An orphan girl fights to save the inhabitants of a magical house in this first book in the rollicking middle grade magical adventure series perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Greenwild!

This is a cute middle grades read- perfect for folks who enjoyed Nevermoor or The Mysterious Benedict Society! However, I will say, this is one of those middle grades reads that doesn't necessarily translate to adults. That's not a bad thing, overally, I'm glad this series is out there for young people looking for whimsy!

If you’re looking for a charming and imaginative story for middle grade readers, The House at the Edge of Magic fits the bill perfectly! The magical elements are delightful without being overwhelming, and the characters are relatable and fun to follow. The pace is steady and keeps things moving just the right amount for younger readers who are wanting to begin discovering fantasy worlds. While I found it a bit simpler than some other books I’ve read, I think it’s a great choice for kids ready to dive into magic and adventure! Thank you, NetGalley!

Thoroughly entertaining. Kept me engaged and intrigued the entire time--a true page-turner. Highly recommend for middle readers. The cover is delightful and characters will stay with you long after you read this one.

I think my students will really enjoy this! I would recommend to fans of Harry Potter (of course), Lemony Snickett and Lauren Magaziner's The Problem Children.

This book is so much fun. I really enjoyed the aspect of the house and all the weird side effects of the curse. I thought that the characters were absolutely delightful. There really wasn't a single character that I disliked, with the exception of Pocket of course. Nine was un-apologetically herself throughout the entire book and I really admired that. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series and see what this unlikely band of friends get up to next!

This book was so much fun to read, I sped through it and was left wanting to read more about Nine, the mc orphan girl.

I feel like this book would be a lot of fun for elementary and junior high kids to read, the author has a great imagination and I would love to read more of their books

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Margaret K. McElderry Books

I don't know if this was deliberate, but some parts of this reminded me of Diana Wynne Jones. Nine is a pickpocket just trying to make her way in life, by herself with no friends or family, when she meets the people in the odd house and her adventures begin.
I love found family stories, and the characters were pretty amusing. I hope I get to read more in this world.

This book is so cute and everything about it was so appealing. However, the story fell short for me. It felt under-developed and I never got truly into the plot or the characters.

The House at the Edge of Magic is a twisty, unpredictable mystery set in a wildly off-the-wall fantasy world, filled with quirky, one-of-a-kind characters. Nine, an orphan pickpocket, discovers the cursed house from the title. Its inhabitants, including a young wizard named Flabberghast, and a kindly troll housekeeper are unable to leave the house, and the house is filled with unpredictable magic which makes it impossible to find any tea in the tea cupboard, and makes the bathroom move to a different location whenever it's needed. Flabberghast convinces Nine to try to break the curse in exchange for a giant jewel. But breaking the curse is not as easy as it seems, and Nine is soon caught in the high stakes of challenging the witch who placed the curse. The House at the Edge of Magic will keep young readers turning pages right through until the end. This book is the first in a series of four. I'm excited to read the next one. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free review copy.

The House at the Edge of Magic was a fast-paced magical adventure good for young readers who want their stories packed full. I appreciated the constantly moving pace of this novel. At times, I wished there could be a little breathing room, a little settling into the setting, but the story was pretty breakneck from the start. I loved the variety of magical creatures, objects, and curses introduced in this book, and I can definitely see how much room for sequels there is. I recommend this book.

DNF @41%

This was slow and boring, which is possibly the worst things for a middle grade book to be. I didn't care for the writing and I didn't care about the main character. I think this is for kids on the younger side of middle grade.

This was such a special book. It definitely felt like Howl's Moving Castle for the new generation. I really appreciate the feral protagonist combined with her kooky, lovable companions. The dynamic of them getting on each other's nerves is endlessly entertaining.

Above all, I appreciate the scope of this book. It's a short read with a satisfying adventure that doesn't overstay its welcome. I wish more Middle Grade authors took cues from Amy Sparkes. Can't wait for the sequel!

Middle fantasy is usually my go-to comfort read, but unfortunately,, this book wasn’t it. The story and plot felt all over the place and I didn’t enjoy the characters. There were some funny moments, and I appreciated what the author was trying to do but this book fell flat for me.

