Magical Books

I’ve been careful to use the term ‘magical’ here – distinct from the ‘fantasy’ genre that is particularly popular at the moment which includes werewolves and vampires, assassins, warriors and particularly powerful, unwavering characters who despite their power (and usually great beauty and rock-hard abs) are essentially good and moral (even if sometimes it takes a minute to get there). The magic in this selection of books – actually one is more science-fiction – is smaller, more focused and human – even though many of the characters in them aren’t. These are all often difficult, sad stories, but I have found them unique and moving.

Please click here to hear me talk to Jesse Mulligan about these magical books on Radio New Zealand on Tuesday 15 July 2025.

For Ages 11+

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

By Kelly Barnhill

Published in 2016

This is a story about family, growing up and finding out who you are.

Every year, the town must leave a baby as an offering for the Witch in the woods, however, what the elders of the town know, and nobody else does, is that there’s no witch, she is a made-up legend to keep the people compliant. But wait! The story twists again –there actually IS a witch (Xan) but she is good and each year she makes sure the abandoned babies survive by giving them to loving families in the Free Cities. One year, while bringing another baby to the Free Cities, Xan accidentally feeds the baby moonlight (don’t ask – these things do happen) and bestows on her magical powers. Xan decides the safest option is to keep the baby – and calls her Luna … do you see what she did there?

There are lots of peripheral characters including a swamp monster and a dragon (of course) and another thread which allows us to follow what is going on in the town where Luna originally came from, but this is not a simple story of a rescued orphan and her quirky friends, because as Luna grows her magic begins to overflow and become too much and story develops into something more.

The inclusion of Antain, who lives in the town and is the nephew of the Grand Elder, allows Barnhill to bring the story together, the history of the town, the elders and why they have this tradition as well as following what is happening with Luna. The story is almost in two parts, the fun, gentle first half, and the excitingly paced, suspenseful, revealing second part.

This book doesn’t ‘dumb down’ for this age group, it presents some complex themes and dilemmas for the reader to grapple with, but in an appropriate way for this audience. Those enthusiastic tween readers out there will appreciate that in the current landscape of ‘quick reads’ and superficial stories aimed at increasing number of non-readers.

For Ages 13+

Ordinary Monsters

(Book 1 in Trilogy)

By J.M.Miro

Published in 2022

This book really feels like the first in a series – it is a gathering of characters, dipping into backstories and ‘origin myths’ as we move towards the ultimate destination, and explanation of the main story.

Much like the X-men, each character has their own ‘other worldly’ ability that means they are shunned, hated and feared by society, and like Professor X, someone is bringing them together for a purpose – but it is a purpose that may not be as noble as the well-known mutant professor.

The book is set in what feels like the Victorian age, and takes place across lots of locations, including the deep south of America, Tokyo, London but is ultimately Edinburgh based (where any gothic Victorian set novel worth is salt should be!) and the description of the places is extremely atmospheric, engaging and fairly historically accurate.

The characters are all likeable (except maybe for one whose ‘talent’ is gross enough to verge on the uncomfortable) and the story absorbing – one small criticism would be that it does drag a little. There was no need for it to be quite so long – as with an awful lot of books in these last few years, it could have used a good editor.     

For Ages 14+

Just One Damned Thing After Another

By Jodi Taylor

Published in 2016

I have only come across this book recently and I’m sad I went so long without reading it. This book is definitely a new favourite for me – all about a secret college of archaeologists who investigate history not with ground penetrating radar and shaker screens, but with time machines. They root out inaccuracies and make sure the modern record is correct. But of course, all under the time-honoured rules of all time travellers everywhere (Time Lords with two hearts, or otherwise) – you must never change or impact the timelines.

Archaeology wasn’t like that when I was studying it, so yes, please – where do I sign up?

