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The Thief of Farrowfell #1
The Thief of Farrowfell
Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or - in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell - those who can steal it!
An epic debut series from a FAB Prize winner.
Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.
Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .
But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.
While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.
Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more . . .
An epic debut series from a FAB Prize winner.
Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.
Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .
But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.
While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.
Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more . . .
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
3 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Ravena Guron
9 books432 followersA born and bred Londoner, Ravena writes MG and YA, usually featuring antiheroines or snarky narrators. She is a lawyer with a degree in biochemistry, and hopes to use the knowledge gained from her experiences to plot her books, whether that's wild MG fantasy adventures, or twisty YA murder-mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 30, 2025
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
4/5 stars
The Thief of Farrowfell is an exciting and moving book about the Jude Ripon and her family. The Ripon family are famous for stealing magic and selling it on the black market. Every member of her family has an important part in their business. Apart from Jude. Jude overheard her sister Moorley telling her grandfather, which they call Grandleader, saying that she would only mess it up. And ever since her entire family ignores her and treats her like she is less from everyone else.
My heart broke for Jude in this book. All she wants is to become a true Ripon. To be loved and adored by her parents, sister, grandfather and extended family. So when Jude hears from Farlow Higgens that there is rare magic hidden at the Weston Mansion she goes on a solo mission to retrieve it and finally gets the acknowledgement she deserves. She successfully retrieves it but outside of the mansion she bumps into a magic keeper who says she and her family will be cursed if she steals it. And the curse will only be lifted if she returns it and apologizes to the entire Weston family. She thinks it's a load of bollocks and steals it.
But soon bad luck tears through her family and she realizes she must return it before they find out why they are cursed. But things don't go as planned and suddenly Jude must travel an entire different path.
I love the secondary characters in this book. Eri and Fin are sweethearts and I loved their presence throughout this book. But my heart was most invested in Jude and her place in the family. Jude who only wants to be loved by her parents and sister. And her pain was so palpable throughout.
Moorley's character arc was stunning. And I loved the magic system and lilthrum creatures.
The artwork created by Alessia Trunfio was absolutely stunning. If you love magic and middle grade books then definitely pick this one up. It's an awesome journey and worth the read!
4 huge stars from me for Jude those she holds close to her heart.
4/5 stars
The Thief of Farrowfell is an exciting and moving book about the Jude Ripon and her family. The Ripon family are famous for stealing magic and selling it on the black market. Every member of her family has an important part in their business. Apart from Jude. Jude overheard her sister Moorley telling her grandfather, which they call Grandleader, saying that she would only mess it up. And ever since her entire family ignores her and treats her like she is less from everyone else.
My heart broke for Jude in this book. All she wants is to become a true Ripon. To be loved and adored by her parents, sister, grandfather and extended family. So when Jude hears from Farlow Higgens that there is rare magic hidden at the Weston Mansion she goes on a solo mission to retrieve it and finally gets the acknowledgement she deserves. She successfully retrieves it but outside of the mansion she bumps into a magic keeper who says she and her family will be cursed if she steals it. And the curse will only be lifted if she returns it and apologizes to the entire Weston family. She thinks it's a load of bollocks and steals it.
But soon bad luck tears through her family and she realizes she must return it before they find out why they are cursed. But things don't go as planned and suddenly Jude must travel an entire different path.
I love the secondary characters in this book. Eri and Fin are sweethearts and I loved their presence throughout this book. But my heart was most invested in Jude and her place in the family. Jude who only wants to be loved by her parents and sister. And her pain was so palpable throughout.
Moorley's character arc was stunning. And I loved the magic system and lilthrum creatures.
The artwork created by Alessia Trunfio was absolutely stunning. If you love magic and middle grade books then definitely pick this one up. It's an awesome journey and worth the read!
4 huge stars from me for Jude those she holds close to her heart.
May 1, 2023
This is a fast-paced exciting fantasy story with lots of twists and turns (many unexpected), hugely imaginative, great world-building, super characters and character arcs, and I thought it was great.
Highlights for me include:
1. Edible Magic – I haven’t come across edible magic before, and I love that tamed magic tastes disgusting and raw smell smells delicious. I love the contrast between the powerful raw magic and its terrible consequences versus the tamed blend, which gives this story a superb plot line.
2. Jude – Jude is a super protagonist. Determined to prove her worth in a family of thieves lands her in a lot of trouble. Of course Jude has been brought up to value the family business and to live up to the Ripon name, which makes a lot of her commentary hilarious when she meets good kids Fin and Eri. Jude hates her sister Moorley who everyone seems to think is perfect, and I love how their relationship changes through the story.
3. The Ripon family – Jude’s family is pretty terrible, but they have been badly affected by their activities. To give you an idea of how awful her relatives are, her grandfather is known as Grandleader – there is nothing paternal about him at all.
4. World-building – this high-concept plot is brilliantly portrayed, with the use of tamed magic (legally and illegally acquired) and the threat from the monsters preying upon the people.
5. Pace – excellently paced story with the right balance of action, humour, tension, character development and twists and turns right to the end.
If you like fantasy, I highly recommend this superb story, and I really hope for more adventures in this world. There are some darker themes (Jude is neglected by her parents, there are also addiction problems, one of the side effects of raw magic), but I think they are handled very well and suitably for the age group.
Highlights for me include:
1. Edible Magic – I haven’t come across edible magic before, and I love that tamed magic tastes disgusting and raw smell smells delicious. I love the contrast between the powerful raw magic and its terrible consequences versus the tamed blend, which gives this story a superb plot line.
