Cinders and Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann

Cinders and Sparrows Reviews

• 
  Amy Imogene Reads

  4 stars
  
  A cross between a witchy coming-of-age, a haunted house mystery, and an undead adventure. I loved it!
  
  Characters: ★★★★
  Setting: ★★★★★
  Pacing: ★★★
  Enjoyment: ★★★★ 1/2
  
  Orphan Zita Brydgeborn has grown up thinking she's alone in the world. Working as a 12-year-old maid to an old woman in a small village, her life's not great but it could be worse. So when a letter arrives—delivered via a lumbering, animated scarecrow—requesting Zita's presence at Blackbird Castle and claiming that she belongs with the family, Zita jumps at the chance.
  
  What child wouldn't want a magically delivered letter promising all of their dreams?
  
  When Zita arrives, she's quickly told that she's the last of the Blackbird witches... and there's something dangerous afoot. Zita needs to be trained in her witchy calling, and stat, because her entire witchy family has been killed off by some unknown force and she's next.
  
  With a cantankerous guardian showing her the ropes, two household servants who can't seem to tell Zita anything deeper than random small talk, and a bunch of secrets housed within the castle itself... it's time for Zita embrace her destiny and save her family home. (And herself, of course.)
  
  My thoughts:
  This was so, SO fun. I loved it and read it all over the course of a morning. Zita's refreshing character shown through in this zany setting. This is the perfect read for middle graders—obviously, given they are the target audience—and for any fun-loving adult who enjoys witches, "happy" toned mysteries, and Halloween. The Halloween vibes were STRONG in this. I loved it.
  
  
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• 
  Stacey-Lea

  Cinders and Sparrows is kind of like if Matilda found out she was actually from a family of witches and when she returns home everything begins to go terribly, terribly wrong.
  
  The book follows orphaned thirteen-year-old, Zita Brydgeborn, as she finds out she comes from a great line of witches who are currently under some awful spell and it’s up to her to find her power and fix it. Bachmann has created a beautiful witchy atmospheric middle grade with just enough spook to keep you wondering what in the world is really going down at Blackbird Castle. The characters are well thought out, especially with Zita having two young house servant friends who offer details to assist in world-building in a subtle and engaging way. As Cinders and Sparrows is written in first person we only get the information available to Zita which makes the plot twists even more fun.
  
  I would love to see this onscreen. The visuals Bachmann has created, from the gothic castle and the fantastic set of characters, that this all jumps from the page and seems to be made for a Tim Burton-esque style treatment.
  
  *ARC provided by Edelweiss for an honest review*
• 
  Belles Middle Grade Library

  My 250th read of ‘21! And man, was it INCREDIBLE! OMG! Such a dark witchy story, & I loved every minute. Every part of this was so phenomenal, & I need more MG from this author immediately lol. Zita is an amazing character. Her humor & whit were on point. She was so brave, & had already been through so much in her short life. All she ever wanted was a home & a family. And when she gets it-it’s not exactly what she imagined. Lol She is forever grateful for everything though, no matter what Mrs. Cantanker throws at her, & she remains humble. She is fast friends with the 2 servants(Minnifer & Bram)who are also orphans. Zita just steals your heart, & you root for her so hard the whole way. Minnifer & Bram are also such great side characters. I loved them, especially Minnifer. She cracked me up. The villain is terrifying & infuriating. Brilliantly written. I wanted to hit her myself lol. She is the epitome of what jealousy, envy, & bitterness can do to you. Vikers has my heart. Love that bird. Such superb writing as well. It just wraps around you, & pulls you in from the start. So atmospheric-with the castle, the woods, the ghosts, the characters, the magic, the curse, & the vivid writing that brings it all to life. So many creative details too! From the blue stairs, dragon stairs, the tree, the secret room, the talking diary, & the triggles to name a FEW amazing things. Great messages/themes on belonging, family, friendship, kindness, & doing what’s right. Such a spooky, hauntingly beautiful story. Creepy & heartwarming at the same time-brilliant! Highly recommend! Stunning cover by the Balbusso Twins too!💜
• 
  Laura

  For fans of Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones or The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, Cinders & Sparrows is about a resourceful young girl prepared to meet challenges head-on and battle the forces of darkness for her friends and family.
  
