City of Stolen Magic

Exhilarating, thoughtful and rich … Easily one of the year’s best books for children * Guardian *
A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine … Highly imaginative * Daily Telegraph *
Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story – Katherine Rundell
City of Stolen Magic is phenomenal - vivid storytelling that skilfully and unflinchingly weaves colonial history into an epic, breathtaking, magical adventure – Sophie Anderson
One of the best children’s books I have read in a decade … Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships, the whole package! – Louie Stowell
Dazzling from start to finish. A spellbinding adventure fused with Indian folklore which sees glorious heroine Chompa journey from rural India to Victorian London as she searches for her mother – Abi Elphinstone
An unexpected gem of a story. Packed with atmosphere - whether the narrow streets and red dust of Dacca or the grimy Dickensian squalor of Spittlelfields - it’s populated by larger-than-life characters you will love and hate. A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children’s storytelling – Nizrana Farook
A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets, and colonial history. An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don’t see often enough in books – Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Exhilarating and enthralling - I relished every page. A glorious blend of history, magic and thrilling adventure with a truly unforgettable heroine, this book is rare, rich and special – Katherine Woodfine
A wonderfully vibrant debut … A vivid magical adventure filled with thrilling characters, pacy storytelling and important historical detail. Children and adults are in for such a treat – Jasbinder Bilan

Nazneen Ahmed Pathak (Author)

Nazneen Ahmed Pathak is a British Bangladeshi writer, historian, and visual artist living in Southampton. She studied English Literature at the University of Warwick and completed a PhD in Bangladeshi Literature at the University of Oxford. Her historical research focuses on migration, a theme that also informs her fiction, poetry, and visual arts.

Nazneen was selected as one of twelve mentees for the 2016⁄17 Penguin Random House Write Now mentorship program, which supports underrepresented writers.

She has held residencies at Southampton Central Libraries, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton Museums and Archives, and the Francis Crick Institute. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Poem: International English Language Quarterly, Places of Poetry: Mapping the Nation in Verse, The Puffin Book of Big Dreams, and A Match Made in Heaven: British Muslim Women Write About Love and Desire.

Nazneen’s debut children’s novel is City of Stolen Magic.

Sandhya Prabhat (Illustrator)

Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. She has illustrated children’s books and worked on animation for television and film, as well as designing for social media platforms. Her clients include Penguin Random House India, HarperCollins India, Candlewick, and Lantana Publishing.

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