka, łatwo się czytało jednak nie potrafiłam się zbytnio wkręcić. Nie miałam okazji przywiązać się do bohaterów co jest dużym minusem. Świat był dobrze rozbudowany, szybko byłam w stanie się połapać kto jest kto i ciagle się coś działo. Średnio przypadł mi do gustu fakt, że cała historia dzieje się w jeden dzień bo osobiście rozłożyłabym wydarzenia na dłuższy okres czasu. Miałam trochę większe oczekiwania, jednak jest to literatura dziecięca, do której nie jestem przyzwyczajona więc pomijając ten fakt, historia sama w sobie była dosyć pomyślana. Jestem pewna, że książka bardzo spodobałaby się mojej ośmioletniej kuzynce, która uwielbia zaczarowany świat i fantastyczne istoty.
March 24, 2023
Niestety nie kupiła mnie ta historia i 3⭐️ daję tylko dlatego, że autorka umie czarować piórem i nie zasługuje na niższą ocenę. Ale sama historia Olii i zamku Mila… nie mogłam się w nią wczuć, nie ciekawiło mnie, jak to się będzie dalej toczyło i o co właściwie chodzi. W sumie chyba dalej nie pojmuję wątku magii i ratowania zamku.
January 19, 2024
Za nijansu mi je bolja prethodna knjiga koju je Sofi napisala i zbog toga 4⭐️, a i zbog dosta ponavljanja, posebno u jednom dijelu u kojoj u svakom trećem pasusu piše kako glavnoj junakinji nedostaju roditelji i sestra, kako je strah, kako je zabrinuta, bla, bla, bla, u redu shvatili smo, nedostaju ti svi, idemo dalje! Svakako, svaka čast Sofi na mašti i na završnici, poslednjih nekoliko poglavlja su stvarno najbolje od knjige 🧡!
December 4, 2020
Sophie has done it again! I started and never stopped reading! Amazing! 😍✨
July 24, 2022
Toplo, magično, bajkovito ❤
Sviđa mi se i kako je tankom niti spojila Devojčicu Medvedicu, Kuću na pilećim nogama i ovu, iako ne moraju da se čitaju sve - radnja nije povezana. Ali to nešto što ih spaja je fenomenalno 😍
Sviđa mi se i kako je tankom niti spojila Devojčicu Medvedicu, Kuću na pilećim nogama i ovu, iako ne moraju da se čitaju sve - radnja nije povezana. Ali to nešto što ih spaja je fenomenalno 😍
December 29, 2021
Sophie Anderson is my favourite Middle Grade Author...
Should I say more? nope!
But I will! Everything about this book was magical and precious and beautiful! I will never get tired of her writing style and the Slavic folklore included in her books. I am Slavic which probably influences a lot my opinion but whenever I read one of her books I feel happy and nostalgic! It's just magical!
Should I say more? nope!
But I will! Everything about this book was magical and precious and beautiful! I will never get tired of her writing style and the Slavic folklore included in her books. I am Slavic which probably influences a lot my opinion but whenever I read one of her books I feel happy and nostalgic! It's just magical!
April 18, 2022
PURE MAGIC ✨
magiczna, tajemnicza, inspirująca po prostu ŚWIETNA KSIĄŻKA! i totalnie miłość do autorki!
magiczna, tajemnicza, inspirująca po prostu ŚWIETNA KSIĄŻKA! i totalnie miłość do autorki!
February 19, 2021
The queen of magical middle grade; I’ve never read a book by her I haven’t loved.
Another Anderson classic with wondrous worldbuilding on the level of Diana Wynne Jones. Sumptuous, spellbinding, self-believing storytelling I couldn’t stop reading. The queen of magical middle grade; I’ve never read a book by her I haven’t loved.
Another Anderson classic with wondrous worldbuilding on the level of Diana Wynne Jones. Sumptuous, spellbinding, self-believing storytelling I couldn’t stop reading. The queen of magical middle grade; I’ve never read a book by her I haven’t loved.
January 5, 2021
Loved the connection back to the authors other book- the house with chicken legs.
January 20, 2025
Une merveille ❤️
August 2, 2022
Sweet, whimsical, and imbued with family love. A fun little read.
3 stars
3 stars
October 12, 2020
I have gone backwards and forwards over what rating to give this book. While its has Sophie Andersons magical writing it also wasn't as good as the house with chicken legs.
