City of Stolen Magic

Name: City of Stolen Magic
Brand: Penguin Random House NZ
SKU: 9780241567487
Price: 22.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Nazneen Ahmed Pathak

0.0 (0 reviews)

3.79

( 497 ratings, 129 reviews)

Summary

City of Stolen Magic follows the adventure of a young girl named Bibi who embarks on a quest to rescue her grandmother from a city where magic is stolen and hoarded. As Bibi navigates this mystical world, she encounters enchanted creatures and must unravel secrets while standing up against those who misuse magic. This enchanting tale combines bravery with the power of imagination in a richly crafted magical setting.
Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$22⁰⁰

OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

City of Stolen Magic

$22⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love magical adventures filled with mystery and excitement. It weaves a captivating story set in a vibrant city, where young readers can explore themes of courage and friendship as characters embark on a quest to uncover secrets and fight against dark forces. The imaginative world and compelling plot make it a perfect read for children who enjoy being transported to fantastical realms.

A Seven Sharp Visit and a Huge Thank You!

It's been a busy last week at Rawiri Place before our big move, with a...

BOARD GAME 18 Sep 2026

What I Read (and Played) in Bali

I always read more when I travel. There’s the flight over, the hotel breakfast where...

AMELIA'S CORNER 17 Sep 2026

A Puzzle for Every Season: Why I Love Seasonal Puzzles

From spooky Halloween puzzles to floral spring scenes and Christmas favourites we bring out every...

THE BOOK BRIEFING 16 Sep 2026

The Book Briefing - September 16th

This week there are so many exciting new book announcements out and about with covers,...

CRIME AND THRILLER 16 Sep 2026

Every crime/thriller Novel Lizzy has read this year (so far!)

Lizzy is sharing her crime and thriller reads for 2026 so far and giving you...

Description

An action-packed, inclusive and breathtakingly magical middle-grade adventure, for fans of The Unadoptables and The Girl Who Stole an Elephant.

A spellbinding, epic and heart-racing magical adventure from an exquisite new storytelling talent.

Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story - Katherine Rundell

A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine - The Daily Telegraph

India, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out.

More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumour is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company.

When Chompa's home is attacked and her mother viciously kidnapped, Chompa - born with powerful and dangerous magic that she has always been forbidden from using - must travel to the smoky, bustling streets of East London in search of her. But Chompa will discover far more treachery in London than she had bargained for - and will learn that every act of her rare magic comes with a price...

Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships... The whole package - Louie Stowell

An unexpected gem of a story... A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling - Nizrana Farook

Phenomenal - Sophie Anderson

Dazzling from start to finish - Abi Elphinstone

A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets and colonial history... An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don't see often enough - Rashmi Sirdeshpande

A wonderfully vibrant debut... A vivid magical adventure - Jasbinder Bilan

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The children's book City of Stolen Magic by Nazneen Ahmed Pathak is widely praised for its exhilarating and imaginative storytelling. It is celebrated for its compelling, multicultural Victorian London setting, vivid characters, and the intertwining of colonial history with magic and adventure. Reviewers highlight the protagonist's unforgettable journey and commend the book's layers of detail and vibrant narrative, marking it as a standout in children's literature.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241567487

Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 June 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Puffin

Contributors:

Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 308g

Pages: 384

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Children's Books Children's Fiction Children's Historical Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Historical Fiction In Stock Books In Stock Kid's Books Nazneen Ahmed Pathak Penguin Books Young Adult

About the Author

Nazneen Ahmed Pathak (Author) Nazneen Ahmed Pathak is a British Bangladeshi writer, historian and visual artist who lives in the port city of Southampton. She spent most of her teen years in commuter belt suburbia writing, reading, and listening to melancholy indie music, going on to study English literature at the University of Warwick and completing a PhD in Bangladeshi literature at the University of Oxford. As a historian she researches the geography and history of migration, a subject which is also at the heart of much of her fiction, poetry and visual arts practice. She was selected as one of 12 mentees from 2000 applicants for the 2016/17 inaugural round of Penguin Random House's Write Now mentorship scheme which aims to support and publish underrepresented writers. She has held residencies at Southampton Central Libraries, John Hansard Gallery, Southampton Museums and Archives, and the Francis Crick Institute in association with Poet in the City. She has been published in Poem- International English Language Quarterly, Places of Poetry- Mapping the Nation in Verse (OneWorld Publications), The Puffin Book of Big Dreams (Puffin), and A Match Made in Heaven- British Muslim Women Write About Love and Desire (Hope Road Press). Nazneen's debut children's novel was City of Stolen Magic. Sandhya Prabhat (Illustrator) Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California, USA. She has illustrated children's books, as well as animating for TV and movies, and designing for social media platforms. Her clients include Penguin Random House India, HarperCollins India, Candlewick and Lantana Publishing.

More from Children's Books

View all

Gruffalo Granny

The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...

By Julia Donaldson

Hardback

$24⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$30⁰⁰~~

Backorder
Ships early October
New Release

The Comeback Kid

Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...

By Airana Ngarewa

Paperback

$17⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$19⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

The Neverfear

A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...

By Katherine Rundell

Paperback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$22⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Pocket Observology

Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...

By Giselle Clarkson

Paperback

$23⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$27⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Minecraft Annual 2027

The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...

By Mojang AB

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Giant Heart

Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...

By David Hill

Hardback

$19⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$25⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Ms Rachel: My First Little Library

Learn about colours, animals, words and numbers with Ms Rachel in this early learning boxset. This little set contains four board books that help introduce children to early concepts. Perfect for younger readers, each chunky book will keep little hands occupied at home, or on the move. And, once you’re done reading (and re-reading), the four books come together to...

By Ms Rachel

Board book

$15⁹⁹

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Lizzy's Pick

Protector of Beyond 1

Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...

By Shara Curlett

Paperback

$21⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$24⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition

A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...

By Graeme Base

Hardback

$29⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$35⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

The Little Kiwi Builder

Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...

By Tim Saunders

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁹⁹~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

You Choose Party Time

It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...

By Pippa Goodhart

Hardback

$25⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$34⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday
New Release

Matihe! Achoo!

What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...

By Qiane Matata-Sipu

Paperback

$18⁹⁹
Elsewhere:
~~$21⁰⁰~~

In Stock
Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.