A great read for Middle Grade children looking for more magic in their lives! This novel was very atmospheric and full of rich detail. I had no issues connecting with the characters and putting myself into their world. It felt very nostalgic to me and reminded me of stories I used to enjoy as a school-age child, and I very much enjoyed this read! It was cozy and magical and otherworldly in the best of ways!

On one of her many days alone, Chloe wanders into a curiosities shop in London when she wasn't supposed to. She discovers that the shop's owners, Mr. Ixworth and Mr. Maddox, sell real magic. When Ixworth disappears, Chloe and Maddox get swept into a world of strange magic, kidnappings, and magic thefts to discover what happened to their friend.

This is the kind of book that I craved as a kid. Fun magical items, strange magical creatures and an almost found family aspect when discovering a magic world were all things I loved finding in books. However, as a grown-up, I couldn't stop thinking about how two middle-aged men were hanging out alone with and calling an eleven-year-old girl. Curse my adult sensibilities. Beyond that, the book was charming overall.

The characters in the book are one of the highlights. Chloe, Ixworth, and Maddox are a little different, but how they get along and understand each other is delightful. The curiosity shop is as whimsical and fun as the people who inhabit it. The descriptions make me feel like I could follow the general directions and find my way to the shop if I were visiting London.

The book lacks a little in terms of plot. There isn't a lot of tension, and there was so much foreshadowing in some parts that it felt like a drag to get to the part that was foreshadowed. The story picks up slowly. While it's fun to enjoy the whimsy of the magical situation, it was harder to get invested in the storyline. At the end, the darker elements didn't match up the rest of the book.

The book reminded me of books like Alice and Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but with toned-down whimsy and danger. The characters reminded me of books like The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Chrestomanci series, although I wouldn't say this book has the same quality as any of the books I've listed. If you're wanting something with a similar feel, however, this might be worth picking up.

Overall, I thought it was a fun book that unfortunately fell a little short of being truly great, although it's an enjoyable read nonetheless. If you're looking for a cozy, magical read with a touch of humor and an interesting mystery, this book might be a good fit for you.

I was provided with an advanced reader copy of this book in ebook format in hopes that i would provide an honest review.

I was drawn in by the blurb and stayed for a wonderful adventure. Chloe is feeling left behind by her friend as she has made new ones and Chloe doesnt quiet fit with this new group. Her parents are often busy and dont seem to have much in the way of time for their daughter .

So when she finds herself in a curiosity shop run by magicians and in becoming friends with them she learns magic is real and that she can do magic too !
Then when one of the magicians goes missing she and her friend must set about solving the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Its a sweet adventure, the magic system is intresting and very fun . I like that its a young person befriending older persons. Good read for a rainy day.

I absolutely enjoyed this story! It was so sweet with quirky characters and fun magic that it was such a pleasure to read.

I found the main character, the young girl Chloe, a very likable protagonist. She mostly acted her age which can be frustrating at times, with authors, in their hope of giving the main character a solid personality, forget that they’re essentially writing about a child. But Chloe was sympathetic and adventurous, and I liked her friendship with the two magicians, the owners of the curiosity shop, Ixworth and Maddox.

I highly recommend this story to all the children who love magic, and all the adults who’re children at heart.

JD Grolic shares a magical and enjoyable story, and a fine addition to middle grades fiction. I would gladly add this book to my classroom shelf.

I really liked this story overall. I did find the chapters to be very long, especially for a middle grade book.

Chloe Ashley is feeling lonely and dejected. She's estranged from her best friend and ignored by her busy parents. One dreary afternoon, she wanders into a newly refurbished curiosities shop in the heart of London. The shop is owned by Mr. Ixworth and Mr. Maddox, two eccentric gentlemen who are in the business of magic. Real magic.

This was such a fun middle-grade fantasy! Lovely atmosphere and a plucky heroine!

A great middle grade read filled with humor!

