A Tangle of Spells

Magic and wonder awaits the Widdershins sisters as they venture to a new village that is shrouded in a dark power. Can Betty, Charlie and Fliss save Pendlewick from the threat of witches before they also fall under their spell?

'A Tangle of Spells' is the third book in the Widdershins Adventures, with the first book being 'A Pinch of Magic' and the second book being 'A Sprinkle of Sorcery'. I have loved every single book in this series to date and 'A Tangle of Spells' is absolutely no different - it's infused with the creative imagination of Harrison that retains all the trademarks from the first two books in the series and never ever loses its charm.

I absolutely loved the setting of Pendlewick and the atmosphere of this village. You instantly realise that something isn't quite right there and that there is way more to the villagers than meets the eye. Seeing how the Widdershins coped and handled this new setting and the situations they found themselves was such a thrilling ride, especially due to how exciting the events are that happens in this book. The scenes at Blackbird Cottage when it's just Betty, Charlie and Fliss were so tense and intriguing, and when you read this book you will know what I mean. It promises more excitement to follow, and the rest of the book certainly delivers.

There are new characters that we are introduced to that live in the village, and all I can really say there is that there are some startling discoveries to be had and true danger for the Widdershins. I think this might have been the most dangerous adventure the girls have had yet and truly solidifying this as one of the best books of the series. Tick Tock Forest is also a truly creative and an imaginative addition to the story, and the new setting really made the series feel fresh and alive.

This book is filled with so many memorable and standout scenes (like when Betty and Charlie were in a place where they shouldn't have been - and that's all I'm saying without spoiling it). I can't wait for this one to come out so we can gush about all the creativity that went into building the magic of this world.

'A Tangle of Spells' is gorgeous storytelling that hooks the fans of the Widdershins sisters in from the first page, and never lets go until you read 'the end'. If any book will get your heart racing, it will be this one. I would give it more than five stars.

A Tangle of Spells is yet another breath-taking book from the sorceress that is Michelle Harrison. Harrison’s writing, as always, cast a spell over me and entrapped me within the pages of this book - I devoured it in one sitting, entirely unable to leave the Widdershins’ new home of Pendlewick until the sisters untangled the dark magic at play in their new village.

Having read the previous two books in the series, A Pinch of Magic and A Sprinkle of Sorcery, I eagerly dived into A Tangle of Spells desperately hoping it would retain even just a fraction of the charm of its prequels. My concerns were alleviated almost immediately. A Tangle of Spells is every bit as good, if not better. It is an absolute triumph and would stand well on its own, even without reading the previous books in the series.

Being reunited with characters Betty, Fliss and Charlie felt like embracing old friends. Their move to a new village for a fresh start sees them thrown head-first into a spine-chilling mystery that the girls must attempt to unravel. The pages are seeped in suspense and intrigue. Like the best mystery stories, clues are sprinkled throughout the story, in this case sometimes in the form of song lyrics or diary accounts.

A Tangle of Spells is a deliciously dark and mysterious read: the reader is left guessing from beginning to end. I was absolutely captivated by this tale and quite literally couldn’t put it down. It was clever, incredibly creepy and utterly magnificent.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to preview this ARC - I cannot wait to buy a copy to share with my class.

There can be very few regular readers of middle grade fiction who have not read and enjoyed one of Michelle Harrison’s books, and in particular A Pinch of Magic – the first in the ongoing series relating the tales of the Widdershins sisters. It seems like a very short time ago that I picked up my copy of the sequel to that – A Sprinkle of Sorcery – from my local bookshop just a few days ahead of us going into the first lockdown here in the UK. Both of these books are an absolute treat for anyone who loves a great story – packed as they are with magic, adventure and extreme danger for spirited protagonist Betty, older sister Fliss and younger sister Charlie.

The three girls are now old and familiar friends to many of us and this latest read – the third in the series – picks up their narrative shortly after the resolution of the scrapes they got themselves into in A Sprinkle of Sorcery, as they are saying farewell to their childhood home and moving to pastures new with father Barney and grandmother Bunny.

It is Betty with whom we reacquaint ourselves first though, up before everyone else and filled with excitement at saying goodbye to the Poacher’s Pocket and hello to her new home. Having already packed her whole life away into a trunk in readiness for this day, Betty appears to be the only one of the sisters excited at the prospect of leaving the inn, at least in part – possibly- because as yet the girls know nothing at all about their new home.