  Zita, 12 years old, orphaned, believes she's fated to a life of drudgery as a housemaid when she receives a letter informing her that she's the heir of a powerful witch family and has inherited a castle. What sounds exciting and glamorous turns out to be horrifying. When she arrives, she's greeted to the sight of a crumbling, burnt-out castle. Instead of family to greet her, she's given into the care of the cold and scheming Mrs. Cantanker. Her only allies are the castle's two servants, Bram and Minnifer, and a crow.
  
  Clever and spirited, Zita knows that things aren't right and prowls the castle and its grounds, looking for answers. But can she survive a castle full of deadly rooms and menacing ghosts and the nefarious Mrs. Cantanker? Fast-paced with creepy, atmospheric descriptions, this fantasy will appeal to tweens and adults.
  
  Described as a standalone, I hope that Stefan Bachmann has the opportunity to put this descriptive worldbuilding to use in other books.
  
  This dark fantasy with its resiliant main character gets a highly recommended from me.
• 
  Kaela Noel

  What a marvelous book! If you are looking for a spooky, charming middle-grade novel with a ton of atmosphere, terrific writing, and a heart of gold, CINDERS AND SPARROWS should be at the top of your list.
  
  First, Zita is one of the most endearing, delightful heroines I’ve ever come across—she reminded me a bit of Jane Eyre in her humility, kindness, and cleverness (not to mention her determination to find out what's lurking up the mysterious staircases in her new home). I just loved her, and I found myself caring deeply about her plight from the very first pages of the book. The supporting characters are masterfully spun as well (and the bad ones are VERY BAD—but multidimensional and complex, never flat. Bachmann keeps readers on their toes!)
  
  I'm convinced Bachmann is one of the most talented writers and prose stylists out there right now. The writing in the book is just superb at a line level, wonderfully evocative and beautiful. And funny. If only this book had been around when I was 12! It would absolutely have become one of my favorites.
• 
  Mila

  The digital arc of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ website in exchange for an honest review.
  
  This is a story about a young orphan who turned out to be the sole heir to a famous clan of witches. And the book actually was as cool as this premise sounds. It was quite dark and mysterious, the characters had distinct personalities, and even though the villains kind of felt like they stepped out a fairy tale, it added to the overall atmosphere and witchiness of the novel. It's definitely an interesting book with some strong autumn vibes, so check it out if that sounds like your thing.
• 
  Christina (A Reader of Fictions)

  A cute middle grade novel with pretty writing and a thoroughly fanciful cinematic world. Not a perfect fit for me as an adult reader, especially since knowledge of certain diction makes the villain obvious, but I see no reason the target audience would not be thoroughly charmed by this fantasy tale.
  
  
  I received this book for free from Greenwillow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
• 
  Lauren

  Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
• 
  Nadja

  Whimsical and kind of spooky middle-grade book for all ages. Perfect for fans of Howl's Moving Castle. :) I especially recommend listening to the audio book.
  Justine Eyre does a great job and there is atmospheric music between many chapters.
• 
  Karina

  Actual rating: 4.5!
  
  I might have only read a couple of Middle-Grade books this year so far, but it was quite obvious from the first few chapters that Cinders & Sparrows would come out as my most favorite. Following the story of the chosen one in a dark big castle full of mysterious corridors and magic, I was certainly obsessed with the mood this book got me into.
  
  All the main characters were very easy to like (except for Mrs. Cantanker, of course), and going through the story from Zita's lens was definitely an exciting experience. I'm always all for fictional midnight adventures in restricted areas, thus having her wandering around Blackbird Castle in the dark made the adventure all the more compelling for me. With a secret to unravel, parts of the castle to roam about, and a mysterious past to solve, the mystery and the gloomy mood rendered this book even more mystical.
  
