Sophie Anderson has now written three loosely-connected middle grade novels all based around Russian myths and folklore. I've really enjoyed the previous two and this one was just as good!

Olia is a princess from an old line of royalty, who lives in a huge caste with lots of ornate domes. As it slowly falls apart, she learns about the magic that can be found in her world and begins a quest to save her home. This involves travelling to a magical land (that includes water, earth, air and fire domes) to find a sinister wizard and save her world. Along the way she meets some incredible new friends (I was in awe of Sophie's imagination to create these) and learns courage and the magic inside herself.

It was beautifully written, with some amazing new lands and dramatic events - a race against time to save her home and her family really adds to the drama. The folklore elements from Russian folklore were brilliantly woven into the story and it really piqued my interest into the history and literature from this part of the world. A magical story full of hope and love - a masterpiece of children's fantasy writing.

There's a waiting list to borrow this from my class library! Sophie Anderson has, once again, woven a wholly fantastical, wholly believable, wholly magical world from the threads of folklore that immediately captivates the reader. You are fully immersed in Olia's world and adventure. Saara Söderlund's beautiful illustrations only add to the appeal.

Olia's family have lived in Castle Mila for over 500 years and she is determined to uncover its every secret. When a storm ravages the castle she finds there is more to discover than she ever imagined. A superb portal story, with the hero responsible for trying to save two worlds, I loved the themes of love, loyalty and bravery.

I can't wait to see what Sophie Anderson writes next.

This book hasn’t just entertained, it has educated and enlightened. I have learnt so much about the folklore surrounding this book and the characters involved truly bought the history and magic alive. The heart in this book beats through every page and I know that this is one that will be revisited again and again.

Another magical read from Sophie Anderson, rooted in Slavic folklore. In this story, Olia lives in a castle, once lived in by her royal ancestors. It is a place that she loves. One day a storm threatens to destroy the castle and Olia finds herself on a quest to save it, in the Land of Forbidden Magic. This is a wonderful, heartwarming read, with some amazing characters. A brilliant middle grade adventure that left me with a great big grin on my face!

I must say I'm a sucker for Russian folktales and this book really hits the spot. What a magically beautiful book about family, friendship, filled with adventure and Russian folklore. I love the illustrations, the Russian creatures and the beautiful scene-setting, you really are transported into another world.
I also love that all her books are individual novels yet have small connections to each other, it allows you to pick up anyone and not feel like you're missing anything. And for those who have read all her books, it's a sweet nod to the others that always leaves me with a sense of excitement, I don't know why, but it does.
I can't wait to see what Anderson comes up with next.

Full of Anderson’s characteristic wonder, a thoroughly enjoyable tale! I liked how she wove it into the larger magic of the first two books in the series.

I've loved each of Sophie's books and this one did not disappoint. In fact, it's my new favourite from her. I loved how whimsy the book felt, and how magical and wholesome and I just got completely lost in the story. So beautiful and so wonderful. Nailed it Sophie

Olia's family have lived in Castle Mila for generations.. There have always been parts of the castle she has not got into. One day a storm threatens the castle and Olia rediscovers the magic she had forgotten. She enters the Land of Forbidden Magic on a quest to save her ancestral home.
Like in a traditional quest there are numerous challenges to face on her way to reach the wizard who has been controlling the land. She finds out that one of her ancestors was involved in the magic which has split worlds and families.
Helped by several friends (various Russian "spirits" etc Olia must achieve her quest in just a few hours..

The quest is then turned upside down.

There are themes of facing your fears "fear helps keep us safe. It doesn't mean you won't succeed " , how to learn from mistakes and following your heart.

Anderson is an original author who creates characters that you love and believe in within the rich tapestry of Russian fairytale. Many authors would have stopped when Olia reached the wizard, but Anderson weaves in more.- The House with Chicken Legs makes a reappearance..

Talented and enthralling writing.

My thanks to Usborne Publishing and NetGalley for the digital copy of The Castle of Tangled Magic by Sophie Anderson in return for an honest review.

I love Sophie Anderson’s writing, and I just knew that I was going to adore this newest offering from her. I am happy to announce that this was absolutely the case, this is another 5/5 star read from Anderson.

As with her previous works, this book is inspired by Russian fairytales, and tells the story of Olia who lives in a castle with her family. When a storm starts to destroy the Castle, Olia discovers that her ancestor created a prison for magic and trapped all the magical creatures in this world, and the castle is the gateway between the two worlds. With the help of some magical creatures Olia travels to this world to save her home and the magical creatures.

I absolutely adored this book, and flew through it in less than 24 hours. It has all of Anderson’s trademark heart and warmth in her writing, plus the Russian inspired tale is so well done, and so well woven into the storyline.

The magical world is so well described and explored, and the magical creatures are so diverse and beautifully crafted. They are all unique characters with personalities and roles to further the plot. My personal favourites would be Deg a type of tree creature, and Feliks who is a fox spirit who protects the castle, and is a very important ally to Olia throughout the novel.