Making their way to the harbour where the family’s boat – The Travelling Bag – is moored, Betty reflects on her hopes for the future – in particular a future free of the dangerous situations the girls have found themselves in over the course of the previous two books. Rowing away from their island home, they pass the gloomy Crowstone Tower, part of the local jail, and travel onwards towards Pendlewick, a familiar name to Betty which conjures up images of fairytales and ticking clocks for her.

On arrival, however, the reality of their new home is not the stuff of fairytales on first appearance, as Blackbird Cottage is so crooked and rundown that Fliss comments that it looks as if a witch has lived there. On entering the cottage, Charlie is very excited to see how large the larder is and the others start to see potential in their new home once it has been given a spring clean. Even better than the spacious larder though, is the news that the three sisters will now each be able to have a bedroom of their own and that there is a garden with space for vegetables, flowers and, most excitingly of all, chickens and a swing for Charlie.

Inspecting the interior more closely, Fliss notices white powder along the windowsills and Betty identifies it as salt. This is not the only odd discovery that they make as there seem to be silver coins in every corner of every room – something that Bunny finds most worrying, insisting that her lucky horseshoe be unpacked immediately to confer its protective powers on the household. Explaining to the sisters that harmful things cannot cross the salt, Bunny reveals that she has no idea who lived in the cottage ahead of the family but says that the evidence points to the former occupants being extremely afraid of what was trying to get in before they left.

Leaving the house to go off to explore Pendlewick, a village where the residents are keen to avoid discussing magic, the girls rid themselves of the coins by hiding them in a crack in the church wall before visiting the local tearoom and finally the village store where they meet eccentric proprietor Miss Pilliwinks. As they leave with their shopping, Miss Pilliwinks warns them to stay well away from the Hungry Tree on the village green – a tree which she explains is dotted with things which it has half swallowed – and the Tick-Tock Forest, which she claims is enchanted.

The following day, while Bunny and Barney are out seeking work, the girls start to tackle some jobs in the garden with Fliss climbing a ladder to start to cut back ivy which is covering the wall of the house. Suddenly startled by something, Fliss falls from the ladder and when Betty and Charlie rush to her assistance she tells them she has spotted a face at a window of the empty house. Rationalising this as her older sister spotting her own reflection, Betty then climbs up and she is also confronted by the strange face which she notices belongs to a very realistic portrait hanging inside. The girls realise that they have not seen any such picture inside the house and deduce it can only be in a room which has been hidden within the cottage, leading them to go exploring.

On investigating, they locate the entrance to the room and after going in, Betty finds some papers and discovers that the painting is a self-portrait of a girl called Ivy, leaving the sisters puzzled as to who she was. Things then become even more mysterious when there is a crash from below – someone has let themselves inside the house and on going downstairs the girls discover the visitor has broken a mirror, an act which will lead to seven years’ bad luck. When their attention is caught by a hooded figure passing the kitchen window, the girls rush outside to confront the intruder only for it to be an extremely strange woman who points at Fliss, and moves her mouth silently before making good her escape.

From this point onwards, the girls find themselves at the centre of more and more strange and spooky goings on. Can Betty solve the riddle of who Ivy was and why she has left Blackbird Cottage? As she delves deeper and deeper into what has been happening in Pendlewick, Betty realises that witchcraft is at the root of it all and that if she is unable to overcome it, her family – and in particular one of her sisters – will never be the same again…

Although the sisters have been exposed to danger before, the witchcraft and magic in this book have taken on a far darker, more-menacing tone than in the first books and there are some really scary sections in this read. The papers which Betty finds contain diary entries which reveal in part what happened in the house before the Widdershins’ arrival, and – as the days go by – history seems to start repeating itself in the most bizarre and frightening ways. As Betty tries to piece together the evidence which she uncovers, she is forced to rely on her wits and her instinct as never before if she is to resolve the situation in which she, Fliss and Charlie find themselves.

Her biggest weapon in all of this is the close bond that she shares with her sisters, which is again explored here in depth. It is easy to see Fliss as an empty-headed beauty, and she certainly continues to use her looks to her advantage, but when Betty’s appearance is compared less favourably to her older sibling, she fails to rise to the bait because she knows that Fliss is so much more than a pretty face and – more importantly – her love for her sisters is without bounds. Being a middle sibling is not easy, but Betty quietly accepts her lot and is equally fond of Charlie, protecting her as only an older sister can when necessary but also pulling rank when she needs to.

