What a fantastic read this was! Flick Lyons enters a competition to win the final legacy of The Great Fox, one of the world’s greatest stage magicians, with the secret aim of stealing back her father’s greatest trick from the man she’s sure was a charlatan. What follows is an exciting and tense adventure through a reality competition set in a fabulous, booby-trapped mansion, like a magic-themed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (but significantly more inclusive). I loved the dramatic pace and the glimpses of all the tricks (there are a few spoilers for classic magic tricks in here!) – as a young puzzle-solver this would have had me utterly enthralled! The way Flick’s disability is woven into her character and the story is fantastic, and I loved that there was such a strong theme of girl power. Really very entertaining!

The Great Fox Illusion is just that, great. I really enjoyed this book and feel that it would be perfect for Y4-5. The story itself follows thirteen-year-old magician Flick who has won herself a place on a new television show in which she could win the legacy of the Great Fox. Flick, however, has other plans; The Great Fox ruined her father's career and now she wants to put things right. Flick is a fantastic protagonist and despite her on the surface bravdo, she is a vulnerable character that just wants what is best for her family. Her disability (having a prosthetic leg) is written about sensitively but is the representation that is so lacking in young children's novels; we see that Flick does not let this define her. My favourite part of this book, aside from the jampacked action and magic, was the friendship that develops over the course of the book between Flick and Charlie; as a reader, you are rooting for them to win the competition! I highly recommend this fast-paced, magical story.

'Magic is about dreaming what is impossible and making it possible. It's the innocent young mind in all of us that loves it. We want to be filled with wonder. We want to believe. I want the winner of this competition and the recipient of my legacy to dare to dream big. So, let The Great Fox Hunt begin.'

Felicity Lions has been chosen to compete in a new television show, in which young magicians get a chance to win the prize of a lifetime - the legacy of the Great Fox, one of the world's most famous magicians. But Flick is on a mission of her own. The Great Fox destroyed her family and she's desperate to put things right. It quickly turns out that not everyone is playing fair though. Inside the Fox's house is a secret that will change the world of magic for ever, and some will go to any lengths to find it. How much is Flick ready to sacrifice in order to get the Bell System? And will it all be enough to save her family?

I found the concept for the book very original. I was hooked from the very first chapter and I enjoyed my time at Great Fox's mansion immensely. I loved learning more about the history of magic and finding out how some of the famous and spectacular tricks are performed. (If you enjoy magic tricks and you don't want the illusion to be broken, you may need to skip some parts.) Flick is such a brilliant character and a great representation of a disabled character. The twist didn't come as a surprise to me as I guessed it quite early on but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. The book ends on a massive cliffhanger, preparing the ground for the sequel. I found the last chapter a bit rushed, with the dialogues a bit simplistic, which was a bit of a shame as the rest of the book was a magical read. I'm curious to find out how the series develops and how Flick's story continues.

Flick is about to star on a new TV show, where chilldren compete to win the legacy and secrets of The Great Fox, a legendary magician. But Flick isn’t interested in The Great Fox’s magic -she wants to avenge her family who were destroyed by the magician years ago and she knows the answer lies somewhere in his house. This whimsical magic story is action-packed and so intriguing with lots of real life illusions mentioned. I had so much fun trying to figure out they were pulled off. Flick is disabled and I love seeing this kind of refreshing representation in children’s books. With a slight Willy Wonka vibe to it, The Great Fox Illusion is an exciting, clever adventure that young (and not so young) readers will love!

I was really drawn in by this book and read it in one sitting. it was hard to put down and i was desperate to know what would happen to the kids next. however, the ending disappointed me a lot. it felt too 'convenient', i hate saying this, but it felt like the author wasn't actually sure how to end things so just threw together something, but also it wasn't fully explained. i get the feeling there might be more books to come, as it was sort of hinted at, so maybe there would be more explained in the future. and i would be interested to read more, because, despite the ending, the rest of the book was excellent and really compelling

The Great Fox Illusion
By Justyn Edwards
Published by Walker Books UK

What a treat to read a story full of magic and illusion centred around one truly gritty & strong willed female character!
Meet thirteen-year-old Flick Lions, who having won a TV competition competes with three other youngsters to win the legacy of the Great Fox.

But all is not what it seems in this fast paced tale, where the author teases us with behind-the-scenes glimpses into the world of illusionists' tricks and methods.

Because Flick NEEDS something more than the end prize.
This is also the tale of a young girl's bravery and courage in the face of disability, and of the value of friendship in the face of adversity.

Thanks go to Justyn Edwards for pushing boundaries, creating heroines and giving girls (and boys) like Flick the platform to say “I can do anything!”

With the creative flare of words and tricks formed in your mind you are in for a treat of a read like no other.

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books.
#Netgallery
#WalkerBooksUK

I loved this book. Very intriguing and original. Flick enters a competition to win all the tricks of a late famous magician, The Great Fox. In order to win, she has to prove her ability to see through illusions, explain how tricks work and explore The Great Fox’s mysterious rambling mansion and solve the clues he has left behind.
The book also contains a good representation of disability, as Flick has a prosthetic leg.

