Magicborn is the next offering from the wonderful Peter Bunzl. I adored Cogheart and it's sequels and I couldn't wait to get my teeth into this one. And it didn't disappoint. This is an historical fantasy set in 1726 and it follows the lost prince and princess of Fairyland and deadly curses. It is the first in a new series and boy, was it action-packed!

As in Cogheart, Bunzl has just a wonderful way with describing the setting. You really feel like you are in the 1700s and the world building is just superb. I really liked the characters and loved Tempest. Their development in the story is just fab and I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

Thomas and Tempest are captured after accidentally displaying powers they didn’t even know they had. The Royal Sorcerer of England has them trapped as suspected magicborns and takes them to Kensington Palace. When together, they find their memories and magic begin to take life – they are the lost prince and princess of Fairyland, under a deadly curse….and now the fairies are coming to get them. Will they survive the battle of good versus evil?

Magicborn has the real feeling of a fairytale; all the elements are there, good, evil, magic, fairies, a happy ending (perhaps!) and this helps it to feel completely classic. With flashbacks interspersed among current day storytelling, the reader pieces together the mystery of Tempest and Thomas’ lives as they go figuring out their memories as they do! Peter Bunzl has a lyrical way of storytelling and I felt immediately immersed in the world of historical and magical London. Traditional themes of good versus evil keep you guessing throughout and I loved the hints of darker characters teased and drawn out in the story.

Tempest and Thomas are interesting main characters, but their real strength comes from Tempest’s friend or mentor, Coriel, the robin. I love animal companions and Coriel’s little asides felt almost sarcastic in places whilst she continued to support the twins in the adventure. I enjoyed the building of Coriel and Tempest’s relationship as they came to realise why and how they knew and loved one another and this strengthening mirrors the development of Tempest and Thomas’ relationship as siblings.

A fairytale hit! 5 out of 5 stars.

A real throwback, a traditional kids story with missing separated siblings, magic and evil aristocracy.

When you think of fairies, you don't think of middle grade (KS2) fiction, but Peter Bunzl kicks it out the park. The right mix of haunting and magical, Magicborn is a captivating tale of love, betrayal and sacrifice.

The villains are brilliantly crafted and you are left desperate for them to get their comeuppance (they are so wonderfully despise-able!).

If you enjoyed Bunzl's Cogheart series, you will not be disappointed by Magicborn. I will be recommending for mature readers in my school 9+. A fantastical and gripping read.

Magicborn is the latest atmospheric and immersive offering from Peter Bunzl. With more of a whimsical tone, Magicborn is a very different read than Bunzl’s previous series, Cogheart.

Set in 1726, the story flits between the human world and the kingdom of the fairies through a series of flashbacks and split narratives. It feels quite fairytale like in style and spans a range of genres, such as historical fiction, adventure and fantasy.

The story follows Tempest and Thomas as they battle both humans and fairies, facing significant peril as well as making friends and allies. I enjoyed the story but found it a little slow to unfold in places. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the start of a new historical fantasy middle-grade series full of magic, mystery and adventure. After losing all memory of her family and home, Tempest has been raised for the last two years by the ferry boatmen- a lovely couple but it's been a struggle to make ends meet.

When Tempest is captured, she meets Thomas and together discover a magic neither knew they had. Learning who they really are brings them to the forefront of a growing battle that only one side can win.

There is an interesting tone taken as it presents some quickly-solved mysteries as well as some ongoing enigmas that take the full book to solve. This combination is ideal as it motivates children to keep reading.

As a primary school teacher, I would say something is jarring about the writing style for children. Whilst much of the book reads quite young, the vocabulary and phraseology used better suits older primary-aged children. As such, the story feels slow which is often off-putting to young readers.

This is ideal for fans of Sophie Anderson or those looking for a whimsical, fantastical story. I find this author to offer a good comparison. As an adult reader, I disliked Anderson's writing but children love it; some stories do not transcend age.

Magicborn is a magical middle-grade story with a fairytale Shakespeare flavour. It features wild magic, talking birds, wolves, fairies, twins and royalty, which are some of my very favourite things in stories.

However, the plot just didn’t keep me turning the pages. I felt like the flashbacks solved all the various mysteries so that by the time I hit the middle of the book, there just wasn’t enough to keep me interested and engaged. I really had to trudge through that section. I also got a bit annoyed at how one of the main rules of magic that was established early on in the story was then just waved aside with no explanation. It made the resolution feel too easy and convenient for the characters.

On the plus side, I really liked the drawing of Thomas and Kwesi’s characters, and I think it could do well for 10-12 year olds who are into magic and fairytales. Plus it could be a really fun introduction to some of Shakespeare’s works!

Thanks Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for the ARC.

Prince and Princess's, magic, Fairyland and historical-fantasy brings you this very delightful read for the young.

The Royal Sorcerer captures Tempest and a boy like her, Thomas. They are both magicborn and have magical amulets but there is a deadly curse on them.

A delightful and magical read, full of that wonderful fantasy we all desire. The characters were superb and I think little Coriel really added value to portrait this wonderful story. I love how Peter captured that magical feel and you could picture it in your minds eye.

Very well portrayed and will certainly hold any young mind to the end!

Thank you Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for this ARC.

This wonderful tale begins with a lyrical tone that sparks of magic and Fairy tales and I can almost hear the hushed voice of John Hurt from the TV series The Storyteller as he settles down by the fire.
What follows is a glorious tempest of tales-there is always an undercurrent of darkness and betrayal. Buntz clearly knows how to draw the reader along and creates characters that perfectly portray their roles. For instance the three princesses are perfect decoys and wonderfully annoying whilst Coriel is the perfect friend and source of comfort. I love how Coriel, the robin, refers to her charges as other birds. Perfect hook for learning about other species of birds. There is an element of History woven into the story which only adds to its appeal. A truly stupendous cinematic page-turner.
Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne for this e-ARC to review.