Just a Pinch of Magic - Kestrels Nest: BookWyrm Edition

English language

Published Sept. 2, 2023 by Feiwel & Friends.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-82911-5

(1 review)

Wini's family of enchanters runs a little bakery, but with the prices of magical ingredients skyrocketing, they're going under. Desperate to save her family's business, Wini takes a risk by casting a (sort of illegal) spell that would allow them to gather their own supply of their most needed magical ingredient: Love. But the spell doesn't work. And Wini soon discovers that it didn't just not work, it backfired. Badly. Now the whole town is in danger, and the Enchantment Agency is sniffing around for whoever cast the wayward spell.

It's just been Kal and her dad for as long as she can remember. They've weathered everything together, including Kal's mental health struggles. But just as they're about to move to a new town for a fresh start, Kal's grandfather—who mysteriously vanished years ago—has suddenly reentered their lives with a desire to make amends. He joins them in opening their …

Wini's family of enchanters runs a little bakery, but with the prices of magical ingredients skyrocketing, they're going under. Desperate to save her family's business, Wini takes a risk by casting a (sort of illegal) spell that would allow them to gather their own supply of their most needed magical ingredient: Love. But the spell doesn't work. And Wini soon discovers that it didn't just not work, it backfired. Badly. Now the whole town is in danger, and the Enchantment Agency is sniffing around for whoever cast the wayward spell.

It's just been Kal and her dad for as long as she can remember. They've weathered everything together, including Kal's mental health struggles. But just as they're about to move to a new town for a fresh start, Kal's grandfather—who mysteriously vanished years ago—has suddenly reentered their lives with a desire to make amends. He joins them in opening their bookstore in the new town, but Kal can't help but wonder if he has anything to do with the whispers around her new home about wicked magic. And it's not just the whispers of the magical books in their shop.

When Wini and Kal cross paths—both hoping for the chance to finally make a friend without worrying about their family histories following them—the girls bond over being fellow outcasts. Together they search for the solution to fixing the magic gone awry in their beloved town—and just maybe get their dads to go out on a date.

2 editions

lastblossom reviewed Just a Pinch of Magic by Alechia Dow

Magical baking and witchy vibes build the foundation for a middle grade adventure about love and the many forms it can take.

4 stars

The pastel cover had me thinking this would be a "friendship is magic tale," (and it is!) but I was delighted to find some serious witchy vibes and scares in the back half as well. Honeycrisp Hill is a place overflowing with magic, and although we only get broad strokes on how the system works, it's clear that things can get dangerous quickly.

Wini and Kal make great leads, bonding over both their similarities and their differences. The unsettling pain of being an "outsider" based on things you can't control really resonated with me, and it was great to see them connect. In that space, I was also happy to see that this book takes the time to explore the many kinds of love - that love can be between friends, or family, or also romantically.

I was not at all surprised to find the author was also a pastry …

The pastel cover had me thinking this would be a "friendship is magic tale," (and it is!) but I was delighted to find some serious witchy vibes and scares in the back half as well. Honeycrisp Hill is a place overflowing with magic, and although we only get broad strokes on how the system works, it's clear that things can get dangerous quickly.

Wini and Kal make great leads, bonding over both their similarities and their differences. The unsettling pain of being an "outsider" based on things you can't control really resonated with me, and it was great to see them connect. In that space, I was also happy to see that this book takes the time to explore the many kinds of love - that love can be between friends, or family, or also romantically.

I was not at all surprised to find the author was also a pastry chef because the descriptions of baking are spot-on. The recipes included look great, and I love that Wini's personality that shines through in the instructions. I'm definitely going to have to try some of the recipes for myself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Lists

Baking is Magic