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Like a Charm #1
Like a Charm
After the death of her grandfather, neurodivergent tween Ramya uncovers a world of mystery and magic—and she’s the only one who can see it! From the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark.
“Ramya, you have something this city needs. And it’s something that’s going to change everything.”
Ramya Knox always knew she was different. Her dyspraxia makes her clumsy and prone to attracting the disapproval of her teachers. Ramya didn't know she can see magic! But when a dog statue comes to life, Ramya follows the pup and discovers a world she thought existed only in fairy tales.
Trolls, witches, kelpies, vampires, and more lurk in the shadows of Edinburgh, hiding from the most dangerous creature of sirens. These beautiful monsters use their persuasive voice to convince those around them to do their bidding—for better or worse. As the sirens rise in power, it's up to Ramya to save the day—or the Hidden and mortal worlds might both be at risk.
“Ramya, you have something this city needs. And it’s something that’s going to change everything.”
Ramya Knox always knew she was different. Her dyspraxia makes her clumsy and prone to attracting the disapproval of her teachers. Ramya didn't know she can see magic! But when a dog statue comes to life, Ramya follows the pup and discovers a world she thought existed only in fairy tales.
Trolls, witches, kelpies, vampires, and more lurk in the shadows of Edinburgh, hiding from the most dangerous creature of sirens. These beautiful monsters use their persuasive voice to convince those around them to do their bidding—for better or worse. As the sirens rise in power, it's up to Ramya to save the day—or the Hidden and mortal worlds might both be at risk.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2022
63 people are currently reading
2496 people want to read
About the author
Elle McNicoll
18 books768 followersHey, I'm Elle. I'm Scottish, autistic and an author/screenwriter who is really bad at logging her reading choices.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
January 24, 2023
Re-read in time for the sequel for once!
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This story is exactly why I read middle grade books. It's something new, something special that doesn't feel like any story I've read before. A magical realism story set in Edinburgh, this has enough of the world we know to feel familiar, while also introducing us and Ramya to the world of the Hidden Folk.
I was quite reminded of The Spiderwick Chronicles that I read when I was much younger, as the story introduced us to trolls, fae, kelpies and the feared Sirens. I loved the modern take on Sirens, that growing bored of the ocean environment, they evolved, travelled to land and thrived.
As Elle's previous two books have been standalones, I was worried that this one would be too, as I wasn't ready to leave by the end of the story. Happily though, a sequel is planned for next year that I'll be pre-ordering as soon as it becomes available.
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This story is exactly why I read middle grade books. It's something new, something special that doesn't feel like any story I've read before. A magical realism story set in Edinburgh, this has enough of the world we know to feel familiar, while also introducing us and Ramya to the world of the Hidden Folk.
I was quite reminded of The Spiderwick Chronicles that I read when I was much younger, as the story introduced us to trolls, fae, kelpies and the feared Sirens. I loved the modern take on Sirens, that growing bored of the ocean environment, they evolved, travelled to land and thrived.
As Elle's previous two books have been standalones, I was worried that this one would be too, as I wasn't ready to leave by the end of the story. Happily though, a sequel is planned for next year that I'll be pre-ordering as soon as it becomes available.
July 11, 2023
I think the main character having a learning difficulty/neurological disorder is really special and important especially in this genre. The reader is reminded throughout this book that it's our differences that make us special. Our main characters is bold, outgoing and unashamedly different which was a real joy to read.
The idea that everything humans wrote about fantastical creatures is completely wrong was really fun, it allowed the author to re-imagine everything from Vampires to Trolls. There was a nice little twist in this book too, it did take a long time to reveal but it's what I have come to expect in a middle grade. I do wish there were more twists or maybe a twist within a twist.
I did like the final 'battle' but after the battle was over this took too long to end, I won't be continuing with the series because I don't think there is enough going on for me to keep entertained. I feel like it would be wrong for me to continue knowing it probably won't get more than 3 stars.
The idea that everything humans wrote about fantastical creatures is completely wrong was really fun, it allowed the author to re-imagine everything from Vampires to Trolls. There was a nice little twist in this book too, it did take a long time to reveal but it's what I have come to expect in a middle grade. I do wish there were more twists or maybe a twist within a twist.
I did like the final 'battle' but after the battle was over this took too long to end, I won't be continuing with the series because I don't think there is enough going on for me to keep entertained. I feel like it would be wrong for me to continue knowing it probably won't get more than 3 stars.
April 8, 2022
Ohhhh I loved this book (an MG fantasy set with wonderfully vivid descriptions and specificity in Edinburgh), but even more, I adored this heroine. Proudly neurodivergent Ramya is unflinchingly abrasive, unyieldingly loyal, deeply principled, and 100% lovable, and I adored following along on her explorations through the hidden magic of her new city AND the hidden history of her own family. It's a wonderfully compelling fantasy adventure - I really raced through it - but it's also just bursting with heartfelt emotions, and the ending is beautifully cathartic and empowering.
