This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and runs from 21 June till 11 July. See the tour schedule here.
BEA'S WITCH
by Daniel Ingram-Brown
YA Magical Realism/ Contemporary Fantasy
COMING...
JULY 30th!!!
The future can be rewritten.
On the eve of her twelfth birthday, Beatrice Crosse runs away from her adoptive home only to encounter the ghost of England's most famous prophetess. The witch offers her treasure, but can she be trusted? Bea must wrestle her past to discover the witch’s secret and find her way home.
Goodreads / Bookbub / Amazon / Amazon paperback / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo / Google Play - Hive / Indiebound / Waterstones
MY TIDBITS
Dancing on the border between reality and fantasy, this tale draws in and leaves food for thought.
After making a trip through foster homes, Beatrice finds herself adopted by a loving mother in a small town, but that doesn't mean everything is suddenly perfect. Not only does she have trouble finding friends and fighting off bullying at school, but she just can't cozy up to her new mother...not when she hasn't yet found peace with her own past. When a trip to a local historic site leaves Beatrice with a strange coin in her hand, she doesn't realize how much it's calling to her. Nor can she suspect that a creepy yet magical journey is about to begin.
The writing in this one is very well done. The author pulls us into Beatrice's head, lures into her world, and brings every aspect to life. Beatrice has a difficult past to overcome, and the road to dealing with it is full of unexpected twists and turns. The toss in of magic, ghosts, and a touch of history create a rich setting, and the entire thing harbors a delicious touch of darkness, too. It is an intriguing and grabbing mix, which makes it hard not to fever for Beatrice the entire way through. And at only 160 or so pages, it packs more than a little punch.
After reading the blurb, though, I did expect something different. First off, this is sold as a YA read, but Beatrice is only eleven, carries around a turtle, and does, sometimes, act/speak this age. That alone makes it a hard sell for teens. On the other hand, it isn't a middle grade read. Beatrice spends a lot of time in her head or revisiting her past. The depth on this front hits a YA level, and many moments make her come across as much older than her age. It also made for a slower pace, at times, which had me skipping a paragraph or two. So, I'm not sure which audience to recommend this one to. Also, her stated thoughts irritated and pulled out of the tale, and the added photos weren't my thing. But despite all of this, it'd be wrong to say that it wasn't a grabbing and intriguing read.
The plot is unique and very well done. Beatrice faces problems on several fronts and finds herself in a situation, which is impossible to see coming. And it's this situation, which is masterly woven and adds a wonderful touch to the tale. For the right reader, it is a treat.
And here he is...
Daniel Ingram-Brown is a First Story writer-in-residence for secondary schools in Yorkshire. He has a Masters in Creative Writing and Drama in Education, and is currently studying for a PhD exploring adoption through creative writing. He is also a playwright and is Artistic Director of Suitcase and Spectacles Children's Theatre. Daniel's passion lies in writing stories which inspire readers and audiences to think and wonder. Daniel is the recipient of the Taner Baybars award for original writing in the field of science fiction, fantasy and magical realism, awarded by the Society of Authors Authors' Foundation. He lives in Yorkshire, UK.
Author links:
- Website
- Goodreads
- Amazon
GIVEAWAY!!!
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Bea’s Witch. These are the prizes you can win:
- 1 paperback copy of Bea's Witch + vintage postcard from Mother Shipton’s Cave + book related pins (open International)
- 1 paperback copy of Bea's Witch + vintage postcard from Mother Shipton’s Cave + book related pins (UK only)
- ebook copies of all three books in the Firebird chronicles by Daniel Ingram-Brown (open International)
For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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