This book was painfully repetitive... It took me almost a month to get through this VERY SHORT book because I'd only manage to read 20 pages at the time before I'd get annoyed with constantly being beaten over the head with the same information. I know children are the target audience but trust me, they will understand what you're trying to say after a couple of times. I found the magic system to have a few holes in it as well, but it was good enough.

I was hoping it was going to be one of those magical middle grades that makes you feel all cozy and safe but it ended up being very average and simple.

Very different story with a great message to the youth of today. Really enjoyed the concept of story magic & it was a easy read. What a wonderful strong female lead too.

I just wasn't able to get into this one. DNF'd at about 50 pages in. The pacing was sort of awkward and it felt like things were happening around the main character but not really to the main character. I think I should've been more concerned that her brother was in trouble, but I thought he was kind of a jerk, so I wasn't. I thought the concept of storytelling magic was super cool though and I had an easy time figuring out how it worked.

I liked this, but it didn’t completely stand out for me, I think because I didn’t really like some of the characters it was hard to connect or empathise, it felt a bit slow but it did pick up towards the end of the story and improved a lot and got far more interesting. I don’t often read middle grade and although a nice read, wasn’t sure some of the themes or villains were really middle grade, a nice read, but not memorable for me.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Story Magic is about Kaya, and how her brother, who was illegally teaching her how to do story magic (people not in a special guild or is a woman are not allowed to learn or perform it), gets arrested for something not entirely certain yet. Kaya sets out to save her brother with only her wits and the help of magic.

The Characters

I thought that the main character was annoying at times. I think the author had her misunderstand things a lot of the time for some extra drama. This tactic is used a lot in books, but I felt like that was overused in this book. Also, yes, she was worried about her brother, but she was still so rude to a bunch of people who were trying to help her. And she was a downer on herself, which I can get, since her brother was quite critical, but after all she’s done, she still kept saying about how she was a terrible story teller, or how her brother was better. I also didn’t really like the aunt (at least in the beginning). Yes, she was nice, but she barely seemed surprised or worried when Kaya told her that her brother was captured; she acted as though Kaya knew about everything that she talked about; and she also lived in a way in such stark contrast to Kaya’s upbringing and didn’t seem to be that understanding of how Kaya saw things, even though the majority of the world saw things the way Kaya did. But this is just nitpicking, and the characters weren’t that bad. Actually, I think I liked the listeners as characters. It was nice to add that magic had its own personality. While we as readers don’t get to read much about the personality of the listeners, it kind of came through at times when the characters used story magic. I think it would have been cool to explore the listeners a little more, but the story wasn’t about them, so it made sense that they were still mysterious in some ways.

The Magic

I really liked the magic in this book. It was a cool, original concept, and it actually had some limits, so there wasn’t always some magical answer to everything if you had the ability to perform it. And, to have the ability to perform magic, you actually have to learn it and everyone can do it, given the right education and materials, which is something that is not included in a lot of books. Often, you have to be born with the ability to do magic, and even then, you have to be born with the potential to actually be powerful, and other people will never have the potential to reach your level, or vice versa.

The Writing

I thought the writing style was a little sloppy at times. Like when we meet the Kaya’s aunt, she just begins spouting crucial information all at once like it is nothing. I thought this was a strange way to convey all of this information. As for the betrayal, I felt that to write a really good and emotional betrayal, the reader has to actually care about the character who betrayed. In this, it was just a character in the story that cared about the betrayer, and I think that this was a missed opportunity to make this book better. I’m a little conflicted about the ending. The ending seemed a little unresolved, but it wasn’t that much, so in fact it strengthened the storyline for me because I think a little uncertainty is good for a book’s end. But it was so abrupt about how everybody is more or less happy. I really liked these little mini stories that were told now and then when characters were doing story magic. Through these, it was cool to see how Kaya progressed as a storyteller, though it did seem a little abrupt of how Kaya suddenly stopped hesitating in her stories (but the story did have few-day gaps every now and then, during which Kaya supposedly practiced her storytelling).

I really liked the concept of this book, and I thought the magic was cool in how it wasn’t super easy to perform and also had some restrictions. I did have a few problems with it, like Kaya’s aunt and sometimes Kaya herself, but I did like this book. I think the cover and the map were also pretty great. I would recommend this book to grades three through six.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the DRC (Digital Review Copy)

Every once and awhile something in the Middle Grade genre will sound good and I’ll give it a try. It isn’t a genre I regularly read but there are some gems to be found in.

Story Magic is the tale of a 12-year-old girl who lost her parents and has lived with her brother for the last few years. Kaya is lonely and spends most of her time making blankets and trying to sell them, while her brother works for a Magic Guild.

