Magic malik stores are unique, mystical places where one can find an assortment of magical items and supplies. These stores cater to those who believe in the power of magic and the supernatural. Stepping into a magic malik store is like entering a different world, where ancient artifacts, enchanted objects, and spell books line the shelves. One of the most fascinating aspects of magic malik stores is the variety of items available. From herbs and crystals to tarot cards and candles, there is something for every magical practitioner. These stores also sell tools like wands, athames, and cauldrons, which are essential for performing rituals and spells.
If folks have any sense, they should be begging Ms. Royce to teach a course on the art of the first sentence, the art of the first page, and the art of the first chapter. In this book she nails all three and hard. I mean, just listen to this first sentence: “When Gullah people die, babies in the family get passed over the coffin so the dead person won’t come back from the beyond to take them away.” If the job of a novel is to suck the reader in from the get-go, mission accomplished! The rest of that chapter is a funeral, root magic, a clear-cut explanation of where the story will take place, an introduction to most of the main characters, and the appearance of the villain right at the end. Throw in some beautiful descriptions (“In the heat of late summer, the scent of her bergamot hair pomade was like sweet, sun-hot oranges”) and a foreshadowing of things to come and you’ve got yourself the kind of beginning to a book that I wish we could clone. Or, at the very least, duplicate. Now when that first sentence ends, you don’t want the reader to glance over the rest of the book and abandon it. So Ms. Royce keeps the action and tension going. When I was a child I didn’t care for books about bullies, and there’s an awful lot of Lettie in this story, that’s for sure. But for all of that, I couldn’t pull away from the text. Why? The sheer quality of the writing, that’s why. What other author could so perfectly describe a creature pulling its skin off like, “when you pull apart two pork ribs that weren’t quite finished cooking yet”? Or a tall man emerging from a car, “unfolding his height like a sheet.” But even better than this is the care with which Royce invokes the marsh. With her help you can practically smell it, to say nothing of feeling it too. She lavishes the setting with such love that it isn’t hard to see how she knows from whence she speaks. The marsh itself becomes a character in its own right, under her pen. Good thing too, since it certainly is key in how the book ends. Now I’m not going to give anything away when I say that the primary villain of this piece isn’t Lettie, the school bully who makes Jezebel’s life a living Hades, but rather the much more menacing Officer Collins. A lot of time I dislike villains that don’t have any depth to them. And Collins is evil, pure and simple. His racism is his leading characteristic, but a bolt of imaginative cruelty runs through him as well. There isn’t a redeeming bone in his body, and that’s a good thing. What I came to realize while reading Root Magic was that three-dimensionality is overrated. Collins doesn’t need some deep-seated reason to be awful to this family. It’s early 60s South Carolina and he’s a white police officer. It would be strange if he wasn’t causing them grief. Also, if you were to give him a family, maybe a little daughter, that action would completely undercut his ultimate fate. At the beginning of this book I had hoped that he wouldn’t meet a supernatural ending, but then the book managed to go out of its way to earn that conclusion. You don’t come away from this feeling like the finale was earned cheaply either. It’s satisfying and creepy. The best of both worlds.
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. Hand it to the young readers in search of scary thrills, but that also require a full-blooded, artfully written story to go along with their shivers.
These stores also sell tools like wands, athames, and cauldrons, which are essential for performing rituals and spells. Many magic malik stores also have knowledgeable staff who can help guide customers in their magical pursuits. The ambiance of these stores is often mysterious and inviting.
Eden Royce’s Root Magic is the Book I Needed Growing Up
Root Magic is the book I wish I’d had as a little Black girl growing up in the South.
Not only did books like this not exist in the middle grade world in the ’90s, but even if they had, my school library wouldn’t have carried it. They tried to ban over 30 books and made national news for their heavy-handed censorship.
Which is why I’m so glad that Eden Royce wrote this book. Reading about a little Black girl from the South practicing the ancestral magic I grew up witnessing filled a hole in me I didn’t know existed. Finally, I got to see child-me on the page.
Root Magic is not just important for its subject matter, however. It’s also incredible for its nuanced view of racism, classism, and outright hatred against those perceived to hold power over others in a way those others don’t quite comprehend.
Royce’s protagonist, a tween girl named Jezebel, loses her grandmother at the start of this master class in middle grade horror. Her world is turned upside down by the death, and her family’s protection is lessened because the matriarch is no longer there to work the root to protect them all. Eventually, she and her twin brother, Jay, convince their mother and uncle to let them learn rootwork to help protect them from the local deputy, who has it out for all the rootworkers in his area. Jez and Jay learn about all manner of magic, from haints and boo-hags to mojo bags and astral projection. Ultimately, Jez’s knowledge of hoodoo will be tested in one final showdown between the racist cop and her family.
Order now: Apple | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBoundRoyce’s debut novel does a lot of heavy lifting, especially considering its classification as a middle grade book. Readers are taken on a journey through what it was like to be Black in the South before the Civil Rights Movement. We witness first-hand the Black community’s reaction to the death of John F. Kennedy. And we watch a lonely little girl come into her own power, making the unlikeliest of friends in the process.
