A Tale Of Magic-Book Review

Brystal Evergreen is a normal 14-year-old living in the city of Chariot Hills in the Southern Kingdom who loves to read. Except…women aren’t allowed to read, so Brystal must keep her thirst for reading a secret from people around her — other than her older Barrie Evergreen whose dream ambition is to become a lawyer and then a judge. Her entire adventure began when she took up a job at the local library claiming she wanted to work as a “maid”. She soon found a banned book about magic which triggers something in her making magical coincidences happen to her when things took a turn for the worst and she got caught. In her time, for doing magic the penalty was death. Soon she escapes the death and gets shipped off to a Correctional Facility when a fellow magic user claims to be opening a school and invited Brystal to join. Will Brystal finally be able to be herself or will she be hiding for centuries to come?

MAIN CHARACTERS OVERVIEW

• Brystal Evergreen: Brystal Evergreen is the daughter of Justice Everygreen and Lynn Everygreen. Her brothers are Barrie and Brooks Evergreen. Brystal has always loved to read and wanted to have the chance to work like all the men in her kingdom. Brystal once said, “That is the last time you will ever lay hands on me. And don’t you dare address me as a daughter. You’re no father of mine”.
• Lucy Goose: Lucy is a witch. Her parents left her with Madame Weatherberry who so graciously took her. Lucy was part of the traveling Goose Troupe when mysterious incidents happened so her parents decided to leave her with Madame Weatherberry. Lucy once said, “I’m sorry, did the walking puddle just insult my clothes?’’.
• Snowy Celeste Weatherberry: Madame Weatherberry is the founder of the Academy of Magic and recruited a few students including Brystal Everygreen to help stop the Northern Conflict. (The Northern Conflict is the Snow Queen attacking the Northern Kingdom). Madame Weatherberry once said, “Is that Miss. Evergreen hanging up there?’’.
• Tangerina Turkin: Tangerina was abandoned at birth by her parents and was found by Madame Weatherberry who made her an apprentice. Madame Weatherberry taught her how to control her magic and master it. Tangerina’s magic power is to control bee hives and is described as “a girl about ten years old who wore a dress made from dripping patches of honeycomb and her bright orange hair was styled into a beehive and it was home to a live swarm of bumblebees”. Tangerina once said, “You never listen. You’ve got too much water in your ears”.
• Skylene Lavenders: Skylene was also abandoned at birth and was found by Madame Weatherberry. She also met Tangerina there. Skylene’s magical power is to control water and is described as “a little ten-year-old girl with a navy robe over her sapphire bathing suit and instead of hair, a continuous stream of water flowed down her body and evaporated as it reached her feet”. Skylene once said, “We apprentice things”.
• Emerelda Stone: Emerelda grew up with dwarfs in a mine. The dwarfs found her abandoned in the woods crying when she was an infant. Emerelda’s magical trait is that she can turn anything into precious gems and diamonds. Emerelda was very hesitant to go with Madame Weatherberry but her foster dwarf dad convinced her. Emerelda once said, “Why would you start a school of magic? The world hates magic”.
• Xanthous Hayfield: Xanthous grew up with his family and his magical powers only started showing up later in his life. Once he accidentally burned down his house with his father in it. When Brystal and Madame Weatherberry met him he was trying to go to the river and drown himself. Xanthous’s magical power is that he has the power to control fire. Xanthous once said, “I’m magical? I thought I was cursed”.

SHOCKING TWISTS (CONTAINS SPOILERS)

I couldn’t believe that Madame Weatherberry was the Snow Queen. The reason she had frostbite was because she fought the Snow Queen inside of her and when Brystal was about to kill her I thought for sure that she would never come back but she did.

LESSONS I LEARNED FROM THIS BOOK

• Never Stop Believing In Your Goals: Madame Weatherberry believed that she could change the mind of every person who thought magic was bad and everyone magical should be sent away or abandoned. Even though she didn’t see, she still got one step close to achieving her goal of magic magical people and humankind to be friends.
• Be The Best Version Of Yourself: Brystal started out as a young girl who enjoyed reading but was forced to read in secret because of unfair rules. Now she is one of the most powerful fairies in the world of magic and helped solve all kinds of difficult problems all around the world.
• Be Kind: Madame Weatherberry was so generous to King Champion even though he was completely against her idea of opening a school for magic and recruiting kids from his kingdom to attend the school. She was patient and explained everything kindly, forcing him to see reason. He yielded in the end and gave her permission.

MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS FROM A TALE OF MAGIC

• In my opinion, the best moment was when Lucy Goose first arrived and was insulted by Tangerina Turkin and Skylene Lavenders. The comeback she had in store for them was epic. I almost fell off my chair laughing because of this battle of insults between the two of them.
• Another favorable moment is at the beginning of the book when Madame Weatherberry goes to see King Champion with Tangerina and Skylene. I find it captivating because of the way Madame Weatherberry persuades him. She adds emotions and facts and reasoning. It is very interesting as well.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?

I would totally recommend this fantastic, captivating, thrilling novel to anyone who adores fantasy fiction and fairy tales as much as I do. I could spend hours reading this series which is written by New York Times best-selling author Chris Colfer. This book is sure to inspire more creativity.

CONCLUSION

This book in my opinion is a wonderful book that is composed of multiple different elements. I hope many people will read this book in years to come and be inspired just like I was. In this series, there are two more books including A Tale Of Witchcraft and A Tale Of Sorcery. Both of these books are thrilling and entertaining for young readers. I hope I’ve convinced you to read this book, but if not it’s alright because there are more books for you to explore in the wide, wonderful world of reading. I can’t wait to write another review for another magnificent book like this! :)