Set in an alternate version of 1833—a year marked by societal shifts such as the abolition of slavery and child labour reforms, and a pivotal moment for female empowerment—Children's author, Dominique Valente reimagines Great Britain as the Magic Isles.

'Witchspark', by Dominique Valente (author of the 'Starfell' series) is an enchanting and gripping middle-grade fantasy that bubbles with historical fiction.

A century earlier, a seismic event known as the ‘Quake’ reshaped the land. Instead of lava erupting, something far stranger emerged: magic. From that moment, the British Isles became the Magic Isles, a place where everyday life, laws, and power were irrevocably altered. All children are tested at age nine for the ‘Isle-Spark,’ a sign they are ‘touched by magic.’ Those who pass are sent to prestigious academies, while those who fail are left feeling inferior. But now, the number of children displaying magical abilities is mysteriously dwindling, and no one knows why.

At the heart of this story is Lady Eglantine, a 12-year-old girl with a limb difference who lives in a sentient magical house in Suffolk called Huswyvern. This ancient and whimsical home, one of only a few magical dwellings in the Magic Isles, feels alive—imagine Disney’s 'Beauty and the Beast' castle with all its enchanting quirks. Huswyvern’s butler, Arthur, a wyvern in uniform, is Eglantine’s Jeeves-like guardian and best friend. (For the uninitiated, a wyvern is a mythical, winged, two-legged creature resembling a dragon, derived from the Latin word 'vipera', meaning ‘viper.’)

Eglantine’s world is thrown into chaos when her father is kidnapped by her power-hungry Uncle Lichen—a fittingly sinister name, albeit a little unfair to actual lichen. Uncle Lichen will stop at nothing to seize Huswyvern for himself, even conspiring with one of the land’s most evil witches. To protect her home, Eglantine must bond with Huswyvern through magic, but there’s one problem: she has none. Could someone—or something—be sabotaging her spark?

Meanwhile, in Kensington Palace, a 14-year-old Princess Victoria is grappling with uncontrollable outbursts of forbidden magic. For the future queen, magic is not just taboo—it’s dangerous. Under the oppressive control of her mother and the manipulative Sir Conroy, Victoria risks losing her place in the line of succession if her secret is discovered. Enter Eoin, a stable boy with his own mission, and his quick-witted companion, Rat Lord Byron (a delightful nod to the actual Lord Byron). Together, they hatch a plan to help Victoria, but their fates soon intertwine with Eglantine’s in a tale brimming with mystery, friendship, and courage.

'Witchspark' is layered with themes of empowerment and resistance. It shines a light on societal constraints placed on girls and the universal fight for equality. Eglantine’s journey is particularly poignant. Her limb difference, inspired by Dominique Valente’s own experience, challenges perceptions of weakness and showcases how obstacles can become sources of strength. It’s an inspiring and authentic representation that will resonate with readers of all ages.

History lovers will enjoy the delightful cameo of Mary Anning, whose fossil-filled conversation with Princess Victoria is both insightful and heartwarming. This story’s nods to real historical events and figures, alongside its fantastical elements, make it thought-provoking and wholly original.

Adding to the magic are Eleonora Asparuhova’s beautiful illustrations, from the vibrant cover to intricate black-and-white chapter art. They bring Valente’s world to life and are perfectly suited to the tone of the story.

For readers who love the 'The Book of Stolen Dreams' series by David Farr, 'The Chronicles of Whetherwhy: Age of Enchantment' by Anna James, or 'Artezans: The Forgotten Magic' by LD Lapinski, 'Witchspark' is a must-read. It’s ideal for families, teachers, and librarians searching for stories that blend history, fantasy, and diverse representation.

I loved this paragraph towards the end of Dominique Valente’s Author’s Note (thank you Dominique!) :
"To all the children’s booksellers, teachers, librarians, bloggers, and vloggers who champion books and reading—if aliens ever invade and question humanity’s worth, I feel you may prove there is good in the world."

Dominique Valente has crafted a story filled with heart, hope, and enough magic to leave readers eagerly awaiting the next instalment. A must-have for any bookshelf!

