The Magician's Daughter (No.2)

Biddy has lived on the magic island of Hy-Brazil since she was washed ashore as a baby. Since then, she has lived in a ruined castle, with a magician called Rowan, and a large rabbit named Hutchincroft. The island is very safe and the only world Biddy has ever known. Even though Rowan leaves the island almost every night, no matter how many times Biddy has asked him, he won't let her go to the mainland. But one night, Rowan gets caught in a terrible danger and he doesn’t come back. This time, it’s up to Biddy to save him.

Biddy finally leaves the island for the first time on an adventure she will never forget. She travels to London where Rowan was. Though she has read about it in books, she wasn't expecting such a difference to her magical island home. Hy-Brazil was a magical island with a ruined castle and many magical animals, while London was a crowded, smoky city. In London, the magic has all been stolen, and there is almost none left.

I liked how the story was full of adventure., It kept me wanting to read it. I also liked the way the author described the different locations. The island came alive in my mind, and I could picture the cliffs and ruined castle very easily. The city of London, although I've never been, felt so familiar while reading these scenes, and I could imagine really being there amongst the people and buildings.

In the beginning, Biddy was careful, but would take risks if it meant she was saving her friends, like when she rode the most dangerous animal on the island just to save Rowan. Unlike Biddy, Rowan was definitely not careful, even though Biddy wished he was. At the end, while they were both still on their own sides, Biddy learned that she could take risks, and Rowan learned to be more careful. Slightly. Hutchincroft is hard to explain to someone who hasn't read the story. He is a large magical rabbit that was always against Rowan taking risks and regularly warned him not to. Adding Hutchincroft to the story was a good idea and I really like him.

As well as this, Rowan is a magician that can't use much magic. Magic used to flow through the world from cracks but the cracks closed up and now there is little magic.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read fantasy, and I would think anyone over 10 years old would enjoy this book

- Dusty is 12 and lives in Whangarei.