It all stated with a simple kind gesture, a gift left for a neighbour - but it leads to a friendship and so much more. When Agnes and her husband Oskar move to a small cottage near Hanau it is a chance to start a new life together, and Agnes gives small gifts to their neighbours which leads to a friendship between Agnes and Mathilda. Mathilda is not popular among the people of Hanau, they call her a witch and say she has cursed people who have crossed her - but Agnes has trouble seeing evil in the woman who gives her thoughtful gifts and heartful letters. Oskar, who is desperate to have a good standing in the community feels that keeping the friendship is dangerous, but Agnes tries to keep hold of it as long as she can.
When Mathilda offers to help her have the child she desperately wants Agnes and Oskar agree to try - but Oskar insists that she drop the friendship as soon as she is pregnant. Agnes wants to be a good friend, but she wants the child more, even though it will mean breaking a promise that is part of the spell. When Agnes follows though with her promise to Oskar and breaks off the friendship with Mathilda she has no idea of the true cost. Years later Oskar and Agnes are well respected in their community, but their daughter Elva seeks out Mathilda because she has a magical gift that she can not control and has almost exposed her to the people of Hanau. This is a chance for Elva to change her fate and the fate of her family but is it too late? Mathilda has a lot she can teach Elva, but she has to let down her walls first and that could lead to more pain than she is willing to face again.
Broken wish is the first book in a series written by four different authors and will be followed by - Shattered midnight by Dhonielle Clayton - Fractured path by J. C. Cervantes - and Splintered magic by L.L. McKinney. If the rest of the series is as good as the first this is going to be a real treat. Broken wish is one of those rare books that will appeal to a wide age range because it is not particularly challenging to read (making it easier to enjoy for younger or less confident readers), it doesn't have particularly adult themes (making suitable for younger teen readers), and it has great character development and world building that will appeal to teens and adult readers. There are echoes of the great traditional stories here, a nod to the brothers Grimm, and hopefully the other three authors will be able to keep that spark through their part in the story. This is an intriguing way to write a series and I look forward to reading more. Highly recommended.
If you like this book then try:
- The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland
- Pangur ban the white cat by Fay Sampson
- Princess of the midnight ball by Jessica Day George
- Finding the fox by Ali Sparkes
- Hollow Earth by John Barrownman and Carole Barrowman
- Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell
- The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson
- Walk on Earth a stranger by Rae Carson
- Ella enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
- Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Reviewed by Brilla
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