Lavender disappeared when she was younger, lost in the woods and into the arms of Mother Nest.
Eventually she returned to live with her Papa, but is there any truth in the harsh words their neighbour, Madam Nebby says to Lavender? Is she destined to always be a wanderer and to disappoint her father?
Under her clothes, Lavender hides the feathers that grow there. The townspeople are quick to tease her about them however they are happy to have her use her magpie talents to find lost items. Alongside her ability to talk to birds, she is marked out as different and struggles to find out who she really is, bird or girl?
Kit, the son of Lord and Lady Noble has not forgiven her for something she has done in the past but Lavender has no memory of it. The pair used to be great friends but their friendship is no more.
Only when Lord Noble disappears on the mountain of the deadly firebird does Kit begin to listen to Lavender.
This is one time her skills at finding things may mean the difference between life and death.
Together they go on a mission to rescue Lord Noble but they reckon without the dangerous Firebird who will go to any length to escape being trapped in the mountain!
Will Lavender be able to use her skills to find not only Kit’s father but also her true self?
What an absolute delight of a story!
I immersed myself in this wonderful magical adventure. Oh to be Lavender with the ability to be human or bird and soar through the sky. My heart went out to her with the struggles she had to conceal her feathers.
Rowan Foxwood has written a beautiful fantasy with an amazing world to dive into full of daemons, witches, friendship and family.
The firebird is truly terrible but as with all great fairytales, there is more to it than meets the eye. Can friendship, love and trust win the day?
In the end, we must all be true to ourselves.
Also by this author is the novel ‘Heartseer’, of which ‘Magpie Girl’ is part of the same universe.
Cover illustration by Crystal Kung.
Internal illustrations by Tim Banks.
Thank you very much to Fritha Lindqvist at Usborne books for the review copy.
Leave a Reply