I can't wait for book 2 to arrive!
I can't wait for book 2 to arrive!
March 1, 2022
Every time I read middlegrade I realize I need more of it in my life, and this was such a great one! It was fun, and full of heart, and such an accessible read - I absolutely flew through it. Can't wait for the sequel!
October 9, 2023
Another fantastic middle grade fantasy novel featuring Ramya, a Scottish, neurodivergent girl who has dyspraxia (a condition I hadn't heard of before this book) who lives in Edinburgh and can see creatures others can't.
I loved that this story was all about embracing our differences and that different doesn't automatically equal bad (whether you're neurodivergent, a vampire or some other supernatural creature in this case).
Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine books. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
I loved that this story was all about embracing our differences and that different doesn't automatically equal bad (whether you're neurodivergent, a vampire or some other supernatural creature in this case).
Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Ransom Riggs's Miss Peregrine books. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
February 3, 2022
This book & me are not finished! I have noted down pages I need to go back to , reread & think on. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before!
A great, modern day fairy tale that has Ramya at its heart. Ramya looses contact with her maternal grandfather after she refuses to play the piano for a beautiful & charismatic woman who is at a family party. Ramya’s mum is furious but grandad tells Ramya she is brave and clever. Mum throws grandad out telling him she, “Can’t go through all that again!” Ramya has no idea what this means and is distraught at the thought of never seeing grandad again.
Ramya is pulled back into the family & all their secrets when she attends her grandad’s funeral. Her family have moved back up from London and are living back in Scotland. She attends the same school as her cousin, who she connects with. School is not easy for Ramya, she has a diagnosis of dyspraxia & has to attend extra lessons to try to improve her presentation…so many thoughts here!
Full of magical creatures- kelpies, vampires, fae & many more. There are family secrets, relationships & a hidden world. Ramya can see through the ‘glamour’ that these hidden folk project so that we cannot see them for what they are - they just look like everyday folk to those without Ramya’s gift. There is something brewing in this undercover world, things are not right. Can Ramya help?!
This is a great adventure story. Full of clever little Edinburgh-esque touches that remind you what a special place it is.
So well written it’s a joy to read. The world is perfectly formed & everything makes sense there. The parts where Ramya travels free of her dyspraxia are just thrilling, joyous pieces.
An all round, must read!
A great, modern day fairy tale that has Ramya at its heart. Ramya looses contact with her maternal grandfather after she refuses to play the piano for a beautiful & charismatic woman who is at a family party. Ramya’s mum is furious but grandad tells Ramya she is brave and clever. Mum throws grandad out telling him she, “Can’t go through all that again!” Ramya has no idea what this means and is distraught at the thought of never seeing grandad again.
Ramya is pulled back into the family & all their secrets when she attends her grandad’s funeral. Her family have moved back up from London and are living back in Scotland. She attends the same school as her cousin, who she connects with. School is not easy for Ramya, she has a diagnosis of dyspraxia & has to attend extra lessons to try to improve her presentation…so many thoughts here!
Full of magical creatures- kelpies, vampires, fae & many more. There are family secrets, relationships & a hidden world. Ramya can see through the ‘glamour’ that these hidden folk project so that we cannot see them for what they are - they just look like everyday folk to those without Ramya’s gift. There is something brewing in this undercover world, things are not right. Can Ramya help?!
This is a great adventure story. Full of clever little Edinburgh-esque touches that remind you what a special place it is.
So well written it’s a joy to read. The world is perfectly formed & everything makes sense there. The parts where Ramya travels free of her dyspraxia are just thrilling, joyous pieces.
An all round, must read!
February 17, 2022
I am a huge fan of A Kind of Spark and was highly anticipating Like a Charm, and it did not disappoint!
This is the kind of children's literature I most want to see flourish today, tomorrow and forever. As a bookseller, I've recommended Elle's books to countless parents and children, not only because they deliver an amazing story but also because they are written with such heart and such necessary diversity.
Elle's neurodivergent main characters are such welcome to kids and adults alike. I always learn from her books and I always know how helpful and necessary they'll be for neurodivergent kids out there.
Like a Charm is charming in a lot of ways. In the corners of this very magical version of Edinburgh. In the rage and hurt we see coming from Ramya for the ways the world treats her for being neurodivergent. In the ways Ramya's family is broken but also seeing the start of a new Era with Ramya and her cousin leading the way into the Hidden Folk world.
I can't wait for the sequel! The ending leave us feeling hopeful for a kinder future, one full of adventure, love, magic and magical creatures.
This is the kind of children's literature I most want to see flourish today, tomorrow and forever. As a bookseller, I've recommended Elle's books to countless parents and children, not only because they deliver an amazing story but also because they are written with such heart and such necessary diversity.
