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The Wild Magic Trilogy #3

The Promise Witch

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Witches Borough is dying, and no one knows how to save it. Into this scorched landscape, storms a raggedy witch named Magda, trailing ashes in her wake. She wants Mup. She wants Mup to fulfil a promise. And woe betide any who stand in her way

Unknown Binding

Published June 4, 2020

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About the author

Celine Kiernan

12 books394 followers
Celine Kiernan is an award-winning author of fantasy novels for young adults. Her critically acclaimed work combines fantasy elements with the exploration of political, humanitarian and philosophical themes. She is best known for The Moorehawke Trilogy, a dark, complex trilogy of fantasy YA books set in an alternative renaissance Europe. First published in Celine’s native Ireland in 2008, the trilogy has since been published in 15 different territories, and translated into 10 different languages. In 2009 the first book of the Moorehawke Trilogy, The Poison Throne, won The Readers’ Association of Ireland Award for best book; it was included in the White Raven Collection and short listed for the 2009 Irish Book Awards in two categories (Best Newcomer and Best Children’s Book senior category). In 2010 it was long-listed for an Australian Silver Inky Award.

Celine’s fourth novel, Into the Grey (aka Taken Away) – a YA ghost story set in 1970′s Ireland – won the 2012 CBI Book of the Year (formerly The Bisto award) and the CBI Children’s Choice Award. It is the first book to have won both categories. It won the RAI Book of the Year 2013, and has been shortlisted for the Sakura Medal (English High) 2014. In 2013 the Irish Times named it as one of the best children's books of the past 25 years.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, 1967, Celine has spent the majority of her working life in the film business, and her career as a classical feature character animator spanned over seventeen years, before she became a full-time writer.

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Maura MozReads.
68 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2020
What a fantastic end to a beautifully written trilogy!

The story follows Mup and her family as they try return the land to the way it was before the terrible Queen was in charge. Though people are still nervous as a drought has dried up most of the land, and it was done by magical means.
Children are coming to the castle to learn magic for the first time and we meet new friends in the marshlanders that might help with the water problem.
However, there is accidental magic stirring around crow and his songs & darker magic in the return of his mother.

Mup is one of my favourite protagonists, her kindness for everyone she meets is just one of a kind, as is her bravery in the face of those she acknowledges are stronger then her just because she believes in her friends and family.

This was one of those books were you could highlight nearly every passage, the words were so beautifully written. A rare book that gives back the innocence of childhood to those who it was taken away from and show its never too late to stand up for what you believe in!

Thank you so much to the author Celine Kiernan and Walkers Books for sending me a copy.
Profile Image for Belles Middle Grade Library.
873 reviews
February 11, 2021
I REALLY can’t say much since this is the 3rd book, but wow! What a way to end this trilogy! Amazing! I’m so sad to say goodbye to these characters. At least I know I can visit them whenever I need to though. Mup & Crow have both come such a long way, especially Crow in certain ways..& I couldn’t be prouder. Mup is so brave, & so kind to everyone she meets. She’ll make an amazing Queen 1 day if she wants to be one. Crow is a tough cookie. He shows a child’s anger usually has some pretty deep meanings/feelings behind it all. His certainly does. He went through so much. These books are so beautifully written, & the story itself it so beautiful. Beautifully written details. Does get dark at times, but it has to in this story to find the light. So many lessons, like I’ve mentioned before. Every path in life, no matter how different, is equally as important. We are all different, & all special. We can make anything happen if we work together. Respect each other. We are important, our world is important. Ahhh such a great story! Lol That ending was so amazing! Such an emotional, powerful end. I loved every minute of this. I picked this up on page 80, & finished the rest. Couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend. Another beautiful cover by Jessica Courtney-Tickle too.💜
962 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2026
Wat een mooi boek ❤️
Sommige boeken slagen erin om je hart te verwarmen, hoop te geven, je moed in te spreken en je te laten geloven dat kinderen die opgroeien met boeken zoals deze chansaars zijn.

Het boek is officieel voor middle grade, wat zowat iedereen 10+ kan betekenen (en nog steeds goed is volgens de 14jarige in huis en door mijn 41jarige zelf). Ideaal voor tieners die Engels leren lezen, denk ik, want amai, als die le petit prince kunnen lezen en appreciëren, dan vallen deze vast ook in de smaak.

Enige minpuntje is dat er “Ireland’s answer to J.K. Rowling” op de boeken staat, want de gelijkenis met HP is “er zit magie in het boek” en die aanbeveling heeft de tand des tijds niet echt goed doorstaan…

Enkele quotes die te mooi zijn om niet te delen, die extra treffend voelen na zowat elk nieuwsbericht tegenwoordig:

“You don’t have to take sides,” he said. “In a situation like this, maybe all you can do is listen, and try to understand… and give everyone room to figure out the answers for themselves.”

