Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Biddy has lived on a secret island along with her Mage caretaker, Rowan, and his rabbit familiar for the last 17 years. Although Biddy hasn’t left the island since being shipwrecked as a baby, Rowan has been leaving the island nightly, always returning 2 hours prior to dawn. One night, Rowan does not return from his mysterious adventures, and Biddy must rescue him via his nightmare. This sets Biddy’s course of leaving the only home she’s ever known to help her guardian. The Magician’s Daughter is so delightfully charming. It’s cozy without being low-stakes and filled with characters I absolutely loved.

The first word that keeps coming to mind when I think of this book is "Whimsical." I loved the Irish lore woven into the story and the relationships between the characters. I could see the island and crumbling castle. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and hope this is the beginning of a series!

"Just because someone is your elder, doesn't make them your better"

The Magicians Daughter is a whimsy historical fantasy, set in a world that was brimming with magic, but now is nearly completely gone. On a small, isolated island off the coast of Ireland lives a young 16 year old girl named Biddy, along with her mage guardian Rowan, and Rowan's animal (and sometimes human) familiar, Hutch.

While this is a historical fantasy, this is most importantly a coming of age story. The book has strong themes of family (found family), human nature, and understanding that people are complex, and are not perfect beings. Even parents.

The characters were interesting, I enjoyed the character development of Biddy. I wish the others were flushed out a bit more, Rowan and Hutch had so much potential...

The world building was interesting, but again I wanted MORE. Hi-Basil sounds amazing, yet I never felt completely immersed.

I also found often times it really dragged - I really enjoyed the beginning, but the middle was LONG and while I was still interested, I found myself waning in interest. Thankfully I continued because the end was good but I also could have done without that one aspect, I wish the book had finished a couple chapters before.

Despite all this, I enjoyed it and would read more from this author.

Safe, warm, and filled with bookish love – I haven’t felt such reading contentment since I turned the final page of T.J. Klune’s "The House in the Cerulean Sea." So thank you, H.G. Parry.

Parry’s latest, "The Magician’s Daughter," is a cozy historical fantasy novel that I hope will find a wide audience. Set in 1912, it’s the story of Biddy, a sixteen-year-old girl who has grown up on a mythical island just off the coast of Ireland. Raised by her magician guardian, Rowan, and his familiar, Hutchincroft, Biddy longs to leave the island and venture to the mainland, no matter that Rowan has strictly forbidden it. But when Rowan’s life is suddenly in danger, Biddy finds that it’s up to her to save him. And while she's at it, she might as well return magic to the world, too.

"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.

And though Biddy is a teenager, Parry has written her story in the manner of a timeless fairy tale, one that will appeal to all ages – the young, the old, and the in-between. Most readers will see a little of themselves in Biddy, thereby finding it impossible not to adore this book.

"The Magician’s Daughter" is available now. I can’t wait for you to read it.


My sincerest appreciation to H.G. Parry, Redhook, and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I read this novel with great interest, as the premise is very interesting and focuses on an orphan who clearly is involved in the deeper plot line. However the story didn't keep my interest as much as I was hoping. Although I found the protagonist very engaging and the story intriguing, once I reached 25% but didn't find myself eager to read the rest of the story I knew it possibly wasn't my cup of tea. Overall I think this is probably a well written story and likely to engage most fantasy or science fiction readers, but it didn't meet my high standards.

3.5-
Fantasy is not my favorite genre, but I continue to dabble with it because you never know when a book will grab you. I decided to try this one because the synopsis sounded pretty good.
It’s 1912 and Biddy is a 16 year old girl who has lived her entire life on Hi-Brasil, an island that holds magic, with Rowan a mage, and Hutch, his familiar. Rowan goes off at night to find magic on the mainland and while these jaunts are worrisome for Biddy and Hutch, Rowan always comes home; until one day he doesn’t. Biddy soon realizes that even though she isn’t magical, she can still use magic to save Rowan, and in the process she learns more about herself.
While fantasy isn’t always my thing, I love books that allude to there being magic in our world, and thus I really loved that aspect of this story. When I first read the synopsis, I was intrigued that it takes place in 1912, but throughout the book I kept wondering why that needed to be mentioned. Aside from a couple of mentions about women’s fashion there was nothing that made 1912 standout and I feel it was something that either could have been explored more, or shouldn’t have been mentioned at all.
I thought the theme of family being more than blood was sweet, and it gave the book more of a YA feel, but I was annoyed that Biddy didn’t seem to get that until the end. At the same time, though, I could see how being raised by a mage and a familiar could make one feel like she doesn’t belong when she isn’t magical in the slightest.
All in all this was a cute book and I thank NetGalley and Redhook Books for an advanced copy of this book. Pub date- Feb 28, 2023

The Magician’s Daughter evokes feelings of nostalgia, akin to curling up with your favorite fairytales and folklore.

