EVA EVERGREEN

Eva must discover her own strength on a quest to become an official witch.

Eva Evergreen has just turned 12 and is ready for the quest she must undertake in order to gain the rank of Novice Witch. Unfortunately, she only has a smidgen of magic, and casting spells isn’t easy for her. When Eva’s quest takes her to the small coastal town of Auteri, she struggles to convince the townspeople that she is capable of helping them. Eva sets up a “semi-magical” repair shop and does little fixes around town. Slowly, she begins to make friends and earn the trust of Auteri, but the Culling, a mysterious, cursed weather phenomenon, threatens to destroy everything she’s worked toward. Abe has penned a spectacular, whimsical coming-of-age fantasy, with magic, exciting adventure, and even an adorable magical pet, a mischievous flamefox she names Ember. Eva’s quest challenges her to fight expectations and doubt and to find her voice and power. Abe creates a dazzling, magical world with well-developed characters, relationships, and challenges. The epilogue leaves readers on a cliffhanger, nicely setting up a sequel. There is a hint of Japanese influence throughout, seen in the names of towns and people, like Okayama or Isao, and foods, like yuzu. Eva has straight, black hair and brown eyes, and she tans in the sun.

Bewitching—a must-read for fantasy lovers.