This is a very imaginative and fast paced story of young pre-teen Ella Durand who, as a Conjuror, is a second class citizen to the Marvellers, who have magic skills superior to those of the Conjurers. Our heroine, eleven year old Ella, under newly passed equality legislation, has been granted a place to the cloud based (but literally, in the clouds up in the sky) flying “The Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors” (unfortunately but unavoidably the American spelling is predominant) as the first ever student from the under class. She has to make her own way, make friends, defeat enemies, and navigate her and her friends’ way through elaborate and complicated plots.
Each paragraph and even sentence has a kaleidoscope of ideas and words and images that are just that bit removed from real words but close enough to give the connection, but refer to the fantastic creatures flowers, smells, sensations and environment that is the world that Ella knows so well. This well written and rapid fire wordscape keeps you riveted to the page - never a dull moment.
Despite being subjected to such fantastic adventures, evil intentions, sometimes nasty jealousy, and monsters of all shapes, sizes and forms, and things that change into other things as soon as look at you, none of it is likely to keep you awake at night, or is in bad taste.
The cover is reminiscent of Harry Potter, which is maybe a pity as the book will want to stand out for its own creativity, not seen as a "take off" of HP.
This is a very good book, with the encouraging undertones of showing young folk that you can be a friend, an ally, and a princess - just keep going!