The magic in this book was beyond interesting and I have so many questions about how it works, which is fitting since Ella is still learning herself. The prejudice in this done so well and mirrors current prejudices in the real world and I think is very timely and good for middle grade audiences. I am very curious to see what Ella and her friends will get up to in future books.

The Marvellers is an action-packed story of mystery and empowerment. When 11 year old Ella gets into the magic school in the sky she is both excited and nervous. They usually don't let people with her kind of magic into the school and she's looked at like she cannot be trusted. Her mentor tries to help her through the transition but mysteriously disappears. Thankfully Ella makes friends with two other students who are also treated as outcasts and her support system is what gives her the confidence to seek out answers to the prejudice that has taken over the magical world. Ella is in danger after a convict escapes from the magical prison and everyone assumes her family helped her escape. This is a great book for fans of Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers.

When I saw Rick Riordan's raving review about Dhonielle Clayton's The Marvellers, I knew I needed to get my hands on this book! I am a sucker for any book with a magic school setting and The Marvellers is top-tier. If you're a fan of Percy Jackson, Amari and the Night Brothers, and Harry Potter, this book is for you!

The world that Clayton builds is captivating! I definitely want to be friends with Ella and be a Conjuror, too. Ella's journey as being an outcast as a Conjuror and learning to accept herself and overcoming prejudices drew me in. I love the friendship between her, Jason, and Brigit and can't wait to see what happens next in the series. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the copy. All opinions are my own.

I will always be interested in a book that involves some sort of magical school. That being said, I found this book a little bit distracting because at times it was too much like Harry Potter. I didn't want to think about another world while I was trying to become immersed in this one.

Instead of Muggles, we have Fewels. Instead of witches, we have Marvellers. Instead of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we have the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors. Also, Ella Durrand, our main character, receives a letter of acceptance that is very reminiscent of the letter Harry Potter receives. There are more similarities, but I'll stop there because I think I've made my point.

.....but

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was whimsical, fun, and exciting - but also, there is a moral to this story.

My favorite line from the book is, "The sky binds us all together". We are all different, but we all look up at the same beautiful sky. I think that the sky is symbolic for finding common ground -- or er, common sky? There is a powerful message about celebrating and appreciating one another's cultural differences. There are parallels to real life. I thought of real-life Ruby Nell Bridges and her fight to be one of the first black students in an all-white American school. Though this book isn't about racism, it is about overcoming bigotry.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a captivating book about a more inclusive magic school that will surely engage young readers.

I really did enjoy this rich fantasy and appreciated the amount of detail embedded in the world-building and storyline. Actually there was a bit too much detail because all of the nods to other writers/publishers was distracting to me personally, but I can't see a middle schooler noticing or being bothered by it. All of the name-dropping pulled me out of the fantasy world and back into the here and now. Otherwise, I'm excited to see where the plot goes and follow these interesting and unique characters.

The world building and descriptions in this book are fantastic! Clayton does a wonderful job of weaving together an adventure filled with magic, fantasy, and diversity. There is a bit of a mystery thrown in to keep readers wanting the next installment. Middle graders will love this book for it's fun adventure and cast of characters.

I don’t know why this took me so long to read! All I can say is that it’s been a whirlwind exhausting end to a school year that had made it hard for me to pick up a book for any length of a time. This was an absolute pleasure to read. It had mystery. It had work building and imagery. I had that core group of 3 friends that you root for and want to know more about. The conflict and the tension made me feel something deep. And the magic. I love me a robust well developed magical school and magic system. Dhonielle Clayton is quickly becoming one of my easy Buy Now with 1-click musts. I’ve enjoyed hey YA reads but her middle grade is slapping! I cant wait for the next installment of the Marvellers! This is right up there with Morgan Crow and Harry Potter!

The Marvellers is a beautifully built world of whimsy and magic. Middle grade kids will enjoy it! It definitely conjures memories of Hogwarts but it is a unique place with a different story.

Honestly, I really wanted to love this book but I couldn't even get past 1/4th of it. Th emagic system wasn't clicking with me and while I like the main character, I found it hard to continue to pick up the book and keep going. Something about the only Indian teacher being the one who teaches about spices made me feel a little weird. And it just rubbed me the wrong way that some of the characters felt two dimensional. I'm sure the author's intention wasn't meant to be stereotyping or anything like that, but my initial impression wasn't going away and it made it really difficult to want to keep reading.