  Mentions of November and snow elicited a more exciting experience also, because the adventure got all wintery and we all know that it was a perfect combination for anything magical. How I hope I read Cinders & Sparrows at the end of the year instead. While it was not so light, this book was written beautifully with perfect holiday weather I adored. Obviously a good choice for either a winter read or a reread material.
  
  In conclusion, I loved Cinders & Sparrow, especially the twist in the ending, and how the pace was quite fast but everything was still so enjoyable—it's definitely a book I want to go back to in the future. If you love Middle-Grade and various magic systems, this book would be a good choice for you.
• 
  ThatBookGal

  I’m not 100% sure what I expected from Cinders & Sparrows, but what I got was a tale that was completely whimsical and actually really quite creepy. This is the kind of middle grade novel that I would have loved as a child. Thoroughly enjoying the read and then probably needing to sleep with the light on for a few nights! The writing is magical, and truly paints the castle and the characters right in front of you.
  
  Zita Brydgeborn sounds a lot like a bookish cliché, she’s an orphan that discovers she’s a powerful witch with an inherited fortune and a secret family. Thankfully she really rises above any threat of unoriginality, and was such a fun protagonist to read. With a fiercely stoic disposition, she was brave, intelligent and kindhearted. I so admired the way she handled everything, even as an adult if I was faced with a castle full of less than friendly ghosts and a guardian that clearly didn’t have any regard for me, I’d crumble to pieces! I loved her ability to see the positives and how she always tried to be kind to everyone she met.
  
  As much as I loved Zita, the largest character in the story, is the house itself. Filled with magic and mystery and creepy things that go bump in the night. Honestly, as a grown adult some of the quirks of the house freaked me out, there are some seriously spooky elements! I just loved the pesky triggles and the idea of tricksy little mushrooms sneaking around the house. There are so many intricate little details woven into the house, and Stefan Bachmann writes so beautifully that you can really visualise it all, despite there being so very many layers to it. Each twist and turn, new corridor and new staircase had me completely hooked, although I’m not sure I would like to explore it in person…
  
  Going hand in hand with the spooky nature of the book, there were plenty of villainous characters to help the story along. Perhaps my only criticism is that the ultimate bad guy is pretty clear from the beginning, and I had hoped for a little twist along the way. Having said that, there are a few surprises in store and those that may first appear to be friendly, aren’t always as they seem. I was suspicious of pretty much everyone, including the mysterious Bram and Minnifer, expecting everyone to have nefarious plans for poor Zita.
  
  I truly thought the book was wonderful and well worth a read. I’d perhaps recommend it for those a little on the older side of the middle grade spectrum, due to some of the elements. It’s also a massive bonus that this one looks stunning on the shelf, it has a almost sparkly quality to it that really compliments the lovely purple colour. Whoever designed this one should definitely get a pat on the back. I’ll definitely be checking out Stefan’s other published books, and can’t wait to see what he writes next! If you’re looking for some witchy, ghosty chills, this is the book for you!
• 
  Joanna

  Welch wundervolles Buch! Perfekt zu lesen im Oktober.
  
  Eine sympathische Heldin, eine verzauberte Welt und Familiengeheimnisse - was will man mehr? Bachmann erzählt seine Geschichte ruhig, aber dadurch eben auch sehr stimmungsvoll. Das Hörbuch nimmt diese Atmosphäre auf und bringt sie umso mehr zur Geltung, wenn man dabei durch bunte Blätterhaufen geht und den Nebelschwaden zuschaut.
  
  "Cinders and Sparrows" ist mein Lieblingsbuch von Bachmann geworden und nun bin ich gespannt, womit der Autor als nächstes aufwartet. Seit dem letzten Buch hat er sich stark weiterenwickelt und ich hoffe, dass dem so bleiben wird.
  
