One could think that a story set in a magic school would feel a bit repetitive - given how well-worn that genre is, yet I still really enjoyed this book.

The world-building is great - I felt very immersed as I was reading and the characters were really likeable.

The pacing was a little slow for me yet the the twist at the end made it worth persevering.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

I really enjoyed the audiobook of this. It was new yet familiar with the setting and I would love to read more from these characters - it's well set up for a sequel!

This is a great debut about a school of magic. I realise this has been done before, but this is definitely worth reading as the setting and world building are really good, it's lots of fun and you will love the characters.

Wow. Just wow. What a great, action-packed book that was a pleasure to read from start to finish! It kept my attention from the outset and did not let up. This book has it all: great pace, great references to different things in society already (Sherlock Holmes’s and Nessie); great characters (and names) and a strong moral story throughout! But … THE PLOT TWISTS!! This story kept them coming; they will keep you on your toes throughout as the characters try to navigate how to tackle each new challenge. However, everyone around him is not who they seem; there were large parts that I read with bated breath, wondering how our main character was going to make it through! The inclusivity in this story is spot on, highlighting and celebrating the importance of being different and not conforming to being ‘normal’ by society’s standards. Through the power of friendship, the main character Cas, does more than he thought himself capable of and ensures that he looks out for those he cares for.
I will definitely be recommending this book to the pupils I teach and the others that I work with - I know that they will love it and will thoroughly enjoy following Casander’s story.

It starts with a letter… It features a wacky school for magicians, it has a baddy so bad nobody dare mention his name, it features a sorting session before anyone can start learning anything they're due to learn, and it features a boy with a mahoosive weight of destiny on his shoulders, and a spunky, attractive girl to help out as and when. Oh, and it can be a lot more brisk, witty and all-round convivial than that bleddy Happy Rotter nonsense ("a schoolboy with a strange squiggle on his forehead", as he's called here). Yes, some books are very, very derivative, and think the best approach is to pretend they don't know that. This is very derivative, and glories in it, thankfully.

This could be insufferable if it didn't realise it was treading on well-worn paths. And it's still not great, to be fair – trudging slowly through world-building, as we see our hero at Hagworts (sorry, er, some other school for fantasy tropes with a destiny) learning stuff instead of experiencing a plot. This is over-stuffed, with every mouthful of stuffing proving to the reader that the story won't end here and we're sequel-bound (it would appear to be a two-piece, based on reports of the deal made, but nothing changes deals like success and failure, and this doesn't look like being a failure).

So, yes, I quit this before the much-vaunted twist(s). To be fair, it was far too close to Christmas and my pile was just too huge, but I had given this two bashes, and it wasn't lively, concise or amenable enough to my schedule or tastes. I was left knowing I wouldn't completely object to coming back and seeing what the fuss was always about, but I hadn't found myself in the presence of anything lavishly fresh. Indeed my wait for something dazzling here was about as fun as the author's wait for tegretol to get back on the market (see end notes for more). I did notice much that was commendable, but it was woven in with stuff that wasn't, and that just drew the initial fun out too much for me.

This is in incredible story, with magic mixed with boarding school, trouble mixed with discovery and typical middle grade uncertainty over being normal.

Casander has no memory each day he awakens but feels a sense of familiarity at waking up outside the curiosity shop. He meets Warrior, a girl who works inside and notices that he is very different to other boys his age. She too is different, and through the book, you discover why and how.

Finding their way to Wayward School, Cas must sneak in to see whether he has powers and could be the “foretold”, a child who has been prophesied to be the saviour and one to face the Master of All, the villain in our tale.

Told with adventure, magic and a brilliant cast of characters, this will keep you on the edge of your seat, not to mention keep you guessing and surprised throughout.

I was given arc copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a wonderful story and fans of Nevermore and School for Good and Evil will adore it

The idea of a magic school for kids with powers has been done and this book is no exception however it's setting and details to world building are what sets it apart and gives it its own flavour.

