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Whimsical, magical and a whole lot of wonderful.

Aug 25, 2020
Book Concierge
rated it
really liked it
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witches
Digital audio narrated by Christina Moore
4.5****
For years the people of the Protectorate have left a newborn in the forest to appease the wicked witch. But the actual witch in the forest, Xan, is a kind woman, who takes the babies to the other side of the forest and finds good families to raise them. She feeds the babies starlight as they make the long trek through the forest. But one night she mistakenly gives the baby moonlight, which fills the child with magic. Xan must now raise the baby – ...more
4.5****
For years the people of the Protectorate have left a newborn in the forest to appease the wicked witch. But the actual witch in the forest, Xan, is a kind woman, who takes the babies to the other side of the forest and finds good families to raise them. She feeds the babies starlight as they make the long trek through the forest. But one night she mistakenly gives the baby moonlight, which fills the child with magic. Xan must now raise the baby – ...more

This book is a 3.5 stars books for me. I have a little bit of trouble with magical realism, and I haven't found a magical realism book that blew my mind yet. It is an excellent book that teaches about love and grief. It was an interesting read, I thought I would finish it faster than it took me, but I believe because of the pacing it took a little more than I expected. I browsed on my Scribd app to check if there was an audiobook and when I found it I was happy because I finally I could finish t
...more

This was very nearly a five; I may end up upgrading. I liked the story and the story-behind-the-story; it works on a plot level, an emotional level, and a metaphoric-coming of age level.
I skimmed it for a book club and then went back and read it for real. I really like how much it expects from the reader -- there are questions about family, about adoption, about lying to protect people, about death, and really scary tiger people.
I skimmed it for a book club and then went back and read it for real. I really like how much it expects from the reader -- there are questions about family, about adoption, about lying to protect people, about death, and really scary tiger people.

4.5* I adored this book. I hardly ever read much middle grade fiction, but am wanting to make more of a point to do so. This story was magical, funny, & full of love & hope. Such a fun story that I want to share with my kids as they get older.

Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a child in the forest to appease the witch that lives there. Xan, the witch, doesn't know why the children are left and each year she takes them across the forest to the town on the other side until one year when she accidentally feeds the baby moonlight which makes her magical. xan ends up raising the baby, named Luna, with the help Glerk, a 'swamp monster, and Fyrian, a dragon. This book is deep especially for a children's book. I had a lot going
...more

I alternately read and listened to this fantastic story set in a very interesting world. The Protectorate allows the witch to take their youngest baby every year and in return they are protected from her wrath. But all is not as it seems as a young Elder in training learns, and as one of these children learns. Along the way there is a Bog monster, a tiny dragon, a kind witch, a madwoman in a tower, some really shady monastic sisters that are also warriors, and a whole new view of family and love
...more

Jun 21, 2016
Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction
marked it as to-read





Dec 12, 2019
Camilla
marked it as library

Feb 16, 2020
Nancy Brady
marked it as to-read

Aug 03, 2020
Kristin
marked it as to-read

Oct 10, 2021
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
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review of another edition
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