Good world building and magic system surrounding the guilds of magic plus...oh twisty turny plot going on!

This kids’ story is enjoyable, despite its heavy use of tropes:
-An orphan who discovers he has magical powers, and is brought into the magical world.
-An evil prime minister, Cromwell, who does truly heinous things, while controlling the young Queen Jane.
-Evil plots that eat the young.
-Adults who have porridge for brains.

Jed works at a farm after his parents die, and only after being bullied particularly badly, he properly discovers he can do magic, though he's always known he has an affinity for plants.

A representative from House of Leaf arrives to take him back with her, where he'll be trained in the way of the Leaf. He meets the few members of the house, which is so poorly filled because fewer and fewer young, untrained plant magicians have been found each year.

Jed is welcomed kindly, and begins learning how to use his magic, and to train for the Arthanfest, a yearly contest when young contestants from each House (Iron, Fire, Leaf, Claw, Bone, and Feather) compete to retrieve the most magic-filled balls, released into a stadium by Doctor John Dee, as they can. The winner has the most balls, and their House gets to rule the land for the next year. So far, rule of the land has been transferred back and forth between Houses Iron and Fire for a hundred years. (Hmmmmm, curious…..)

Hazel, also a member of House Leaf, is this year's competitor, while Jed is sort of her understudy. During the Arthanfest Jed uncovers a dastardly conspiracy and even worse things, and it's only with the help of a couple of other competitors that he befriends, and a few kindly strangers, that they can all expose the nasty dealings that have been happening.

So, there are a lot of conventional aspects to this story. What makes it a pleasant read is Jed’s humility and kindness. He gives others respect, is friendly, and doesn’t seek power, even though he’s been gifted with powerful, innate abilities.

I also liked author Kieran Larwood's alternate history of England, with descendants of Lady Jane and Oliver Cromwell now ruling England, or Albion as this place is called. Also, I liked how folklore and mythical beings were woven into the history of this England, and the specific ways the magic worked. Larwood has brought a lived in, real feel to his alternate England, and created a sympathetic, relatable protagonist.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Faber & Faber for this ARC in exchange for my review.