I wouldn't stop anyone from reading the book because the whole boarding school and magic system was definitely intriguing, it just wasn't for me.

Clayton builds a detailed, immersive experience, from Elle's home in Mississippi to her time at Arcanum and her travels through New Orleans -- bringing to life the conjuring arts, marvels, and so much more. I loved the whimsy of the new magical beings, the way they talk about the Underworld, and the spooky Halloween story scene... All of it left me wanting more of this world, more of Elle's classes, more of her fun times with friends. Clayton also balances the mean girl / outside unfriendliness with several powerful friendships, as well as some students who begin to learn that they need to be more open. Highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I thought the world building was unique and expansive and I love the representation of Black culture and ATR.

Ella is a conjurer, making her an outcast and a scapegoat in the world of Marvellers. When the marveller school, the Arcanum Training Institute, finally moves to allow conjurers to attend, Ella signs up. Throughout the course of her first year, Ella makes new friends and enemies, faces prejudice, and encounters a more sinister foe.

I enjoyed this book and the rich world building. I enjoyed the main characters and loved the friendships that developed. The magical creatures were fun (hey, Gumbo!) and the powers and abilities were unique and creative. I felt like there were some holes in the story that prevented me from giving it a 5/5, but overall I liked the book and will definitely read the sequel if/when it happens.

The real power of this book lies in its treatment of prejudice. As a conjurer, Ella faces disgusting treatment from the Marveller world. Some of the sources of this prejudice are surprising, but the ways in which is is addressed throughout is powerful and positive. As an educator, this aspect is what will propel me to stock this book on my classroom shelves. Ella’s experience is an echo of the experience many of my students face, and I think many of them will see themselves in her.

This was the Wizarding World story I wish I read as a kid. As much as I love HP, this inclusive, inspiring and utterly magical book stole my heart in an instant. Clayton never disappoints when it comes to weaving beautifully built worlds with compelling characters and engaging plot lines. Other than the multicultural representation and unique world, I really appreciated the symbolic moments and references to historical events like Brown v. Board of education. The call back moments to something so significant to young black girls everywhere was so beautifully done. Reading this first magical book felt like the first awe inspiring step into a world full of wonder and adventure, I wish I could be there!! I will happily and am excited to share this story with my future kiddos where they can see themselves represented and I would highly recommend it to everyone! Go grab this book! 😍💫

4.5/5 stars

I really really really enjoyed this one! Think Harry Potter but whimsical instead of cozy…

First of all, the setting is fantastic. The magical academy vibes are immaculate and whimsical, with a focus on stars and clouds that make everything oh so dreamy. But there’s a lightheartedness, as well, that reminds me so much of Harry Potter and other books in that realm of middle-grade fantasy. The blend of epic magic and quirkiness is absolutely perfect, and I was very impressed with the little details that completed the vibe.

Clayton does a fantastic job of making her middle-grade characters actually realistic for their age. I truly felt, the whole time, that I knew exactly how old these characters were by their dialogue, their actions, and Ella’s internal commentary. I completely understood their motivations because I could easily think “hmm how I did I act in 5th/6th grade? … Yep, I get it.”

Speaking of characters, I really really loved every single character in this book. Honestly. There are mean kids, of course there are. But every character felt three-dimensional and realistic, especially our main character Ella! I LOVE HER. She struggles with middle school things like wanting to belong, but she also knows what she stands for and stands up for others too. She’s precious and I love how she reacts to how she’s treated as an “outsider.”

Plot-wise, this book slays. In a lighthearted, Harry Potter-esque way. I was completely intrigued the entire time; Clayton also does a great job at unfolding the mystery at a nice pace where it isn’t overly predictable but also doesn’t stress you out because you don’t know what’s going on… maybe that’s just a me-thing, but still, I appreciated it haha!

Oh, and lastly, the diversity in this book is AMAZING. As it should be. I'll leave that there.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While I wish a few details were a little less similar to Harry Potter, I loved loved loved the vibes, the themes, the characters, everything about it! I recommend this one for lovers of Harry Potter and fantasy worlds / vibes like that!

*I received a free e-arc of this novel from Fierce Reads in exchange for exposure and an honest review; all opinions in this review are my own. This book was published on May 3rd, 2022!*

13 out of 10, highly recommend to *everyone*.

