It is rare that I find a fantasy book with a sort of 'chosen one' that then wraps up in a single instalment. Usually, it takes a couple to get to the point. This is one such book. The entire narrative is steeped in Greek lore (something I know nothing about and cannot confirm the authenticity of), and the pacing picks up significantly with every revealed information and even includes an all-out battle before the end of the book (that is not really a spoiler).
Chrysa has always wanted to know more about her hometown in Greece and her roots, but her parents kept her away. Any relatives who visited had to come over to the US to do so. Now, she is back, but it is only because of the worst of reasons. She is struggling with what she perceives around her and struggles even further when a few truths are entrusted to her. I cannot imagine suddenly doing higher secondary education in a completely different language after having studied in English throughout childhood. That situation might have felt even darker to me than the villainy that our lead protagonist is to face throughout the book.
Jokes aside, it is a serious book that works well for even a slightly younger audience, although the issues people face are quite dark. The angst and the concern are well done and make sense. The background and the reasons for things are also well established. Relationships shift with time and information, making for a very engaging read.
I would recommend this to fans of the genre. It is the first such book I have read set in Greece, and I enjoyed my visit.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I really loved the imagery/atmosphere and magic in this story but I had a hard time connecting with the main character (this could have been because of her young age). However, I read this in one sitting and I found the overall story and writing enjoyable.

I have mixed feeling about this book. While I loved the greek elements in the story, I didn´t really connect with it. The characters have a strong profile, including the side characters and that made the book a little more enjoyable for me. Despite that, I didn´t feel much excitement as the plot carried out. Something was missing and I cannot pin-point what it was. It was an okay read for me, perhaps it´ll change upon a second try.

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

When I came across this book, I knew I had to read it — if only for the Greekness of it all. Kassandra Flamouri gives her readers a fish out of water story of a girl who needs to overcome her grief and fear in order to save the world.

As a 16-year-old who’s just lost her parents, grief weighs heavy on Chrysa as she finds herself trying to make a life in a village she’s been away from for 14 years. As a character she’s full of flaws, being impulsive, stubborn, a little bit paranoid and a perfectionist, and it takes her much of the book to work on those until she can truly become a pillar of her new community. Though her journey is remarkable, she is constantly plagued with self-doubt that affects her judgement — something I thought was very characteristic of a 16-year-old character, especially one that has to learn to navigate the world through constant grief.

The secondary characters around her, her Yiayia, her uncle Giorgos, Bilal, Alexis, become her support through her journey to heal and her quest to win over the townsfolk. The shiny, new American Chrysa is met with gossip and the occasional suspicion of a Greek village reluctant to accept change. Her alienation from them grows stronger as the one responsible for her parents’ death wreaks havoc on her friends and neighbours in a winning bid to isolate her.

Kassandra Flamouri does an incredible job of capturing this sense of apprehension of outsiders that Greek people have. Chrysa, Litsa and Bilal all face different degrees of xenophobia from those around them that make for a hard read, yet poignant scenes in the book. The way she handles this along with the themes of grief and LGBTQI+ relationships in hostile environments are exemplary of her ability to write well.

Magissa by Kassandra Flamouri sucks readers in from the very first chapter as the first funeral of the book is portrayed in a rushed, confused daze that reflects Chrysa’s state of mind. Flamouri continues to do this throughout, adapting the pace well as some chapters barely last an afternoon while others see months go by. I also appreciated her constant use of Greek words and folklore. This isn’t the Greek Mythology many outside of the country are familiar with, but more modern folklore from the past few centuries. Flamouri does a good job of explaining any foreign words through context, especially in dialogue scenes, so it’s worth paying attention to them as the book lacks a glossary.

Plotwise, in Magissa, Flamouri deftly uses some of the fantasy genre’s favourite tropes. Through character studies and a very unique setting, the chosen one’s tale of revenge after their parents’ death is given a unique twist.

Finally, Magissa by Kassandra Flamouri is a tale of grief, change and healing that sucks readers in. Flamouri does a commendable job familiarising her readers with Greek terminology and folklore, while she also weaves very real themes of xenophobia and feeling like an outsider, all wrapped in a magical setting. Chrysa’s tale is a poignant one, and an excellent standalone.

A wonderful book filled with magic, the beauty of rural mountain Greece, its rich culture. and food. It is also filled with relationships and the whole gamut of emotions from loss, love, joy, trying to find oneself, connectedness, desperation, fighting fate (or perhaps not), to free will.

Chrysa is a recent orphan who returns to her native village in rural Greece to live with her grandmother. But the village is not the welcoming place she remembers and longed for for so many years. Instead she faces vicious gossip, family secrets and a magical heritage that could derail the future her parents wanted for her. Then, the one who killed her parents has returned to unleash a reign of supernatural terror on her new home. Will Chrysa be able to find the strength and power to protect her family and village?

Not only is there action and magic but real growth in the characters and a wonderful immersion in Greek culture and nature. There are beautiful description of the land and of the food that you can almost smell it off the page.

Definitely above most YA magical adventure type stories with a lot of depth and should be enjoyed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

I would first like to thank Netgalley and The Parliament House Publishers for sending me this E-ARC.

