Books › Half Magic (Tales of Magic #1)
Half Magic (Tales of Magic #1)
217 pages
A clever, sun-drenched summer adventure where magic is a logic puzzle and every wish comes with a hilarious catch.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a perfectly preserved, sun-warmed summer afternoon where anything is possible, provided you can figure out the math. It moves at a brisk, joyful clip, propelled by a wry, matter-of-fact narrative voice that treats magical mishaps with the same practical exasperation as a scraped knee. The atmosphere is deeply cozy yet delightfully chaotic, capturing the restless energy of siblings trying to outsmart a literal-minded universe. The prose is crisp and clever, demanding that readers pay attention to the exact phrasing of every sentence. It is a perfect fit for anyone who loves rules-based whimsy, nostalgic childhood adventures, and the comforting realization that ordinary life, with all its imperfections, has its own kind of magic.
- Mood
- sun-warmed
- whimsical
- cozy
- chaotic
- Tone
- wry
- clever
- affectionate
- matter-of-fact
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- sibling dynamics · unintended consequences · childhood boredom · rules-based magic · finding magic in the mundane
- The writing
- Crisp, witty, and gently ironic, the narrative voice respects the intelligence of its readers while delivering clever linguistic puzzles.
- The arc
- The journey moves from restless summer boredom through a series of chaotic, exhilarating mishaps, settling finally into a warm appreciation for ordinary life.
- Who it's for
- Anyone who delights in nostalgic, sibling-led summer adventures and the intellectual puzzle of outsmarting a literal-minded magical universe.
Content notes
- mild peril
- deceased parent
About the book
It all begins when Jane finds a strange coin on a sun-warmed sidewalk. And because she and her siblings are having the worst, most dreadfully boring summer ever, she idly wishes something exciting would happen. And something does: Her wish is granted.
Or not quite. Only half her wish comes true. It turns out the coin grants wishes—but only by half, so that you must wish for twice as much as you want.
Wishing for two times something is a cinch, but other doubled wishes only cause twice as much trouble. What is half of twice a talking cat? Or to be half-again twice not-here? And how do you double your most heartfelt wish, the one you care about so much it must be perfect?
Description from Open Library.
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