Audiobook Review - A Pinch of Magic

• Title And Author: A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK
• Physical, eBook or Audiobook: eBook and Audiobook
• Bought, Borrowed or Gifted: eProof Gifted by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and Audiobook borrowed from local library via BorrowBox
• Length: 368 Pages or 8 Hours 44 Minutes

This is gonna be a tricky write-up to write. Bear with me as I was approved to read this Advance Reader Copy a year or so ago via NetGalley and I was super intrigued and excited over it as early rumblings were hugely positive and sounded right up my street. However, once approved, I was never in the mood to read it so, earlier this year, I decided to keep it for Believathon if/when it returns. And yet, when I saw the audiobook of this and the sequel, A Sprinkle of Sorcery, was on my library’s Audiobook app, BorrowBox, I requested and thought I would listen to it instead - something I’ve started to do on some of my ARCs I’m kindly received from publishers and I don’t have time to read them and give them my full attention.

Betty Widdershin is the middle sister of three, with Fliss being the oldest at 17 and Charlie at 6. They live with their granny above a pub on the island of Crowstone. Betty is itching to get off the island and see the world. she’s tired of granny’s watching, her mother’s death and her father being in prison. She wants to see the world. Shame that, when she tries on her thirteenth birthday, Granny breaks the news that they girls can never leave the island: they are cursed and if they live the island, they will die.

But Betty didn’t having it. She is going to figure out the way to break the curse and save her family. Shame that the Widdershin family isn’t known for their luck and things go quickly out of control…

GoodRead – The 13 Secrets

I got my hands on The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison randomly via Twitter. I won it on a competition that the UK publisher, Simon & Schuster (Love ya @simonkids_uk!), talking about three covers and I tweeted that I adore the shiny cover of the 13 Secrets. Because of that, I won and got a copy a month and a few weeks before the book came out (the end of December).

Now, for the shocking fact: I have never read the previous two books in the 13th Treasures trilogy by Michelle Harrison. SORRY! So, I basically won a book and read the final book in a trilogy without reading the rest of the series. HOW DARE I!

So, if you are a fan of the trilogy and want a true review of the final book in this trilogy, read the brilliant review from Wondrous Reads. If you have randomly picked up 13 Secrets (like I have), then stick around.

Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and is trying to put the past behind her with Tanya and Fabian. But her past isn't staying behind her. People from her past want her to participate one last time in a changeling trade and Red is having nightmares about Hedgewitch's cottage and Eldritch, who has sworn revenge when she left him trapped there.

But, when events begin to take a sinister turn and Rowan's past beginning to catch up with her, what will she, Tanya and Fabian do?

So... where to start? Yes, it's the last book in the trilogy. Yes, I should have read the first two books, The 13 Treasures and the 13 Curses, because stuff is touched upon within 13 Secrets that happened in the previous two books. Yes, this does make me a slight hypocrite to me friends and family when I tell them to read the series in order. Yes, yes, yes, I KNOW!

But, I fell under this book's charm. It was a joy to read. It was darker than I first expected. I expected it to be light and fun. Yes on the fun part, no on the light. It went in a direction that I loved (I have a dark reader's soul. What can I say?) and there were times I read the book and it revealed a nasty twist (oh, there are several of those!) and went, “What? What?! WHAT?!” or “No freaking way!” . And if I did that while reading this, a guy who randomly won a copy, I shuddered to think of the reactions the readers of the series!

And the tweets – oh, once I read the book, I spend a few days tweeting the author, Michelle Harrison (@HarrisonMM) & Jenny from Wondrous Reads (@WondrousReads) and generally getting excited and go “I want a tea caddy brownie!” (after snooping on Wondrous Reads website, I have found out he appears more in 13 Curses.)

I fell under this book's charm. So much so that when I was at Cat Clarke's book launch, I saw Michelle there and went all starstruck. So much so, that I kept my distance. I fear Michelle's reaction if I came up to her and went, “Hi!”. I would probably come across as some deranged fan!

But I really enjoyed reading 13 Secrets and, yeah, once I can afford it/make room on my To Be Read pile, I will be getting my hands on 13 Treasures & 13 Curses. I want very badly to return to
Elvesden Manor...

*

And now, for the book trailer and for music I listened to while I was reading this book. ENJOY!

The 13 Sercets

Now, on Twitter a few days ago, I randomly won a copy of a book called "The 13 Sercets" by Michelle Harrison - all because I thought the cover looked cool (via @simonkids_UK)! I got it yesterday and, looking at it, I love it! It looks like a cool book to read. I mean, come on! LOOK AT IT!!!




Shame I didn't realise till after I won this competition that it was the final book in a trilogy - called "The 13 Treasures". But, because am weird, am going to risk reading this book as if I never knew it was in a trilogy because... well, it comes out in February and I want to read it before then. So, change in Books To Be Read - again.

Interested in this book or this series? Well, here's the trailer to tickle your fancy.