  Dieser Titel ist eindeutig ein Monatshighlight und hat das Zeug dazu, auch einen Platz in meinen Jahreshighlights zu ergattern.
• 
  Linn J

  En fantasyfull bok med spänning. Påminner mig om Coraline när Zita får bemöta hennes familj, men som kanske är hennes familj och att det finns flera dimensioner.
  
  Zita är rätt orädd, nyfiken men lite seg i sin eftertänksamt. Det finns lite skräck på Coraline nivån.
  
  Hade nog hellre velat läsa boken än lyssnat på den, då det var ett antal karaktärer man tappade bort efter några timmar.
• 
  Katie P.

  
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  Zita is an ordinary girl of 13, raised in an orphanage and employed as a maid. Seemingly out of the blue, she receives a letter summoning her to Blackbird Castle to claim her inheritance. Intrigued by the idea, Zita drops everything and travels to meet a peculiar cast of characters in an old mansion!
  
  Cinders & Sparrows is a brilliant new novel from Stefan Bachmann. Though the premise sounds overused, 'orphan finds out they are the heir to a long lost kingdom/fortune/mansion/etc', Bachmann updates this premise and brings a new approach to this story. Zita is so relatable, frustrated with her initial treatment, but she eventually understands the situation and comes to appreciate what she has. Of course, characters from humble beginnings usually stay humble!
  
  This is a standalone novel that delivers a beautiful take on magic and blends a number of magical literary elements into a fascinating puzzle, fitting together with every chapter. I would tag this as a magic, gothic adventure to read under the stars! Arriving just in time for Halloween, I will be purchasing a copy and recommending it to my public library. I absolutely enjoyed it that much!
  
  The promotional material for this title describes it as a perfect read for fans of Kate Milford, Victoria Schwab, and Diana Wynne Jones. Three fantastic authors that I admire deeply! This is a standalone title filled with magic, mystery, mayhem, and providing readers with lessons about love, loss, family, friendship, and ultimately, belonging! Fans of the Magisterium Series or the Ember in the Ashes Series would also love this book!
  
  Cinders & Sparrows hits shelves October 13, 2020! Get your pre-order in now from your favorite retailer!
  
  Thank to Edelweiss and Greenwillow Books for a galley copy of this book in return for an honest review.
• 
  Soup

  Engaging and highly readable YA novel about 12 year old housemaid Zita Brydgeborn who goes from orphan maid to sole heir of a famous witch dynasty (with castle and responsibilities to boot) overnight. But when Zita arrives at Castle Blackbird hoping to be reunited with her long lost family she is instead confronted with a partially destroyed castle that harbors spirits of the dead (both friendly and threatening), rooms that are both deadly and strange, a caretaker who hates her, and a rapidly increasing number of life-and-death mysteries.
  
  This novel dances the line between fantasy and horror, so more sensitive readers may want to exercise caution. Currently the novel is slated to be a standalone work, but I very much hope it becomes a series and can easily see ways in which this could be achieved.
  
• 
  Mikala

  "They'll call anyone a witch who doesn't do as she's told and has a fondness for graveyards and talking to cats." (...quite possibly my favorite quote ever)
  
  Cinders and sparrows was such an atmospheric, well written middle grade. I really enjoyed the characters and the witchy elements. Plus this had a really great twist at the end I was not expecting at all!
  
  And omg the triggles!!!!! They reminded me of moomins. The imagery of these cute, maniacal little guys had me absolutely screaming.
  