Together, the three girls complement one another perfectly and it has been wonderful to see how their individual personalities are changing – albeit subtly – as they mature. Charlie, with her dislike of personal hygiene and dresses, is still my favourite character – and I’m sure many others’ too – but I also love Bunny who steals many of the scenes in which she appears in the book. After being the giver of the gifts in Book One, which kicked off all of the adventures, she has continued to play a vital role in the unfolding dramas and I am certain that Michelle Harrison has something in mind for her in the future, which will prove to be a pivotal part of what is to come. Until then, I will content myself with smiling at her very politically incorrect behaviour – there are not many adults in children’s books who get away with the drinking and pipe-smoking that she so enjoys, but her bad habits make her all the more endearing.

For anyone who has not as yet read the two stories preceding this one, it is written in such a way that you could read it as a stand-alone title. However, as I said when I reviewed A Sprinkle of Sorcery, why would you? There is such an enormous amount of pleasure to be gained by reading the three books that I would definitely recommend going back to to the start and extending the enjoyment to be gained by devouring all three books in quick succession. As I said earlier, this book is definitely scarier than the first two but I see no reason why all three should not be enjoyed by children in Year 5 and above – certainly, I have several children in my class who will love this title.

With this read due to be published on 4th February next year, there is not long for fans of the series to wait for a proper copy of this book, with its glorious cover by Melissa Castrillón which matches the look of the previous two. I for one cannot wait to have this sitting on my bookshelf but have been most fortunate to enjoy it ahead of time thanks to Net Galley and publishers Simon and Schuster. A most bewitching 5 out of stars.

'Everyone knows that magic and trouble go hand in hand...'

The Widdershins sisters are back and are leaving Crowstones with their father and granny to make a new start in Pendlewick where the sun shines and the village is centred around a green where the pond and the Hungry Tree stand. As the family settle into the crooked Blackbird Cottage, all is not as it seems: the villagers are behaving strangely; nobody wants to talk about magic and then the sisters find a hidden room in the cottage. When Fliss starts acting strangely and Betty and Charlie realise she has been bewitched, the race is on to save her but will their magic be strong enough to defeat the spell that has been cast of the village?

It's well-known that I am a huge fan of all of Michelle's work so there was an audible scream of excitement when I realised last Friday that A Tangle of Spells was available on Netgalley! Never have I made a request so quickly!

From the very beginning, it was wonderful to be back with Fliss, Betty and Charlie, and I found myself shedding a tear along with the girls as they bid farewell to The Poacher's Pocket. However, excitement soon takes over and the village of Pendlewick couldn't be more different to Crowstones. The village sounds wonderful and has THE most wonderfully named places: Bread-and-Cheese Hill (apparently this place actually exists in real life!); Sugar Loaf, The Splintered Broomstick, Tick Tock Forest... the names alone are enough to entice me to jump into the book and join the girls! Michelle revealed to map for the book earlier today at it just adds to the ambience!

The girls' individual personalities again come to the fore in this book with Fliss' flirtatious ways leading to trouble, leaving Betty and Charlie to come to the rescue. Betty shows us just how brave she is in this book and I love each of the girls but I think Charlie is my favourite: her mispronunciation of words and phrases is endearing (tenterhooks become tentacles; instincts become in stinks); her clothes done-up the wrong way at times, and her blunt manner (blunt but truthful!) all make me love her. She the youngest but hates being treated like that - she wants to be an equal and proves that she is worthy on more than one occasion.

I have to say that this, for me, was the darkest of the Widdershins books so far, and oh, there is so much suspense! With a host of sinister characters and people and places behaving in the most peculiar way, the book will have you gripped - and I promise that there is a twist that you really won't see coming (I most certainly didn't and it made me gasp audibly!). This is a book that you will need to take time to read because, if you are anything like me, once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down!

I always feel torn with books that engross me like A Tangle of Spells: on the one hand, I am desperate to simply gobble up every page as I need to know what's going to happen next as soon as is humanly possible; however, on the other hand, I want to savour every moment in an attempt to be part of the lives of the main characters for as long as I can. This time, devouring the pages won over, largely because I'd finished for Christmas and had the time to do that! However, the girls have stayed with me since the end of the book and I find myself imagining that I'm wandering through Pendlewick (though avoiding Tick Tock Forest!).