Elle's neurodivergent main characters are such welcome to kids and adults alike. I always learn from her books and I always know how helpful and necessary they'll be for neurodivergent kids out there.
Like a Charm is charming in a lot of ways. In the corners of this very magical version of Edinburgh. In the rage and hurt we see coming from Ramya for the ways the world treats her for being neurodivergent. In the ways Ramya's family is broken but also seeing the start of a new Era with Ramya and her cousin leading the way into the Hidden Folk world.
I can't wait for the sequel! The ending leave us feeling hopeful for a kinder future, one full of adventure, love, magic and magical creatures.
January 24, 2022
We're big fans of Elle McNicoll's books here at BooksForTopics HQ. We were excited to hear that Elle's newest book takes a firm step into the magical realism genre. Elle says,"This book is a love letter to readers of A Kind of Spark who wanted to see neurodivergent girls with real magical powers. I loved magical books as a child, and still do now, so to have a neurodivergent heroine in a fantastical world, it meant a lot to me to write. I'm thrilled readers are going to meet Ramya."
At its heart, this is an exciting magical fantasy with a quest to save an endangered town. Ramya is a feisty heroine whose dyspraxia can make her feel misunderstood and disconnected from the world around her. Ramya can also perceive things that most people can't - seeing through the Glamour that disguises magical creatures. As the story unfolds, Ramya learns to trust her own instincts more, despite feeling weary from a world that fails to give value to the way she is. Her unique way of seeing things is her superpower and her quest confirms to her that her whole unique self is powerful, wonderful and of greater value to the world than she dared to imagine.
Fantasy lovers will enjoy the imaginative cast of magical characters (beware - the fairies in this book are not at all as you might expect) and the idea that a co-existing magical world is thinly veiled all around us is one that has a timeless appeal in children's literature. Many young readers will relate to Ramya's struggle to navigate the emotional connections with different family members. We were pleased to see that this is only the beginning of Ramya's adventures and that there is more to come from the magical world she inhabits, with a sequel due in Spring 2023.
Thank you to the publisher for sending us an early review copy. Our review features on our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch list: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o....
At its heart, this is an exciting magical fantasy with a quest to save an endangered town. Ramya is a feisty heroine whose dyspraxia can make her feel misunderstood and disconnected from the world around her. Ramya can also perceive things that most people can't - seeing through the Glamour that disguises magical creatures. As the story unfolds, Ramya learns to trust her own instincts more, despite feeling weary from a world that fails to give value to the way she is. Her unique way of seeing things is her superpower and her quest confirms to her that her whole unique self is powerful, wonderful and of greater value to the world than she dared to imagine.
Fantasy lovers will enjoy the imaginative cast of magical characters (beware - the fairies in this book are not at all as you might expect) and the idea that a co-existing magical world is thinly veiled all around us is one that has a timeless appeal in children's literature. Many young readers will relate to Ramya's struggle to navigate the emotional connections with different family members. We were pleased to see that this is only the beginning of Ramya's adventures and that there is more to come from the magical world she inhabits, with a sequel due in Spring 2023.
Thank you to the publisher for sending us an early review copy. Our review features on our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch list: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o....
April 26, 2023
Edinburgh there’s no place more magical.
April 30, 2023
I absolutely adored this book! Brimming with magic and magical creatures and another neurodivergent main character from Elle McNicoll.
November 13, 2023
„He chose the easy road. He chose
to be a monster. Because a monster always chooses.
That's what makes them evil.“
Ein unglaublich gutes, spannendes und Tiefgründiges Buch.
to be a monster. Because a monster always chooses.
That's what makes them evil.“
Ein unglaublich gutes, spannendes und Tiefgründiges Buch.
January 11, 2024
Elle McNicoll is a champion writer for middle grade readers when it comes to disability representation. Every book I've read by her has excellently broken their respective topics into easily understandable parts for young readers, and this is so important! Too many kids have grown up not even knowing anything about autism, dyslexia, ADHD, or dyspraxia, beyond what the media has shown us (which, is not much and is also incredibly stereotypical). This can lead to stigmatization and isolation of disabled people, which is why it's vital that we discuss disabilities with kids at a young age. It not only helps to educate able-bodied kids, but it also creates a space for disabled kids to relate to those like them. This is why books like Elle McNicoll's are so crucial for young readers, and why I'm endlessly thankful for her stories, and constantly wishing I'd had anything like them when I was younger.
Now that my mini essay is over though, let's get into the review! Like a Charm is the third book I've read by Elle McNicoll, this time following a young, headstrong, dyspraxic main character named Ramya, who learns the world is far from ordinary when she discovers she can see past the "Glamours" of magical creatures after she attends her grandfather's funeral. This kickstarts a whirlwind of a journey as she and her cousin work together to correct the old myths about the magical creatures living in Edinburgh.