An imaginative story about two young girls with contrasting views on magic. While Eglantine needs her magic to spark quickly to save her magical house from her dastardly uncle who wants to sell if from under her to cash in, a young Princess Victoria needs to hide her burgeoning powers or lose her right to rule. Both have to defy conventions to blossom into who they are both meant to be, despite their controlling family members.
Dominique Valente is a talented writer with a fizzing imagination. I felt that the publisher has stifled the opening of this book. Usborne don't trust young readers to grasp concepts, so they over state and repeat again and again and again what's the goal and what's a stake. So the story takes some time to get going, which is a shame as this author has created such an immersive world that children will love. Let's hope the publisher allows the story have more room to breathe (and not force it's hand to be held going down stairs) for book two, so the author can fully unleash their talent..
There's so much to love once the story is allowed to move forward. Eglantine is a determined character who is underestimated by those around her because of her limb difference. Her ability to never give up is so empowering for young readers. She is kind and resourceful, the sort of friend every child wants. The real life Queen Victoria has been well researched and vividly recreated in a magical alternative Britain. Combined with a Wyvern butler, a bread gnome who makes food and a magical house which has is a mixture of The House at The Edge of Magic and the enchanted castle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. It's an enchanting read with strong themes to inspire capable and empathetic children.

Dominique Valente has such amazing writing and I adore her worlds. Witchspark was another amazing addition to her book catalog and I raced through this so quickly. I love going back to an alternative 1880 Britain and exploring magic an wonder. This book will be a perfect addition to my school library.

An absolute delight!

Young Lady Eglantine appears not to have magic. Eglantine's mother has died and her father has been captured by her evil Uncle Lichen and the wicked Whistlewitch. Huswyvern, Eglantine's family home, is a magic house and has been left to her following her mother's death. Uncle Lichen thinks the house should be his so conspires with Whistlewitch to steal the house from her. Eglantine needs to bond with Huswyvern to prevent this happening, and to rescue her father. So begins Eglantine's quest to find her Witchspark, helped by the banned Miss Heggoty's magic lessons and Princess Victoria. Victoria has magical powers which she struggles to control, resulting in chaos and suspicion at the palace.

This is an entertaining, heartwarming and exciting adventure, sure to capture the minds of middle years children. I loved the inclusion of historical figures such as Princess Victoria and Mary Anning. I am looking forward to seeing where Dominique Valente takes these characters next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Witchspark by Dominique Valente is a magical and enchanting tale filled with adventure, mystery, and self-discovery. Valente weaves a captivating world where magic and danger intertwine, following a young witch as she grapples with her powers and uncovers long-hidden secrets. The story is rich with vivid world-building and endearing characters, each adding depth to the protagonist's journey of finding her place in a world full of wonder and peril. With themes of courage, friendship, and embracing one's true potential, Witchspark is a spellbinding read that will captivate fans of fantasy and magic. Valente's imaginative storytelling and enchanting prose make this novel a delightful escape into a world of witches, spells, and destiny.

Set in an alternative 1880’s United Kingdom, Eglantine is trying to find her magic and Princess Victoria is attempting to stamp it out, while they both need each other. This is about family, found family and finding yourself. The story is enchanting. I’m a sucker for a sentient house and Huswyvern has personality in spades. Arthur, the wyvern butler, is also a standout character.

Read this if you loved:
- The House with Clocks in its walls
- A Series of Unfortunate Events
- The Worst Witch

Set in the enchanting backdrop of 1880s Britain, “Witchspark” by Dominique Valente is a delightful middle-grade book that follows the journeys of two main characters: Eglantine, who yearns for magic, and Princess Victoria, who wishes to rid herself of it. Both girls seek the guidance of Miss Hegotty, hoping she can help them with their magical dilemmas.

Valente’s writing is impeccable, and the book is beautifully edited. It’s sure to captivate young readers who have a love for magic and quirky characters. However, I found the plot to be a bit weak. There wasn’t much happening, and at times, the book felt a bit long. Perhaps it could have benefited from being a few pages shorter.

Despite this, “Witchspark” is a charming story about two girls, magic, and friendship. It’s a shame it didn’t quite resonate with me, but it will undoubtedly appeal to its target audience.

A quick easy and fun read. My ten year old enjoyed the writing on magic in particular and thought the characters were entertaining. She didn’t enjoy this one as much as Starfell but this is possibly because she’s a little bit older now reading this however she did feel this book would be more of a hit with younger readers, age 7+.

What a story! I read this in one day and loved it. Eglantine doesn't have magic. Or does she? She needs magic to protect her house from her wicked uncle, but when her dad gets taken away, she has no-one to help her except her butler frined Arthur. Together they set about trying to find magic.
At the same time, Princess Victoria is discovering things about herself that she didn't want to know. She makes friends with an unlikely member of her household and together they investigate her new found knowledge.
Both girls need help from each other, will they give the other what they need?
A lovely story about friendship, teamwork and daring to believe.

