I have a wonderful children’s book to share with you today. One which is a perfect winter read. The Snow Witch is a lovely historical fantasy fiction for children.
I am always looking for books for my daughter, and we have quite a collection already. I can’t wait to share The Snow Witch with her when she is a little older.
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Title: The Snow Witch
Author: Rosie Boyes
Synopsis: A GRANDFATHER CLOCK. A GLASS LOCKET. A POWERFUL CURSE UNLEASHED ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
Twelve-year-old Kitty Wigeon can’t wait for Christmas at St Flurries, a grand old manor house in the countryside, until one chilly night she vanishes without a trace.
One hundred years later… Still grieving over the death of their mother, Kes Bunting and his younger sister Star, are sent to live at St Flurries. They find a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets.
Who, or what, is making footprints in the snow?
And what evil force is taking a cold grip on Star?
Wrap up warm as you join Kes, and a cast of eccentric snow creatures, in a race against time to solve a hundred-year-old curse. Will he succeed? Or will the fate of his sister be decided by a shivery kiss from… the Snow Witch?
Pages: 272
Categories: Children’s Fiction, Middle Grade, 8-12 years, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy Ficiton
Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Death of parents, off page.
Review: The Snow Witch is a modern fairy tale into which both magic and history are woven. The narrative is split between December 2018 and December 1819. In the modern day we follow Kes and his sister Star as they adjust to a new life with their grandma at St Flurries.
Kes is a great protagonist and the author has captured the innocent and confusion of childhood so well. I love that the book is set in the days running up to Christmas, reading it made me feel very Christmassy. Christmas aside, as with all good stories, Kes has a mystery to solve. The disappearance of a girl exactly 100 years before.
At the crucial point in the tale, we are taking all the way back to 1918 and it’s Kitty turn to tell her story. I love the way that the clues are woven together and I think I preferred the 1918 story out of the two. Kitty was such a dynamic character adn there was a really sense of energy which just made her leap off the page. I also loved that all of the characters were names were derived from the names of birds – the glossary in the back of the book was a lovely edition too.
At the end of the story we are brought back to the present to see if Kes can save the day. I found the beginning of the book being a little on the slow side but the pace picked up during the latter half of the book. The mystery of St Flurries pulls the story along and the ending is so lovely. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoiling things but The Snow Witch is a story with a beautifully happy ending.
I would recommend The Snow Witch as a winter-themed read for children who are fans of fantasy and fairy tales. You can find The Snow Witch over on Amazon* in both eformat and paperback forms.
I received a paperback copy of The Snow Witch from the author for the purpose of a review. All opinions and words are my own.