Something I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that the reason Ramya can see past Glamours is because of her neurodivergence. It celebrates the beauty of being different, instead of repeating the stigmatized narrative that disabled people are "burdens" or "unintelligent," which is just not true. Since Ramya has dyspraxia, she's constantly being told that she's not capable of certain things, and is made to feel different because of it. This is a reality many disabled people face daily, but the only reason we're "not capable," (according to them), is because they refuse to accommodate our needs.
Ramya embraces her differences in this book, and learns not to judge others for their differences either. At first, she has her own biases against magical creatures, but as she realizes later in the story, if "you've met one magical creature, you've met one magical creature." As an autistic person, I hear this a lot in the community in reference to autistic and neurodivergent people, so I absolutely love that McNicoll included it in this context. Everyone is going to be different, and it's unfair and harmful to judge a person because of someone else.
The use of disability education and advocacy in a magical realism setting really brought home the point McNicoll was making. The messages in the book were crystal clear, while never taking away from the excitement and magic of the plot.
This book truly was a magical read, and I loved it. I am just so thankful that young readers have books like these, and I can't wait to see what Elle McNicoll writes next.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Now that my mini essay is over though, let's get into the review! Like a Charm is the third book I've read by Elle McNicoll, this time following a young, headstrong, dyspraxic main character named Ramya, who learns the world is far from ordinary when she discovers she can see past the "Glamours" of magical creatures after she attends her grandfather's funeral. This kickstarts a whirlwind of a journey as she and her cousin work together to correct the old myths about the magical creatures living in Edinburgh.
Something I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that the reason Ramya can see past Glamours is because of her neurodivergence. It celebrates the beauty of being different, instead of repeating the stigmatized narrative that disabled people are "burdens" or "unintelligent," which is just not true. Since Ramya has dyspraxia, she's constantly being told that she's not capable of certain things, and is made to feel different because of it. This is a reality many disabled people face daily, but the only reason we're "not capable," (according to them), is because they refuse to accommodate our needs.
Ramya embraces her differences in this book, and learns not to judge others for their differences either. At first, she has her own biases against magical creatures, but as she realizes later in the story, if "you've met one magical creature, you've met one magical creature." As an autistic person, I hear this a lot in the community in reference to autistic and neurodivergent people, so I absolutely love that McNicoll included it in this context. Everyone is going to be different, and it's unfair and harmful to judge a person because of someone else.
The use of disability education and advocacy in a magical realism setting really brought home the point McNicoll was making. The messages in the book were crystal clear, while never taking away from the excitement and magic of the plot.
This book truly was a magical read, and I loved it. I am just so thankful that young readers have books like these, and I can't wait to see what Elle McNicoll writes next.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 15, 2023
Hmmm ja dit boek viel een beetje tegen, ondanks de werkelijk spectaculaire scènes met sommige wezens. Mijn grootste probleem is dat ik niet zou weten welk kind ik dit boek zou kunnen aanraden, omdat het zo traag op gang komt. Dit boek is denk ik een opstapje naar volgende delen, want het voelde als een inleiding.
Bovendien gaat de schrijfster er naar mijn mening te vaak vanuit dat haar lezers precies doorhebben wat zij voor ogen heeft.
Bovendien gaat de schrijfster er naar mijn mening te vaak vanuit dat haar lezers precies doorhebben wat zij voor ogen heeft.
December 10, 2024
Elle McNicoll does it again! I can't believe it took me this long to take it off my tbr list. An engaging story with a great lead character - I loved the Scottish vibe and I am looking forward to reading the next one. Bring on the sirens...
October 28, 2023
delightful middle garde book, with beautiful writing and interesting story and likeable characters, looking forward to the next in the series
May 4, 2023
YA - what a gem. Really enjoyed a being sent back to a world of magic.
February 15, 2022
I finished Like a Charm last night while I was cooking dinner, book in one hand, spatula in the other, because I literally did not want to put this down after spending all week waiting for the time to read it.
When Ramya and her family move back to Edinburgh all she wants is a quiet life. But when her estranged but beloved grandfather dies, he leaves her a mysterious notebook with a warning inside: Beware the Sirens.
What more can I say other than I loved every minute of it. The world of the Hidden Folk and the mystery of her Grandpa's book is enchanting, captivating and impossible to put down. Edinburgh is so completely alive and i feel like I could navigate myself round the city by the book, though I might be disappointed to not be able to see certain doors, of course.
Where the previous two books had autistic protagonists, Ramya is dyspraxic. I only have come to understand myself as dyspraxic as an adult and truly this was representation I didn't even know i'd been missing. That deep breath before you descend some stairs, or when you have to carry something. the pen ache!! It's going to mean so much to so many kids (and adults).
