Forgotten magic is like a flower in winter. It disappears down into the depths of the person, and anyone looking could be forgiven for thinking it had gone away completely. But it hasn't gone - it just has to be woken up again." (P.67) The magical elements, which should have really made the book come alive, instead felt shoe-horned in, because there was never any real purpose to them. The central conflict was that of the Maker families decades long quarrel, and the magic wasn’t actually necessary to the story. Instead, crazy magic materials were rattled off in each chapter, creating a laundry list of magical items, that were never fully explored and never came into their own. They were there for the sake of being there, rather than for a specific purpose. I had so much fun reading this book and it really captured that nostalgic magical feeling I used to get when reading books as a kid. The setting itself is really fun and has a historical Georgian London time period that combines a sense of real history (think 'alternate,' maybe) with some magical twists that made it feel so timeless and welcoming to me. It's an exceptionally immersive setting that I really loved diving into and hope to discover more of in future books. A worthy combination of athletic action, the virtues of inner strength, and the importance of friendship. Mit der Zeit hat mich die Geschichte dann aber immer mehr verloren. Die Geschichte hatte für mich keinen roten Faden, denn ständig tauchte etwas neues auf und der ursprüngliche Plan war erstmal wieder vergessen. So ging es dann durch das gesamte Buch und die Handlung konnte mich damit einfach nicht für sich einnehmen. Auch die Protagonistin Cordelia und auch alle weiteren Charaktere konnten mich nicht wirklich überzeugen und sind einfach zu blass geblieben.

I would say there are jobs that you think would be great for you. There have been jobs that I thought I really wanted and that seemed almost like a mirage. They seem great, but actually the reality is it's really not great. For me, every turn in the road and every change of direction that I've had, where I've been the driving force behind that, whether it's been like a show getting canceled, like Salem got canceled. At the time, I felt really sad in a way, but then I wouldn't have been able to do Carnival Row if that had gone on. It's hard to feel like anything that felt bad at the time has not ultimately been something that's been really great. It’s so important that people actually talk about the failure as well as the success in life isn’t it… Cordelia comes from a long line of magical milliners, who weave alchemy and enchantment into every hat. In Cordelia's world, Making - crafting items such as hats, cloaks, watches, boots and gloves from magical ingredients - is a rare and ancient skill, and only a few special Maker families remain. When Cordelia's father Prospero and his ship, the Jolly Bonnet, are lost at sea during a mission to collect hat ingredients, Cordelia is determined to find him. But Uncle Tiberius and Aunt Ariadne have no time to help the littlest Hatmaker, for an ancient rivalry between the Maker families is threatening to surface. Worse, someone seems to be using Maker magic to start a war. It's up to Cordelia to find out who, and why . . . By Katie Teehan and Ali Pantony Do you feel like sitting here knowing that you've achieved this goal, is the proudest you've ever been of yourself? Wildly inventive . . . full of laugh-out-loud humour, enchanting magic and rebellious hope. I loved it' Catherine DoyleThe most important rule to follow when you hunt for hat ingredients is this: keep wildness in your wits and magic in your fingertips. L’ambiance de la maison chapelier est géniale, un vrai clin d’œil au chapelier fou qu’on aime tant. Remplie d’accessoires et de couleurs, on aimerait y vivre. Cordelia's father was reported missing by his colleague Witloof at book one's outset, and we find out at this book's open that Cordelia has been slipping out after dark to look for clues regarding her father's disappearance; she's still the only one of her family who is convinced he is not dead. She needs to find him to reverse the family's dwindling fortunes, and though caught by Sam, the orphan the Hatmakers took in in the last book, Cordelia is reluctant to share the purpose of her nightly hunts. Cordelia's father, Prospero, a renowned Hatmaker is lost at sea. She lives with her Aunt and Uncle and is learning bits and pieces about their family trade hatmaking. BUT Commisioned hats go wrong. There's a robbery. There are chaos. This is a big probem because France is declaring war on England, and the Maker-families through their magic can actually bring about peace. The peace clothes for the princess apeears to be missing and a villain and a thief is in their midst. When Cordelia Hatmaker helped stop Lord Whitloof from causing a war, she thought things would be a breeze. Instead, she’s left with the mystery of the hidden map she’s recently discovered in her father’s telescope. Then she finds herself the newest addition to the Mapmakers, a discovery she’s forced to keep secret, leaving her with yet another mystery on her hands. Just when things are at its hardest, it’s up to Cordelia to get the Maker families to work together or face letting Lord Whitloof destroy magic.

Overall, this was a gorgeous book with a gorgeous cover. This middle grade series is a true gem and I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something cute, fun and magical! Really enjoyed this 🥰🥰 A gorgeous adventure from exceptional new storytelling talent, Tamzin Merchant, featuring beautiful illustrations by Paola Escobar. In this sequel to Legacy and the Queen (2019), Legacy Petrin and her friends Javi and Pippa have returned to Legacy’s home province and the orphanage run by her father. With her friends’ help, she is in training to defend her championship when they discover that another player, operating under the protection of High Consul Silla, is presenting herself as Legacy. She is so convincing that the real Legacy is accused of being an imitation. False Legacy has become a hero to the masses, further strengthening Silla’s hold, and it becomes imperative to uncover and defeat her. If Legacy is to win again, she must play her imposter while disguised as someone else. Winning at tennis is not just about money and fame, but resisting Silla’s plans to send more young people into brutal mines with little hope of better lives. Legacy will have to overcome her fears and find the magic that allowed her to claim victory in the past. This story, with its elements of sports, fantasy, and social consciousness that highlight tensions between the powerful and those they prey upon, successfully continues the series conceived by late basketball superstar Bryant. As before, the tennis matches are depicted with pace and spirit. Legacy and Javi have brown skin; most other characters default to White.

In Cordelia’s London, magic is real and is woven into objects created by the five Maker families: the Hatmakers, the Bootmakers, the Watchmakers, the Cloakmakers, and the Glovemakers. Growing up in her father Prospero’s footsteps, eleven-year-old Cordelia Hatmaker has learned the family’s ancient skills and secrets so she can one day make her own enchanted hats. The Mapmakers delves deeper into the magic and Maker world that we are introduced to in book 1. It is darker, but also includes cute fireflies!

Auf den ersten Teil der "Die Gilde der Hutmacher" Reihe war ich sehr gespannt und ich habe eine Geschichte im Stil der Duftapotheke-Reihe erwartet.

What I loved about The Hatmakers was the emphasis on creativity with magical ingredients. This second book is an exploration of Maker magic itself, both light: Firstly, let's just take a moment to appreciate that cover. Like, the illustrations?? And the colours?? GORGEOUS 🤌🤌 Honestly, I COULD NOT stop staring at it, it's that pretty. Whoever designed it needs a raise. IMMEDIATELY. But danger is lurking around every corner, and Cordelia must convince the rival Maker families to work together for once - not only to bring her father home, but to save the very essence of magic itself . . .