The Spectaculars by Jodie Garnish

Book Summary

Beyond the gateway, in the Hidden Peaks, live the Spectaculars - magical performers, with special powers gifted from the stars. They can levitate you out of your seat with a song, make a costume that will turn you invisible and create a snowstorm with a dance.

When Harper joins The Spectaculars at their travelling boarding school, she can't wait to learn all kinds of magic. But when the song of the Four Curses comes to life, and a terrifying creature threatens everything, she must use her new powers to save her school...

While dreams come true at the Wondria, nightmares might just be lurking in the wings.

I loved the very mysterious start to the book and Harper is a great protagonist, a heroine who prefers dragons to knights in shining armour! I was also pleased that for once, the class bully wasn't the best at everything and favoured by all the teachers. 

I was awestruck by this whole world which is built around spectacular performances and theatres. All running on Star-Stuff! There is so much to amaze, like a train that turns into the Grand Wondria Music Hall and Theatre, the Dreamscape Transit System that lets you visit with people in your dreams, and the super-cool lessons that the apprentices learn. Can you Imagine a cable car system that runs on the complaints of commuters, that would be extremely efficient in London!

The mystery of the four curses was cleverly written and I must admit it kept me guessing all the way through. I could not work out who was behind the sinister events and actually suspected completely the wrong person.

Author Bio

Jodie Garnish is a playwright and performer, usually based in London. She studied Drama at the University of East Anglia before going on to train at Drama Studio London. She has had plays produced at various London theatres and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which were critically acclaimed. Her career as a performer, including in shows designed for young people, has allowed her to shape the world of The Spectaculars, as well as giving her good insight into what young people love.

Find her on Twitter and Instagram

There are plenty of exciting cocktails to choose from at the Wondria shows. I decided to try making a Black Cat Cosmo and had fun with the food colouring. I probably used a bit too much and now I'm concerned about what I look like while drinking it! To make it, shake up the following with ice - 30ml vodka, 30ml triple sec, 45ml cranberry juice, 15ml lime juice and a dash of orange bitters. Add some black food colouring to get the gorgeous colour.