It's 1656 and England is in the middle of the Civil War. Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector, has sent Witch Hunters out across the land, so for her own safety twelve-year-old Hazel's mother Hecate confines her to a magic and invisible glade. But there's stronger magic than Hecate's around, and when a demon seizes and carries off her mother, Hazel is left entirely on her own with no knowledge or experience of the outside world. Well, not entirely on her own - if you count a rather tetchy and opinionated dormouse as a companion...
| Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Linda Lawlor
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| Summary: Dark deeds, witchcraft, traitors and friends – what could be more enthralling? When her mother is captured by a demon Hazel sets off in pursuit despite the dangers. Fortunately, she has her portly little dormouse familiar Bramley to nag and cajole her and, if all else fails, to enjoy a short snooze curled up in her hair. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 288 | Date: August 2015 |
| Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books | |
| ISBN: 9781447283553 | |
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From the very first lines we know we're in the midst of a story full of sinister forces. A blind old hedge-witch has a mysterious visitor late at night, whose soft voice conceals menace and threat. He's seeking a particular witch, and he will use anything, even a demon, to get what he wants. Contrast him, with his power and willingness to break the rules of magic in order to achieve his ends, with our heroine: young, vulnerable and innocent of the world outside the Border Hedge – in fact, her magical powers haven't even begun to manifest themselves yet. Sadly, the shock of seeing Hecate carried off provokes Hazel's gift – the ability to unleash boiling waves of fire – but too late: her mother is gone.
What follows is a traditional but nonetheless thrilling quest. Hazel and Bramley set off in pursuit and soon decide to join forces with Titus White and his handsome apprentice David, a couple of demon hunters. In theory, their skills as hunters plus her magic means they should soon catch up with the evil creature, but unfortunately Hazel has to hide her true identity as the men also hunt witches. One slip of the tongue, one accidental use of her gift, and Hazel will find herself handed over to the authorities to be tried and killed.
This may sound a gloomy tale, but it's not. The acerbic comments of the chattiest dormouse in the history of the world manage to cheer even the scariest scenes, and poor Hazel's gooey-eyed encounter with the first boy she's ever met will cause readers to chuckle. Matt Ralphs gives the reader just enough of the background to this fantasy world, which is based on the terrible conflicts that tore England apart in the seventeenth century, but with the additional premise that magic is real. Against such a frightening and dangerous background the story of Hazel and her companions occasionally approaches horror, but never too close: it is, after all, only the first in a series. It's funny, exciting, nail-biting and utterly gripping, and Bookbag strongly recommends it for both boys and girls.
If you enjoy stories full of mystery and adventure with more than a touch of danger, try Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud and the sequel The Whispering Skull. Creepy! Or else, if you fancy something a bit more whimsical, there's The Snow Merchant by Sam Gayton about a girl who's been warned she must never, ever touch the ground.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs at Amazon.com.
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