Once upon a time, in the magical world of Enchantia, there lived a witch named Misty. Misty was not your ordinary witch, she was known throughout the land as the marvelous witch because of her extraordinary powers and kind heart. Misty had long flowing silver hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that could light up the darkest of caves. She lived in a small cottage at the edge of the Enchanted Forest, where she spent her days concocting potions and casting spells to help those in need. People from all over Enchantia would travel far and wide to seek Misty's help. Whether it was a farmer with a dying crop or a young child with a broken heart, Misty always had a solution.
I love the photo - so atmospheric and evocative. I can almost smell that wood. And how wonderful that Clementine responded so delightedly to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I too hadn't read it for decades until I read it to my children, then aged about six and four, a few years ago and, like you, I was surprised at how little-kid-friendly it was. They too loved it and it has remained vivid in their minds. It's such a wonderful book to be part of a child's store of mythology and imagery.
Thank you for all your blog posts, by the way - they always add something positive to my day!
I too hadn t read it for decades until I read it to my children, then aged about six and four, a few years ago and, like you, I was surprised at how little-kid-friendly it was. Through Stiers s personal experience you will learn about the gods goddesses, symbols and tools of Wicca; spells and curses; living day-to-day as a witch; and Wiccan holidays sabbats with meaningful and delicious recipes.
Whether it was a farmer with a dying crop or a young child with a broken heart, Misty always had a solution. She would mix herbs and plants from her garden, mutter ancient incantations, and voila! The problem would be solved. But Misty didn't just use her powers for practical things.
Misty the marvelous witch
What a beautiful photo! The trees look like the Pacific Northwest, but the building seems to have come from England. I may have to look at The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe again - based on Clementine's recommendation!
Anonymous said.I love the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! :) And the rest of the series is worth a read as well.
HelenPeters said.I love the photo - so atmospheric and evocative. I can almost smell that wood. And how wonderful that Clementine responded so delightedly to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I too hadn't read it for decades until I read it to my children, then aged about six and four, a few years ago and, like you, I was surprised at how little-kid-friendly it was. They too loved it and it has remained vivid in their minds. It's such a wonderful book to be part of a child's store of mythology and imagery.
Thank you for all your blog posts, by the way - they always add something positive to my day!
I love both the picture and the story! It reminds me of how much fun reading really is - I often feel like I need to go out for a run or something during a good part of a book, just so I can wiggle around in excitement. :)
Where was this picture taken? It's gorgeous!!
anne said.just recently, listened to the entire Chronicles of Narnia on cd while driving back and forth to chemo and other medical things. Think LWR my fave in the series, altho Horse and His Boy is quite excellent as well. Heck, they all have awesomeness, tho I was less thrilled w/the final book this time -- it is a bit less hard to "ignore" the possible religious bent of that story. :)
Would have loved to have seen Pie's response to those great parts, I too feel triumph and joy when Aslan breathes on the animals, etc :)
hooray for simple stories, simple joys!
The religious themes in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is what makes the series so great and worthwhile. I see no reason why anyone would ever want to ignore something so wonderful. It's the good news for crying out loud! If Aslan hadn't let himself be killed, Edmund would have died=if Jesus hadn't let himself be crucified, we would all surely die fully in our transgressions. Let us not turn our heads away from what C.S. Lewis was trying to tell us all!
Stephanie Perkins said.I had that same reaction when I was her age! That's why my cat's name is Mr. Tumnus. ;-)
Christina Carnoy said.I love those books! I've re-read them multiple times since I was a little girl. I am currently reading your new book, "Days of Blood and Starlight" and I just have to say "Wow!" How the heck did you dream into creation the wonderful creatures and characters and places that you have brought to life in this trilogy? I am really wonderstruck. Fascinated, and enjoying myself immensely.
Mark said.The only bad thing about hearing from your favorite authors is hearing things like this. it seems everyone is tolerant of everything anymore except Jesus. They'll tolerate most forms of depravity but somehow the most loving being in the whole of the universe is offensive. C.S. Lewis was a very prominent Christian figure, so why be offended at the Christian themes embedded in such wonderful stories? I love your books Laini, why turn your nose up at Christianity. I would assume that many of your readers are Christian people or at least people who identify with Christianity.
Tiffany Marie said.Oh, I didn't consider reading this one to our son. We should! Thanks for the recommendation.
Though we read books to our son that may contain some minor religious themes, we read lots of mythology to him and he understands it as such.
We won't introduce religion to our son until after he's 8, the supposed age of reason, so that he can form his own opinion about it and not have it foisted on him by others. At that time, so that he won't be ignorant of such things, we'll discuss all religions (or, rather, as many as we are aware) and their histories. Don't know if it will work as we're being thwarted by the teachers mentioning Christian themes and students talking about it. We're a nonreligious household and yet he's already coming home talking about Jesus' death and the end of the world (supposedly if Obama was reelected - grrrrrrrr - yeah, we live in NC) from school. Homeschooling or unschooling is looking more and more like the right thing to do.
