Published By: Hodder Children’s Books
Pages: 304
Released On: 10/10/2024
Reading Age: 9-11
Christmas is the best time to believe in magic …
One winter evening, Lydia Marmalade arrives at Lady Partridge’s mansion. She has nothing except her sausage dog, Colin, but she’s not going to let that stop her making this her new home.
But Lady Partridge isn’t at all keen to make Lydia part of the family. If Lydia doesn’t behave herself until the end of the winter season, she’ll cast her off entirely. And now her mother’s gone, Lydia doesn’t have anywhere else to live.
Helped (and often hindered) by a winter sprite, an angry butler and a hungry Colin, Lydia makes a wish on the most magical night of the year.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Children’s Books for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I know this book is aimed at young children, but I have had it on my wishlist for ages because it just looked so much fun!
I don’t know if there will be any picture in the finished copy (my digital copy didn’t), so I’ll have to take a look at the finished copy to see, as I assume there will be and I can’t way to see how they accentuate the story.
I didn’t realise this was in a historical setting. It’s set in the 1800s, but it matters not. The excitement and thrill of the story would fit in any time period, but by setting it in a historical period it means you get that historical element. It can be hard for an adult to identify with a main character who is a child, especially a child in the 1800s, but Lydia is fantastic and was very easy to get along with.
It is pure escapism. For children and adults alike. It’s fun and big hearted, action packed by relaxing. There’s happiness, sadness and magic, and it makes for a gorgeous and quick read.
It wasn’t what I was expecting. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest, but I assumed it would be a modern story with kids wishing for things for Christmas but that wasn’t right. There’s magic and fantasy and adventure yes, but there’s history and it’s a lot deeper than I expected from a festive kids book.
It’s a combination of genres. It’s a kids book, slightly festive, historical, adventure, magical, mystery; it’s full of intrigue and entertainment and positivity.
I believe Cariad has only written one book prior to this, and that was a non-fiction on how to cope with grief. And whilst it wasn’t perfect form a literary point of view, it was clear to me that her talents are not just in comedy, and I do hope this is a career path she continues to explore as I think she’s got great potential.
Books By Your Bedside 