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City of Stolen Magic
- Narrator
- Shaheen Khan
- Publisher
- Penguin Random House Children's UK
- Publish Date
- 29 June 2023
- Run Time
- 10 hours 36 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Witches, wizards and magicians, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Diversity, equality, equity and inclusion, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Magical realism / Magical fantasy
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
A spellbinding, epic and heart-racing magical adventure from an exquisite new storytelling talent.
India, 1855. There are two kinds of magic in Chompa's world. The kind her mother favours: writing-magic, which anyone can do if they take the time. Write a spell in Farsi, and wait. It's calm, controlled, safe, says Ammi. It's slow, frustrating, boring, thinks Chompa.
Then there's finger-magic, which only those descended from ancient djinn are born with. Immediate, powerful - and dangerous, for every act of finger-magic leaves a trace, and comes at a price . . .
Growing up in an isolated village, hot-headed Chompa has never understood why her mother forbids her from using her potent finger-magic - until, one day, Chompa defies Ammi, and casts a spell. Soon after, a group of pale men attack their home and snatch Ammi.
In desperate search of her mother, Chompa must travel to another world: to England, and the smoky, bustling streets of East End London, where the powerful Company is transporting magical people like her and Ammi for the most sinister purpose . . .
'A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure' - Jasbinder Bilan
'An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling' - Nizrana Farook
©2023 Nazneen Ahmed Pathak (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Critics Review
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Exhilarating, thoughtful and rich . . . Easily one of the year's best books for children
Guardian
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A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine . . . Highly imaginative
Daily Telegraph
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Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story
Katherine Rundell
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City of Stolen Magic is phenomenal - vivid storytelling that skilfully and unflinchingly weaves colonial history into an epic, breathtaking, magical adventure
Sophie Anderson
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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One of the best children's books I have read in a decade . . . Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships, the whole package!
Louie Stowell
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Dazzling from start to finish. A spellbinding adventure fused with Indian folklore which sees glorious heroine Chompa journey from rural India to Victorian London as she searches for her mother
Abi Elphinstone
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An unexpected gem of a story. Packed with atmosphere - whether the narrow streets and red dust of Dacca or the grimy Dickensian squalor of Spittlelfields - it's populated by larger-than-life characters you will love and hate. A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling
Nizrana Farook
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A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets, and colonial history. An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don't see often enough in books
Rashmi Sirdeshpande
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Exhilarating and enthralling - I relished every page. A glorious blend of history, magic and thrilling adventure with a truly unforgettable heroine, this book is rare, rich and special
Katherine Woodfine
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A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure filled with thrilling characters, pacy storytelling and important historical detail. Children and adults are in for such a treat
Jasbinder Bilan
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
- Narrator
- Shaheen Khan
- Duration
- 10 hours 36 minutes
- Release Date
- 29 June 2023
- ISBN
- 9780241647080
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Random House Children's UK
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Witches, wizards and magicians, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Diversity, equality, equity and inclusion, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Magical realism / Magical fantasy
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin.A spellbinding, epic and heart-racing magical adventure from an exquisite new storytelling talent.India, 1855. There are two kinds of magic in Chompa's world. The kind her mother favours: writing-magic, which anyone can do if they take the time. Write a spell in Farsi, and wait. It's calm, controlled, safe, says Ammi. It's slow, frustrating, boring, thinks Chompa.Then there's finger-magic, which only those descended from ancient djinn are born with. Immediate, powerful - and dangerous, for every act of finger-magic leaves a trace, and comes at a price . . .Growing up in an isolated village, hot-headed Chompa has never understood why her mother forbids her from using her potent finger-magic - until, one day, Chompa defies Ammi, and casts a spell. Soon after, a group of pale men attack their home and snatch Ammi.In desperate search of her mother, Chompa must travel to another world: to England, and the smoky, bustling streets of East End London, where the powerful Company is transporting magical people like her and Ammi for the most sinister purpose . . .'A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure' - Jasbinder Bilan'An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling' - Nizrana Farook ©2023 Nazneen Ahmed Pathak (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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