No one writes an emotional core like Elle McNicoll, and that honesty and care for her character's and the depth of feeling has taken us through contemporary, near-future scifi, and now a whole new urban fantasy adventure.
Reading Like a Charm feels like watching one of the very best Ghibli movies. There's so much colour and brilliance and heart. I'm so glad we've got another adventure with Ramya in 2023.
When Ramya and her family move back to Edinburgh all she wants is a quiet life. But when her estranged but beloved grandfather dies, he leaves her a mysterious notebook with a warning inside: Beware the Sirens.
What more can I say other than I loved every minute of it. The world of the Hidden Folk and the mystery of her Grandpa's book is enchanting, captivating and impossible to put down. Edinburgh is so completely alive and i feel like I could navigate myself round the city by the book, though I might be disappointed to not be able to see certain doors, of course.
Where the previous two books had autistic protagonists, Ramya is dyspraxic. I only have come to understand myself as dyspraxic as an adult and truly this was representation I didn't even know i'd been missing. That deep breath before you descend some stairs, or when you have to carry something. the pen ache!! It's going to mean so much to so many kids (and adults).
No one writes an emotional core like Elle McNicoll, and that honesty and care for her character's and the depth of feeling has taken us through contemporary, near-future scifi, and now a whole new urban fantasy adventure.
Reading Like a Charm feels like watching one of the very best Ghibli movies. There's so much colour and brilliance and heart. I'm so glad we've got another adventure with Ramya in 2023.
June 10, 2023
A beautiful book for Edinburgh-lovers and book-lovers alike! The only thing I found jarring, as a Scottish primary teacher, were the use of English terms within a Scottish school… something I realise is pedantic but there you go. There’s already a queue of kids in my class waiting to read this gem of a book. Thank you, Elle! 📚💖🫖
January 7, 2024
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Children's for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Listen up, lovers of old school middle grade masterpieces like Harry Potter and PJO--this, like the magical middle grade worlds that came before it, is what every middle grade novel should strive to be. Like a Charm is fun, engaging, full of all sorts of new characters and creatures to fall in love with and learn more about, and is, to me, a perfect story for readers of any age, even if it's written for the middle grade level.
Ramya and her parents live in England, far away from her mother's family in Scotland, as her mother has distanced from her parents and sisters over the years, but one holiday, Ramya gets permission to pass out food at her parents' adults-only party downstairs and ends up sitting with her Grandpa and opening a gift from him and her grandmother. But when a stranger approaches them at the piano and asks them to play her a song, Ramya can tell that something is wrong. Something is off about the woman. And that something *scares* her, even though no one else understands. Something that ends up ruining not only their evening but also their already tenuous relationship with the rest of Ramya's mother's family.
Years later, Ramya and her parents move back to her mother's old home of Edinburgh, Scotland, and despite the new closeness to the rest of her family and even the fact that she is attending the same school as her cousin, her little piece of the family is more isolated from their roots than ever before. Ramya has been diagnosed with dyspraxia--a disorder which affects her motor skills--and is thusly included in special needs meetings in school where they're meant to work with her on her handwriting and other skills affected by her condition, though she is always made to feel less than in one way or another by the school system despite knowing that nothing it wrong with her (something I *adored* about her from the beginning). Every day is a study in monotony as Ramya struggles to control her anger with the system and the world for looking at her as different or wrong.
Until the unimaginable happens and shakes the whole family to its core, dropping a stranger into Ramya's life with the express purpose of pulling her further into the fold of her family to learn all about a whole new side of the world she's never heard of before--a world of witches, fae, kelpies, sirens, and all manner of other exciting, fascinating, sometimes terrifying creatures. And because she can see them through the glamour they show the world, it's suddenly Ramya's job to learn about them and to record everything she learns. And along the way, she gets to learn more about her family, her new home, and herself while also coming to terms both with what is special about her and with the fact that the world will never appreciate or accommodate her the way it should.
The *instant* that I saw Elle McNicoll describe Ramya as a neurodivergent witch and then go on to talk about Ramya's anger and the fact that she doesn't believe that neurodivergent girls owe the world a mask, I knew I was going to be in love with this story for that representation alone. With representation of both dyspraxia and autism in important characters in the story and a strong focus on the treatment of each of them by the world at large and more specifically by the school system, this book gives us something so, so important. For anyone who doesn't understand the neurodivergent experience, it is written in a way that is easy to follow and understand, and for those of us who are neurodivergent, this book is even more than a simple lesson. It's a chance to see a hero who refuses to give up or to be told she can't do anything, it is a scream into the void that you are not alone, it is a love letter to the different, beautiful ways that our brains work, and it is a reminder that we, like Ramya, owe the world nothing--especially not a mask or our conformity.
