The Marvellers: the bestselling magical fantasy adventure

By Author / Illustrator

Dhonielle Clayton

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

Publisher

Templar Publishing

ISBN

9781800785472

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

05-01-2023

Synopsis

The NEW YORK TIMES bestseller! Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds for Marvellers from around the world. Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy but she finds friendship in fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical creatures and support from her Elixir's teacher, Masterji Thakur.

Then the notorious Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, and Ella finds herself as the prime suspect. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her mentor before it's too late.The perfect next read for fans of AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS and SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF!

'The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world' - Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series. 'A richly imagined world with characters I wish I could meet and magic that filled my dreams for days afterwards. I didn't want it to end - when is the next one out!?' - A. F. Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.

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Reviews

Welcome to a world of Marvellers at the Arcanium Training Institute where young Marvellers and their unique powers across the globe attend school to learn and hone their special magical and mystical inherited talents . From a world within and beyond the clouds, the Institute majestically stands, proud of its history, roots and blend of culturally diverse wonderfully talented students. It has the legacy of many, many years of teaching, producing and protecting generations of Marvellers and giving them a safe place to call their own. This year, however, there is dissent and unease at the school as Conjurors are allowed to join for the first time and 11-year-old Ella Durand is the very first. She has her heart set on being included amongst her classmates but many don't trust her Conjuring background and its culture steeped in the special powers associated with the Underworld. Ella isn't the enemy, but try telling her dorm mates that!

The Marvellers is a fantastical, incredible world bursting with imagination and creativity. It is written with the most amazing detail; magical creatures abound from pixies to alligator companions and a whole new magical inventory of objects such as floating juju suitcases, menu balloons, sugar snowflakes and all manner of wondrous creations. It is everything you could want in a powerful, gripping magical adventure story. Full of unusual, exotic, delightful people and places and also brimming with shadowy, mysterious figures and dark forbidden areas and whispered secrets. As for the characters, there is a wonderfully varied range of backgrounds and cultures brought to the story.

One of the central themes challenges ideas of prejudice, racism and cultural animosity between the differing magical communities in a very powerful manner. Ella herself is a misfit, fighting to belong and defensive of the slurs flung at her conjuring background. She stands for inclusion and pushes against the traditions of the Arcanium Institute itself. When a feared criminal conjuror escapes from jail, the whole Conjuror community themselves are suspected and vilified through Ella's treatment by others.

Friendship, respecting each other's differences and uniting to protest against unjust rules and dangerous divides - and those who seek to maintain them - are recurring threads of the story and Ella's blooming friendships with school mates Jason and Bridget (each with their own secrets to keep) serves as the perfect way for the author to play out these scenes. Brilliantly exciting and thrilling storytelling.

416 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer, teacher