City of Stolen Magic

Description

A spellbinding, epic and heart-racing magical adventure from an exquisite new storytelling talent.

‘Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story’ – Katherine Rundell

‘A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine’ – The Daily Telegraph

India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out.

More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumour is that they are being taken across the sea – to England – by the all-powerful, sinister Company.

When Chompa’s home is attacked and her mother viciously kidnapped, Chompa – born with powerful and dangerous magic that she has always been forbidden from using – must travel to the smoky, bustling streets of East London in search of her. But Chompa will discover far more treachery in London than she had bargained for – and will learn that every act of her rare magic comes with a price . . .

‘Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships . . . The whole package’ – Louie Stowell

‘An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children’s storytelling’ – Nizrana Farook

‘Phenomenal’ – Sophie Anderson

‘Dazzling from start to finish’ – Abi Elphinstone

‘A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets and colonial history . . . An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don’t see often enough’ – Rashmi Sirdeshpande

‘A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure’ – Jasbinder Bilan‘Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story’—Katherine Rundell

City of Stolen Magic is phenomenal – vivid storytelling that skilfully and unflinchingly weaves colonial history into an epic, breathtaking, magical adventure—Sophie Anderson

Dazzling from start to finish. A spellbinding adventure fused with Indian folklore which sees glorious heroine Chompa journey from rural India to Victorian London as she searches for her mother—Abi Elphinstone

An unexpected gem of a story. Packed with atmosphere – whether the narrow streets and red dust of Dacca or the grimy Dickensian squalor of Spittlelfields – it’s populated by larger-than-life characters you will love and hate. A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children’s storytelling—Nizrana Farook

A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets, and colonial history. An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don’t see often enough in books—Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Exhilarating and enthralling – I relished every page. A glorious blend of history, magic and thrilling adventure with a truly unforgettable heroine, this book is rare, rich and special—Katherine Woodfine

A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure filled with thrilling characters, pacy storytelling and important historical detail. Children and adults are in for such a treat—Jasbinder Bilan

Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships, the whole package!—Louie Stowell

An incredible story. I’m blown away by the layers of detail and drama, along with a history we don’t see spoken of enough . . . A wonderful, thought-provoking story of magic, community and power – sure to enchant readers—Radiya Hafiza

Ahmed Pathak draws heavily on real history to open up conversations about colonialism and empire, while weaving a vivid and richly imagined adventure. A vibrant and important debut, full of magic and mystery.—The Bookseller

A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine—The Daily TelegraphNazneen Ahmed Pathak is a British Bangladeshi writer, historian and visual artist who lives in the port city of Southampton. She spent most of her teen years in commuter belt suburbia writing, reading, and listening to melancholy indie music, going on to study English literature at the University of Warwick and completing a PhD in Bangladeshi literature at the University of Oxford. As a historian she researches the geography and history of migration, a subject which is also at the heart of much of her fiction, poetry and visual arts practice. She was selected as one of 12 mentees from 2000 applicants for the 2016/17 inaugural round of Penguin Random House’s Write Now mentorship scheme which aims to support and publish underrepresented writers.

She has held residencies at Southampton Central Libraries, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton Museums and Archives, and the Francis Crick Institute in association with Poet in the City. She has been published in Poem: International English Language Quarterly, Places of Poetry: Mapping the Nation in Verse (OneWorld Publications), The Puffin Book of Big Dreams (Puffin), and A Match Made in Heaven: British Muslim Women Write About Love and Desire (Hope Road Press).

Nazneen’s debut children’s novel was City of Stolen Magic.

Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. She has illustrated children’s books, as well as animating for TV and movies, and designing for social media platforms. Her clients include Penguin Random House India, HarperCollins India, Candlewick and Lantana Publishing.GB

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