Cover Image: A Sprinkle of Sorcery

A Sprinkle of Sorcery

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Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

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This is book two in a series, but they don't necessarily need to be read in order. The three sisters accidentally find themselves on another adventure due to Charlie's constant collection of roaming creatures. This time it is another small child, Willow, who escaped from an island where it seems they keep the families of criminals that may or may not have been involved with the crime. Willow and her mother escaped, but got separated. The girls want to help, but the Wardens show up and while the girls hide Willow, Charlie is taken instead. Betty and Fliss take Willow and plan a rescue, which involves pirates and witches and just great sister relationships. Charlie is my favorite of the sisters, so it was a little sad that she was out of the book for a lot of it, but it's a great adventure and has a happy ending. Great for middle readers who like adventure and fantasy with healthy family bonds.

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Although it took me a while to adjust to the middle-grade-ness of this book because I was also reading a big adult sci-fi at the same time, I really came to enjoy the childishness of A Sprinkle of Sorcery. I do love me a fast-paced plot, and the convolutions of this book's plot definitely kept me on my toes.

However, I would've liked to see a better resolution for Wisp. [*spoiler alert*] We're told of how she comes back to herself and is reunited with her mom, but we don't get to see her happy. Could it at least have been in a letter from Wisp to Betty at the very end?[*end spoiler alert*]

Still, a delightful read, with cute characters, all the swashbuckling that one could hope for, and a strong family vibe.

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This was a great, fantasy, adventure book following the Widdershin sisters as they travel to a mythical island and try to solve a mystery before time runs out. I did not read book one "A Pinch of Magic" but now I am going to have to read it so I can see what kind of adventures they got up to previously. I am excited for the third book set to release next year.


SPOILER ALERT* very "The Sixth Sense" at the end of the book, great twist.

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A Sprinkle of Sorcery is the exciting high stakes sequel to A Pinch of Magic, full of mishaps, adventure, and a whole lot of love. Once again we are thrust into the world of the Widdeshin sisters as they seek out the adventure they so desperately crave outside of their dreary hometown of Crowstone. With the lifting of the curse at the end of the first novel, the Widdershin sisters are now able to travel freely however their first adventure seems to sneak right up on the unsuspecting sisters. The adventure unfolds quickly in the first few chapters when Charlie is kidnapped and Betty and Fliss hop into their boat, determined to do whatever it takes to save her. Accompanying them on their quest is the mysterious Willow, a girl with a magical map, strange abilities and a secret quest of her own. Along the way they encounter friends as well as foes including pirates and a spirited boy named Spit. The story follows another legend involving a witch, this time with themes of will-o-wisp folklore. As they embark on their journey together they must once again lean on one another as well as their two new friends in order to not only save Charlie but uncover the secrets and mystery behind a series of islands that don't seem to be located on any map.
In A Sprinkle of Sorcery, Harrison expertly expands upon the world she constructed in the first novel, bringing to life new folklore, as well as hidden and mysterious islands. The atmospheric and whimsical tone throughout balances out the darker elements in the story while also showcasing the magic of stories, a theme that plays out in a multitude of delightful ways over the course of the narrative. Betty's sense of adventure will prove to be infectious, as readers will find themselves quickly swept up in the action and intrigue, while never really being able to predict where the story will lead next. Throughout the story we never lose the theme of sisterly love as it remains as constant and fierce as ever, even with the two new characters thrown into the mix. The unfolding dynamic between the five is a delight as each character is distinct but together they perfectly complement and balance one another. I highly recommend A Sprinkle of Sorcery for readers looking for an adventurous tale full of fairy tales, folklore, magic, whimsy and sisterly love. While this can be read as a standalone, the first in the series is equally as charming and well worth a read.

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A magical adventure story and sequel to A Pinch of Magic!

'A Pinch of Magic' was so atmospheric, it was one of my favourite reads of 2021, and 'A Sprinkle of Sorcery' is a perfect follow-on story: peril, curses, magic, witches, throw in a few pirates, and what more could you ask for?

