Wishbound

By Author / Illustrator

Clemency Brown

Genre

Magical Realism

Age range(s)

Publisher

Chicken House

ISBN

9781917171458

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

04-06-2026

Synopsis

Book 1 in a magical new adventure series all about friendship, belonging and found family - perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell.

What if the price of magic was your best friend? On the tiny magical island of Onske, Leonie is a Wishmaker. Her extraordinary gifts will soon be sold to a rich and powerful family. Determined to stay free, she runs away to the real world - our world. Here, she finds a new life and a new best friend, Cress. But Leonie's old life is about to catch up with her. As enemies close in, her only way out is to grant a dangerous wish. One that could tie her to Cress for ever . . .

Book 1 in a new magical adventure series from superstar author, Clemency Brown An enchantingly fresh magical concept - a world where wishes are bought and sold! Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell, Jacqueline Wilson and Jessica Townsend Celebrates individuality, found family and identity; Cress is deaf and the friends communicate in British Sign Language

'Beautifully written, magical, and gripping' Janeen Hayat, author of Evie and Maryam's Family Tree '[An] enthralling, thought-provoking 9+ magical fantasy' The Guardian.

View Extract

Reviews

Beverley

Leonie was born with magical powers; taken from her parents at a very young age, she was sent to live at the Wishmaker Institute. Here, other children with wild magic like Leonie have their powers tamed and trained. Once they reach the age of 12, they are sold to a rich family and Matched with another child. They are bound to their Match forever and are forced to give them all that they wish for.

At the age of nine, Leonie learns that she is to be Matched early. Determined to fight for her freedom, Leonie manages to escape from the Institute with the help of Jackson; he finds them a safe place to live, and for three years Leonie attends a normal school and finds a true friend in Cress, who has severe hearing loss. All seems well until, as Leonie's 12th birthday approaches, she receives a parcel in the post that changes her and Cress's lives and plunges them into danger.

Wishbound is a beautifully written, fast-paced magical adventure story. Leonie is a fabulous heroine, brave and fiercely loyal to her best friend Cress. Cress is also a lovely character, clever and feisty, she never lets her lack of hearing hold her back. She has taught Leonie sign language so that the girls can communicate, and their friendship is at the heart of the story.

We meet a great cast of villains who get more than they bargained for when they try to manipulate Leonie into sacrificing her best friend! The relationship between the two girls is almost tangible; they make mistakes and sometimes hurt one another, but in the end the love between them is unbreakable.

The book is written in short chapters, and is very accessible. The reader is drawn into the story from the very first page and the action never flags. Readers will find themselves rooting for the two friends as they travel from their homes to the city of London, pursued by their enemies. The story comes to a moving and satisfying conclusion, and sets us up very nicely for a sequel. I am already looking forward to meeting Leonie and Cress again. Highly recommended.

288 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian