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Unseen Magic #1
Unseen Magic
The trick to all magic is: you can only see it if you know where to look.
The magic-infused town of Aldermere is the first place eleven-year-old Fin has ever felt safe--and she'll do whatever it takes to save her home when she accidentally unleashes a shadow self who wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. Emily Lloyd-Jones's middle grade debut is an enchanting exploration of self-discovery and finding the place you truly belong. Unseen Magic is for fans of A Wish in the Dark and A Tangle of Knots.
Aldermere is a town with its own set of rules: there's a tea shop that vanishes if you try to force your way in, crows that must be fed or they'll go through your trash, and a bridge that has a toll that no one knows the cost of. Some say that there may even be bigfoots wandering through the woods.
For Fin, Aldermere is her new home. But she's worried that she'll do something to mess it up--that she was the reason she and her mother have constantly moved from place to place for so long. When an upcoming presentation at her school's science fair gives her increasing anxiety, Fin turns to magic to ease her fears. The cost is a memory, but there are things from her past Fin doesn't mind forgetting. This will be the last time she relies on magic anyway, she's sure.
Except things don't go exactly as planned. And instead of easing her anxiety, Fin accidentally unleashes an evil doppelganger. Suddenly Aldermere is overrun with unusual occurrences--and Fin is the only one who knows why. She will have to face her fears--literally--to stop it.
Emily Lloyd-Jones crafts an atmospheric novel full of magic and mischief while exploring what it means to stand up to your fears and accept yourself. Unseen Magic will captivate readers of Anna Meriano's Love, Sugar, Magic series and Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic.
The magic-infused town of Aldermere is the first place eleven-year-old Fin has ever felt safe--and she'll do whatever it takes to save her home when she accidentally unleashes a shadow self who wreaks havoc everywhere she goes. Emily Lloyd-Jones's middle grade debut is an enchanting exploration of self-discovery and finding the place you truly belong. Unseen Magic is for fans of A Wish in the Dark and A Tangle of Knots.
Aldermere is a town with its own set of rules: there's a tea shop that vanishes if you try to force your way in, crows that must be fed or they'll go through your trash, and a bridge that has a toll that no one knows the cost of. Some say that there may even be bigfoots wandering through the woods.
For Fin, Aldermere is her new home. But she's worried that she'll do something to mess it up--that she was the reason she and her mother have constantly moved from place to place for so long. When an upcoming presentation at her school's science fair gives her increasing anxiety, Fin turns to magic to ease her fears. The cost is a memory, but there are things from her past Fin doesn't mind forgetting. This will be the last time she relies on magic anyway, she's sure.
Except things don't go exactly as planned. And instead of easing her anxiety, Fin accidentally unleashes an evil doppelganger. Suddenly Aldermere is overrun with unusual occurrences--and Fin is the only one who knows why. She will have to face her fears--literally--to stop it.
Emily Lloyd-Jones crafts an atmospheric novel full of magic and mischief while exploring what it means to stand up to your fears and accept yourself. Unseen Magic will captivate readers of Anna Meriano's Love, Sugar, Magic series and Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2022
35 people are currently reading
4861 people want to read
About the author
Emily Lloyd-Jones
15 books2,205 followersEmily Lloyd-Jones grew up on a vineyard in rural Oregon, where she played in evergreen forests and learned to fear sheep. After graduating from Western Oregon University with an English degree, she enrolled in the publishing program at Rosemont College just outside of Philadelphia. She currently resides in Northern California.
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June 22, 2021I hesitate to use terms like “book of my heart” because I love all of my books. They’re pieces of my soul, condensed to words and nudged out the door to hopefully entertain a few people.
But this book, friends. This book is very, very dear to me.
I love middle grade. I think many of us readers got our start in middle grade books. I knew someday I’d want to try my hand at writing one, but I never seemed to have the right plot or ideas.