The novel has a wonderful message of family and friendship and the power of finding your home, which I really loved a lot, and it made the novel so heartwarming and endearing to read. It’s also a very important message to have in kids books, caring for others and being able to relate to and see things from others’ points of views, an especially poignant message at this time!

The novel is also blisteringly fast, it doesn’t let up from page 1 until the final sentence. This action packed page-turner is what I have come to expect from Anderson, and she doesn’t disappoint in this magical novel!

Overall I loved The Castle of Tangled Magic! As with all Sophie Anderson’s books it is a magical enthralling read with such loveable characters, and real heart at the centre of it.

This story is an enchanting tale of love, courage and magic. This beautifully written story sees main character Olia on a journey of discovery. When her home, Castle Mila - a place of intrigue and hints of magic amongst its many domes - starts to fall apart, she is implored by her cryptic grandmother to save it. In order to do so, she must dig deep inside and believe in herself...to discover the magic within her if she is to save all that she loves.

I loved this story - yet another classic from Sophie Anderson who leads us on a fairy-tale like journey but keeps us rooting for Olia as she discovers a doorway to another land where the magic is all tangled and a scheming wizard is in control.

The strong themes of family love, friendship and courage permeate this story providing plenty of talking points if this were to be used as a class reader by teachers.

This is a touching story which is a great standalone but can easily follow Anderson's The House with Chicken Legs (though it is the third book released) too. A must-read!

I loved this book. It is emotional and heartwarming. At a time like this the importance of home is on everyone’s mind and this book explores what a home really is. It shows the bond between a family and explores themes of self-doubt and belief. A really moving and empowering book which just picks you up and carries you along with it.

This is an amazing book which lends itself to a host of different educational purposes. It would suit a year 4 class.

With The Castle of Tangled Magic, Sophie Anderson has woven Russian folklore together with modern fantasy and a lovely family and created something special and unique.

It is a superb story about magic, family, bravery and home, and I absolutely adored it.

Unlike Sophie's first two novels, this one is a "portal" story, where Olia, who already lives in a wondrous and probably magical castle, travels through a portal with a household spirit into a land of pure magic. A land where everything is starting to fall apart, where she needs to find allies and find her way and find a solution before everything unravels completely. There's such an overwhelming sense of peril, that kept me absolutely gripped. The fairy tale creatures she meets are fascinating too, drawn from a Russian folklore that I'm really not familiar with, to give the whole thing a sense of being different and intriguing. And as with all the best fairy tales, things are never quite what they first seem.

It's a story about family too, and the depiction of Olia's family is really nicely done. Unlike some other portal stories, I always felt that she had something to succeed for and someone to go home too, and that increased the tension. She never had the chance to just wander around and explore the land she found herself in because of her family and home calling her back.

It's another magical story from a magical writer at the top of her game.

Sophie Anderson is an author who I am growing to love more and more with each of the books that I read. When I found about her latest book The Castle of Tangled Magic, I knew I had to dive into it and explore this new world that she created. This is probably my favourite book of hers out of the three she has written and is one that I will treasure for a long time.

Olia lives with her parents, grandma and baby sister in Castle Mila, a gorgeous castle filled with secrets and hidden turrets and doorways. Olia is always exploring the castle’s secrets and longs for adventure. One night, when a storm starts destroying the castle, it’s up to Olia to step into a magical new world and find a way to save not just her family but the inhabitants of this new land she’s discovered.

This was such an extraordinary, remarkable read steeped full of magic and wonder and one that I was utterly captivated by. The way Anderson creates such incredible worlds is admirable and I am always in awe of how she weaves Russian folktales and folklore into her already awe-inspiring stories. The setting of The Castle of Tangled Magic is just steeped with enchantment, mystery and entrancement. Castle Mila is described gorgeously and it made me just want to explore it myself, alongside Olia. The other world that Olia visits is also fascinating to discover and you learn more about it as you go along the story. Anderson is such a remarkable world builder and I am honestly inspired by it.

Plotwise, I was absorbed in it and was that much so that I finished the book in one sitting. My interest never wavered and I was constantly wanting to carry on reading so I could find out what was going to happen next. The plot was well-paced and nothing seemed out of place. Our characters are put in many dangerous situations that have you sitting on the edge of your seat and praying that they make it through. I think the fast-paced atmosphere helped me finish this book in one sitting and I don’t regret it one single bit.

Olia was a character that I admired from the start. She’s brave and selfless and is always putting her family first. Her pure love for her baby sister melted my heart and it was heartwarming to see a strong sibling bond in a book like this. Her closeness and love for her family, I feel did influence some of her decisions throughout the story and this, in turn, helped her grow and become a stronger person come to the end. The friends she meets throughout her journey also helped her grow and I enjoyed seeing her relationships with them all blossom and turn into pure friendship.

