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.
Reviews & Comments
Guadalupe Garcia McCall, authorLesley Livingston
Publishers Weekly
Rich in Color
Writer of Wrongs
Mamiverse
Kids Books Central
Fangs for the Fantasy
Booklist
School Library Journal
GeekMom
Library Media Connection
Kutztown University Fall Book Review 2014
Aeehrhardt (age 10), LitPick
Ms. YingLing Reads
The Book Cellar
Victoria Strauss, author
Joseph Bruchac
Diana Peterfreund