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The Queen's Favourite Witch #1
The Wheel of Fortune
Elizabethan England is a time of superstition and strange goings on. If you have a problem, it’s common to go to a witch for help. And Queen Elizabeth I is no different…
When Daisy—a precocious young witch—learns of the death of the Queen's Royal Witch, she flies to London to audition as her replacement. But Daisy is from a poor family, and they don't let just anyone into the Royal Court. The only way into the palace is to take a job as a cleaner.
As Daisy cleans the palace, she draws the attention of Elizabeth's doctor (and arch-heretic) John Dee, who places her into the auditions—much to the chagrin of her more well-to-do competitors. But Dee knows how dangerous the corridors of power have become, with dark forces manipulating events for their own ends. To him, Daisy represents a wild card—one that may decide the fate of many.
With so many wanting her to fail, Daisy will need all her grit and determination to make it through these auditions—not to mention a sense of daring and adventure...
When Daisy—a precocious young witch—learns of the death of the Queen's Royal Witch, she flies to London to audition as her replacement. But Daisy is from a poor family, and they don't let just anyone into the Royal Court. The only way into the palace is to take a job as a cleaner.
As Daisy cleans the palace, she draws the attention of Elizabeth's doctor (and arch-heretic) John Dee, who places her into the auditions—much to the chagrin of her more well-to-do competitors. But Dee knows how dangerous the corridors of power have become, with dark forces manipulating events for their own ends. To him, Daisy represents a wild card—one that may decide the fate of many.
With so many wanting her to fail, Daisy will need all her grit and determination to make it through these auditions—not to mention a sense of daring and adventure...
112 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2021
1 person is currently reading
1661 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Dickson
18 books20 followersBenjamin Dickson is a writer, artist and lecturer whose graphic novels include A New Jerusalem, Fight The Power! A Visual History of Protest Among the English-Speaking Peoples and Santa Claus vs the Nazis. He has had many short stories published in Britain, America and Germany, and has also co-produced several freely-available graphic novels on the subject of climate change. He lives and works in Bristol, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 23, 2021
Look at the awesome COVER! This is all, a young broom rider witch, a familiar rat, and Queen Elizabeth.
London, 1563, Queen Elizabeth need a new royal witch and Daisy want to take her chance. She and her mother sell poisons on market. But, things are not easy for her in Palace, and she is too naive in competition with other girls from the royal families.
This is a nice and funny story with beautiful pictures about a girl who tries hard to achieve her dreams without lies. Also, learns to care about people, be herself and be less selfish. I like to read more about Daisy and her adventures!
Many thanks to Papercutz and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Queen's Favorite Witch #1 by Benjamin Dickson in exchange for an honest review.
Published Date 26 Oct 2021
My review on 02 Jul 2021
September 1, 2021
This book follows the journey of a young witch, Daisy, in her attempt to win the position of the Royal witch. In the process, she overcomes various difficulties and grows as a person. It's a cute book and the art-style is really fun. It shows that friendship is really important, gives a good example in always following our goals and promotes the belief that we are already worthy, we don't need to prove anything to anyone. I would definitely love to read the following ones in the series !
(received and early e-arc through NetGalley, thank you)
(received and early e-arc through NetGalley, thank you)
July 21, 2021
This was a fast paced and delightful graphic novel. I appreciated the historical background into Queen Elizabeth I at the beginning of the novel and the political undertones in the story that would have been common during her reign. Daisy is a fun character with lots of room to learn new things. I am excited to see what she can accomplish in the next book.
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley/Papercutz
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley/Papercutz
November 16, 2021
10/23/2021 Delightful. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
11/16/2021 Meet Daisy Sparrow, a young peasant witch living in Elizabethan England. Together with her beloved Mum, she brews and sells potions and other assorted concoctions at market fairs. But she wants more from life than just helping people who probably didn't need that much help to begin with, even if she's painfully shy when it comes to showing off her abilities.
When Daisy learns that the Royal Witch has died, and that the queen is looking for someone to fill the now open position, she decides to apply for the job despite the protests of her mother. Mum is afraid that the grandees of Hampton Court will have no time for a witch from such a lowly background, and that even if they do let Daisy compete, that the court will be too much a hotbed of political intrigue for the young girl to survive, much less navigate successfully. Daisy goes anyway, and discovers to her dismay that her mother was mostly right. But a group of unexpected allies will help Daisy get her foot in the door, even as she and the fabled John Dee join forces to defeat an evil conspiracy against the queen.
Moreso even than being a fun alternate history with fantasy elements, this was a really terrific tale of believing in yourself and allowing reason and kindness to guide your actions. Daisy makes a ton of mistakes in her quest to become someone important, but she learns a load of valuable lessons about both herself and what it means to matter in this highly entertaining, surprisingly twisty graphic novel. And, readers, the way I gasped at the last panel reveal! I probably should have seen it coming, but I totally didn't. I'm very excited to read future volumes in order to see what happens next!
Benjamin Dickson's words combine effortlessly with Rachael Smith's adorable illustrations throughout the book to excellent effect. I was particularly taken with the way Ms Smith illuminated Queen Elizabeth's face in the panels where Her Majesty appeared. My only complaint with this graphic novel was with the rather narrow lettering, which I felt left too much white space in most of the speech bubbles, crowding words together for no discernible reason.
Otherwise, this was the perfect middle grade book for anyone with an interest in witches or Elizabethan England or just a highly entertaining, relatively quick read. The Queen's Favorite Witch might be fanciful, but it's built on a solid historical core, with good characters that it's easy to root for, and evil characters who are easy to root against.
The Queen's Favorite Witch, Book 1: The Wheel of Fortune by Benjamin Dickson & Rachael Smith was published today November 16 2021 by Papercutz and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
11/16/2021 Meet Daisy Sparrow, a young peasant witch living in Elizabethan England. Together with her beloved Mum, she brews and sells potions and other assorted concoctions at market fairs. But she wants more from life than just helping people who probably didn't need that much help to begin with, even if she's painfully shy when it comes to showing off her abilities.
When Daisy learns that the Royal Witch has died, and that the queen is looking for someone to fill the now open position, she decides to apply for the job despite the protests of her mother. Mum is afraid that the grandees of Hampton Court will have no time for a witch from such a lowly background, and that even if they do let Daisy compete, that the court will be too much a hotbed of political intrigue for the young girl to survive, much less navigate successfully. Daisy goes anyway, and discovers to her dismay that her mother was mostly right. But a group of unexpected allies will help Daisy get her foot in the door, even as she and the fabled John Dee join forces to defeat an evil conspiracy against the queen.
Moreso even than being a fun alternate history with fantasy elements, this was a really terrific tale of believing in yourself and allowing reason and kindness to guide your actions. Daisy makes a ton of mistakes in her quest to become someone important, but she learns a load of valuable lessons about both herself and what it means to matter in this highly entertaining, surprisingly twisty graphic novel. And, readers, the way I gasped at the last panel reveal! I probably should have seen it coming, but I totally didn't. I'm very excited to read future volumes in order to see what happens next!
Benjamin Dickson's words combine effortlessly with Rachael Smith's adorable illustrations throughout the book to excellent effect. I was particularly taken with the way Ms Smith illuminated Queen Elizabeth's face in the panels where Her Majesty appeared. My only complaint with this graphic novel was with the rather narrow lettering, which I felt left too much white space in most of the speech bubbles, crowding words together for no discernible reason.
Otherwise, this was the perfect middle grade book for anyone with an interest in witches or Elizabethan England or just a highly entertaining, relatively quick read. The Queen's Favorite Witch might be fanciful, but it's built on a solid historical core, with good characters that it's easy to root for, and evil characters who are easy to root against.
The Queen's Favorite Witch, Book 1: The Wheel of Fortune by Benjamin Dickson & Rachael Smith was published today November 16 2021 by Papercutz and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
September 13, 2021
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fun start to a series. Daisy has a lot to learn about herself and the world around her. She's living in a dangerous time and place made even more dangerous by the story's inclusion of magic. I look forward to Daisy's further adventures.
This is a fun start to a series. Daisy has a lot to learn about herself and the world around her. She's living in a dangerous time and place made even more dangerous by the story's inclusion of magic. I look forward to Daisy's further adventures.
November 17, 2021
Daisy longs to be the Queen’s Royal Witch and when she discovers there is an opening, she sets out on her own to fulfill her dream. When she is refused admittance to the palace, she takes a job as a maid. After finally being placed in the auditions for the role of a lifetime, Daisy must face her insecurities and find the confidence she needs to win. But will that be enough?
This was such a fun graphic novel! I loved the preface about Queen Elizabeth I and think it was a perfect way to set the stage. The story was fast-paced and very entertaining. There was a good amount of humor and the characters, especially Daisy, were very relatable. The magical elements were a delightful addition to the story. The messages were heartfelt and beneficial for all ages.
The illustrations were awesome! The detail was fantastic and I especially loved the vividly broad range of facial expressions of all the characters.
Though this is a middle-grade graphic novel, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Papercutz for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun graphic novel! I loved the preface about Queen Elizabeth I and think it was a perfect way to set the stage. The story was fast-paced and very entertaining. There was a good amount of humor and the characters, especially Daisy, were very relatable. The magical elements were a delightful addition to the story. The messages were heartfelt and beneficial for all ages.
The illustrations were awesome! The detail was fantastic and I especially loved the vividly broad range of facial expressions of all the characters.
Though this is a middle-grade graphic novel, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Papercutz for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2021
The basic premise is that the queen has a royal witch, sort of like a royal taster, who protects the queen from harm. In this case it is Queen Elizabeth the First. When the royal witch dies, there are tryouts for the job, and Daisy wants to do the job, even though she has no court connections, is a peasant who helps her mother sell potions at the market, and doesn’t know all that many spells.
Still, you can’t fault a girl for trying.
With the help of her familiar, a talking rat, she manages to get into the competition, but there are of course mean girls, to get in her way, and the usual things that happen in middle grade fiction, but with rats and magic, and talking spiders, and you get the idea.
And this is only the first book in the series, so now we have to wait what happens next.
Perfect for kids (and adults who are kids), who like silly, magical historical fiction.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
Still, you can’t fault a girl for trying.
With the help of her familiar, a talking rat, she manages to get into the competition, but there are of course mean girls, to get in her way, and the usual things that happen in middle grade fiction, but with rats and magic, and talking spiders, and you get the idea.
And this is only the first book in the series, so now we have to wait what happens next.
Perfect for kids (and adults who are kids), who like silly, magical historical fiction.
Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review.
August 23, 2021
Daisy a poor witch who wants to be much more than just someone who sells potions, enters a contest to be the royal witch. This story focuses on the character development of daisy from a witch who only ever wanted to prove herself to the world to a grown woman who enjoys her witchcraft and uses it to help people.
The artwork is okayish and the story was set in england during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. The story is very neat and the magic parts were cool!
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc.
The artwork is okayish and the story was set in england during the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. The story is very neat and the magic parts were cool!
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc.
July 28, 2021
Daisy longs to be the Queen’s Royal Witch and when she discovers there is an opening, she sets out on her own to fulfill her dream. When she is refused admittance to the palace, she takes a job as a maid. After finally being placed in the auditions for the role of a lifetime, Daisy must face her insecurities and find the confidence she needs to win. But will that be enough?
This was such a fun graphic novel! I loved the preface about Queen Elizabeth I and think it was a perfect way to set the stage. The story was fast-paced and very entertaining. There was a good amount of humor and the characters, especially Daisy, were very relatable. The magical elements were a delightful addition to the story. The messages were heartfelt and beneficial for all ages.
The illustrations were incredible! The detail was fantastic and I especially loved the vividly broad range of facial expressions of all the characters.
Though this is a middle-grade graphic novel, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Papercutz for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun graphic novel! I loved the preface about Queen Elizabeth I and think it was a perfect way to set the stage. The story was fast-paced and very entertaining. There was a good amount of humor and the characters, especially Daisy, were very relatable. The magical elements were a delightful addition to the story. The messages were heartfelt and beneficial for all ages.
The illustrations were incredible! The detail was fantastic and I especially loved the vividly broad range of facial expressions of all the characters.
Though this is a middle-grade graphic novel, I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and historical fiction!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Papercutz for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2021
A fast paced entertaining coming of age story about a young peasant girl in an alternative Elizabethan England who wants to become the Queen's witch. Daisy Sparrow and her mom are practicing witches who sell potions and heal villagers. When the royal entourage passes through their village and Daisy becomes fascinated with the potion of a royal witch. When the current royal witch dies, Daisy leaves for London against the advice of her mother and hopes to compete only to realize that she is discriminated against because of her humble origins.
Daisy however does not give up easily, she stays in the palace as a maid while meeting the famous John Dee. She gets some help from unexpected allies, who teach her how to rise above the competition and just be herself. Daisy is very driven, but also very naïve and gullible. She makes mistakes, but also learns from them and grows as a person.
I enjoyed this so much! and am hoping to read more stories in this series.
Thanks to Papercutz and NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of Queen's Favorite Witch #1 by Benjamin Dickson in exchange for an honest review. #QueensFavoriteWitch1 #NetGalley
Daisy however does not give up easily, she stays in the palace as a maid while meeting the famous John Dee. She gets some help from unexpected allies, who teach her how to rise above the competition and just be herself. Daisy is very driven, but also very naïve and gullible. She makes mistakes, but also learns from them and grows as a person.
I enjoyed this so much! and am hoping to read more stories in this series.
Thanks to Papercutz and NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of Queen's Favorite Witch #1 by Benjamin Dickson in exchange for an honest review. #QueensFavoriteWitch1 #NetGalley
July 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this book!
I love the Tudor period and I am intrigued by everything that happened in the Royal Court of the time too – Elizabeth I is my favourite monarchy by far and this book gave a different view on what would have been going on at the time.
Elizabeth faced plots against her life on a weekly basis if not more often and this book introduced Dr John Dee to the series and he was a fascinating character in his own right! It would have been such an interesting, dangerous and worrying time at Court!
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series now!!
I loved the illustrations and the way the story was told – it is 5 stars from me for this one – I loved it and can’t wait to see Daisy develop!!
I love the Tudor period and I am intrigued by everything that happened in the Royal Court of the time too – Elizabeth I is my favourite monarchy by far and this book gave a different view on what would have been going on at the time.
Elizabeth faced plots against her life on a weekly basis if not more often and this book introduced Dr John Dee to the series and he was a fascinating character in his own right! It would have been such an interesting, dangerous and worrying time at Court!
I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series now!!
I loved the illustrations and the way the story was told – it is 5 stars from me for this one – I loved it and can’t wait to see Daisy develop!!
October 31, 2021
NetGalley ARC.
This was a cute, fun little historical fiction graphic novel with witches thrown in! It was funny that Jerome says he is an adult at 14 and he tells Daisy gosh, she's 12, her mum can't tell her what to do anymore!! I guffawed. Daisy is a sweet witch who only wants to rise above the circumstances she's been dealt with. With the help of Dee, Valentyne, and Nathaniel, Daisy can go far!
This was a cute, fun little historical fiction graphic novel with witches thrown in! It was funny that Jerome says he is an adult at 14 and he tells Daisy gosh, she's 12, her mum can't tell her what to do anymore!! I guffawed. Daisy is a sweet witch who only wants to rise above the circumstances she's been dealt with. With the help of Dee, Valentyne, and Nathaniel, Daisy can go far!
July 15, 2021
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A fun, fast-paced adventure with historical tidbits, Queen's Favorite Witch #1 is a quick read that will delight any middle-grade (or adult) history aficionado. Dickinson includes a note at the beginning to contextualize the story, which would be helpful to those who are curious about the Elizabethan era. I only wish the book were longer and a little more fleshed out, but it's set up to be a series, so Dickinson can't give TOO much away in the beginning.
A fun, fast-paced adventure with historical tidbits, Queen's Favorite Witch #1 is a quick read that will delight any middle-grade (or adult) history aficionado. Dickinson includes a note at the beginning to contextualize the story, which would be helpful to those who are curious about the Elizabethan era. I only wish the book were longer and a little more fleshed out, but it's set up to be a series, so Dickinson can't give TOO much away in the beginning.
September 11, 2021
I received an e-arc copy of The Queen’s Favorite Witch through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For a story set in Elizabethan England the “favorite” in the title is a bit off…😂
As for the story itself, I really liked it quite a lot! The characters were sweet, the art was pretty and cute and the plot-line was so extraordinary that it just called out to me. A young witch to compete for the honourable role of the court witch of Elizabeth I, what an unexpected and interesting idea! 😃
Overall, it was great fun to read this graphic novel!😊
For a story set in Elizabethan England the “favorite” in the title is a bit off…😂
As for the story itself, I really liked it quite a lot! The characters were sweet, the art was pretty and cute and the plot-line was so extraordinary that it just called out to me. A young witch to compete for the honourable role of the court witch of Elizabeth I, what an unexpected and interesting idea! 😃
Overall, it was great fun to read this graphic novel!😊
July 29, 2021
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley/Papercutz
Daisy is a 12 year old witch who works with her mother to provide spells and potions for the local townspeople. But she craves so much more. She just has to be given a chance. So when she sees that the Queen's Witch has passed on and they are looking to replace her, she feels nows the time time to take her shot! What could go wrong?
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art fit perfectly with the story, I loved the realistic relationship between Daisy and her mom. The story had a few tiwsts and turns that kept us on our toes. The historical background of it made it more interesting as we coudl relate it to real life people and events. I really enjoyed the feeling of finding friends/allys when you least expect it as well as beliving in yourself is the greatest magic of all.
Although this is is classified as middle-grade, I would recommend it to someone of any age. I very much am looking forward to the next volume in this series.
Daisy is a 12 year old witch who works with her mother to provide spells and potions for the local townspeople. But she craves so much more. She just has to be given a chance. So when she sees that the Queen's Witch has passed on and they are looking to replace her, she feels nows the time time to take her shot! What could go wrong?
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art fit perfectly with the story, I loved the realistic relationship between Daisy and her mom. The story had a few tiwsts and turns that kept us on our toes. The historical background of it made it more interesting as we coudl relate it to real life people and events. I really enjoyed the feeling of finding friends/allys when you least expect it as well as beliving in yourself is the greatest magic of all.
Although this is is classified as middle-grade, I would recommend it to someone of any age. I very much am looking forward to the next volume in this series.
January 3, 2022
'The Queen's Favorite Witch: The Wheel of Fortune' by Benjamin Dickson with art by Rachael Smith is a graphic novel for younger readers about a young girl who wants an important job.
Daisy is a young witch from a modest house who wants to try out to be the Queen's new witch, a very important position, especially now as there are people who want the Queen dead. The problem is that Daisy doesn't have a noble or wealthy background, so she has to do things the hard way. She makes an unusual group of friends along the way that could help, but will it matter to the Queen?
I liked the story well enough. The lessons are great. The art took a while to like, but I ended up feeling that it worked well for the story. I would definitely read the sequel if it was available.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Papercutz and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Daisy is a young witch from a modest house who wants to try out to be the Queen's new witch, a very important position, especially now as there are people who want the Queen dead. The problem is that Daisy doesn't have a noble or wealthy background, so she has to do things the hard way. She makes an unusual group of friends along the way that could help, but will it matter to the Queen?
I liked the story well enough. The lessons are great. The art took a while to like, but I ended up feeling that it worked well for the story. I would definitely read the sequel if it was available.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Papercutz and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
July 14, 2021
This book was a charming and fast paced graphic novel set during Elizabethan England from the eyes of a twelve year old witch. After the death of Queen Elizabeth's "royal witch", Daisy makes it her goal to compete and win in the trials to find a replacement witch so she can move from her position as a lower class peasant to a part of the royal court.
Some pros for this book:
- The setting for this graphic novel is the most interesting part of it! A really unique snapshot of life in Elizabethan England which gives the novel a dark, atmospheric vibe.
- Similarly, the history is a huge plus to this novel! It gave interesting insight into Queen Elizabeth's leniency toward witches and her tendency to use witches as "consultants", despite growing resentment toward them at the time. I was really fascinated by the treatment of witches during this period, and after doing some research of my own, loved the inclusion of real people in this little novel! Dr. John Dee was my favorite character in the novel, so it was really fascinating to learn more about him in real life! I also loved the inclusion of facts about the Queen in the beginning.
- Witches. Need I say more? I love literally anything with witches in it.
- I really loved Judith's character and I hope we see more of her in the next book! Honestly, if she was the main character, I would read a million more books about her. I loved her involvement in the plot and the twist at the end! She was a clever villain for the book.
Some cons:
- Since this book was such a fast read, the plot felt a little rushed and the overall climax fell short for me. There were some plot points that didn't feel concluded properly, which makes sense to an extent since it's only the first of a series, but I felt confused and unfulfilled by a couple of the plot points (Valentyne, her training with lighting the cauldron, speaking with animals, her fight with Edith, etc.) I wanted the "villains" of the story to make an appearance more frequently, and I felt like their involvement fell flat.
- There was a lack of character development and overall depth. Daisy didn't really go through any overt changes, and I didn't feel emotionally pulled to any aspect of her story. The side characters, too, were very one dimensional. I kept waiting for Daisy's mother, the Queen, Jerome, and Edith to have a more powerful presence in the story, but their contributions to the story were almost easy to skip over. I definitely expected a deeper dive into Queen Elizabeth since the book was named after her.
Some pros for this book:
- The setting for this graphic novel is the most interesting part of it! A really unique snapshot of life in Elizabethan England which gives the novel a dark, atmospheric vibe.
- Similarly, the history is a huge plus to this novel! It gave interesting insight into Queen Elizabeth's leniency toward witches and her tendency to use witches as "consultants", despite growing resentment toward them at the time. I was really fascinated by the treatment of witches during this period, and after doing some research of my own, loved the inclusion of real people in this little novel! Dr. John Dee was my favorite character in the novel, so it was really fascinating to learn more about him in real life! I also loved the inclusion of facts about the Queen in the beginning.
- Witches. Need I say more? I love literally anything with witches in it.
- I really loved Judith's character and I hope we see more of her in the next book! Honestly, if she was the main character, I would read a million more books about her. I loved her involvement in the plot and the twist at the end! She was a clever villain for the book.
Some cons:
- Since this book was such a fast read, the plot felt a little rushed and the overall climax fell short for me. There were some plot points that didn't feel concluded properly, which makes sense to an extent since it's only the first of a series, but I felt confused and unfulfilled by a couple of the plot points (Valentyne, her training with lighting the cauldron, speaking with animals, her fight with Edith, etc.) I wanted the "villains" of the story to make an appearance more frequently, and I felt like their involvement fell flat.
- There was a lack of character development and overall depth. Daisy didn't really go through any overt changes, and I didn't feel emotionally pulled to any aspect of her story. The side characters, too, were very one dimensional. I kept waiting for Daisy's mother, the Queen, Jerome, and Edith to have a more powerful presence in the story, but their contributions to the story were almost easy to skip over. I definitely expected a deeper dive into Queen Elizabeth since the book was named after her.
September 4, 2021
Dear Readers, Aliens and Creatures, I am very excited to know what will happen in the next book!
Daisy is a witch in training, who always seems to have tears in her eyes. She fears falling into the seeming mediocre lives of those at her village and only brewing potions to help the locals is not enough for her. A chance encounter one market day changes all of this and directs her ambitions; Daisy wants to become - The Royal Witch.
With the passing of the previous Royal Witch, Queen Elizabeth is unprotected at a crucial time when a nasty group of sorcerers want to sacrifice her to their terrible lord. It is left up to Dr.Dee, heretic and resident knowledge man, to identify the candidate he can most trust, until he recognises Daisy from that fateful market day.
When she is given a chance to complete the challenges at the castle, while working as a maid, Daisy will make alliances that will prove instrumental in her maturing and learning not to look down on others and their contentment. She will hone her skills, make friends with a kindly rat and con artist, and become a formidable witch in her own right.
The question is, will this be enough to thwart the infiltration schemes that have been set up by the bad sorcerers?! Will Daisy learn the necessary skills in time to help the Queen when she most needs it… Will the ghost of Henry the 8th stop partying?!
Read to find out. For children… 🤔 8 and over?
▪️ I can’t say I was much a fan of Daisy, but she has good people around her who can really help her grow.
Daisy is a witch in training, who always seems to have tears in her eyes. She fears falling into the seeming mediocre lives of those at her village and only brewing potions to help the locals is not enough for her. A chance encounter one market day changes all of this and directs her ambitions; Daisy wants to become - The Royal Witch.
With the passing of the previous Royal Witch, Queen Elizabeth is unprotected at a crucial time when a nasty group of sorcerers want to sacrifice her to their terrible lord. It is left up to Dr.Dee, heretic and resident knowledge man, to identify the candidate he can most trust, until he recognises Daisy from that fateful market day.
When she is given a chance to complete the challenges at the castle, while working as a maid, Daisy will make alliances that will prove instrumental in her maturing and learning not to look down on others and their contentment. She will hone her skills, make friends with a kindly rat and con artist, and become a formidable witch in her own right.
The question is, will this be enough to thwart the infiltration schemes that have been set up by the bad sorcerers?! Will Daisy learn the necessary skills in time to help the Queen when she most needs it… Will the ghost of Henry the 8th stop partying?!
Read to find out. For children… 🤔 8 and over?
▪️ I can’t say I was much a fan of Daisy, but she has good people around her who can really help her grow.
August 12, 2021
I'll admit: I wanted to read The Queen's Favorite Witch because the cover art reminded me so much of John Allison's art (Bad Machinery, Scary Go Round). Having a plot involving Queen Elizabeth I and witches didn't hurt, either. But this graphic novel is adorable! I know others have used that word, but it really is. It's got everything to captivate pre-teen readers: fun art, talking animals, magic, and lessons on trust.
Our protagonist, Daisy Sparrow, is pretty sheltered and naïve (for being a peasant), and spends her days selling potions to other peasants in a market stall. She knows the craft, but isn't really allowed to practice it, which oftentimes leads to performance anxiety. Yearning for more, as most 12 year old girls do, Daisy impulsively leaves home to shoot for the stars: Hampton Court, where the Queen is currently residing. There, Daisy is introduced to politics, court intrigue, and backstabbing. It's a lot for a young girl to go through in a short time, but that's also how life was in the 17th century, wasn't it?
I had to keep reminding myself that this was only the first book in a series, because a lot actually happened in this first book! I'd definitely be interested in reading more, and I'm sure older children would feel the same. The Queen's Favorite Witch is some fun Young Adult reading without the dystopia that seems to saturate that market—thankfully. I'd love to see more YA fiction like this coming out.
Our protagonist, Daisy Sparrow, is pretty sheltered and naïve (for being a peasant), and spends her days selling potions to other peasants in a market stall. She knows the craft, but isn't really allowed to practice it, which oftentimes leads to performance anxiety. Yearning for more, as most 12 year old girls do, Daisy impulsively leaves home to shoot for the stars: Hampton Court, where the Queen is currently residing. There, Daisy is introduced to politics, court intrigue, and backstabbing. It's a lot for a young girl to go through in a short time, but that's also how life was in the 17th century, wasn't it?
I had to keep reminding myself that this was only the first book in a series, because a lot actually happened in this first book! I'd definitely be interested in reading more, and I'm sure older children would feel the same. The Queen's Favorite Witch is some fun Young Adult reading without the dystopia that seems to saturate that market—thankfully. I'd love to see more YA fiction like this coming out.
August 10, 2021
...
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this advanced copy of this book, and my legitimate thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read his book.
When Daisy -- a precocious young witch -- learns of the death of the Queen's Royal Witch, she flies to London to audition as her replacement. But Daisy is from a poor family, and they don't let just anyone into the Royal Court. The only way into the palace is to take a job as a cleaner.
As Daisy cleans the palace, she draws the attention of Elizabeth's doctor (and arch-heretic) John Dee, who places her into the auditions -- much to the chagrin of her more well-to-do competitors. But Dee knows how dangerous the corridors of power have become, with dark forces manipulating events for their own ends. To him, Daisy represents a wild card -- one that may decide the fate of many.
With so many wanting her to fail, Daisy will need all her grit and determination to make it through these auditions -- not to mention a sense of daring and adventure...
It is a very entertaining adventure and I would like to read the second part, I thought I needed it, that's true. I liked that one does not have to depend on someone for one to thrive in life, being better than many at something.
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this advanced copy of this book, and my legitimate thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read his book.
When Daisy -- a precocious young witch -- learns of the death of the Queen's Royal Witch, she flies to London to audition as her replacement. But Daisy is from a poor family, and they don't let just anyone into the Royal Court. The only way into the palace is to take a job as a cleaner.
As Daisy cleans the palace, she draws the attention of Elizabeth's doctor (and arch-heretic) John Dee, who places her into the auditions -- much to the chagrin of her more well-to-do competitors. But Dee knows how dangerous the corridors of power have become, with dark forces manipulating events for their own ends. To him, Daisy represents a wild card -- one that may decide the fate of many.
With so many wanting her to fail, Daisy will need all her grit and determination to make it through these auditions -- not to mention a sense of daring and adventure...
It is a very entertaining adventure and I would like to read the second part, I thought I needed it, that's true. I liked that one does not have to depend on someone for one to thrive in life, being better than many at something.
4.0
October 11, 2021
The Wheel of Fortune is the first volume in The Queen's Favorite Witch graphic novel series written by Benjamin Dickson and featuring the illustrations of Rachael Smith.
In the first volume of this series set in Elizabethan England, we get to know Daisy Sparrow, a young witch who sells potions on the street market with her mum. One day, she finds out that the Queen's Royal Witch has died, and that, as someone has to take her place, they are making auditions to find a new one. Daisy decides this is her chance to have a better life, and goes to London to audition. But she'll have to face lots of challenges if she wants to be the new Queen's Royal Witch...
This graphic novel was a very quick and entertaining read for me. The story is very interesting and has great potential, so I'd definitely love to read the next volume in this series. Also, I liked the historical references made throughout the book. The illustrations are simple, but they capture the essence of the story very well.
I'd recommend it to you if you like graphic novels, historical fiction, fantasy and middle grade books.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
In the first volume of this series set in Elizabethan England, we get to know Daisy Sparrow, a young witch who sells potions on the street market with her mum. One day, she finds out that the Queen's Royal Witch has died, and that, as someone has to take her place, they are making auditions to find a new one. Daisy decides this is her chance to have a better life, and goes to London to audition. But she'll have to face lots of challenges if she wants to be the new Queen's Royal Witch...
This graphic novel was a very quick and entertaining read for me. The story is very interesting and has great potential, so I'd definitely love to read the next volume in this series. Also, I liked the historical references made throughout the book. The illustrations are simple, but they capture the essence of the story very well.
I'd recommend it to you if you like graphic novels, historical fiction, fantasy and middle grade books.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2021
I wouldn't have thought there were too many comics for the young set in the times of Elizabeth I, but this is one, and it's actually pretty cool. Our heroine knows she could become a good witch in due course, but her mother keeps her working the market stall selling tat to twits. But when the Royal Witch – the servant who has the job of absorbing all magical attacks, and deflecting all curses, upon the royal personage – becomes available, she literally flies off to take her chance. The resulting extended training-up-to-find-ones-destiny storyline is a mixed bag, however, gaining much from including Dr John Dee, and losing the same courtesy of some boring scenes of mild bullying and the usual antagonism-instead-of-better-plot stuff. That said, this certainly has promise as an interesting series. Now this initial book has set its stall out I would hope for a beefier drama next time – but luckily the closing pages are full of promise of just that. Four stars, then, because while this volume might not deserve that alone I suspect the series, if fulfilling its potential over time, would easily merit them.
January 9, 2022
I want to thank Netgalley, Benjamin Dickson, and Papercutz for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love the artwork style in this graphic novel. I love seeing the surroundings and the characters---especially Daisy. It’s so adorable and very cute to see. As for the story, it is simple yet it still has an element of entertainment. The plot is simple and predictable but I love the comfort of it. This is one of those books that gives you a break when it comes to heavy reads. But it’s also good when this book doesn’t sugarcoat about how people view witchcraft in the past. Though this book makes it like being a witch is normal, there are still some warnings what other people in the history think of witches. It’s really interesting to see because even though this is a light-hearted read, it doesn’t make the readers forget what the history of witchcraft is.
I enjoyed the humorous side of this book. They actually made me smile, it’s just simple yet really funny. Especially when it comes to Daisy’s personality, she is a sassy girl and has the best responses to everything despite being a young protagonist.
Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed my time reading this graphic novel and highly recommend it to everyone!
I love the artwork style in this graphic novel. I love seeing the surroundings and the characters---especially Daisy. It’s so adorable and very cute to see. As for the story, it is simple yet it still has an element of entertainment. The plot is simple and predictable but I love the comfort of it. This is one of those books that gives you a break when it comes to heavy reads. But it’s also good when this book doesn’t sugarcoat about how people view witchcraft in the past. Though this book makes it like being a witch is normal, there are still some warnings what other people in the history think of witches. It’s really interesting to see because even though this is a light-hearted read, it doesn’t make the readers forget what the history of witchcraft is.
I enjoyed the humorous side of this book. They actually made me smile, it’s just simple yet really funny. Especially when it comes to Daisy’s personality, she is a sassy girl and has the best responses to everything despite being a young protagonist.
Overall, I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed my time reading this graphic novel and highly recommend it to everyone!
July 14, 2021
First - thanks to Papercutz and NetGalley for the digital ARC!
I enjoyed this historical fiction/fantasy graphic novel based around the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 but with a fantastical element added. I liked that the author's included a brief historical note at the beginning so readers would understand that the story takes place during the mid to late 1500s.
The story itself is one that tweens should enjoy. Daisy is 12, the witch daughter of a peasant witch who makes a living selling potions and charms. But Daisy wants to be more than just a peasant witch - she wants to leave home and "make something of herself." So when the position of Queen's Witch becomes available, Daisy decides to apply. The cards are stacked against her since she is a peasant and also a bit unsure of her magic. Plus we know that there are evil forces at work that want the Queen dead. Does Daisy have what it takes to be the Queen's Witch? And become more self-confident in the process?
The book will be published this October and it looks like the first book in a series, which is exciting news.
I enjoyed this historical fiction/fantasy graphic novel based around the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 but with a fantastical element added. I liked that the author's included a brief historical note at the beginning so readers would understand that the story takes place during the mid to late 1500s.
The story itself is one that tweens should enjoy. Daisy is 12, the witch daughter of a peasant witch who makes a living selling potions and charms. But Daisy wants to be more than just a peasant witch - she wants to leave home and "make something of herself." So when the position of Queen's Witch becomes available, Daisy decides to apply. The cards are stacked against her since she is a peasant and also a bit unsure of her magic. Plus we know that there are evil forces at work that want the Queen dead. Does Daisy have what it takes to be the Queen's Witch? And become more self-confident in the process?
The book will be published this October and it looks like the first book in a series, which is exciting news.
September 7, 2021
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 is a historical fantasy/ middle grade book that covers/ inspired a bit (so far) of the reigning time of Queen Elizabeth.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
-the historical touch of the graphic novel story, which was the reason I requested this. I hopefully hoped that we get more of that on the following volume.
-the touch of witchy theme and the little introduction of the magic system
-the pacing of the story which really did helped me get through it
-the twist at the end
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
-majority the characterizations which I felt was lacking in terms of presence and the development
-it felt too rush for me. Like there's no room for breathing during those events or no room for the rising and falling of the scenes
-because of the #2, I just got bored and didn't care for the characters & events at all.
I think I would still continue this one because of the ending.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠｡
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
-the historical touch of the graphic novel story, which was the reason I requested this. I hopefully hoped that we get more of that on the following volume.
-the touch of witchy theme and the little introduction of the magic system
-the pacing of the story which really did helped me get through it
-the twist at the end
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
-majority the characterizations which I felt was lacking in terms of presence and the development
-it felt too rush for me. Like there's no room for breathing during those events or no room for the rising and falling of the scenes
-because of the #2, I just got bored and didn't care for the characters & events at all.
I think I would still continue this one because of the ending.
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠｡
October 9, 2021
The Queen’s Favorite Witch (#1: The Wheel of Fortune) by Benjamin Dickson, art by Rachael Smith
#eightythirdbookof2021 #arc
CW: witchcraft, demons, ghosts, summoning circles
I am all about Tudor England and it just took a glimpse of the cover to hook me. Queen Elizabeth and witches in a graphic novel—sign me up! And this was super cute. Daisy is twelve and decides to try out for the newly opened job of royal witch for Elizabeth the first. Things don’t go as planned and she takes a job as a castle maid. She meets talking rats and makes unlikely friends, and when she ultimately takes part in the job competition, she realizes that not everyone can be trusted.
I enjoyed this so much! I would absolutely read more stories in this series. The artwork is bright and engaging, and the book satisfied a lot of my interests.
Thanks to @netgalley and @papercutzgn for the advanced copy. (Pub date 10/26/21) #graphicnovel #queenelizabeth #witches #thequeensfavoritewitch
#eightythirdbookof2021 #arc
CW: witchcraft, demons, ghosts, summoning circles
I am all about Tudor England and it just took a glimpse of the cover to hook me. Queen Elizabeth and witches in a graphic novel—sign me up! And this was super cute. Daisy is twelve and decides to try out for the newly opened job of royal witch for Elizabeth the first. Things don’t go as planned and she takes a job as a castle maid. She meets talking rats and makes unlikely friends, and when she ultimately takes part in the job competition, she realizes that not everyone can be trusted.
I enjoyed this so much! I would absolutely read more stories in this series. The artwork is bright and engaging, and the book satisfied a lot of my interests.
Thanks to @netgalley and @papercutzgn for the advanced copy. (Pub date 10/26/21) #graphicnovel #queenelizabeth #witches #thequeensfavoritewitch
October 9, 2021
The Queen’s Favorite Witch (#1: The Wheel of Fortune) by Benjamin Dickson, art by Rachael Smith
#eightythirdbookof2021 #arc
CW: witchcraft, demons, ghosts, summoning circles
I am all about Tudor England and it just took a glimpse of the cover to hook me. Queen Elizabeth and witches in a graphic novel—sign me up! And this was super cute. Daisy is twelve and decides to try out for the newly opened job of royal witch for Elizabeth the first. Things don’t go as planned and she takes a job as a castle maid. She meets talking rats and makes unlikely friends, and when she ultimately takes part in the job competition, she realizes that not everyone can be trusted.
I enjoyed this so much! I would absolutely read more stories in this series. The artwork is bright and engaging, and the book satisfied a lot of my interests.
Thanks to @netgalley and @papercutzgn for the advanced copy. (Pub date 10/26/21) #graphicnovel #queenelizabeth #witches #thequeensfavoritewitch
#eightythirdbookof2021 #arc
CW: witchcraft, demons, ghosts, summoning circles
I am all about Tudor England and it just took a glimpse of the cover to hook me. Queen Elizabeth and witches in a graphic novel—sign me up! And this was super cute. Daisy is twelve and decides to try out for the newly opened job of royal witch for Elizabeth the first. Things don’t go as planned and she takes a job as a castle maid. She meets talking rats and makes unlikely friends, and when she ultimately takes part in the job competition, she realizes that not everyone can be trusted.
I enjoyed this so much! I would absolutely read more stories in this series. The artwork is bright and engaging, and the book satisfied a lot of my interests.
Thanks to @netgalley and @papercutzgn for the advanced copy. (Pub date 10/26/21) #graphicnovel #queenelizabeth #witches #thequeensfavoritewitch
November 21, 2021
When I saw the cover, I was expecting a cute story about a young witch and the Queen having magical misadventures. I did not expect all the twists and turns in this comic! From the first page, I was hooked and wanted to know more about the villains and the heroes of the story. The art style is simple but very expressive at the same time. You really feel the moods of the comic through the illustrations. At first it seems like a simple fairy tale story of a young girl who wants to be more than just a potion seller. However, like many fairy tales in their original texts (and not in the movies), there is a lot of darkness and intrigue. There are lots of moments of great humor as well, especially for people who know the history of England. I very much enjoyed the first issue and cannot wait to see where the story goes.
July 2, 2021
Arc received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One thing about me is that I love historical fiction, and I have a soft spot for Tudor era based stories. Although usually reading something historical that has a bit of modern slang to it turns me off, I really enjoyed it here! It fit well with the entire theme of the graphic novel and it was just a very nice feel good story that was surprisingly actually funny.
With the characters, I don't know if I like Daisy that much (some choices she made were kinda naive and it annoyed me) but she waa a fun character to follow around. Nathaniel the rat was the character I liked best, but Henry VIII's ghost was pretty fun too. I really can't wait until to see more from this series!
One thing about me is that I love historical fiction, and I have a soft spot for Tudor era based stories. Although usually reading something historical that has a bit of modern slang to it turns me off, I really enjoyed it here! It fit well with the entire theme of the graphic novel and it was just a very nice feel good story that was surprisingly actually funny.
With the characters, I don't know if I like Daisy that much (some choices she made were kinda naive and it annoyed me) but she waa a fun character to follow around. Nathaniel the rat was the character I liked best, but Henry VIII's ghost was pretty fun too. I really can't wait until to see more from this series!
August 5, 2021
If Kiki the Witch and Harry Potter combined, you'd probably get this graphic novel. It has an old school feeling, but also modern sensibilities. There is obviously a European flare to the tone (as it is set in Elizabethan era) but accessible for all readers. It is not for those who are more sensitive, as there is an evil cult, a possible assassination attempt, death, and bullies. However, it is also seriously sweet and funny. Talking rats, quirky friendships, and historical people come to life in this graphic novel. Due late October 2021 (and who knows when sequels will come, but if the author/illustrator/publisher sees this and would be so kind as to let me have sneak peeks, I would be forever grateful!)
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