Oh my heart! This is another absolute triumph of a story written by the wonder that is Sophie Anderson! The language is exquisite and immediately enveloped me in its magic and warmth, keeping me absolutely mesmerised as I immersed myself in Olia’s stunning adventure.

Olia lives in Castle Mila with her parents, baby sister and Babusya. Her Babusya has warned her that a huge storm is approaching the Castle, which may well destroy it. Battling through her fears, Olia finds herself travelling through one of the Castle’s Domes into a world of tangled magic, a world beyond the Castle where she must venture to save her family and her home from a magical storm. The Castle’s protector, a domovoi called Feliks accompanies her.

So begins the most incredible adventure into the Land of Forbidden Magic, an adventure that will require all of Olia’s courage, strength and self-belief to overcome the challenges and dangers she will face …

The world-building is simply stunning brought wondrously to life by beautiful imagery as Olia finds herself in a world which has been entangled in silver thread. Will she be able to find the source of the thread and free both worlds from enchantment, or will deception and trickery thwart her attempts?

I loved the story of Olia’s heritage and how the world beyond the Castle came into existence. The references to Slavic folklore permeate and enrich the story, and I especially loved Koshka (having read James Mayhew’s wonderful Koshka’s Tales, recommended by the author). I also loved the part that the nature-spirits played in the story and, of course, the wonderful domovoi, Feliks who offers her encouragement, friendship and hope.
This is a truly incredible action-packed book imbued with a real sense of urgency as Olia races to save both worlds, learning more about magic and her own abilities. She is a wonderful young girl who feels a heavy burden of responsibility to undo the wrongs of her ancestors. She feels anger and shame, but she is a strong and courageous young girl who defends the weak, even when it puts her in danger. She is resilient and determined, but she is also impetuous, makes mistakes and doubts herself. Will she be strong enough to believe in herself, and reunite with her family?

This is an intricate, magical and truly beautifully told story that transported me to a world I didn’t want to leave, a world inspired by Slavic folklore and daring adventure where family and friendship triumph, and where the goodness in others overcomes prejudice and fear. The ending brought the biggest smile of contentment I think I’ve ever experienced on finishing a book – sheer perfection!

Sophie Anderson is just one of those consistently great writers, always bringing something new to each of her stories and never failing to bring magic and wonder alive in her words.

In 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' we follow Olia, who lives with her parents, grandmother and new born sister in a old crumbling castle that has many mysteriously locked domes.
While preparing for the Harvest festival, a strange storm comes and destroys some of the castle.
Secrets are revealed through the destruction and Olia must go on a magical journey through the domes where magic has been banished to save her home.

We come across a wonderful band of characters in this world, Feliks the fox spirit who protects the castle, Koshka the cat who used to be a witch, and so many more that all help Olia in her task to save both their world and hers. Side characters never feel disposable in Anderson's works, they are always full of life, well fleshed out with agency of their own not just to the main character.

Olia herself is so wonderful as the main heroine of this story, so strong in her right, different from Marinka & Yanka but just as good in her own way.

The story is just amazing, Anderson always roots her magic in themes of love and family and it really shines through in this book. Quick paced with a great atmosphere, the plot never lags.

All in all, a fantastic story that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

Thank you to Usborne Childrens Books and Netgalley for an early eArc of the book!

Another amazing and magical journey from Sophie Anderson. Gorgeous Russian setting and fantastical characters make this an adventure to remember. With Olia learning the right thing to do over the easy thing she makes some truly magical friends and remembers to see the magic all around her. Stunning! Oh and watch out for the food references, the loving descriptions make for a mouthwatering read!

The latest adventure from Sophie Anderson is as wonderful as the first.

Olia has always loved her grandmother's tales of water spirits, domovoi and other creatures. She has always loved the old family castle that they live in. She has always wanted to explore the many domes that seem to shine with magic. But never has she dreamt that those 3 loves would lead her on an epic race against the clock to save the family that she loves. And how is she supposed to choose between the things that she loves?