I honestly think that A Tangle of Spells is the best of the Widdershins stories yet and I can't wait to see what Michelle has in store for the sisters next!

Continuing the tales of Fliss, Betty and Charlie and with old and new faces. Fliss becomes lovesick. Mrs Webb aka Ivy Bell places a curse on Fliss and the others. Strange events start to happen, Teamwork by this friendly trio broke the curse.
Another brilliant magical story, which was a delight to read
Read with my ten year old son who absolutely loved it. In fact it was he who begged for me to request this title, having reviewed previous books by Michelle Harrison
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

A Tangle of Spells is the magical third book in the Widdershins sister's books, and Michelle Harrison does not disappoint! We continue to follow Betty, Fliss and Charlie as they get up to their next adventure since trouble doesn't leave them alone for long. Having moved away from crowstone to the new village of Pendlewick, the sisters move into a mysterious new house (which is very creepy) and a village which seems to have lots of secrets beneath the surface.

Michelle Harrison always excels at writing atmosphere, the setting of this book was so spooky and perfect, whilst being subtly different from the other books in the series but also keeping the same overall tone! I loved the witchy magic and haunted house elements. When Betty and Charlie are the only ones not to fall under a witches a spell it is up to them to save Fliss, their family and the rest of the village and uncover the dark secrets of Pendlewick and it's history.

The three widdershins sisters I always love to read about, their dynamic is great, I love seeing how much they all care for each other, I also really liked in this book how we explored a bit of a more complex dynamic with some of Betty's frustations and resentments bubbling to the surface. Betty is a great main character, her determination, curosity and strength are a great role model for young girls! I feel like I would have liked slightly more of the three sisters together in this book to truly make it a favourite, but I understand why not as it made sense for the plot.

I also loved the history and diary entries we had woven through the book, this added so much intrigue and I loved unravelling the mystery of Ivy Bell!

In conclusion a great installment to a great middlegrade series full fo magic, wonder and sisterhood!

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for this preview. I pretty much devoured the third helping of the Widdershins sisters in one sitting. It was great to be with the sisters again as the adventures move to the mainland as the family move into their new home.
The ever curious Betty uncovers a secret room in Blackbird cottage and things start to unravel.
This was a great adventure, with twists and turns throughout. I was gripped. This is one of those books where you are hooked and desperate to find out what happens, but it is bittersweet as you don't want it to end.

A Tangle of Spells
By Michelle Harrison
Release date 4th February 2021
Rating *****
Thank you to @simonkids_UK and @netgalley for the ARC for this book
Synopsis
Everyone knows that magic and trouble go hand in hand...

A dangerous spell cast over an unsuspecting village.
An enchanted painting locked in a hidden room.
A desperate race against time to break the spell before it's too late...

It should have been a fresh start for the Widdershins. Finally, free from the misty gloom of Crowstone and beginning a new life. But all is not as it seems in their postcard-pretty village. Their neighbours are acting strangely, and why do they flinch at the mere mention of magic?

The Widdershins sisters have their own secret: a set of enchanted nesting dolls with the power to render their user invisible. The sisters must use their wits - and their magic - if they're to break the dark hold over the village, and save one of their own . . . but have they met their match this time?

Review:
This is the third adventures in the series of the Widdershins sisters who from the start always have a problem with trouble finding them and this one is no different. Michelle Harrison always has a way of writing atmospheric settings but this one it seems to be up the anti. As I was reading, I was feeling like I was going to lose the breath as some moments were described in this. The creepiness really added to the tension especially when the ‘adults’ for once does not believe the sisters.
Where do I start with this book except it is amazing, I am so invested in these three sisters I would die for each of them, especially Charlie.
Charlie is a little star her unwavering confidence and boldness made me want to protect her at all costs. Betty really comes into her own in this book showing how brave- which we already knew and how she navigates as Fliss is growing up and noticing boys more, there was a lot of themes of growing apart of the sisters in this and how the little siblings deal with this. This was evident even before the event happened in the book. Charlie adds the comedic relief in the tension filled moments with some epic quotes and very insightful moments- her insight about adults made me chuckle.
Once again Michelle Harrison weaves a magical tale of family and the lengths that people will do to protect each other as well as a feeling of home. I will yet again making sure people read this book and the whole series when looking for something magical to read. I was unable to put this down.