BOOK REVIEW: “The House at the Edge of Magic” by Amy Sparkes

Nine is an orphan thief who pickpockets to survive. She’s determined to escape her life in the Nest, but it seems like it’ll always be a dream she’s chasing. One day, she steals a tiny ceramic house that looks like it could be worth something. She’s intrigued by the small door knocker and gets more than she bargains for when she knocks! The tiny house turns into an enormous house with all kinds of magic inside. Does she have what it takes to break the curse and help her new friends?

This book was actually pretty cute! It has magical elements, a villain, a hero, and it’s not overly scary for its recommended age of 8-12! It’s a bit more silly than Harry Potter type books, so I’d maybe start with this, if Harry Potter is still too scary yet.

I rate this book as 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion.

Nine is far from living her best life. With no comfortable home or family she has become one of several minions working for a local criminal, Pocket--stealing in return for food and board. When Nine picks the wrong woman to try to scam, she finds herself mixed up in quite a bit more than she bargained for as she tries to stay ahead of the law. But when the opportunity presents itself to rob the same woman, Nine cannot help herself--but the results are rather surprising. A small trinket in the shape of a house fell from the purse of her intended target and...that's what you'll need to find out for yourself!

What is set in motion is the most ludicrous adventure Nine has ever experienced. One involving non-humans, talking table wear, and a magician who has lost his magic touch. With the promise of riches beyond her wildest dreams, Nina gets sucked into trying to break a curse but it involves one of the hardest sacrifices she has ever had to make.

The House at the End of Magic felt like a cross between Beauty and the Beast (book loving heroine, enchanted castle) and Oliver Twist (street urchin pickpocket working for local criminal). Children who enjoy a bit of mystery and magic will enjoy this story. I recommend it for upper elementary or middle grade readers. (Note: there is a somewhat scary scene with zombie-like creatures; parent discretion is advised for sensitive readers).

I appreciated that the book brings most threads to a satisfactory conclusion while leaving a few uncertainties to draw readers into the second book (the first chapter of which is included at the end--nice touch). And kudos to the illustrator who created such a whimsical and enchanting cover! Would love the print copy to have illustrations sprinkled throughout the story as well. Grab your copy of The House at the End of Magic and get ready to be transported to worlds of imagination!

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The House at the Edge of Magic from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley for review. No other compensation was received.

A fun middlegrade adventure with plenty of magic mixed in. The story felt a little on the shorter side and is likely a better fit for lower MG readers than upper MG. But if you're looking for something with plenty of character, unexpected magic, and found family, this will probably be one you'll enjoy.

Cautions: brief rude humor

A fun adventure with ridiculously entertaining characters. Nine has learned grit and self-preservation at the cost of keeping others at bay. She finds a possible route that could lead to a better life, but emotions rise to the surface that might get in the way of grander plans.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy to read for review.

This was a fun and whimsical book to read. It seems like this could be the start of a series as there was a lot of lead up and build up getting to know the characters. With that being said, the latter half of the book seemed to have a lot happening all at once and all of a sudden everything was resolved. However, I think that kids upper elementary and middle grades will find it an entertaining read.

** “Sometimes life does bring you strawberries. Sometimes you are a whisper away from magic without even realizing it. And that’s exactly what happened to me.” **

Step into a fun and magical world with Amy Sparkes’ “The House at the Edge of Magic.”

Nine knows nothing about her past, just that she now must steal things for Pockets, who has taken her in. The only item she has from her past, a silver music box, is now in Pockets’ possession, and if she wants to stay near the item, she must keep stealing for him.

But when Nine gets her hands on a small house-shaped ornament, she’s in for a shock. When she knocks on the ornament’s door, it magically grows into a life-sized house. And inside are Flabberghast, a wizard and hopscotch champion, a troll housekeeper Eric, and Dr. Spoon, a kilt-wearing wooden spoon scientist.

And unfortunately they cannot ever leave the house without getting help to break a curse. So Nine sets out on a quest to help them figure out how to break the curse and give them their freedom.

Sparkes creates a fun and sweet story that’s filled with humor, drama and mystery. She develops quirky and zany characters, including a sweet troll, a living spoon with a daredevil spirit and a talking skeleton. But she also includes some good themes, like finding pity for those who are hurting; a desire for freedom; and the impact of sacrificing to help others.

Fans of books like “The Extraordinary Curiosities of Ixworth and Maddox” by J.D. Grolic, “Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe” by Alyson Noel and “The International House of Dereliction” by Jacqueline Davies will love “The House at the Edge of Magic,” which is due out March 18.

Five stars out of five.

Margaret K. McElderry Books provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.