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Magicborn Series #1
Magicborn
The Curse is changed. You'll never know. The truth is lost. The lie will grow.
The year is 1726 and the Royal Sorcerer of England is on the hunt for those who are magicborn. When Tempest is captured, she is taken to Kensington Palace alongside a boy like her, Thomas.
Trapped, Tempest and Thomas find their magic flickering to life and with it, long-buried memories. For they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, bound by a deadly curse. But now the fairies are coming to get them, and with the truth revealed… can they both survive?
The first in a sumptuous and enthralling new historical-fantasy adventure series from the bestselling author of The Cogheart Adventures.
The year is 1726 and the Royal Sorcerer of England is on the hunt for those who are magicborn. When Tempest is captured, she is taken to Kensington Palace alongside a boy like her, Thomas.
Trapped, Tempest and Thomas find their magic flickering to life and with it, long-buried memories. For they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, bound by a deadly curse. But now the fairies are coming to get them, and with the truth revealed… can they both survive?
The first in a sumptuous and enthralling new historical-fantasy adventure series from the bestselling author of The Cogheart Adventures.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
About the author
Peter Bunzl
15 books335 followersPeter Bunzl grew up in South London in a rambling Victorian house with three cats, two dogs, one little sister, an antique dealer dad, and an artist mum. As a child he found inspiration visiting TV and film sets, where his mum worked as a costume designer.
After art college and film school, Peter worked as an animator on commercials, pop videos, and two BAFTA-winning children’s TV shows, and wrote and directed several successful short films.
Peter’s debut novel Cogheart was a Waterstones Book of the Month. It was shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize and the Branford Boase Award. Moonlocket was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Award. Cogheart, Skycircus and Shadowsea were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
Peter lives in North London with his partner, a fox who visits their garden, and a clutter of house spiders.
After art college and film school, Peter worked as an animator on commercials, pop videos, and two BAFTA-winning children’s TV shows, and wrote and directed several successful short films.
Peter’s debut novel Cogheart was a Waterstones Book of the Month. It was shortlisted for the Waterstones Book Prize and the Branford Boase Award. Moonlocket was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Award. Cogheart, Skycircus and Shadowsea were nominated for the Carnegie Medal.
Peter lives in North London with his partner, a fox who visits their garden, and a clutter of house spiders.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 13, 2022
Prince and Princess's, magic, Fairyland and historical-fantasy brings you this very delightful read for the young.
The Royal Sorcerer captures Tempest and a boy like her, Thomas. They are both magicborn and have magical amulets but there is a deadly curse on them.
A delightful and magical read, full of that wonderful fantasy we all desire. The characters were superb and I think little Coriel really added value to portrait this wonderful story. I love how Peter captured that magical feel and you could picture it in your minds eye.
Very well portrayed and will certainly hold any young mind to the end!
Thank you Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for this ARC.
The Royal Sorcerer captures Tempest and a boy like her, Thomas. They are both magicborn and have magical amulets but there is a deadly curse on them.
A delightful and magical read, full of that wonderful fantasy we all desire. The characters were superb and I think little Coriel really added value to portrait this wonderful story. I love how Peter captured that magical feel and you could picture it in your minds eye.
Very well portrayed and will certainly hold any young mind to the end!
Thank you Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for this ARC.
July 5, 2025
This was so lovely!
January 2, 2023
A wonderful start to a magical historical fantasy series, full of heart, love, friendship and references to folklore and Shakespeare. Very intrigued as to where the story will go next!
May 21, 2022
Magicborn is a magical middle-grade story with a fairytale Shakespeare flavour. It features wild magic, talking birds, wolves, fairies, twins and royalty, which are some of my very favourite things in stories.
However, the plot just didn’t keep me turning the pages. I felt like the flashbacks solved all the various mysteries so that by the time I hit the middle of the book, there just wasn’t enough to keep me interested and engaged. I really had to trudge through that section. I also got a bit annoyed at how one of the main rules of magic that was established early on in the story was then just waved aside with no explanation. It made the resolution feel too easy and convenient for the characters.
On the plus side, I really liked the drawing of Thomas and Kwesi’s characters, and I think it could do well for 10-12 year olds who are into magic and fairytales. Plus it could be a really fun introduction to some of Shakespeare’s works!
Thanks Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for the ARC.
However, the plot just didn’t keep me turning the pages. I felt like the flashbacks solved all the various mysteries so that by the time I hit the middle of the book, there just wasn’t enough to keep me interested and engaged. I really had to trudge through that section. I also got a bit annoyed at how one of the main rules of magic that was established early on in the story was then just waved aside with no explanation. It made the resolution feel too easy and convenient for the characters.
On the plus side, I really liked the drawing of Thomas and Kwesi’s characters, and I think it could do well for 10-12 year olds who are into magic and fairytales. Plus it could be a really fun introduction to some of Shakespeare’s works!
Thanks Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for the ARC.
December 21, 2022
Captivating middlegrade fairytale about a Wild Boy and a Storm Girl caught between Georgian England and Fairyland. It's sneaky weaving of familiar plant and bird names with mythical creatures will have you believing in magic. The themes of self belief and the power of love made me very happy.
