Magus of Stonewylde

Kit Berry
Sylvie is dying. A victim of crippling allergies, poisoned by the pollution and chemicals of modern life, Sylvie is trapped in a hospital bed while her mother and doctors watch her life slipping away. But one of them offers her a chance. There’s an alternative community – Stonewylde – hidden away behind high boundary walls in a corner of Dorset. If their leader, the charismatic Magus, would let Sylvie visit then perhaps the clean air and green lifestyle may restore her vitality. Or at least give her some measure of peace before she dies. It’s a chance, and when Sylvie and her mother take it, they find themselves in a haven of tranquillity and beauty.
But it’s not all idyllic. The Magus sends a moody, secretive Village boy to work in their garden as a punishment. He warns them to stay away from him – he’s rebellious and in deep trouble. But Sylvie is curious about Yul and, as their forbidden friendship grows, she sees that all is not quite as it seems at Stonewylde. Why was she told to keep away from Yul – and why are she and her mother so drawn to the Magus? Is the crone on the hill really a powerful wise-woman, or just a crazed old hag bent on destroying the peace with her wild prophecies? And what exactly is the magical secret at the heart of this seemingly perfect community?
After meeting Kit Berry at a creative writing workshop and hearing about her Stonewylde series, I was excited and interested to start reading the books.
Stonewylde is a book about a critically ill 14 year old, Sylvie, who lives in the big city. She gets rescued by Magus of Stonewylde who takes her back to Stonewylde, the most beautiful place on earth. But after a while, she finds that everything is not as it seems. With twists and turns along the way, this shocking tale holds a suprise in every chapter.
I loved this book a lot. My favourite thing about it is the storyline and the actual place of Stonewylde is very creative. I loved Yul who is my favourite character, because he’s a mysterious boy who holds a lot of secrets and bad memories. I cannot wait to get stuck in into the second book.
Verdict: A great storyline.
Reviewed by Dan(13)