As soon as I finished my eARC, I went out and bought two copies of both Like a Charm and the sequel, Like a Curse--one copy of each for myself, and one of each to give as a Christmas gift to my niece and nephews, because I think they deserve the chance to fall in love with Ramya and her world the way I did, especially at their ages. This was such an easy five star read for me, and I hope every fantasy lover in the world gets the chance to read it. I can't wait to devour the sequel.
Listen up, lovers of old school middle grade masterpieces like Harry Potter and PJO--this, like the magical middle grade worlds that came before it, is what every middle grade novel should strive to be. Like a Charm is fun, engaging, full of all sorts of new characters and creatures to fall in love with and learn more about, and is, to me, a perfect story for readers of any age, even if it's written for the middle grade level.
Ramya and her parents live in England, far away from her mother's family in Scotland, as her mother has distanced from her parents and sisters over the years, but one holiday, Ramya gets permission to pass out food at her parents' adults-only party downstairs and ends up sitting with her Grandpa and opening a gift from him and her grandmother. But when a stranger approaches them at the piano and asks them to play her a song, Ramya can tell that something is wrong. Something is off about the woman. And that something *scares* her, even though no one else understands. Something that ends up ruining not only their evening but also their already tenuous relationship with the rest of Ramya's mother's family.
Years later, Ramya and her parents move back to her mother's old home of Edinburgh, Scotland, and despite the new closeness to the rest of her family and even the fact that she is attending the same school as her cousin, her little piece of the family is more isolated from their roots than ever before. Ramya has been diagnosed with dyspraxia--a disorder which affects her motor skills--and is thusly included in special needs meetings in school where they're meant to work with her on her handwriting and other skills affected by her condition, though she is always made to feel less than in one way or another by the school system despite knowing that nothing it wrong with her (something I *adored* about her from the beginning). Every day is a study in monotony as Ramya struggles to control her anger with the system and the world for looking at her as different or wrong.
Until the unimaginable happens and shakes the whole family to its core, dropping a stranger into Ramya's life with the express purpose of pulling her further into the fold of her family to learn all about a whole new side of the world she's never heard of before--a world of witches, fae, kelpies, sirens, and all manner of other exciting, fascinating, sometimes terrifying creatures. And because she can see them through the glamour they show the world, it's suddenly Ramya's job to learn about them and to record everything she learns. And along the way, she gets to learn more about her family, her new home, and herself while also coming to terms both with what is special about her and with the fact that the world will never appreciate or accommodate her the way it should.
The *instant* that I saw Elle McNicoll describe Ramya as a neurodivergent witch and then go on to talk about Ramya's anger and the fact that she doesn't believe that neurodivergent girls owe the world a mask, I knew I was going to be in love with this story for that representation alone. With representation of both dyspraxia and autism in important characters in the story and a strong focus on the treatment of each of them by the world at large and more specifically by the school system, this book gives us something so, so important. For anyone who doesn't understand the neurodivergent experience, it is written in a way that is easy to follow and understand, and for those of us who are neurodivergent, this book is even more than a simple lesson. It's a chance to see a hero who refuses to give up or to be told she can't do anything, it is a scream into the void that you are not alone, it is a love letter to the different, beautiful ways that our brains work, and it is a reminder that we, like Ramya, owe the world nothing--especially not a mask or our conformity.
As soon as I finished my eARC, I went out and bought two copies of both Like a Charm and the sequel, Like a Curse--one copy of each for myself, and one of each to give as a Christmas gift to my niece and nephews, because I think they deserve the chance to fall in love with Ramya and her world the way I did, especially at their ages. This was such an easy five star read for me, and I hope every fantasy lover in the world gets the chance to read it. I can't wait to devour the sequel.
May 17, 2024
"Like A Charm" by Elle McNicoll
🐶This book is one of the most beautiful and charming books about magic I've recently read.
📖The Plot: We follow little Ramya Knox. She lives in Edinburgh, which appears to be filled with magical creatures. No one can see them except Ramya. Her beloved grandfather passes away and leaves Ramya with a knot of family secrets and riddles. Three words – Beware the Sirens – are one of the clues the grandfather leaves to his granddaughter. Ramya dives into the magical and dangerous adventure that changes her life upside down.
📖The Writing Style: The story is written easily, enchantingly, and beautifully. It is well-paced and twisty. The world-building absolutely conquered my bookish heart, making me feel like I was living the story to the fullest. This magical, action-packed story is full of slight sarcastic humor, highlighting the flaws of modern society. This vivid, captivating, gentle, kind, illuminative, and inspiring book for young minds and all those who believe in magic around us is the best fantasy book I've recently read. Many brilliant metaphors, comparisons, and quotes made me smile. If I had no distractions, I would read this book in one sitting.