The Widdershins sisters are back with their third magical fantasy adventure. They are finally leaving their home in Poacher’s Pocket, a ramshackle pub on Crowstone Island. Moving on from the gloom of the prison and the Sorrow Isles, they journey to the mainland and a bright future.

Fliss, Betty and Charlie, along with Father, Granny and Oi, the cat, arrive at Blackbird Cottage – a crooked house with a story to tell. The mysteries of their new home don’t take long to reveal themselves with lines of salt on the window sills and silver coins in the corner of every room. The inhabitants of the village of Pendlewick are just as strange as the house. Stories of witches, the Hungry Tree and the Tick Tock Forest are intriguing but more than a little frightening too. As the girls try to make friends and settle in, they discover that they may not be in for a quiet new life after all.

Readers will be carried away on an adventure full of witchcraft and the unknown. Curses, spells, enchanted houses and a missing girl weave together to create a spell-binding story bursting at the seams with more than a pinch of magic. Through the power of their family, the girls work together to find truth, goodness and hope for the future. There is little stronger than sisters who are striving to defeat evil and fill the world with good.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Books for this enchanting story!

I was so excited to find out there would be a third book in A Tangle of Spells and when I saw it was available on NetGalley I was desperate to read it. It did not disappoint - I was hooked right from the beginning.
When Betty and her family finally get to leave Crowstone and move to a seemingly idyllic country village, you may think they have left all their problems behind them. However, it is not long before there are some worrying signs that not all is right with their new home in Pendlewick. A dark magic lurks in the village, but will Betty be able to overcome it this time?
Both the previous books in the series have been so brilliant, but I have to say that this one is even better! It is full of suspense, sinister characters and lots of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat.
I read A Pinch of Magic with my class last term and they loved it; I can’t wait to tell them all about the latest instalment.

A Tangle of Spells is the third book in the Pinch of Magic series, which features the Widdershins sisters: Betty, Fliss and Charlie. I have really enjoyed this series and I have to say that this book is the best one yet. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day.

The Widdershins finally get to leave Crowstone and leave their old life in the shadow of a prison for good but they soon come to discover that the picturesque village of Pendlewick is not as it appears. There is something off about the village, from Blackbird cottage, the family's new home, to the people of the village themselves and their legends of witches (and their reluctance to talk about magic). I don't know if Michelle Harrison deliberately picked a village name so close to that of a famous witch trial or not (I suspect she did) but that just serves as a subtle nod for me of what was to come in the book.

There is a mystery to Pendlewick that is gradually revealed as the story develops: what is the truth behind the witches? Why do people behave so strangely? Who lived in Blackbird Cottage before the Widdershins family and what happened to them? I could go on, but I don't actually want to reveal too much of the story as there is so much mystery that hooks you in from the start and there are some delicious moments as things are revealed that are often as unexpected and surprising as they are thrilling.

Simply put, I loved this book. It is a fast paced mystery, thrill seeking ride which kept me wanting to read on right from the first chapter. There are some moments of genuine tension and suspense in the story as the subtle clues that 'something is wrong' build up to exciting moments for the Widdershins sisters. There were times in the story were I was worried about what would happen to characters I have come to know and care about over 3 books.

The style of the story was a bit of a step away from the previous two books for me. It still has the familiar elements of the brilliant family dynamics and the fast paced adventure with a pinch of magic at its root but this book was more suspenseful than the others and had moments of real threat and dread-which I loved. I think this is what elevated it to being the best of the 3 for me (although all three books are fabulous).

This is a great middle grade adventure mystery story, it would suit children from 8 and above perfectly-particularly those who have read the previous stories (although like all good stories it can easily be read as a stand alone, you don't need to know anything about the previous books t enjoy it).

I was completely enchanted by this whimsical adventure. I can't wait to introduce my class to these magical sisters.

A TANGLE OF SPELLS is a rapidly paced adventure that sees the Widdishins sisters leave their island for a new life on the mainland, but they can't put their magical adventures behind them as danger seems to follow them wherever they go.

A TANGLE OF SPELLS feel different to how I remember the first two books. It felt more like an atmospheric mystery bordering on MG horror, rather than a magical adventure. This didn't affect my enjoyment at all, but I would be interested to see how it felt if I'd re-read the first two beforehand - which is what I usually do.

