This book was quite interesting. I did like the magic system. I think the main characters were really well flushed out and I really enjoyed them. I just I’m not really the biggest fanatic for middle grade fantasy so I may not be the target audience for this but saying that I did absolutely love this book for what ideas, and for the fact that I’m not the biggest fan of the genre.
I will be reading the rest of the series going forward, but unfortunately it was not a five out of 5 stars for me. It was more like an average 3 out of 5 stars but I think that’s mainly because it’s not marketed to my book tastes

This had the same fiery heart, the same fantastical focus, and the same easy-to-root-for main character as the first instalment but I felt less well bonded with the contents. I believe this was merely me reading less middle grade fiction at this time and not a reflection of the book, however.

Really enjoyed this! Being back in this world was great… and the magic continues to blow me away! Just brilliant and exciting storytelling!

Ella, Jason and Brigit are back at Arcanum Training Institute and I couldn't be happier!

They are still navigating friendships, their magic and the prejudices that come with it, along with a mysterious illness, but Ella faces it all with courage, love her!

Like the Marvellors, I found this book such fun, I adored the world building and the format of some of the story, I need to know that happens next!

THE MEMORY THIEVES is a nice return to a magic school series that uses different powers as a vehicle to explore prejudice and how education can be a battleground for ideologies.

The book continues to take the classic magic school set up (new lessons exploring powers, friendships and rivalries, sneaking out of dorms) and makes it something more by using the inclusion of a student with different powers to those the school was set up to enshrine as a way to explore prejudice. I loved how nuanced this portrayal was, looking at how the staff and students react, but also governing bodies on both sides of the magic types, as well as parents. It's a great way to look at how different people react to change and how education systems can be tools of suppression or empowerment.

There is also a lot of fun and magic alongside this serious exploration. Magic school means new magic each time, building on the last but with new school years meaning chances to introduce new magic. A fun thing about this set up is that the school is different every time, giving us (and the characters) a chance to explore a new magical place with secrets and marvels.

I love the format of this book. There are chapters from Ella's perspective interspersed with interludes from Gia's, as well as mixed media snippets, like newspapers and messages. Mixed media is such an effective way to get a lot of plot in a short word count, while also demonstrating multiple perspectives on a subject (newspapers from various sides of a debate are particularly good at this.)

Getting a look at the villain's plans is a great way to build tension too because you see some of her dealing with characters who are supposed to be "good". I need to know how that plays out in the next book!

This series just keeps getting better. This zooms along at a cracking pace and you really wonder how things will turn out. I can't wait for the next in the series.

This book is such a good read. This is the second book in this exciting fantasy adventure series for older young readers. (I think better to read them in order.) The characters and Marvelling world presented to the reader is unique, bright and full of light, anction and magic. The story line is satisfying in its depth as Ella continues her quest, again with the support of her friends. Ella determined to intervene in the villain’s plans to save her friend, protect her family and reveal the truth about Marvellers to the world. More to come in the next book, I can’t wait to see what happens. Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Absolutely devoured this one!

The magic of Clayton’s world of Marvellers, Conjurers and hidden cities floating high in the sky continues in this exciting sequel! Filled with more ever-shifting corridors, mysteries of the Arcanum to unravel, injustice to rout out and villainous plans to be thwarted!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Coming from a Conjure background, Ella is keen to be accepted by her fellow students at the prestigious Arcanum school in the skies. But the community she belongs to is not well-regarded by other Marvellers.

Unfortunately, many students at this magic school - mirroring the wider world in which Ella lives - are uncomfortable with or suspicious of Conjurors. In the school, she faces hostility from one particular student, in a manner that is a little reminiscent of Harry Potter's struggles with the Malfoys.

Even the fact that Ella earlier played a key role in thwarting the malignant plans of the Ace of Anarchy (in the first book in this series) does not make her acceptable to everyone, despite the status it has earned her as a celebrity of sorts.

To make things even worse, her own Conjure community in New Orleans is totally against Ella heading off for Year Two at the school in the sky.

In the midst of this complicated situation, even as Ella is beginning to make some unwelcome discoveries about the architect who set up the school - and also comes from the Conjure community - a mysterious magical illness begins to make its way through the school...

This book is a worthy follow up to the excellent first book by Clayton in this series. The storytelling is vivid and engaging, and the world building is in a class of its own. The dynamics of the various social factors at play provide an additional layer of complexity which lends interest to the storytelling. Highly recommended.