  Overall, this was really enjoyable and wholesome and just super sweet!
• 
  Jessica

  This witchy coming of age story was a ton of fun with awesome characters and a surprisingly dark plot. I'll definitely have to check out other books from Stefan Bachman
• 
  Faith Rice-Mills

  I really enjoyed this one! It was like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for middle grade books.
• 
  Kat

  *Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. *
  
  Ingebeth, an orphan and a housemaid, never really had any past or future, until the day a scarecrow delivered a letter to her. Did she know that her real name was Zita Brydgeborn, she was a witch, and her mother had been looking for her since she was kidnapped ten years before? Dreaming of a family she never got to know, and nagged by vague memories of being taken as a toddler, Zita made the long trek to her new home - a huge, haunted place inhabited by one grouchy older woman, two servant children, and many, many ghosts. Her family had been killed by a spell, and if anything was going to be done, it was up to her as the last witch of her name. Of course, in a witch’s house, not everything is as it seems.
  
  I love this book so much! I couldn’t put it down and read the whole thing in a day, cheering on Zita and trying to keep one step ahead of the secrets (impossible). I hope Zita has more adventures in the future.
• 
  Pop Bop

  A Satisfying Girl's Own Adventure
  
  The "simple housemaid who finds out she's really the long-lost last living member of a line of powerful witches" is not the most novel hook upon which to hang a magical adventure tale. But the test, of course, is what you do and where you go with that set up. Well, I've read a lot of these, and this one struck me as a real treat.
  
  It's well written, well plotted, atmospheric, and nicely balanced between action bits and periods of calm. But the real star here is our heroine, thirteen year old Zita Brydgeborn. She is excited by the new life that has suddenly and unaccountably materialized before her, but she is also solidly grounded and practical. As a consequence we get both an air of wonder and a certain refreshing skepticism that makes Zita much more fully rounded than are most heroines in such circumstances. She has a dry sense of humor and a native streak of wisdom. It's especially satisfying that she is feisty, independent, and even a bit imperious at times, yet still patient and kind hearted. The author has not tricked Zita out with any phobias, dark secrets, or quirks or gimmicky characteristics. She is smart, streetwise, unflappable, open, and honest. The "right stuff" and all that sort of thing.
  
  The book is written in the first person from Zita's perspective. I know some people don't care for that, but I thought it was perfect for this story and this character. Zita is an extremely reliable narrator, and it is good fun to follow the story strictly from her point of view, and to experience the events and learn family secrets as and when she does. The reader is very much invested in Zita's adventure right from the get go. It helps that Zita has a dry sense of humor and often exhibits a rather deadpan response to magical surprises. (It also helps that there is zero romance angle.)
  
  Of course she gets two house servant kid sidekicks, who are good adventure pals, and sources of subtle info dumps. There's a nasty governess type, lots of ghosts and creatures, and villains and tricksters galore. The plot is a bit balky, but for the most part it moves along crisply enough, and it's no surprise to find out that lots of players would like to snuff out the last of the Brydgeborns. There's some backstory, some family history, a lot of training up as a witch, and then the action takes off. Everything happens at Blackbird Castle, the family seat Zita has inherited, and the Castle is described in enough compelling and engaging detail to establish a satisfyingly gloomy and witchy atmosphere.
  
  The bottom line is that our heroine is a real charmer and her adventures are both engaging and ripping. While this may have been a familiar hero's journey, it was a fun trip nonetheless.
  
  (Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
• 
  Karin Schott

  A lovely Stephan Bachmann book. Such a delight to read.
  
  When my son was younger we would sit in the school library before the bell rang for the start of the day and read magical middle-grade novels. So many smart, curious, brave, young heroes and heroines. It was a wonderful way for both of us to start our day. When he moved to middles school it was not cool to have your mom read to you at school. Our reading tastes diverged. He prefers graphic novel and apocalyptic fiction. I returned to my adult novels with the occasional foray into kids literature so I could recommend books to the young readers who buy books at the bookstore I work for.
  
  I think back on those books and think about what made them special. First, it was sharing them with my son. We would spend discuss the book. Really good books might be read between bites at the dinner table. Second, the really good ones weren't just great stories but beautiful writing as well. And finally, in some way, if filled me with a sense that childhood could still be innocent even with evil step mom's and dangerous beasties. Reading about monsters was better than living with monsters.
  
