Reviews

Unseen Magic by Emily Lloyd-Jones

jnishi's review against another edition

4.0

Great book about anxiety and fear and a girl fighting to overcome both all set in a town that read like a magical Stars Hallow.

jackclymer's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really recommend this book for anyone who enjoys magic and some mystery.

hannahhbic's review

4.0

3.5 stars rounded up because I think more people should read it.

CW mostly offscreen (past) domestic abuse, onscreen anxiety disorder.

Unseen Magic is soft just like its protag, Fin. Fin has an anxiety disorder and the book plainly shows exactly how it affects every aspect of her life. It even tempts her to drink the magic tea, which seems great! Whisper a memory into the mortar, it disappears forever, and your tea will give you the desired effect. For Fin, this is always to become bolder and less afraid of everything. Uh oh. Turns out that forgetting memories with magic doesn't erase them from your personality after all. Oops!

This book does a great job of turning more and more sinister slowly. It sneaks up on you! I would definitely call this fantasy with a side of horror. I could understand how some readers would find this story too slow but if you're patient with it, it ends up being worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley for a preview copy of the ebook and eaudiobook in exchange for an honest review.

malolauren's review against another edition

4.0

Good lessons and moral, the magic was fun, but I felt the pacing was a little slow in the middle. The 10 year old loved it though.

thebookdreamersalley's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

brilliantsilver's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is exactly the type of book I needed as a child and it's a beautiful book to get to read now

allisonexander's review

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed the unpredictable magic of the town, the tea magic, and the theme of living with anxiety.

brandypainter's review against another edition

3.0

An ambitious metaphor for trauma survival and finding safety that mostly worked. I think kids in the targeted age range will eat up!

fscottfishgerald's review against another edition

5.0

A story about anxiety and trauma wrapped up in a magical and quirky little Northern California town. I wish a book like this existed when I was young and struggled with anxiety. I think it would have really helped to know I wasn't alone in what I was feeling.

literarilyjess's review against another edition

5.0

Oh, I adored this one. In UNSEEN MAGIC, Lloyd-Jones deftly crafts an enchanting tale about magic, friendship, and self-acceptance. Aldermere is a phenomenal setting (I want to go there!) and I especially appreciated the way Fin’s anxiety is portrayed with delicate care and nuance.

I fully intend to shove this wonderful book at all the middle grade readers I know.