From the author of The Wolf of Cape Fen comes a beautiful and lyrical standalone story about one family with magic in their bones, who are tied to the mountain valley in which they live in more ways than one. And what happens when the land they love is destined to be flooded, whether or not they’re still on it.
For generations, Sybaline’s family has lived in a magical Valley in the Appalachian mountains, helping the Magic grow the land. But now the government has ordered them to relocate; their valley is needed to create a dam for electricity. In one week, their home will be flooded.
Sybaline can’t imagine life without her home and without the magic. Stopping the dam proves to be impossible; the government is too big and too strong. She takes the only choice left: she stays. Using her magic, she builds a wall, and as water floods the valley, it covers her house, leaving her living beneath the lake itself.
But there is a consequence to using magic in such a way, one that will transform both herself and the friends who end up trapped beneath the water with her. If she can’t find a way to escape the prison she’s created, both she and those she loves will end up staying in the watery grave of the valley forever.
A Wilder Magic by Juliana Brandt
Pages: 320
Publishing Date: May 4th, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
MY THOUGHTS
Thanks to Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sybaline and her aunts’ families are living in the valley for generations. The valley is not an ordinary one, it is magical. Everyone has magic but they aren’t allowed to use it for something unnatural. Life is peaceful there until the Government decided to construct a dam and asked people to evacuate the valley as it will work as a reservoir. Sybaline doesn’t want to leave home at any cost. It doesn’t matter if they don’t have another option. It doesn’t matter if she has to use her magic.
I loved the starting of the book, the magic system was so unique and beautiful. The cousins bonding was written so well. The pace of the book was slow that after 50 pages I started to struggle with everything, MC, world-building, relations, struggles and writing style. I skimmed read it to find out the ending but it wasn’t also impressive.