Dr Madeleine Maxwell is inducted into the secret of St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research and takes on her role with the other new recruits with enthusiasm, interpreting their procedures and methods in her own unique way from the destruction of the Library of Alexandria to a hospital in WWI. When she is given her dream assignment, during the cretaceous period, things go very wrong, Max is betrayed and hurt by someone she trusts and St Mary’s realises they are not the only time travellers out there.

If you read science fiction for the science this book is definitely not for you. Time travel is a thing in this book, no scientific breakthroughs, no explanations – it just is, move on. This book is about the characters, the excitement, the moral and ethical dilemmas, the adventure, and the relationships. There is banter, asides, smart mouths and a rather grown-up theme about romantic entanglements, betrayal and deceit. Please note my use of ‘grown-up’ – here is your trigger warning, there are sexual assault themes.

As the protagonist, Max is a hugely likeable, strong, intelligent and feisty, yet flawed female character and rest of the cast is well rounded and appealing – including the (eventual) love interest. THIS book definitely doesn’t drag, the plot is well-paced, exciting and fun. I’m off to order the next one in the series and settle in.

Lady Macbeth

By Ava Reid

Published in 2024

Yes, THAT Lady Macbeth.

To me Lady Macbeth seems like the pivotal character looming large over Shakespeare’s infamous story, as arguably the bigger villain of the piece, it is after all, she who pushes and pressures Macbeth into the unnatural act, ensuring the witches’ prophecy comes true. (In the interest of academic integrity, I must point out I am NOT, of course, a Shakespeare scholar, just someone who has spent a lot of time at the Pop Up Globe (please bring it back!) and helped numerous children (my own included) research and formulate Shakespeare essays).

In the play, she certainly pays for her wickedness (and for being a weak woman), but what nobody can dispute is that Lady Macbeth only has 59 lines in the whole play – 59 out of 1,755 – just over 3%. I admit, they are rather impactful (something about a spot?) and I’m guessing some of the most quoted of Shakespeare’s lines – but I do wonder if that is due to their length (and therefore ease of remembering) and, unlike most of Shakespeare’s work, their LACK of ambiguity, than the impact of her character.

Anyway, the point is, we don’t know much about her as a person and that seems to be Ava Reid’s goal with this book – to flesh out her character, while sticking with Shakespeare’s original witch-y, magical theme. Reid conjures up 11^th century Scotland as a miserable, damp, masculine world, and having been sold into matrimony by her father, the new Lady Macbeth must sink or swim, after being completely cut off from her old life. Husband and wife quickly discover they both have supernatural secrets.

Spoiler alert - this book only follows the story we are familiar with from Shakespeare very broadly and it does NOT have the same ending. But it is an interesting concept, starting from a premise most people will know. It is a little heavy handed and unsubtle in the portrayal of the brutish, unrefined Scottish men and lifestyle, but you can’t fault the atmosphere she creates.

The Lost Bookshop

By Evie Woods

Published in 2023

I only read this last week, but it is definitely another one for my favourites list. This book fits very well with the theme because it is magical in the literal sense, but also in the ‘special, gentle, profound and rare’ sense too. 

The story is a hard one to explain (and do justice) but superficially it is about a bookshop that can only be found by those that need it the most and the characters in the story really need this bookshop. They are all damaged and trapped – but each one is trying to find a way through and out.

I haven’t made that seem very appealing but I don’t want to give too much away or break the spell of the book, so let me say this – it is beautifully written, clever, has so many threads to follow (stories set in the past and the present, the story of a lost manuscript by a famous author and an ancient building and its guardian reborn), it’s exciting, suspenseful, sad, frustrating and has some horrible, traumatising situations.

The supernatural element is very present, not just an allusion, so this is not the book for those that like everything tied up in a neat bow.

This story is about the healing and protective powers of a bookshop and, yes, of course, that means it appealed to me particularly, maybe others won’t be drawn to it in the same way I was, but it is worth the read to find out.

I must note here some trigger warnings – this book deals with domestic abuse, mental health issues and alcoholism. Read it anyway – just go in with eyes and heart open.

Click here to access some of my past chats with Jesse on Radio New Zealand.