The three Widdershins sisters find themselves drawn into another adventure when one of them, in a case of mistaken identity, gets kidnapped, and the others must try and save her, finding themselves entangled in an old local legend of treasure and sorcery along the way.

I love that Michelle Harrison wove the legend of the witch in with the Widdershins main plot by interspersing the story with fragments of the 'older' story, it was done so successfully with the story of Sorsha in 'A Pinch of Magic', so I'm really glad that she kept the same device in the subsequent books.

This whole trilogy gets a 5-star rating for me, I prefer the main stories of the first and third book, the spooky village cottage-witchy atmosphere of the third, and the more misty, cold, creepy cursed plot of the first are just a cut above the lost island story of the second, but that only means a slightly lower five-star rating for me, the stories are told so well, the stories within the stories are superbly done, the sisters feel real,and their bond is brilliant, the side characters are lively and interesting, and the maps and author's letters are a great touch that draw the reader in from page one.

I immediately read the third book,the day after reading this one.

I recommend this for any reader aged 9 and above, though it can be read to younger children too, there is mild peril, and light spookiness, and the atmosphere is creepy, but it is a light easy read, and never too scary.

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What a grand adventure book! Magic, ghosts, pirates, boats, mysterious islands, unforeseen treasure. This book has all the earmarks that young readers of fantasy and adventure will be sure to adore.

The Widdershine family is living above the family owned pub. They have a secret; magic visits their family in mysterious ways. One day the town bell rings, signaling there’s been an escape from the prison on the island not far from their port town. A mysterious young girl appears in the middle of the night, and their grandmother is taken off to jail. The girls set off to rescue their youngest sibling, mistaken for the new arrival. It’s a story of choices and consequences and the steep price paid for greed. It’s also the story of family bonds - or lack of them and how they shape the future we create for ourselves.

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Thank you Netgalley and Clarion Books for the gifted book!

The second book picks up after the curse has been lifted, but once again the sisters are faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge when Charlie goes missing. Magic is at the core of the issue and they have to rely on each other and some new friends to see their way out of the mess they are in. There are pirates and a mysterious island and the sisters have to use kindness, ingenuity, and bravery to prevail.

Content Warning: Kidnapping

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3 Sisters, 1 lost girl and pirates!! Betty Widdershins and her sisters are off on another adventure when Charlie is kidnapped after being mistaken for a runaway from Torment island. I absolutely adore the love between the sisters and Betty's fierceness in protecting them. I enjoyed the complex relationship between Betty and Spit and the legends of the magical witch island. A Sprinkle of Sorcery was a great sequel in the Pinch of Magic Series!
Thanks NetGalley!

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I received an electronic ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group through NetGalley.
Book two picks up shortly after A Pinch of Magic finished. Readers return to the Widdershin's family tavern and see Fliss, Betty and Charlie become embroiled in another adventure. This time they work to save a young girl, Willow, who escaped from Torment and run into pirates living and dead on the way to a mysterious island where they will find answers. There are spooky overtones which will thrill middle grade readers. Harrison's plot hangs tightly together and lets her characters shine. Though predictable in some ways, the final resolution works. The story ends with a definite hint for book three.

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I love the Widdershins sisters! A Sprinkle of Sorcery is full of adventure, magic and daring and is a perfect follow up to A Pinch of Magic. I cannot wait to read book 3!

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This is an absolutely adorable and exciting sequel to A Pinch of Magic. It's pretty impossible to not fall in love with the three Widdershin sisters and their big hearts. The excitement starts immediately with a mysterious girl and a will o' the wisp, and the adventure will have you on the edge of your seat for the whole rest of the book. My kids who listened to me read this aloud were thrilled with the addition of PIRATES. Middle grade adventure books are always improved by pirates and curses and this book gives us both! .

I highly recommend this book to middle grade readers - and suitable for some non-readers to listen along too (My non-reading 5 year old was just as invested as my 10 year old and myself.)