I truely loved getting to know the abnornies and seeing the balanced lands. It's truely brilliant writting fun for all ages.
And at its heart is a fantastic message. And it's shown by this direct quote

"Whatever people tell you about who and what you
are, always remember this: normal doesn’t exist. Everyone
is different, from the points of our fingers to the tips of our
toes. Being different is what’s normal. It’s what makes each
one of us magic, each one of us strong.”

The world never needed this message more . That quote alone has insured this book a place close to my heart forever

This was a very entertaining new entry to the well-worn magic school genre. The world-building is fun, and the characters are likeable, even if main character Casander is a little bit slow on the uptake sometimes for the sake of the plot. The main bulk of the story is exactly as you'd expect, but there's a really fun twist towards the end that elevates this out of the Potter clone zone and into something that feels a lot more unique. I'm interested to see where future stories go!

Wow! Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power has just cast a spell on us. We were hooked by the first page, by the end of the first chapter we knew we were going nowhere, doing nothing and speaking to no one until we had finished reading this thrilling adventure in its entirety. By the time we reached the end of the book (finished in 2 sittings and only because its considered rude to read at the dinner table when your family is visiting) we were absolutely desperate for the next instalment, so come on P.A. Staff, please don't keep us waiting long!

This book has everything, a great plot (yes there are some similarities with other amazing, magical series but there are also many differences so who cares?!), a fantastic realm called the Balance Lands, a school for Prestigious Others, reflective portals between the Normie world and the mystical world, an unknowing hero saviour and an evil Master of All, intent on consuming all power at any cost.

The twists and turns in this fast paced, thrilling adventure take us from meeting Cas, an amnesiac twelve year old with inexplicable power surges in his limbs, in London, as he becomes embroiled in a high stakes game of cat and mouse with maleficence alongside his new best friend, Warrior, a fearless champion of difference. His journey of discovery, who he is, what he was born to do (destroy the Big Bad and save the world - no pressure), finding wonderful friends with their unique capabilities in an enchanting school which, let's face it, is way more exciting than our own!), harnessing his own threads of power to the jaw dropping final twist, and OH, WHAT A TWIST! It even solves the centuries old mystery of the Loch Ness Monster for us... what's not to love?

It gets a wholehearted 5 stars from us and we can't wait to get our hands onto a paper copy for our library. Thank you NetGalley and Walker Books for sending this eBook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

This is an exciting book with a range of engaging characters. Well written, readers will be enticed by the world-building. Yes, there are lots of similarities to a well-known magical series but I think many MG readers will like this.

This was a fantastic, fast-paced book full of fantastic, life-like characters, each very different from one another and stand out too. I love that it focused on those who were different in some way, whether it was Casander and his funny leg, or Paws and her wheelchair, these things never made the characters lesser, they were just things they dealt with and they lived their lives.

There's some fantastic twists in this story, and I was completely riveted.

It probably isn't the most unique setting, a magic school and a boy who is Foretold as basically the saviour from the Big Bad, but the story itself is so good that it doesn't bother me that it's not the most original setting. It certainly has much more relatable characters than many I've read.

So I highly recommend this and I am really excited to read more!

They say that some people have you at "hello", this one had me with the first page. It reminds me of "The Nowhere Emporium", which to this date is still among my Top 3 Favourite Kidlit books. It is a story about a boy with no memory and a special condition that gives him uncontrollable twitch .

The writing is just mesmerising. I love this so, so, SO much.

AHH THIS BOOK! And that plot twist! Mind blown. So well written and a brilliant book to cosy on up with.

It’s a wonderful crafted children’s book that can easily be loved by every reader. It has friendship and found family, a magical school, a band of lovable misfits and some really well thought out characters. I loved getting to know them and navigating this crazy epic book world with them. A world with magical creatures, dangerous heretics and a chosen one prophecy you can’t help but get behind.

It’s a compelling trope and from the very beginnings of the book, you’re instantly thrown into intrigue and mystery which hooks you from the get go. It made for such easy and entertaining reading and it really has set itself up to be an absolutely amazing series! Because one thing is for sure, I am not ready to leave this world yet and need the sequel stat. It will leave you wanting more!