Book Review: Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (Eva Evergreen #1) by Julie Abe
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (Eva Evergreen#1) by Julie Abe
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Children’s
Page Length: 400 pages (hardcover edition)
Synopsis:
Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn’t, she’ll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it’s a simple enough test:
ONE: Help your town, do good all around.
TWO: Live there for one moon, don’t leave too soon.
THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks.
The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep.
When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up with a plan: set up a magical repair shop to aid Auteri and prove she’s worthy. She may have more blood than magic, but her “semi-magical fixes” repair the lives of the townspeople in ways they never could have imagined. Only, Eva’s bit of magic may not be enough when the biggest magical storm in history threatens the town she’s grown to love. Eva must conjure up all of the magic, bravery, and cleverness she can muster or Auteri and her dreams of becoming a witch will wash away with the storm.
Review:
This novel had me hooked when I read that had Studio Ghibli vibes, being that I am such a fan of the studio animated films. Eva Evergreen did not disappoint and very much delivered on all of the elements of awe and wonder that a reader seeks out in a fantasy novel.
Reading this novel reminded me of Kiki’s Delivery Service and The Worst Witch (The TV show version from 1998-2001) as our main character Eva is the witch of an all-powerful and highly revered witch. The catch? She’s semi-magical. She starts spells she is unable to finish, her powers are a bit out-of-control, and she can’t fly on a broom. All of these elements feel like an outsider in her community but she is determined to prove everyone wrong and become a Novice Witch. She heads off to her quest on the seaside town of Auteri but can she deliver on the promises she’s given to their community?
Reading any sort of Fantasy novel leaves you with a sense of wanderlust and this novel made me wish I could visit Eva’s world as well. The description of Auteri alone is enough to transport readers to this universe. From its descriptions of the water that lined the coast, to the light festival, and even all of the mom-and-pop shops of this seaside community. It’s a tranquil place but also far enough from home so that Eva can focus on her quest and obtain her goals. Along the way she makes new friends, makes a home away home from while struggling to develop in her own environment, and even grows in her powers. My favorite development in the story is her slightly destructive but cute flame fox sidekick which can be seen in many of the charming illustrations included in the book.
Though Eva deals with some harsh obstacles I loved watching her journey of how she grows over the novel. She may be scared and unsure, but it’s her vulnerability that connects her with the readers of the novel. She can be clumsy or mess up a already bad situation but her heart is in the right place. What I admire most about her character is her tenacity, confidence, and kindness. This was such a fun debut novel and a fantasy novel that transported me to a faraway magical world. I loved the cliffhanger at the end of the story and I can’t wait to see what will happen next. I’m eagerly looking forward to reading book two!
Final Verdict:
