Wednesday Weeks and the Tower of Shadows product reviews

When a book says it's going to try and mix science with magic I always feel a little dubious, especially if the book is aimed at the eight to twelve range, but having a lull at work and a readers copy, I figured I would give this a try. Not only did I finish the book, I enjoyed it as well. Right from the start there was humour, with Wednesday's "Grandpa" arriving mid-class and her exasperated reaction along the way, I found their relationship quite entertaining. Wednesday loves science but unfortunately keeps making things blow up and to top it off, her "Grandpa" is training her as his apprentice and she isn't all too good at it so far.

Soon enough, things take a turn as her friend accidentally enters a portal with her, her "Grandpa" gets kidnapped by an evil goblin and she has to protect a ring from falling into said goblins grimy hands. Wednesday and Alfie set off on an adventure, which includes a laundry labyrinth (complete with monster), a talking skull that kind of helps them out and freeing her "Grandpa" from the evil goblin king, who wants the ring in order to take over the worlds. The authors here, did a really good job of using magic to explain why her science wasn't so good but also how her love of science could be used to harness and use her magic correctly (such as the chemical formula for a fire extinguisher and then using magic to multiply it). My favourite part would be involving the laundry fairies (but I won't go into that as I don't want to spoil it).

This is a fun book, a good take on learning magic and how to control it with fun, capable characters.