2. Jude – Jude is a super protagonist. Determined to prove her worth in a family of thieves lands her in a lot of trouble. Of course Jude has been brought up to value the family business and to live up to the Ripon name, which makes a lot of her commentary hilarious when she meets good kids Fin and Eri. Jude hates her sister Moorley who everyone seems to think is perfect, and I love how their relationship changes through the story.
3. The Ripon family – Jude’s family is pretty terrible, but they have been badly affected by their activities. To give you an idea of how awful her relatives are, her grandfather is known as Grandleader – there is nothing paternal about him at all.
4. World-building – this high-concept plot is brilliantly portrayed, with the use of tamed magic (legally and illegally acquired) and the threat from the monsters preying upon the people.
5. Pace – excellently paced story with the right balance of action, humour, tension, character development and twists and turns right to the end.
If you like fantasy, I highly recommend this superb story, and I really hope for more adventures in this world. There are some darker themes (Jude is neglected by her parents, there are also addiction problems, one of the side effects of raw magic), but I think they are handled very well and suitably for the age group.
May 26, 2023
I received a gifted advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the booktour hosted by Kaleidoscopic book tours.
The Thief of Farrowfell is a unique, well-imagined, magical adventure story that was fast-paced and really enjoyable. I loved the unique magic in this book in the way of it being edible! How much fun would that be in real life! We follow Jude, who is from a family of thieves. Wanting to prove herself to them, Jude lands herself in some serious trouble. I enjoyed all the characters within this story and found them to be well developed and even entertaining. The twists towards the end kept me turning the pages faster and faster. I hope this will be the start of further books to come as this book has set good ground for a series. There are some dark themes in this book, such as addiction and abuse, but these were well handled and not too dark for the age group the book is aimed at.
The Thief of Farrowfell is a unique, well-imagined, magical adventure story that was fast-paced and really enjoyable. I loved the unique magic in this book in the way of it being edible! How much fun would that be in real life! We follow Jude, who is from a family of thieves. Wanting to prove herself to them, Jude lands herself in some serious trouble. I enjoyed all the characters within this story and found them to be well developed and even entertaining. The twists towards the end kept me turning the pages faster and faster. I hope this will be the start of further books to come as this book has set good ground for a series. There are some dark themes in this book, such as addiction and abuse, but these were well handled and not too dark for the age group the book is aimed at.
May 2, 2023
I knew I had to read it when I spotted the edible magic and thought this was very original. I was right as it's a very entertaining, well plotted, and fast paced story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
May 6, 2025
What a magical, adventurous start to the Farrowfell trilogy.
Jude is fed up being ignored and is out to prove herself to her very demanding family, who run their own criminal enterprise, acquiring and selling illegal magic. She is very much a “go big or go home” girl, so she steals a piece of rare magic from a mansion heavily fortified by spells. She realises too late that the magic is cursed and she needs to lift the curse before bragging to her family.
So begins a sequence of events that very quickly get out of control.
Having overheard snippets of family meetings, Jude is convinced her family have no faith in her and see here as a mere inconvenience. But are they hiding something? Something big?
Just shows great determination to prove herself. However, she makes a lot of assumptions about those around her and their motives for their actions.
As the story unfolds, we discover information about the family and their criminal enterprise in bits, as Jude does. We also see Jude believing something to be true with no evidence except her emotions. She is being told things by people she trusts, not knowing the whole story so fitting what she knows and discovers into her experience and world view, believing she is responsible for some things because she is sure she did something wrong and feels guilty … but she does not know everything, so gets more wrong. She is only human!
A strong sense of selflessness versus selfishness permeates the whole story and that ultimately is what counts.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. The best bit is they are already out, so no waiting. Well, Book 3 is out on May 8th so time to read one and two!
Thanks to The Write Reads and Faber & Faber for a copy of the book to read and review.
Jude is fed up being ignored and is out to prove herself to her very demanding family, who run their own criminal enterprise, acquiring and selling illegal magic. She is very much a “go big or go home” girl, so she steals a piece of rare magic from a mansion heavily fortified by spells. She realises too late that the magic is cursed and she needs to lift the curse before bragging to her family.
So begins a sequence of events that very quickly get out of control.
Having overheard snippets of family meetings, Jude is convinced her family have no faith in her and see here as a mere inconvenience. But are they hiding something? Something big?
Just shows great determination to prove herself. However, she makes a lot of assumptions about those around her and their motives for their actions.
As the story unfolds, we discover information about the family and their criminal enterprise in bits, as Jude does. We also see Jude believing something to be true with no evidence except her emotions. She is being told things by people she trusts, not knowing the whole story so fitting what she knows and discovers into her experience and world view, believing she is responsible for some things because she is sure she did something wrong and feels guilty … but she does not know everything, so gets more wrong. She is only human!
A strong sense of selflessness versus selfishness permeates the whole story and that ultimately is what counts.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. The best bit is they are already out, so no waiting. Well, Book 3 is out on May 8th so time to read one and two!
Thanks to The Write Reads and Faber & Faber for a copy of the book to read and review.
May 8, 2025
12-year-old Jude Ripon is from a family with a reputation for being prolific thieves who dabble in raw magic. Jude has never felt like a true Ripon, so she sets out to steal some valuable magic to prove her place in the family and gain the respect of Grand Leader, her grandfather. Of course, as things usually do, all kinds of chaos then ensues when she uncovers the evil plot that involves her grandfather. Jude was just fantastic. She just wanted to feel like she belonged in her family and wanted their approval. She was plucky, loyal and brave. She was also kind and good. The story had a good plot, lots of mystery and of course, magic. It’s a fabulous read that is just the beginning of Jude‘s story!
May 10, 2023
I received an eARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE THIEF OF FARROWFELL is a fun tale of magic, curses, and terrible families.
