Begone the Raggedy Witches (The Wild Magic Trilogy 1)

From multi-award-winning Irish author Celine Kiernan comes a dark fantasy adventure about witches

“Ireland’s answer to JK Rowling.” Sunday Independent

A middle-grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge, Katherine Rundell and Sally Gardner. On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup’s mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup’s dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border – striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…

Review

[…] expect rhyming crows, talking cats and outlawed magic in Kiernan’s first middle-grade fantasy adventure. Beautiful cover * The Bookseller * “a spellbinding novel […] full of enchantment, adventure, humour, friendship, and bravery. It celebrates difference and originality, and is populated with brilliantly unique and vivid characters […] a classic hero in the making.” * Parent Talk * “Well-written, this is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying story. Firmly in the tradition of classic tales of magic such as Narnia, and with hints of Tolkien and Susan Cooper too, readers would also enjoy Peter F. Hamilton’s The Queen of Dreams series.” * Andrea Reece LoveReading4Kids, February 2018 Book of the Month * The reader will be hooked from the very first sentence. Being the first book in the trilogy, there is a lot of information about the characters and the witches’ world to introduce to the reader but the story moves on quickly with some terrifying battle sequences and revelations. * School Zone * “This is seriously creepy stuff from the Irish Queen of Young Adult fantasy. However, the promise of a happy ending should persuade a younger demographic to conquer any fear, and if they do they will be rewarded with a journey into a magical realm that is not so distant from reality, where a young girl has the power to take on a tyrannical queen.” * Irish Times * This is a magical, wild and adventurous tale. Celine Kiernan has a gift for powerful atmosphere and pitch-perfectdialogue. A cracking adventure story. * Children’s Books Ireland * Author Article * Children’s Books Ireland * “I really enjoyed Begone the Raggedy Witches, in particular the rhymes that the animals had to speak in.” * Toppsta * “Read by Toby age 10. Toby made a YouTube video for his review https://youtu.be/gtkulGyFOrE He loved the book. We had actual tears when we couldn’t find books 2 and 3 today in WHSmith!” * Toppsta * “It’s not often I read a fantasy book but I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the next two in the trilogy. It’s a bit dark and scary in places but I think it adds to the story and makes you want to read on.” * Toppsta * “It was gorgeously magical, beautifully written and unique, with deep, resonant questions about power and family and responsibility, and three generations of fierce, fascinating women all off on a fantasy adventure together.” * Stephanie Burgis, author of The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart *

From the Inside Flap

From multi-award-winning Irish author Celine Kiernan comes a dark fantasy adventure about witches
“Ireland’s answer to JK Rowling.” Sunday Independent

A middle-grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge, Katherine Rundell and Sally Gardner. On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup’s mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup’s dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border – striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…