UNSEEN MAGIC came about because of a scattering of events: first, does anyone else remember the regional gothic meme going around Tumblr way back in 2011? 2012? People would make bulleted lists of all the ways their hometowns were slightly eerie, slightly supernatural. As a writing exercise, I wrote my own list for Northern California. The fog-wreathed redwoods, the quiet isolation, the way roads twisted in and out of thousand-year-old trees… it seemed like a place rife with magic.
And I looked at that bulleted list and realized, This would be an amazing setting for a book. So I put it away for later.
A second event: a few years ago, I was rummaging in my jeans pockets while doing laundry. As I pulled out a few spare coins and scraps of paper, I found a packet of tea.
I had no memory of putting it there. I couldn’t recall why I had tea in my pocket.
And then part of me whispered, What if the cost of the tea was your memory?
So I tucked that thought away, too.
The third and final event was hearing a friend talk about their own struggles with anxiety. It’s a struggle I know well myself. “I have anxiety monsters,” she said, and I found myself remembering that term. Anxiety monsters. Maybe life would be easier if anxiety could be a monster, I thought. If it was something I could fight or slay.
And all of those thoughts - the supernatural, eerie town in the redwoods, the tea that costs memories, and a girl fighting her own anxiety - all came together to form UNSEEN MAGIC.
I wrote this book for anyone still looking for magic. And I can’t wait to share it with you.
Edit: And now we have a cover!!
But this book, friends. This book is very, very dear to me.
I love middle grade. I think many of us readers got our start in middle grade books. I knew someday I’d want to try my hand at writing one, but I never seemed to have the right plot or ideas.
UNSEEN MAGIC came about because of a scattering of events: first, does anyone else remember the regional gothic meme going around Tumblr way back in 2011? 2012? People would make bulleted lists of all the ways their hometowns were slightly eerie, slightly supernatural. As a writing exercise, I wrote my own list for Northern California. The fog-wreathed redwoods, the quiet isolation, the way roads twisted in and out of thousand-year-old trees… it seemed like a place rife with magic.
And I looked at that bulleted list and realized, This would be an amazing setting for a book. So I put it away for later.
A second event: a few years ago, I was rummaging in my jeans pockets while doing laundry. As I pulled out a few spare coins and scraps of paper, I found a packet of tea.
I had no memory of putting it there. I couldn’t recall why I had tea in my pocket.
And then part of me whispered, What if the cost of the tea was your memory?
So I tucked that thought away, too.
The third and final event was hearing a friend talk about their own struggles with anxiety. It’s a struggle I know well myself. “I have anxiety monsters,” she said, and I found myself remembering that term. Anxiety monsters. Maybe life would be easier if anxiety could be a monster, I thought. If it was something I could fight or slay.
And all of those thoughts - the supernatural, eerie town in the redwoods, the tea that costs memories, and a girl fighting her own anxiety - all came together to form UNSEEN MAGIC.
I wrote this book for anyone still looking for magic. And I can’t wait to share it with you.
Edit: And now we have a cover!!
February 13, 2022
I see what you did there, Emily Lloyd-Jones. Your story about Fin and her attempts to get over her fears taught me a lesson, too. It can be tempting to give away a piece of yourself, of your memories, and think that will keep the fear away. Still, wherever you go -- there you are. That piece stays with you no matter what how many times you drink that special tea (like Fin). Those temporary fixes will not have a lasting impact. This book is very special to you, Emily Lloyd-Jones. It has a very special place in your heart. I can see that in Aldermere with its disappearing tea room and Brewed Awakenings, the local coffee shop. In the ways the townspeople support one another and work to keep the magic safe. The sense of setting is strong and as I read this book I felt like I was there in the redwoods.
Thank you to Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
June 18, 2020DID I JUST SPEAK THIS INTO EXISTENCE?!!! 😱
me: wahhh nothing to read :(((
*sees new emily lloyd-jones book*
me: GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWW!!!
me: wahhh nothing to read :(((
*sees new emily lloyd-jones book*
me: GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWW!!!
