The Wizards of Once
Cressida Cowell
Xar is selfish, impulsive and full of himself. After all, he’s the son of Encanzo, the King Enchanter. But he is the youngest son, and his magic hasn’t come in yet, causing him embarrassment and worry. Wish is the daughter of Queen Sychorax, the evilest queen in the Warrior Empire. Wish is also impulsive, daring, and rebellious, but also caring and kind.
They’re both taught from birth that the other is an enemy, someone who needs to be defeated at any cost, but Xar and Wish adventure into the darkness on the same night, breaking the strict rules of their forts, and risking angering their families more. Wish is looking for her friend, a magical spoon that she had found comfort in has run away. Xar is hoping to catch a witch. Everyone knows witches are extinct, but Xar believes if he can catch one and harness its magic, he will finally make his father proud of him and quieten his older brother’s taunts. The further they venture into the darkness the clearer it becomes that there is something else out in the darkness. Something wild and evil, which throws them together into an uneasy truce to help the other. Not only do they have to face their angry parents, but the somethings power has also been growing their whole lives, and they have unknowingly unleashed it, risking extinction of both Xar and Wishes family and everyone else they know and love. The more dangerous the forest gets the more Xar and Wish realise they don’t have to be enemies
I loved The Wizards of Once so much. This new world Cowell has created is so vivid that you can imagine you are in it. This book is funny, as you’d expect with jokes and sharp dialogue. Cressida Cowell writes with so much empathy and encourages it in her readers. It’s so brilliant, entertaining, exciting and scary, you’ll be desperate to get your hands on the sequel.
I would give this book 5 stars because of how easily you can immerse yourself into the story and I’d recommend it to anyone age 8+. This is a great book to read alone but also great to read as a family.
Published by Hodder Children’s Books
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