I thoroughly enjoyed MARABEL AND THE BOOK OF FATE by Tracy Barrett. It made the perfect read aloud with my daughters and I'm looking forward to owning a copy for my school library. My students love the Dragon Master & Princess in Black series and Marabel was a nice blend of both. They are going to enjoy this magical fairy-tale adventure.


Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC to review.

Marabel constantly has her brother's status as the 'Chosen One' thrown in her face by all, and though she loves her brother, she can't stand it. Her father and step-mother refuse to let her train with weapons like her brother or do things they find to be unprincess-like or un-feminine. So she does so in secret, knowing that no one pays her mind anyway.

Marabel and her twin brother Marco will soon be thirteen... on the thirteenth day, at the thirteenth hour and thirteenth minute. Marco, being the 'Chosen One' to one day save the kingdom (as foretold in the Book of Fate), will be celebrated with abandon. Their coming of age is less-than-enthusiastic in fan-fare for Marabel, who is (as usual) cast aside in favor of Marco.

When gathered with their family and friends, the party is crashed by her exiled Aunt Mab, who now rules a part of Magikos called the Barrens, where previously all 'Evils' in the kingdom had also been exiled. 'Evils' included basically everything non-human with rare exception.

Mab kidnaps Marco, and Marabel is utterly confused when her father refuses to go after him, instead, he turns to The Book of Fate, which rules the law and foretells the future of Magikos. Being rather vague, it still seems to hit the nail on the head regularly so no one questions The Book. The Book advises that the Chosen One will reveal himself in the hour of need, more or less, and so they decide to let Marcos get out of his own mess.

Refusing to accept The Book as the end-all be-all and determined to save her brother, Marabel takes off with her best friend (also maid) named Ellie, and her unicorn, Floriano. They have just thirteen days to make it to Mab's castle and rescue Marcos before the kingdoms go to war over Mab's lust for the throne.

Marabel and the Book of Fate is sprinkled with modern elements. There are mentions of things like WizFi (Wi-Fi) and Flutter (Twitter) which are very cutesy and amusing, but don't feel well thought-out. I wanted to like these elements of the story but they felt very disjointed and unplanned (spur of the moment when writing, perhaps) as they certainly don't fit the world of Magikos. Magikos barely has roads and definitely doesn't even have an in-depth magic system which introduced plot-holes and a shallowness to what would have otherwise been a fantastic setting.

Which brings me to my next point - while I really did like the trope soup thrown together to create this book, the entire magic system felt very flimsy and undeveloped and the world itself felt very narrow and under-thought. On top of that, some characters don't act with consistency throughout the book. One minute they are a certain way, and in another scene, they act as though they are a completely different character or their motivations just don't feel realistic enough.

Marabel also has a fairly easy time of her journey and her journey does not change the status quo for her, which left me feeling very unsatisfied. Although that was likely the point, as it dealt with themes of sexism and xenophobia, I just felt like a mid-grade novel should have a bit more closure in the end. I suppose it's possible there will be another, but it left off feeling unfinished.

Despite the few annoying elements, it was a fun and fast read with comical scenes and age-appropriate expressions of adult themes. I did enjoy it quite a lot, in fact, and feel that this would be amazing for my nearly seven year old daughter to read with me. No book is perfect but I feel this one is a great family read with clean content. It was a fantastic coming-of-age tale about a brave girl ready to tackle the real world (that she knows little about) head-on.

A very cute and fun read at face value, but also full of great life lessons when you stop and think about the story and the adventures that took place. Well - written and humorous throughout and full of situations and emotions that most youth and adults can relate to.

The twins have a great relationship which is interesting since everyone ignores one and lavishes attention on the other, it easily could have led to ill-will between them. However, it is due to their great relationship that Marabel goes on her quest to save her brother and learns all the important lessons and skills that she does. TB provides an alternate world full of magic, dragons, unicorns and more, but makes it very accessible to children and others by including ideas and making a play on words for games, internet, and more that are prevalent in our everyday activities. This story had a great blend of humor, angst, self-doubt, family strife and happy ending all in a magical setting. I enjoyed this read and look forward to see how Marabel and her friends are doing in the next book! I especially hope to see Floriano, General Bob Goblin and Cornelius again.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the chance to read this book and share my opinions.

This book caught my eye due to its whimsical cover and its adorable synopsis - magic, a fantasy world, and an adventure. It is everything I enjoy and it did not disappoint.