The magic of this world has to be eaten to work, which was a really nice way of opening magic up to anyone - supposing you have enough money or stealing abilities! It comes from raw magic, which is very dangerous and creates monsters, so must be handled with care...
This is a tale of trust and lies. No one is telling the entire truth, so you spend the book trying to sift through the lies to work out what's really happening alongside Jude. But then again, if you were able to trust the characters, they'd be bad thieves!
Jude's family are horrible (or slightly unusual) in ways that felt very Roald Dahl, which I really liked as it evoked that childhood nostalgia. They're all aloof and mean (or running around building flying chariots), which makes them great villains to root against.
I really liked the journey Jude went on with her relationship to her family, particularly her sister. There's resentment and desire to be accepted, but also wanting to be her own person and be loved. And then it ends in a really great place that shows so much growth but also how hard it can be to break with the familiar.
The main plot wraps up very nicely, and the next books promise to be in the same world but with a different focus for the characters!
THE THIEF OF FARROWFELL is a fun tale of magic, curses, and terrible families.
The magic of this world has to be eaten to work, which was a really nice way of opening magic up to anyone - supposing you have enough money or stealing abilities! It comes from raw magic, which is very dangerous and creates monsters, so must be handled with care...
This is a tale of trust and lies. No one is telling the entire truth, so you spend the book trying to sift through the lies to work out what's really happening alongside Jude. But then again, if you were able to trust the characters, they'd be bad thieves!
Jude's family are horrible (or slightly unusual) in ways that felt very Roald Dahl, which I really liked as it evoked that childhood nostalgia. They're all aloof and mean (or running around building flying chariots), which makes them great villains to root against.
I really liked the journey Jude went on with her relationship to her family, particularly her sister. There's resentment and desire to be accepted, but also wanting to be her own person and be loved. And then it ends in a really great place that shows so much growth but also how hard it can be to break with the familiar.
The main plot wraps up very nicely, and the next books promise to be in the same world but with a different focus for the characters!
October 29, 2025
A superb magical fantasy for younger readers. Jude Ripon is the youngest member of her clan and constantly pushed away from the family's business. In a world where edible magic is a commodity with a high price, the Ripons make their wealth by stealing and trading in magic. Jude steals a rare magic to gain her family's attention and praise, but it is cursed. Suddenly , she finds herself on a perilous adventure to undo her theft. she soon finds out exactly how far her family will go to remain at the top of their business gain, and she questions her desire to become a true Ripon. An unputdownable read. This is the first of three books in this terrific series. Book 3 The Battle of Farrowfell is release on May 8th #thethiefof farrowfell #ravenaguron #booktour
May 12, 2025
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. Special thanks to Faber & Faber Ltd. for providing a digital copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars
TL;DR: The Thief of Farrowfell is a solid first book in this new middle-grade fantasy series. With a unique magic system and compelling characters who will easily have you rooting for them, this is an action-packed adventure-filled novel that I think many young readers will find joy reading! While it does get somewhat dark and sinister at times, Jude is a great main character who keeps it real but also, continues to feel hope throughout the read that doesn’t let the story get bogged down. Despite the triumphs, I wouldn’t say this book has a happy ending exactly; however, it was a very hopeful one and I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where Jude’s story goes next.
The world-building of Farrowfell was interesting and I found liked the magic system. I can’t recall reading a story where the magic system is based solely on edible magic and while Guron gives us a good taste (no pun intended!) of what magic can do in this world, especially with the invisibility and ghost spells, I found myself eagerly wanting to see more variety because it sounded very cool. Another interesting element to the magic was the difference in tame magic and raw magic, and how the author made the latter come alive. It made me even more curious about the origins of Farrowfell’s magic and I hope that Guron will explore it in more depth in the coming books.
The writing was descriptive and enjoyable to read, and I think it would be easy for the intended audience to sink into the story as it is quite action-packed and full of mischief and adventure! Foremost, this is about family and what it means to be one, but it is also about friendship, touching upon themes of grief, loss, and belonging. I don’t think I expected the story to be quite this dark but as an adult reader, I appreciated it a lot. You could say that some of this is to be expected due to the fact that Jude is a thief from a family of the most renowned thieves in Farrowfell, but her family is one of the most horrid that I’ve read in some time! Jude craves her family’s acceptance and wants so badly to feel like a true Ripon, which made it very hard at times to read how poorly they treated her, and it was heartbreaking to see how sad and disappointed Jude would become after every scene involving her family. She deserved so much better than them!
I loved Jude’s determination! She’s stubborn as anything, resourceful, and quick-witted, and I think young readers will be able to easily empathise with her. Although at first, their relationship was quite contentious—and at least from Jude’s side full of bitterness and jealousy—I liked how Guron wrote the relationship between Jude and Moorley. Sisterhood is complex and can be one of the messiest relationships in life, but there’s also a unique bond that can form between sisters that I’m glad came through in this book. I loved that there was at least one family member in her life that Jude was able to count on, even if she initially didn’t think so. Moorley was a great older sister and I can’t wait to see how their relationship evolves throughout the series!
As I think can be expected from a middle grade novel, this was quite light in terms of character development. There are several characters of note that we meet on Jude’s adventures, and while they seemed interesting, a glimpse is pretty much all that we get of them. It would have been great to see some of these characters developed more, especially the ones who played more significant roles including Jude’s new found friends, Eri and Fin. They seemed like good kids and I liked the role they played in helping Jude realise that it’s not only blood family that can make you feel seen, and their acceptance isn’t the only thing that matters. I’m sure that we will see much more of them as the series continues and I can’t wait for that!
