Jude Ripon loved stealing.
Not just magic, or money, or diamonds and gold, though they were all fun things to pinch. She liked the quiet moment when she snuck through mansions of the rich... stolen seconds of living someone else's life...
***
The Blurb
Welcome to a fantasy world where edible magic is the hottest commodity, traded between those who can pay or - in the case of Jude Ripon, the youngest thief in Farrowfell - those who can steal it!
Twelve-year-old Jude Ripon has never been taken seriously by her family of magic-stealing masterminds. To them, she's just the youngest, only good for keeping watch while they carry out daring heists.
Desperate to prove her worth, Jude decides to steal valuable magic from the fanciest house in town . . .
But Jude's stolen prize was protected by a curse which threatens to wreak havoc on the family business.
While attempting to untangle the mess she's made (and wondering why anyone would want to curse an honest thief trying to earn a living), Jude discovers just how far her family will go to stay at the top of the criminal world.
Suddenly, her quest to become a true Ripon isn't straightforward any more . . .
My Review
This book will be a delight to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy.
It is a fast paced fantasy adventure story with lots happening on every page. I'm not certain I have ever come across the concept of magic being edible and I appreciated its uniqueness.
The main character, Jude Ripon lives amongst her family of thieves at Ripon Headquarters. They steal magic and keep it for themselves. Jude is the youngest of the family and when she attempts to prove herself as a true Ripon, she finds herself in a lot of trouble and unleashes a curse. The story is then taken up by how she can lift this curse before anyone in the family finds out.
I really loved Jude's character. Her bravery is admirable and she is a determined young girl. In fact, all of the characters in this book are interesting. The family are lead by Granleader and the dynamics within the family are well portrayed. Jude's sister, Moorley is the most popular in the family and Jude resents this very much. I loved the way the sisters relationship develops through the book.
The author develops both character and plot extremely well and has created a world and society which is well-imagined and also believable. Although there are themes of addiction in the story, it is portrayed in a way that is suitable for middle grade readers.
The book is the first in a series. The second book, The Beast of Farrowfell is already available, and the third, The Battle of Farrowfell is being published on the 8th of May and can be pre-ordered.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 0571371174
Publisher: Faber
Formats: e-book, audio and paperback
No. of Pages: 320 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
A born and bred Londoner, Ravena writes MG and YA, usually featuring antiheroines or snarky narrators. She is a lawyer with a degree in biochemistry, and hopes to use the knowledge gained from her experiences to plot her books, whether that's wild MG fantasy adventures, or twisty YA murder mysteries.
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(book and media courtesy of The Write Reads)
(all opinions are my own)
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