Alight

Thank you Netgalley and Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for granting my request to read this book.

I was drawn to Alight because of the cover and after reading the story I think it is very well chosen. The light, the tendrils of darkness..

This Middle Grade fantasy story is about Emilie Lewis, an adopted girl who thinks she is not special at all but wants to be. She has a big imagination and comes up with epic stories and adventures with magic involved. When she meets her aunt Etty and cousin Alphie she discovers she has magic flowing through her and she can't believe it at first, but soon she wants to explore it and learn as much as fast as she can. Her cousin Alphie and Emilie grow close immediately and she meets new friends. So far it all seems like a sweet and happy story.

The plotwist was well build in and changed the happy story into one that brings out the darker parts. Emilie has the power of light, but now she comes in contact with the darkness. Unexpected meetings, who to trust and who not, friendships on the line and making tough decisions come next. I loved how it all worked out!
It's just as in real life, good things happen and bad things. It's about how we deal with these things and our choices.

I really liked Emilie, already from the start. Because she felt real. Not a perfect person, because who is? And to the story this is important as well. Something about light and darkness. Alphie is the kindest kid possible. I remember how I used to love adding in difficult and fancy words into my sentences as a child and so I loved how Alphie did the same! And for the targeted reading group I think it is a fun way to get in touch with these 'adult' words. They even put a full list incl the meaning of them all at the end of the book.

The story was easy to follow, left no big question marks at the end (just maybe about a sequel) and was fun to read.