This doesn’t have the typical happy ending that Jude and Moorley deserve, nor the easy resolution that tends to happen in middle-grade novels, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hopeful ending (or beginning whichever way you see it) for them. I know there are lots more great adventures waiting ahead for Jude and Moorley, and it also probably isn’t the last time we see the Ripon family (unfortunately, lol). Overall, I had a great time reading this middle-grade fantasy and it’s one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to young readers looking for a magical and adventurous story with a strong main character!
TL;DR: The Thief of Farrowfell is a solid first book in this new middle-grade fantasy series. With a unique magic system and compelling characters who will easily have you rooting for them, this is an action-packed adventure-filled novel that I think many young readers will find joy reading! While it does get somewhat dark and sinister at times, Jude is a great main character who keeps it real but also, continues to feel hope throughout the read that doesn’t let the story get bogged down. Despite the triumphs, I wouldn’t say this book has a happy ending exactly; however, it was a very hopeful one and I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where Jude’s story goes next.
The world-building of Farrowfell was interesting and I found liked the magic system. I can’t recall reading a story where the magic system is based solely on edible magic and while Guron gives us a good taste (no pun intended!) of what magic can do in this world, especially with the invisibility and ghost spells, I found myself eagerly wanting to see more variety because it sounded very cool. Another interesting element to the magic was the difference in tame magic and raw magic, and how the author made the latter come alive. It made me even more curious about the origins of Farrowfell’s magic and I hope that Guron will explore it in more depth in the coming books.
The writing was descriptive and enjoyable to read, and I think it would be easy for the intended audience to sink into the story as it is quite action-packed and full of mischief and adventure! Foremost, this is about family and what it means to be one, but it is also about friendship, touching upon themes of grief, loss, and belonging. I don’t think I expected the story to be quite this dark but as an adult reader, I appreciated it a lot. You could say that some of this is to be expected due to the fact that Jude is a thief from a family of the most renowned thieves in Farrowfell, but her family is one of the most horrid that I’ve read in some time! Jude craves her family’s acceptance and wants so badly to feel like a true Ripon, which made it very hard at times to read how poorly they treated her, and it was heartbreaking to see how sad and disappointed Jude would become after every scene involving her family. She deserved so much better than them!
I loved Jude’s determination! She’s stubborn as anything, resourceful, and quick-witted, and I think young readers will be able to easily empathise with her. Although at first, their relationship was quite contentious—and at least from Jude’s side full of bitterness and jealousy—I liked how Guron wrote the relationship between Jude and Moorley. Sisterhood is complex and can be one of the messiest relationships in life, but there’s also a unique bond that can form between sisters that I’m glad came through in this book. I loved that there was at least one family member in her life that Jude was able to count on, even if she initially didn’t think so. Moorley was a great older sister and I can’t wait to see how their relationship evolves throughout the series!
As I think can be expected from a middle grade novel, this was quite light in terms of character development. There are several characters of note that we meet on Jude’s adventures, and while they seemed interesting, a glimpse is pretty much all that we get of them. It would have been great to see some of these characters developed more, especially the ones who played more significant roles including Jude’s new found friends, Eri and Fin. They seemed like good kids and I liked the role they played in helping Jude realise that it’s not only blood family that can make you feel seen, and their acceptance isn’t the only thing that matters. I’m sure that we will see much more of them as the series continues and I can’t wait for that!
This doesn’t have the typical happy ending that Jude and Moorley deserve, nor the easy resolution that tends to happen in middle-grade novels, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a hopeful ending (or beginning whichever way you see it) for them. I know there are lots more great adventures waiting ahead for Jude and Moorley, and it also probably isn’t the last time we see the Ripon family (unfortunately, lol). Overall, I had a great time reading this middle-grade fantasy and it’s one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to young readers looking for a magical and adventurous story with a strong main character!
December 28, 2025
This story was really enjoyable. The main character, Jude Ripon, is feisty and I really liked her. I felt a bit sad for how her family treated her though. They are a crime family, headed by Jude's grandfather, who insists on being called Grandleader. Her parents neglect her, and she always feels outshone by her sister Moorley. To try and prove her worth Jude steals a powerful magic spell, but it comes at a cost.
The magic system was different and interesting. There is a contrast between raw and tamed magic, which can be made into spells that are activated once eaten!
I read this book out loud to my 8 year old daughter, she really enjoyed it too and said it's a very fun story.
The magic system was different and interesting. There is a contrast between raw and tamed magic, which can be made into spells that are activated once eaten!
I read this book out loud to my 8 year old daughter, she really enjoyed it too and said it's a very fun story.
October 5, 2023
This was so fun!! Jude was a great main character, and I really liked the development of her relationship with Moorley. The magic system was fresh and original, and the quest propelled the story forward at a rapid enjoyable pace. A great read!
May 8, 2023
I'm underwhelmed.
I received an ARC of this and this is my honest review.
RTC
I received an ARC of this and this is my honest review.
RTC
May 9, 2025
I really enjoyed reading The Thief of Farrowfell – with a unique magic system and a fun main character, I couldn’t put it down.
Our main character Jude starts the book with one goal in mind – to join her family’s business and become one of the greatest thieves in Farrowfell. She does this by stealing some really valuable magic… which turns out to be cursed. She’s brave and sometimes reckless, but there’s no doubt about whether her heart is in the right place. It amused me when she was learning there’s more to life than thieving, so there’s different ways to have fun!
I loved following Jude as she explores whether the family business is all it’s made out to be, and being with her as she discovers the friends she makes can be more valuable than family. It made the secondary characters really fun too, I loved Moorley!
Edible magic was a really interesting concept, and one I’ve not seen before! I thought it was pretty funny that the most useful magics tasted disgusting, so they really had to need to use the magic to want to eat it.
