You can always rely on Sophie Anderson for a wonderful combination of folklore magic and adventure - she weaves characters and plot effortlessly with a sense of wonder.

A proper page turner for an older child (and adult) but someone at the younger end of middle grade could struggle with the complexity and length.

An enchanting and magical adventure that is bound to captivate readers. Sophie has a gift for creating characters that you genuinely come to care about. Sublimely told, this is a must have read.

This is another thrilling, magical tale from Sophie Anderson. It has a wide range of magical creatures, objects and places and the plot is pacy and exciting.

This story is about Olia, whose fairy-tale-esque castle home full of magic and secrets, is under threat. A violent storm begins to tear away at Olia's home and town. Only a journey to a contained magical land and a perilous task can stop the storm from destroying everything Olia loves.

While at times I was confused by the many creatures and objects that were mentioned and encountered in the story, the way that Olia collects companions as she completes her mission reminded me of the film, Labyrinth. There are many messages about not always judging people on appearances or preconceived notions but instead of listening to your heart.

This is a solid four stars from me. An exciting, magical tale that I know will be enjoyed by many young readers at school.

A middle-grade book I read with my middle-grade child.

We liked the protagonist Olia. But we both thought the Russian fairy tale retelling was a bit long for a middle-grade book. It dragged in some places and we put it off for a few days due to that.

Thrillingly magical from the start. The castle sounds so wonderful, I'd so much love to see it. so many lovely characters like the Domovoi house spirit and Olia's grandmother. Olia herself is so caring and brave, she just wants to save everyone. It was really gripping and so hard to stop reading.

Another wonderful story influenced by Russian mythologies. Colourful and bright with language, it is ideal for children aged 9+.

Anderson is brilliant at taking European myths and legends and spinning them into something new. This time is no different as she bases this new story on Russian myths. The characters are a little one dimensional this time in comparison to Anderson’s other books. It is full of adventure and is a quick read with lots of plot twists.

I was lucky enough to have access to a preview reading of The Castle of Tangled Magic through the Usborne fairies at NetGalley. Having devoured Sophie Anderson’s previous two books, I knew I was going to enjoy it! Without giving too much away, Anderson has yet again written a beautiful, lyrical story which is simply spell-binding- I read it in one sitting. Olia is a strong female lead full of compassion and kindness for everyone around her and it is these qualities, along with her courage and determination to save her home and family, which drives the plot. The magical creatures were fascinating in their individual ways and the beautiful illustrations added even more depth to the story. A must read for adults and children- I can’t wait to recommend it to my pupils.

This book captures story telling at its best. An epic and magical story with so many complexities told with such ease and grace. The writing style has to be commended, it’s the right pace, the right tone, it really is a Goldilocks book… just right

Omg......... this book was amazing I flew threw the pages with Olympic speed I was hooked from the very first page. I found it full of twists and turns threw out and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way threw  I would defiantly recommend this book if you like a good book to keep you reading threw the night hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did

So fabulous I went and bought myself a hardcopy the moment it came out.

Absolutely love the world building. Incredible writing by Sophie Anderson. Great family dynamic that is very believable.

Only issue would be that I found the beginning a bit slow. Bit that's a preference more than anything.

This really was a lovely tale, steeped in magic and folklore. I enjoyed it from beginning to end! For a minute, I was truly transported into this story and to the castle. I absolutely loved the setting, and the plot was nothing short of enchanting.

Another great magical adventure from Sophie Anderson! I really enjoyed the characters of Olia and Feliks (especially Feliks). The pace of the book is good and there is a nice string of encounters throughout the story. I feel that this book would work well for younger children than The Girl Who Speaks Bear and The House With Chicken Legs but it is by no means less of a story because of this.

This was cute, I liked the found family aspect. It did feel ever so slightly heavy handed at times with the "correct the wrongs your ancestors did" motif, but it was cute nonetheless. I loved the tie in with The House with Chicken Legs, super adorable.
This isn't my favourite Sophie Anderson, but I liked it.

CAWPILE 7.57 4*

Characters: 7- I liked them all
Atmosphere: 7- It was exciting and atmospheric
Writing: 9- I love Sophie Anderson's style
Plot: 7- Great adventures
Intrigue: 8- I felt that it was similar to House in some ways
Logic: 7- I felt the magic system was a bit confusing at times
Enjoyment: 8- I did enjoy this a lot, but it wasn't my favourite.

I love Sophie’s books and this is another wonderful tale full of magic and tradition. I love being engrossed in the worlds she creates and the similarities between her other books. A great read.

'The Castle of Tangled Magic' by Sophie Anderson is a true triumph of middle grade magic and imagination.

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 are 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 really 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. This is 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 really do learn that sometimes believing is one of the few things more powerful than magic, so in that case, I believe that you will also love this wonderful middle grade masterpiece.

Olia has always believed in magic, but somewhere along the way she stopped seeing it. When a storm threatens to destroy her home - her history - she must travel to a magical land hidden in the attic to calm the winds. She makes many friends along the way and ultimately has to decided whether her home or their freedom is more important.

I really loved this one, Sophie Anderson's books just keep getting better and better! Olia is a gorgeous main character who stands up for what she believes in and isn't afraid to admit her mistakes. I also adore her relationship with her little sister - Rosa is so cute! This is a brilliant novel about family, magic and standing up for others even when it might change everything you've worked for.

I enjoyed the world building immensely but struggled to really get into the characters or the story at times.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

I love Sophie Anderson’s books filled with magic, nostalgia and folklore, and this newest book from her is no exception.

Utterly beautiful and magical, with fabulous world building, I truly loved every page. Olia was a fabulous main character with moxie and love for her family.

As a big fan of Sophie Anderson’s books, I was so excited to finally get a chance to read this. Her other books are absolutely amazing and so is this one. The colours and design of this book are so pretty and intricate along with the illustrations, that really help to draw you into the fairytales and folklore of this book.

The main character in this book is called Olia. Is a wonderful character whose main goal is to save her home and the Land of the Forbidden Magic. She makes lots of interesting and fun characters on her journey who all play a part in the story.

This book is a wonderful Russian fairytale, and would be perfect In the classroom either as an English/Reading unit or as an end of the day read aloud. A traditional fairytale format but it still has those unexpected surprises along the way. The messages of family forgiveness and bravery are beautiful. Children truly can feel as though they are transported into Olia’s world due to o the use of description and atmosphere that the readers are provided with.

I cannot wait to be able to use this book in the classroom, although I would recommend that you check out Sophie understands other books prior to reading this one. I think my year 5 class will love this.