Customer Reviews

Bad Spelling (The Witches of Galdorheim Series)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The reason I fell in love with this book had to do with the cover and the back blurb, both of which reminded me of one of my favorite animated films 'Kiki's Delivery Service', directed by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki. Like Kiki, the heroine of this book struggles to find herself and her place in the world, sometimes with comic results.

Most young adult fiction these days tend to be bad pastiches of the orginal bad pastiche Twilight, so when I discover those rare books in which there's no heroine-fail, no "mysterious but HAWT boy" or the standard (and useless) "love triangle", then you have my interest. I've been wondering for a while what the hell has happened to intrepid heroines like Tamora Pierce's Alannah, Phillip Pullman's Lyra and other go-get 'em girls who weren't content to let things just happen to them and who often embarked on grand adventures. Sadder still is the fact that the dumbing-down of YA heroines isn't being done by men, but by women authors whom one would think knew better.

Bad Spelling brings back the intrepid heroine in all her non-perfect yet still active in her own destiny glory. It is also the first fantasy I've read in which the cultures of the farthest reaches of Northern Europe--Norway, Finland, Siberia--figures prominently while not whitewashing the Asian features of many people who live in these polar regions. I especially loved how author Marva Dasef incorporated Norwegian legends into the narrative.

There is also a larger narrative in the book which is intolerance. The prologue for Bad Spelling is set in 1490 at the height of the witch hysteria that swept throughout Europe and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands (and perhaps an even higher number) of innocent women, men and children:

"Tears welled in Edyth's eyes. "What they are doing to us, `tis hateful. Why cannot they just leave us be?"

He took Edyth's shoulders, pulling her to his chest. "`Tis not just us. The inquisitors condemn many not of the craft. They find black magic where it does not exist."

His eyes darkened. "`Tis the fault of that wretched Heinrich Institoris and his cursed Malleus Maleficarum. Even the Church has banned it, yet the so-called citizen courts use it to condemn any who disagree with them."

Edyth shook her head, her face grim. "You speak the truth. `Tis shameful they accuse whoever dissents, be they witch or not!""

The few remaining witches and warlocks decide to leave Europe and travel to a remote island called Galdorheim, where they can live free and out of sight from those they call mundanes (humans without magical ability). The island is protected by a magical shield which renders it undetectable and which makes the normally cold land more hospitable to human/witch life.

Fast forward to present-day Galdorheim. Kat is a young witch with a BIG problem. Her spells, even the simplest, tend to backfire and usually there's green goo involved. Okay, so this is a plot device that's been used before, but that's not the point. It's how such a device is used and not glossed over or turned into something "cute" for whatever hunky, mysterious HAWT BOY happens to eventually come along and save her from. Kat really is a misfit, being the child of a witch and a human. And she's not the only one, her brother Rune is a warlock/vampire and has a rather difficult time controling his hunger around the sight of blood.

Kat feels like an outcast, and little wonder when her mother and her aunt are some of the most powerful witches on Galdorheim. However she discovers that perhaps her bad spellcasting may not be her fault, and so begins a quest to find her father's family, but to save her beloved home from eventual extinction. With Rune as her traveling companion, Kat discovers that her magical abilities work better the farther from Galdorheim she is. On her quest she meets a trio of trolls, one of whom is not all he seems, the Mountain King, a troll advisor who's still upset that a human girl guessed his real name (LOL), , a giant, helpful orcas and some pretty deadly lemmings. She rescues and needs rescuing. Most importantly, Kat's raison d'etre isn't centered around a HAWT boy du jour. She discovers attraction naturally but it's an attraction that also makes sense.

Thankfully there's more to come, but Bad Spelling doesn't end on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to visit Kat and the fantastically modern world of Galdorheim soon

Witches wear black and travel everywhere by broomstick, right? Wrong! Ms Dasef's witches are very much of the modern world, despite living in the Arctic. Snowmobiles and cellphones lie side by side with magic wands and scrying artifacts.

This is the wonderful story of Kat and her brother Rune as they travel to find Kat's paternal family. The story is fast paced and intriguing and surprisingly light hearted. Trouble shadows Kat from the moment she is born. Her magic always goes wrong and on their travels it seems everything is out to stop them succeeding in their quest. I love the way the words flow onward to take us on Kat's travels so that the reader feels the cold, the fear, and the warmth of family love. Well done Ms Dasef I look forward to commenting on the second book in the Witches of Galdorheim Series.

I was entrigued by the double entendre of the title the first time I read it. Lots of people spell badly, but not everybody is a witch whose spells go awry. And Kat's spells do not have the desired effect. To make matters worse, she wants to learn the truth about her mysterious father and connect with her distant relatives. To help her in her quest, Kat's brother is willing to accompany her regardless of the perils they know they will have to face. BAD SPELLING is written with wit and humor: did you know that trolls giggle and that the red-suited elf at the North Pole rents snowmobiles in his off season? I love the mysterious music that complements the trailer and the beautiful cover by Kaytalin Platt.

