**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!**

3.75 stars rounded up

The Magician's Daughter is a whimsical coming-of-age fantasy story that pulled me in immediately. We follow Biddy as she goes about her day-to-day life on the island of Hy-Brasil with her guardian Rowan and his rabbit familiar named Hutch. Magic is dwindling from the world and Rowan ventures out frequently to find it. One night Rowan doesn't return and Biddy has to find a way to rescue him and bring him home.

This felt like a Ghibli movie in the best way. I loved the characters (especially Hutch, as ), and the atmosphere of Hy-Brasil. I felt like this lost a little steam for me around the 60% mark and I had a hard time picking this back up. It did pull me back in though, and I'm glad I stuck with it. I really ended up enjoying this one and it just left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

I was surprised that this is considered an adult novel rather than YA, not just because we're following a younger character, but to me the stakes felt considerably lower than a "typical" fantasy story. Overall if you're looking for something relaxing, cozy, and heartwarming, I absolutely recommend this book.

This is my first book by this author, but I know she has published several others, so I definitely plan to pick up more of her books!

Biddy was raised by the mage Rowan on an island hidden by ancient magic with only he and his rabbit familiar, Hutchincroft, for company. Now nearly seventeen, she desperately wants the chance to leave and see how the rest of the world compares to the books she loves. Biddy gets her wish, but not in the way she'd imagined.

Rowan often shapeshifts into a raven to leave the island at night, always returning before dawn. When one morning he hasn't returned and Hutch can't sense him, wherever he is, Biddy must take drastic action. Though not a mage herself, she can use the enchanted artifacts in Rowan's study to scry for him and enter his dreams. It turns out that all of Rowan's nighttime sneaking has been to defy the magical Council that hoards Britain's dwindling magic. He's been reappropriating it for people in need but was caught in a trap on his latest Robin Hood excursion. Though Rowan is able to escape the dream that holds him with Biddy's help, their lives have changed in irreversible ways. It's clear that Rowan is in the Council's crosshairs, and their lovely, secret island is in danger. Rowan proposes using Biddy as bait. Though not a mage, it turns out that she has had some kind of spell trapped inside of her ever since Rowan found her as an infant. The force of that magic could draw in the Council for Rowan to make a trap of his own. Since they don't want to reveal the island, it means Biddy will get the adventure she's always been denied.

When Biddy's dropped off at a girls' asylum as the latest in a revolving door of teachers, she encounters pure misery for the first time in her sheltered life. It's 1912, and the girls and staff alike are trapped in a hopeless drudgery with no means of escape. Her job is all about keeping the girls "under control," and she's horrified by the dismal conditions under which everyone lives and works. She knows her own stay to be temporary, but this is merely a fact of life for everyone else. While it's only the tip of the iceberg of Biddy's adventures, it's perhaps the most meaningful because it gives her a connection to something real and despairing. As hard as she intends to fight for Rowan, Hutch, and their home, this gives her another layer of fuel. With magic so far gone from the world, there's no element of chance, luck, or wonder to pull anyone from a despicably unfair life.

I haven't cried this hard over a book in a minute. It's ultimately a story about found family. As Biddy adapts to being thrown into the real world, we see her start to understand Rowan and Hutch as full people. There are rocky growing pains and difficult moments while all of them find their way. But when push comes to shove as it comes so often in this story, any of the three would go to extreme lengths for the others. I was so on the edge emotionally for so much of the book that even Biddy being called for the first time by a full name that recognizes both Rowan and Hutch's parenting sent me to tears. Not the big, dramatic sobs I mentioned earlier, though. I saved those for later. And what I loved so deeply about how the story's told is that there's a clarity of purpose without common sidebar distractions: no vestigial romance plot, no chosen one pomp, and no unearned angst to drag things down. Biddy's story is complicated, action-packed, and heart-wrenching, all whirling around her sense of identity, family, and home.

