From the internationally bestselling author of Wonderscape and The Uncommoners, comes a spectacular new fantasy series for 9+ set in a world of magical creatures, ancient meteorites and secret organisations, irresistible to fans of Pokémon, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
FEEL THE MAGIC. CONJURE THE IMPOSSIBLE.
When her dad is kidnapped by a woman with a giant hamstoceros, Bitsy and best friend Kosh are swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores, each conjured using a different emotion. Using a powerful bestiary called Magicalia, the friends must quickly become conjurors themselves, before following a trail of clues that will take them from London to India to Paris, in a race to rescue Bitsy’s dad from a mysterious villain…
Recommended for children aged 9+.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
We loved this book, it was such a fun read. We loved the descriptions of each animal and the cute drawings of them at the beginning of each chapter. We both agree we want an Everwing, a Vistis or a Fidglet as a pet, how fun would that be! Thank you for letting us preview this book, we thought it was great and would recommend to all my friends. Violet and Aubree, WA, 5 stars
What a delightfully action filled novel for Middle School readers. Bitsy and Kosh are intrepid explorers as they navigate the world of magic, gaming and adventure. These two characters are credible and I think easily relatable to young people today. Beautifully crafted…I can see how this first book in Jennifer Bell’s new series will engage and delight. Denise, NSW, 5 stars
Ok so I’m the first to admit I’m not into fantasy at all, I hardly finish fantasy novels, if I start them at all. But once I opened the world of Magicalia and met Bitsy and Kosh, I was hooked. I was invested in this from the start, would Dad be rescued and what obstacles or Magicores would obstruct them. This was a great read and a wonderful introduction into the world of fantasy reads for younger reads, I’m definitely keen to pick up more fantasy novels and even give some I’ve tried in the past a second go. Danielle, VIC, 5 stars
When I started reading the book I did not know how it would turn out. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of detail the author had put into the plot of the book. The characters were compelling and exciting and unforgettable and the twists they were involved in were shocking. I can tell you this is a book you will love to read. Charlie, QLD, 5 stars
Magicalia was amazing! It was funny, entertaining and I love the magicores. My favourite is Springle, a turtle sourced from Joy. They were all so cool. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars. Adriana, NSW, 5 stars
My son was gripped by this book. He read it faster than any other in a long time. He loved the fantasy and magic of it all. And thoroughly enjoyed the different characters and their adventures. He can’t wait to read more! Samara, QLD, 5 stars
Captivating and adventurous right from the start…. I received my ARC from Better Reading and Walker Books Australia for an honest review and I can honestly say I loved it. I can see this series being a favourite for many kids, and it took me by surprise so much so that I can also see it being loved by many adults as well. All you need is a willingness to enjoy a great tale and to explore a magical secret world. Jennifer has used her incredible skill and imagination to create a fabulous secret world with extremely unique magicores. I love how they are conjured from different emotions, and seriously, there are just some you want to cuddle. Bitsy and Kosch are fantastic characters that are prepared to go above and beyond to find Bitsy’s dad and help save the day, with the other characters giving the story balance and intrigue, and of course someone has to be the bad guy. I would highly recommend it to both primary school and early high school age groups, and to any adult looking for a fun read….give it a go, you might just find out there is still fun to be had. Nerelle, NSW, 5 stars
A delightfully imaginative story full of magical creatures that enthral. Travel the world with this adventurous read. Mary, QLD, 5 stars
Jennifer Bell brings to the world a wild and exciting new adventure of magic for all young readers. A page turning journey of magical creatures and fantasy willing to quench your thirst for knowledge. A brilliant read. Highly recommended. Noeleen, WA, 5 stars
Jennifer Bell’s, Magicalia had my kids’ imaginations running wild. They got caught up in the story and loved all the magicores and trying to make up their own.We’d definitely recommend giving Magicalia a read. Caitlyn, QLD, 4 stars
I really liked how they wrote the beginning because of how they described the character before revealing their name. I liked what happened during the story and how it developed. I found it very enjoyable and would highly recommend it. Kora, NSW, 4 stars
This book claims to blend Harry Potter with Pokemon and it definitely lives up to that claim! Lots of great, unique and clever creatures with some very likeable protagonists. This book had to do a lot of info-dumping as the main characters have to discover the world of monster-summoning sorcerers and learn all the names, rules and technical terminologies but this was pretty well handled in-story. I’m keen to read the next one which won’t have to introduce all the good guys, bad guys and shades in between. My youngest read with me and loved the creatures though the worldbuilding was hard going so I sometimes summarised for him so we could get into the action and humour which were definitely his favourite bits. Richard, VIC, 4 stars
The novel started a little slowly, but after a few chapters it was very absorbing. At the start there’s a lot of action, and it comes at you really fast. It doesn’t stop for long enough for you to get to know the characters. That got better later in the book. A little problem is that sometimes characters didn’t seem to react enough to things. They just accepted everything, and sometimes took things at face value where they should have asked more questions. They found some of the things they needed too easily. I liked the mention of Taylor Swift! Overall I really liked the book. It might be a bit better for younger readers (my Mum says I ask a lot of questions) but I thought it was really good once I got into it. Mum says: I quite enjoyed this novel, although I agree with Grace that the characters were a bit blasé about everything that happens. The language is suitable for readers from maybe 7 or 8 years. It’s fun and adventurous, with appealing characters and plenty of action. Lorraine and Grace, ACT, 4 stars
Magicalia was an incredibly unique middle grade novel, full of fantastical creatures and magic. It is the perfect adventure for younger readers searching for an easy to read story filled with friendship and family. Not a dull page, each page needing to be turned to get to the action! Emma, NSW, 4 stars
Fans of Harry Potter will love this book, Magicalia promises an around the world adventure and it didn’t disappoint. Bitsy and her friend Kosh are thrown into a world of magic and wonder when her dad is kidnapped. Unbeknown to the friends, they themselves are ‘cosmodynamic’ meaning they have the ability to conjure ‘magicores’. The book follows the journey of the two friends as they attempt to find Bitsy’s dad, whilst unravelling secrets from the past that will affect the present. A well written and fun adventure, a great read for those in the middle school age. Suzie, WA, 4 stars
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