It is very eerie at times, with the hidden room, strange sounds, and the forest where time moves differently. Given that the initial mystery was introduced through the new house - salt lines, smashing mirror, etc - that did help to set the tone. It was classic haunted house stuff, but with the more magical slant built up thanks to the first two books and the chirpier tone generated by the characters themselves.

The main thread of the story is a mystery - what happened to Ivy, the girl in the painting? The investigation takes the sisters around the village, hunting for clues, rather than trying to escape a villain or break a curse. Instead, the villain is a mystery, slowly spun out over the pages to provide a solid hook pulling you onwards.

It feels like the books have aged up a little, a bit like the initial readers will have. It's still clearly MG, but the upper end, rather than in the middle. I like that, feeling the characters grow as the stories go on. A TANGLE OF SPELLS still feels like part of the same series, but more finale and serious - the stakes upped and the danger more real. if that was the intent behind the decision, then it was well executed.

In all, it's a very satisfying ending, and I'm sad to see the series finish.

This is a middle grade book, and this is the 3rd book in A Pinch of Magic series. I love this book so much, and I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. The characters where great and well-written. The magic in this book was done differently then any other book I have read, and the mystery parts where really well-done. I loved all the twists and turns that was in this book. There was drama for the beginning, and it took a little to get into this book. I have to say the book cover of this book was so great. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Simon & Schuster Children's UK) or author (Michelle Harrison) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on February 4-2021.

A Tangle of Spells is a deliciously dark and mysterious read. From start to finish it kept me on my seat and I loved every single second of being immersed in yet another gem from Michelle Harrison!

Wow - what a rollercoaster ride A Tangle of Spells is! I have a confession to make first... I haven’t read the first two in this series. I’m sorry! I’ve always seen great reviews online of this series so when I saw A Tangle of Spells on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. It certainly lived up to the hype... and more!

This book continues to follow the adventures of Betty, Fliss and Charlie as they leave Crowstone and move to the quiet village of Pendlewick. However, this village is anything but quiet. Dark magic has been cast and a secret room, enchanted villagers and a missing teenager quickly throw the girls into a race against time to save everyone.

This book is an excellent read and had me on the edge of my seat. There were several twists which floored me and I really worried about the safety of the girls on many occasions.

It is such an enchanting read that I highly recommend this book. I’m looking forward to going back and reading the first two now.

A Tangle of Spells was everything i hoped for and more. Thankyou to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book. Before i received this i had not read the two other books in the series - A Pinch of Magic and A Sprinkle of Sorcery however i have heard nothing but fantastic things from a few youtubers. Therefore naturally i binged all three books in a single week. This is a series that once i had started it i could not put it down. These books follow the Widdershins family - mainly three sisters called Fliss, Betty and Charlie who find out that there is a curse on them and they cannot leave the island that the currently live on and A Pinch of Magic follows them as they try to break this curse. My rating for these books increased as the series went on and A Tangle of spells was the perfect book, full of magic and mischief and it had me on the edge of my seat all the time. Cannot wait to purchase all three books to add them to my bookshelves.

A Tangle of Spells is definitely my favourite Michelle Harrison novel yet! It had magic, adventure, a plot I definitely see coming and the dynamic of the Widdershins' sisters was brilliant. A really magical read set in a world that I didn't want to leave!

I received and ARC of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exhcnage for an honest review.

This installment continues the triumph that is the 'A Pinch of Magic' series of books! I'm not sure if this is the end of the series or not, but if it is, sad as I will be to have no more Widdershin's sisters adventures, I'm very happy with the way everything concluded.

In this book, the sisters, their father and Granny are finally leaving Crowstone to begin a new life away from the islands. Soon though, it becomes clear to the girls that they haven't completely left magic and strange goings on behind them. When the girls discover a hidden room with a strange painting inside, another mystery begins to unravel involving dark magic and dangerous spells. What secrets does their new village hold and will they be able to solve the problems before something terrible happens?

I love the feel I get from reading one of these books. The way the Michelle Harrison weaves the magic and folk tales together gives them a timeless quality and also makes the setting feel very familiar, as if you might have seen the village in a picture or heard about it somewhere. The gradual increase in tension throughout the novel is thrilling: going from a few unusual events, to terrifying danger. I loved every moment of it!

The bond between the sisters has always been at the heart of these stories and once again that shines through, though it is tested more than ever in this book! Betty is still my favourite for her sheer determination and courage, but how can anyone not love Charlie, her band of animals and her very definite opinions about food?