This is a beautifully written adventure with big feelings and thoughtful messaging. It's a perfect example of why found families find such fierce devotion in readers' hearts, and it strikes the perfect balance between stark realism and magical wonder to tell a story of carefully crafted historical fantasy. I can't recommend it enough. Thanks to Redhook for my copy to read and review!

The Magician’s Daughter started out well. I like the mythology and the world-building. However, the middle of the novel started to drag. Still, it was a very nice fantasy tale.

The Magician’s Daughter is so charming and so whimsical, so gentle and delightful. It’s a novel about growing up, finding independence, and drawing courage to do the task that needs to be done, even when hopelessness threatens to overwhelm.

This captivating historical fantasy follows a young woman who has been raised in isolation by a magician on a remote island. As she ventures into early 1900s England, she discovers that the world she knew is far different from reality and must set out to restore magic to a world that has nearly forgotten it. The novel is marked by its lush, lyrical prose and an array of magical creatures, offering a beautifully rendered coming-of-age story. While the pacing slows in the final third—particularly when contrasted with more intense reads—the book's charming, slow-burn narrative is likely to appeal to readers of all ages, despite its YA style.

This unfortunately was a DNF for me for the time being, I hope to revisit it in the future to try again!

I really loved the mix of Howl's Moving Castle, Neverwhere, and just general cozy magical realism this novel has! The characters and the world were both interesting and crafted in a way that really kept my interest. I would absolutely recommend for anyone that is looking for a blend of real and fantasy worlds, that feel both cozy and high stakes at the same time!

If you’ve been craving a good coming of age story, H.G. Parry’s The Magician’s Daughter is exactly what you’ve been looking for. In The Magician’s Daughter, Biddy is the adoptive daughter of a reclusive magician. She’s grown up on an enchanted island and longs for the adventures that the mainland seems to represent. Her wish is granted when her adoptive father’s enemies catch up to Biddy and her adoptive family. Now she finds herself on a mission to save not only her adoptive father, but also her home and even magic itself. I found the Magician’s Daughter to be an enjoyable story that will be appreciated by both adult and younger audiences. Biddy’s story was a pretty typical coming of age story with the young heroine being forced to leave home on a quest of self discovery. At the beginning of the story, Biddy has led a very sheltered life and I was highly entertained by her wonder at everyday things like trains and stores. Moments like that really made me appreciate how it is easy to take ordinary things for granted. And although Biddy grows as the story progresses, I was warmed by the fact that the author chose to allow Biddy to retain some of her initial wonder all the way to the end of the story. In my opinion, The Magician’s Daughter was a moderately paced story. It was not one that hooked me beginning to end, but also did not bored me as I read it. I was particularly interested by the author’s exploration of magic as a living entity rather than the more common trope of magic as a tool. The trope of found family was also very strong in The Magician’s Daughter and led to some rather touching moments. Unsurprisingly Biddy was the star of this story, but a second favorite of mine was the magician’s rabbit familiar, Hutchincroft.

I’m a sucker for animal companions and Hutch’s relationship with Biddy had me going “Aw!” quite a bit, especially when he was able to comfort her at a time when he wasn’t able to speak. Last, but not least, I enjoyed how the author incorporated Irish mythology into the story, which added to its at times fairytale quality. Fans of Irish myth will absolutely recognize some of the figures in the Magician’s Daughter and will likely enjoy the role they play in the story. Overall, I thought that The Magician’s Daughter was a solid 4 star read.

I was skeptical about it starting slow on that island, fearing the usual orphaned teen trope where they tackle a perilous mystery solo, scraping info together from places they're not supposed to know or just taking wild guesses. But to my surprise, it wasn't the same old story! It zipped along at a refreshing pace, defying the typical narrative.

I found myself genuinely liking it, not falling into the trap of the clichéd orphan plot. And sure, on reflection, there were a few predictable moments, but the overall experience felt invigorating and pleasantly unpredictable, steering clear of the usual tropes.

