Ista Flit has a blessing - a magical ability. Most people Ista knows have some kind of blessing, but Ista’s is special; it allows her to shape change into other people. Blessings have been getting stronger in recent years, but that hasn’t been enough to save the people of Shelwich from the grilks, horrible magical creatures that appear from nowhere, only to vanish with a person from the town - and the disappearances are increasing in frequency.

This is an enjoyable and fast-paced novel, with a few twists that make it more interesting. Ista, along with her new friends, Nat and Ruby, start seeking the most recent missing person, one the the co-owners of the restaurant where Ista works and lives. Ages are never given precisely, but Ista, Nat, and Ruby all seem to be tweens or young teens. This book is recommended for readers of all ages.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a fun middle-grade fantasy. There is a diverse cast of characters, so there is a bit of something for every reader. The story is well written and descriptive, which will keep the readers engaged. The ending paves the way for a possible sequel. Harlow's book is creative and likely to appeal to readers of all ages.

In a town filled with magic rising and falling with the tides, a community is rattled when people begin to vanish, and many fear monsters are to blame. So, when Ista’s dad goes missing, she uses her rare, face-changing, magical abilities to transform her appearance to help her try to find her father and uncover clues as to who’s behind the disappearances. Author Clare Harlow’s TIDEMAGIC delivers an intriguing novel filled with magic, monsters, and suspense!

Thank you Netgalley & Knopf Books/Random House Children's for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Ista Flit wants her father’s clarinet back, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to have it returned to her possession. While her Tide gift—the ability to wear others’ faces—is useful in this endeavor, she is not infallible. When a task Ista has agreed to complete goes disastrously wrong one evening, Ista finds herself inadvertently revealing her gift to a boy who is certain there is someone controlling the nefarious grilk creatures who are terrorizing the people in their town. And though Ista is used to working alone, she quickly becomes entangled in Nate’s project and begins seeing her world in an entirely new light.

This middle grade fantasy novel is compelling from the very beginning thanks to its use of rich language and descriptions and the depth of the storytelling itself. While the world building necessary for this story is vast, it is done in a way that immerses readers in Ista’s world while keeping the momentum of her tale moving forward. Additionally, readers are willing to suspend their disbelief with abandon because the characters themselves are highly relatable despite their exclusive existence in a fictional narrative. Thoughtful backstories and character development connect readers to the protagonists in this novel, and readers will be eager to discover what happens next.

Short chapters and occasional illustrations make this book appeal to middle grade readers, while the narrative speaks to older readers, as well. Choice vocabulary and high stakes encourage newer middle grade readers to stretch their abilities because they are being trusted to be able to do so. Readers who enjoy fantasy stories with strong characters, danger, and just the right amount of good versus evil will relish Ista’s adventure. Poised for a sequel, this book ends in a way that will have readers clambering for the next installment. At once a tale of friendship, bravery, and coming into one’s own, this fantasy adventure is an excellent addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

Fantasy and mystery all in one book…yes, please! I was very intrigued by the first few chapters and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. I would sometimes forget that this was a middle grade fantasy as I was reading it but I loved all the characters. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series and anything else that Clare Harlow writes.

What worked:
It seems like characters who can change their physical appearances are usually bad guys but Ista breaks that mold. The Tide is the source of magic and all of the characters, except for Nat, have abilities. It’s expected in this society. Ista is at the mercy of a notorious thief, Alexo, so readers will root for her as she tries to reacquire her missing father’s last possession. Ista feels there must be a little bit of good inside of Alexo but readers may doubt that. Their relationship is not mutually beneficial as readers will sense Alexo can’t be trusted. The uncertainty of their relationship creates an interesting conflict to follow. However, Ista never suspects what Alexo is really up to.
An unexpected mystery is introduced when Ista crosses paths with Nat. Nat’s mother is a newspaper reporter and her magical talent is getting hunches that are never wrong. She suspects someone is controlling the grilks that are being blamed for disappearances across the city, possibly including Ista’s own father. The grilks are so feared that citizens are afraid to even say that word out loud. No one has ever escaped a grilk encounter before but Ista has now done it twice. Ista and her friends follow leads, investigate suspects, and are still stumped by confusing evidence. The victims of the grilk attacks must have something in common, but what? The author manages to conceal the truth for much of the story and even then, surprising twists and turns await.
The Tide sometimes feels like more than a natural occurrence depending on the setting. Its power comes and goes each day much like the tides found in large bodies of water. There are times during the story when Ista must feel for the magic or moments when the Tide is upset that she’s using it. The author artfully describes this relationship and the narrative as evidenced by this sentence later in the book. “The Tide was rising, its magic nosing at Ista like a puppy seeking attention…” Besides displaying the appearances of others, Ista can manifest their magical powers. The Tide doesn’t like her doing this and she can’t use the abilities for long.
What didn’t work as well:
There are many moving parts to the plot that some young readers might not appreciate. However, most readers will like the uncertainty and creative writing of the story.
The final verdict:
The author has crafted an imaginative, suspenseful adventure that will captivate young readers. Ista’s determination to locate her father and the other missing citizens makes her character admirable and appealing. I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

