City of Stolen Magic

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Chompa is a flawed but relatable character, particularly for children, she is impulsive (as children tend to be) and this impulsivity does lead to negative consequences that she then works tirelssly to fix, even when the adults around her seem to think it impossible. Chompa her determination and resourcefulness to her advantage and making sacrifices to help others.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, review: a critique of City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak, review: a critique

That night the 'pale ones' come to their home and take Ammi against her will, before then she hides Chompa and makes her PROMISE that she will stay hidden no matter what. With the help of an old friend, Chompa goes off after her, traveling on a fast ship powered by a tree djinn. For Chompa and others like her are djinnborn or djinnspeakers, able to think or write words to do magic and manipulate the elements. India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out. More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumor is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company. As an English reader I thought Nazneen Ahmed Pathak did a brilliant job of exploring some uncomfortable truths. The book touches on the devastation caused by the British colonialism in India, and certainly doesn't shy away from showing the damage it caused, without being too upsetting for younger readers to read about.Even though we’re supposed to root against the antagonist from the start simply because he’s British, it takes quite a long time before he actually starts to feel like a proper antagonist. When the story shifts to Tipu’s point of view, the transition feels a bit awkward. And it also feels like the story incorporated one or two ideas too many. Less is more in this case. With more focus on fewer ideas, those core ideas would have stood out more. What I did not like though were the Plot twists. I could see all of them coming and i just wanted the book to be less predictable. I also did not understand why in a middle grade book meant for children where the protagonist is 12 yrs old, had to see what happened to her mother. What happened with Mohsin also felt very out of character for him. I also have a soft spot for Tipu, who proved he could stand up for himself and was an amazing and kind-hearted friend.

City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak | Goodreads

Chompa is certain that she is ready to perform finger magic. But her mother keeps insisting that it’s not safe and that she should focus on learning charm writing.Finding unlikely allies & more about her mother as she tries to find the trail left by the sinister, all- powerful Company, Chompa realises Indian magic is being stamped out & India"s land & people being made to use their resources to make money for those overseas. Chompa and her mother live in a small village in India in 1855. The country is under British rule, and magical people are being kidnapped across the country in an effort to stamp out the magic so feared by the British. Chompa doesn't understand why her mother forbids her to use her finger magic, not realising the dangers, until one night when her mother is taken. Realising her mother has been kidnapped by the all powerful Company, Chompa is heartbroken and alone as she sets out on a journey to try and rescue her. What i liked about the story is the magic system where we get to learn about djinnspeakers and djinnborn children. How they can work with different elements and djinns. I also really loved the Author's note as it shows what inspired the author to write the scenes in the book which were related to the British rule and the racism, theft and the slavery faced by the Indians and also other minorities. Sir Clive Devaynes (names derived from real people from the East India Company) of the “East Merchant Company” is collecting them for a nefarious purpose.