Reviews

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

miriireads's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A delightful story about a young magical girl crossing the globe to track down her kidnapped mother, all whilst trying to hone her powers and set during Britain's colonisation of India, which a major element in the story.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation

meganmetca1fe's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

book_cwtch's review

This is excellent on audio. As a white reader it was useful to hear the language and words of magic in the language with what I hope is an accurate accent. 

In the past Jinn and humans had children and then a war broke out between the groups. While many Jinn and part Jinn go into hiding, they are being taken and used for their magic by humans who want their magic. 

aimee94's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I LOVED this book. 

Fantastic world building with a well fleshed out magic system. I was thoroughly immersed in the story and adventures of the main character Chompa. She is head-strong, curious and brave, which I love to see in children's stories. 

This story follows Chompa's journey in discovering her magic and how she can use it to change her fate and the fate of many others. 

The book introduces the history of colonialism in an easy to understand way for younger readers, which is an important part of both Indian and British history. 

confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Chompa and her mother live in a small village in India in 1855. The country is under British rule, and magical people are being kidnapped across the country in an effort to stamp out the magic so feared by the British. Chompa doesn't understand why her mother forbids her to use her finger magic, not realising the dangers, until one night when her mother is taken. Realising her mother has been kidnapped by the all powerful Company, Chompa is heartbroken and alone as she sets out on a journey to try and rescue her. 

I loved this book! It's a wonderful exploration of magic and also friendship, perfect for younger readers. 

Chompa is a brilliant lead and one I think a lot of readers will resonate with. She doesn't understand her mother's rules at the start which I think is something that children everywhere will identify with! She grows to be a strong character though, and one who will do everything she can to protect and help her friends and family. I enjoyed seeing her friendships with Tipu, Laurie and Leeza blossom. 

I thought all of the characters were well developed to be honest. Chompa is the one we get to know the best being the protagonist, but the others were still detailed enough for them to have their own personalities and be strong characters in their own rights. 

Plot wise I thought the story was fantastic. There is enough danger here for it to feel like a real adventure, but without being too graphic or scary for younger readers. The magic systems are really well described, and I particularly enjoyed that we get to see several different types of magic and how they worked. There is a lot of detail in the world building, and it really helped to bring the story to life. 

As an English reader I thought Nazneen Ahmed Pathak did a brilliant job of exploring some uncomfortable truths. The book touches on the devastation caused by the British colonialism in India, and certainly doesn't shy away from showing the damage it caused, without being too upsetting for younger readers to read about. 

I thought this was a wonderful novel, and one of my highlights of the year so far. I would love a chance to see return to India with Chompa and her friends and see where their adventures take them next. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Childrens UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
 

jan_prellert's review

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

rhensie's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful middle-grade book that had me hooked the entire time. The magic systems alone are incredibly well-done and thoughtful. Chompa, our protagonist, is very human, flawed, and for the most part, acts as one would expect a child to act - sometimes imperfectly, but always with passion. I really enjoy

the aspect of her losing her hair, giving younger kids a heroine who doesn't look 'perfect' by traditional beauty standards, but is bold and inspiring nonetheless

. 

I initially found the switch in POV a bit jarring, but I think I acclimated to it within a few chapters. I really enjoyed these alternate POVs over time, though there were things I would've preferred to have seen/learnt about via Chompa's point of view. 

I do think this is, at times, perhaps too dark for its audience; in particular, what happens to Chompa's

mother was pretty disturbing, even for an adult reader without much detail given of the act, what is implied is horrific. Also, I didn't fully understand Amina's motivations for doing what she did. She didn't stop the machine, she didn't kill Moshin, only ended her own life, and left Chompa alone. I'm not sure what she thought she was accomplishing by doing that.

I would recommend this to an older middle grade reader. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Trafficking, Violence, and Xenophobia

herials's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really great magical adventure with important history as it’s basis. Love Chompa’s can do attitude and agency and her wonderful friends. The shift in point of view was a bit jarring, and I was a bit saddened that Chompa didn’t save her mom aka the way her mom saved them. This felt like a good opportunity for parents not to die in middle grade but missed it.
Overall, still loved this book and will easily hand sell it, but for older middle grade readers.

rackle's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25