Michelle Harrison (1) (1979–)

See full review @ The Indigo Quill

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

In One Wish, we travel to the land of Spinney Wicket (I love that name!) with Tanya and her trusty companion, Oberon (her dog). Tanya has been tormented by fairies her whole life. Not the cute, glowing kind that yell "Hey! Listen!" when in peril, but little mischief makers with hairy toes that sew all the openings to her clothes shut and change the answers on your homework. She has never met anyone with show more this second sight until she meets Ratty, who is accompanied by a fairy that serves more as a rascally guardian. Oh, and then there's this rather poetic tree you can wish on. Once.

As usual, I have to mention the cover art. I've been researching who the cover artist is and I can't seem to find it. If I do, I will definitely post it. Regardless, I love the cover. It's magical and delightfully colorful. I love the boxy artistry and how it manages to be both innovative and simple at the same time.

I totally want to live in this whimsical world Harrison has created. The characters were appealing and I loved how she filled in the conventional plot hole of kids-whose-parents-aren't-in-the-picture and made things more realistic by adding Tanya's mother and even her dog. Although, I probably wouldn't have brought my pet along with me to go fight magical creatures unless said pet was a magical creature itself. I loved the fairies, even though they were little tyrants who seemed to make people's lives more difficult. And some of the villains were extremely creepy, but we like creepy here at The Indigo Quill so that only enhanced the storyline.

I honestly was unaware that this was part of a series, and now that I'm aware of this lovely little tidbit, I plan on reading the rest of the Thirteen Treasures series. I can't wait to continue Tanya's adventures in the world of second sight!

This story was infused with an array of colors and dynamics that held my attention and made me enthusiastic to read it. If you're looking for an adventure that involves a touch of magic without overdoing it, then you will love this book. Pick it up at your nearest bookstore and cross the threshold into Harrison's magical world of fairies and wishes. show less

This is a book about fairies. Not your Tinkerbells and Merriweathers. This is a book about REAL fairies, which don't happen to be very nice. They are mischievous little creatures hellbent on wreaking havoc and bringing down humans.

Unfortunately, Tanya has the second sight and therefore has the ability to see these miserable creatures. All the disruptions they cause have convinced Tanya's parents that she is the troublemaker, so they send her off to her grandmother's for the summer. Little show more does her mother know that she is throwing Tanya into the lion's den. Lurking in the woods is a girl who willingly entered the fairy realm 50 years earlier. Only a changeling, a person with fairy blood, as Tanya, can take her place. Tanya has no idea the danger she is in.

Other interesting characters are the caretaker's son Fabian who pals around with Tanya, and Red, another mysterious girl living in the tunnels beneath her grandmother's house. This story is excitement from beginning to end. You never know where it's going, but the author manages to hold the plot together well. I liked not knowing exactly where the story was headed. It kept me interested. I'm also a fan of books with old houses full of mysteries and secret passages. Overall, I would say anyone who liked [b: Fablehaven|44652|Fablehaven (Fablehaven, #1)|Brandon Mull|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1460309528s/44652.jpg|2129546] will also like this book. Similar setting and characters. Different plot. show less

l Piccolo Popolo è tornato signori, e più dispettoso che mai! Inizialmente non ci avrei scommesso troppo su questo libro, e invece mi sono dovuta ricredere fin dalle prime pagine: l’incipit è così misterioso, tragico e inquietante allo stesso tempo! Non sapevo se prendere per pazza Tanya, la protagonista, o se fosse solo parecchio sfortunata.

A volte, in particolare nei primi capitoli, non ho condiviso appieno alcune scelte stilistiche fatte dall’autrice, ma siccome potrebbero essere show more dovute alla traduzione italiana e comunque dipendono molto dal punto di vista, non ci ho fatto molto caso. Anche perchè da quando Tanya era giunta a villa D’Elfi ero così presa dalla storia che non facevo di certo caso allo stile! Mi ha colpito molto come ha descritto i “mostriciattoli” del Piccolo Popolo, e anche il loro comportamento dispettoso.

Inoltre, i misteri si susseguono uno dopo l’altro fino a risolversi solo nel finale con un climax da urlo! Sono rimasta letteralmente a bocca aperta, sia per il modo in cui tutti i sotterfugi si dipanavano intorno alla protagonista, sia per il colpo di scena finale. E vi assicuro che non è l’unico! D’altronde ci sarà un motivo se il libro ha ricevuto anche un riconoscimento. Con poche, semplici parole la Harrison è capace di creare un’atmosfera ricca suspance e tensione, con delle descrizioni efficaci e mai noiose. Tutti i personaggi si sveleranno per quello che sono realmente solo alla fine, quindi l’unico modo per conoscere la loro vera storia è… concludere la lettura!
Dimenticate quindi la diceria “ma gnomi e folletti sono da bambini!”, perchè leggendo 13 talismani vi assicuro che dovrete per forza cambiare idea! show less

Ooh, this was a fun one. The Widdershins sisters had their work cut out for them in their new home town. I loved the ending, Betty is awesome and always puts her family first. Charlie is so spunky, even though she is little. I hope the Widdershins sisters will have another adventure in the future.