Kids 3rd grade up are going to enjoy this magical story. If they love Harry Potter, The Angie Sage Magyk series, etc,,, this story will be right up there alley! Lots of magical intrigue.

A fun book with an interesting twist. I enjoyed Avery and her tail. I hope we see more adventures of her and her friends.

Fast paced (sometimes confusingly so) fantasy novel set in Scotland and featuring both traditional Scottish myth and lore and creatures rather less common (such as the cat-fae protagonist). There's a bit of a zany feel to this text that seems common to British kid's lit, think Dahl or Walliams.

I enjoyed this story, but there were some parts of it that didn't make it as enjoyable as I would've liked it to be. The main issue I had was that it seemed to jump so quickly into the next thing, especially in the beginning. I felt confused by what I was reading. I had to reread it very slowly to figure out what was going on. I did however enjoy the main character and I loved the fact that she was part human and part cat. I don't recall ever reading anything with a character like that. But still the book just didn't keep me interested.

Avery Buckle has never really felt like she belongs. Though her guardians are kind, the fact that she knows very little about her past or her parents is challenging for her. On the night of her school’s Halloween disco, Avery and her best friend Low learn unexpected things about one another and find themselves on a magical adventure that takes them far from home. Traversing the Scottish landscape, they team up with characters of all shapes and sizes to restore lost memories and prevent a great evil from taking root.

Readers with an interest in Scottish history and folklore will love this novel approach to magic. Taking place over a great expanse of Scotland, foods and traditions native to this land make frequent appearances. Musical references and Scottish language are included, adding another layer to the narrative.

While the story is somewhat rough at the beginning, it quickly develops into a riveting and unexpected tale. Incorporating legends, prophesies, and a diverse assortment of characters, this story will draw readers in, allowing them to experience it almost as though it can be viewed directly. Cinematic sequences make the story come alive and capture the attention of readers of all ages.

Short chapters and occasional illustrations give middle grade readers a sense of accomplishment as they make their way through this multifaceted narrative. Well-timed scenes end in such a way as to draw readers immediately into the next chapter. Additionally, a frequent description of magic existing in all the in-between spaces allows readers the opportunity to consider reality as something more than it might seem.

A fanciful story of friendship and self-discovery, this book will be especially enjoyed by middle grade readers with an interest in fantasy and Scottish folklore. Its pacing and delivery after the initial chapters are well executed, pulling readers along until the final page is turned. This is a delightful addition to libraries for confident middle grade readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book's worldbuilding was stunning and amazingly done, but I was a bit sad because it was so fast-paced that I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have hoped. The pacing was very fast, and it made it so some scenes were much shorter than they could have been and sometimes overly brief. The plot was clever and enjoyable, but at times the characters seemed flat and similar to one another. Overall, the story was fun and sweet, but if the author had spent a bit more time fleshing out the story and the characters, it would add quite a bit to the story.

The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle is a fast-paced story about Avery and her friend, Low who discover there is more to each other than they knew. Avery is the last of the Cat Fae and Low is a Hoolet--and someone is not happy they are alive. After escaping a would-be assassin, Avery and Low find themselves on an adventure that tests each one's strengths and inner will. A perfect book for readers who want a little danger, magic, and friendship.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

This book was more of a 2.5 for me, but I'm rounding up because I feel there is more to like with this book than there is to find fault with it. Given that the target audience is for children ages 8 - 11, this book might appeal more to them than it does for me.

The story itself has a clever plot. The world that the author built is one I would love to fall into and explore.

The main flaw with this book is the pacing. It's so fast, I didn't get time to enjoy all the interesting tidbits that the author threw in. There's too much in the story going on for me to pause and appreciate the finer notes what was happening. There's references to mythical creatures that the reader doesn't get to go into in detail because the creature appears, plays its part quickly, and then peaces out.

There is also a surplus of characters. An innumerable number of witches from various legends and folktales are listed in the beginning, and then they barely show up the rest of the book. They also aren't given much of a personality. It's as if Foley wanted you to see all the cool stuff she knew about, but didn't want to take the time to flesh anything out.

In fact, none of the characters are incredibly 3D. The villain is villainous. The other good guys are good guys. They're all jolly and sweet, and it's almost as if the personality of one was copy and pasted onto the next.

On another note, there were also general continuity errors as well as things happening for sheer convenience it feels. . (Ex. Avery & Low leave a party in their Halloween costumes, but along he way they somehow manage to have other clothes that they change in and out of that came from.....???) The moments of convenience I felt could have been things that had more of a build up in the story instead of just...happening. (Ex. SPOILER: Tab and Knuckle aren't shocked at all that Tab is Acton. In fact, they knew it right along. No biggie.,)

Giving this book a three is a bit higher of a rating than I would have liked to give, but I feel that if this book had been fleshed out more, it would have had a lot of potential and would have been way more enjoyable of a read.

I really enjoyed this fun book about a magical girl. It was super interesting and fun. It's a great read for kids ages 8-11.

Sweet and simple! I enjoyed discovering the magical world along with Avery, who was a very lovable heroine. The world building was really interesting and I loved recognizing the witches names from other tales. The reveals didn’t always work for me though, and how the characters saved the day just felt too humorous.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for provided a free arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

If Harry Potter was Scottish and had a tail...This was a fast moving magical book that crammed everything about magic in it. There were dragons, witches, spells, shape-shifters, fairies etc. It almost felt like too much for one book but it helped keep me as a reader engaged. Perfect read for fans of magic.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC
DNF @30%

I am new to Middle grade novels and wanted to explore more of the genre. I picked up this book because it sounded really cute and fun and something that I would really enjoy. While it was cute it wasn't captivating. I liked that it went straight into the story, it just wasn't exciting me or making me want to keep reading. Maybe for younger kids it would be fun.