“It’s my fault, Crow. I wanted her to know how unimportant she was… so I ignored her. It made her very angry. She took it out on you.”
“It’s what people like her do,” rasped the grey girl wearily. “They hurt people who can’t fight back, just to make themselves feel big.”

“Doc!” snapped Crow. “I’m not what’s important right now!”
“Not true,” breathed Emberly, dropping to his knees before the impatient boy. “Not true. We are all of us important. No matter what events are happening. No individual’s well-being should ever be overshadowed by the history that surrounds them.”

“There’s nothing broken in the world that cannot be fixed, if people have the will to fix it. We need to work together, in all our differences. We need to walk together on all our many, varied paths. We need to listen in every language. We need to speak every truth. There will always be someone whispering that only they have the answer, that their way is the only right way. They will always be lying. Every path in life is distinct and valuable, every living being is equal and worthy of respect. You are precious. Your neighbours are precious. Your world is precious. That is the only truth. Let us live up to that.”

294 reviews3 followers
November 27, 2022
I truly did not want this trilogy to end, I could feel that my heart was going to be broken and it was. There is an amazing and oh so true message to humanity in the last chapter of the book that is so relevant to what's happening in the world today. The sweet and courageous Dr Emberly delivers a timely message, he says "There's nothing broken in the world that cannot be fixed, if people have the will to fix it. We need to work together, in all our differences. We need to walk together on all our many, varied paths. We need to isten in e ery language. We need to speak e ery truth. There will always be someone whispering that only they haethe answer, that their way is the o ly right way. They will always be lying. Every path in life is distinct and valuable, every living being is equal a d worthy of respect. You are precious. Your neighbours are precious . Your world is precious. That is the only truth. Let us live up to that." Celine Kiernan possesses a magic all of her own. The Sunday Independent calls her "Ireland's answer to J.K Rowling," to many's shock I haven't read the Harry Potter series as yet but I'm glad I haven't so that I can now see if they are worth all the hype.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
23 reviews
May 31, 2020
The Promise Witch by Celine Kiernan. (Book 3 in The Wild Magic Trilogy)
Thank you Walker Aust for sending me this book to review.

Publish date: 1 June 2020


Synopsis:
In the third book in The Wild Magic Trilogy, Witches Borough is dying, and no one knows how to save it. Into this scorched landscape, storms a raggedy witch named Magda, trailing ashes in her wake. She wants Mup. She wants Mup to fulfil a promise. And woe betide any who stand in her way.



Review:
This is book 3 in the Wild Magic Trilogy and whilst I hadn't read the first 2 books' I don't feel that I had to. Right from the get-go one thing that stands out in Kiernan's writing is how beautifully descriptive she is; weaving magic across the pages. The main Character Mup is a brave & powerful little witch & her best friend Crow, a necromancer unaware of his power.
I think my recommended reading age would be 13+ . It is fillled with magic, which at times could be quite scary to the young reader. But nevertheless' incredible, exciting, engaging, suspenseful and completely magical. A must read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Profile Image for Mary Judy.
588 reviews16 followers
May 28, 2020
Picking up where The Little Grey Girl left off, from the first line we are given wondrous writing, picture-generating description and an imaginative adventure in a world that sizzles with magic. The story consumes the reader, waking us up to endless possibility and allowing us to see with fresh eyes. The tension ebbs and flows in exquisite timing as the layers of this story build with incredible twists and turns to its' outcome. We explore the curses of the past, the challenges of the present and the promise of the future, constructed with a subtle, deft hand. The characters we have come to know and love (or fear) in the previous books take on other aspects, bringing their personalities into new light. They become increasingly real and authentic, as does the world they inhabit. Mup and Crow have grown and changed, while still maintaining that refreshing brand of innocence and determination. This allows them to step more fully into the people they are meant to be; clever, empathetic and free of others' expectations. There is so much colour; so much life and vibrance in The Promise Witch...the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy. A gloriously woven spell. Just read it....
Profile Image for Kate.
871 reviews134 followers
June 21, 2020
After discovering the truth about the Little Grey girl and the horrible past in the castle, Mup and her family try to move into a happier future for everyone - but a curse falls over the land and the water disappears.

Mup discovers she has a limitation to her own magic and learns she must ask for aid, and her good friend Crow has a secret magic power that even he is unaware of but Mup's Grandmother would keenly desire. Crow's mother Magda returns to kidnap Crow and Mup to offer them to the old Queen, but her greed will unleash a greater danger than any Queen's Borough has faced before.