In this story girls are forbidden from using magic and there is lore that bad things happen when girls use magic. Kaya’s brother says it is just superstition and teaches some of the story telling magic to Kaya anyway. After Kaya decides to use some of the magic her whole world turns upside down and her brother is taken away to be judged the main stronghold city. She must journey alone to save the only family she believes she has left.

I liked but didn’t love this story. Kaya was a little difficult for me to connect with and I never liked her brother. The tale is also a little darker than I would have thought. There are some genre issues that shine through as girls are not allowed to practice magic and some of the twisted listeners are scary. The cruelty in this I also thought was a little much for a Middle Grade book and so I’d recommend it more for 11-13 than 8-12 age ranges.

While I did like how the magic of the stories worked, I wished for just a little more magic to happen in the story. Enjoyed the last third of the story more, after Kaya found her aunt and had someone else to teach and care for her.

While this wasn’t really my favorite Middle Grade story it had entertaining side stories in it and the overall plot was good. I just wished I could have connected with Kaya a little more to make the journey better.

Kaya and her brother Hob have been living off Hob's stipend from the Story Magicians Guild after their parents passed away. While girls are not allowed to do story magic, Hob teaches Kaya how to weave tales for the Listeners to hear. If the Listeners like her tales, then they may grant Kaya's request. When Kaya finally works up the courage to ask the Listeners to help her after telling a tale, Hob is taken prisoner and Kaya believes it's her fault. With the aid of her new skill, Kaya sets off to save her brother.

The magic system, telling stories to beings that may or may not grant you your wish, was very unique. This also allowed for many stories within a story to occur, which I always enjoy. Kaya's journey is pretty realistic in terms of the dangers and hardships she faces. However, the only real critique is that her brother seemed to have pretty different personalities between the beginning and the end of the book. He went from caring, to utterly indifferent and rude to his sister. This was a bit jarring and I did not understand why this occurred. Overall, this is a fascinating tale that deals with what happens when an organization gains too much power and begins to restrict the actions of other groups, as well as the creation of an inventive magic system.

Story Magic by Laurel Gale is feminist-tinged middle grade fantasy about finding your voice and the magical power that exist in storytelling. I went into this book without really reading synopsis and only knew that it's based on the concept of Storytelling.

The concept behind this book is what really caught my eye and I went ahead reading this book. We see the main protagonist Kaya A'Dor who is a girl and girls in this world are forbidden from doing magic. She learns magic from her brother Hob. They both are orphans.

So her brother is all she has, the story is about she finding her magic and making friends with the listeners who are by her side and help her through her tough times. She is set on a journey of finding her brother who is caught by the guilds in the city of Prima.

Being it a middle grade, I liked this book. But I would have appreciated if the concept of the listeners and the magic system could have been more clearer. The only thing which we know about listeners is - they are water bound.

Apart from this I overall enjoyed reading the book. It was simple and adventurous. I was looking forward to the stories Kaya tells to the listeners everytime. I liked the twists we see with Hob and Gray. Fiola was a great side character as well.
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Thanks to Turn The Pages Tours for having me onboard.

Kaya lives alone with her brother, Hobb, who's taken care of her ever since their parents died. When Hobb is arrested by the magic guild, Kaya resolves to travel to the city to try to rescue him. To do so, she'll need to use story magic, a power forbidden to be used by girls, in addition to using her wits and every ounce of bravery and confidence she can muster.

This was a great character journey. Kaya started out as young orphan girl, reliant on her brother for everything. Over the course of the book, Kaya learned to look out for herself and to discern the truth. Sometimes, the people we trust the most aren't the righteous beings we always thought them to be. It's up to Kaya to decide what type of person she'd like to grow up to be.

I didn't get into this book right away, but I was hooked after the first few chapters. There's a lot of depth and heartwarming honesty and friendship and family.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

After a rocky start, I found myself enjoying this book.
The plot was a slower one, full of more lyrical wording and details. I really felt like I knew the world where Kaya lived and all the customs and traditions that were associated with the people. It was really nice to see Kaya as she found her family and their interactions were so moving. I could just see the love between Kaya and her aunt.
Now, about that rocky start. I felt that there was too much of a focus on what Kaya could and could not do according to the law. It was mentioned almost every page that she couldn't do something 'because girls weren't allowed.' While I understood that it was unfair, the message seemed to be pushed a lot stronger than it needed to be. I've found that the subtle messages are the ones that stick.
All in all, this is a good choice for middle grade readers who are looking for light fantasy.

