Amber Shadows is your typical “Magia” teenager. She likes to read, she doesn’t completely hate school, and she is training to be a white witch. When researching a paper on her family history for her “Magia” Session (White Magic class), she is slightly disappointed by the lack of information. She cannot find any “Shadows,” past or present, who are remotely interesting. Disheartened, she ventures up into the attic – a place where she knows she is forbidden to go. While there, she finds the journal of one of her ancestors, Jocelyn Shadows. As Amber Shadows reads this journal, the secrets of her family’s past are unlocked. Amber is driven by voices from antiquity to begin a dangerous quest. Amber and a couple of trusted friends must face the evil Lady Gondara. Gondara is an ancient enemy of the Shadows and of every white witch. For the sake of her family and of all the people of Magia, Gondara must be stopped. Can Amber save her family from an ancient curse? Can she return the missing wands to their rightful owners? You will have to read the book to find out!

Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands is not your typical children’s book. For one thing, it does not patronise its readers. Instead, it opens up a magical world, filled with dwarfs, two- headed beasts, and talking cats. Every page enchants the reader with thrilling detail and wonderfully drawn out characters. Amber herself is heroic, courageous, and perhaps a little bit precocious. Lady Gondara is wickedly wise, but hopefully, no match for Amber. The book brings to life these fascinating characters and knits them together beautifully with a bewitching and thoroughly intriguing plot.

The problem that writers in this genre must inevitably face is a comparison to Harry Potter. Potter caused such a global sensation that most authors who write stories about teenage witches and wizards will have to put up with this. And, most books will regrettably suffer from such a comparison. Fortunately, Wendy Willett will not have to worry about this problem, as she has written a book that will stand up to any such comparison. And, as the Harry Potter story draws to a close, there is a gap in the market for another magical teenager. Amber Shadows may be just the book to fill this void.

Amber Shadows and the Missing Wands is a must-read for any fan of magical adventure. Wendy Willett’s first novel will charm and enthral its readers, and will leave you wanting to hear more from these enticing, fresh characters. The only question left to ask is, “When will Book Two be published?” ~Spinetinglers.co BOTY Contest Winner 2008