Our main character Jude starts the book with one goal in mind – to join her family’s business and become one of the greatest thieves in Farrowfell. She does this by stealing some really valuable magic… which turns out to be cursed. She’s brave and sometimes reckless, but there’s no doubt about whether her heart is in the right place. It amused me when she was learning there’s more to life than thieving, so there’s different ways to have fun!
I loved following Jude as she explores whether the family business is all it’s made out to be, and being with her as she discovers the friends she makes can be more valuable than family. It made the secondary characters really fun too, I loved Moorley!
Edible magic was a really interesting concept, and one I’ve not seen before! I thought it was pretty funny that the most useful magics tasted disgusting, so they really had to need to use the magic to want to eat it.
May 6, 2025
The Thief of Farrowfell is a quirky, fun filled fantasy, that although aimed at 9-12 year olds, for me, can definitely be enjoyed by adults too.
It's wonderfully imaginative, with impressive world building and a great cast of fantastical characters.
Basically, absolutely everything I look for in a children's fantasy.
I really liked the idea of edible magic, it's a premise I've never come across before, and so quite unique I think.
It's excellenty paced with a nice, quick storyline full of action and adventure with more than a dash or two of smart humour, and some great twists and turns that'll keep you guessing.
All in all, an exciting, highly entertaining novel, that I read in two sittings over two sunny spring afternoons
And just to mention. The third book in the series - The Battle of Farrowfell is being released on 8th May, so make sure you pick up all three.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's wonderfully imaginative, with impressive world building and a great cast of fantastical characters.
Basically, absolutely everything I look for in a children's fantasy.
I really liked the idea of edible magic, it's a premise I've never come across before, and so quite unique I think.
It's excellenty paced with a nice, quick storyline full of action and adventure with more than a dash or two of smart humour, and some great twists and turns that'll keep you guessing.
All in all, an exciting, highly entertaining novel, that I read in two sittings over two sunny spring afternoons
And just to mention. The third book in the series - The Battle of Farrowfell is being released on 8th May, so make sure you pick up all three.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
May 6, 2025
This book will be a delight to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
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If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
May 10, 2025
The Thief of Farrowfell is the first in Guron's Farrowfell series. The second book, The Beast of Farrowfell was published at the end of April.
I love the idea of edible magic, don't you? As long as you knew what you were eating of course...
The pace is fast and the adventure we went on with Jude and the rest of the Ripon's was epic! Guron's world building was great and the imagery popped the story from the pages.
Characters are fun, relatable and entertaining.
A magical, mysterious adventure awaits!
I love the idea of edible magic, don't you? As long as you knew what you were eating of course...
The pace is fast and the adventure we went on with Jude and the rest of the Ripon's was epic! Guron's world building was great and the imagery popped the story from the pages.
Characters are fun, relatable and entertaining.
A magical, mysterious adventure awaits!
April 9, 2023
I was provided an ebook advanced reader copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher Faber and Faber in exchange for an honest review.
I had a hard time getting into this book but overall enjoyed it. The idea of edible magic and the main character and her family being thieves really intrigued me. I found the dynamic of her family hard to read though. I wonder how a middle grade reader would digest the heavy amounts of emotional abuse and neglect. It felt like a much heavier book than the cover and synopsis suggested to me.
The pros: the main character Jude is strong and resilient and sees what her family has been doing is wrong and stands up to them. There were some good twists and turns and the author built up the tension well for the final scenes. The magic system is unlike others I have read before. I really loved the Hall of Knowledge concept and how it had learned and became something the people who built it couldn’t have predicted.
I am curious to see where the next book leads Jude as the end definitely leaves you ready for the next.
I had a hard time getting into this book but overall enjoyed it. The idea of edible magic and the main character and her family being thieves really intrigued me. I found the dynamic of her family hard to read though. I wonder how a middle grade reader would digest the heavy amounts of emotional abuse and neglect. It felt like a much heavier book than the cover and synopsis suggested to me.
The pros: the main character Jude is strong and resilient and sees what her family has been doing is wrong and stands up to them. There were some good twists and turns and the author built up the tension well for the final scenes. The magic system is unlike others I have read before. I really loved the Hall of Knowledge concept and how it had learned and became something the people who built it couldn’t have predicted.
I am curious to see where the next book leads Jude as the end definitely leaves you ready for the next.
April 26, 2023
This was a big success with the children. They enjoyed the story because it was just a bit different from anything we have read before. The idea of edible magic was original and inspired. A recommended read.
May 26, 2023
I’ll be honest: I requested this book for two main reasons: 1) Alessia Trunfio is my favourite illustrator, and 2) I really loved Ravena Guron’s debut, which was a YA mystery thriller, that ended up in my 22 Best Books of 2022 at the end of last year. Did I read the plot? Not really, I knew very little going into it, but I was curious about this edible magic idea.
I can safely say, I much prefer this author’s writing when it comes to YA mystery, as you can probably tell by my low rating. However, before going into details, I want to say that Alessia Trunfio did a great job with both the interior illustration and the cover. I will probably end up buying myself a physical copy just so I can display it on my shelves, honestly.
Now, onto the book itself, I had two main issues with The Thief of Farrowfell. The first one was the pacing: I found the plot to be interesting enough — not my all times favourite middle grade plot and not the most original one — but it dragged. It was a really slow book and, in my opinion, with a premise like that one it had, it needed to be quicker, faster.
I want to say that this dragging feeling was partly due to the author trying to fit too many characters into 300 pages, but most of all it was caused by the fact that she tried to weave family issues into a story which was too short to really talk about such topics. I can appreciate the idea and the effort, but the execution was a bit lacking for my taste.