Bad Spelling is the first book in the Witches of Galdorheim series. The author has a clear voice, the plot is paced well. This story will appeal to all levels of reader, and is suitable for all ages. For myself, I want to ride the Trollercoaster!

Bad Spelling is a book that continues to cling to my mind.

This book held me spellbound, if you'll forgive the pun. Marva is a wondrously witty author, who had me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book. But that doesn't really tell you what it's about, does it? Let me give you a quick sketch.

Kat is a witch -- only she has trouble using her powers. When she discovers that this is due to a spell on her father's frozen corpse, she and her half-brother Rune set out from their small arctic island to Siberia in order to find the shaman causing the spell and take it off.

That, in a nutshell, is what the book is about, but those few sentences don't do it justice. I immediately connected with Kat, and loved her sometimes snarky brother Rune. The story kept me reading when I should have gone to bed. The excitement and adventure had me glued to the laptop, reading on. The world Marva created here was exquisite. Even something as simple as a never-ending ice box or a clock that verbally told the time when you asked. Each of the characters was engaging -- even though I wished bad things upon those who made fun of Kat. I can't wait to see the next book and discover whether or not the spell really will put an end to Kat's "bad spelling."

Can I think of a bad thing to say about this book? Not really. It stands out in my mind as one of the best books I ever devoured. I can't wait for the sequel -- which can't come soon enough for me!

Don't believe me? Try out the book for yourself.

Bad Spelling is a tension-filled, heartwarming and hilarious read. As a fan of Harry Potter and Terry Pratchett's books, I thoroughly enjoyed Marva Dasef's book. She skillfully plays with familiar themes and myths, but weaves them into an intriguing and original story. Bad Spelling had me laughing out loud several times, then the story quickly sucked me right back into its strange and fascinating world of magic, well-hidden from those dangerous humans with their stakes and pyres. Great challenges await a young witch with spelling problems and her half-brother, a warlock-vampire cross-breed with his own tribulations, while trying to save their enchanted island.

To begin with, I loved the author's title, a neat little play on words. Poor Katrina is an awkward teenage witch who hasn't quite found her niche in her village. And her spells don't work. On top of that, her brother Rune is just about perfect. And way too cool. Sometime's life's not fair. But when Kat and Rune strike out on a journey to find her father's people, Kat discovers her strengths and realizes how lucky she is to have Rune along. Marva Dasef did a wonderful job entertaining us, as well as giving us insight into a teenager's world, allowing us to learn valuable life lessons along with Kat. I will recommend this to my granddaughters, but adults can enjoy it as well.

Ms. Dasef has pulled off a bewitching story with charming characters you can't help but fall in love with. From Katrina - a befuddled young witch - to her half-brother, Rune - a vampire-warlock cross - to the delightful animal friends and trolls. (Never thought I'd ever call a troll delightful.:-)

Young Kat doesn't understand why her magic doesn't work. Teachers and students alike think she's a failure, but the truth lies with her `almost dead' father. She's been cursed. In order to remove the spell and save her family and friends, Kat decides it's up to her to find the evil shaman who jinxed her. And so begins the fun and incredible journey.

Ms. Dasef takes you on a entertaining and fantastic trek across ice, oceans and northern countries. A fun adventure, sure to whet your appetite for more stories from this author's pen. Enjoy.

A little something for everyone in this great start to the series. Plenty of action, surprises around every corner, animal friends, an evil shaman...what's not to love? Appropriate for any age, this book stands out as unique and endearing in a world sloughed down with too many cookie-cutter middle grade and YA novels. Bad Spelling holds its own, and author Marva Dasef weaves an original tale that kept me guessing until the last page. Good stuff.

Katrina is a powerful young witch who just doesn't apply herself; at least that's what her teachers think. Every time she tries to cast a spell, it blows up in her face - sometimes literally. Making matters worse, to her half-vampire younger brother Rune, (he's actually her half-brother, but that's a distinction she never even thinks about) spellcasting is as effortless as breathing.

Katrina's father is a Siberian hunter presently not quite dead but not exactly alive and frozen in a glacier on the arctic island the witches call home. When Katrina discovers that there is a powerful curse surrounding his body that may be the reason for her bad spelling, she and Rune set off to find the source of the curse.

Along the way they meet a polar bear with dinner on its mind, a friendly killer whale, trolls, civilized werewolves and the very uncivilized and unfriendly shaman who is the source of Katrina's trouble with her magic.

This story is written with young adult readers in mind, but it's a great read for anyone who enjoys a well-told tale of adventure filled with magic, interesting and unique characters, and a breathtaking ride on the very unusual Troller Coaster.