I heard a lot about this book and I'm happy I got this ARC because it's an excellent fairy tales.
I loved this story, how the author deals with topics like believing in yourself and friendship. It' enjoyable and engrossing, the world building and character development are excellent.
The author is a good storyteller and the plot flows keeping you hooked.
I think this story will be loved by children and adults.
The illustrations are really nice and I liked them.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have heard so many good things about Sophie Anderson's books so I was so excited to receive an advanced copy through Net Galley!
The book follows Olia, a decedent of royalty but other than living in the castle, is not considered to be anything like her ancestors. as she tries to see the magic in the castle that her Granny encourages her is there and works to discover what is most important.
The descriptions throughout are wonderful and definitely allow you as the reader to feel the magic! The story-line is gripping and I didn't want to stop reading so I am sure children will be the same!

I was so excited to be approved to read this ARC having already enjoyed 'The House with Chicken Legs:' I was not disappointed - this is even better!!

Anderson's writing is truly wonderful and I cannot wait to share this title with the children in my school. It would work fabulously as a whole class reader, it can be used in so many ways for English lessons or simply enjoyed as a reading book by an individual child.

The story is easy to follow - Olia has to go on a quest across magical lands to save her family home which is a beautiful, breath-taking wooden castle with numerous domes which shimmer 'like quicksilver'. It is clear from the start that Olia loves her home and family in equal measures: fiercely and passionately. The castle has hidden staircases and doors which she longs to find and explore; who wouldn't? Olia is encouraged by Babusya (grandmother) to believe and trust in magic, which is where the story takes off. A terrible storm threatens the existence of her home and Olia must learn to believe in more than just magic to restore order in the land which exists in 'Aurora Dome' as she is guided on her adventure with Feliks the house 'spirit' (domovoi).

This magic world is strange and unfamiliar and yet as Olia's adventures unfold, many of the decisions she makes have enduring messages. Olia has to learn to trust her instincts, be brave, develop new friendships and work together. This books explores concepts of loyalty and balancing the needs of one to those of the masses. Olia is presented with many challenges which allow her to develop and recognise the value of what really matters in life.

Do not miss reading this book! It is perfect in every way.

✨“We talk to the cat. She will know what to do.”✨
— Sophie Anderson, The Castle of Tangled Magic

Olia and her family live in their crumbling yet magical castle in a land where their royal status has lost its weight. But when she follows a mysterious cat, Olia finds herself thrust into a magical land where things are not what they seem.

Can Olia save the land from ruin? And will she be able to protect her home?

A wonderful middle grade read with amazing world building! Sophie Anderson is definitely an author to watch and I will be needing to add The House with Chicken Legs to my tbr!🥰

Olia is a great and inspiring young character who has a great love for her family and her home. She also has a great set of morals and makes wonderful, magical friends!

A joy to read. Thanks so much Netgallery and Usborne Publishing for sending me this advanced readers copy!

I had fallen deeply in love with Sophie Anderson's writing after The House With Chicken Legs and 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear' and I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the much anticipated 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' in advance of publication.

Sophie Anderson has triumphed again with another Slavic fairy tale that will capture both your imagination and your heart. Richly influenced by Russian folklore and I was once again delighted to discover spirits and mythical creatures. The books is brimming with magic, adventure and friendship, loyalty and love. Although a stand-alone novel, I enjoyed the little cameos and nods to the other stories. The wonderful references to food that I have come to enjoy in her work featured again too and the beautiful illustrations we have become accustomed to by Saara Sodurlund make the book even more captivating by adding that extra magic and sparkle. I feel The Castle of Tangled Magic is accessible to slightly younger readers than Sophie's previous two novels, perhaps from Year 4 onwards.

Once again we meet a strong female protagonist, 13 yer old Olia (short for Magnolia) who must embark on a quest to save Castle Mila, her ancestral home. The castle has been passed down through the generations and is tangled in magic and secrets. When a terrible storm hits and threatens to destroy the Castle and the lives of everyone in it, Olia must travel to The Land of Forbidden Magic in order to save her home and family.

Olia is joined on her adventure by a cast of magical characters, who help her to find true courage within herself. My favourites were the loyal Feliks, the castle's domovoi (house spirit) who takes on the form of a fox and Babusya, Olia's wise old grandmother, who teaches Olia to look at things from all angles and trust her judgement. Belief is a central theme to the story and Olia must learn to 'See with her heart and believe in herself.' I adore the idea that 'belief is one of the few things more powerful than magic.'

This is an enchanting and exciting tale with exciting twists and turns, perfect for cuddling up with as weather changes and the nights draw in this Autumn.

