Clara Collins thought she was ordinary. Growing up in Hull with her dad, she dreamed of becoming a Vet. But when a mysterious invitation arrives, everything changes pulling her into a world she never knew existed.

At a festival filled with impossible wonders, Clara discovers the truth: she belongs to a powerful magical family on her late mother’s side, a family who had no idea she existed. Thrust into a world of spells, secrets, and expectations, Clara struggles to find her place, especially
when she’s sent to Crowstone Academy of Magic, a school beyond her wildest dreams!

But as Clara navigates newfound friendships, magical lessons, and the weight of her family’s legacy, whispers of something darker begin to stir. A ruthless wizard tied to her family’s past has escaped from prison. Strange disturbances ripple through the school. Clara may not yet understand the full weight of her lineage, but the shadows closing in around her will force her to confront it sooner than she’s ready for.
Magic is real, but it comes at a cost.

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My name is Nicky Cooper, and I’m a dyslexic ADHD author who has been writing for as long as I can remember. For years, I struggled to finish anything I started. With ADHD, completing tasks, especially full stories, has always been incredibly difficult. That changed when I wrote a children’s book for one of my kids. The feedback was so encouraging, it gave me the belief that maybe I could actually do this.

That moment of confidence led to my first full-length novel, Guardians of the Veil, which was published last month. It follows two teenagers who stumble upon a magical pendant and are thrown into a hidden war between realms. As they uncover ancient secrets and battle powerful enemies, they must decide what kind of guardians they are meant to be.
Shortly after, my second book, The Legacy of the Lost Witch, was accepted for publication and is due out in the coming months. It is a darker fantasy that follows a girl who discovers her magical bloodline and is thrust into a world of hidden academies, dangerous legacies, and a dark wizard tied to her past.

I am now working on my third book. It is a challenge with ADHD, but I am more determined than ever to keep going. I have learned that it does not matter how good your stories are if no one knows they exist, so I am here to share my work, connect with readers, and keep building the worlds that have lived in my head for so long

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My thoughts: Clara receives an invitation to a festival of magic, she’s a bit sceptical, but goes along, not expecting her whole life to change. She’s only fourteen, but a new work awaits her, if she chooses it.

Her mum died when she was little and she has no idea that she comes from a long line of powerful witches and wizards. Meeting her grandparents, snobby uncle and the rest of the family is a bit overwhelming, but more is to come when she’s accepted into an elite school for magic.

There are secrets and rumours to unravel, Clara hasn’t been told the whole truth about her mum, or about the mysterious and dangerous Dark Wizard, recently escaped from prison. The things she learns will change everything.

If you’re looking for a YA book about magic, a young witch on a quest for the truth and an alternative to a certain book series, this is a pretty good option. Clara’s a likeable protagonist, there’s plenty of intrigue and action to hold your attention and it’s also quite funny at times, Clara isn’t from the world of magic and finds some of it a bit strange, a total fish out of water experience.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.

Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys was the 5th place finalist in BBNYA 2024!

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads. 

Deep in the heart of Virginia’s dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridge’s watchful eye, three strict rules govern their behavior

1. What happens here stays here.

2. You must complete all eight steps—no exceptions allowed.

3. Forget your name; you’ll be known only by your problem.

But, there’s one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys’ never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers.

When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridge’s whimsical—and often bizarre—challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price.

Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boy’s fate. But who will trust the words of a liar?

Bound by the house’s darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demons—and each other.

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Once upon a time, there was a military brat named Benjamin Ryan, who traveled the world and embraced every unique experience he encountered. Being the new kid in town wasn’t always easy, and as he struggled with weight issues, he also had to deal with the hardships of teasing, male friendship, and acceptance. But, he was determined to find his place in the world and used his love for writing to create adventures that would transport him to a different world, where he could see things from a new perspective.

Through his writing, Benjamin Ryan discovered his authentic self and found a way to inspire others. Armed with degrees in Art History, Education and World Religions, he became a New York City public Special Ed teacher, where he uses whimsy, creativity, and acceptance to inspire the youth of tomorrow. And thus, Benjamin Ryan was born—an author that embraces the power of storytelling to inspire and create change. With a deep understanding of the struggles that come with being different, Benjamin Ryan creates content that speaks to the heart and soul of their audience. He is active on twitter in the writing community (@BRClothwrites), hosting writing prompts, engaging with life’s unique perspectives, and inspiring others to create their truths.

My thoughts: This was a really interesting and fun book about being different, finding your strengths and making friends. A group of boys is sent to a residential home to make them “better”, all of them are what their parents and teachers consider bad. But in Madame Eldridge’s Home they learn that they can use those bad behaviours, and do something else instead. Set a series of challenges and required to work together, a number of the boys form a bond and discover the house’s secrets.

They’re bright, resilient and in working together, learn their strengths, rely on one another and become true friends, it seems that Madame Elridge isn’t who she claims to be and the boys are more special than anyone has ever told them.

I really enjoyed this book and I think there’s plenty of readers out there who would too. We’ve all been made fun of, got into trouble for things I’m sure, so learning that actually you’re good for something is a pretty important lesson.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.