Magic, folklore, a remote island, unforgettable characters - I thoroughly enjoyed The Magician's Daughter. I'm not a huge YA reader, but I think this book falls into that category. Our protagonist is young, but through discovery and adventure we are able to watch her grow up as she learns more about her world. I think my favorite part about this book was not only the magical realism and folklore, but the characters. I found them really well-developed and lovable.

Absolutely beautiful. I loved the writing, the story, and the characters. A must for those who enjoy lyrical fantasy.

I don't often read fantasies set in real-world historical places, but the premise of The Magician's Daughter drew me in immediately. The read felt slow at times, but it drew me into a cozy story, reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film. I'm interested in reading more by H. G. Parry!

This book has sat, and sat, AND SAT on my currently reading when it comes to Goodreads. (Almost a whole year.)

While it felt quirky, magical, and interesting... for some reason, my interest stopped finding it so interesting. There is a possibility I'll return to it in time, but I only made 25% into it before pushing it off to the side for other books.
So, when I return to it I will leave a comment. But for now, if you like things that is light in terms of magic this maybe your book.

This book wasn't quite what I expected. It exists in a strange middle ground between cozy and dark that didn't quite work for me. I also found that the historical period it was set in didn't feel as authentic as other historical fantasy I have read which may have been due to the flashbacks that took place in a different time period. Overall this book is probably best for people looking for historical fantasy that tends more towards a YA age range though without all of the annoying angst of so much of what is on the market in that age range these days.

For my full thoughts check out my video on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Ykjvfalf8

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free eARC in exchange for my honest review*

Utterly beautiful, magical, and captivating. Highly recommend it if you as a reader are looking for an escapist read that will transport you and keep you entertained. I adored this book so very much. It gave me pure joy

This is a lovely coming of age historical fantasy, beautifully written with wonderful characters, a compelling plot, and a smart, strong heroine learning to find her place in the world.

Biddy has lived all her life on the mythical island of Hy-Brasil under the care of the magician Rowan. She loves the island and her guardian, but as her seventeenth birthday approaches, Biddy longs to see the world beyond Hy-Brasil. One night, Rowan doesn’t return from his mysterious visit to the mainland, setting off a series of events that thrusts Biddy into the hidden magical world of early 20th century England. As truths about her past and Rowan’s are revealed, Biddy finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew. She must choose who she wishes to be in order to save her family and return magic to the world.

I really loved this novel. It’s my first by the author, but it won’t be my last. It’s a wonderful story about growing up, finding independence, and creating your place in the world. The plot is compelling and the characters are really well done. Biddy is such a wonderful main character, and she’s written in a way that makes her so relatable as she struggles to reconcile what she thought she knew with what she learns. This really does feel like a modern classic, and I can definitely see myself revisiting this book.

What a lovely read.

The book is a bit on the slower side, but in a pleasant way. The characters are wonderful and just the overall experience of reading this felt like being a kid and curling up on a cold day, knowing that you would be able to read uninterrupted.

Truly wonderful.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of the magician's daughter. this was very good, an understated story. this was not the most exciting but it was very entertaining.

Such a breath of fresh air. A mystery from the beginning with an unexpected ending. I highly recommend this book. A young girl mysteriously washes up on a magical island with only one inhabitant. He will become as her father but he is keeping secrets from her-from the beginning. Every night he turns into a raven and flies to the mainland, a place the girl had only read about in books. Raised surrounded by magic she will soon be responsible for saving magic all together.

A fresh and clean read for young adults and those of us young at heart. Magic and mystery. Love and pain.

This book is sweet, with a lot of heart, as the young Biddy learns magic from the old and grumpy Rowan. This book is comfortable and a bit predictable. The main characters are likable and the magic system is interesting. With themes of family and adventure, and elegant and sometimes funny prose, this book feels timeless and will appeal to readers of Lower YA and their parents, as well as readers of Upper YA who want something a bit softer and sweeter.