"Lovers of magic everywhere will adore this fantasy for a new generation of readers. It's got it all: magic, secrets, suspense and a charming cast of diverse characters. It's Harry Potter with bells on and you won't ever want to leave."
Eleven-year old Ella Durand is a Conjuror. And as the first Conjuror to ever attend the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvellous and Uncanny Endeavours, she's hardly welcomed with open arms. Aspiring marvellers from all over the world study and hone their skills with the hopes of being sorted into one of five paragons: touch, vision, spirit, sound, and taste. Will Ella survive the ordeal?
With positive messages, themes of friendship and belonging, it's an absolute joy of a read. The first of a series, this is a superb magical adventure for a new generation of magic fans. Clayton has created an incredible world, of fewells, conjure-cameos, braid-hands, griotary, starposts and news-boxes.
When Gia Trivelino, Ace of Anarchy, an infamous criminal, escapes from prison, leading to speculation that he did so with a conjuror's help, suspicion of Ella grows even further.
This book is so beautifully written, it's so clever, so imaginative. With magic, secrets, danger, tons of suspense and a diverse cast of characters, it gives magical fantasy a cultural reset and deserves all the plaudits. I was immersed in the world from the first chapter and can't wait for the next instalment!
Watch The LoveReading LitFest In Conversation with Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Marvellers.
Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magic school in the clouds for Marvellers from around the world. Ella discovers that being the first isn't easy but she finds friendship in fellow misfits Brigit, a girl who hates magic, and Jason, a boy with a fondness for magical creatures and support from her Elixirs teacher, Masterji Thakur.
Then the notorious Ace of Anarchy escapes prison, supposedly with a Conjuror's aid, and Ella finds herself as the prime suspect. Worse, Masterji Thakur mysteriously disappears while away on a research trip. With the help of her friends and her own growing powers, Ella must find a way to clear her family's name and track down her mentor before it's too late.
The perfect next read for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.
The Marvellers deserves the highest compliment I can give a book: I want to live in this world. You can stop looking at admissions brochures for all those other schools of magic. The Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors is definitely where you want to apply. - Rick Riordan, New York Times bestselling author
An enthralling fantasy adventure full of bravery, love, and humor. - Kirkus, starred review
[A] myriad [of] global cultural traditions with an intersectionally inclusive, fantastical adventure. - Publishers Weekly, starred review
A gorgeous world filled with enchanting characters, The Marvellers will dazzle readers from beginning to end! - Kwame Mbalia, New York Times-bestselling author of Tristan Strong series
A marvelous gift of a novel! With fantastical twists at every turn, Clayton has created a world that readers won't want to leave. The Marvellers is magical! - Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Hate U Give
The Marvellers is a rich, enchanted melting pot of magic, thrills, and color . . . filled with heart, wit, and humor. Reinventing the magic school trope is a tall order, but author Dhonielle Clayton is well up to the task . . . A tantalizing introduction to an exhilarating fantasy universe - Soman Chainani, New York Times-bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil series
A rich, diverse and fascinating book! -- Liam James -BookWormHole
Author
About Dhonielle Clayton
Dhonielle Clayton loves magic. She loves it more than anything . . . even pizza or warm chocolate chip cookies. So she reads millions and millions of books to find some in the real world, because magic makes everything much more interesting. She grew up in the Washington, DC, suburbs on the Maryland side and is a former secondary teacher and librarian. She is a New York Times bestselling author, the COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and the owner of Cake Creative Kitchen. Find out more about her and the world of the Marvellers at themarvellersseries.com.
