It’s two weeks since Xar and Wish and their loyal companions fled the party between the Warriors and Wizards. They left the Warrior Queen and Wizard King behind after promising not to do so. Now not only are their parents livid and hot on their trail, they are hungry, tired and not sure what to do next.

Their plan to find the key five ingredients for a spell to eradicate witches once and for all seems a bit tenuous now. They’ve been searching for Caliburn’s sister’s home for days, but with no luck. Little do they know that flying above them are two hungry witches wondering why three children are alone on a flying door above the Wild Wood?

Soon the heroes are not only being chased by witches, but fire. Queen Sychorax has torched more of the forest, unaware her daughter is not far away. Caliburn is proven right and they are saved by his sister who looks nothing like the now stressed and feathers-falling-out raven. Perdita runs a school for Spectacularly Gifted Wizards where the heroes and their followers rest, regain their strength and learn some very handy stuff.

It’s not long before rifts begin to form between Xar, Wish and Bodkin. These rifts have been caused by a new teacher in their midst, there to cause trouble. When trouble finds them again, including their angry parents, they must flee the safety of the school. Back on their quest, they search for the missing ingredients they need for their banishing witches forever spell.

Facing witches, a very cross queen and king, and a betrayal from someone close, they must apply all they have learnt. The dark magic in Xar’s witchstain is spreading, one of their beloved Sprites is still affected by witch magic and Wish’s powerful magic against iron must be protected at any cost.

This episode began with two heroes and ends with three, changing their group’s dynamics forever. Queen Sychorax and King Encanzo must take responsibility for Wish’s powerful gift, and work together to help their children. Maybe the children are right after all?

The third in this series, I enjoyed the back story of Queen Sychorax and King Encanzo – a story of love denied. Duty had made one of them forsake the other, but their combined past has come out in Wish and her special kind of magic she hides underneath her eye-patch. Xar and Bodkin both have personal growth in this episode as they see things from the other’s perspective.

There are still glorious snowcats, giants, sprites and magical eating implements along for the ride, but also evil personified in the witches that pursue them and even the Witch King is powerful, despite being locked again within iron. Gathering the ingredients for the spell Wish wrote is dangerous and throws challenge after challenge at them. Now they must put everything together to achieve their ultimate goal.

No. 4 and the final in this truly magical series is called Never and Forever.

Author/ Illustrator – Cressida Cowell

Age – 8+

Read reviews for the first two books in this magical series (Click on the Covers)