A review by owenpeak
City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

5.0

Fabulous! This book was gorgeously written and all of the characters were so charming and intriguing. It was so cool how this novel tackles unsettling and disturbing subject matter- the British colonial impact on India and the rest of the world- in a way that demystifies the subject for children yet doesn’t shy away from the horrors and brutality that actually existed within the colonial project. Chompa was a brilliant protagonist; I loved her djinnborn powers and how she made realistic and honest decisions that made her not just a hero, but a relatable hero. Moreover, I found the interweaving of folklore and Bengali traditions into the story seamless and that they really enriched the world that was being created!