The Magician’s Daughter
It is 1912, and 16-year-old Biddy lives on the island of Hy-Brasil, a magical place that only appears to the outside world every seven years. Her desire to leave the island quickly becomes a necessity when her guardian, Rowan, doesn’t return one evening. Rowan is a mage who has been searching for rifts of magic, which have been disappearing from the world. Hunting him is the Council of Mages who wants all the magic for themselves. They believe he may know the location of one of the last magical rifts still open. When wisps made of bone and magic attack Biddy on the hidden island, she soon comes to realize she may hold the key to unlocking this secret. However, this one secret is wrapped around many others that will upset the balance of everything she has ever known.
I was sucked into the fantasy elements of the book from page one. Biddy has grown up on an island filled with magic yet cannot manipulate it herself. Entering the outside world for the first time, her only frame of reference to draw upon is what she has read in books. The magical elements add intrigue and are introduced at just the right time so as not to overwhelm readers with expository world building. As a coming-of-age story, The Magician’s Daughter thoughtfully explores personal growth and changing familial relationships. Biddy is growing up and finding out not everything she’s been told by Rowan about her past is true. As different truths are slowly unveiled by both protagonist and antagonist characters, additional captivating layers are added to the plot. And Hutchincroft makes me strongly wish for my own rabbit familiar. Parry’s novel leans towards YA readers and is an entertaining story about magic, miracles, and found family. Recommended!
