In her afterword, historian Nazneen Ahmed Pathak says she was “profoundly influenced by…the idea that magic is still real in some places, and that words have the power to protect us from harm.” Highly recommend! The author does an incredible job of weaving Indian Culture with magic. Is such a good story to introduce white children to Indian culture. Or even just show Indian children that they are represented and seen. I’m a white reader, and I learnt too much about my friends culture just from reading this book. I sent one of the paragraphs where Chompa talks about how unseasoned the British food was to one of those friends and we had a good laugh because that’s a little joke between us about how bland white food is. City of Stolen Magic manages to be both an exciting romp through colonial India and Victorian Britain and a sobering expose of Empire, shot through with a delightfully original concept and some fast paced, twisting plotting and story telling. Chompa lives with her beloved mother in a small village in India, bored by her mother's insistence on slow, subtle charms rather than allwoing Chompa to explore her much more exciting and powerful finger magic, but when Chompa takes matters into her own hands, the results are catastrophic resulting in her mother's capture by terrifyingly pale men - Chompa's first encounter with the British. Yara’s life is thrown into disarray when, following the death of her mother, she learns that they’re from Zehaira, a kingdom of sorcerers, alchemists and magic. In this compelling fantasy adventure, Yara bravely embarks on a dangerous quest to save her magical homeland.

City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK City of Stolen Magic - Penguin Books UK

In general, the characters were well drawn, from Chompa (determined, feisty, undaunted) to Tipu and Laurie (Djinn speakers she meets on the way to England) to Leeza, Mohsin’s servant, to Millie, the English maid whose weakness is her sweet tooth. Although I guessed the plot twist, it is still a good one. Children’s fantasy may be one of publishing’s fastest-growing genres, but stories from South Asia have remained in short supply. Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, a British-Bangladeshi writer chosen for Penguin’s mentoring scheme for under-represented writers, wants to redress that balance. As she has explained, she started writing her debut novel, City of Stolen Magic, 10 years ago after the birth of her son, because “there were no stories out there that represented his Indian and Bangladeshi heritage, the relationship between colonialism and migration, or South Asian traditions of magic.” I LOVE a good middle grade but because the story is told by Chompa's POV as a VERY young girl, it feels almost a bit... Too young... For me 🌸Chompa is certain that she is ready to perform finger magic. But her mother keeps insisting that it’s not safe and that she should focus on learning charm writing.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads

More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumour is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company. I won the physical copy in the giveaway and so it's really special for me. First things first the book cover is beautiful ❤️. I enjoyed the historial aspects that were blended with the fantastical, highlighting the issues that were seeping through colonial India. The character of Chompa was well written, and she was someone that was hard to tear away from as the drama unfolded. The author takes the reader on a dark journey, as every emotion is wrung out as the dastardly plan is fully revealed. This book is pitched for 9-14, and I agree: it has the complexity for upper middle grade and a further layer of stolen magic as a voice for India’s colonized past. This was a glorious adventure, not difficult for a reader unfamiliar with this history to grasp. And so vividly realised with a strong voice, especially Chompa’s.This story has a super premise, a fantastic magic system, great characters, nice plot twists, and a wonderful setting. I loved that the story is set in India during British rule, and to be honest, I wished the entire story was set there (although I also enjoyed reading about the many migrant communities in London). Nazneen Ahmed Pathak is an author that is going to make a mesmerising contribution to children’s literature. You will be under Chompa's spell immediately. As an English reader I thought Nazneen Ahmed Pathak did a brilliant job of exploring some uncomfortable truths. The book touches on the devastation caused by the British colonialism in India, and certainly doesn't shy away from showing the damage it caused, without being too upsetting for younger readers to read about. With the help of an old friend, Chompa goes off after her, traveling on a fast ship powered by a tree djinn. For Chompa and others like her are djinnborn or djinnspeakers, able to think or write words to do magic and manipulate the elements.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak - Google Play City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak - Google Play

Something I did really like was the idea of a boat being controlled by a magic tree cause its roots are weaves with the timber of the boat that’s pretty cool. For this to make sense the world building was masterfully done. When Chompa sets out to prove herself to Ammi (her mother), her bravado leads to a horrendous accident. Soon, the agents of the Company take Ammi away.

Retailers:

Chompa was a wonderful female heroine. She was brave and smart but also very caring and put the needs of others before her own.

City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust City of Stolen Magic | BookTrust

A thoroughly engaging & entertaining new fantasy series introduces us to the strong female lead in Chompa, a young girl growing up in colonial India with her mother. She’s able to do magic with her fingers but her mother is trying to get her to stop & use the art of written magic as finger magic always comes with a price, a lesson Chompa learns the hard way when her mother is taken by soldiers to London setting Chompa on a voyage to rescue her. Chompa is a brilliant lead and one I think a lot of readers will resonate with. She doesn't understand her mother's rules at the start which I think is something that children everywhere will identify with! She grows to be a strong character though, and one who will do everything she can to protect and help her friends and family. I enjoyed seeing her friendships with Tipu, Laurie and Leeza blossom. Sir Clive Devaynes (names derived from real people from the East India Company) of the “East Merchant Company” is collecting them for a nefarious purpose. Chompa is a flawed but relatable character, particularly for children, she is impulsive (as children tend to be) and this impulsivity does lead to negative consequences that she then works tirelssly to fix, even when the adults around her seem to think it impossible. Chompa her determination and resourcefulness to her advantage and making sacrifices to help others. This wonderful new middle grade book imagines a spunky girl’s journey from her home in India to London.Chompa and her mother live in a small village in India in 1855. The country is under British rule, and magical people are being kidnapped across the country in an effort to stamp out the magic so feared by the British. Chompa doesn't understand why her mother forbids her to use her finger magic, not realising the dangers, until one night when her mother is taken. Realising her mother has been kidnapped by the all powerful Company, Chompa is heartbroken and alone as she sets out on a journey to try and rescue her. India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out. More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumor is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company. Note: Since this is a children’s book, I think it is important to let readers know that the story includes a death scene. Finding unlikely allies & more about her mother as she tries to find the trail left by the sinister, all- powerful Company, Chompa realises Indian magic is being stamped out & India"s land & people being made to use their resources to make money for those overseas.