The Great Fox Illusion follows Flick as she manages to get into a reality TV show that will offer the secrets of the greatest magician to the winner. However Flick is in it for more than glory. This competition is personal.

Fantastic and full of heart. Flick is a great, determined young heroine for kids.

Felicity, or Flick, Lions is the daughter of a magician and she has managed to win herself a place on a new television show competing with others to win the legacy of the Great Fox, the pseudonym of one of the world’s most famous magicians. However, Flick doesn’t care about his legacy…she cares about her father’s legacy and she will go to any lengths to find it and bring her father back into her life.

This was such a fun and fast paced book! I read this in one sitting on a lazy Sunday morning and boy did it wake me up. From the very beginning, it feels as if the reader is thrust into a puzzle themselves and I love the little asides from the narrator before each part – these made me very keen to try and work out what on earth was going on before Flick. I’ve always been fascinated by magic tricks and I very much enjoyed trying to figure out the solutions right alongside Flick and Charlie. I did work out one bit before it happened which felt incredibly satisfying and the cliffhanger left me looking forward to the next book!

Flick is a fantastic heroine. She is feisty and knows her own mind. Initially reluctant to be paired with anyone else, she develops and opens up across the story realising that in fact she does need support from another – just like a magician’s assistant! She and Charlie worked well together and I enjoyed his character too. I felt a sort of kinship with Charlie in his fast speaking and nervous manner. Harry and Ruby make for an interesting pair of antagonists who will leave readers angry at their snide comments.

A fascinating read that will leave readers puzzling throughout. 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a really great read that I couldnt put down. It had everything that I love in fiction, magic, mystery, friendships and above all else characters that I took to my heart. I am so happy this is the first in the series and I cannot wait to getmy hands on the nest installment. I loved it.

Over the last two years, since I started reviewing titles and keeping my little blog, I have gone from reading only the titles that I have chosen to read – either from my local independent bookshop, or from Waterstones when I’ve been further abroad – to reading almost exclusively titles that have been recommended to me by friends on Twitter. This title, due to be published on April 7th, is one which I have seen several times in my feed, most notably, perhaps, when it was read by my favourite children’s author who declared it to be ‘great fun’ and ‘brilliantly magical’.

With that as a recommendation, I added it to my list and was delighted when I spotted it had been added to Net Galley and immediately downloaded it, without really knowing any more about it. Having now read it, I have to say that I would agree with those quotes and would add that this is also an inclusive read, highly engaging and one to which I am now very much hoping there will be at least a sequel, if not a full-blown series because I need to know how main character Flick’s adventures continue.

Her adventure starts in a queue of wannabe contestants for a new reality TV show – The Great Fox Hunt – which promises to be unlike any other. Here, those taking part will be trying to locate hidden tricks in the grand house of a recently deceased famous magician in a show hosted by another magician who Flick believes wants to get his hands on the late entertainer’s illusions. After registering at the entrance, Flick says goodbye to her mother and finds her way inside to where those wishing to take part are going to be whittled down.

Making it through to the final four, Flick is paired up with Charlie – who appears to have curiously grand plans for the two of them – in opposition to siblings Ruby and Harry, before entering the house proper for the contest to begin. Once inside, the children are shown to the library to find the first clue before being shown to where they will be staying and being allowed to explore on their own under the watchful eyes of the many cameras installed in the building.

With the four of them having very different reasons for wanting to win, the competition starts and Flick does all she can to make the most of being paired with Charlie whose modus operandi is quite different to her own. Can the two of them solve the clues they find ahead of Ruby and Harry and more importantly who will win the big prize?

Flick and Charlie are a great pair of characters. Both self-reliant and different from those around them, neither of them is used to having to work with someone else but they soon realise that each of them complements the other perfectly and together they make a great team against Ruby and Harry, who are used to one another’s ways and come as a ready made team. Throughout the book, the siblings are often extremely unkind to Flick and Charlie and I’m sure I won’t be the only reader who finds themselves getting really quite cross with their prejudice and inability to accept their opponents, in the most unsporting of ways at times.

When magic creeps into the description of a book, it is usually in the context of witches, fairies or suchlike but here it refers to the art of illusion – something that many of us find fascinating. There can be very few people who at some point have not found themselves puzzling over how a trick has been performed and here, when clear logical explanations are given as to what is happening, it is hard not to be impressed by the skills of those carrying out the deceptions. That’s not to say that any of the tricks explained in the book will be spoiled by the reader finding out how they are done, rather it will add another element to them when they are reencountered, with the individual trying to be more observant in the hopes of working things out for themselves.

This really is a captivating read. Most of the chapters are quite short, which makes it all too easy to say just one more – as I did – until before you know it, the book is finished. Although the story ends quite neatly – like me, I imagine the vast majority of readers will want to know what happens next to Flick and Charlie. Perfect for Year 4 upwards, this would make a great class read or shared bedtime story and is one which adults will enjoy just as much as their young charges. I loved it and am hugely grateful to publisher Walker Books and Net Galley for my virtual advance read. The Great Fox Illusion publishes on April 7th.