March 14, 2022
Omigoodness, I absolutely adore this book!! It made me happy cry with its gentle lessons about loving your whole self, it made me giggle with descriptions of the wonderfully wacky residents and their shenanigans and gasp with excitement as Fin goes on adventures to save Aldermere!
Of all the quirky magical small towns I have traveled to in the pages of books, I want to move to Aldermere- with its ravens and vanishing tea shop and mysterious doors- most of all!
Of all the quirky magical small towns I have traveled to in the pages of books, I want to move to Aldermere- with its ravens and vanishing tea shop and mysterious doors- most of all!
April 25, 2024
I can't wait to get my hands on book 2. I completely enjoyed reading this one to my littlest kids.
February 1, 2022
#giveaway #goodreadsgiveaways
Many thanks to Harper Children's, Greenwillow Books, and Emily Lloyd-Jones for the ARC. This review is voluntary and strictly my own.
I loved this book from almost the beginning to end. I can't wait until my kiddos are a little bit older so we can re-read this together, and, hopefully, the author continues this as a series. All the characters were well-crafted, and readers will have no difficulty recognizing each unique personality. The quirky and magical town of Aldermere is particularly adorable, and I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was a complete surprise to me, the twist is most likely why I enjoyed it so much. My expectations went one way, but the story went the other!
A few times awkward or unusual phrasing would pull me out of the story at times. I also felt some passages were superfluous so I found myself skimming a lot towards the end. There were also some chapters where the author-is-distractingly-hyphen-happy. But all-in-all (ah, it's contagious!), the book is an enjoyable read and great addition to any middle schooler collection as it covers important topics such as trauma and fear, confidence, and self-acceptance but does so in a way that isn't too heavy or too obvious either.
Many thanks to Harper Children's, Greenwillow Books, and Emily Lloyd-Jones for the ARC. This review is voluntary and strictly my own.
I loved this book from almost the beginning to end. I can't wait until my kiddos are a little bit older so we can re-read this together, and, hopefully, the author continues this as a series. All the characters were well-crafted, and readers will have no difficulty recognizing each unique personality. The quirky and magical town of Aldermere is particularly adorable, and I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was a complete surprise to me, the twist is most likely why I enjoyed it so much. My expectations went one way, but the story went the other!
A few times awkward or unusual phrasing would pull me out of the story at times. I also felt some passages were superfluous so I found myself skimming a lot towards the end. There were also some chapters where the author-is-distractingly-hyphen-happy. But all-in-all (ah, it's contagious!), the book is an enjoyable read and great addition to any middle schooler collection as it covers important topics such as trauma and fear, confidence, and self-acceptance but does so in a way that isn't too heavy or too obvious either.
to-read-so-bad-it-hurts
June 18, 2020Hell yeah, I want to read this middle grade by Emily Lloyd-Jones about a vanishing teashop!
March 17, 2022
Unseen Magic is a charming and entertaining kiddies novel about facing your fears and some other things. I love the setting in this book and the characters (including the crows). Aldermere is a funny little town. It has a selectively vanishing teashop whose proprietor makes magic tea, crows that can be bribed to stay out of the trash, unlabelled doors that could lead to anywhere, and a troll-bridge with an unknown toll, not to mention a few other oddities. Finley is 9 years old, has been on the run with her mom for a long time, and this is the first time she has felt like she has a home and not just a place to stay. She also has anxiety problems. And there is that magic tea that will help with that. Only things don't go as planned.
July 9, 2021
I am definitely not ready to say, "Goodbye," to Aldermere or any of the quirky residents/characters of Emily Lloyd-Jones' Unseen Magic, especially Fin, Eddie, and Cedar. Aldermere is at once beautiful and frightening, mysterious and family-oriented. Unseen Magic is rife with twists, mystery, and Magic--which not only serves as a subject, but also as a character. The fairy tale-istic setting is the perfect home for Fin as she works to to make Aldermere a home for her and her mom, and traverses the typical trials of growing, most especially accepting herself, all of herself. Lloyd masterfully weaves the self-acceptance angle in a way that is neither didactic or preachy. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of my students. Lovers of magic and fairy tales will be taken-in immediately by the atmosphere and relatable characters in the world of Unseen Magic.
And Ms. Lloyd, I saw what you did! You left it very open for more Aldermere books. I, for one, am excited about the possibilities in store!
And Ms. Lloyd, I saw what you did! You left it very open for more Aldermere books. I, for one, am excited about the possibilities in store!
July 2, 2022
A story about anxiety and trauma wrapped up in a magical and quirky little Northern California town. I wish a book like this existed when I was young and struggled with anxiety. I think it would have really helped to know I wasn't alone in what I was feeling.
September 14, 2025
If you've ever wondered what it's like to move to your family's town of origin and discover that the wooded village in the forests of the Pacific Northwest was teaming with the magical -- from vanishing shops to unexpected creatures to surprising allies -- then this book is for you.
Lloyd-Jones created a charming setting and cast for this one, both making this a magnetic and calming read (even during the action).
Easily 3.5 stars, rounded up to four for its sincere portrayal of the near-crippling anxiety that can come with the public and the new, especially when coupled with dealing with the expectations and unspoken rules of our elders.
Lloyd-Jones created a charming setting and cast for this one, both making this a magnetic and calming read (even during the action).
Easily 3.5 stars, rounded up to four for its sincere portrayal of the near-crippling anxiety that can come with the public and the new, especially when coupled with dealing with the expectations and unspoken rules of our elders.
March 5, 2022
it was a most enjoyable read, lovely writing, exciting story and interesting setting. hoping that there would be more stories of aldermere and it's people.
January 14, 2023
The fact of the matter is, I really, really love middle grade, and I adore everything that @em_llojo writes.
Unseen Magic is an incredible story of fear, gentle magic, and lots and lots of tea. It has the coziness of a small town, paired with the expanse of giant redwoods, a monster lurking in the depths of a river, and little ten legged creatures burrowing underground. It also depicts anxiety with such grace; how we seek to avoid it, discard our fears away, suppress the ugliest parts of ourselves. And how those are parts, even if they’re scary, that still belong to us. (And it did so through the lens of a 12 year old, and, this book would’ve meant the world to young Chloe.) Truly stunning, from the imagery to the writing to the characters who are now my children to the magic infused with in the town’s life. My heart is so full because of all of it.
Now for my unhinged pitch: what if M3gan leaned more whimsical and was made of tea?
Unseen Magic is an incredible story of fear, gentle magic, and lots and lots of tea. It has the coziness of a small town, paired with the expanse of giant redwoods, a monster lurking in the depths of a river, and little ten legged creatures burrowing underground. It also depicts anxiety with such grace; how we seek to avoid it, discard our fears away, suppress the ugliest parts of ourselves. And how those are parts, even if they’re scary, that still belong to us. (And it did so through the lens of a 12 year old, and, this book would’ve meant the world to young Chloe.) Truly stunning, from the imagery to the writing to the characters who are now my children to the magic infused with in the town’s life. My heart is so full because of all of it.
Now for my unhinged pitch: what if M3gan leaned more whimsical and was made of tea?
March 4, 2024
I loved this book! This was exactly the type of book I needed as a kid and I thoroughly enjoyed it even as an adult. Fin's struggles with anxiety were portrayed so seriously, yet her reasoning skills were still matched perfectly to how a 10yr old would actually think. I really appreciated that. Fin felt very real. Her not understanding why she was anxious and wanting to be 'normal' was so relatable to me. There was so much compassionate advice and important revelations into her problems at the end, the author relayed such an important message in a way that flowed with the story and didn't sound preachy. I think this book would be so helpful for kids who deal with anxieties.
