A Question of Magic by E.D. Baker

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Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839294.
(Age: 10+) Themes: Magic, Fantasy. Author E. D. Baker's A Question of Magic is a complex retelling of the Baba Yaga story. Serafina receives a letter from her great-aunt with special instructions on how she can collect her inheritance. Her destiny is to become the next Baba Yaga, when someone asks her a question she must answer it truthfully and every time she does she grows older. She is trapped in a magical cottage that moves on chicken legs, lives with an ageless talking cat and a variety of skulls and bones. Her life becomes difficult when she is kidnapped and travels to the nearby kingdoms meeting fairies, nymphs, giants and kings, who all want to profit from Fina's special ability.
She is a passive protagonist who isn't able to stand up to the constant dramas in her life, her only desire is to escape, return to her village, marry Alek the blacksmith's son and live happily ever after.
This fantasy novel is suited for competent readers from 10 years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell

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