Eglantine Bury can't find her Witchspark. But if her magic doesn't appear, her family and their magical house will fall into the terrifying clutches of the evil Whistlewitch. She teams up with Princess Victoria whose secret magical powers are getting out of control. The two witches must learn to use magic together in order to defeat the Whistlewitch and make an unbreakable bond with the magical house.

My nine year old absolutely loved this story and was particularly impressed with the world-building. He was very disappointed to discover he would have to wait a while for the sequel!

A recommended read for fans of Harry Potter, The Worst Witch, and Dominique Valente's other series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Usbourne Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a feel good read full of magic, strength, friendship and suspense- look no further.

This book steadily won me over until I physically couldn’t put it down. It was wonderfully fast paced and kept me reading for hours.

I’d defy anyone not to love Lady Eglantine and of course, the young future monarch Victoria who are both navigating their own struggles with magic. One bound without her magic and desperately in need of it to save her family and her house. The other trying to hide who she is to fit the model of a future monarch. Their fates are intertwined and the ending will leave you feeling heartwarm and happy!

It was so entertaining and a super fun read. The ending was perfect and dare I hope for more follow ups? It’s set itself up to be a wonderful series and I can’t wait to see how it continues on from here.

How do you follow the wonderful Starfell series? With Witchspark of course! Witchspark is a magical story set in an incredible world with a brilliant cast of diverse characters. Take two witches, one desperate for magic, the other who only wants rid of it. Add an abandoned boy seeking his father and a devious uncle who wants his niece dead.

Intrigued?

Then wait til you hear about the house! Huswyvern is a living house with a mind of its own and a personality to match. There’s also a wyvern, a time shifting ghost and a mischievous pair of boots. Who doesn’t love playful boots?

Witchspark is a sparkly, twisty book that packs the best king of magical punch. It’s a story of girl power, friendships, solidarity, embracing your differences and believing that with determination you can make the impossible happen.

If you loved Starfell, and even if you didn’t, you can’t fail to love Witchspark.

This is a beautiful little tale of friendship and bravery. Eglatine needs magic in order to fight for her father and magical home, whereas Princess Victoria (yes, THAT Victoria, is horrified to learn that she harbours a volatile and highly illegal form of magic. The two girls to Miss Heggoty's magical correspondence course and search for the magic within.
This tale was delightful and whimsical, brimming with magic and heartfelt messages. I loved the sentient house and the wonderful worldbuilding. In particular this book has wonderful messages about equality across society and how even children can make a stand for what they believe to be right.
This book was an absolute pleasure to read. The characters were wonderful and I loved the little world they found themselves living in. I hope this becomes a series as there is so much potential within this novel.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Witchspark is the absolutely charming new series from the master of magical story-telling Dominique Valente. A step up from the lovely Starfell series, Witchspark challenges slightly older readers to be true to themselves and never give up on their dreams. With messages of embracing your unique self, striving to be a force for good, and facing hatred and prejudice head on, it is a story to remember. Authentic representation through a main character with limb difference similar to the author herself reinforces positive messages of ability and strength.

Be bold, be brave and let us begin!

Witchspark follows the growth of two characters – one who would do anything to be a witch and one who wishes she was anything but. Set in an alternative magical Britain called Magical Isles, the Department of Isle-Spark Regulation keeps tight control over who is permitted to practise magic. Only those who pass the isle-spark test at age 9 may dare to cast a spell. Strangely (or perhaps not so strangely given the tight government controls), the number of children passing the test is decreasing every year – especially among girls and the poor. It seems only the wealthy or well-connected have the privilege of being “touched by magic”.

For others wanting to learn about magic, their only option is to turn to illegal methods. Miss Hegotty’s course for aspiring and ungovernable witches is one such banned school. Anyone who dares enquire about this clandestine correspondence course is threatened with punishment. Is anyone actually foolish enough to go through with it?

We first meet Eglantine Bury in this wonderfully magical world. Her sapient, magical house is in danger. With a change in inheritance law, it did not pass to her uncle but rather to her mother and then on to Eglantine herself. Her uncle is not happy. He wants the house for himself and will do anything to obtain it – including enlisting the help of the powerful Whistlewitch. The trouble is, Huswyvern (the house) needs to bond with its magical owner and Eglantine does not have any magic. Maybe Miss Hegotty’s course is the answer she’s looking for and she can learn enough magic to claim the house properly and stop her uncle from taking everything that’s dear to her.

Meanwhile, Princess Victoria is struggling with an uncontrollable magic that surprises her at the most inopportune times. How can the future queen have such a mortifying secret? She reaches out to Miss Hegotty in an attempt to bind her magic forever.

Neither girl can risk failure. Their entire futures depend on how quickly they can master Miss Hegotty’s spells and take control of their magic. Witching needles that help to untangle their threads of magic and the most wonderful sidekicks who support the girls every step of the way, create the most engaging of fantasy adventures.