Olia and her family live on the edge of the village in Castle Mila that has been in their family for 500 years. Its sprawling hallways and many towers are a huge source of enjoyment for Olia who spends much of her time exploring the hidden parts of her home, intent on discovering every last secret and hidden room, and dreams of being able to show her baby sister the castle as she grows up. However, one day, a storm erupts over the castle which damages one of the towers and Olia's investigating reveals that there is much more to this tower and indeed the entire castle than she had ever realised, and it's up to her to save her family and their home.
K's opinion:
From the very beginning, the images created within this book are enticing and vivid, enhanced by the rich and beautiful language and description that Sophie weaves through every page - the castle sounds enchanting and I was desperate to climb into the book and explore with Olia. There's a sense of anticipation that tantalises and builds as the story progresses and you are lead willingly along with Olia and her friends (I'm not going to say too much as I don't want to spoil anything but it's safe to say that the setting is truly an immersive experience).
Olia is a character that people will undoubtedly fall in love with and is a true heroine. Full of life and enthusiasm, determined to do the right thing yet not without her doubts and fears, it is the love for her family that drives her on. She is definitely somebody that readers will want to emulate. And it would be remiss of me not to mention some of the other characters, namely Babusya, Olia's grandma, who emits a sense of calm and whose belief in magic is instrumental in the story, and also Feliks who is the truest of friends.
Sophie has a way of writing timeless stories that incorporate traditional values in a way that is both appealing and relevant to the world today and The Castle of Tangled Magic is no exception: there's very much a fairytale feel to the plot yet woven into it are messages about it being ok to make mistakes and that it's important to believe in yourself; she also touches upon the fact that we shouldn't forget what our ancestors did but should learn from that - hugely poignant at the minute. Family and a sense of belonging have been strong themes in Sophie's first two books and they resonate again strongly here in The Castle of Tangled Magic: it's clear that this is something that is strong in Sophie's life and the love and attention that is paid to the writing throughout this book shows how much this means to her.
Magic is woven into this book from the very beginning and it's the magic that draws you in. The Castle of Tangled Magic is undoubtedly Sophie's best book yet. It's a delicious journey through magical lands that will leave you with a warm glow in your heart (and, in my case, a tear in my eye!)
O's opinion:
When I was told we had access to a proof copy of The Castle of Tangled Magic, I stopped everything to read it, and I was not disappointed when I opened it! Olia is a brave character who just wants to save her home and family, and I loved how courageous she was, especially when she left her Babusya to enter the other world. Feliks is an amazing character, helping Olia along the journey, however, my favourite character has to be Babusya: she is full of wisdom and stories, and I adored her. I always like Sophie's books, and this one is her best yet. This is a must read, and I loved it.
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