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This book “A Sprinkle of Sorcery” is engaging, action packed and interesting. My children loved listening as we read it aloud. I cover art is what drew me to this book, and it was instantly eye catching.

I felt it was more of a fun read, and not quite suited to any particular educational course.

I would absolutely recommend this book!

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This middle grade novel is magical. You will be transported into the world of the Widdershin sisters and you won't want to leave. I am fully ready to admit that I didn't know this was a series and I read this one first. As I was reading I felt that there were many references to things that made me feel like there must be another book before this but it still stood on it's own and made me want to read the first book very much.

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Cute story about sisters helping each other and a friend or two along the way. Good foreshadowing and tie-ins. Names give away plot a bit but that's easily overlooked.

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A Sprinkle of Sorcery is an exciting and heartfelt story perfect for students in the later elementary grades. I read this without having read A Pinch of Magic, but I don't think that interfered with my ability to follow or enjoy the story. The references to the first book in the series really just hint at what happened rather than giving you a complete summary (which is nice for those who have already read that book). I loved the relationship between Betty, Fliss, and Charlie - they love and frustrate one another just as siblings should. The message that sometimes you have to put the needs of others ahead of your own, even when that's difficult is a good one for the book's target audience. Some of the parts with the pirates may be a little too scary for more sensitive children. I highly recommend this book to teachers and librarians to put in their classroom and school libraries.

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These sisters are so darn fun, and now paired with pirates and the ocean and another mystery – heck yes! I love a good swashbuckling story that invovles a little mystery.
Michelle does an awesome job of adding in side characters you need to love and grow quickly fond of. This is an awesome middle grade series and I cannot wait to continue with the story.
Charlie is definitely my favorite sister and I can see so much of myself in her. Plus, muddle grade always has the best way of weaving a little lesson into the story without it screaming too loudly. The sisters do such a great job of fighting like sisters but also working together and caring for each other at all costs.

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This sequel to A Sprinkle of Magic brings the Widdershins sisters back with all-new villains. The magic and adventure continue on and fans of the first book will be thrilled to hear more about this world.

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Thank you to HMH Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

I was very excited to jump back into adventures with the Widdershins sisters. I really enjoyed the folklore in this book, it reminded me a lot of the The Tale of Three Brothers in Harry Potter. Unfortunately most of the characters fell flat for me in this book. I liked the villain in the first book better, and I wasn’t as drawn to Willow or Spit as a supporting cast to the Widdershins sisters. I also thought that this book recycled the plot from the first book. I’m hoping the next book takes on a new story line, one where Charlie doesn’t need to be kidnapped in order for the girls to go on an adventure!

I continued to be annoyed by the characterization of the three sisters. Fliss' only character trait is that she is pretty, while Betty (who has frizzy and curly hair, making nowhere as pretty as her older sister, according to the writer) doesn't have much personality either. Charlie stops the sisters from being entirely one-dimensional, but she isn't around for most of this book.

I also don't understand why the Dad did not feature even though his returning played quite a large part in the ending of the first book. I feel like the writer forgot a lot of what happened in the first book, making me wonder what the point of A Sprinkle of Sorcery is.

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Betty, Fliss, and Charlie are back for another magical adventure in book 2 of this warm haunting series. After finally breaking the curse in book one, the Widershins family is hoping to finally leave the haunted prison isles of Crowstone, but before they get very far in the process, a little wisp of a girl washes up on their doorstep, desperate for help. With their characteristic bad luck, the three sisters are swept up in a story full of sorcery, ghosts, pirates and danger as they discover that not everything is as it seems and sometimes hope is stronger than fear.
I loved Betty and her sisters in the first book, and I'm glad to see the skill Michelle Harrison uses to capture their distinct personalities in this story as well. Many children's books suffer from the tragic conclusion that all children are basically the same, but Betty, Fliss, and Charlie are instantly recognizable and believable. The story itself is spooky and has some peril, making it all the better when beautiful and wonderful things happen. Though not for the faint of heart, this story is ideal for middle-grade audiences who like high-stakes and unpredictable magic.

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