With thanks to Usborne and NetGalley for allowing me to access a digital copy of the book to review in advance of publication.

"Magic is everywhere you believe it to be."

Free ARC from NetGalley, thanks a lot.

Our main character Olia lives with her parents in an old castle, filled with secret doorways and secret rooms. One day she follows a mysterious cat to one of the castle's roof domes and finds herself stepping through one such doorway into a magical land filled with wonders...
But of course everything is not quite as it seems: the land is under threat from a scheming magician and the magic is fading away.

Can Olia find a way to save both her own home, and the land of forbidden magic?

It's my second time reading a middle grade book written by Sophie Anderson and I was completely blown away by this gorgeous adventure. It was so easy to fall in love with all the characters and you were rooting for Olia to succeed in her quest.

For fans of Winternight trilogy or anyone who loves a little Russian folktale magic, I am sure my 11 year old will absolutely love this too.

Thank you Sophie for writing another gorgeous tale and I cannot wait to read more of your work

I was privileged to get an advance copy of this to read before its publication date in October. The cover immediately draws you in, and if you have read either of Sophie’s other novels, The Girl Who Speaks Bear, and The House with Chicken Legs, you will know to expect some fabulous illustrations… this new book does not disappoint. Before the story even begins, you are drawn in by the first page of illustrations, and within the first couple of pages I was hooked… That warm feeling on an autumnal night when you curl up with a blanket and a hot chocolate…. That feeling was invoked.
Olia lives in her ancestral home; but not in the way her royal ancestors did. These days her family lead a more simple life within the walls of the magnificent castle. Olia loves the stories her Babusya tells her, and dreams of exploring the castle and bringing them to life with her baby sister. On the eve of the 500th birthday of the castle a huge storm wreaks serious damage to the castle, and throws its continued existence into jeopardy. Olia has to turn to the magic she had only heard about in Babusya’s stories to save the castle. Keep your eyes open for one or two cameos from Sophie’s other stories; they add a really nice touch to the story, and give you a nostalgic feeling that make you want to reread the other books.
This is a story of family and friendship, and of working out what is important. Olia is a strong but caring character and the supporting characters around her bring out the best in her. Belief plays a staring role in the book, Olia needs to believe in herself to be able to help her family and friends, and to save the castle. She needs to learn to listen to her heart, and believe in the magic that surrounds her. There are some truly inspiring lines within the story; my favourite has to be “see with your heart and believe in yourself”

Olia has always lived in Castle Mila, a gorgeous castle rich in ancestral history that has been passed down through the generations. The castle holds secrets upon secrets, and Olia is determined to uncover every secret room and passageway. When a storm rocks the castle, it's up to Olia to find out why a world bigger than her own is in danger, and when she steps into a magical new world, it's up to her to save everyone.

One of my most anticipated novels of 2020 did not disappoint as I devoured this masterpiece in one day. A huge thank you to Usborne and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Considering Anderson is one of my favourite writers, it's easy to conclude that, honestly, this is her best work yet.

Olia is a worthy heroine to join the ranks of the heroines in Anderson's other works, proving that characters are a true highlight in the worlds that Anderson creates. They are strong and relatable, and from the very beginning of 'The Castle of Tangled Magic', you feel as though Olia is a real person. Her love for her family and curiosity towards adventure is enough to propel her as a 400-page leading lady without us ever feeling disconnected from her. She learns so much on her journey about herself that informs her decisions so that she is constantly entertaining to read. And nobody writes side characters better than Anderson (shout-out to Mousetrap from 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'), with Feliks and even Koshka being standout favourites of mine, but there are still so many I could list and rave about.

The plot is constantly in motion as there is a heavy narrative of pending doom, and Olia must face certain challenges that will push her to her limits. Because the stakes are constantly high and we have no idea how things will play out (and believe me, I thought things were going to go a certain way, but I was pleasantly surprised on more than one occasion), the excitement factor will keep you reading to the very end. You'll have this read in a day with no regrets because you will not want to turn your back on Olia for even a minute!

'The Castle of Tangled Magic' is gorgeously written, and you can tell that so much love and attention was given to this novel, just as much as 'The House With Chicken Legs' and 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'. The detail is rich and the descriptions are lush, and this world that Anderson has created gets bigger with every piece of dialogue and description, and no doubt you will feel the same. When I finished, I couldn't stop smiling while wiping tears from my eyes, and that's all thanks to the evocative writing and attachment I felt for these characters.

And the illustrations by Saara Soderlund? STUNNING! My word, they add to the beauty of the prose and embodies the world so well. There's a fairytale quality to them which is perfect for the Russian folktale inspired settings of Anderson's novel. It's truly a case of a book having it all.

All in all, I loved 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' so much. It is a novel filled with beautiful lessons for all ages, and you do learn that sometimes believing is one of the few things more powerful than magic, so in that case, I think that you will also love this incredible middle-grade masterpiece.

Sophie Anderson, author of The Girl Who Speaks Bear, has another enchanting tale – The Castle of Tangled Magic. It enchants with its richly depicted castle and magical land that provides excellent escapism.

Thanks to Usborne and Sophie Anderson for allowing me to write a review and for providing an e-copy of the book.

Full Review
Castle Mila, built from wood around 500 years ago near the shore of a lake, sounds like so many children’s dream of a castle with it’s majestic stature and hidden passageways and secrets. The writing is amazingly imaginative, in the way Sophie Anderson has captured the castle and takes readers on a tour around it, up each of the stairs to the different rooms and domes, along with Olia. There is so much to feast the eyes upon and to delight and bring a touch of magic to children’s imaginations. It’s all rather splendid. She is also wanting to find some magic, so seeks out an older member of the family – Babusya, who informs about the mysterious Sun Dome that could have magic, but is locked. The mysteriousness that builds is fascinating and enchanting.

There’s great charm and excitement that captures the heart. The ideas of olde of leaving salt as offerings for spirits, such as domovoi (a spirit, in this case a fox who protects) and of the changes of the wind are explored through Babusya. As other family members appear, there is a lovely family cosyiness element, which is heartwarming, as is the talk of ancestry.

There’s a storm, which seems to make looking for a key even more pressing, a gripping, treacherous adventure ensues and there is a lot at stake – the family and the castle to protect from the ferociousness of the weather.

The story continues onwards with Feliks, the domovoi, into a mystical, rather surreal land – The Land of Forbidden Magic, where there the descriptions add to the surrealism as Koshka, a gorgeous cat, is met and a conversation ensues about the witch Nania and Chenomor’s magic. Another unexpected quest occurs as the land and spirits need to be saved. With lots of danger and many different encounters and riddles to solve, it pulls readers further in deeper as the quest becomes increasingly treacherous and on top of that Castle Mila itself needs saving.
Sophie Anderson creates so much for readers to grasp onto and root for in this pacy adventure, that also has an almighty twist.

Throughout, there are lovely illustrations, depicting the story well. At the end there is also “Olia’s Glossary”, which children will benefit well from, to enhance their understanding of the story as there are some words, that may be unfamiliar.

This is a lovely fairytale from Sophie Anderson. A story filled with magic, adventure and surprise.
Olia lives in a castle with her family and has always had that feeling there is something special, maybe something magical about her ancestral home. She discovers more than she bargains for, and embarks on a journey that will change her life forever.
I’d definitely recommend this story to children and adults alike. It is a delightful return to what I remember childhood fairytales being about, with a twist of magic, a drop of adventure and this one has folklore added in too! Coincidentally, we are reading Sophie’s The House with Chicken Legs at school, and there is a lovely link to the story within this one.

I kinda feel bad for saying this, but I didn’t like «The Castle of Tangled Magic»… I was going into it 100% sure that it will be an amazing book, that I will fall in love with the characters, especially after hearing so many incredible things about it.

Besides, it has all the elements I LOVE in books: (1) fantasy middle grade, (2) adventures, (3) friendship, (4) inspired by Russian folklore that is so dear to me. Even with all of these, I still didn’t fall in love with Olia, the main character. To be completely honest, I was bored for the most part of the story…

I still think that this book has great potential and see why other people enjoyed it, so don’t let my review get in your way of picking up «The Castle of Tangled Magic». In fact, I feel very apprehensive about giving feedback on it, since I was so sure that after reading this one book by Sophie Anderson I’d immediately become her biggest fan. I even own her other two books that I was dying to read! [«The House With Chicken Legs» and «The Girl Who Speaks Bear»]

So to actually give some constructive feedback, other than “I didn’t like it” and “I was bored”, let’s actually talk about the things that didn’t work for me (but might work perfectly for you!).