Rating: 3.5/5
Language: n/a
Romance: n/a
Spiritual: n/a
Violence: n/a

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Not a fan of how anti girl the beginning is. I really hope that Kaya breaks the glass ceiling in this world.
Kaya starts off very naive but slowly learns. Hob is an ungrateful little shit.
It very dark for a middle grade and sometimes I forget it's aimed at middle schoolers because it's so dark. Then the writing reminds me; as it’s written like a middle grade book.
There’s not enough hope in the book for me to like it as a middle grade and the writing style is too middle grade for me to like it at a young adult book. 2.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tougher one to review in part because I didn’t realize just how young of an audience it was skewing for when I requested it from netgalley. It’s definitely much younger audience than books I typically read, even for middle grade, and so I do think that someone in the appropriate age group might enjoy it more than I did. That being said, there are a few things that I think are universally noticeable by readers that I want to talk about.

The stories. Obviously, the book is called Story Magic, which is a nod to the fact that that in this book the magic system works by telling stories to ephemeral beings who will then, basically, grant a wish/help out as guided by the stories. In some ways, this really worked—I think it’s a neat idea and I think that the world-building that springs up around it is very cool. There’s a lot of misinformation for the general public of the book and our protagonist, Kaya, has to navigate herself and find out the truths. It was interesting to discover things as she did.

However, sometimes it was just weird and didn’t really feel like it fit the narrative of the book. Like, the reveals were a little out of left-field feeling. It would be like “oh well the truth is X” and then I would be like “why is it that? that makes no sense. there’s been no proof or seeding of this idea prior to this reveal”. And that got frustrating.

As for the stories that Kaya tells, I thought they were fun, but I didn’t think they went far enough. They start off simple and as the story goes and Kaya grows as a character so do the stories she tells. Which is a nice a touch, I liked that. At the same time, even as they grew, they never really grabbed my attention. I feel like if the whole concept of magic is built up around these stories, the stories really should have been a draw to the readers and not just padding to make magic work.

Kaya as a character is pretty cool. She’s a driven and independent female character in a male-dominated world (and this tension, and the dismantling of the patriarchy, are major plot points in the book which I did Love). She’s a good protagonist, if a little two-dimensional occasionally. Side characters are few and far between, there’s really only two that matter, and those two are pretty flimsy once you look past their surfaces.

The plot has a good set-up—Kaya needs to find and rescue her brother, which involves a quest of sorts (and I’m a sucker for quest-stories). It’s a nice adventure and it even has a countdown that she needs to be constantly aware of. There’s good tension and build-up, though the climax is where things fall apart. For one, it’s way too easy for her to actually accomplish her mission. For another, once she does, the novel just kind of nose-dives and basically says “oh, yeah, you did this for pretty much no reason”. The ending could have worked if this were the first in a series because with just a few very minor adjustments it’s more like a set-up for further adventures. But as far as I can tell, it’s a standalone, and that makes the ending so disappointing.

So, yeah, not a book for me, but it might be enjoyed by a very young audience (maybe someone just getting into longer chapter books). The ending is really the weakest point of the whole novel, which is a shame, but otherwise, it’s a fun romp.

Stories are magical. For Kaya, they are magic. With story magic, almost anything is possible. You just have to make sure you can sense a Listener, tell it a story and tell it what you want. The problem is that girls aren't supposed to tell stories or use their magic. It brings bad luck. Kaya's brother Hob doesn't believe that, so he's taught her a little bit about magic. Since their parents died, Hob is all she has left. She really wants to impress him. So, she tries some magic. Shortly after, Hob has been arrested and taken to Prima for execution. Kaya thinks she's to blame. Maybe girls doing magic brings bad luck after all.
I enjoyed this. The first half was kind of slow in my opinion, but the last half was great. I love Kaya, not so much Hob. I think Fiola is my favorite. The story magic is interesting.

Magical! I love well written kids and teens books with magic in them! This on was a fun read as it featured storytelling as magic! I believe that to be true in real life, too. I have been telling stories for nigh on 30 years and just love the look on children's (and adults) faces when they become so entranced by a story one is telling that they look enchanted! Anyone who enjoys these types of tales will find this one engrossing and entertaining. Good one!

Laurel Gale's middle grade book Story Magic is a creative, easy to follow and captivates reader from its first page.

In a world where magic is done by telling stories, Kaya (12 years old heroine) searches her only remaining family member: Hob. 18 years old Hob works at Story Magicians Guild and takes care his sister since their parents died several years ago. He also teaches Kaya the secrets of Guild, though it is forbidden for women and outsiders to dabble with storytelling magic.

But according to the Story Magicians Guild, it was bad luck for a girl to attempt magic. It angered the listeners, they claimed. It led to disaster.

In this world, when invisible Listeners are close, you can make magic by weaving a nice story. You can either call them by burning incense or feel them by the tingle in your nape of neck. But if they don't like your story, it is said to have consequences.