  All of this is to say that Cinders and Sparrows hits the sweet spot. Bachmann is a gifted writer. The literary quality of his words is beautiful and requires, indeed, demands that this be a book that an adult reads to a child. In classic fashion it the story of an orphan finding her family, overcoming challenges with a little magic and grit. Also, there is a really great villain or two, which any good children's book needs.
• 
  Lucretia

  Zita is in for a strange adventure, and one I had so much fun on, when she is given a message from a scarecrow that she's inherited a castle. Right from the start you get a sense of whimsy, that remains throughout, even as just the right amount creepy works in for younger readers.
  
  I love the creative setting and the creatures. The description of the castle gave it a spooky feeling that was still light and filled with wonder. It's a first person tale, and the main heroine is brave, sweet, often sassy, and totally relatable. There are also some fun characters Zita encounters as she attempts to find out what it means to be the last in a dynasty of witches. Bram and Minnifer made me laugh when they greeted her and continued to give me giggles as the story grew more thrilling.
  
  I liked trying to figure out the mystery and was so happy with the ending. The story moved at a fast pace that will be perfectly suited for holding readers of all ages grippe. The tone makes it perfect to read during the Halloween season.
• 
  Sherry Ellis

  When Zita Bridgeborn, a twelve-year-old orphan, receives a letter from a scarecrow informing her that she is the sole heir to Blackbird Castle, the residence of a prominent family of witches, her world is turned upside down. Little does she know of the treachery that awaits her behind the walls of the cursed castle. Will she prevent the evil Magdeboor from coming back from the dead and bringing more wretched souls with her, or will she become the last of a long line of witches? You'll have to read the story to find out.
  
  Cinders and Sparrows is a suspenseful tale filled with magic and imagination. Zita is an endearing protagonist with a wonderful blend of sweet and sassy—someone readers can relate to. With a colorful cast of characters like triggles and fangores, it's sure to enchant middle-grade readers.
• 
  Kathleen Mixon

  What a wonderful story full of magic and intrigue. Zita was found after being orphaned 10 years before. At twelve years old she had experienced much heartbreak and toil. Invited to what turned out to be her castle she was going to learn many things and she is able to find out who she was.
  
  This book captured me from the beginning. I wanted to follow Zita and root for her to succeed and to develop into the person she was supposed to be. The characters were very well developed and the world building was excellent. There were twists and turns throughout the book. I will definitely add this book to my physical library and will look for more books by this author.
  
  I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  James

  “We will be your blackbirds. We will be your ravens and crows and jackdaws, your dark wings and messengers. We will shepherd your souls to safety.”
  
  Cinders and Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann 5 Stars
  
  Zita Brydgeborn was an ordinary house maid until a scarecrow finds and delivers a letter anouncing that Zita is the only heir to Blackbird Castle. The news changes her life in ways she never could’ve expected. Not only is she a witch, but she’s the only thing standing between the world of the living and the dead who want nothing more than to take it.
  
  I think you’ll enjoy this book if you like...
  
  * Middle Grade novels. Our main character is only twelve years old, and while she’s definitely a mature kid, she is definitely still a child.
  * Witches. There’s Zita of course, but plenty of others too. Some of these witches are good and some are less so.
  * Spirits, Ghosts and a dark Underworld. This book takes place in the land of the living, but there’s lots of ghosts and spirits in this story. Some are what you might expect, but others are rather monstrous.
  * Animal companions :D Zita forms a very close bond with a particular bird, and I really wanted more of them together.
  * Dark atmospheric fairytale stories.
  
  Just as a warning, for anyone this might bother, part of this story deals with the kidnapping of a child.
  
