A TanÂgle of MagÂicks, I’m happy to say, is even more enjoyÂable than, Kat, IncorÂriÂgiÂble, the first book in this refreshÂing children’s series by Stephanie BurÂgis (my review of which, can be read here).
‘After her antics in A Most Improper MagÂick, Kat StephenÂson is back to cause more chaos! StepÂmama drags the famÂily to Bath to find Kat’s sisÂter a new suitor. But, unknown to most of its gosÂsipy visÂiÂtors, Bath is full of wild magic. When Kat uncovÂers a plot to harÂness this magic in the Roman Baths, she finds her brother Charles is unwitÂtingly involved. Kat must risk her newÂfound magÂiÂcal powÂers as she defies the Order of the Guardians to foil the plot and clear her brother’s name.’
I was swept up in Kat’s latÂest advenÂture from beginÂning to end — in fact I finÂished it in one sitÂting. Best of all, the charÂacÂters I grew to love from the first book are all back; we finally get to know a litÂtle more about Charles, Kat’s older brother; and see Kat and her father set out to resÂcue him when he gets in a spot of magÂiÂcal trouÂble of his own!
A TanÂgle of MagÂicks feels slightly more grown up than its preÂdeÂcesÂsor (much as I enjoyed it) and those who loved Burgis’s first book will be more than delighted with book two! Whereas Kat, IncorÂriÂgiÂble stuck to a simÂple, but fun, plot-line; A TanÂgle of MagÂicks has sevÂeral story arcs going on, secreÂtive new charÂacÂters and a mysÂtery to unravel.
The story starts with Elissa’s marÂriage to Mr CollingÂwood, but this being the StephenÂson famÂily, things almost immeÂdiÂately start to go awry and it’s not long before Kat is expelled from the Order for her own hot-headedness before she’s even begun her trainÂing! Cue a famÂily trip to Bath in the hunt for a rich husÂband, flirÂtaÂtions with scanÂdalous rakes, midÂnight sacÂriÂfices, fake elopeÂments, and a deterÂmined Kat let loose in a new city, on a misÂsion to set things right.
As always, BurÂgis seems to just chanÂnel everyÂthing I love about Jane Austen, and, fitÂtingly, this time round, Kat’s (mis)adventures take place in Bath. This change of scenery, while being wonÂderÂfully apt, also helps preÂvent A TanÂgle of MagÂicks from being in any way simÂiÂlar to the first book. The famous Roman Baths form a very imporÂtant part of the story, and I enjoyed the tidÂbits of real inforÂmaÂtion that were worked in, adding a sense of realÂism that Kat, IncorÂrigÂble, at times, lacked.
Magic and spell-work feaÂtured a lot more in this book, and I was glad to see Kat beginÂning to explore and underÂstand her own powÂers betÂter. She really comes into her own in this book, and I can’t wait to see more of her and Mr GregÂson workÂing together in any future books. I loved his dry humour and world-weary exasÂperÂaÂtion over Kat’s antics and it was great to see him start to trust her more, and to see Kat learn to occaÂsionÂally ask for help when she needed it. We also learn much more conÂcernÂing the Guardians and the Order, and sevÂeral imporÂtant memÂbers make an appearÂance. I have a strange feelÂing the Order’s not going to know what hits them if Kat ever manÂages to become a Guardian and I can’t wait to watch her shake up this cenÂturies old sociÂety, dragÂging them into the er… 18th Century!
Kat is just as willÂful, stubÂborn and interÂferÂing as ever, but she is also incredÂiÂbly brave, loyal, funny and spirÂited. The girl just gets into one scrape after another and in A TanÂgle of MagÂicks preÂdictably finds herÂself in sevÂeral embarÂrassÂing sitÂuÂaÂtions (being trapped at night in the Roman Baths with a horde of young men whose bathing suits leave litÂtle to the imagÂiÂnaÂtion was one such sitÂuÂaÂtion that had me chuckÂling — espeÂcially given Kat’s reacÂtion to Lucy’s admiÂraÂtion for her older brother  at the time). Angeline is still my favourite, I have to admit — and there are some rather deliÂcious moments with Mr CarÂlyle and her  scenes with Fredrick just sizÂzle on the page. I adore these two and very much enjoyed their own stoÂryÂline that BurÂgis gives them in A TanÂgle of MagÂicks. I only wish I could tempt her to write a spin-off told from Angeline’s point of view so we can expeÂriÂence some of their flirtÂing first hand! We are also introÂduced to sevÂeral new charÂacÂters, in parÂticÂuÂlar a Miss Lucy, who I can’t help but think may be causÂing even more havoc than Kat in the future. Here’s hopÂing these two get together to cause more misÂchief in the next installment!
This series just makes me smile. Stephanie is a strong children’s writer, and has creÂated some lovely charÂacÂters I never want to leave behind. As much as I enjoy Kat’s exploits and a Regency era where magic is common-place, more than that I love the StephenÂsons. This eccenÂtric, bickÂerÂing famÂily (remÂiÂnisÂcent of the famous BenÂnets) are fiercely loyal to one another. There are sevÂeral great moments in A TanÂgle of MagÂicks where we see the StephenÂson famÂily band together, but the best and totally cheer-worthy scene has to go to StepÂmama when she puts her snobÂbish famÂily in their place .
The Kat series is a treat for adults and kids alike, and I would urge anyÂone lookÂing for a fun, lightÂhearted read to pick up A TanÂgle of MagÂicks and be rewarded with a fast paced, amusÂing story, loveÂable charÂacÂters and a young proÂtagÂoÂnist who is well on her way to becomÂing the most infuÂriÂatÂing, difÂfiÂcult and stubÂborn stuÂdent in Guardian history.
Poor Mr. Gregson!
For those who would like a taste of Kat’s advenÂtures, check out Duelling MagÂicks — a short Kat story here.
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