The plot was engaging and inventive, It was so fun to read. I didn't even see the twist coming at the end. All and all it was a well crafted story, the characters were so lovable, and I enjoyed every page.
The plot was engaging and inventive, It was so fun to read. I didn't even see the twist coming at the end. All and all it was a well crafted story, the characters were so lovable, and I enjoyed every page.
February 18, 2022
This suspenseful book had me interested from start to finish. There is so much I enjoyed in this book, from the touches of magic to the vanishing tea shop. I enjoyed reading about Fin's adventures. The author was really good at writing vivid descriptions of scenes and making me feel like I was part of the book. This book made me feel like I was sharing in Fin's journey.
April 3, 2022
Aldemere is a magical town. There are rules to follow in regards to the magic. It is the first place Fin and her mother have stayed for longer than a few months and Fin is happy to call it her home. She still experiences crippling anxiety at times but the magical tea helps with that....until something happens. Friendship, Magic, Anxiety, and Danger. It is all here. This was pretty intense and quite creepy at times. I think middle-graders will love it.
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May 17, 2022Dnfed at page 298
Loved the anxiety rep but found the book was kinda disjointed, that the different plot lines where a bit over the.place... don't know how to explain... Would have liked to have more development on Cedar's character, more exploration in the relationship between eddie and the mc, more about why the tea shop is considered evil when it seems to be perfectly fine...
Loved the anxiety rep but found the book was kinda disjointed, that the different plot lines where a bit over the.place... don't know how to explain... Would have liked to have more development on Cedar's character, more exploration in the relationship between eddie and the mc, more about why the tea shop is considered evil when it seems to be perfectly fine...
October 22, 2021
Actual rating 2.5 since some passages lost my interest and I had to skim a bit. I loved the bond between Fin and her cousin which was the highlight of the story for me. The magical elements were a nice touch as well as an "evil" doppelganger. Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.
December 24, 2022
It was a fun story and I loved how Fin managed her anxiety and the twist at the end to why she had all those fears. I did feel like it was a little longer than it should have been though as I was starting to get a bit fatigued by the end
April 10, 2022
This book is so cottagecore that there is literally an antagonist made of tea leaves.
Anyway, I highly recommend this to my fellow middle grade readers!
Anyway, I highly recommend this to my fellow middle grade readers!
July 5, 2022
A very enjoyable middle grade read. Drags a bit in the middle, but pulls everything together in the end.
December 17, 2024
I really like the concept but it's written in a repetitive way. I would definitely recommend this to a 5-7th grader though.
August 5, 2022
An ambitious metaphor for trauma survival and finding safety that mostly worked. I think kids in the targeted age range will eat up!
December 12, 2022
With Aldermere being rather insular and protected by its location in the redwoods as well as its magic, I couldn't help but compare the town to Frank Herbert's The Santaroga Barrier (1968). The difference here, is Aldermere's magic doesn't seem malevolent in the way that Santaroga's jaspers is.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
Scarecrow / Minotaur Rural Cornfield 9933FF
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
Scarecrow / Minotaur Rural Cornfield 9933FF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2022
I’ve said it before, Middle Grade novels that tackle mental health and anxiety are so incredibly important. Grabbing kids at this age and showing them characters grappling with the complicated and frightening feelings they are experiencing is crucial.
Emily brings forth a new, compelling angle to the topic of anxiety - how critically important it is to process and properly deal with our past hurts, fears, and frightening experiences in order to, not only heal, but be able to understand those phobias and anxieties. As Finlay tries to do, you can’t bury your negative experiences and simply forget them. While it’s challenging work to face those hurts, it’s crucial for processing and healing, and Emily handles this heavy topic in a very expert way.
An atmospheric, witchy story complete with the comforts of a magical tea shop, small town charm, and crow familiars help to make the central theme of mental health, abuse, and childhood anxiety more palatable to a younger audience. Another great middle grade story that explores the field of preteen mental health.