📖The Characters: The book is full of numerous enchanting and intriguing characters. One of the things that I loved most about them was how deeply and accurately the writer portrayed their traits of character and feelings. The process of growing up, inner transformations, and exploring the world around them (the magical and real ones) is brilliantly depicted in the characters along the way the story unfolds.
🩵The Fave Quote: "You are water. Water does not let the wind blow it in whichever direction it wishes. Water moves under its own laws."
🫶🏼Would I read other books by this author: Undoubtedly!
⭐️My humble rating is: 5/5
🌝"Like A Charm" by Elle McNicoll reminds me a bit of "Grimm" series. So, if you watched these series and enjoyed them, you'll have a fantastic time with "Like A Charm." This book is truly enchanting and will keep you under its spell from cover to cover.
🐶This book is one of the most beautiful and charming books about magic I've recently read.
📖The Plot: We follow little Ramya Knox. She lives in Edinburgh, which appears to be filled with magical creatures. No one can see them except Ramya. Her beloved grandfather passes away and leaves Ramya with a knot of family secrets and riddles. Three words – Beware the Sirens – are one of the clues the grandfather leaves to his granddaughter. Ramya dives into the magical and dangerous adventure that changes her life upside down.
📖The Writing Style: The story is written easily, enchantingly, and beautifully. It is well-paced and twisty. The world-building absolutely conquered my bookish heart, making me feel like I was living the story to the fullest. This magical, action-packed story is full of slight sarcastic humor, highlighting the flaws of modern society. This vivid, captivating, gentle, kind, illuminative, and inspiring book for young minds and all those who believe in magic around us is the best fantasy book I've recently read. Many brilliant metaphors, comparisons, and quotes made me smile. If I had no distractions, I would read this book in one sitting.
📖The Characters: The book is full of numerous enchanting and intriguing characters. One of the things that I loved most about them was how deeply and accurately the writer portrayed their traits of character and feelings. The process of growing up, inner transformations, and exploring the world around them (the magical and real ones) is brilliantly depicted in the characters along the way the story unfolds.
🩵The Fave Quote: "You are water. Water does not let the wind blow it in whichever direction it wishes. Water moves under its own laws."
🫶🏼Would I read other books by this author: Undoubtedly!
⭐️My humble rating is: 5/5
🌝"Like A Charm" by Elle McNicoll reminds me a bit of "Grimm" series. So, if you watched these series and enjoyed them, you'll have a fantastic time with "Like A Charm." This book is truly enchanting and will keep you under its spell from cover to cover.
April 19, 2023
This story ticks a lot of my boxes: creatures, witches, magic, and neurodiversity! Before this came up on NetGalley I had not heard of it, but I am so glad I did. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for myself at some point.
McNicoll weaves a story of complex family dynamics, self acceptance, and the value of community and kindness. She handles the death of a family member with sensitivity and tact. The main character has dyspraxia and considers it a gift, not a punishment. Later there is also an autistic character. I love how the characters are represented and I think it is refreshing to see neurodiversity displayed in a positive light.
Though by no means did the story feel incomplete, I did feel as though there was groundwork being laid for a sequel, which I hope is correct because I would love one. This chapter of Ramya's life is complete, but I am left with a lot of questions about her future and I would love to see another book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Elle McNicoll for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
McNicoll weaves a story of complex family dynamics, self acceptance, and the value of community and kindness. She handles the death of a family member with sensitivity and tact. The main character has dyspraxia and considers it a gift, not a punishment. Later there is also an autistic character. I love how the characters are represented and I think it is refreshing to see neurodiversity displayed in a positive light.
Though by no means did the story feel incomplete, I did feel as though there was groundwork being laid for a sequel, which I hope is correct because I would love one. This chapter of Ramya's life is complete, but I am left with a lot of questions about her future and I would love to see another book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Elle McNicoll for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2023
Elle McNicoll is still a fantastic author, but I do think she struggled a little bit mixing the contemporary and fantasy elements for me personally - the fantasy side was brilliant, but I felt it meant that the contemporary side lacked a little. It was like we were being told a lot of things, instead of being shown them, which was a little bit annoying, as I wanted to see more of Ramya's struggles with dyspraxia, her family, etc.
That being said, I still really enjoyed this and cannot wait to read the sequel!
TW for death of a grandparent, funerals, threats of death to a child, grief, ableism, coercive control, child abandonment.
That being said, I still really enjoyed this and cannot wait to read the sequel!
TW for death of a grandparent, funerals, threats of death to a child, grief, ableism, coercive control, child abandonment.
September 23, 2022
Oh wow I spent all day reading this! I bought the audiobook to read alongside my physical copy for when I couldn't use my hands, just because I needed to keep reading.
Another masterpiece. Elle McNicoll surpasses herself once again. I cannot wait for the second installment.
Another masterpiece. Elle McNicoll surpasses herself once again. I cannot wait for the second installment.
