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Editorial Content for The Voyage to Magical North

Book

The Voyage to Magical North

Contributors

Matthew Burbridge

Reviewer (text)

Matthew Burbridge

Claire Fayers’s new novel, THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH, has a steady opening that introduces a pair of desperate children, Peter and Brine. These two desperate kids make one daring escape that leads them on one of the best swashbuckling adventures this reviewer has read in a long while. The opening really emphasizes the dull lives these children lead, making the jump into adventure that much greater of a leap --- similar to the switch from black and white to color in The Wizard of Oz film. Claire Fayers has made a very smart, sweet, funny and occasionally sardonic novel that is perfect for everyone in any age group.

"With such vibrant detail and a painstakingly cared for narrative, THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH is an opening into a new fantasy world that I’ll be looking forward to stepping back into as soon as humanly possible."

In THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH we are shown the mundane lives of Peter and Brine. Brine Seaborne is a girl who was discovered in the ocean floating alone on a raft with a piece of priceless starshell that was quickly taken by the magician that found her. Despite being introduced to the world in such an interesting and mysterious fashion, Brine is indebted to the magician Tallis Magus for her “rescue” from the ocean in the form of her starshell and everlasting servitude. Peter is an apprentice to the magician Tallis Magus where, instead of casting spells from his fingertips, he copies notes about magic daily. It isn’t too long after we learn a thing or two about the world and its inhabitants that Brine and Peter rush off in search of their identities and freedom.

The adventure they embark on pits these two against pirates, corrupt lords, court magicians, reflective mists, semi-sentient storms and polar bears --- just to get things started. They also befriend a librarian boy named Tom and become members of a legendary pirate crew themselves! So much happens in THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH! This novel is fit to burst with thrilling characters including a gourmet pirate chef named Trudi who just can’t seem to get her culinary experiments on the high seas right.

With such vibrant detail and a painstakingly cared for narrative, THE VOYAGE TO MAGICAL NORTH is an opening into a new fantasy world that I’ll be looking forward to stepping back into as soon as humanly possible.

Teaser

 

Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, Brinne Seabourne has spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter. When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North.

Promo

Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, Brinne Seabourne has spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter. When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North.

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Brine Seaborne is a girl with a past --- if only she could remember what it is. Found alone in a rowboat as a child, clutching a shard of the rare starshell needed for spell-casting, she's spent the past years keeping house for an irritable magician and his obnoxious apprentice, Peter.
When Brine and Peter get themselves into a load of trouble and flee, they blunder into the path of the legendary pirate ship the Onion. Before you can say "pieces of eight," they're up to their necks in the pirates' quest to find Magical North, a place so shrouded in secrets and myth that most people don't even think it exists. If Brine is lucky, she’ll find her place in the world. And if she's unlucky, everyone on the ship will be eaten by sea monsters. It could really go either way.