This is such a warm recommendation if you're on the lookout for a cozy mystery with magical elements and a humourous side that will capture the attention of children and adults alike! The fmc is so likeable, her companions so peculiar and loveable I was simply obsessed! It's a really short book too so it's perfect for new readers, and the mystery is actually complex which I truly appreciated!

3.5 stars.
Chloe Ashley is lonely; her parents, though they care for her, are very busy and leave her to her own devices. Also, Chloe and her best friend have drifted apart.

One day while wandering London's streets near her home, Chloe comes across a curiosities shop she's never seen before. She meets the owners, Mr. Ixworth and Mr. Maddox. They're eccentric and friendly, and inform her she's in a real magic shop run by magicians.

Feeling welcomed, Chloe begins coming by the shop regularly, and decides one day she would like to learn real magic. Mr. Maddox begins teaching her; her training is bizarre, confusing, and Chloe realizes that it is very hard to become a real magician. After much practice, She does manage to learn one spell (reminiscent of "Lux" from the "Rivers of London" series).

Then, Mr. Ixworth disappears, and Chloe and Maddox begin searching for him, as well as they can within the constraints Maddox must operate within (there are rules and limits to magic). Chloe learns of another magician, who has long had a difficult, jealousy-ridden relationship with Ixworth, and their search begins there, and eventually takes them underground and into an ancient conspiracy entailing other magicians' quest for huge power.

The story starts slowly, letting us understand Chloe's home situation and her need for connection, as well as how magicians imbue objects with power, and the difficulty of practising magic.

The story picks up gradually, as Chloe and Maddox make multiple failed attempts to find Ixworth, and the whole story culminates in a slightly scary reveal.

I would have appreciated a tighter plot with more tension. And the conflict at the climax, while resolved, was actually less satisfying than I expected. What I did like was the conversation Chloe and Ixworth had later; we know he has work to do to rebuild trust and Chloe has much more to learn, as she's demonstrated her skill with magic and willingness for adventure.

I did enjoy the way magic was defined by the author, as it was slightly unconventional, but also reminded me of portkeys, as created by you know who.

Chloe was an interesting protagonist to follow; she finds direction and her voice over the course of her adventures, and I feel like the author was leaving the door open for more story to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Oh, this was a fun read! I liked the story very much. I loved how the MC found this little shop of curiosities and instantly took a liking to it. Even more so, I liked how the shop owners instantly took the girl in and teached her all kinds of magical stuff. Further in the book, problems start to appear and the MC needs to really get into her own powers and I loved how the writer took you on this journey.

I think this is a wonderful book for children and as an adult I liked it too. I wonder if there will be another book, because I would love to read some more of these adventures!

The best fantasy book of the year! I can imagine this cosy magical shop of curiosities by Ixworth and Maddox (two bestfriends who run this bussiness magic shop). I love how Chloe make friends with two magicians. Chloe supposed to be going home after school. But, she going to the bookshop and rain is coming over. She’s trying to find somewhere to hiding and discover the wondrous merchandise the magic shop has offer. In short time, Chloe becoming a magician’s apprentice. Surely, you will never regret reading this book.

A romp through mystery with an air that definitely reminds me of "The Mysterious Benedict Society". Add to that a bit of whimsy and the appearance of magic, and you've got a nice set-up for a mystery!

To get out of a downpour an 11 year old London girl happens in to a curiosities shop. Learning that magic DOES exist after only a few visits starts friendships and adventures that she could never have imagined. Rife with mysteries and the unexpected [the book] was a delightful adventure.
I was impressed with Chole’s rational way of thinking- it was pretty believable that she would come up with ideas and solutions she suggested during the climax. I really liked how Chole was treated like an actual human being with a brain, capable of making her own decisions and judgment calls.
The only part of the story that I had “issues'' with was how all these grown up men were hanging out with an 11 year old girl and that seemed okay to everyone. Perhaps I’m just a cynical person these days, but there were some creepers around and that skeeved me out a few times.
Overall I would recommend this book to middle grade ages who are interested in mysteries and magic.

