Orla and the Magpie's Kiss is the follow up to Orla and the Serpent's Curse.
Orla, her brothers Richard and Tom, and Dave The Dog are on their way to Norfolk to spend the Easter holidays with their Uncle Valentine. The boys are less enthusiastic about this than Orla as the last time they were on holiday, Orla discovered witchcraft and they got themselves caught up in a dangerous situation. Orla now takes a gwelen (or a stick, according to Richard) everywhere, just in case she needs to collect sprowl (magic).
Uncle Valentine's house is a shack raised on stilts in the middle of nowhere and there appears to be no phone signal. The boys are not impressed by this either!
From talking to Uncle Valentine, the children discover that a local wood is due to be destroyed by a gas fracking company and the locals don't seem particularly bothered by it. Instead, they talk a lot about dreaming of shopping centres. Orla decides to investigate and begins to suspect supernatural involvement.
With a familiar character returning from the first book to lend a hand, this book is just as dark and sinister. Dave The Dog frequently offers his thoughts on situations as well, an aspect I particularly enjoyed. This book will be great for children Year 6 and up who enjoy something on the creepier side as well as a mystery.

A pacy, action-packed eco-themed adventure with a hefty dose of wry humour and bite that draws on all the right elements. Magic, mayhem, witches and wizards abound. Aided and abetted by Dave the dog, returned from the dead with the skills of a cat and an aptitude for personal security, this highly addictive, not put downable masterpiece is a surefire winner!

When Orla Perry and her two brothers, Tom and Richard, accompanied by Dave the Jack Russell, go to stay with their Great Uncle Valentine at Sicows Creek, Norfolk. It's supposed to be a holiday. No magical witch stuff from Orla, who discovered her inner witch in the preceding first adventure. Just plain old bird watching on the tidal salt-marsh coast, walking along the beach and generally doing the things the kids in Enid Blyton books would do with their dog.

But alas, it wasn't to be. When Orla discovers that Anna's Wood, an ancient wood is due to be bulldozed by GasFrac, who are intent on extracting the gas. Worse still, when Orla goes to the wood, even though she is warned off by her uncle and it's heavily guarded, she finds all the wood's natural magical energy, sprowl, has vanished. Now that is utterly impossible and downright sinister. Whilst there, she saves a magpie from a trap and, for her kindness, gets a gash on her face from the bird. Uncle Valentine tells her the 'kiss' of a magpie will show what fate's in store. And so it seems, as Orla dreams of GasFracs destruction of all the creatures of the wood.

Investigating why the locals care more about GasFrac's promise to build a new shopping centre and country park, she soon finds distrust and downright dislike for herself and Uncle Valentine. It seems everyone has sold out, sold their souls and heritage to the 'big business' devil! Even the local witch, the postmistress, seems to have sold out to GasFrac. All the villagers believe the same, and posters proclaiming 'Believe in the Power of Dreams' occupy every window.

The pace picks up from here on in faster than Orla's out of control bicycle on a downhill slope, and pretty soon, the whole family and Orla's friend, Raven, is the centre of some very unwanted attention.

I'll say no more than that, as the very best and most evil is still to come, and in every shape and form.

Coming to this second adventure without having read the first was a minor handicap to me. But that was my fault, and there is enough backstory to guide others in this situation.

I was so heartened to see the author had not shied away from bringing Dave the Jack Russell to the fore. He is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with and provides an excellent foil/support protagonist for Orla. Like so many MG books with strong female leads, there is an element of obstinance on Orla's part. Thankfully this was balanced by other traits, self-doubt, courage, determination, etc., all of which gave her a pleasing, rounded personality. I will definitely seek out the first book to fill in all the gaps and enjoy more of Dave, the Jack Russell.

Top marks for this awesome, down to earth, wry middle-grade adventure and happy to recommend it to children and adults alike.

I was really impressed by this as a children's book, it is exactly the sort of book that I would have picked up as a childand that would have made my love for reading blossom. It was well written with a dark and creppy storyline, that also had a level of humour, and well developed characters that I loved. I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in one sitting.