I enjoyed this dark magical story, but wished there was more to it. I think it's a great middle grades novel with the promise of a sequel (with a solid ending rather than a cliffhanger, which I love!). The characters are easy to root for, and the mystery is enjoyable too.

Thank you NetGalley for this fantastic middle grade read. Ista being a face changer is a unique skill and I quickly got lost in this creative world and story. This book has fun characters, an engaging magic system and solidly good pacing. Kids and adults will devour this book. Looking forward to more books by this author.

Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit is an incredible start to a new magical series. In a world of magic and monsters there's a young girl name Ista searching for her pa. She lives in a town called Shelwich where magical gifts are enhanced by the changing of the tide but those magical people are starting to go missing. Ista is determined to find her dad and she's learning to use her unique magical gift to help her. She has the ability to change her appearance to looks like anyone she's met. Isla gets help in her search from Nat and Ruby, whose loved ones also disappeared, and together they set off to investigate the missing people. This story is filled with magic, heart, and adventure. I can't wait to see where the rest of this series goes!

A dark and atmospheric, plot-based fantasy. Mysterious and magical. This book is filled with diverse characters, human machinations, and monsters. There is even a nod towards the corruption present in politics.

Ista’s father is missing. As she scours the city for clues, she discovers that people are disappearing. While searching for her father, she meets a magician and thief who says she has a rare talent he can help her harness. She can change her face to look like other people. But that those whose appearance she uses, disappear after. She meets Nat and Ruby, two kids also looking for their loved ones. Together, they will have to use their magic to infiltrate society’s elite circles. Along the way, they encounter monsters, thieves, and more. Will they find the missing people? Why are they disappearing?

The plot is engaging and mysterious. The characters are likable and unique. Readers who like mystery, fantasy, and books with kids who have magic will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where fantasy mysteries are popular. Grades 4-8.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

Tidemagic has a great magic system and I loved the worldbuilding around it. Young readers will enjoy this fantasy story!

Usually illustrations within a book are something I just pass right over, but the ones in this book were really high quality. I took a moment between chapters to take in all the little details in them.

What would you do if your only parent disappears without a trace? Would you remain with your appointed guardian or try to discover exactly what happened? Ista Flit decides to try to find out what happened to her father when he is taken by a creature during the night. Along the way Ista enters bargains with questionable people, finds friends in unexpected places, and learns more about herself and the people around her.

This is a great middle school read for fans of fantasy and mysteries. I would recommend the book to grades 5 through 7. The story is very well written and keeps the reader pulled into the story while trying to discover exactly what is going on in the magical town and why. The book does end with a possible sequel to follow, and I hope it does.

Tidemagic is a fun and engaging fantasy. Clare Harlow has created diverse characters worthy of caring about. It is a bit of an update on Pippi Longstocking with a magical twist.
I will not only be purchasing a copy for my library collection, but I will also be purchasing copies of this title for the children of my friends.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's through NetGalley.
Ista arrives in a new town looking for her father. He vanished and she has little to go on to find him. Her first night, she is rescued by an unusual man and begins working for him to retrieve something of her dad's. Ista is a shape changer and can assume any person's body. This skill is useful to Alexo and he has her take items while in another's shape. While this is happening, other community members are disappearing due to monster attacks. Together with two new friends, Ista works to solve this mystery and find the missing people. The culmination includes mistaken theories and a villain hiding in plain sight. The launch to the next book will leave readers waiting eagerly for more if Ista's story.
Harlow weaves fantasy with real life. Her characters are multidimensional, and she reveals more about them as the story progresses. Beautiful illustrations accompany the writing.