Emily brings forth a new, compelling angle to the topic of anxiety - how critically important it is to process and properly deal with our past hurts, fears, and frightening experiences in order to, not only heal, but be able to understand those phobias and anxieties. As Finlay tries to do, you can’t bury your negative experiences and simply forget them. While it’s challenging work to face those hurts, it’s crucial for processing and healing, and Emily handles this heavy topic in a very expert way.
An atmospheric, witchy story complete with the comforts of a magical tea shop, small town charm, and crow familiars help to make the central theme of mental health, abuse, and childhood anxiety more palatable to a younger audience. Another great middle grade story that explores the field of preteen mental health.
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May 11, 2024This whole year has been a reading slump basically, and I don't read a lot of middle grade, but Lloyd-Jones' book really hit the spot. Unseen Magic is so soft and good, while managing some unexpected turns and seriously creative world building.
Fin has anxiety, and she's been "treating" it since she moved to the magical town of Aldermere by drinking a tea that will make her temporarily confident in exchange for one of the bad memories. Fin's such a messy lil nervous bean, and I adore getting to see someone like her, someone like me be a fantasy heroine. She's so scared and freaked out all the way through, but she overcomes, and she learns serious lessons about herself and her anxiety and about how to manage those things.
Definitely a must read for the anxious, but fully recommended as a great fantasy either way.
Fin has anxiety, and she's been "treating" it since she moved to the magical town of Aldermere by drinking a tea that will make her temporarily confident in exchange for one of the bad memories. Fin's such a messy lil nervous bean, and I adore getting to see someone like her, someone like me be a fantasy heroine. She's so scared and freaked out all the way through, but she overcomes, and she learns serious lessons about herself and her anxiety and about how to manage those things.
Definitely a must read for the anxious, but fully recommended as a great fantasy either way.
July 9, 2023
I loved how Aldermere was largely normal but had quirks and rules for the bits of magic like being sure to pay toll to the crows. It was interesting how Finn’s anxiety and holes in her memory made her a slightly unreliable narrator. A sensitive inclusion of domestic violence and anxiety and trauma in an accessible way.
November 27, 2023
Wihii. Akhirnya selesai baca English book pertamaku 🤣 belajar baca ini biar bisa baca versi englishnya Six Crimson Cranes series,You've Reached Sam , Dial A for Aunties sama The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea yang udah kubeli tp malah skrg pada keluar terjemahannya 😅
Ini juga nyicip beli di BBW, ternyata bukunya terbitan baru (karena mayoritas aku sering nemu buku2 terbitan lama pas ke BBW). Progres baca ku juga agak lama karena bukunya slow paced, jadi males 😂
Ceritanya tentang Fin, penghuni kota Aldemere (kalo gak salah) yg ternyata adlh kota yg punya kekuatan sihir tp sihir itu gak bisa seenaknya dipake masyarakat. Fin tinggal dgn ibunya yg bekerja di sebuah penginapan, seringkali Fin bantu2 ibunya ngirim barang ke warga yg memesan. Tapi selama tinggal di Aldemere, Fin dipaksa utk menuruti peraturan tdk tertulis: Kasih makan burung gagak, pintu yg gak ada labelnya bisa membawamu kemana aja, gak ada siapapun yg tahu harga dari jembatan lama, jangan bakar apapun di perbatasan kota, dan terakhir jangan pernah mencari toko teh.
Di kota ini Fin masih bersekolah kira2 SD bersama sepupunya Eddie dan teman2nya, Cedar, River, dan Ben. Fin ini pendiam tp selalu dekat sama Eddie (Fin juga suka dititipin ibunya ke ibunya Eddie kalo harus kerja larut) juga dalam hati penasaran kenapa larangan2 itu harus di penuhi. Fin juga penurut tp dia selalu menjaga jarak dgn siapapun, terutama dgn ibunya. Sampai akhirnya ibu Fin ingin supaya Fin menemui seorang psikolog, tp Fin selalu menolak.