March 4, 2023
“Exactly. These stories about fairies and giants and vampires and trolls… they may have written them completely wrong. But you’re still more likely to find a magical monster in a story than someone like me.”
Elle McNicoll has done it again! Taking the important issues in our every day lives and transferring it into a middle grade novel in a way that our children will engage, learn and think about what they are reading. With Kind of Spark the use of sharks made it relatable and easy to understand. With like a charm it’s the use of folklore, magical creatures, demons and MAGIC! As a kid what’s not to like!? As an adult I’m on board too!
Ramya Knox is dyspraxic. Meaning that often she is overlooked and underestimated when it comes to what she can achieve. But when she moves back to Edinburgh and finds it filled with magical creatures… she finds that she is capable of anything she puts her mind to.
This book just feels absolutely relevant right now in a time when those who are different need to stay quiet and stay hidden in order to feel safe. The fact that the media is used to incite terror, hate and violence especially against those marginalised people. And that those in power use these means to manipulate and invoke a certain response from us mere citizens.
I love that it’s another own voices novel and that the author is giving space in our literature to those who never had it before. I love that these novels are helping to build understanding and for our children to see themselves in the stories they are reading. I love how these books give those children power and confidence; belief that they can be whoever they want to be.
This is proof that there are more magical children’s stories out there than those stories written by someone who is inciting hate in our community. This one is an excellent alternative and imo even better.
Elle McNicoll has done it again! Taking the important issues in our every day lives and transferring it into a middle grade novel in a way that our children will engage, learn and think about what they are reading. With Kind of Spark the use of sharks made it relatable and easy to understand. With like a charm it’s the use of folklore, magical creatures, demons and MAGIC! As a kid what’s not to like!? As an adult I’m on board too!
Ramya Knox is dyspraxic. Meaning that often she is overlooked and underestimated when it comes to what she can achieve. But when she moves back to Edinburgh and finds it filled with magical creatures… she finds that she is capable of anything she puts her mind to.
This book just feels absolutely relevant right now in a time when those who are different need to stay quiet and stay hidden in order to feel safe. The fact that the media is used to incite terror, hate and violence especially against those marginalised people. And that those in power use these means to manipulate and invoke a certain response from us mere citizens.
I love that it’s another own voices novel and that the author is giving space in our literature to those who never had it before. I love that these novels are helping to build understanding and for our children to see themselves in the stories they are reading. I love how these books give those children power and confidence; belief that they can be whoever they want to be.
This is proof that there are more magical children’s stories out there than those stories written by someone who is inciting hate in our community. This one is an excellent alternative and imo even better.
February 6, 2022
Another fantastic book from Elle McNicoll. Fantastic characterisation and an awesome heroine who just happens to be dyspraxic. Can’t wait for the next one!
January 30, 2022
Elle has blown me away with her first fantasy novel. A neurodivergent female lead; trolls, witches and kelpies; bookshops to be explored and a fight for community - what more could you want? This is one of those books that I will always want to be able to read for the first time again. I loved it all.
March 4, 2022
Another great book by Elle McNicol, this time Ramya discovers magic. Sprites, Kelpies, Vampires, Witches and more.
Ramya is here to change everything, Edinburgh will not be the same after she discovers why her family was broken apart. Not only that but there will be a sequel!!!
This book is full of magical moments and so many quotes that I want to hang around my house! Fantastic
Ramya is here to change everything, Edinburgh will not be the same after she discovers why her family was broken apart. Not only that but there will be a sequel!!!
This book is full of magical moments and so many quotes that I want to hang around my house! Fantastic
October 16, 2023
Ramya and her strength of character and narration, as well as a point of view on a disability not often showcased in books, were the high point of this middle grade urban fantasy. I did find that the pacing felt a little off and I didn't quite feel the heart-pounding emotional investment that I'd hoped, and that the discussion of the magic system such as it was needed perhaps a little extra, but overall it was a good read, especially for those who like unlikely or overlooked characters becoming heroes and books with a focus on setting/place.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
February 14, 2022
I feel a bit like a broken record but I cannot tell you enough times how incredible Elle McNicoll is! Another fantastic book from a fantastic author. It’s so good seeing neurodiverse characters in big hitting books, but the storylines are also amazing. I absolutely freaked out over recognising all the place names in Edinburgh from our trip last October and now I want to go back. And I DESPERATELY want to visit the real Grassmarket!!!
February 6, 2023
Full disclaimer - this book is an absolute joy. It took 5 months because I have a crappy brain that doesn’t let me enjoy things sometimes and that’s ok❤️ we don’t need to read everything all at once 🥰
SECOND READ 6.2.23: Even better than I remember and so excited to read book two!
SECOND READ 6.2.23: Even better than I remember and so excited to read book two!
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