The second issue, and the main reason why my rating is so low, were the characters: I will never tire of saying how much I love characters and how important they are to me. Unfortunately, this means I tend to give lower ratings when I don’t vibe with the main character. I found Jude to be a little annoying, to be completely honest with you, and I generally didn’t care about her enough to care about what she was going through.
The secondary characters were way more interesting, but they weren’t flashed out enough for me. I have read somewhere this might turn into a series, so maybe this is why the author chose not to develop them at their fullest. On the other hand, I want to say that it was a risky choice, because as it stands, I don’t know if I will continue the series, and it is partly due to this very fact. (Let’s be honest, I’ll probably read an hypotetical book two just because I love Alessia Trunfio — true Italian pride here — but you get what I’m saying).
Overall, I do think that many people can enjoy this story, especially those who value plot over characters, and are not scared of a slow book, but I still believe this should have been edited differently, because the premise made it sound much more interesting than it actually was, and it’s a bummer, especially since I know Ravena Guron can write.
So, do I recommend this book? Yes and no, it truly depends on what kind of reader you are and how many books in this genre/age range you’ve read before. Also, it really depends on what you are expecting: if you do not expect high action, you might actually love this one.
I can safely say, I much prefer this author’s writing when it comes to YA mystery, as you can probably tell by my low rating. However, before going into details, I want to say that Alessia Trunfio did a great job with both the interior illustration and the cover. I will probably end up buying myself a physical copy just so I can display it on my shelves, honestly.
Now, onto the book itself, I had two main issues with The Thief of Farrowfell. The first one was the pacing: I found the plot to be interesting enough — not my all times favourite middle grade plot and not the most original one — but it dragged. It was a really slow book and, in my opinion, with a premise like that one it had, it needed to be quicker, faster.
I want to say that this dragging feeling was partly due to the author trying to fit too many characters into 300 pages, but most of all it was caused by the fact that she tried to weave family issues into a story which was too short to really talk about such topics. I can appreciate the idea and the effort, but the execution was a bit lacking for my taste.
The second issue, and the main reason why my rating is so low, were the characters: I will never tire of saying how much I love characters and how important they are to me. Unfortunately, this means I tend to give lower ratings when I don’t vibe with the main character. I found Jude to be a little annoying, to be completely honest with you, and I generally didn’t care about her enough to care about what she was going through.
The secondary characters were way more interesting, but they weren’t flashed out enough for me. I have read somewhere this might turn into a series, so maybe this is why the author chose not to develop them at their fullest. On the other hand, I want to say that it was a risky choice, because as it stands, I don’t know if I will continue the series, and it is partly due to this very fact. (Let’s be honest, I’ll probably read an hypotetical book two just because I love Alessia Trunfio — true Italian pride here — but you get what I’m saying).
Overall, I do think that many people can enjoy this story, especially those who value plot over characters, and are not scared of a slow book, but I still believe this should have been edited differently, because the premise made it sound much more interesting than it actually was, and it’s a bummer, especially since I know Ravena Guron can write.
So, do I recommend this book? Yes and no, it truly depends on what kind of reader you are and how many books in this genre/age range you’ve read before. Also, it really depends on what you are expecting: if you do not expect high action, you might actually love this one.
July 25, 2023
It was the cover of this book that lured me in, but unfortunately, once inside, the story itself didn't really appeal to me.
It took a very long time before I started liking the main characters. Jude just isn't very nice or so, she didn't have anything that made me root for her. The same goes for Fin and Eri. And Jude's relatives are nearly all annoying at best, and mostly I simply wanted to end them. The only exception to the rule is Moorley, who seemed more interesting to me.
Unfortunately, it ook over half the story before she became of importance. That was around the same time when Jude, Fin and Eri were starting to grow on me - relatively speaking. Especially Moorley and Jude working together was fun, from then on. But by then I had more or less started reading diagonally across scenes that didn't interest me very much.
That was because it took a while before the story actually became interesting as well. Yes, there are things happening from the very start, but it's not very exciting, and Guron just didn't seem to succeed in writing a truly gripping story.
That does change about halfway through, when I started paying attention again and reading more slowly. The second half is the part where it becomes clear what's happening, where the plot twists appear and where the stakes are raised. But by then, it was, unfortunately, too late to turn The Thief of Farrowfell into a four-star book.
6.2/10
It took a very long time before I started liking the main characters. Jude just isn't very nice or so, she didn't have anything that made me root for her. The same goes for Fin and Eri. And Jude's relatives are nearly all annoying at best, and mostly I simply wanted to end them. The only exception to the rule is Moorley, who seemed more interesting to me.
Unfortunately, it ook over half the story before she became of importance. That was around the same time when Jude, Fin and Eri were starting to grow on me - relatively speaking. Especially Moorley and Jude working together was fun, from then on. But by then I had more or less started reading diagonally across scenes that didn't interest me very much.
That was because it took a while before the story actually became interesting as well. Yes, there are things happening from the very start, but it's not very exciting, and Guron just didn't seem to succeed in writing a truly gripping story.
That does change about halfway through, when I started paying attention again and reading more slowly. The second half is the part where it becomes clear what's happening, where the plot twists appear and where the stakes are raised. But by then, it was, unfortunately, too late to turn The Thief of Farrowfell into a four-star book.