Marabel is a princess who is often looked past because she has a twin brother that will be taking over the kingdom and is thought to be the Chosen One. Her parents dote on him and she is always in the shadows. When her evil aunt kidnaps him, Marabel tasks herself with getting him back and embarks on the adventure to save him. She travels with a friend and a chatty unicorn and has to break into another realm and a castle to go get him.


I really loved this book, it was so much fun. The adventure was fantastical and so much fun to read, it had me on the edge of my seat a lot of the time and I couldn't wait to dive back in when I had to stop reading. The characters all had great growth through the story - including the adults and I think that is a great aspect of this book. Most of the time it is only the main character but in this one everyone has some realization about how to better themselves - so good.


I think this is a great book to share with younger fantasy reader, I think they can learn bravery and courage and to believe in themselves as they read and adventure with Marabel. It was so great!

Marabel is used to being overlooked. At her birthday party, all attention is focused on her twin brother Marcos, born one minute before her and the Chosen One foretold in the Book of Fate, while Marabel is little more than an afterthought. Until her evil aunt Mab kidnaps Marcos and threatens to turn him into a toad if the kingdom is not handed over to her within 13 days. When the Book of Fate states that the Chosen One will free himself, everyone else in the kingdom is content to sit back and wait until Marcos rescues himself. Marabel decides to take matters into her own hands and stages her own rescue with only her maid and a unicorn to help her. Now Marabel must learn to stand up for and believe in herself in order to save not just her brother, but the entire kingdom. This is perfect for readers who like their fantasy with a little bit of silliness.

I’m always on the lookout for books to share with my sheltered under 15 family. As soon as I saw Marabel and the Book of Fate I was positive I’d found a winner.

I have to admit, I loved this story. Marabel is a terrific character!! Her parents aren’t so amazing. But honestly, she’s a girl we’d want our daughters to emulate. She’s flawed but honest, driven but filled with grace, and fiece but loving.

Plus, this adventure is wonderful! This is something I’d love to have read to the kids when they were little. (Yes, I’m picturing The intro to The Princess Bride.) Marabel and the Book of Fate is fun, it doesn’t drag, and it’ll keep their imaginations moving!

The only thing I didn’t LOVE was The Book of Fate. While this was cleared up for me at the end, sort of, I’d suggest that if you’re a conservative Christian, you read Marabel and the Book of Fate before sharing it with your youngsters.

I am a kid at heart. I love a Middle Grade story with a good fantasy premise and a world full of magical creatures and adventures. Glad I read it, I enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley!

This started out great, but when they set off on their quest it became as insipid, plodding, and brainless as most other fantasy middle grade novels. Weird fantasy creatures and magic doth not a story make.
To be fair, my 10 & 9 year olds enjoyed me reading this and will probably finish on their own. But I’m moving on.
Thanks NetGalley for the free copy.

Marabel and the Book of Fate is a wonderfully entertaining middle grade fantasy. I am so impressed by the complexity of the characters Ms. Barrett has created and by the fact that she doesn't underestimate the abilities of the middle grade reader. I think this novel might also engage the interests of those students whose reading level is almost but not quite middle grade, but whose comprehension skills are strong. The book has been compared to Ella Enchanted and Dealing With Dragons, and the comparisons are apt. Marabel and her twin, Marco are complex, layered characters and their voices are clear and loud. I hope Ms. Barrett intends this book to be a series starter, as I found the characters engaging enough to want to know more.

I read this book with my children. They enjoyed the story and the characters. There were a couple of parts here and there that didn't seem to fit in with the story very well. One example is the magical, talking unicorn needing to download an update to his horn. It just seemed to not fit with the rest of the story and in the world the author created. Overall, my children really enjoyed this book and loved the Marabel's adventures in the story.

Marabel and the Book of Fate is a pretty good read. I found it to be enjoyable.

I'm really excited to review for you MARABEL AND THE BOOK OF FATE by Tracy Barrett.

I don’t read a lot of juvenile fiction these days, but when I read the synopsis for this one on Netgalley, I couldn’t resist. Once I settled down to read, I was even more pleasantly surprised. All I could think was, “WOW! Stand back Cinderella, Mulan, Jasmine and every other Disney princess! Princess Marabel has all y’all beat!”

Quirky, fun and totally engaging, MARABEL AND THE BOOK OF FATES is the story of a young princess who plays second-fiddle to her twin brother, Marco, who is “The Chosen One.” You see, in the kingdom of Magikos everything is dictated by the Book of Fate. This book works as both a book of fortunes, outlining events to happen, as well as an instruction guide on how to resolve those events. And predictably, the Book of Fate has predicted the birth of Marabel and Marco; even predicting that Marco will be “The Chosen One” to save the realm.