1 – After reading almost 600 books (according to my Goodreads), I can say that I’ve read many different writing styles and don’t consider myself a picky reader. I’m open to anything and everything, as long as it’s not overly confusing and gets the message through. I still can’t put my finger on why I didn’t like Sophie Anderson’s writing style. It fits perfectly the age group. It’s not overly descriptive, and actually quite simple and straightforward, which is exactly what you want in children’s and middle-grade books.

However, after reading quite a few of middle-grade this year, I think that Sophie Anderson’s writing was a little bit too simple. Almost bare, and it made it difficult for me to properly connect to the story.

2 – As a result of the simpler writing style, the execution of the plot was also very straightforward. There was an attempt of intrigue, but it didn’t quite work and every single character got their redemptions way too quickly, in my opinion. Everything, from action to emotion, was explained almost immediately. I know that this book was written with a younger audience in mind, but I think Sophie Anderson didn’t give her readers enough credit that they have the possibility to figure things out on their own, and a couple of hints would have been more than enough.

These were definitely two of my main concerns. I don’t know if the above contributed to my detachment to the story or not, but I just didn’t have any emotional connection to Olia, who was a very kind and likable protagonist. I was supposed to love her, to care about her, but… I didn’t. 🤷‍♀️

The ending did bring a little bit more emotions and the relationships Olia built throughout the story seemed genuine and tender, but they just weren’t enough to make up for the rest of the book.

Thank you Usborne for the advance read of this via Netgalley.

Sophie Anderson is a wonderful writer. A creator of fairy tale adventures, I often wonder whether this woman is magic herself.

The Castle of Tangled Magic features Olia, who has grown up in the family castle which has stood for 500 years. When a storm threatens to destroy it, Olia goes on a magical journey, discovering a land under threat, where magic is fading away. Befriending a new batch of friends along the way, Olia needs to find a way to return home and to free her new found friends from certain destruction.

This is so beautifully written, with plenty of delicious mentions of food too, as I have come to expect in Sophie's books! I don't want to give away the ending, but fans of Sophie's works will be delighted by the ending to the book, which quite literally made me squeal with delight.

Thank you Sophie, your best work yet!

The Castle of Tangled Magic is a really beautiful story that is bursting with adventure, magic, friendship and love. It follows Olia, who lives in a 500 year old castle with secret domes and passageways, as she embarks on a quest into a magical land to find a way to stop a storm threatening to destroy her home.

The story felt like a fairy tale and was filled with heaps of weird and wonderful magical creatures- my favourite was Feliks, the castle's domovoi (house spirit) shaped like a fox- I'd love him to be the domovoi for my house!

Aside from being a beautifully written fairy tale, the story also has strong themes of love, friendship, bravery and 'doing the right thing'. I will definitely be recommending this to borrowers at the library I work at!

What an amazing read! I love how Sophie brings in threads from previous books but this book is standalone. Enjoyed it from start to finish. Children will really enjoy the visits that they make on this journey.

I probably preferred the House With Chicken Legs but this is still a really good story with plenty of magic, adventure and heroism to make a really good story.

I liked that she thought of the magical creatures and not just her own selfish needs in the end and went out of her way to save them. The story just seemed a little more staggered compared with her other stories but it was still enjoyable to read.

This follows Olia, a 13 year old girl as she journeys through a magical land to help save her home – Castle Mila. The story is full of Slavic spirits and folklore.
I loved Sophie Anderson’s previous books – The House with Chicken Legs and The Girl Who Speaks Bear – so I had very high hopes for this one. I was not disappointed. The story (like those previously) has a strong female main character –Olia. She is determined to believe what her grandma – Babusya - has always told her about magic, and travels to The Land of Forbidden Magic in order to save the place, which has always been her ancestral home.
Strong themes run through the book – bravery, everyone makes mistakes but not everyone learns from them, feelings of guilt. Themes that most people will encounter throughout their lives. As the story progresses, Olia meets many unusual characters on her travels, including Chernmor the magician.
As usual from Sophie Andeson, she provides vivid images and excellent descriptive writing. She raises the bar once again!