That said, the “real-world” aspects feel true to life. Parry did not shy away from showing what grim realities everyday life can hold. We were able to go from looking into the golden eyes of the Púca on a mystical island (some of my favorite moments) to walking through the dark streets of London, the story never ceasing to flow naturally.

Having grown up sheltered on the island of Hy-Brasil, Biddy looks to books for a window into the outside world. I loved the nods to the novels guiding some of Biddy’s decisions as most of her knowledge of the world comes from those pages.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age tale exploring found family, and the characters were easy to care about which really enhanced the stakes for me.

While I believe this is a stand-alone novel and feels complete, I wouldn’t be upset if there was a prequel with more Rowan and Hutchincroft...

I would recommend for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle!

Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook, and H. G. Parry for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Biddy grew up isolated in Hy-Brasil with a lone magician, Rowan, and his rabbit familiar. She hasn’t left the island since she washed up on its shores as an infant. She possesses no magical abilities of her own. However, when Rowan doesn’t come home one night she must venture into his nightmare to locate him and ends up uncovering answers to questions she has been asking for years.

The concept and the worldbuilding were spectacular. The book strikes the right balance between a historical fiction feel, as it takes place in 1912, and magical realism, with fictional creatures and magical abilities in a real-world setting. Parry manages to create an interesting backstory to magic and a quest that leaves our favourite characters in constant peril.

I will say that the supporting characters could have been written a little better. In most cases they only seek to exist in scenes to support our main character. They never seem to be doing anything outside of direct interactions with her.

Also, for those who don’t enjoy romance. There is none in this book. Okay, maybe one that is implied between supporting characters however it is not the focus. It is an age-appropriate read about a girl and her found family and the journey of growing up and discovering herself and her place in the world. Oh and she just so happens to save magic along the way.

Thank you RedHook Books for providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog rating: 9/10

Review:

“There are never any sureties with magic. You can never know what will happen. All you can do is throw yourself in with your whole heart, and expect nothing more than a wild ride.”

This book was so delightful. It surprised me because when I started out, I was unsure if it was going to be for me. The story unwinds slowly and has a cozy start. I was worried it would never pick up pace but it quickly picks up in speed without losing that sense of charm.

I loved Biddy’s sense of wonder and the little found family she has within Rowan and his familiar Hutchincroft. Biddy is a character that embodies the goodness of a person uncorrupted by the evils in the world. She’s been sheltered but she knows that there are dangers outside of Hy-Brasil, though she still longs to be a part of a world where people exist. When she meets those evils, she stays true to the person she is.

The magic system is subtle and pairs well with the real-world setting. This is the type of magic that you could believe exists in real life. The descriptions of magic were so beautiful and I could feel the characters’ wishes for it to be restored to its natural place in this world that Parry built. The longing that Biddy feels for magic is remincisent of the feelings I had when I first read a magical fantasy book as a child; the yearning for magic to reveal itself to me and the hope that it would. I remember silently sending out a thought to the universe that if magic existed, I wanted to be involved in it. I think most fantasy readers that started in this genre as children could relate to that emotion. Parry captures it perfectly and I felt immense nostalgia from this book.

“‘I love magic,’ Biddy said. It was what she had been unable to explain to Rowan, when he had asked her to leave Hy-Brasil—what it had felt presumptuous to claim, when her claim on it seemed so weak compared to his own. She hadn’t even been able to explain it to herself. But she knew now that she loved it for its wonder and its joy, its kindness and its beauty. She loved it because it brought the chance of mischief, the chance of miracles, the chance of something better. She loved it because it was good.”

If you’re looking for a cozy, magical book, this is going to be right up your alley. Thank you to Orbit for the review copy! I was also fortunate enough to receive an audiobook copy of The Magician’s Daughter via Hachette. Rose McPhilemy was the narrator and lends a dreamy voice that encapsulates how charming this book really is. Everything about the performance was absolutely perfect and in tune with the novel’s energy.

You can grab a copy of The Magician’s Daughter now!

The Magician's Daughter was a delightful read! I've been meaning to read some of H.G. Perry's work for awhile and I'm definitely going to be reading more from her. The atmosphere and lyrical writing are perfect for this sweetly magical tale. Don't get me wrong, it gets dark! But the tone and writing weave the air of folklore and magic right into it. Often these kind of books start strong prose-wise, but can't maintain that tone, but Perry did a lovely job carrying through the tone consistently. I loved the Celtic and English folklore elements, and the characters were easy to care about and love. It is a rather slow start, but there's plenty to keep you engaged until the plot and action picks up. My only minor complaints were that the middle section dragged a little bit, and I was not a huge fan of a decision made near the end. Those things didn't really affect my enjoyment, and I would highly recommend The Magician's Daughter to readers who love magical atmospheres, mythology, and a beautiful found family.

Thanks to Redhook and to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I also listened - and loved! - the audiobook narrated by Rose McPhilemy. Her narration was perfection for this story!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

A world with less & less magic. Found family. Secrets galore. A girl who could change it all.

The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry offers a marvelous reading experience. I absolutely adored pretty much everything about it: the twists & turns of the plot, the rich writing that invited me into this world & these complicated & also admirable characters, the secrets that I couldn’t wait to be divulged.

It’s all so good!

Main character Biddy—a teen who isn’t a mage but who is strong & fierce & full of love—had me cheering metaphorically from the nearest turret. Watching her adventures as she finds her way in an unsettled world is immensely enjoyable.

If you’re looking for your next fantasy read, check this one out. It was an easy 5 star read for me!

5⭐️. Out now!

Please check out a list of CWs from a trusted reviewer.

[ID: Jess, a white woman wearing an orange-ish/red floral dress, holds the ebook in front of an evergreen tree.]

I LOVED this book. In my opinion there is nothing harder than writing fantasy. You have to build a whole world with rules and make it believable. I loved the overlay with historic London and the legendary disappearing island which has been in other books I've read as well. The settings were wonderfully done, the characters were as well and the story just flew off the page into my heart, the real magic left in this world.

Lots of potential here with about equal hits and misses for me. I dug the backstory of magic being all but gone from the world and mages having to scrape by on what magic is left, but became much less interested when the corrupt Council comes into play. I found everyone from the Council completely meh in characterization aside from Morgaine - either not sinister enough or over the top. Experiencing this world through Biddy’s coming of age eyes was bittersweet in the way COA stories usually are, but this has YA leanings in scope that I wasn’t necessarily in the mood for reading at the time. I still enjoyed Biddy, Rowan, and Hutch (♥️!!) as characters and especially as a family unit. Their relationships and Rowan’s fraught relationship with Morgaine were the real win of the story for me and what had me wanting to go back and my heart fluttering and clenching in equal measures. Hy Brasil was also such an enchanting setting and the magic was dope, though I wanted this to be <i>more</i> Irish? Worth the fairly quick read, but with holes in the adversaries that definitely affected the tension for me. Would and plan on trying more H. G. Parry. ✔️ <b>3.75</b>💫

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for an eARC of this book!</i>

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Redhook Books in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Folklore
Audience: Adult and YA
Theme: Coming of Age, Kindness, Resource Management

Biddy is nearly 17 and lives on Hy-Brasil, an island hidden from the world with her foster family. She longs to escape and see the world. (Don't we all at that age? Parents, or guardians, are such a bother.) Though she doesn't have magic, she has interacted with magic daily on the island. She knows to be wary of the púca and shadows, but she doesn't know how to dress to blend in with London society.

Rowan, her guardian, flys away each night as a raven and returns before dawn. Why? Biddy is uncertain when he doesn't return one day. . .

Hutchincroft (Hutch), Rowan's familiar and spirit rabbit, adores Biddy. But when Rowan is facing dangerous enemies the three of them work together. Are they stronger together or apart?

I'm saying this is a great book for a YA audience and adults because it has timeless themes and elements. It's also clear of smut and egregious violence. Rowan is a mentor. Hutch provides some comedy relief. There's an unconscionable villain. Biddy is the "simple farm boy" but in this case, a young woman who is called on to do more than she believes she is capable of. However, everything feels fresh and new. The author also delves into folklore—which was enchanting. This is a must read for lovers of fantasy!

I ADORED this story. There is so much nuance in each character. I love morally gray characters because they jump off the page. Biddy grows but many characters have an arc. It's written in such a way that it feels lush and easy to understand simultaneously. I'm amazed! Wrapping everything up took a little longer than I expected (but as a full disclosure, I was trying to get to making dinner—so my thought may be off on that). I partly put "resource management" for a laugh, but tell me—doesn't it fit as a theme? You're going to have to read it to answer that one. There's even a romance subplot that doesn't overtake the rest of the story!

Will I read more books by H.G. Parry? ABSOLUTELY! Sign me up.

I highly recommend this story for anyone who loves adventure, magic, and rabbits.

Happy reading!

PS: Here's my shout-out to the cover artist. Fantastic work! I love it too.

This book is a coming of age, small-scale fantasy, that had a lovely gentleness to it that I just adored. I really enjoy stories with fantastical settings that have a small focus. In this case, it's Biddy, a 16-year-old living on a magical island who ends up discovering the wider world. I would call this a cozy fantasy, but in a Hayao Miyazaki way. There are fantastical animals and spirits and magic, but the heart of it is one person learning their own place in the world. It just worked, and was a balm of a book during stressful times.

I fell in love with H.G. Parry's writing after reading her Shadow Histories duology. She has such a way with words. So, when I heard about The Magician's Daughter, I knew I had to read it. Plus, look at that cover—this book is just begging to be read.

I would describe this as a coming-of-age historical fantasy with magic and a dash of mystery. It contains one of the most unique found families I have read in some time. I dare you not to fall in love with these characters. The setting of Hy-Brasil adds so much to the atmosphere, and despite being fairly dark, this book has a coziness to it.

I will warn you that this is a bit of a slow burn, it takes bit for the story to unfold, but once it does the stakes are high.

So, what stopped this from being a 5 star read? I did have some issues with the motivations of a few characters. There is also a trope that I really wish would not have happened, but I understand why it did.

Thank you to Netgalley, Redhook, and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of The Magician's Daughter.

I absolutely loved this book. I have seen other reviews talk about a slow start, but for me, I was hooked almost instantly. This book just feels like magic. I loved the story and the world and the characters so much, I both wanted to rush through so I could find out what happened and linger a little longer. I really enjoyed the character of Biddy. I find books where the main character is 15-17, they sometimes seem older and I find myself wishing they just aged the character up so it made more sense. That was not the case in this book, Biddy felt like a 16, almost 17-year-old in the best possible way. She was smart and determined but she was also scared and confused and sad and angry, and everything a 16-year-old in her position should be. I also loved how the adults were written. Sometimes in books where so much is relying on the teenager to save the world, I find myself going, "where are the adults?! why aren't they helping?!" This was not the case in this book, I felt like the adults were approachable cautious, and concerned, but still gave her the trust she needed, it felt like a reasonable amount of responsibility both taken and given for the circumstances. This is not meant as a critique of other books featuring teenage female heroines, I have read many and loved most, but it was an observation I made while reading this book and I think it was done very well.

**Some spoilers
The scene where Rowan finds Biddy almost killed me. It was so sad and soft and quiet and lovely in the very best way. My only wish was that I hope they would have more of a "scene" where they address their relationship a bit more and how much both of them love one another, similar to that of parent and child. It felt like something she really wanted and needed, and Rowan too, and while they truly knew how much they cared for one another, I wish they had gotten their moment to properly express it.

1000/10 would read any sequel H.G Parry wrote!

If I said that I loved this book, I would be vastly understating my feelings. I was genuinely surprised by how enthralled and enraptured I was in this story. The description provided describes the book but does not do it justice by any means.

Given the basic plot: a world once had magic, but there is less now, and that causes problems for a girl on a hidden island, I was not expecting the heartwarming coziness of the characters or the heartbreaking social commentary that the novel provides. This was so much deeper than just a fluffy piece on one girl venturing forth from her hidden home. Every character was strongly and complexly developed, and I found myself both protesting and cheering at the turns that they experienced.

I wish that I could critique some part of this novel, but I genuinely don't believe that I can. It was, for me, the absolute perfect read. I was carried away into this world, and the story had me in its thrall almost instantly. From a characterization perspective, Biddy was absolutely excellent, Hutch owns every cockle of my heart, Rowan is the most delightfully frustrating parental figure, and Morgaine is the embodiment of female empowerment. I do feel that this story feels vaguely reminiscent of The Golden Compass, but more innately magical and beautiful.

I want nothing more in my life than to journey to Hy-Brasil and spend every day amongst the rabbits and the magic. I already cannot wait to read this again.

Source: digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

AAAHHHHHH!!! This book is NOT my usual jam, but I am SO GLAD I read it. Just a delight. The characters are engaging and feel real and are imperfect without being jerks or TSTL. The characters are wonderful. I read books to connect to the characters, and it happened here.

Beautiful turns of phrase, amazing sense of place. The stakes are high but PERSONAL, which is my catnip. I'll definitely read this author again.

The last few books I read were disappointing; it felt so good to absorbed into a story and stay there, if only for a little while.

This was my first read from H.G. Parry and I enjoyed it! I loved the fact that the tory was character-driven and focused on the character's histories and background. Additionally, I enjoyed Parry's development of each character, especially the main character, Biddy. The book is slightly slow towards the middle, but it does pick up towards the end. Overall, a great read for those that enjoy fantasy and historical fiction influences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,