Honestly this was a gem to find! From the moment it started I was drawn to the life of Chrysa and the suffering she has experienced from the loss of her parents. Feeling so alone as she goes home to Greece after a life away in America, you see how she wants to find a life for herself in Greece after feeling like she does not belong in America, only again to be met by many others telling her she should go back.

I love the magic in the story, the intertwining of how nature and magic work hand in hand. And as we learn more of the magic we unravel each mystery that leads to why Chrysa family had to leave Greece. The mythical creatures, the lore, the superstition, all of it was done exquisitely well. On top of that I loved seeing the author draw upon her own personal heritage, I could definitely see how this book was a love letter to her heritage with each detail she place within.

The dialogue, the family relationships both healing and beginning, the way we unravel the mystery of the magic that surrounds the family, the community, all of it I loved. And yes I loved Alexi too, and his stubbornness in the beginning, he was a character that definitely grew on me.

If you haven't heard of this book before, give it a try. It didn't disappoint for me. And for all those that love earth magic, this book is for you.

This one kinda bored me... I could not enjoy this at all and I was not invested in the storyî. I liked the name of the characters at least and the cover. The cover is beautiful.

This book ,for me, very much evoked the sense of Greece - you could almost smell the marjoram in the air. The story feels very ancient and reminds me of the stories of ancient myths I was so obsessed with as a child. The main character is pleasantly flawed and when not wanting to slap her, rooted for her all the way.

With a gorgeous and fresh setting, Magissa was an exciting adventure of magic, loss, and healing. I felt immersed in both the small villages of Greece and the beautiful mountains, and pastureland. The creatures were new to me, while feeling ancient; an inextricable part of the landscape. The characters were beautifully flawed and courageous. Loved this book.

This was such a unique read! I loved the inclusion of lesser-known creatures from Greek mythology and the Magissa lore. Chrysa was a strong, capable character who didn't always make the best decision but always tried to make the right one. Much like The Chalice and the Crown, the romance was not the biggest part of the plot, but I really liked it. I did feel like the book was a little longer than it needed to be, even though it was fairly short at about 320 pages. All in all. though, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend.

While I was excited about the premise of this book. It wasn’t my personal cup of tea. I found Chryssa to a be a bit annoying over the course of the book. She got her feelings hurt easily, and it frustrated me to no end. Towards the end she gets a bit better.

And at one point in the book someone asks if ‘that Arab’ is still working for so and so. I didn’t like how that sounded. What was the point in adding that to the book?

And also people are constantly telling Chryssa what to do.. ‘eat now.’ ‘Wake now’ ‘get dressed’. I like the heroines I read about to be a bit more strong willed. I think the author wanted to show Chryssa grow throughout the book, but it’s hard to read a character that is so insecure in herself. Overall, this book was not my personal preference. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book.

First let's take a moment to appreciate that gorgeous cover! Now that that's over, let's get to the meat of this book. I really really enjoyed this book. This was a fantasy like many others I've read but the prose and the pacing bring out it's strengths extremely well. The pacing is what makes this story keep moving forward in an excitable way. I've found very few books that can do that so seemlessly and successfully. The characters were a bit mid but still likable. My overall rating for this book is 4/5.

Extended Breakdown:
Characters: 3.5/5
Story: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5

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4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an exciting story! This was a typical fantasy type book with magic and fantastical creatures, but I felt it was presented in a very original way…… which, I kinda loved!

Chrysa is a sweet girl who has to undergo unimaginable suffering and I felt for her throughout the whole book. She had tons of personal and relational growth throughout and made an excellent heroine! My heart broke for her numerous times, but she persevered to the end!

Alexi….. what a sweet, however often frustrating guy! I enjoyed watching him come into his own as well and finally accept who he truly was.

Also love Kori!

I found the pacing of the story to be very good, but there were a few time jumps (weeks or months that passed) without a lot of info that this was a few weeks or months in the future as opposed to the next day. That’s a relatively small complaint though.

Overall this was a great adventure!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love both magical-realism and Greece so this was definitely the book for me. The setting was so atmospheric I felt like I was actually there. This was a wonderful story and I am so glad I read it.

For readers who enjoy magical realism, Magissa presents a stirring combination of real-world Greece and supernatural overtones. I became immersed in the setting while enjoying the perfect amount of magic and monsters mixed in.

The story begins just right—a fairy tale beginning that immediately immerses us in the life of Chrysa Markou as her grandmother brings her from America to her birth place in Greece after the death of her parents. The mystery of Chrysa’s lineage and why she was taken so far from home as a child serves as a vivid and gripping backdrop for this coming of age story.

Kassandra Flamouri deftly blends story, setting, and introspection in perfect balance like magic. I loved the element of Greek culture and the descriptions of the locations and customs. And the sumptuous prose… scenes are painted on the page. So many passages reminded me of Laini Taylor and didn’t exactly leave me wanting.

It was easy to get lost in this story, told so naturally through the eyes of its charismatic protagonist. Chrysa is strong and unapologetic, yet vulnerable and warmhearted. She’s ambitious yet levelheaded. I liked how the magic evolved, including how Chrysa learned to communicate with her canine companions, which was such a nice touch. The question of power and the delicate balance between using it for good or vengeance is explored extremely well.

Magissa easily earns its five stars. We need so many more books like this one. An instant favorite.