Jera's Jamboree

The Magic Warble is the first book in a series.

When I first started reading The Magic Warble it reminded me of Enid Blyton (especially stories like The Wishing Chair) so I knew I would enjoy this adventure!

It’s the last day of school before the Christmas holiday break and it’s snowing. Kristina aged twelve, adopted and a loner, is late for the school bus again. It’s obvious from the journey into school that she is taunted regularly. At the end of the school day, a teacher Kristina thinks of as a friend, gives her a gift. That night, because of the gift, she ends up falling down the laundry chute into the basement while chasing after it but when the laundry bag is opened, she is in an alternative world (Bernovem).

From this moment, the reader is transported into a magical world that is full of adventure. We have friends who are really foes, foes who are really friends, all sorts of magical creatures, a wrathful and vengeful queen … and a well-developed hero and heroine (or Prince and Princess!).

Three peers from her home (Davina, Hester and Hester’s cousin Graham) also end up in Bernovem. They had touched the container the gift was in which meant they also would be transported and have a part to play in the quest. These are children who regularly taunted Kristina. While she is meeting Prince Werrien in the tale and trying to take the Magic Warble to its final resting place, they make their way to the evil Queen Sentiz. This gives the reader plenty of action, following the subplots alongside the main one.

Although I was reminded of Enid Blyton, Victoria Simcox has a writing style of her own. The flow of words takes you along at a very good pace and the obstacles in the way happen often and lead to tension and resolution.

My two favourite ‘things’ are the Book of Prophecy and how it is written and the Rainbow Tree. Very creative … and the Rainbow Tree, I found very original.

As with all quests, you will find plenty of morals and messages of hope. For the older end of the Young Adult age range, The Magic Warble is rich with symbolism and for the younger, an exciting adventure with characters who will touch your heart.

I have my suspicions about Kristina and where she really does fit in with this ‘alternative’ world. This is not something we find out in the first book, but I’m hoping to find out in the second book, The Black Shard.

My review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the illustrations. On my Kindle copy they were stunning and I imagine they are even more beautiful in the paperback copy.

I would recommend The Magic Warble not only to the targeted audience, but also to the adult reader who loves myths and magic and spending time in an alternative universe.

I would like to thank the author for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.