Once again this is a glorious book, not only a joy to read, but the strength and resilience of the characters and the importance of working together, listening, and respecting each other. A gorgeous finale to the trilogy.
Profile Image for Emily Dubovsky.
55 reviews
August 24, 2023
I loved this trilogy, it was so magical and had a lot of heart to it. Although it’s a series written for kids, it tackled some really dark & sad themes and events like what happened to the little grey girl and the ghost Erasmus, and everything that Crow has been through. The core theme is about accepting peoples differences and being whoever you want to be, and also about standing up to cruelty. I loved Mup and Crows friendship throughout the series, Mup is a very brave and kind role model for kids who read this. I only wish that her elderly dog Badger showed up more, it felt like he was forgotten in the end :(
51 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2020
This was a fantastic read with such beautiful characters and a rich world.
Profile Image for Helena Stone.
Author 35 books130 followers
June 5, 2020
“In a situation like this, maybe all you can do is listen, and try to understand … and give everyone room to figure out the answers for themselves.” - Dad

Only a few days ago I finished The Little Grey Girl, the second title in this trilogy, and ended my review stating how much I was looking forward to the final story. I’m sorta glad I didn’t know quite how excellent the conclusion would turn out to be because even those few days would have been too much of a wait. I expected a wonderful story, what I got was a tale of breathtaking beauty.

Really, The Promise Witch is everything a good book should be. A gripping, tension-filled story that just begs you to keep on turning the pages. This is by far the most thrilling of the three stories. The sense of danger is there on the very first page and steadily increases until, just when everything appears lost, it culminates in a glorious finale, that brought tears to my eyes.

Mup is as lovely, inquisitive, adventurous and big-hearted as she was in the first book, but she has grown. She’s learned valuable lessons on her journey and it shows. Of course, she’s still the young, impulsive, and sometimes stubborn girl, but she has the biggest heart. Her actions may seem rash at times, but they always come from a place of love.

While Mup is without a doubt the star of these stories, she comes with a collection of colourful and vividly drawn friends and family. It’s impossible not to mutter ‘awww’ every time her little brother Tipper makes an appearance, be it as a little boy or as a lively dog. I adore Crow with his tough exterior and humongous heart, and sorta want to adopt him. I could go on, but I’ll limit myself to saying that all together, Mup and her family and friends portray the very best in life; a community, far from perfect but where ultimately everybody looks out for each other when push comes to shove.

Oh boy did I need to read this book today. In a world gone mad, this was exactly the tonic I needed. Who knew it would take a book aimed at 9-12-year olds to remind me there is such a thing as hope, that despite evidence to the contrary the world is filled with love, and that deep down, most people want to do what’s right? The book is a treasure trove of subtle pearls of wisdom, disguised as dialogue or a school lesson, and I took them to heart. Like the following:

“There’s nothing broken in the world that cannot be fixed, if people have the will to fix it. We need to work together, in all our differences. We need to walk together on all our many, varied paths. We need to listen in every language. We need to speak every truth. There will always be someone whispering that only they have the answer, that their way is the only right way. They will always be lying. Every path in life is distinct and valuable, every living being is equal and worthy of respect. You are precious. Your neighbours are precious. Your world is precious. That is the only truth. Let us live up to that.” – Dr. Emberly

Long story short: I adore and highly recommend this fast-paced and magical adventure. I’m in awe of Celine Kiernan and her own personal magic of turning the meaningful into an adventure. Or maybe she fills adventures with meaning. I have no idea how she does it. I only know that she does it perfectly.
Profile Image for Anna.
61 reviews3 followers
June 27, 2020
The final book in the Wild Magic trilogy begins with disaster. The castle is slowly becoming a home but it is not safe or established yet. People are wary and when the water disappears, it is clear that the old guard are still a threat.

As new and old friends struggle to find solutions Mup discovers that not everything is as it seems and there are secrets still to be revealed. When the old enemy emerges and kidnapps Mup and Crow, there seems to be no hope. Mup won't give up and with the help of her friends fights to save her world. However, it will take everybody she knows to come together to find a solution and yet it still might not be enough.

With a cover and illustrations that perfectly capture the story by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, this is a wonderful conclusion to this trilogy. Ms Kiernan writes in a evocative style that draws you in. The sense of tension is there from the beginning and steadily builds through this fast paced story. As ever though it is the characters that make this trilogy. Mup and Crow are so well drawn - they are the shining stars of hope and respect in these books. However, the huge cast of characters are a vibrant supporting team.