April 14, 2024
I got this at a #TandemEvent in 2023 and it has been sitting on my shelf with my other ARCs.
It seems that historical fantasy has become a firm favourite of mine simply because I can lose myself in that particular era, imagining what my life would have been like if I had been born then.
Things to look forward to:
- A fairy tale setting,
- An unscrupulous Sorcerer,
- Prince's and Princess's,
- The hidden world of the Fae,
- Magic,
- Found family
What endeared me to this story from the outset was that our little heroine, Tempest, has two dads, whom she calls "pa" and "da" effectively creating a queer-normative world for our little readers.
It seems that historical fantasy has become a firm favourite of mine simply because I can lose myself in that particular era, imagining what my life would have been like if I had been born then.
Things to look forward to:
- A fairy tale setting,
- An unscrupulous Sorcerer,
- Prince's and Princess's,
- The hidden world of the Fae,
- Magic,
- Found family
What endeared me to this story from the outset was that our little heroine, Tempest, has two dads, whom she calls "pa" and "da" effectively creating a queer-normative world for our little readers.
March 2, 2024
Although I did notice them in the bookshops, I've never read The Cogheart Adventures, the first series by Peter Bunzl. But Magicborn sounded right up my alley, so I decided to give that one a go.
There's definitely a big evolution throughout the book. At first, it all seemed a bit too odd and vague to me and I didn't particularly care for any of the characters. I was also disappointed that the Fairy world apparently wouldn't be playing that big a role in the story, not taking into account the flashbacks.
So my interest diminished at first, but after a while, around page 100 I think, I slowly got pulled into the story more and more, until I was really hooked. The story and the plot evolve, as do the characters and the entire world. It's a bit strange that not all the charms and spells rhyme, but apart from that, I loved the magic and the Fairy background. It's a bit of a mix between the classic Grimm fairy tales for children in particular and fairy folk tales in general, with a dash of Britishness added to it. I've said it before and I've said it again: an American can't write a book like this. It's in the writing style, it's in the descriptions, it's the way the story flows. Peter Bunzl is a master of his craft.
Magicborn at times reminded me of Sally Gardner's I, Coriander (review in Dutch), with both the setting, the plot and the change between the human and the fairy world. But just to be clear: I absolutely love that book, so this is a compliment!
Especially Tempest undergoes some major character development, mostly in the final chapters, during the big climax. She really becomes full-fledged then, although every character in this story has their own merits. Although all Coriel's ramblings sometimes went over my head a bit, LOL! The final fifty pages are definitely the best of the book, so the story ends on a high note as well, which is always what you're aiming for as an author, obviously. And Bunzl clearly knows how to do that.
Looking forward to see what Glassborn is about!
8.3/10
There's definitely a big evolution throughout the book. At first, it all seemed a bit too odd and vague to me and I didn't particularly care for any of the characters. I was also disappointed that the Fairy world apparently wouldn't be playing that big a role in the story, not taking into account the flashbacks.
So my interest diminished at first, but after a while, around page 100 I think, I slowly got pulled into the story more and more, until I was really hooked. The story and the plot evolve, as do the characters and the entire world. It's a bit strange that not all the charms and spells rhyme, but apart from that, I loved the magic and the Fairy background. It's a bit of a mix between the classic Grimm fairy tales for children in particular and fairy folk tales in general, with a dash of Britishness added to it. I've said it before and I've said it again: an American can't write a book like this. It's in the writing style, it's in the descriptions, it's the way the story flows. Peter Bunzl is a master of his craft.
Magicborn at times reminded me of Sally Gardner's I, Coriander (review in Dutch), with both the setting, the plot and the change between the human and the fairy world. But just to be clear: I absolutely love that book, so this is a compliment!
Especially Tempest undergoes some major character development, mostly in the final chapters, during the big climax. She really becomes full-fledged then, although every character in this story has their own merits. Although all Coriel's ramblings sometimes went over my head a bit, LOL! The final fifty pages are definitely the best of the book, so the story ends on a high note as well, which is always what you're aiming for as an author, obviously. And Bunzl clearly knows how to do that.
Looking forward to see what Glassborn is about!
8.3/10
August 12, 2022
✨ M A G I C B O R N ✨
Loved it, great summer read. Courageous characters that you really want to Champion and loved the diversity of the characters.
The Curse is changed. You'll never know. The truth is lost. The lie will grow.
The year is 1726 and the Royal Sorcerer of England is on the hunt for those who are Magicborn. When Tempest is captured, she is taken to Kensington Palace alongside a boy like her, Thomas.
Trapped, Tempest and Thomas find their magic flickering to life and, with it, long-buried memories. For they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, bound by a deadly curse. But now the fairies are coming to get them, and with the truth revealed...can they both survive?
Loved it, great summer read. Courageous characters that you really want to Champion and loved the diversity of the characters.
The Curse is changed. You'll never know. The truth is lost. The lie will grow.
The year is 1726 and the Royal Sorcerer of England is on the hunt for those who are Magicborn. When Tempest is captured, she is taken to Kensington Palace alongside a boy like her, Thomas.