6.2/10
May 22, 2025
A very big wow! I think this book has been cursed with magic glue to attach the reader, to every page, with such a force, it’s impossible for the reader to put this magical book down. The imagination from author Ravena Guron, is utterly spellbinding unbelievable. I just don’t know how Ravena came up with the idea to steal magic, but it’s a brilliant idea, that kept me reading from the very first word until the very last page. Young Jude Ripon, goes on her own adventure to do a solo heist, with a magical yo yo. She breaks into a mansion, to steal some rare magic from a family in Farrowfell. Jude knows she must steal the magic so her family can sell it. To be able to get inside the mansion, Jude will have to swallow something special to get around the mansion by being invisible, so she isn’t seen. All Jude wants to do is make her family proud of her that she has just done and stolen magic, in a heist all by herself. Now Jude might have a problem after stealing this rare magic it could be cursed, for her and all of the Ripon family. If this magic is cursed only Jude can break the curse. I highly recommend reading this book. This book maybe set for 9 to 12 year olds, to read, but adults can reads this magical book too.
May 6, 2025
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron is a fun and engaging middle-grade fantasy set in a world where magic is a commodity and thievery is a family trade. For me its at least a 4 star maybe a 4.5 star read.
Jude is the youngest in a family of magic-stealing masterminds and is desperate to prove her worth. Tired of being relegated to lookout duty, she orchestrates a daring heist to steal rare magic from the powerful Weston family. Guron’s world-building shines as she paints Farrowfell as a gritty, magic-infused realm with a humorous edge. The concept of edible magic is fresh and fun.
The dynamic between Jude, Fin, and Eri was probably my favourite part of the book. I do like storylines based around budding friendships. If there is a flaw its that perhaps there could be a little more depth, especially regarding the magical system. Additionally, some secondary characters, like Jude’s family members feel a bit simplified.
But overall its a really great read and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
Jude is the youngest in a family of magic-stealing masterminds and is desperate to prove her worth. Tired of being relegated to lookout duty, she orchestrates a daring heist to steal rare magic from the powerful Weston family. Guron’s world-building shines as she paints Farrowfell as a gritty, magic-infused realm with a humorous edge. The concept of edible magic is fresh and fun.
The dynamic between Jude, Fin, and Eri was probably my favourite part of the book. I do like storylines based around budding friendships. If there is a flaw its that perhaps there could be a little more depth, especially regarding the magical system. Additionally, some secondary characters, like Jude’s family members feel a bit simplified.
But overall its a really great read and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
May 15, 2025
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with The Write Reads.
This middle grade fantasy novel is part of a series. The protagonist, Jude, is a magic thief. She often feels overlooked, simply because she is the youngest in her family.
I thought it was a really unique and interesting concept, to think of magic as something that could be stolen, and used in the way that the Ripon family uses it. I'm sure you'll understand what I mean, if you read the book. This book was full of magic, and that magic came to life on the pages, along with the story and its characters. The illustrations and general design of the book were also beautiful. I felt that as the story progressed, Jude grew in confidence, and I enjoyed the sisterly bond between Jude and Moorely. I would like to know what happens next for them.
I loved reading this book as an adult, and I know that my twelve-year-old self would have adored it as well.
Thank you to The Write Reads, Faber Books, and to the author and illustrator, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This middle grade fantasy novel is part of a series. The protagonist, Jude, is a magic thief. She often feels overlooked, simply because she is the youngest in her family.
I thought it was a really unique and interesting concept, to think of magic as something that could be stolen, and used in the way that the Ripon family uses it. I'm sure you'll understand what I mean, if you read the book. This book was full of magic, and that magic came to life on the pages, along with the story and its characters. The illustrations and general design of the book were also beautiful. I felt that as the story progressed, Jude grew in confidence, and I enjoyed the sisterly bond between Jude and Moorely. I would like to know what happens next for them.
I loved reading this book as an adult, and I know that my twelve-year-old self would have adored it as well.
Thank you to The Write Reads, Faber Books, and to the author and illustrator, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Read
June 3, 2023I will start by saying that i was provided with an ecopy of this book free of charge by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I the moment I read the blurb i was hooked. The idea of a world where magic was edible! How awesome is that! Also I wanted to get to know Jude. She seemed like someone fun.
As our story starts we find Jude sneaking out on her own hiest ready to prove that she is a True member of The Ripon family.
Everything is going amazingly! She got the magic she was seeking but then she gets told its cursed.
She shrugs it off til things start to go horribly wrong for her family. Hoping to get rid of her curse she joins the Weston children from whom she stole from in their quest to find their parents.
Its a brilliantly well told story that folks of all ages can get lost in. Loved exploring Farrowfell with Jude
August 10, 2023
I initially couldn’t get into this book but I’m so glad I persevered as it was very worth it. With edible magic, a family of thieves and family drama, this book has a lot to keep the reader wanting more.
Jude is a wonderful character full of fight and resilience in the face of quite a bit of adversity. The magic in the story itself is quite unique and unlike other magical based books. It is a well written book with enough suspense to keep the reader entertained.
This books may be more suited to upper key stage 2 due to some of the slightly more adult themes like the family dynamics but year 3/4 will enjoy it with an adult helping them to navigate the story.
Themes include magic, adventure, fantasy and family problems.
I’m intrigued what the next story brings with Jude and Moorley.
Jude is a wonderful character full of fight and resilience in the face of quite a bit of adversity. The magic in the story itself is quite unique and unlike other magical based books. It is a well written book with enough suspense to keep the reader entertained.
This books may be more suited to upper key stage 2 due to some of the slightly more adult themes like the family dynamics but year 3/4 will enjoy it with an adult helping them to navigate the story.
Themes include magic, adventure, fantasy and family problems.
I’m intrigued what the next story brings with Jude and Moorley.
May 11, 2025
Well I have to question why I haven't spotted and read The Thief of Farrowfell before now, but I am pleased that this has now been rectified thanks to TheWriteReads and the publishers Faber & Faber.