A gorgeous ending to the trilogy, that embodies everything we have come to expect from Mup, Crow and all her family and friends. I highly recommend this trilogy to all.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jackie.
4,539 reviews46 followers
July 28, 2021
Although Mum' grandmother, the evil queen has been banished and exiled, there is a fretful optimism that her absence is forever. Now that the relentless snow has stopped, a drought has taken its place and the town is fearful she is watching and biding her time.

Mum is trying hard to convince the people that kindness and cooperation is the key to their success. She's opened a school for ALL children...yet some are reluctant to believe.

When Crow's mother, Magda shows up, she expects Mup to keep her promise to help. But, helping her find and reunite with the evil queen is not on the top of her list. Yet, together will all her friends, Crow, Grey Girl, Naomi, and Dr. Emberly, Mup finds her strength, Crow finds his voice, and Naomi uses her talents like never before.

The Promise Witch is a fitting conclusion to the Wild Magic trilogy with its subtle nod to important issues and worthwhile endeavors.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Candlewick Press, and Celine Kiernan for this ARC.
Profile Image for Lisa.
2,681 reviews19 followers
September 3, 2021
Ever since the deposed queen/witch sent the cursed winter, the weather around the castle has been unpredictable. Now there is a terrible drought. But Mup's mam, the new queen, is trying her best to unite the people; even opening a school for children where they can learn all the magic. But Crow is doing some magic of his own, and when his song conjures a monster, his mother, Magda, returns with a touch that turns things to ash and a mission to put the old queen back on the throne. Mup is compelled to get involved.

The final installment of the Wild Magic Trilogy is just as creepy and exciting. Wraps up nicely with some great life lessons about respecting others' talents and differences, the strength of community and trusting in your abilities. Kiernan is a talented Irish author, and I hope to see more of her books published in the US.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Amanda Sanders.
687 reviews2 followers
September 8, 2021
The evil deposed queen sends the biblical equivalent of plagues to Witches Borough. The latest plague is drought and a dried-up river. Mup talks to the earth, teaches magic to young children, and faces the queen to help end the dry spell. The action is a little slow in the beginning. I understand it is fantasy, but temporary dead is a bit much. The plot is ok, but not amazing. I feel like the audience for this witchcraft fantasy will be small, but passionate. I was not a big fan, myself.
Profile Image for Lisa.
234 reviews18 followers
June 4, 2020
The last in the Wild Magic trilogy is a fitting conclusion to this part of Mup and Crow's story. It's a captivating, often times chilling, hopeful and moving tale, told in such wonderfully descriptive and lyrical language that you'll want to bathe in the words on the page. I'm hoping this isn't the last time we see Mup and Crow and the inhabitants of Witches Borough, please?
236 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2020
Loved this. Excellent writing and a lovely round up to the trilogy. Lots of tension along the way, with some really dark characters. I'll be passing this over to my grandchildren as soon as we can all get together again
Profile Image for Jane.
640 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2020
A fitting end to the series, if a bit chaotic in the middle.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
796 reviews5 followers
April 6, 2022
A satisfying ending to a delightful middle grade trilogy.
Profile Image for Jess.
156 reviews10 followers
June 6, 2024
Best of the series!
Profile Image for Tori Darland.
354 reviews5 followers
August 31, 2025
This was a pretty good book. I reccomend it if you have read the 1st 2. It was a great ending to the series.
Profile Image for Fatinamudz.
115 reviews36 followers
October 27, 2020
Ahhh, I cannot believe that this story has come to an end. For the past two years, I have been followed Mup's and her family also her best friend, Crow on a journey to rescue Mup's dad and to fight the cursed by the queen and now, another curse hit the land again but in this time, the water disappear from the land. Mup needs to find a way to beat the curse.

I was very much invested in the story since the first book. To see how Mup has progressed throughout the story was amazing. She has always been my favourite character and I'm going to miss her. Now, the third instalment comes with another danger, another journey she needs to fight makes me not sit still in my seat as I need to know the reason why the land has been cursed again. Where is the water went? Would the people go to help Mup? All the answer is in this third book.

In this last instalment, the children start to come to the castle to learn magic. Mup is so excited to come to the class and making new friends but in that excitement, another curse/tragedy hits the water in their land start to disappear.

When I reach the ending of the story I know it is the time to let this book go. It was so hard because it is the third year I was given an opportunity to follow Mup's journey. It was such a long yet memorable journey. It was definitely very well written by the author. Thank you for writing such an amazing story. The Promise Witch is an exciting, magical, suspenseful, friendship, love and trust. Definitely recommend you read from the first book.

Thank you Pansing for the review copy in return for an honest review
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