Crimson Twill: Witch in the Country

Crimson Twill #2

by Kallie George, Birgitta Sif (Illustrator)

Little witch Crimson wants her friends to have fun on their first visit to the country—but everything goes wrong! In a second punny adventure, the delightful series continues with plenty of spells and humor.

Crimson Twill’s new friends from New Wart City, Mauve and Wesley, are coming for a visit! But as soon as they arrive at Crimson’s house in Cackle County, things start to go wrong. At the rotten apple orchard, Crimson’s ripening spell goes horribly awry (what will they do with all that rotten applesauce?). Then, at the broom-straw field, Wesley cuts too much straw and starts to float away. And when the friends try to collect frogs’ breath for their spells (it makes everything wonderfully green and warty), Mauve gets a stinky faceful of it! What on earth is going on? The whole countryside feels like something big is about to happen, and Crimson wonders if it has something to do with Granny Twill and that giant cauldron of stew she made. Can Crimson get to the bottom of this bad-luck mystery? And, more importantly, will her city friends ever want to visit her again?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Witches, Childrens, Fiction, Halloween

80 pages, Hardcover

Published July 11, 2023

About the author

I’m an author, editor, and speaker living in Vancouver, BC, near the sea. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m teaching creative writing workshops.

I have my Masters of Children's Literature from the University of British Columbia.

I love picture books, fairy tales, beautiful art and music, and baking cookies.

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson is different from other witches. She doesn't want to wear a pointy hat; she wants a hat with a bow. She doesn't like black dresses; she wants a dress with pretty polka dots. When Crimson invites her city friends to visit her country home, she has a whole list of activities for them to do together. But everything seems to wrong, and Crimson is worried that her friends will have a terrible time!

I loved this cute book! Crimson is so sweet and I loved that she is not afraid to be different. I thought the story was really positive, but it was also just fun! I loved how her friends appreciate the ways that Crimson is different and they celebrate those differences.

I liked the cute illustrations, but I felt like the art work was really dark. There are lots of shadows in the background, so it made the art very dark. But the story is so light-hearted and fun, so it was an odd juxtaposition.

This book made me laugh, and I loved the hilarious writing style!

It was so interesting to find out about the world of the witches. I loved the world building with all the different types of brooms and how the witches harvest magical materials in the country.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

[Katherine Bichler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

This is book 2 in a cute series about a witch and her friends. She invites her city witches to visit her at her country farm where they see how things are in a rural setting. They ride brooms and cast fun spells. Fun series perfect for Halloween!

Thank you to Candlewick Press for the gifted copy!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun short chapter book for October.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my 6 year old, rating is his. He loved this little series.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This witch is a friend readers will want to have. They never know what ridiculous and fun adventures they might run into next with her at their side.

Crimson is super excited: some of her friends are coming to visit. But things aren't quite as smoothly planned as she'd hoped. Luckily, others are there to help and work with her as well as they can...despite their very different personalities. As she goes down her list of things she wants to do with her friends, one strange thing after the other occurs, causing quite much more adventure than she had ever planned.

This is a cute read with a witch and heart. Crimson is a super friendly, kind soul, who enjoys spending time with friends and does everything she can to make them feel comfortable. The country aspect adds a nice, wholesome twist, while the magic and witchiness stir in the fun. The idea of witches enjoying rotten apples, dealing with bats, and meeting trolls slides in with slight humor and smiles. It's hard to guess what will happen next because nothing runs quite as it should.

This read flows well and keeps a quick pace the entire way through. The imaginative twists keep readers on their toes, while the sprinkled in illustrations make the characters and scenes come to life. The vocabulary won't frustrate but isn't overly easy, either. There are moments of tension but nothing which will bother more sensitive readers. It's a fun read, and I am looking forward to see what adventures Crimson Twill will have next. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and enjoyed the read quite a bit.

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crimson Twill is a likable young witch who does very non-witchy things from the way she dresses to brewing lemonade in her cauldron. In Witch in the Country, the latest installment in the series, Crimson’s friends Mauve and Wesley and Dusty the broom are coming to visit her from New Wart City. Crimson has everything planned, a list of her favorite things from ripening rotten apples and gathering broom straw to croaking the frogs (to catch their misty, green frog breath!). When things don’t work out, Crimson is disappointed until she remembers something important.

As with the other books in Kallie George’s beloved series, the stories are heartfelt and fun. Crimson’s unique witchiness is adorable and she’s a likable character that I will keep following as we explore more of her world.

The evocative black-and-white illustrations throughout give us a thorough glimpse into Crimson’s country lifestyle. Can I come visit and croak frogs too??

[Kay S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the big reveal at the end! Some stories being real and kept by a few people out in the country really made the story come to life. Highlighting all that makes the witch realm different from ours was great world building. And adding that the three kids who, in the first book, were more like your average reader, were equal parts weird to witches as they were to us was a great way of getting kids on board with not being the same.

I have to say I didn't enjoy this one as much as the last one. This one felt more like Crimson's differences were playing against her and she was focusing on them instead of enjoying them like the first book. This witchling isn't the same sure-of-herself witch that was wearing and showing off her polka-dots in the big city!

[Kirsten Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Twill is a witch who isn't like every other witch she knows. When her friends come for a visit, she has all of their activities planned like croaking frogs and visiting the rotten apple orchard. Nothing goes the way she planned, though, and she has to learn that you can still have fun with your friends even if things don't go your way.
This was a delightfully silly book about childhood magic and witches and many early readers will enjoy reading it.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable and fantastical chapter book series with an endearing and unique little witch who learns important lessons and some self discovery in her adventures! I think it is well written and contains some adorable illustrations. I think this would be a fun book to read aloud with a young child! I would’ve loved the series as a witch obsessed kid (who obviously still has not grown out of that obsession! :)

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Twill, the little witch with a big imagination is busy preparing for a visit from her new friends from NEW Wart City. When her friends Mauve, Wesley, and Dusty the Broom arrive all of the events that Crimson has prepared seems to not go as planned, but as the day ends, Crimson realizes that sometimes an imperfect day makes for the best fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really cute!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is suggested for readers ages 7-9 so younger than most of the books I read. It was cute\, short, and engaging and I'm sure 7 year olds would enjoy it very much.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great early reader series!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are like a warm cup of cider, sweet and cozy. My daughter and I took turns reading them out loud over a few nights and both enjoyed the lighthearted, magical plots.