City of Stolen Magic

Product Information

Yara’s life is thrown into disarray when, following the death of her mother, she learns that they’re from Zehaira, a kingdom of sorcerers, alchemists and magic. In this compelling fantasy adventure, Yara bravely embarks on a dangerous quest to save her magical homeland. As an English reader I thought Nazneen Ahmed Pathak did a brilliant job of exploring some uncomfortable truths. The book touches on the devastation caused by the British colonialism in India, and certainly doesn't shy away from showing the damage it caused, without being too upsetting for younger readers to read about. However, I found it challenging to connect with the main character, Chompa. The story is narrated from the perspectives of both Chompa and Tipu, and Tipu's story is more engaging. There's also a twist that was quite predictable. City of Stolen Magic is a fantastic middle-grade fantasy adventure. With a well-imagined magical system, enchanting worldbuilding and compelling characters, I was swept up in Chompa's story. Her journey, from a small village in India to the seat of the Victorian empire in London allows for an interesting exploration of British colonialism for a young audience, with a fantasy twist. City of Stolen Magic is phenomenal - vivid storytelling that skilfully and unflinchingly weaves colonial history into an epic, breathtaking, magical adventure Sophie Anderson

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads

The author’s writing style is vivid, emphatic, and full of cultural significance. It creates the perfect atmosphere of adventure and magic, drawing you further into the story and its many layers. Sir Clive Devaynes (names derived from real people from the East India Company) of the “East Merchant Company” is collecting them for a nefarious purpose. A young girl with magical abilities that she has yet to fully discover and master, embarks on a journey to find her mother. Chompa is a determined young girl with a magic running through her veins and fairness in her heart. But nefarious forces are conspiring against not only our headstrong hero but all the magical children they can corral, and time is running out for their survival.City of Stolen Magic is aimed at readers as young as nine, on whom this analogy might be lost. But as the novel goes on, the more ambitious themes successfully melt into a highly imaginative plot. An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling' - Nizrana Farook author, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant Children’s fantasy may be one of publishing’s fastest-growing genres, but stories from South Asia have remained in short supply. Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, a British-Bangladeshi writer chosen for Penguin’s mentoring scheme for under-represented writers, wants to redress that balance. As she has explained, she started writing her debut novel, City of Stolen Magic, 10 years ago after the birth of her son, because “there were no stories out there that represented his Indian and Bangladeshi heritage, the relationship between colonialism and migration, or South Asian traditions of magic.” Vivid and fast-paced with a courageous young heroine, City of Stolen Magic is a spellbinding debut and I couldn't put it down. This story was a lovely and impactful read, the plot itself being very fast paced with twists and turns along the way..

City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK

I also have a soft spot for Tipu, who proved he could stand up for himself and was an amazing and kind-hearted friend. The book has a captivating premise, with a well-crafted magic system and a rich setting. Among the many characters, my personal favorites were Tipu and Laurie. Their duo was the best thing in the book. The concepts of djinn-borns and djinn speakers, finger magic, and written charms were fascinating. The author beautifully portrayed the friendships between the characters and the mother-daughter relationship. It effectively reflects the cruelty and exploitation of colonialism through the lens of magic. This looks to be the first in a series. I was swept away with how much historical research this matched up with amongst the djinn lore & mythology. Now, it’s up to Chompa to find and save her mother from the British, who are trying to stamp out Indian magic.

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Chompa was a wonderful female heroine. She was brave and smart but also very caring and put the needs of others before her own. A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets and colonial history . . . An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don't see often enough' - Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author, Dadaji's Paintbrush India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out. More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumor is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company.

City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust

That night the 'pale ones' come to their home and take Ammi against her will, before then she hides Chompa and makes her PROMISE that she will stay hidden no matter what. This story has a super premise, a fantastic magic system, great characters, nice plot twists, and a wonderful setting. I loved that the story is set in India during British rule, and to be honest, I wished the entire story was set there (although I also enjoyed reading about the many migrant communities in London). Chompa is a brilliant lead and one I think a lot of readers will resonate with. She doesn't understand her mother's rules at the start which I think is something that children everywhere will identify with! She grows to be a strong character though, and one who will do everything she can to protect and help her friends and family. I enjoyed seeing her friendships with Tipu, Laurie and Leeza blossom. Plot wise I thought the story was fantastic. There is enough danger here for it to feel like a real adventure, but without being too graphic or scary for younger readers. The magic systems are really well described, and I particularly enjoyed that we get to see several different types of magic and how they worked. There is a lot of detail in the world building, and it really helped to bring the story to life. Note: Since this is a children’s book, I think it is important to let readers know that the story includes a death scene.Even though we’re supposed to root against the antagonist from the start simply because he’s British, it takes quite a long time before he actually starts to feel like a proper antagonist. When the story shifts to Tipu’s point of view, the transition feels a bit awkward. And it also feels like the story incorporated one or two ideas too many. Less is more in this case. With more focus on fewer ideas, those core ideas would have stood out more.