• 
  Kylie

  4.5 stars
  This book was such a fun ride! I absolutely loved Zita. She tried very hard to learn how to be a witch, but she wasn't perfect and she knew it. Bram and Minnifer (the only servents left) were such good friends to her when they were basically told not to be my Mrs. Cantanker. Mrs. Cantanker was a great "villain." She wasn't THE villain, but ugh she was so mean! The actual villain(s) were so scary and were fantastic villains.
  The plot of this book is great! It starts with Zita being an orphan and getting a letter saying she is actually a Brydgeborn and she has to go to Blackbird Castle. It starts off with an exciting bang and it never slows down. Zita finds out her family was cursed and is now basically dead, but is sitting cocooned in the castle's dining room. Her whole family is witches whose job it is to shepherd ghosts to the afterlife. So with help from Bram and Minnifer and some of the ghosts living in the castle, Zita has to find a way to become a powerful enough witch to wake up her family. There were a few things towards the end that I definitely didn't see coming and I absolutely loved. The ending was just non stop action.
  It looks like this book is a standalone, but I would absolutely love to read more about these characters.
• 
  Jim

  Bachmann is incredibly skilled at crafting stories out of seemingly old ideas and worn out tropes. Here he takes the orphan with the nebulous past, sends her to a house with secrets, and has her learn magic to solve a mystery and complete her coming of age tale. OK, it is a lot less formulaic than that. but I have surely read several elements of this tale elsewhere, but Bachmann does a fantastic job of making it feel different, if not always or enough. I liked Zita (one of many intriguing names used in this book) and her story arc. She was incredibly independent, smart, authentic, and willing to learn, try, fail, and reconsider. One disappointing thing for me was the lack of exposition of the dark side of the tale. Granted, the truth takes a while to sort out - things are confusing and enigmatic and twisty on purpose - which seems to leave us little space to develop the nastiness and ghastly people and their activities. There aren't really any resting points in the narrative, which was fun mostly, but I wanted explanations about everyone and I didn't get as much as I hoped. Still, a rollicking good read that shows Bachmann can craft an intriguing tale you thought you already new.
• 
  Michele

  Really LOVED this delicious book!
  
  Zita is an orphan working as a maid who receives a mysterious communication that she is the sole heir to a haunted castle. She makes her way across the country and into a creepy wood and a certain Mrs. Cantanker who seems extremely irritated that she is there, and doesn't seem to believe that she is truly the heir to Brydgeborn Castle. Mrs. Cantanker begins reluctantly training her to become who she is meant to be: a witch who banishes ghosts back to the underworld. Zita quickly discovers that the castle is filled with ghosts, and also that there is a nefarious plot involving with the murder of her parents and adopted brother & sister.
  
  The absolute best part of this book is the awesome description of absolutely everything! The castle, the woods, the characters--all come to life with the truly delicious words. I cannot even remember everything that happened in the plot towards the end, but that may be because I was rushing through it so I could find out what happened!
  
  Can't wait to recommend it to my upper level readers!
• 
  Jessica F

  "Just like that I went from being a penniless housemaid to the mistress of Blackbird Castle, Pragast Wood, and several desolate mountain peaks, as well as a bank vault in Manzimer in which resided hundreds of thousands of gold galleons and, according to Mr. Grenouille, a unicorn horn and several priceless medallions stolen from the seventh circle of hell."
  
  A pretty predictable but still palatable middle grade read. It's a slow trek to the last page, but every word is well-written, so it's still a worthwhile journey.
  
  When the orphaned Zita inherits Blackbird Castle, little does she know she's also inheriting a witchy legacy... and a deadly grudge against her family. Does the last untrained Brydgeborn have what it takes?
• 
  Nurul

  Before I start, let's appreciate the cover because It's so gorgeous and I extremely admire those illustrations! I never thought even a second this book would be so magical and such a fun ride. The storytelling was so wonderful with detailed world-building.
  
  Recently, I've been searched for books that included magical creatures outright witches in their story but I scarcely met one, and yet Cinders & Sparrows gave me that so I was surprised because I have no idea what this book talked about at the very beginning. And for the plot twists wow I never expected those.
  
  Thus, I love the plot but there were some things that I think still lacks, particularly the action in the ending was too short for me.
  
  Rate: 3.75/5