This book was full of magic and magical creatures and had a very fantastic message of acceptance and knowing what really is important in your life it ultimately fell a bit flat for me. We got to see all these amazing magical creatures and their magic but we only got a fleeting glimpse at most of them and what they can do and I would have loved to understand more of the magic and the magical beings.
This had a good message of learning from our history and what the people that came before got very wrong and trying to right any wrong that has been done and not judging people that are different then us just because of those differences. This is a great message and one we could all learn from. Always try to do better and be a better person that is something that we should all work to do every day but it did upset me how much blame Olia felt because of something that one of her distant relatives had done. Yes try to make the mistake right but why should it be that anyone should be guilty for anothers misdeeds.
I was going to knock this to a 3 star for how much blame Olia was taking on but the ending turned it around and that little reveal at the end had me smiling.
All in all a fun magical read with good characters and message just would have like to see more with the magic. Still a fun read.
This book was full of magic and magical creatures and had a very fantastic message of acceptance and knowing what really is important in your life it ultimately fell a bit flat for me. We got to see all these amazing magical creatures and their magic but we only got a fleeting glimpse at most of them and what they can do and I would have loved to understand more of the magic and the magical beings.
This had a good message of learning from our history and what the people that came before got very wrong and trying to right any wrong that has been done and not judging people that are different then us just because of those differences. This is a great message and one we could all learn from. Always try to do better and be a better person that is something that we should all work to do every day but it did upset me how much blame Olia felt because of something that one of her distant relatives had done. Yes try to make the mistake right but why should it be that anyone should be guilty for anothers misdeeds.
I was going to knock this to a 3 star for how much blame Olia was taking on but the ending turned it around and that little reveal at the end had me smiling.
All in all a fun magical read with good characters and message just would have like to see more with the magic. Still a fun read.
November 14, 2022
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as The House with Chicken Legs. The world itself may be imaginative but the plot was so dull. Almost every chapter in the middle had the same structure. The ending had a nice notch to the first book however I'm not sure how I feel about the revelation.
March 3, 2025
Vous aimez les univers magiques? Avec ce roman, vous êtes totalement servi!!
Dès les premières pages, nous sommes entraînés dans un univers captivant et pétillant!
Lorsqu'une tempête s'abat sur le chateau, Olia fait la découverte de plusieurs créatures magiques qui étaient gardées captives. S'ensuit une aventure des plus enlevantes! Olia est un personnage attachant qui fait preuve d'audace, de détermination et de courage.
Ce roman est parfait pour un public jeunesse mais également pour tout adulte ayant gardé son coeur d'enfant!
Dès les premières pages, nous sommes entraînés dans un univers captivant et pétillant!
Lorsqu'une tempête s'abat sur le chateau, Olia fait la découverte de plusieurs créatures magiques qui étaient gardées captives. S'ensuit une aventure des plus enlevantes! Olia est un personnage attachant qui fait preuve d'audace, de détermination et de courage.
Ce roman est parfait pour un public jeunesse mais également pour tout adulte ayant gardé son coeur d'enfant!
October 3, 2020
I loved the start, I guess I have a thing for stories with girls and their grandmothers. The beginning really sucked me in straight away and I didn't want life to distract me. In the middle there was a bit where I was less focused and less interested, but the end made up for it. It's very heart-warming and of course refers back to the house with the chicken legs at one point. I'm very glad I bought this book, without even checking what it's about. Sophie Anderson's books are amazing.
January 26, 2021
Wonderful! Amazing! Magical! A very magical-exciting book! I was very sad that i finished the book! I wanted more! :(
ENDLESS COMMENTS FOR THIS BOOK!
You must read it! Hope you like it as much as me!
ENDLESS COMMENTS FOR THIS BOOK!
You must read it! Hope you like it as much as me!
October 4, 2020
4.5 stars
February 5, 2021
Sophie has done it again! Another wonderful tale of magic and mystery entwining fabulous characters and folk tales. So much beauty and storytelling that it turns the pages for you. Loved it.
April 11, 2022
Jeżeli szukacie magicznej, lekkiej i przyjemnej lektury, z którą zakopanie się w łóżku pod kocykiem to sama przyjemność to „Zaczarowany zamek” jest właśnie taką książką.
Zachwyca wydaniem przyjemnym dla oka, które doceni każda okładkowa sroka. Urocze ilustracje w środku tylko dodatkowo uprzyjemniają lekturę. W „Zaczarowanym zamku” odnajdzie się młodszy, ale i również starszy czytelnik.
Ale o czym tak naprawdę jest najnowsza książka Sophie Anderson?
Autorka przenosi nas do absolutnie wyjątkowego Zamku Mila, w którym od wielu pokoleń mieszka już rodzina Olii. Korytarze w zamku skrywają wiele tajemnic i magii… Magi, którą żeby dostrzec trzeba najpierw w nią uwierzyć.
Dom dziewczynki, ale i również świat, w którym żyje jest zagrożony. Tylko ona może zapobiec tragedii. Jednak sprosta takiemu wyzwaniu? Tego musicie dowiedzieć się sami i wraz z dziewczynką wyruszyć do magicznej krainy w poszukiwaniu rozwiązania!
Świetnie napisana, niesamowicie przyjemna historia, przy której odpoczęłam i naprawdę dobrze się bawiłam. Nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, a już przy samym końcu chciałam i potrzebowałam więcej! Bohaterowie skradli moje serce. Zaczynajac od uroczego domownika z rudą kitą, przez kota, rusałki, latające pegazy, leszów, olbrzyma, a kończąc na intrygującej chacie na kurzych łapach i jego domowniku. A to wciąż nie wszyscy. Wielu pominęłam. Musicie ich poznać!
Z pewnością powrócę do poprzednich książek autorki, które już od dawna czekają u mnie na półce i nie mogę zrozumieć dlaczego jeszcze nie doczekały się przeczytania.
Bardzo polecam!
Zachwyca wydaniem przyjemnym dla oka, które doceni każda okładkowa sroka. Urocze ilustracje w środku tylko dodatkowo uprzyjemniają lekturę. W „Zaczarowanym zamku” odnajdzie się młodszy, ale i również starszy czytelnik.
Ale o czym tak naprawdę jest najnowsza książka Sophie Anderson?
Autorka przenosi nas do absolutnie wyjątkowego Zamku Mila, w którym od wielu pokoleń mieszka już rodzina Olii. Korytarze w zamku skrywają wiele tajemnic i magii… Magi, którą żeby dostrzec trzeba najpierw w nią uwierzyć.
Dom dziewczynki, ale i również świat, w którym żyje jest zagrożony. Tylko ona może zapobiec tragedii. Jednak sprosta takiemu wyzwaniu? Tego musicie dowiedzieć się sami i wraz z dziewczynką wyruszyć do magicznej krainy w poszukiwaniu rozwiązania!
Świetnie napisana, niesamowicie przyjemna historia, przy której odpoczęłam i naprawdę dobrze się bawiłam. Nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, a już przy samym końcu chciałam i potrzebowałam więcej! Bohaterowie skradli moje serce. Zaczynajac od uroczego domownika z rudą kitą, przez kota, rusałki, latające pegazy, leszów, olbrzyma, a kończąc na intrygującej chacie na kurzych łapach i jego domowniku. A to wciąż nie wszyscy. Wielu pominęłam. Musicie ich poznać!
Z pewnością powrócę do poprzednich książek autorki, które już od dawna czekają u mnie na półce i nie mogę zrozumieć dlaczego jeszcze nie doczekały się przeczytania.
Bardzo polecam!
July 3, 2022
This was really sweet! The love Olia had for her family (+ for her baby sister in particular) was really lovely to read, and I'd be happy to give this to any of the children in my life. Great messages about family, friendship, courage, the importance of people over material items, etc.
Unfortunately, however, I think the book might be too long for the plot, especially if it's trying to capture the attention of young readers.
Unfortunately, however, I think the book might be too long for the plot, especially if it's trying to capture the attention of young readers.
February 3, 2021
I loved this book! Sophie Anderson has created a magical world with a charming, likeable and kind protagonist who is trying to save her family home. With the help of her new magical friends, Olia is determined to stop the wizard who is tearing apart her home as well as the home of her magical friends.
There is a lovely message throughout this book that if you believe in yourself you can do anything you put your mind to!
There is a lovely message throughout this book that if you believe in yourself you can do anything you put your mind to!
March 4, 2021
[6.37/10]
A fun, quick and enchanting adventure with Sophie Anderson's signature Russian folklore retelling style. There was a lot of heart in this book and some lovely messages delivered through the storytelling. However, I think the beginning dragged a little bit. I still enjoyed it but The House with Chicken Legs remains my favourite Anderson book.
A fun, quick and enchanting adventure with Sophie Anderson's signature Russian folklore retelling style. There was a lot of heart in this book and some lovely messages delivered through the storytelling. However, I think the beginning dragged a little bit. I still enjoyed it but The House with Chicken Legs remains my favourite Anderson book.
May 9, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
È il terzo libro di questa autrice che leggo e devo dire che scrive dei bei libri che ti intrattengono fino all’ultima pagina, personaggi caratterizzati bene ,nonostante è una storia leggera da dei risvolti dove impartisce delle lezioni di vita e quindi lo consiglio anche ai ragazzi. Buona lettura
È il terzo libro di questa autrice che leggo e devo dire che scrive dei bei libri che ti intrattengono fino all’ultima pagina, personaggi caratterizzati bene ,nonostante è una storia leggera da dei risvolti dove impartisce delle lezioni di vita e quindi lo consiglio anche ai ragazzi. Buona lettura
July 4, 2023
Olia ist 13 und lebt mit ihrer Familie im Schloss Mila. Sie hat vor kurzem ein kleines Schwesterchen bekommen, dem sie sich sehr verbunden fühlt und eine starke, beschützende Schwester sein will.
Das Fest zum Herbstmond steht bevor, auf das sich alle schon riesig freuen und für Olia eine besondere Rolle spielt - doch es gibt gefährliche Vorboten mit schweren Stürmen, die sogar die Grundmauern des Schlosses erschüttern!
Olias Großmutter weiß, dass die Magie außer Rand und Band gerät und nicht mehr viel Zeit bleibt, um alles wieder ins rechte Lot zu bringen. Man spürt schon recht schnell, dass Olia den Zauber des Unerklärlichen immer wieder spürt, aber sie an die vielen unglaublichen Dinge, die sie von ihrer Großmutter zu hören bekommt, dennoch nicht so recht glauben kann. Denn Magie, kann sie tatsächlich real sein?
Ich mochte Olia, die sich ihrer Familie, ihren Freunden und der Natur sehr verbunden fühlt. Sie wirkt sehr echt mit all ihren vorwitzigen Taten und auch ihren Ängsten, die sie immer wieder verunsichern. Oft weiß sie nicht, ob sie richtig handelt oder ob sie sich bestimmten Dingen sicher sein kann. Hier fand ich es so schön, was die Großmutter zu ihr sagt:
"How can I be sure?"
"Your heart knows the truth."
Zitat
Ebenso schön waren die vielen Anspielungen auf den Glauben. Also dem Glauben, der Hoffnung bringt und vieles möglich macht. Denn wenn man nichts für möglich hält, beschränkt man sich selbst in all den vielen Möglichkeiten, die sich um uns herum bieten.
Natürlich gibt es immer wieder Rückschläge im Leben - doch davon sollte man sich nicht unterkriegen lassen. Meistens hat alles seinen Sinn und Zweck, auch wenn man ihn oft erst viel später erkennen kann.
Als dann das Abenteuer losgeht und Olia sich auf den Weg macht, hat mich die Handlung nicht mehr ganz so packen können. Es gibt viele originelle Ideen, tolle Freunde, die sie kennenlernt und ihr beistehen, aber ich konnte nicht so gut dabei bleiben. Ich weiß nicht, ob es daran lang, dass ich mich bei diesem Band mit dem englisch etwas schwerer getan habe, oder an der Handlung, die hier doch sehr "kindgerecht" war. Wobei mir ja die anderen beiden Kinderbücher der Autorin ja schon sehr gut gefallen haben.
Es geht viel um Freundschaft, an den Glauben an sich selbst und dass man einander beisteht und hilft. Und vor allem auch, dass man auf sein Bauchgefühl hört bzw. auf sein Herz.
Die Handlung hält viele Überraschungen und abenteuerliche Aufgaben bereit, trotzdem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass es etwas langsam vorangeht - was wiederum daran liegen könnte, dass ich das englische natürlich auch langsamer lesen muss. Deshalb kann ich das hier echt grade schwer einschätzen. Manchmal kam es mir vor, als würde Olia öfter mal auf der Stelle treten mit ihrem Gewissen und wie sie sich nun entscheiden soll. Manches scheint offensichtlich zu sein, aber andererseits muss man manches eben auch hinterfragen.
Trotzdem war diese Welt, in der die Magie aus den Fugen geraten ist, wirklich schön beschrieben und Olia bekommt die unterschiedlichsten Gefährten zur Seite, die alle etwas besonderes waren. Sie blieben aber auch etwas blass für mich.
