Eva Evergreen and the Cursed Witch

August 6, 2021

Gr 3-7-This sequel features a more confident Eva Evergreen who is beginning to come into her abilities as a witch, and feeling more sure-footed as a valued member of the magical community. Mysterious catastrophic weather events continue to plague Rivelle Realm. When evil Grand Master Grottel curses Eva's mother and drains her of magical powers, it becomes evident that he is responsible for the disasters that are affecting town after town and the strange disappearances of Rivelle's citizens. Grottel's motivation and goals are murky, but Eva is determined to fight evil with kindness, and to protect Rivelle at all costs. As she seeks to restore magic to her mother, and to reunite her friends Davy and Charlotte with their parents, Eva embarks on a dangerous quest, fighting on the frontlines alongside much more experienced witches and wizards while acting as a live-map tracker as they hunt for the source of Grottel's power. Throughout the story, Eva stands up for herself, for the community she loves, and for those too vulnerable to save themselves with her faithful and spirited flamefox Ember by her side. We see her take on the role of mentor and protector, and a clear correlation is made throughout the narrative of the link between courage, self-belief, resilience, and magical ability. Eva's magic is only as strong as her heart, and she is most successful when she pours the love she has received from her family and friends back into her community. The narrative thread can feel plodding, especially during the first half of the story, but the plot pace picks up, and ends on a satisfying note with an action-packed resolution that indicates the series will continue. Character ethnicities are not explicitly described, though context clues in the text and artwork imply Eva is Japanese. VERDICT Recommended for fiction collections committed to also purchasing the first book in the series.-Lauren Younger, Univ. of Dallas Lib.

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Starred review from August 1, 2021
Grades 4-8 *Starred Review* Eva has valiantly saved her adopted town from a deadly, cursed storm plaguing the land--the Culling--and established herself as a Novice Witch. It should be a moment of triumph, but she barely has time to savor the victory: she has discovered that the leader of the magical community may be behind the increasingly vicious gales. He disappears, but not before robbing Eva's powerful mother of all her abilities. To make matters worse, there are whispers of a terrible, forbidden rogue magic in the air. An anxious Eva, happily joined by some familiar faces, throws herself into the dangerous world of strange new magic and warring wizards to learn the chilling truth behind the Culling, restore her mother's powers, and just maybe save the kingdom in the process. The careful world building and character introductions of the first installment pay off handsomely in this fantastic and fast-paced sequel, and it's a pleasure to watch Eva grow in grit and confidence without sacrificing her trademark kindness and generosity. The thrilling story deepens both character relationships and the magical mythology of the extraordinary world; the same easy charm of the first book is present, but here the stakes are higher, the danger is darker, and Eva must work even harder as a beacon of hope and resilience in the middle of it all. A gripping and enchanting sequel that dares readers to "believe in impossible possibilities."

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Starred review from June 15, 2021
Eva Evergreen summons her courage and her magic to stop the Culling once and for all in this exciting sequel. Eva has finally achieved her dream of becoming a Novice Witch by helping protect her assigned town, Auteri, from the Culling, a mysterious, disastrous, magical storm. On top of that, her mother has been accused of using rogue magic, passing it on to Eva, and bringing about the Culling. When the parents of two of Eva's friends from Auteri go missing, she attempts to locate them, in the process uncovering who might actually be behind the Culling--something she reveals to the queen and Inner Council. In retaliation, the suspect casts a curse, which costs Eva's mother her magic, and then disappears. With the culprit on the loose and the Culling worsening, Eva is assigned a critical mission. With the help of her friends and her red-gold flamefox, black-haired Eva must find the courage to find the truth behind the Culling before it destroys the whole realm. With curses, rogue magic, and secrets, this sequel is a little darker than its predecessor but still as captivating and charming as before. Abe's descriptive writing takes readers on a compelling, suspenseful adventure in a spectacular magical realm full of "impossible possibilities." Japanese names and manga-style spot art add to the atmosphere. An enchanting, magical read. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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