This story immerses the reader in a magical adventure and has a brilliantly written protagonist- Jude. All Jude wants to do is prove that she is an invaluable member of the Ripon family - a family of magic thieves led by Grandleader (Jude's grandfather). On making the decision to steal the most valuable magic there is, she unwittingly unleashes a terrible curse on her family. A curse that only she can break. The theme of selflessness verses selfishness is woven within this tale and leaves the reader with little doubt about which one counts.
This is the first in the series, with Book 3 The Battle of Farrowfell published on the 8th May. In all this is a wonderfully magical read.
This story immerses the reader in a magical adventure and has a brilliantly written protagonist- Jude. All Jude wants to do is prove that she is an invaluable member of the Ripon family - a family of magic thieves led by Grandleader (Jude's grandfather). On making the decision to steal the most valuable magic there is, she unwittingly unleashes a terrible curse on her family. A curse that only she can break. The theme of selflessness verses selfishness is woven within this tale and leaves the reader with little doubt about which one counts.
This is the first in the series, with Book 3 The Battle of Farrowfell published on the 8th May. In all this is a wonderfully magical read.
June 15, 2025
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
This book was such a fun surprise. Jude Ripon comes from a family of professional magic thieves, but as the youngest, she's stuck on lookout duty. Tired of being underestimated, she sets out to prove herself—with a heist, of course. What could go wrong? (Answer: a lot, especially when the magic turns out to be cursed.)
I loved the clever worldbuilding—edible magic is such a cool twist—and Jude is just the right mix of scrappy and determined. It’s fast, funny, and full of heart. A great pick for middle grade readers who love magical troublemakers.
Learn more on my website!
Thank you to #NetGalley and #TheWriteReads for the digital copy. This review represents my honest opinion.
This book was such a fun surprise. Jude Ripon comes from a family of professional magic thieves, but as the youngest, she's stuck on lookout duty. Tired of being underestimated, she sets out to prove herself—with a heist, of course. What could go wrong? (Answer: a lot, especially when the magic turns out to be cursed.)
I loved the clever worldbuilding—edible magic is such a cool twist—and Jude is just the right mix of scrappy and determined. It’s fast, funny, and full of heart. A great pick for middle grade readers who love magical troublemakers.
Learn more on my website!
Thank you to #NetGalley and #TheWriteReads for the digital copy. This review represents my honest opinion.
December 31, 2025
Even though this is targeting 9-12 year olds, it does not mean that I can not enjoy it. Because I did enjoy this book. 😁
There is a map, which I love.
We meet Jude, who is a part of the Ripon family. Well, in theory, anyways, she is the youngest and always has to be watch out while the rest of the family steals magic.
Even big sister Moorley seems to underestimate her.
Jude has had it! She goes out on her own with her magic yo-yo to steal something the family will be proud of and finally include her.
And she succeeded! Only to find out that the magic is protected by a curse!😱
Can she find a way out of this mess?
I enjoyed the worldbuilding with magic. The characters are well described, so I think it will be liked by children in the age that this is written for.
It is also a little "scary", juuuust the right amount, I think. 😊
There is a map, which I love.
We meet Jude, who is a part of the Ripon family. Well, in theory, anyways, she is the youngest and always has to be watch out while the rest of the family steals magic.
Even big sister Moorley seems to underestimate her.
Jude has had it! She goes out on her own with her magic yo-yo to steal something the family will be proud of and finally include her.
And she succeeded! Only to find out that the magic is protected by a curse!😱
Can she find a way out of this mess?
I enjoyed the worldbuilding with magic. The characters are well described, so I think it will be liked by children in the age that this is written for.
It is also a little "scary", juuuust the right amount, I think. 😊
May 18, 2023
A middle grade filled with magic, about a girl trying to find her place in the family dynamic and making new friends.
Jude comes from a family of thieves, they steal magic and do dodgy deals around Farrowfell, she so badly wants to be part of the family occupation that she goes off to steal some forbidden magic to prove her worth. The problem is the magic is cursed and now she has to get it back to the place she stole it in time before the curse causes loads of issues.
After a bit of a slow start, this was a really enjoyable read, I liked the issues brought up throughout and the friendships Jude made along the way. I liked how she teamed up with her sister and strengthened their bond. It's also set up nicely for a follow up.
Jude comes from a family of thieves, they steal magic and do dodgy deals around Farrowfell, she so badly wants to be part of the family occupation that she goes off to steal some forbidden magic to prove her worth. The problem is the magic is cursed and now she has to get it back to the place she stole it in time before the curse causes loads of issues.
After a bit of a slow start, this was a really enjoyable read, I liked the issues brought up throughout and the friendships Jude made along the way. I liked how she teamed up with her sister and strengthened their bond. It's also set up nicely for a follow up.
July 20, 2023
A very good magical middle grade.
It had a pleasantly unpredictable plot! It really managed to fool my adult self into a false sense of security 😂 so I'm sure children will be pleasantly surprised.
The chapter title illustrations were a nice touch.
So in all seriousness this is a story about edible magic, and there's a villain, and a mission to save missing parents. BUT. It's also a very insightful story about when people you love might be the problem. And how to deal with people who are close to you being toxic. It's also about choosing who gets to be your safe place (maybe it's friends over family!) and learning to do things in a different way than you have before.
I think it handled that discreet message very well and I appreciate the book for that in particular.
It had a pleasantly unpredictable plot! It really managed to fool my adult self into a false sense of security 😂 so I'm sure children will be pleasantly surprised.
The chapter title illustrations were a nice touch.
So in all seriousness this is a story about edible magic, and there's a villain, and a mission to save missing parents. BUT. It's also a very insightful story about when people you love might be the problem. And how to deal with people who are close to you being toxic. It's also about choosing who gets to be your safe place (maybe it's friends over family!) and learning to do things in a different way than you have before.
I think it handled that discreet message very well and I appreciate the book for that in particular.
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