Karena penasaran dgn rahasia Aldemere, Fin mencoba melanggar peraturan, yaitu mengunjungi toko teh milik Talia, yg ternyata bisa memberi sihir dgn meracik teh tp bersyarat: orang itu harus menukarnya (memaksa mereka utk menghadapi) dengan rasa takutnya. Dalam hal ini Fin tdk sengaja melakukan transaksi itu yang ternyata malah jadi senjata makan tuan. Muncul doppleganger nya sendiri tp berwujud teh yg ternyata bikin onar di Aldemere.
Overall ceritanya emang enchanting, tp di akhir2 karena disitu twist nya baru dikeluarin. World buildingnya bagus tp bikin slow paced, dan kalo ngelihat kota sihir dgn latar Amerika itu rasanya kayak lagi nonton film Disney. Keren aja.
Utk kelanjutannya, blm tau sih mau baca apa enggak. Soalnya gatau cari bukunya dimana 🤣
Ini juga nyicip beli di BBW, ternyata bukunya terbitan baru (karena mayoritas aku sering nemu buku2 terbitan lama pas ke BBW). Progres baca ku juga agak lama karena bukunya slow paced, jadi males 😂
Ceritanya tentang Fin, penghuni kota Aldemere (kalo gak salah) yg ternyata adlh kota yg punya kekuatan sihir tp sihir itu gak bisa seenaknya dipake masyarakat. Fin tinggal dgn ibunya yg bekerja di sebuah penginapan, seringkali Fin bantu2 ibunya ngirim barang ke warga yg memesan. Tapi selama tinggal di Aldemere, Fin dipaksa utk menuruti peraturan tdk tertulis: Kasih makan burung gagak, pintu yg gak ada labelnya bisa membawamu kemana aja, gak ada siapapun yg tahu harga dari jembatan lama, jangan bakar apapun di perbatasan kota, dan terakhir jangan pernah mencari toko teh.
Di kota ini Fin masih bersekolah kira2 SD bersama sepupunya Eddie dan teman2nya, Cedar, River, dan Ben. Fin ini pendiam tp selalu dekat sama Eddie (Fin juga suka dititipin ibunya ke ibunya Eddie kalo harus kerja larut) juga dalam hati penasaran kenapa larangan2 itu harus di penuhi. Fin juga penurut tp dia selalu menjaga jarak dgn siapapun, terutama dgn ibunya. Sampai akhirnya ibu Fin ingin supaya Fin menemui seorang psikolog, tp Fin selalu menolak.
Karena penasaran dgn rahasia Aldemere, Fin mencoba melanggar peraturan, yaitu mengunjungi toko teh milik Talia, yg ternyata bisa memberi sihir dgn meracik teh tp bersyarat: orang itu harus menukarnya (memaksa mereka utk menghadapi) dengan rasa takutnya. Dalam hal ini Fin tdk sengaja melakukan transaksi itu yang ternyata malah jadi senjata makan tuan. Muncul doppleganger nya sendiri tp berwujud teh yg ternyata bikin onar di Aldemere.
Overall ceritanya emang enchanting, tp di akhir2 karena disitu twist nya baru dikeluarin. World buildingnya bagus tp bikin slow paced, dan kalo ngelihat kota sihir dgn latar Amerika itu rasanya kayak lagi nonton film Disney. Keren aja.
Utk kelanjutannya, blm tau sih mau baca apa enggak. Soalnya gatau cari bukunya dimana 🤣
April 19, 2022
4 Stars.
Finley Barnes and her mom have been moving all around. They never stayed in one place for longer than a year or two. Until Aldermere. In the small lowly populated town of Aldermere, California there is magic. And rules:
Feed the ravens or they will go through your garbage unless you find its more practical to keep your garbage inside away from the hungry birds.
Unless a door has a label of where it may lead it can go anywhere within the towns border.
A knife that has cut flesh will try to cut people some more.
The tea shop disappears if someone damages it or is being forced open. It reappears somewhere else(in Aldermere) afterwards.
