Mup sees the raggedy witches for the first time on the night her Aunty dies. Aunty's ghost is able to keep the witches away for now, but it's the first taste for Mup of a world she's never imagined, a world that exists right alongside hers . . . a world where her mother is heir to the throne. Warring factions want Mup's mother to come back and take the throne. When Mup's father is kidnapped, her mother takes Mup and her little brother into the forest and across the border to this other world. Accompanied by Aunty's ghost and the faithful family dog, Mup will face many adventures and learn new things about herself along the way. And eventually, inevitably, she will have to face the evil queen, her grandmother.

I found this an enjoyable fantasy in the vein of The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Readers who enjoy juvenile fantasy with strong currents of folklore and Faerie will want to pick it up. ( )

The premise to this delightfully charming book is simple: Mup's dad has been kidnapped by an evil queen and she must find him. But it's told in such a strikingly inventive way and has such a beautiful core about the importance of friendship and family. Mup's care for Crow is something the world can use a little of.

I loved the world building, the Irish culture/folk magic aspect, and thought that the punishment for men to speak only in rhymes to discourage communication was creative. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series to see where Mup's adventure leads. ( )

I have to admit that I know and like Celine Kiernan and have had a lot of conversations with her. I will be pestering her for more in this series and hoping that someone has commissioned them.

This is a story of a young girl who has to fight for her family when everything changes after her great-aunt dies. Some magical creatures steal her father and she has to help her mum negotiate the magical world she came from years ago and deal with a world that is not what they're used for.

Things will never be the same again but maybe they can be okay.

I really liked it and really want to read more set in this world. ( )

BEGONE THE RAGGEDY WITCHES by Celine Kiernan is the first book in the Wild Magic fantasy trilogy.

After her father is taken hostage by witches, Mup and her family must avoid the raggedy witches to save him from the queen who also happens to be Mup’s grandmother. Along the way, she meets magical creatures and people in her quest to find her father.

Librarians will find this intermediate grade fantasy popular with children who enjoy folk fantasy, forbidden magic, and Irish mythology. This quick read can be enjoyed as both a standalone and book one of a trilogy.

Published on September 11, 2018 by Candlewick. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

On the night Aunty died, Mup caught her first glimpse of the Raggedy Witches. They chased Mup, her mother, and her little brother all the way home, their pale faces flashing overhead through the trees. The Raggedy Witches are relentless in their devotion to the tyrannical queen they serve. The queen has outlawed nearly all magic and runs her lands through fear and oppression. She also just happens to be Mup’s grandmother.
When the Raggedy Witches kidnap Mup’s father, it is up to Mup and her mother to enter the witches realm and rescue him before it is too late.
I loved this novel. I found it to be extremely unique and intriguing, unlike anything I have read in a long while. I am now doubly intrigued by the Irish mythology and folktales.

Mup is a very interesting young character, full of spark and a sense of style to match my five-year-old's. Mup believes in magic and bad witches and things that go bump in the night, and unlike any young girl, they do scare her a little bit. At the same time, she knows the power of good is stranger than that of evil.

Her mother is an intense character whom I will admit I didn’t care for much. Half of the book I was questioning whether or not sure she cared about rescuing her husband simply something in the way she acted that made me feel as though she would rather not be a mother, and that upset me.
The setting is vague and magical at the same time. The fact that Mup lives in our world but her grandmother lives in an alternative plane is very interesting, especially considering that these planes connect in Mup’s backyard.
There isn't too much to their journey, action-wise, but not in a bad way. Mup and her mother meet numerous magical people and go to a number of new places.

I highly enjoyed this novel and will be researching Irish lore more. I gave this novel four out of five stars and would recommend it to readers who enjoy unique and magical reads.
I received my copy of this novel from librarything.com for the sole purpose of providing an honest review.

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