Her whole life, Marabel has been “less than” Marco in the eyes of her family and the kingdom, but when Marco is kidnapped by the king’s sister, Queen Mab, and taken to the Barrens, Marabel refuses to sit back and wait for her brother to save himself as dictated within the pages of the Book of Fate. With her ever-loyal maid by her side — and a magical unicorn looking for adventure — she sets off to find her brother in the forbidden land of the Barrens where she encounters trolls, giants, gnomes, mermaids, wizards and all other forms of magical beings. And, predictably, her journey won’t be easy. She’ll have to rely on her own intelligence and wit in order to free her brother, but to do so, she’ll have to learn to believe in herself first.

Simply stated, I loved this book and wish I’d had something like it for my (now adult) daughter when she was the right reading age. It’s a wonderful story about not believing everything you’re told, and finding your own strengths and value. It was fun, beautifully written, and holds many quirky details that remind me of a combination of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and a potpourri of well-loved faerie tales. It’s definitely a book for every young reader, but especially those young readers struggling to assert themselves.

Fun adventure story for young adults -- boys will enjoy the adventure too. It is a creative story that feeds the imagination.

While I have not been in third grade for a long time, I do remember having a reader that was not very motivated at that age. I really had to search to find something that would be interesting to him. I think that this story would have worked but it might be more interesting to a girl because the protagonist is a girl.

As the story of Marabel and the Book of Fate opens, Marabel is about to turn 13. She is a twin and she is a princess. Her twin brother, Marco, is the definite star of the family. He is going to be the future king and receives better treatment than Marabel. She doesn’t seem to mind as she knows he will be the king. Marco is a nice guy who gets along well with people, a trait that Marabel has not quite mastered. Even though she is a girl, Old Lucius gives her sword lessons. The lessons are hidden from her parents because girls shouldn’t learn sword fighting. She enjoys those lessons.

At the big birthday party for Marco and Marabel – really for Marco – Marabel sees something odd. She sees a woman slip around the security line and go into the party. She tells security but they don’t pay much attention to her. Then, just before the big birthday moment, a spell is cast on the crowd and Marcus is taken by the King’s sister. Mab was banished to the Desolate Barrens, the kingdom next door, after she and her brother had a disagreement about who should lead the kingdom.

Marabel decides that she needs to go to get her brother back. Ellie, her faithful servant announces that she has to go with her. While leaving the kingdom secretly, Marabel and Elie are joined by Floriano, the talking unicorn. They encounter many new and magical creatures on their way to rescue Marcus.

As you can tell, this book is a fantasy. I liked it. I would say that the King (Marabel’s father) treats her poorly through the entire story. She is not given credit for anything she does until Mab gives it to her. That part is a bit bothersome but it works out. I would have wanted a different ending but that is not to say that the ending isn’t good.

On the good side, it does show that while Marabel does not fit in with the other princess’s very well that she is strong and courageous on her own. She doesn’t have to fit in to be a good person – that her personality is perfect for what she needs to do.

It's time for her twin brother to become the "Chosen One". He'll be the new ruler for the kingdom. Marabel really doesn't care about that, but she would like to be recognized as a member of the family instead of always standing in her brother's shadow. It's not his fault, he tries to include her. It's her father who thinks she unimportant. Then her aunt comes to the event and kidnaps him!

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Net Galley gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you). It has been published and you can grab a copy now. It's a very good read.

When she tries to run after them she finds every exit at the castle blocked. The evil beings in the other kingdom are guarding the doors. A dragon at one, a giant at another and more of the like. Her father is just going to send a messenger to his sister demanding the return of his son. Marabel is ready to mount a rescue force and go after him, so he locks her in her room. It's not looking good.

This is an enchanting tale. Marabel is not willing to sit by and do nothing. Her maid comes up with a way out of the castle. The unicorn they have in their stable comes with them. She meets up with a fairy, an ogre, giants and a dragon and more before she's through with her journey.

Here's fantasy at its best. She's trying to stop a war and save her brother and while she works at that she also finds her destiny. This was a very satisfying read.

Marabel is the sibling to The Chosen One; even worse, she is his fraternal twin. He, who was born on the 13th day of the 13th month at the 13th minute of the 13th hour, is expected to do great things, while his sibling is ignored. However, Marabel does not blame her twin. He is her best friend and she would do anything for him. So, when the evil Queen Mab kidnaps him, Marabel decides it is up to her to rescue her brother, no matter what!