One of Fin's favourite place is the tea shop. Each tea makes you(for a certain amount of time) feel braver or stronger or something else you want to be. But it costs a memory. And unfortunately bravery is something Finely does not possess. Fortunately, Fin is willing to pay memories for a cherished amount of time when she dosen't have to be shrouded in fear. So there are things she does not remember. And those thing are things she rather not.
When she tries to make her own tea there is a step she was never told and the lack of the missing step is how she created a tea version of herself. The version that holds her unwanted memories. And this "evil twin" seems to be creating trouble all over Aldermere. But not all the things going wrong are what they seem.
Fin will have to be something she (without her tea) isn't. She'll have to be brave and more outgoing the she thinks she ever has. But how could she know if she hasn't been this brave.? Her memory has been damaged with missing pieces. And she will have to remember one way or another.
I liked it. It was cozy, I enjoyed the theme and Aldermere. Anything to do with herbs(plants) and a cafe, coffee shop, bookstore, library or tea shop will get my attention.
Although I thought it was nice it wasn't completely out of the ordinary. I have seen a fair bit of books(& a tv show) about a magical town far away from society. Like 'Gravity Falls'. I liked Eddie. I liked Cedar. I liked Teafin(Tea Fin). But, I did not like Fin. She was always saying 'their normal they don't understand' because nobody evidently understood her pressing fears. Fin thought counselors were for people who were broken of sorts. And on my side she was not very likeable.
Even so, this did not have much impact of my passion of the book.
I suggest 'Unseen Magic' for readers who love magical towns and annoying ravens. For people who want to hide certain parts of themselves away. Who want to hide memories away and never remember them. But every memory is a valuable part of you. They all matter.
Finley Barnes and her mom have been moving all around. They never stayed in one place for longer than a year or two. Until Aldermere. In the small lowly populated town of Aldermere, California there is magic. And rules:
Feed the ravens or they will go through your garbage unless you find its more practical to keep your garbage inside away from the hungry birds.
Unless a door has a label of where it may lead it can go anywhere within the towns border.
A knife that has cut flesh will try to cut people some more.
The tea shop disappears if someone damages it or is being forced open. It reappears somewhere else(in Aldermere) afterwards.
One of Fin's favourite place is the tea shop. Each tea makes you(for a certain amount of time) feel braver or stronger or something else you want to be. But it costs a memory. And unfortunately bravery is something Finely does not possess. Fortunately, Fin is willing to pay memories for a cherished amount of time when she dosen't have to be shrouded in fear. So there are things she does not remember. And those thing are things she rather not.
When she tries to make her own tea there is a step she was never told and the lack of the missing step is how she created a tea version of herself. The version that holds her unwanted memories. And this "evil twin" seems to be creating trouble all over Aldermere. But not all the things going wrong are what they seem.
Fin will have to be something she (without her tea) isn't. She'll have to be brave and more outgoing the she thinks she ever has. But how could she know if she hasn't been this brave.? Her memory has been damaged with missing pieces. And she will have to remember one way or another.
I liked it. It was cozy, I enjoyed the theme and Aldermere. Anything to do with herbs(plants) and a cafe, coffee shop, bookstore, library or tea shop will get my attention.
Although I thought it was nice it wasn't completely out of the ordinary. I have seen a fair bit of books(& a tv show) about a magical town far away from society. Like 'Gravity Falls'. I liked Eddie. I liked Cedar. I liked Teafin(Tea Fin). But, I did not like Fin. She was always saying 'their normal they don't understand' because nobody evidently understood her pressing fears. Fin thought counselors were for people who were broken of sorts. And on my side she was not very likeable.
Even so, this did not have much impact of my passion of the book.
I suggest 'Unseen Magic' for readers who love magical towns and annoying ravens. For people who want to hide certain parts of themselves away. Who want to hide memories away and never remember them. But every memory is a valuable part of you. They all matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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