The Castle of Tangled Magic was a beautiful read full of magic and one that I devoured. Sophie Anderson is slowly becoming one of my favourite middle-grade authors and I, for one, cannot wait to read what she writes next.

Another beautifully written Sophie Anderson special. From the very beginning, the unique Storytelling captivates your imagination and pulls you through a vivid adventure of culture and fantasy. Effectively written and structured so that each chapter feels like the beginning of something new and exciting. A wonderful tale of trust, friendship, confidence and courage. A true tangle of magic!

Having read Sophie Anderson’s two previous books I was looking forward to another foray into a world of Slavic myth and folklore – and I got just what I was looking for.

Olia lives in a castle, with her parents, her beloved Babusya (grandmother) and her new-born baby sister. The family has lived in Castle Mila for generations, since the days when they would have been Lords of all they surveyed, but now they are just a fairly ordinary family living in a very (very) large home full of history – with grand halls, secret passageways and vast domes. But this life is threatened by magical forces and it seems that Olia is the only one who can fight back and save her home, her family and much, much more. This is a tale bursting with adventure, magic and lessons in learning how to work out what is really important. It never shies away from the truth that some things are more important than power, riches or even history.

There is something about the way that Sophie Anderson writes that has me hooked instantly. Another impeccable story that is suitable for adults as well as children. Highly recommend 🤍 xx

Oh my heart! This is another absolute triumph of a story written by the wonder that is Sophie Anderson! The language is exquisite and immediately enveloped me in its magic and warmth, keeping me absolutely mesmerised as I immersed myself in Olia’s stunning adventure.

Olia lives in Castle Mila with her parents, baby sister and Babusya. Her Babusya has warned her that a huge storm is approaching the Castle, which may well destroy it. Battling through her fears, Olia finds herself travelling through one of the Castle’s Domes into a world of tangled magic, a world beyond the Castle where she must venture to save her family and her home from a magical storm. The Castle’s protector, a domovoi called Feliks accompanies her.

So begins the most incredible adventure into the Land of Forbidden Magic, an adventure that will require all of Olia’s courage, strength and self-belief to overcome the challenges and dangers she will face …

The world-building is simply stunning brought wondrously to life by beautiful imagery as Olia finds herself in a world which has been entangled in silver thread. Will she be able to find the source of the thread and free both worlds from enchantment, or will deception and trickery thwart her attempts?

I loved the story of Olia’s heritage and how the world beyond the Castle came into existence. The references to Slavic folklore permeate and enrich the story, and I especially loved Koshka (having read James Mayhew’s wonderful Koshka’s Tales, recommended by the author). I also loved the part that the nature-spirits played in the story and, of course, the wonderful domovoi, Feliks who offers her encouragement, friendship and hope.
This is a truly incredible action-packed book imbued with a real sense of urgency as Olia races to save both worlds, learning more about magic and her own abilities. She is a wonderful young girl who feels a heavy burden of responsibility to undo the wrongs of her ancestors. She feels anger and shame, but she is a strong and courageous young girl who defends the weak, even when it puts her in danger. She is resilient and determined, but she is also impetuous, makes mistakes and doubts herself. Will she be strong enough to believe in herself, and reunite with her family?

This is an intricate, magical and truly beautifully told story that transported me to a world I didn’t want to leave, a world inspired by Slavic folklore and daring adventure where family and friendship triumph, and where the goodness in others overcomes prejudice and fear. The ending brought the biggest smile of contentment I think I’ve ever experienced on finishing a book – sheer perfection!

Sophie Anderson is just one of those consistently great writers, always bringing something new to each of her stories and never failing to bring magic and wonder alive in her words.

In 'The Castle of Tangled Magic' we follow Olia, who lives with her parents, grandmother and new born sister in a old crumbling castle that has many mysteriously locked domes.
While preparing for the Harvest festival, a strange storm comes and destroys some of the castle.
Secrets are revealed through the destruction and Olia must go on a magical journey through the domes where magic has been banished to save her home.

We come across a wonderful band of characters in this world, Feliks the fox spirit who protects the castle, Koshka the cat who used to be a witch, and so many more that all help Olia in her task to save both their world and hers. Side characters never feel disposable in Anderson's works, they are always full of life, well fleshed out with agency of their own not just to the main character.

Olia herself is so wonderful as the main heroine of this story, so strong in her right, different from Marinka & Yanka but just as good in her own way.

The story is just amazing, Anderson always roots her magic in themes of love and family and it really shines through in this book. Quick paced with a great atmosphere, the plot never lags.

All in all, a fantastic story that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

Thank you to Usborne Childrens Books and Netgalley for an early eArc of the book!

Another amazing and magical journey from Sophie Anderson. Gorgeous Russian setting and fantastical characters make this an adventure to remember. With Olia learning the right thing to do over the easy thing she makes some truly magical friends and remembers to see the magic all around her. Stunning! Oh and watch out for the food references, the loving descriptions make for a mouthwatering read!