Welcome to the future of magical schools. The Marvellers takes on difficult topics with ease. Clayton’s writing is accessible but also packs a punch when necessary. I particularly love that Ella has a lot of adults in her life who care! And are alive! I also love Ella herself for being earnest and smart and relatable. The kids are going to loooove this book. There’s magical talking animals! The school and cities in the SKY! Different houses that you don’t get sorted into until the end of your first year (I am looking forward to seeing more of them in book two)! Academy secrets everywhere! It is a fact in this world that different kinds of magic are still important and all valid and I adore it. Truly and sincerely cannot wait to read the rest of this series. Will be promoting this one quite a lot to the kids at work.

Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. I ended up purchasing the audiobook via libro.fm as well.

As a children's librarian, this is the book I have been waiting for. This is such a gem. I was fascinated from page one to follow Ella, a very well-rounded character, on her new journey where she will be the first conjurer to attend the Arcanum Institute. The magic and world building of this book is impeccable. I kept smiling at the creative ways that Clayton blended together parts of our present-day world with this magical one. I hope this series ends up being a long one, because there is so much potential here for all kinds of stories following different characters or magical abilities. What made me even happier was how Clayton used the names of middle grade and YA authors in her characters. It was such an uplifting and invigorating read.

Dhonielle Clayton has a great writing style and the premise of this book is very fun. The attention to global magic and different cultures is much needed in the fantasy genre. I couldn't help but notice direct similarities to other series, particularly the Nevermoor series. Several are the plot points are nearly identical. If you haven't read this series, you may still recognize similarities to Harry Potter or Divergent. While the worldbuilding is good to see, many plot points appear too derivative for someone who has read a large amount of the genre.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ella is going to be the first Conjuror attending the prestigious Arcanum Training Institute and it will not be without its challenges. Conjurors have never been "accepted" into the academy until this year. It also doesn't help that a notorious rebel escapes prison during her school year and society starts pointing fingers at Conjurors for "allowing" the dangerous prisoner to escape. Ella struggles to deal with the biases against Conjurors and tries to prove herself to her peers and show that she, along with Conjurors across the world, do belong.

I found the book really entertaining but kept questioning why Ella even wanted to be in the school in the first place. Literally all the teachers except for two were nasty to her and the one was her aunt. Every one of her peers was nasty toward her except for two. What's the benefit of staying in a place like this?

It just felt so bleak to me and I couldn't see how Ella was ever going to be able to change their minds--she doesn't really at the end of the book. It's maddening, almost. I can't blame Ella's mom for wanting her to stay home. Otherwise, I did appreciate the book tackling on heavy topics such as that but I also couldn't see how Ella *wanted* to be there.

I did like the side characters but felt like they needed more time to develop. Really, I think this book could've used a little bit more time to develop and flesh out the characters--especially Ella. It drove me nuts how she barely explained Conjuror culture, it was the coolest thing! Yet we barely found out anything about it. Maddening!

Sorry about whining a ton, but I did feel like the book had a lot of potential but just fell flat due to lack of explanations of half of these things. I think it would've been easier to swallow if Ella had absolutely no idea about the Marveller culture and someone else explained it to her/us. She seemed to know everything and didn't explain anything.

It's a really interesting world and the different cultures and worlds really help it shine but the writing bogged it down. Still recommend it if you're looking for a multicultural magic book that's not so rooted in eurocentric fantasy.

The Marvellers excels at pulling in lore from a huge range of cultures into a single story, and I found it very interesting as an allegory for integration. I especially enjoyed the history behind the conjurors' magic, how closely they were linked to the earth and their ancestors, and how things were passed down verbally instead of written down, all mirroring Black American culture and history very closely. Ella's family's involvement in the action, in person and through their letters, was also interesting.

However, this book felt like a reaction to Harry Potter, and the parts that reminded me of Harry Potter the most were too similar to the source material, and in an unsuccessful way. The Paragons are like Houses, the starpost is like owl post...kind of?, and any scene set in the cafeteria stressed me out because of excessive description. I think my main issue was that The Marvellers is a magic school book that adds a lot of new ingredients to the genre without clearly privileging the most important information, overloading the reader. The pacing also felt jerky, with long stretches being skipped, while other periods of time were dwelt on for reasons that felt unclear.