Magpie Girl

When she was eight, Lavender Wild went missing in the woods for months. Although her memories are hazy, she knows she was rescued and looked after by Mother Nest – a deity who can transform between an old woman and a giant magpie.

Back home, Lavender has become a Magpie Girl with the ability to find lost things and communicate with birds, whilst also growing feathers – which she hides or plucks out. She still longs for adventure, but her father keeps her close, terrified of another disappearance.

When the father of her childhood best friend, Kit Noble, vanishes during his annual quest to offer tribute to a deity, Lavender is desperate to be involved in the rescue attempt. She runs away and joins Kit on his mission, but they are thwarted by earthquakes, daemons and the presence of the powerful wish-granting Firebird from his mountaintop prison. Lavender realises that Kit’s family history is deeply entwined with local legends and deities and that there is far more at stake than just using her magpie senses to find Lord Noble.

This fabulous adventure gives a little nod at the beginning to Rowan’s previous book, Heartseer, although this is a standalone story. The characters are well-formed and the changes in their relationships are carefully constructed, with a thread running through the story regarding discussing problems and painful memories instead of ignoring them. I loved all the different deities and the author notes at the end, which explained the mythological basis for their characters: my favourite has to be the Nightmare with the ability to take others to visit sleepers in their dreams and affect their future.

I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the author’s books and would recommend her to fans of Sophie Anderson and those who enjoy myths and folklore