Root Magic is also, in many ways, a handbook on practicing conjure work. The references to using graveyard dirt and brick dust for protection brought me back to my own childhood, where my father and grandmother discussed doing the same. The horrifying stories I heard as a child about boo-hags slipping out of their skin to terrorize folks at night also held the warmth of familiarity, despite its ghastly premise. In short, Root Magic made me feel like I was home again.
But it’s important to note that this book is more than just a trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with hoodoo. While that’s incredibly important and powerful to those kids living in families just like the Turners, Root Magic is also a lens through which readers can understand what it was like to grow up during an uncertain and horrifying time to be Black. But perhaps even more essentially, it underscores the idea that “not all skinfolk are kinfolk”; that Black people experience racism from their country and fellow citizens, but that they are also sometimes looked down upon by people experiencing those same struggles. Jez is constantly teased about her family’s involvement in rootwork by the other Black girls in her school, though many of the kids that tease her have parents that frequent her family’s shop for simple remedies for healing medical maladies, as well as spells to address imbalances of the less natural variety.
Royce does an excellent job of crafting a compelling story from start to finish. From the first line, we are drawn into the world she grew up in. Every building block of story serves a purpose to push the narrative forward, while also setting up major reveals later in the book. The children in Root Magic are believable in their actions, and openly grapple with questions other middle school kids work through at this point in their lives–the quest for friends, for finding what it is you stand for, and for becoming your own person outside of your family, while still remaining connected to them in a meaningful way.
For me, Root Magic was a joy to read. In fact, I can’t wait to read it with my own son to introduce him to some of the lore that I grew up with. This book will introduce a whole new generation to rootwork and ensure that it never dies. Because rootwork has primarily been an oral tradition passed down from parents and grandparents to children, much of it is not documented in any way. To learn it requires finding a mentor familiar with the work. But in writing this novel, Royce has opened the door for children to see their previously secretive culture out in the world, but still treated with the reverence and respect it deserves.
In many ways, this novel felt like it was a love letter to 12-year-old me–the girl who couldn’t find books with people that looked like her, much less those who believed like her. And while girls like me are definitely in the minority, even among other southern Black people, it’s incredibly important that those kids–especially those kids–have a mirror they can peer into while they are trying to figure out where they belong in this world.
Librarians across the country–both public and school–should race to acquire copies of this book. Every single place where kids check out books needs a copy of Root Magic. You never know who might need this book, and what magic it might work on their soul.
Order Root Magic now:
Apple | Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
And don’t miss our interview with Eden Royce here.
Root Magic finds the South, as well as its main characters, twins Jezebel and Jay, on the verge of some big changes. Their beloved grandmother has just died, and they’re about to turn 11.
Dimly lit, with fragrant incense wafting through the air, the atmosphere is designed to create a sense of awe and wonder. The shelves are adorned with ancient symbols and sigils, adding to the mystical charm. Some stores even have themed rooms or corners dedicated to specific types of magic, like divination or healing. Magic malik stores are not just places to purchase magical supplies; they are also hubs of magical knowledge and community. Many stores host workshops and classes on various aspects of magic, allowing practitioners of all levels to deepen their understanding and skills. These stores often serve as meeting places for like-minded individuals and form the foundations of magical communities. However, it's essential to note that not all magic malik stores are created equal. Some may focus on more traditional forms of witchcraft, while others may cater to modern practices like Wicca or paganism. Each store reflects the unique interests and expertise of its owners and staff. In conclusion, magic malik stores are enchanting places where magic and the supernatural come to life. These stores offer a wide range of magical items for practitioners to explore and purchase. They provide a space for learning, community, and the pursuit of magical knowledge. Whether someone is just starting their magical journey or is an experienced practitioner, a visit to a magic malik store is sure to be a memorable and magical experience..
Reviews for "Exploring the Wonders of Magic at Magic Malk Stores"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Magic Malk Stores. The staff was extremely unfriendly and unhelpful. I felt like I was bothering them with my questions, and they barely even acknowledged me when I asked for assistance. The store itself was quite cluttered and disorganized, making it difficult to browse through the products. Overall, it was a frustrating and unpleasant shopping experience.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I had high hopes for Magic Malk Stores, but it turned out to be a complete letdown. The selection of products was extremely limited, and they didn't have the item I was specifically looking for. The prices were also outlandishly high for the quality of the merchandise. On top of that, the store was poorly lit and had a musty odor. I definitely won't be returning to Magic Malk Stores.
3. Lily - 2/5 - I won't be visiting Magic Malk Stores again. The customer service was awful - the employees were rude and seemed disinterested in assisting customers. The store was also a mess, with items lying around randomly and shelves in disarray. I couldn't find what I needed, and when I asked for help, I was met with a dismissive attitude. It was a frustrating experience, and I wouldn't recommend Magic Malk Stores to anyone.