Review: The Shop-Witch’s Quest

The Shop-Witch’s Quest is a charming, magical adventure bringing a hero and a shop-witch together on a quest that shows the value of working together and of appreciating others.

13-year-old shop-witch Laurel sometimes wishes to be a hero, undertaking daring adventures, but instead she works in her parents’ magic shop, Witch Wares Emporium.  A newly opened shopping centre just outside her village of Elfingham has led to competition for business – and an often-empty Emporium. 

When a hero, carrying a sword and wearing newly polished boots, enters the shop, Laurel gets an order for the magical items Aliya will need for her first heroic quest, an order that may help save the shop from going out of business.  But when she cannot provide one item from her list, Aliya refuses to purchase any of the items from Laurel.

Worried that she will lose her home if the shop closes, Laurel takes her cat-familiar, Bedlam and hero Aliya on a quest to find the item, and save her parents’ shop.  Can Laurel become a hero and complete the quest before it is too late for Aliya to complete her own quest?

This is a gorgeous adventure that had me smiling throughout.  I loved the array of magical items from mega-hearing earrings to self-writing parchment to bright-ideas lamps.  I also loved the many types of witches from smith-witch to potion-witch to garden-witch.  I can just imagine the fun young children would have discussing these and coming up with their own ideas.  A wonderfully imaginative, creative opportunity!

I loved the friendship that develops between Laurel and Aliya, despite a tricky start.  Working together allows them each to appreciate what the others does, and to share their worries.  They prove to their families that they can be successful and Laurel realises that being a shop-witch brings its own adventure.  I just have to mention cat-familiar Bedlam who is brilliant – bossy and wise, with heart of gold!

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful and complement this magical adventure perfectly.

An enchanting, magical adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages.  This one is for ages 7+ with a reading age of 7.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy of The Shop-Witch’s Quest in exchange for my honest opinion.