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Hammer of Witches

Review
By Kirkus Reviews

An engaging, magical adventure set against the historical backdrop of Columbus’ westward voyage. . . . Mlawski’s central characters—Jinniyah, a genie Bal summons, and Catalina, a fellow storyteller, in addition to Bal himself—are imaginative and well-developed, and her swashbuckling pace and intriguing plotting keep readers at seat’s edge. This story is told entirely from Bal’s perspective, but by placing him on the Santa Maria and inside the Caribbean villages the expedition visits, Mlawski invites young readers to see the familiar Columbus story from another perspective—and to consider the power of stories to shape perception in everyday life. Backmatter includes a helpful author’s note and pronunciation guide. Though set in the 1490s, this provocative blend of fantasy and history offers loads of contemporary appeal.