What a great book, I am so delighted that this series just keeps going, it is such a fun series.

The second book in the Witch Wars series! Though it isn't really about the Witch Wars any more, that was book 1. This book is about Peggy going missing, about dolls, about a past that Tiga is still finding out about and a lot more.

The book begins with a vacation, but we soon get in the action when our main character and her best friend Fluffanora find out about Peggy's mysterious disappearance and a certain annoying witch taking her place. The book has two plots, but they are connected to each other. We got the whole Peggy/Doll situation and the fact that we now have an evil witch doing the ruling stuff that Peggy is supposed to be doing, but we also have Tiga's past. Because that is something I am still interested in. Who is Tiga's mom/dad? Why did they leave her? And we find out several things about Tiga's past, and her name.
Also not only that, but we also find out more about Sinkville, about the past, about various other cities in that land. It was all really interesting.

Now for the characters. Tiga was once again fantastic, and it was fun to see her practice and try out magic. She isn't that good yet, but I am sure she will be able to become very awesome if she keeps practising. I also like her determination, and the things she did near the end! She really stood her ground there.

Fluffanora, a character I really liked in the previous book, but I didn't really like her all the time in this one. She had some great ideas, she is a pretty good friend, but I found her so annoying and ungrateful. She gets everything she wants, can go on vacations, but is acting like it is all so terrible. And I just hate that attitude.

Fran, ah, Fran. A character that I like, but also dislike. At times I do wonder how she survived so long, she is quite oblivious to a lot, and I also don't really like her OMG-everyone-just-has-to-love-me-tude. But I can also see that she is a great person and that she tries to help Tiga with everything.

There is just one thing that I found odd in the first book, and still find odd in this book. Apparently these characters are all 9 years old? Is that in witch years? Or human years? Because I would rather say these girls are 12 or 13 years old. Not only in how they look (just look at the cover or the illustrations, those girls just don't scream kids), but also in how they act and react to stuff. It just doesn't really seem that they are 9, but every time it gets mentioned I am like shaking my head and go: No, no they are not 9.

The illustrations were, once again, fantastic and I just love them so much. The outfits are just fabulous, the way various stuff like backgrounds/stores are drawn is just magical. I have really found a new illustrator to follow and keep an eye on.

Would I recommend this one? Yes, I would! It is an awesome read and you will find out that you just can't drop this one.

As for me? I will be eagerly waiting for the third book to come out. I got it pre-ordered already and I just want 2016 to come!

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

I was looking forward to this book since I heard it would come out. Sadly, amazon.de didn't really have it until not that long ago. But it was finally there, and I just had to have it.

And what a trip this was! I just absolutely adore this book, we have witches, scavenger hunts, fashion, puns, great and loveable characters, not so nice and not so loveable characters.

The book starts with our main character Tiga finds out she is a witch and is taken to the Ritzy City/Sinkville that apparently resides when one takes the route through a sink. Yes, a sink. Ever wonder how witches had crooked noses and warts? Why their hats are pointy? Well, guess what happens when one is pushed through a pipe at top speed. Yep, that is right. :)

We soon find out that Tiga is send here for a reason, there is a Witch Wars that will start soon. A war, well, war... for the one to rule the city. I really like the idea, and while I was a bit worried it would be a full out war, it was more of a scavenger hunt with hints here and there. Of course with all the characters just dying to win, some of them will resort to very nasty tactics.
I really loved the Witch Wars, it gave us more insight in this world (since it travelled all over the land where the witches live), but it was also just exciting. See if I could also have a hand with trying to solve the riddles (we have a map in the front of the book). Of course, I utterly failed because I just didn't know the exact inner workings of the town, but I was still trying and cheering for our characters.

I also loved the book's stores, they had funny names, but also at times funny purposes.

It was also interesting to learn why there was no colour in the city, this is no spoiler, the main character and her fairy pop in the country through the pipes and just lose most of their colour. I am guessing we will find out more about this and the history of the country in the next book(s). We did find out snippets of stuff, but there is still a lot unanswered so I hope we will find out stuff in the later books.

Tiga is an amazing character, sweet, determined and even with a youth as she had, she is a kind and sweet character. You would expect that one with such an upbringing would turn out to be rotten or depressed, but instead this girl is full of power.

Peggy and Fluffanora? They were just brilliant characters and I loved them both. Peggy for how kind and friendly she was and how she acted in the Witch Wars, and thereafter. Fluffanora? For her attitude and her fashion sense.

The story is really great, and it really grabs you by the nose and doesn't let you go until the end.

I still have many questions, for instance about Tiga's parents, but I am sure we will get those answered in the next book or books.

The illustrations truly complements the story. They are fun, quirky and delightful and make the story even more fun.

All in all? I would highly recommend this book. Young and old will love the vivid descriptions of this magical place, the magical characters and the fun scavenger hunt. As for me? I will be waiting for book 2 and read that as soon as it is delivered!

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

Do not read this, listen to it.

Besides the veritable buffet of Hollywood A-listers from various ethnic backgrounds providing narrations, there’s beautiful music and songs in the interludes between stories and in the stories themselves. I’ve derived much enjoyment from the imaginative and enthusiastic performances from the narrators, most of whom possess great skills with accents. Even if you don’t recognise a couple of the narrators’ names, odds are you’d recognise their faces.

Whoopi Goldberg and Hugh Jackman’s performances were outstanding though most were above average.

Urban legends, origin stories, fables, parables, myths, magic, time travel, African versions of well-known fairy tales, clever and devious characters, and emotionally touching stories – what more could you want?

Well, the publisher has donated 100% of its takings from the audio to Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Artists for New South Africa who work with children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Here’s a rundown of the folktales:

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