When Kaya's brother fails to come home one day, Kaya searches for him and she learns that he is arrested and will be executed in a big city named Prima. Kaya is determined to find her brother but she has no money and no home and no help. Also she learns that he is taken to a HQ of Guild. So she starts to a dangerous journey and meets lots of folks. With the help of her story weaving, she reaches Prima and realizes that she has no plan.

Story Magic is an entertaining read, i liked Kaya very much. She is brave, resourceful, talented and sooo young. Throughout the journey, she comes across a lot of scary and unknown challenges but she never gives up. Never loses her good side and belief of right. That is why I love fantasy books this much, they push the boundaries.

Along the way, Kaya helps other people, learns the secrets kept by the Guild, finds new friends and comes to realize that one should not believe what was said and should search the truth for themselves.

Also making magic with storytelling was really captivating in the beginning. But for me, It lost the enchantment after a while, though they got better and better when the story progressed.

In my mind, Listeners were like a witch's familiar, always there, helping, protecting and demanding very little. Also Kaya and other practitioners recognise Listeners by the tingle in their napes. So nice for Gale to add this little details.

In my honest opinion, the story might have been developed a little bit but in general, I liked it. And many people would love this middle grade book. It also wraps up nicely, leaving no question marks in the mind. I can say that it is very safe for children too.

Language is simple, it encourages children to imagine their own stories. I can imagine that when read in a class or in a library and made an activity, children would create their own magical stories. It also encourages girls to follow up their dreams, never minding what other people are saying. This is always a big positive message for me.

Incredibly powerful story of a girl knowing what she wants and going after it which will inspire little girls everywhere. The story was delightful and engaging.

When I grabbed Story magic I expected a quick cute read perfect for Middle Grade readers and it didn’t disappoint. Laurel Gale weaves an interesting story that follows a kind of magic I don’t think I’ve seen in a novel before. The characters themselves don’t have any magic but the stories they tell bring magic to them because of the Listeners. It does have some aspects of the story that are in many others, women are seen as less than men. Sadly it’s something that many people deal with and the book gave it a bit of a Salem Witch trials feel in my opinion. Women are punished for attempting to use Story Magic and rumors are spread that the Listeners punish women severely for attempts to use it. This keeps women, and non guild members, in line because of fear. But Kaya stands out. She’s not a protagonist that starts the story sure of herself and the Story Magic she holds. Like any twelve year old she’s nervous and fears what will happen if she angers the Listeners but decides to risk it to save her brother.

Honestly I thought it was a great story that shows some amazing character development throughout because Kaya goes from a kind of annoying child, to someone that people go to when they need help. It doesn’t matter that she’s a child because she listened to the teachings of her aunt and learned how to truly get the Listeners to help you. But the twist of why Hob was truly arrested was also something I enjoyed because I didn’t see it coming. You’ve got to love a book that doesn’t throw away the chance at a good twist just because it’s meant for Middle Grade readers. I might be jumping around a bit and I’m sorry about that but I do love that the book reads like it’s not meant for children in the way that it doesn’t spell out everything that’s going to happen. Laurel Gale gives the reader a chance to try and piece things together or be taken fully by surprise and I like that.

Story Magic by Laurel Gale is a cute adevtanure tale for middle grade students about the power of telling a story.
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In this world, the Story Magician's Guild holds enormous power. They can sense and summon listeners in order to tell them a story in exchange for some magic. But only male apprentices and magicians can access this magic, never girls. It is believed that it is bad luck for a girl to attempt story magic. For young Kaya, she's already had her young life filled with bad luck. Besides, it's not terribly difficult telling a story... And sometimes, a little bit of magic can come in very handy.
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I really like this book for a middle grade age group. The topic of mysoginy is evident, yet women are empowered through the various female characters. The plot is linear, straightforward, and easy to understand. The story includes just the right amount of magic, while also highlighting the dangers of greed, thereby incorporating yet another important message for young readers.
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Kaya is smart and wise beyond her years. She makes an excellent hero in this tale, with a happy ending that drives home many of the author's important themes and lessons. I would definitely recommend this book to my middle grade students.

Kaya, is a 12 year old girl who decides to practice story magic even though girls are not suppose to. When Kaya's brother becomes imprisoned, she sets out on a journey to save him. The story did not hold my interest and. I am not a fan of fantasy. However, middle school students who do like fantasy may enjoy this book. At the end of the book, it appears that there may be a sequel.

This was a very sweet story. Simpler than I expected however taking into account the target audience. Lost parents and separation from family is a trope that is stark so it is good to know that before hand in case it could be a trigger warning for some. A coming of age tale where both the journey to get to the destination as well as the destination itself are important. Great female protagonist and represenation however I was not that excited about the story itself in the end. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend for a younger audience!


Thanks Netgalley for the free e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.