Witchspark offers a charming blend of whimsy, danger, and magic. Eglantine’s and Victoria’s struggles with their powers make for an engaging and relatable story, showing the journey of self-discovery through their magical challenges. Valente’s world-building shines with a magical house that has a personality of its own, and Miss Hegotty, the unconventional teacher, adds layers of mystery and intrigue to the plot. With memorable characters and a fun balance of light and darker moments, Witchspark will appeal to readers looking for adventure in a world filled with magical surprises.

There's a clever nod to history; Victoria as portrayed here is still living at Kensington with her mother and John Conroy, under the stifling Kensington system. It's fun to see the girl we know will be one of Britain's greatest monarchs as a young, uncertain girl just finding her strength and power.

There's a brilliant sequel hook at the end. I can't wait to read more books in this series.

For recommendations:

Book: The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy – For its timeless appeal of young witches facing challenges, learning magic, and finding their place in a magical world.

Movie: The House with a Clock in Its Walls – For its magical house, young protagonists, and the thrilling mix of danger and whimsy that mirrors Witchspark.

With the evil Whistlewitch after her family’s magical house and no magic to defend it, Eglantine’s fate seems sealed to lose the life she’s always known. Princess Victoria’s livelihood is also at risk with magic threatening to cause chaos across the Royal realm. Can both discover and control the magic they need to succeed, and can they find each other before it’s too late?

Witchspark by Dominique Valente is released on 10th October by Usborne Publishing.

Safe to say, having read the blurb of this book, I knew going into this that Witchspark was going to be a book I would enjoy, and enjoy it I did! With fun characters, a nice dual protagonist storyline, and all the magic you could ever want, Witchspark offer a fluttery, butterfly-inducing adventure to readers.

Eglantine’s relationship with her deceased mum is a shining star in this novel for me. When I learned there was a deceased parent in another middle grade fiction novel, I must be honest, I did say “oh no, not again”, but Dominique has circumvented this by having Eglantine’s mum, at various ages, weaved throughout the narrative. Their dynamic is touching, heart tugging and filled with love and I absolutely adored this twist on the deceased parent trope!

Additionally, the way magic is performed in this novel is creative and feels different to a lot more traditional approaches to magic. Having Eglantine having to hunt for means to create magic as opposed to instantly having it add a level of fun and excitement to the novel. For younger readers especially, it will allow them to believe that with the right ingredients they can become witches too!

Finally, the Whistlewitch! I adored this character! I NEED more backstory here and hope that Valente explores the Whistlewitch and her background more in future works as I have so many questions, want so many answers, and LOVED how evil she was. Not only did she use magic to get what she wanted, she even went through mortal means to try to establish control. WHAT. A. VILLAIN!

All in all, Witchspark is an extremely delightful read with both protagonists and antagonists that shine! This will be a perfect half term read for any middle grade readers wanting a book they can’t put down and want to delve into the Witchspark within themselves!

What an absolutely wonderfully magical book. The book opens with writing that engages you and ignites the magic inside the reader. I was excited at being confronted with such enchantement and completely immersed in Eglantine's story and in turn Victoria's.

The world building is seamless, yet layered and with promise of reveals to come. I was genuinely thrilled reading the beginning of the book and the joy just continued through anger, fear, excitement and tension. I cant wait to hear what other readers get from it and I'll be adding it to the school library wishlist.

This book is fun, magical and enchanting. The two main characters are destined to meet and it is a little predictable at times.
Although it is a children's book it is still entertaining and a very good read to lift your mood.
I smiled all the way through reading it and it made me feel excited as the spells were learned and the ingredients searched for.
Thank you for allowing me to read it, I really appreciate it

A sweet and easy read, perfect for children who love witches and magic. I enjoyed this one it made a pleasant change to read a children's book. Very uplifting. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is a story about magic and is set in an alternative UK. The three main characters are two girls and a boy and they are well drawn with realistic dialogue and authentic interactions. The sentient house and moving pictures etc., is great fun and I would have loved more about the wyvern butler.

The story is enjoyable, the final showdown is exciting and the book is open for sequels.

There would be a lot in this book to discuss with youngsters: how it feels to look or be different from most people; how to face things that frighten you; learning to evaluate motives and advice.. There are also "darker" themes such as discrimination; misuse of privilege; abandonment; greedy and selfish behaviour and disregard for others but these are just lightly touched on and there is no sense of preaching.

I would be inclined to categorise this as a chapter book rather than a Middle Grade. I can imagine girls of 7 - 9 really enjoying it for its upbeat plotting and adventurous spirit. However, I don't think it's one of those books that they'd remember forever: it's fun, but the magic has no rules and just does anything the author needs, so it all feels far too simplistic. Also, the two main characters don't meet until right near the end, so the resolution of their story arcs feels flat as a result of their lack of relationship.

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.