Scan barcode
A review by kittyg
First Spell by Lucía Ashta
2.0
*This is one of the #SPFBO titles I had to read for 2018*
I am afraid that although there were quite a few good ideas in this book, and I love the idea of a magical school because of nostalgia with Harry Potter etc., I found that this read as quite a young story aimed at young readers. This felt like it was quite simplistic at times, and many of the 'reveals' were quite clear to me from the start of the book which meant the story didn't really keep my interest as I wanted it to.
This is quite a short story which follow a first person point of view from our main character, Isadora. Isa and her brother Nando are bought by some strangers in the star of their book after their Uncle sells them off. They don't know anything about the people who have bought them, and they are quickly in some danger when it appears a rival faction are chasing them.
What I liked about this was that it moved quite quickly and I managed to read it fast and enjoy the story, although it was a simple one.
Unfortunately, this is such a short book that it lacks a lot of development and it's also only the very tip of the story because even by the end of the book we only have mysteries opened up and nothing is resolved. I imagine as a series this would be an easy one for young teens to read, and a good story to hook them in and get them enjoying magical stories, but as an adult or someone who has read a lot of fantasy this one just doesn't stand out enough from the crowd. 2*s from me which is 4/10 overall, but with a lot more development and a longer story with more twists this could have been good fun.
I am afraid that although there were quite a few good ideas in this book, and I love the idea of a magical school because of nostalgia with Harry Potter etc., I found that this read as quite a young story aimed at young readers. This felt like it was quite simplistic at times, and many of the 'reveals' were quite clear to me from the start of the book which meant the story didn't really keep my interest as I wanted it to.
This is quite a short story which follow a first person point of view from our main character, Isadora. Isa and her brother Nando are bought by some strangers in the star of their book after their Uncle sells them off. They don't know anything about the people who have bought them, and they are quickly in some danger when it appears a rival faction are chasing them.
What I liked about this was that it moved quite quickly and I managed to read it fast and enjoy the story, although it was a simple one.
Unfortunately, this is such a short book that it lacks a lot of development and it's also only the very tip of the story because even by the end of the book we only have mysteries opened up and nothing is resolved. I imagine as a series this would be an easy one for young teens to read, and a good story to hook them in and get them enjoying magical stories, but as an adult or someone who has read a lot of fantasy this one just doesn't stand out enough from the crowd. 2*s from me which is 4/10 overall, but with a lot more development and a longer story with more twists this could have been good fun.