Age of reason http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=7241
Anyway, saw this and thought you and Clementine may like to try this project for Valentine's Day.
http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2011/01/valentine-project-for-little-ones.html
http://www.hillcitybride.com/2010/11/diy-from-pulp-art-plantable-paper/
Dear Mark, I am sorry to have phrased this glibly and seemed to insult Christians. That was not my intention. It was a hurried post, and I wasn't thinking it through. In fact, a story packed with overt, heavy-handed Christian doctrine would be annoying to me. That doesn't mean that I take offense to Christian themes themselves (well, not all of them). I just don't want to read books that are "preachy", especially to my young child. I want to read good stories, that are overall positive, as this one is. My intention was not to insult Christianity.
I'm sorry for that.
Tiffany Marie, yeah, that's pretty much our goal too. We'll see how it goes! How old is your son?
Risaa Litchi said.Oh, that's funny, I just saw the second movie this afternoon!! Narnia was one of my favorite books when I was younger and still is, and somehow I'm glad you like it too ^^
Myrna Foster said.I'm actually reading it to my ten-year-old and my five-year-old, and we'll be reading the statue chapter tomorrow. :o)
If she loved that one, she'd probably love the others as well.
Mark said.Thanks Laini, I appreciate that. I have loved reading your books, and it would suck to think that you didn't like Christians. There just tends to be alot of prejudice going on in the world and prejudice in any form is an ugly thing to me. No one deserves to be abused and no one has the right to abuse anyone else. Each of us are infinitely and inestimable in worth.
Tiffany Marie said. This comment has been removed by the author. January 21, 2013 at 5:53 AM Tiffany Marie said.Alex is 6. :) We've nearly finished all of Hans Christian Andersen's work. I think Narnia is next. I'm excited to get started on The Golden Compass as well. I devoured that book like Bulgasari, Pulgasari and Galgameth getting together for a bender in a rail yard. I think he'll love it as well! :)
A while ago, you mentioned on Twitter that you had been in the process of searching for a school, but I think you said you weren't sure anymore after what happened at the Clackamas Mall and Newtown. What did you decide to do?
Though we read books to our son that may contain some minor religious themes, we read lots of mythology to him and he understands it as such.
She also used them to bring joy and happiness to the people of Enchantia. She would create fireworks in the sky on special occasions, make flowers bloom in the middle of winter, and even conjure up rainbows after a storm. Her magic was truly a sight to behold. Despite her powers, Misty remained humble and kind. She always encouraged others to believe in themselves and their own abilities. She would often say, "Magic is not just about spells and potions, it's about the power we all hold within ourselves." Misty's kindness and generosity were contagious. The people of Enchantia would often come together to help one another, just as Misty had taught them. The land flourished under her guidance, and the once divided kingdom became a place of unity and peace. As time went on, Misty became a legend in Enchantia. Her name was passed down through generations, and her stories were told around campfires and bedtime stories. Even though she eventually passed away, Misty's spirit lived on in the hearts of the people and in the magic of Enchantia. The tale of Misty the marvelous witch reminds us all of the power of kindness, the importance of using our abilities for good, and the magic that exists within each and every one of us. So the next time you see a shooting star or a beautiful sunset, remember Misty and the marvelous things that can happen when we believe in ourselves and spread love to others..
Reviews for "The Magical Creatures of Misty the Marvelous Witch's World"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I found "Misty the marvelous witch" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic and lacked descriptive language, making it difficult to become fully engrossed in the magical world the author was trying to portray. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - I was extremely let down by "Misty the marvelous witch". The premise seemed promising, but the execution was poor. The pacing was all over the place, making it difficult to follow and stay engaged. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real development. I also found several grammatical errors throughout the book, which added to my frustration. I would advise readers to steer clear of this book and seek out a more well-crafted fantasy novel.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Misty the marvelous witch," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story felt disjointed, with abrupt transitions and unexplained plot points. The dialogue was clunky and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions. While the concept had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I would caution others against wasting their time on this book.
4. Michael - 1 star - I didn't enjoy "Misty the marvelous witch" at all. The writing felt amateurish and lacked polish. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the plot was predictable and uninspired. The magic system in the book was poorly explained and inconsistent, adding to my confusion. Overall, I found this book to be a chore to read and would not recommend it to anyone seeking an engaging fantasy tale.
5. Emily - 2 stars - "Misty the marvelous witch" failed to captivate me. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other popular fantasy novels. The protagonist was a bland and generic character, and the supporting cast was equally underdeveloped. There was no sense of urgency or excitement in the plot, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. I was left disappointed by this book, and I believe there are much better options out there for fans of the genre.