Trapped, Tempest and Thomas find their magic flickering to life and, with it, long-buried memories. For they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, bound by a deadly curse. But now the fairies are coming to get them, and with the truth revealed...can they both survive?
July 12, 2022
2.5 stars. Unfortunately, this did not sit well with me. Maybe because there was a disclaimer at the beginning that "this is not your usual charming once-upon-a-time story", and I was in the mood precisely for that. The plot was interesting, but a little bit predictable at times and sometimes not too engaging, and I had to force myself to turn the pages. By no means a bad book though; it will find many readers who will love it.
November 7, 2024
It started off good enough. I was intrigued. But unfortunately once Tempest got caught by Hawthorn and met Kwesi, things started to go south. It became repetitive. The climax was a let down. The fight between Tempest and her aunt was predictable.
The only thing that remain interesting was the fact that fairies are the villain and how a mother can be so cold and unloving, choosing power over her children.
The only thing that remain interesting was the fact that fairies are the villain and how a mother can be so cold and unloving, choosing power over her children.
March 24, 2024
I really loved this book and went through it so fast!
I love how Peter Bunzl used myth folk and history to create this amazing story. The whole book flows soo smoothly and the artwork fits it perfectly.
This is definitely a five star for me.
If you try reading middle grade books for the first time I highly recommend reading this🫶🏼
I love how Peter Bunzl used myth folk and history to create this amazing story. The whole book flows soo smoothly and the artwork fits it perfectly.
This is definitely a five star for me.
If you try reading middle grade books for the first time I highly recommend reading this🫶🏼
May 30, 2022
Enjoyable book with flashbacks between chapters and hints of Shakespeare.
July 9, 2022
Great book for middle grade kids. Full of magic and interesting characters
July 15, 2022
This was a fun story I liked the gay rep and I liked the character of Kwasi and the conversation about race and refusal of identity
August 9, 2022
Wonderful world building
Loved the ideas behind this story and the way the world is crafted is brilliant. Also has the best sidekick.
Loved the ideas behind this story and the way the world is crafted is brilliant. Also has the best sidekick.
September 8, 2022
3.8/5⭐
September 12, 2022
A really refreshing kids book that moves at quite a pace.
I'm going to to read his other series of books now.
I'm going to to read his other series of books now.
October 26, 2022
I will PASS on this one. Queer rep and probably a confused child refusing their gender.
January 18, 2023
A well written and uncompromising children's book. If words weave magic then this book certainly has it in abundance. Will happily be sharing this with my children.
February 13, 2023
Absolutely loved this, full of magic and wonder
Hope there's more to come
Hope there's more to come
February 7, 2024
I enjoyed the start of the book, but once the author started going back in time, all of the story’s questions were answered and I felt it really started to drag. DNF at 60%
March 5, 2024
Excellent middle-grade magical historical story. I really enjoyed it, despite the flashbacks, which always annoy me.
April 3, 2025
Great book couldn't put it down
June 6, 2025
A kids book but quite dark at times. I like the occasional simple read. The way it’s written seems simple but as a grown up I can see all the hidden meanings.
February 21, 2026
A fab book. Brilliant storytelling, gorgeous world details and magical children with memory loss, this book is whimsical and engaging. Perfect for those who love adventure and whimsy.
March 22, 2022
A tale of enchantment and a sinister curse wrapped in historical fiction with a real feel for its’ time period; this is superb storytelling and incisive world-building! The magic and atmosphere mesmerised me from the very first page. Each character is complex and believable. All are integral to the plot. Tempest, Thomas and their unexpected, magical friend, Kwesi are all intriguing characters, with heart, intelligence and a deep loyalty born of their circumstances. They are trapped, seemingly powerless at the hands of the evil Lord Hawthorn. It takes all the strength of spirit, cleverness; all the logic, reason…and magic they can muster to work out a plan. And when the Fairies appear, it takes even more. The story weaves itself into the reader, refusing to unravel…you simply must keep turning the page. There is danger, drama, deeply hidden secrets; carefully constructed and preserved lies…the tale is as much mystery as it is enchantment. A truly fantastic, utterly dazzling tale of friendship, courage, hope…as magical as they come. Breathtaking!
May 14, 2024
It started off good enough. I was intrigued. But unfortunately once Tempest got caught by Hawthorn and met Kwesi, things started to go south. It became repetitive. The climax was a let down. The fight between Tempest and her aunt was predictable.
The only thing that remain interesting was the fact that fairies are the villain and how a mother can be so cold and unloving, choosing power over her children.
The only thing that remain interesting was the fact that fairies are the villain and how a mother can be so cold and unloving, choosing power over her children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2022
The dual timelines really, really suck most of the tension out of this book - it’s definitely boring knowing way more than the characters do for much longer than they do.
August 28, 2023
DNF -- I was hoping to finish this book, but once I hit the last 80 pages, I was just totally uninterested. Strange structure and annoyingly convinent plot for the protagonists. Having said that, it was written really well and I enjoyed elements of the setting and plot. Enough to give it 2 stars, anyway.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews