Second book in Jennifer Bell’s Magicalia series, Thief of Shadows is a fabulous feast of fantastical fiction for Middle Grade readers who relish richly-imagined worlds, characters you can really root for, and the thrills and spills of high-stakes high jinks fuelled by a gripping race-against-time plot.
Fresh from their riddle-packed quest to save her dad, Bitsy (a wonderful heroine who possesses the remarkable power to conjure weird creatures known as magicores) and her best friend Kosh find themselves embroiled in fresh trouble when Kosh is wrongly accused of stealing magical shards from their secret academy..
Compelled to go on the run to prevent Kosh from being arrested, they’re also under threat from the sinister Shadowsmith. And so, an exhilarating race against time unfolds at breakneck speed, with multiple twists and revelations readers won’t see coming..
Providing much appeal for fans of Skandar, what sets this series apart is the relatable relationship between characters, an infectious sense of working together to solve big problems, and creatures that defy fantasy conventions.
Bitsy and Kosh are on the run in the second page-turning adventure in the spectacular fantasy series from bestseller Jennifer Bell, bursting with incredible magicores and amazing science! Perfect for 8+ fans of Skandar, Impossible Creatures and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
When Kosh is accused of being the notorious thief the Shadowsmith, he and Bitsy must go into hiding before Kosh is arrested. Determined to prove his innocence, Bitsy, Mateo and Kosh set out to find the real villain. But they have something the Shadowsmith desperately wants, something the conservatoire also needs for protection. Can Bitsy, Kosh and Mateo figure out the true culprit before time runs out and someone catches them?
'Fun, fast and ferociously readable. Pokémon meets Diana Wynne Jones in this outstanding start to a fantastic series. Already one of my favourite books of 2024!' - Elle McNicoll
'Spectacular! A world-beating feat of imagination, as enthralling as it is exciting. Climb on board your ozoz, and hold on tight!' - Sinéad O'Hart
'Jennifer Bell makes the impossible seem possible in thisfantastical, pacy and hugely impressivestory that's filled with around-the-world adventure, intricate world building and magical creatures that are conjured from different emotions. It's an absolute triumph!' - Mel Taylor-Bessent
"Magicalia had me gripped from chapter one, with thrilling twists and magical creatures at every turn. A spellbinding read." Rachel Chivers Khoo
"Magicalia is a thrilling story with brilliant, loveable characters. Bell's storytelling is wonderful and the world she createsbursts with technicolour - I absolutely raced through it." Jasbinder Bilan
"From the very first line I was hooked, it's brimming with fun, magic and is a proper rip-roaring adventure! Loved it." Dominique Valente
"A bold and exciting new world of magic." Amy Sparkes
"Magicalia is a monstrously fun adventure - so full of joy and thrill and magic that I devoured it in a single day!" Andy Sagar
"We were hooked from the very first page! Magicalia is packed full of adventure, magic and incredible creatures that had Family Haddow begging for "just one more chapter" before bed. This one is a 2024 must read." Swapna Haddow
"An absolute tour-de-force. It is witty, sharp, atmospheric and bold with an energy that never lets up. The richness of invention in this book is dazzling to behold and matched by the strong hand of a master storyteller. Prepare to embark on a thrilling quest. Magicalia is conjured from pure joy." Justin Somper
"A gloriously imaginative and thrilling adventure that guarantees to delight all young readers who ever wished for magic … I long to live in the world of Magicalia!" Lizzie Huxley-Jones
"Jennifer Bell does it again, conjuring a delightful, sometimes-cute, often-dangerous pantheon of magical creatures in this super-exciting and unputdownable story. Readers of all ages will want a 'magicore' of their own!" Thomas Taylor
"True magic... Jennifer Bell's story's got wonders to spare, and this is just the beginning…" Sarwat Chadda
"Magicalia is a globe-trotting triumph! With a deftly-crafted new world at her fingertips, Jennifer Bell's imagination knows no bounds. Rich in magic and filled with warmth, Bell's storytelling prowess holds the power of an omega-level magicore!" Richard Pickard
Author
About Jennifer Bell
Jennifer Bell worked as a children’s bookseller at a world-famous bookshop before becoming an author. She began working in children's books as a specialist bookseller at Foyles, Charing Cross Road - one of the world's most famous bookstores. Here, she looked after the shop's five not-so-deadly piranha fish as well as recommending children's books to celebrities, royalty and even astronauts. After having the privilege of listening to children talk about their favourite books for many years, she started writing one of her own
Her debut novel, The Uncommoners: The Crooked Sixpence, was an international bestseller. Jennifer came up for the idea of The Crooked Sixpence while packing for a holiday and wishing she could just disappear inside her suitcase and be there already. The world of Lundinor is inspired by sayings from traditional English nursery rhymes as well as the stories Jennifer grew up with about the Cockney markets her grandparents used to visit.
She is also the author of Agents of the Wild, an adventure series for younger readers; Wonderscape, which was selected as a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and is inspired by some of her favourite heroes from history and her love of gaming; and Legendarium, which celebrates incredible legends from around the world. Magicalia: Race of Wonders is the first in an exciting new fantasy series.
