Witchspark

We are in an alternative Victorian Britain where magic has been outlawed unless controlled by the Government.  Eglantine hoped she would be found to have the witchspark that will allow her to train in an elite magical establishment and to bond with her home – the sentient house known as Huswyvern. Her test failed. What can she do without magic?  Her case is desperate as her uncle is determined to take Huswyvern from her. Victoria, heir apparent to the throne has a different problem. She does seem to have the witchspark – but as the future queen she cannot possess magical abilities. She is desperate to bind her magic. But how? The only answer for them both is to enrol in Miss Hegetty’s Witch Course – a course that has been banned. Can they? Will they succeed?

Dominque Valente has created a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging magical adventure with such conviction the reader is immediately drawn in to follow Eglantine and Victoria as they attempt to change what they fear will be their futures. There is adventure, jeopardy, humour a final twist and some memorable characters, not least a sentient house. The writing is assured, direct, rich, mixing just enough background with drama, dialogue with scene-setting. This would be a very satisfying read for confident, and adventurous KS2 readers looking to engage their imaginations. Here they will meet characters who step off the page – Eglantine and Victoria, recognisable but each very different, resourceful Eoin, Fussy Arthur – well he is a wyvern, the villainous Whistlwitch and Eglantine’s Uncle Theo. And, of course, Huswyvern!  Eleonora Asparuhova’s illustrations, a mixture of page decoration, vignettes and the occasional full page spread, capture the lively nature of the text and the cast. There is no need for colour. Her lines and use of black and white tones have all the expression that is needed to make an effective accompaniment to the storytelling. Young readers will leave the pages eager to hear more from Eglantine, Victoria and their world.