I absolutely adored this book and would recommend the series to anyone aged 8+ who likes stories with witches, creepy magic, clever and determined main characters and spooky settings.

Michelle Harrison has a knack for writing stories that grip you from the word go, and this is no different. The Widdershins sisters are at it again for another adventure, this time in their new village of Pendlewick. Magic, witches and curses - oh my! Fliss, Betty and Charlie must figure out the secret of Pendlewick and save the ones they love, and some other characters besides. By far the spookiest, creepiest entry in the Pinch of Magic series, A Tangle of Spells is a must read for anyone who loves a good village legend. Disclaimer - you may not want to read it before bed!

My favourite sisters, the Widdershins, are back for a brand new adventure. A Tangle of Spells is the third book in the adventures of the Widdershins sisters. Michelle Harrison has truly had me under her spell ever since I read the first story about sisters Fliss, Betty and Charlie. 'A Pinch of Magic’ was magical by the bucket-load and ‘A Sprinkle of Sorcery’ was an epic adventure. The question was, could Harrison magic up another spellbinding read. The answer is a resounding yes. A Tangle of Spells is everything I love about Harrison’s writing - wonderful characters, a village steeped in folklore and witchcraft, and an unbreakable sisterly bond.

Fliss, Betty and Charlie are thrilled to be leaving behind the Poacher’s Pocket on the gloomy island of Crowstone but their new home in the picturesque village of Pendlewick is not all that it appears. It isn’t long before things start to take a dark turn as their new home reveals its secrets. Blackbird Cottage is a crooked house and is full of mystery with lines of salt on the window sills and silver coins in the corners of every room. It’s not just their home that has secrets, the village of Pendlewick is steeped in a dark past and the locals are fearful of magic and any talk of it or witches immediately rouses suspicions.

As the sisters try to settle into their new life they soon learn why the locals are so afraid. Legends of the Hungry Tree, Tick Tock Forest and the pond on the village green are enough to frighten the bravest of souls. The more Betty uncovers, the more she learns of a town bewitched and of people living under a spell. And every new thing she learns puts her closer to danger and a confrontation that not everyone will survive. Can the sisters free Pendlewick from the dark magic that has bewitched the locals before they themselves fall under its spell?

A Tangle of Spells had me bewitched from the first page, so much that I was unable to put it down and I read it in one afternoon. I was desperate to find out what would happen but I also did not want it to end. The story is seeped in stories of witches, old legends, folktales, mysteries and dangerous secrets. Just when I was thinking that I had put all of the pieces of the mystery together, Harrison dropped the biggest of bombshells that had me gasping for breath.

It was awesome to be back with the three sisters, I feel like I know them so well after joining them on their two previous adventures. It honestly felt like being back with old friends who I genuinely care about. The character development from the previous books is superb. Betty is feisty, fearless and will do anything to protect her family. Fliss and Betty appear to be growing apart as Fliss is becoming more interested in other things, namely boys, and Betty is missing the older sister who she is used to having as a motherly figure and confiding in. Charlie, well Charlie is Charlie - bold, honest, blunt, brilliant and funny. Determined to not miss out on any of the action, Charlie provides some light-hearted relief to many of the more tension-filled moments. I particularly love her mis-pronunciation of the occasional word or two.

For me this is easily the most dangerous adventure that the girls have had as they find themselves battling dark powers that will put their own magic to the ultimate test and has lives hanging in the balance. It is much darker than the previous two books and there are plenty of spine-tingling, creepy and eerie moments as the girls try to unravel the mystery of Pendlewick. Harrison is currently one of the best writers of middle grade fiction and she is an expert at creating atmosphere, building tension and imagining the most wonderful of settings. I love that the town of Pendlewick gives a nod to the famous witch trials of Pendle in the 17th century, and Bread-and-Cheese Hill, the Sugar Loaf tea room and the Splintered Broomstick are wonderfully imaginative.

It is yet to be confirmed whether there will be another Widdershins adventure, I for one am hopeful that this is not the last I read about my three favourite female siblings.

Recommended for 9+.

With huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and Michelle Harrison for the advanced reader copy that I received via Netgalley.