I really tried to get into this book- and read many reviews that stated it was a slow starter- but I just couldn't quite get there.

*I was given an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Okay, this one was fun! A young girl with emotionally absent parents wanders into a store and finds magic. Magicians, brownies, spells, an underground river...what's not to love? The author is great at sprinkling (really funny) humor throughout the story. I'll be reading this one to my students. Marked down from 5 to 4 stars due solely to the complexity of the resolve. It was a bit hard to understand and I already am prepared to have to do a lot of explaining to the kids when I read it.

This was a fun, entertaining story aimed at younger readers. I liked the idea of a little shop full of curiosities, and there were some quirky, eccentric characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a free copy to review.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was a fun read and reminded me of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” and “FableHaven” with the brownies and of course, the magic.

Thus was such a pleasure to read. I devoured it in one day. The characters were wonderful and the story flowed nicely. Magical! Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

One thing's for sure — J.D. Grolic, the author, certainly knows how to impress. Seriously! If he doesn't, he wouldn't have come up with his genius The Extraordinary Curiosities of Ixworth and Maddox.

In this magically compelling middle-grade masterpiece, readers are absolutely taken in the most naturally curious, fascinatingly mysterious, yet undeniably atmospheric english ride to ever exist!

For a children's book, this definitely has some spectacularly dark themes that I did not expect coming out from it. Another thing, although by plot-wise it is whimsical and lovely — the pacing, on the other hand, seems a little slow. In the end, this was still a very satisfying read.

4 stars, recommended for middle-grade students and all ages who wish for a bit more magic in their lives

“There’s no such thing as normal. Normal to one person is bonkers to another.“

Eccentricity can be magical!

Characters: 9
Young Chloe and middle-aged gentlemen shop owners Ixworth and Maddox may not fit in everywhere, but their bond with one another becomes unbreakable. Chloe finds comfort and encouragement as a respite from school, quickly becoming fascinated with the peculiar but entertaining lives of the magicians. The story’s villain(s) reveal themselves in time, and secondary characters like Chloe’s parents seem believable. Unfortunately, her classmate Iris isn’t developed as a character after being introduced early in the book.

Atmosphere/Settings: 9
The curiosity shop comes to life and creates a whimsical setting, filled with imagination and mystery… fun-filled gadgets and gizmos on display. There’s a hint of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory minus the scary nature of Willy Wonka. Who wouldn’t want to visit this emporium tucked away from Oxford Street and discover a new attraction every time? The London locations of the Mayfair shop, the area streets, and Chloe’s home can be found on current London maps; such detail is always a plus in spite of a handful of typographical errors in this advance copy, possibly fixed before publication.

Writing Style: 8
Throughout most of the story, the imaginative imagery and figurative comparisons fit the characters who provide them, especially the mind of 11-year-old Chloe in this close third-person narrative. From the climax through the ending, too much explanation limits the action and decreases the hoped-for tension.

Plot: 6
Though the world building is helpful, it lasts a bit too long before the event igniting the event occurs about one-third of the way into the book. Foreshadowing frequently pointed to it, and I would have preferred more of a surprise than a chapter titled “The Disappearance of Mr. Ixworth.” Events are connected, but the rising action through resolution creates less suspense than expected.

Intrigue: 7
Started with intrigue and remained interesting, though I can’t say the intrigue increased so that I was completely compelled to keep reading.

Logic: 8
Most of the characters’ actions and the situational details seemed credible. Some motives were simplistic or unexplained regarding the world of magicians. Perhaps they’re saved for a sequel?

Enjoyment and Meaning: 8
I hoped for an imaginative story with fun characters. This met those expectations.

Themes…

Magic may be found when and where you look for it, including inside yourself.

Respect those who respect you and learn from them regardless of age, young or old.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the ARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

Total: 55, average of 7.86 = 4 stars