Member Reviews

Supermagda is a fun book of friendship and adventure. Come on an ancient quest with your best bud and helpful canine. Face the challenges, face the dangers, never give up, and never lose hope!

Was this review helpful?

SUPERMAGDA is a fun and action-packed adventure that blends ancient myths with futuristic tech in the unique world of the Wuka Islands. Magdalena Dunkel, or Magda, stumbles upon the Lost Tomb of Thea, and with it, she gains extraordinary powers that change her life forever. From mastering her new abilities to investigating the shady dealings of GreenCorp with her friend Caleb, Magda’s journey is a whirlwind of discovery and danger. And let’s not forget her quirky sidekicks—Dr. Tiny, Jackie the Kangaroo, and Bob the Guinea Pig—who add a fun and unexpected charm to the story.

The highlight of the book is the investigative angle where Magda and Caleb, as journalists, try to expose GreenCorp’s Brainy product, which is causing toddlers to develop unusually large heads. This part of the story adds intrigue and keeps you invested in unraveling GreenCorp’s dark secrets, but the pace sometimes drags in between the intense action scenes. Still, with Mr. Green’s evil plan looming and Magda's powers growing, the stakes are high, and the adventure never lets up.

While a few moments feel rushed or underdeveloped, SUPERMAGDA shines as an imaginative and entertaining read full of heart and humor. Definitely a fun 4-star adventure worth diving into! #SUPERMAGDA #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

An action packed, quirky cast, of do-gooders! I love how many layers there were that beautifully blended together. I struggled though with the narrative voice of the story and truly getting invested in the tale, as a lot of emotions felt to be told to me, rather than shown. Even though it wasn't my cup of tea, I can easily see this becoming many people's new favorite book!

Was this review helpful?

My son (11) and I listened to this as an audiobook.

Son’s review - It was fine. I wish the author would have gone more in depth. It just seemed to all zoom by. I like in my adventure and fantasy to be able to really imagine I was there especially on audio. This book sadly didn’t do that. I did love the animal characters and thought it was needed.

My review - It was cute. A quick audiobook to listen to while in the car.

Was this review helpful?

SUPERMAGDA by Adrian Siska is a fascinating adventure that will captivate young readers who crave a mix of fantasy, science fiction, and action, making it a perfect fit for middle-grade enthusiasts who love exciting stories of self-discovery, friendship, and battling evil forces.

Thank you Netgalley for making this available on your website as a Listen Now book! I enjoyed listening to this book. This was so much fun. I liked everything about this book but my favorite part about this book was the fact that it has talking animals. This book is perfect for kids to read.

Was this review helpful?

This children's book follows Magda, her friend Caleb, and westie dog Dinky as they journey to find the Lost Tomb of Thea. But the adventure only starts from there as they continue to unlock mysteries and overcome challenges in their quest to investigate GreenCorp, a company with questionable business practices. This story has fun characters, super powers, futuristic technology, and is filled with action.

I downloaded this audiobook looking for a book to get my niece for her birthday. It might be a level above what she is reading now but if it were transformed into a graphic novel, it would totally be up her alley. This is the first children's audiobook that I have listened to so I don't have a lot to compare it to but I think the narrator did a good job capturing the world and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free audiobook. Overall, the story was very imaginable and fun. I would definitely recommend for kids who love superheroes and adventure!

Was this review helpful?

In Supermagda by Adrian Siska, Magda is a girl superhero in the making. In a world where island life combines with advanced technologies, she sets out for adventure - this time to unveil the Tomb Of Thea. When powers awaken within her and a new threat rises, she is made to fight on behalf of her friends and her world with the powers she must learn to control.

I haven't read such a fresh take on Middle Grade fiction in so, so long. I usually stick with the same few middle grade authors, but this novel inspired me to expand my reading pallet. Supermagda is a unique twist on the adventure fantasy trope. It's original, vibrant, and extraordinary. It's perfect for readers who are new to the fantasy genre and especially those of the younger fantasy audience. I loved following Magda on her adventures. It reminded me of the time I was young.

I especially liked the ragtag team that banded together to save the world. It can be hard to make talking animals active characters in any sort of book, so I applaud Siska for being able to portray such a unique cast of characters in such a fun way. This book gave me the vibe of anime-styled action sequences and music videos I used to watch as a child. Although it didn't contain a ton of prose, it made up for it with its unique and energetic voice, as well as the fluid scenes of action and adventure. Well done!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!
DNF @ 37%

I didn't want to DNF this book since it was only 5 hours long and I was listening to it at 1.5 speed, but... I just didn't see a point making myself finish when I was so blah while reading it. I don't think the book is necessarily bad, just, I dunno, confused? I couldn't tell who this book is for. The plot just zoomed through below even a normal Middle Grade level, leaving me wanting. But then it's not for low MG/children's. There are too many word choices that seem above that level.

I think this is a decent idea. It just needs to lean into campiness if it's for young young audiences, and/or give the scenes more time to just be.

It's possible that I'm incorrect and those around 8 or 9 would really enjoy this. I always encourage forming your own opinions <3 In mine, though, it just feels too strange.

Was this review helpful?

This is fun and has some cute comedic elements. It's also high energy, and the narrator sounds very energetic. The only thing was that the action seemed kind of generic -- Magda has all these powers and then she does everything and I kept trying to picture what she actually did. Still, it's a fun story, and hopefully the first in a series.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

Was this review helpful?

I listened to this children’s audiobook trying to work out who exactly it was written for. The plot of the story is easy to understand, with underlying ideas that we need to have self-belief but also that we need to work together to succeed. The characters are definitely going to interest children, especially the kangaroo and guinea pig. But the vocabulary seems at a higher level than I usually come across in children’s books. I came to the conclusion that this audiobook would be perfect if you have a child with strong vocabulary or one you want to challenge to learn new words. Thank you to Adrian Siska and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Was this review helpful?