A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

By: T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Patricia Santomasso

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter, and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.

But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries....

©2020 T. Kingfisher (P)2021 Tantor

I wish this was a series!!!

The cover art and the title got me. Honestly, I saw the cover art and was like, hmmm pretty interesting looking cover. Then I read the title and was like funny! So, having been burned buying books based on covers and titles before, I decided to listen to the sample. HILARIOUS! I was intrigued enough to buy the book (with a credit).

I loved this story. It could have been longer; flushing out more details about some of the outlying characters. But, as is, it was great. There is a good amount of humor and a well put together plotline. I will be honest, when I realized the main character was only 14, I got a little worried. I find stories with young main characters are too...juvenile for me. Usually those books are aimed towards younger audiences and the author includes "relatable" topics for those users. But this book was great! It will read well for younger and older audiences. How the 14 year old talks is a bit....I don't know...old for her age? Not sure if anyone remembers how the characters in Dawson's Creek spoke...big words that teens would NEVER use which made viewers (at least me) give them the side eye quite often. For this book, it wasn't the vocabulary so much as the thought processes. I understand that the setting is not modern at all, but still, I felt like I was listening to a grown woman instead of a child. But I wouldn't call it a con; just an observation :)

I would LOVE to see this turn into a series. There are so many avenues in which this story can run! Its a world I wouldn't mind getting mentally swept up into.

The narrator does an amazing job. Read very well and at a good pace. Good inflections and tones. A stellar performance.

A fun & unique adventure, & now I want gingerbread

Fourteen-year-old Mona has magic. Unfortunately for Mona, that magic only works with bread. And while that is very helpful when she's working in the bakery owned by her aunt and uncle, it's not really good for things like defending herself, stopping a killer, and fighting a war.

Unfortunately for Mona, that's what she's being tasked with doing.

Mona's life was very predictable and seemingly going well right up until she discovers the body of a young girl on the floor of the bakery one morning. When the authorities show up to investigate, the lead inquisitor decides that Mona is the murderer, and she is immediately arrested and taken to the castle to face trial.

While Mona is released by the duchess, who is the leader of their city, she is not really in the clear. The lead inquisitor still thinks she's guilty, and now she has an assassin coming after her. It's too bad her magic only works with bread and isn't really helpful in these situations.

This was such a fun book, and I found myself cheering Mona on every time she started to feel down about herself and her abilities. As many keep telling her, while bread magic may not be the most ideal for defending herself and her city, it can be useful in many different ways. In addition to Mona becoming more confident in her own magic, and thus growing more confident in general, we have several other characters around her that are great for support. Each of those characters get some great character development, and it was nice to see characters that weren't just cardboard cutouts or stereotyped characters to fit a role.

One of my favorite characters ended up being the little gingerbread man. While similar to the gingerbread man in Shrek, the gingerbread man in this book is much better. Even without speech, he is able to convey his thought and feelings. And there's one scene where he has to wrangle together a bunch of other gingerbread men that is just amazing. I was giggling while listening to it - the picture that was painted in my head was so funny.

I can definitely say, after listening to this book, that I won't be looking at baked goods in the same way again. I also loved the narration, done by Patricia Santomasso. Though this was the first book of hers that I have listened to, I really enjoyed her performance. This is a book that I definitely plan to read again, and when I do, I will be listening.

Engaging and funny

The story moved along at a good pace and never felt slow or rushed! There were lots of moments that made me laugh. It had elements that seemed like they would be silly but some how came across as whimsical instead. Really great book.

Enjoyed the story

This was a charming story that is well written and produced. I enjoyed the book greatly.

Entertaining

I fully enjoyed this story. The characters were lovable and engaging. The world was colorful and interesting. There was a definite thread of humor throughout the whole story that kept it from getting too heavy or boring. The narration was excellent. I’m glad I bought this one!

hmmmm

should of led with it is a ya book for anyone 12 to 15. it wasnt the authors best

Great

The magic system is unique and masterfully used in the story
The characters are amazing and the narration was great

Wonderful Story; Excellent Narration

I started reading “A Wizards Guide…” by checking it out from the library—and ended it with both an Audible and Kindle copy of this book. That’s how much I loved this story. Also, Patricia Santomasso is such a great narrator—she brings Mona (and every other character, especially Knackering Molly) to life, SO well.

Surprisingly good!

I got this on sale and it looked funny. Turned out to be really well written. The worldbuilding and magic system was somewhat vague, but that WAS the system, and it was always true to the rules that it was given. The character development of the main character was well done, as well as the relationships she had with those around her. I really think there is more that can be done in this world, and T. Kingfisher is definitely on my radar for the future.

Highly suggested!

different and fun

different take on magic. fun little story. good for adults and kids as long as you don't want something super serious