A Sky Full of Dragons

The Wand Keepers, Book 1

De: Tiffany McDaniel

Narrado por: Rachanee Lumayno

For younger fans of Witchlings and Eva Evergreen comes a light-hearted and whimsical middle grade fantasy about a young girl who must save her witch aunt from an uncommonly voracious hat.

Where dragons take flight, through the dark of the night. Where the fire ignites, you will find the light.

Aunt Cauldroneyes is always looking into cauldrons. She’s found everything from giggling moons to troll nose rings, but when she looks inside a purple cauldron one stormy night, she finds a girl with blue freckles.

The old witch raises the girl and names her Spella. They live in Hungry Snout Forest in a crooked house with doors enchanted to smell like chocolate. In the attic full of floating fabric and biting buttons, Aunt Cauldroneyes teaches Spella how to make magical hats for creatures like unicorns and dragons, giants and goblins.

When Spella turns eight, she receives an invitation to Dragon’s Knob, a school for wand witchery and wizardry. But on the very night Spella is set to leave, a stranger appears with a growling hat that swallows Aunt Cauldroneyes and steals her away!

To rescue her aunt, Spella must go up into a sky full of dragons and to her new school. With protesters outside the gates threatening the school’s academic freedom and a deepening mystery within the walls, Spella and her new friend Tolden are thrust into the mystery of her aunt’s disappearance and a long-buried secret hidden somewhere in the school.

©2024 Tiffany McDaniel (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

charming and fun

4.5 stars rounded up

I have read two of Tiffany McDaniel's adult fiction books, which are brutal, mournful and stunningly beautiful. This book - a middle grade fantasy novel - is a huge departure, but is equally wonderful. When she reached out to me for a review, I was slightly hesitant as I don't read much fantasy, but it was her and so I had to say yes. And, I am so glad that I did!

In this story we meet Stella, Tolden and Aunt Cauldroneyes (love this character name!), as well as a lot of supporting cast, including a mummified cat named Egypt! I fell in love with the storytelling almost immediately. The book is enchanting. More than once I realized I was smiling as I read. The action starts almost immediately, when Aunt Cauldroneyes is captured by a growling hat, and Spella needs to find her. She is invited to attend a school for wand witchery, and is hopeful they will help with her hunt for her aunt. The book is full of adventures, with fun descriptions of magical buttons, talking hats, enchanted potions, and funny conversations. The word that coming to mind is "charming."

I loved every moment, and am excited for book two!

Loved!

I loved this book so much that I finished it in one sitting and immediately started reading it with my youngest daughter, knowing she would absolutely be captivated by it. And sure enough, just a few pages in, she was hooked!

My daughter is 10, and for years, she’s struggled to enjoy reading. I’ve gone through countless books trying to help her find her niche. So for her to tell me, she loves a book. Just know that is a huge step for her. We also recently did a Harry Potter marathon, and as soon as we started this book, she told me it reminded her of Harry Potter!

Now - I want to extend a HUGE thank you and a virtual hug to Tiffany McDaniel for gifting me this incredible book! My only complaint? I wish there were a million more like it.

The story is full of quirky, imaginative fun, and I was drawn in from the start, not wanting it to end. It felt like I was reading a movie, and I sincerely hope it becomes a tv series or a film one day!