Review by Frank Plowright

Three good-natured volumes of Witches of Brooklyn have so far been a learning curve, but now that Effie’s turned twelve bigger tests await, and she fair dreads them. The first is an appointment with a seer, and the result of the meeting is unpredictable.

Sophie Escabasse has built Witches of Brooklyn gradually, introducing a fair amount of people over the first three books, most of them given cameo roles in the opening sequence of Effie’s birthday party. Anyone experiencing the series for the first time with this volume is going to be very confused, as most of them don’t feature later. However, Escabasse’s art has been strong from the start, and young readers will surely be captivated by the busy party.

In S’More Magic Effie discovered a talent for communing with plants, yet here she’s understanding the speech of animals, and overhearing seagulls talking about a mermaid sets off Spell of a Time. While the later use of the ability is engaging, why supply Effie with infinite new abilities without properly exploring those already introduced? Green fingers was a big deal last time. Effie overhears a mermaid has been missing, and if only Effie could make the animals understand her they might discover where. Any adults reading this to their children will wonder why it is with so many experienced witches on hand it’s down to Effie to find the missing mermaid, but that’s the task she takes on.

Given Effie’s talents and persistence it’s going to be no surprise that she solves the mystery, but Escabasse ensures she manages it unconventionally. For the first time the idea of time travel is introduced to the series, and someone is well built up only to confound all expectations as to what they’re actually like. Along the way we have silly costumes, a beach parade, great roles for the grandmothers and even the irritating Francis is toned down. With reservations about the constant introduction of new abilities, this is the best of Witches of Brooklyn to date, and it drops plenty of hints as to how the series might develop. We’ll see in S’Witch Back.