Insgesamt war es ein spannendes Abenteuer, dass mich leider nicht ganz so gut packen konnte wie die beiden anderen Bücher der Autorin. Ob es am englischen lag oder an der Geschichte selbst kann ich leider nicht so gut differenzieren...
Weltenwanderer
Das Fest zum Herbstmond steht bevor, auf das sich alle schon riesig freuen und für Olia eine besondere Rolle spielt - doch es gibt gefährliche Vorboten mit schweren Stürmen, die sogar die Grundmauern des Schlosses erschüttern!
Olias Großmutter weiß, dass die Magie außer Rand und Band gerät und nicht mehr viel Zeit bleibt, um alles wieder ins rechte Lot zu bringen. Man spürt schon recht schnell, dass Olia den Zauber des Unerklärlichen immer wieder spürt, aber sie an die vielen unglaublichen Dinge, die sie von ihrer Großmutter zu hören bekommt, dennoch nicht so recht glauben kann. Denn Magie, kann sie tatsächlich real sein?
Ich mochte Olia, die sich ihrer Familie, ihren Freunden und der Natur sehr verbunden fühlt. Sie wirkt sehr echt mit all ihren vorwitzigen Taten und auch ihren Ängsten, die sie immer wieder verunsichern. Oft weiß sie nicht, ob sie richtig handelt oder ob sie sich bestimmten Dingen sicher sein kann. Hier fand ich es so schön, was die Großmutter zu ihr sagt:
"How can I be sure?"
"Your heart knows the truth."
Zitat
Ebenso schön waren die vielen Anspielungen auf den Glauben. Also dem Glauben, der Hoffnung bringt und vieles möglich macht. Denn wenn man nichts für möglich hält, beschränkt man sich selbst in all den vielen Möglichkeiten, die sich um uns herum bieten.
Natürlich gibt es immer wieder Rückschläge im Leben - doch davon sollte man sich nicht unterkriegen lassen. Meistens hat alles seinen Sinn und Zweck, auch wenn man ihn oft erst viel später erkennen kann.
Als dann das Abenteuer losgeht und Olia sich auf den Weg macht, hat mich die Handlung nicht mehr ganz so packen können. Es gibt viele originelle Ideen, tolle Freunde, die sie kennenlernt und ihr beistehen, aber ich konnte nicht so gut dabei bleiben. Ich weiß nicht, ob es daran lang, dass ich mich bei diesem Band mit dem englisch etwas schwerer getan habe, oder an der Handlung, die hier doch sehr "kindgerecht" war. Wobei mir ja die anderen beiden Kinderbücher der Autorin ja schon sehr gut gefallen haben.
Es geht viel um Freundschaft, an den Glauben an sich selbst und dass man einander beisteht und hilft. Und vor allem auch, dass man auf sein Bauchgefühl hört bzw. auf sein Herz.
Die Handlung hält viele Überraschungen und abenteuerliche Aufgaben bereit, trotzdem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass es etwas langsam vorangeht - was wiederum daran liegen könnte, dass ich das englische natürlich auch langsamer lesen muss. Deshalb kann ich das hier echt grade schwer einschätzen. Manchmal kam es mir vor, als würde Olia öfter mal auf der Stelle treten mit ihrem Gewissen und wie sie sich nun entscheiden soll. Manches scheint offensichtlich zu sein, aber andererseits muss man manches eben auch hinterfragen.
Trotzdem war diese Welt, in der die Magie aus den Fugen geraten ist, wirklich schön beschrieben und Olia bekommt die unterschiedlichsten Gefährten zur Seite, die alle etwas besonderes waren. Sie blieben aber auch etwas blass für mich.
Insgesamt war es ein spannendes Abenteuer, dass mich leider nicht ganz so gut packen konnte wie die beiden anderen Bücher der Autorin. Ob es am englischen lag oder an der Geschichte selbst kann ich leider nicht so gut differenzieren...
Weltenwanderer
did-not-finish
August 22, 2023I've DNF-ed two books in a row which I've never done before, so I do think its a bit of a 'it's me not you' situation with this book.
Sometimes, middle-grade fantasy books really manage to capture me with whimsy and fun, this one didn't. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't right for me in this moment.
But I also have to add to that that I'm definitely not the target audience for this book.
Sometimes, middle-grade fantasy books really manage to capture me with whimsy and fun, this one didn't. It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't right for me in this moment.
But I also have to add to that that I'm definitely not the target audience for this book.
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