A tangle of Spells
Michelle Harrison

In the words of Charlie, “I’m on tentacles to read this.” It really was a tangle of spells and woven and intwined in magic, adventure and trouble for the Windershin sisters. One that may see them regret, for the first time, leaving the secluded home of Crowstone. Great class read and Upks2 read for all magic, suspense, adventure lovers. A must read for ages. I just love that in the diary - chapter 9 - they quote, “should read more to be less of an old grouch.” Never a true word. In class look at the short sentences and built up suspense. All that’s left to say is thank you Michelle as she has such a beautiful way of immersing us in a world you created and making these girls part of our life. You just want more and more so please tell us there will be more than 3 as Granny Windershin would not be happy if not?

Ways to use these book in school include:
Class daily reads
A link to a magic/witch craft topic in school
Dairy writing relating to Ivy or the sisters
Suspense writing based on key events
Description of Tick Tock forest
Character descriptions of The old ladies
Alternative endings to key events
Persuasive writing why they deserved the jobs.

A delightful children's book about the Widdershins family. The three young girls, Fliss, Betty and Charlie move with their Father and Granny from Crowstone to Pendlewick where they hope they will be happier. The cottage that Granny has chosen is very strange with a secret room, lots of ivy growing up the walls, salt over the thresholds of the doors and coins in the room corners. The villagers do not talk about magic as they believe it is bad luck and that if they talk about magic it will happen.
It's a well written book that held my attention with a good story and I would love to read more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this advanced reader copy ebook.

So, I read the first book in this series purely based its cover – I saw it in the window of Waterstones and just had to have it. And I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. So I devoured the second and was chuffed to pieces to be able to read the third one before publication date.

And what a book! The imagination Ms Harrison is quite astounding – I absolutely loved the idea of a secret room and the Tick Tock forest. Some of her ideas are just so original and are handled with perfection. We still have the nesting dolls, which, lets face it, have always had a deep charm but now in mind will always be linked with this series. And Betty and Charlie use them to their advantage, even when facing less good magic.

So after the events of the last novel, the girls and their father and brilliant Granny have left the Sorrow Isles and have found a new home in Pendlewick – a rather clever reference I felt to the Pendle witches in Lancashire – but it’s not the end of their days of adventure, Pendlewick is a village with a dark secret, and Betty, strong, unsuperstitious Betty, must find out what is going on.

The plot is brilliant – so well worked out, so clever, so surprising – I really didn’t see the twist coming and I almost always notice twists! The characters are just as good as always: the girls are warm and supportive of each other, but with distinct personalities. I adore Charlie and her stubborn streak with her love of all animals. Betty, whose point of view the story is told from still adores her maps, feels quietly jealous of Fliss but who is less annoyed by her younger sister is growing into a well rounded character, full of verve but with traditional teenage doubts. And whilst there is less of Fliss in this book (for reasons that will become apparent as you read it) her kind nature is in evidence again, and her pure hatred of boats! I’d have liked more Granny because she could easily be the star of the show – could she go on one of their adventures next? And Barney is barely a footnote. And Spit? He really should have come with them to Pendlewick!

This is a perfect book for children aged 8+ my own daughter at 6 is too young for it but she is starting to be fascinated by some of the concepts – especially the nesting dolls and I look forward to reading all of them with her in the coming years. However, these aren’t in anyway patronizing, I feel like they were written for me as much as for a child. Yes they are about children, but all of us were that age once and this is just a great story with believable characters and females that act on their own agency. This novel passes the Bechdel test in spades.

Clearly the ending, whilst very satisfying leaves way for another story and I really hope there is one.

When the Widdershins family arrive at their new cottage in Pendlewick, having finally broken the curse that kept them in the Sorrow Isles, they are surprised to find that the cottage is not the picture perfect idyll that Granny had led them to believe, but it has a promising garden and Betty in particular is looking forward to exploring. However, salted thresholds, silver coins in room corners and villagers afraid of witches cause the sisters to feel that all is not well. The discovery of a secret room is only the beginning of unravelling the mystery, and when one of the sisters begins acting very strangely, the others know they need to act quickly to find the truth.
The Widdershins family are depicted with warmth and wit, whilst their new surroundings reveal a traditional rural setting with a slightly sinister twist. Part magical mystery and part adventure, this story is full of suspense and a real sense of menace, alleviated by touches of dark humour and set against the comforting background of a close-knit family with genuine affection and care for each other. I thoroughly enjoyed it and know that there are many readers in our school library who will be eager to get their hands on this book.