The reader is invited to go on a journey with Marabel, Ellie, and Floriano, the sassy and narcissistic unicorn. As they continue on their journey, they (and the reader) realize that not everything is as it seems. Beings who are supposedly "Evil" are anything but and those who may seem beautiful can sometimes lead others into dangerous traps.

Most important, though, is the realization that the most significant power is believing in yourself. Throughout the journey, Marabel defies expectations and leads her little team across dangerous territories to reach her brother. She realizes that being brave does not mean not being afraid. Instead, it means being afraid and doing the right thing anyway.

Even though this story still ends with Marcos, her twin, being "The Chosen One," it seems quite obvious that "The Chosen One" is anyone who is willing to give up everything for their fellow human (or magical) being.

This book weaves together life in a magic and ancient kingdom with the technology of today. While reading about ogres, trolls, goblins, dragons, and unicorns, children will recognize technology from now with funny names and even funnier actions. They also get pulled into a magical kingdom where nothing is as it seems, and that is a great thing!

This was a fun, fresh take on the traditional fairytale/princess story--and one not just for girls.

I liked the humor in this story, the tongue-in-cheek references to modern technology, and the go-getting attitude of Marabel, despite playing second fiddle to her brother. It was a quick read, and one I could see being really fun to read aloud, at home or in the classroom.

Recommended for kids (and grown-ups) who like fairytales, but are looking for a new take on the traditional stories.

**NetGalley copy provided for review**

Marabel's twin is the "chosen one" however he is the one that saves himself and the kingdom of Magickdome, that would be Marabel. She who is invisible everyone when her brother is around.

Marabel and the Book of Fate is a treat for young girls who want to read about strength and the power to save others while learning more about themselves while participating in an imaginative adventure.. The story reinforces the message that a girl, no matter how invisible, can change the world. I recommend this book for any girl or boy that loves adventure, loves fantasy and wants to start on the journey to help Marabel rescue her Twin Brother, Marco.

Author Tracy Barrett creates strong characters, colorful, vivid story telling and an outcome that I just didn't see. Illustrator Sara Gianassi continues on with the vivid story telling through the pictures. Which are fresh, youthful and stunning.
I rate this book as 4 stars. The only thing I didn't like is that I can't read more about Marabel, her family and her best friend, Elle.

Won't you join me on a ride to Magickdom?

Marabel has grown up in the shadow of her twin brother, Marco. Marco....The Chosen One....the one the prophesies all say the kingdom has been waiting 1000 years for. It's a bit hard to stand out in the crowd when your twin is destined to be the answer to everything. Most days nobody in Magikos even notices her. That makes it much easier to sneak in fencing lessons in the old tower and do other unladylike, fun things. But, one day adventure finally finds Marabel.....and her life will never be the same!

This is such a magical, wonderful story! Marabel doubts herself at first but discovers friendship, courage, and a dash of wisdom on her adventurous journey. She learns that oftentimes people misjudge those who are different from themselves. She also learns about negotiation, teamwork and the true value of friendship and trust. Awesome middle grade book! Ogres, dragons, fairies, wizards, gnomes.....it has a little bit of everything, plus a lot of humor. Everything is middle grade age appropriate. There is some allegory to current social and political issues, but nothing too over the top. Just a nice lesson in not judging others by looks or culture, and that fighting is not always the correct answer to a problem. True advice.

I don't usually comment on other reviews I have read, but I'm going to this time. This book was written for children. The book is intended for a middle grade audience. Many reviews for this book are from adults complaining about the humor, character development, lack of hard hitting emotion, etc I'm going to say this again: THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN. This is not an adult book....or even a YA book. It is a fantasy story with a nice moral lesson for CHILDREN, and should be reviewed as such. I don't have a problem with adults, reviewers or anyone reading children's literature -- I love reading children's books myself and I'm a grandparent! But -- always keep in mind that the book is not written for adults, 20-somethings, or anyone older than 14 in mind. It's a children's story -- read it, enjoy it and review it for that audience. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but don't review a children's story like it is an adult or YA story. **Off my soapbox now**

I loved this book! I'm going to purchase a copy for my granddaughter to enjoy. It's an often humorous fantasy romp through a magical land....with a dragon, WizFi, a talking unicorn and lots more....and a nice moral lesson weaved in with it all.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Little Brown Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**