A boy discovers his family’s surprising history at a school for magic in this middle-grade supernatural novel....Although most questions raised have no answers in sight, a couple of reveals are doozies. This captivating tale of magic spells and a young hero launches a promising saga.
- Kirkus Reviews
Snakes aren't the only victims in Bridgman's superb page-turning flight of fancy....[and] there is a lot of fun to be enjoyed before the serpicide mystery is solved. There is also a good deal of useful information about snakes, their habits and habitats. Finally Bridgman's spellbinding story has sentence after sentence of melodiously evocative language....If it's exquisitely told spells you're after, 'The Serpent's Spell' has more than enough for even the most discriminating and insatiable reader.
- M. Wayne Cunningham, Books in Canada
Rae St. Clair Bridgman has crafted a superb opening to an enthralling fantasy series where adventure waits around every corner. I found the character development to be a particular triumph of the work, crafting in both Sophie and Wil some very endearing figures whom young readers can look up to, but also relate to for their vulnerabilities and uncertainty in the face of tough challenges. The narrative is highly descriptive, with gorgeous imagery and clever wordplay to bring the action to life in a fully multisensory fashion.
- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Serpent's Spell is an ancient story with a modern twist. The story of two kids' adventures, discovering the Brimstones Snakes monument and the long-last gate to the Caves of Narcisse, is enticing, mysterious, and captivating.
- Whistler Independent Book Awards Review
This is a delightful story perfectly suited for the middle-grade reader. There is plenty of action and likeable characters - even
the snakes! This is definitely a book to recommend for the B.R.A.G. Medallion and I look forward to reading more in this
series. This is an excellent fantasy novel with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. The emotional tone of the novel was particularly effective and authentic. All relationships developed naturally and I especially liked the way that of Sophie and Wil was handled. The information about snakes was woven in seamlessly never feeling like an info dump. In fact, everything about the story of the snakes was brilliant for they were always sympathetic, a remarkable feat in this serpent-hating world. The pacing also was excellent, with a strong forward momentum and lots of twists and turns. All in all a very successful novel.
- B.R.A.G. Medallion Review
The Serpent's Spell is a delight for all readers! Rae Bridgman adds sorceress zeal with a numeristic table of contents, Latin verbiage, and sketchings that bring the magic of snakes and sorcery alive. As this first adventure begins, the reader is left with one key question.... when will the next adventure begin?
- Regan Windsor, Reader Views
Rae Bridgman has created a wonderful yarn that is reminiscent of the Harry Potter series in that witchcraft, sorcery, and unusual magical games are the backdrop; but there the comparison ends. The Serpent's Spell is in a class of its own.
- Shelly Campbell , Sime-Gen Reviews
The Serpent's Spell is a quaint little novel that is perfect for a rainy day....The twist with all the snakes was quite enjoyable and the revealing of the antagonist behind the deaths of so many snakes took me by surprise. Reading the climax over again, I remembered all of the clues that the author dropped throughout the novel and was kind of mad at myself that I hadn't figured it out sooner....This is a series to keep your eye on, and hopefully there will be many more books to come!
- Lindsey, Sarah's Stars
[The Serpent's Spell] has an atmosphere and mood of its own...a charming and engaging story...including lovely illustrations and quizzical latin phrases for each chapter, it was fun to turn the pages.
- Amberdrake, FantasyBookSpot
Bridgman’s snake lore and information about eggs, specifically magical Firebird eggs, sets her magical fantasy apart from other Harry Potter-type books....The Serpent’s Spell is a delightful read. It is hoped that Rae Bridgman will continue Wil and Sophie’s adventures in MiddleGate for years to come.
- Janie Franz, MyShelf
. . . a very nice edition. Bridgman divides her story up into 52 short chapters . . . but also provides a neat drawing as a chapter heading, as well as a Latin saying for each; the combination made for a unique feel.
- James Schellenberg, BiblioTravel: For Books That Take You Away
The Serpent's Spell is an ambitious first trip down a fantasy path that is already well-blazed by such notables as J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), Eion Colfer (Artemis Fowl) and Jenny Nimmo (Charlie Bone) . . .
- "Ambitious fantasy weaves magic in Winnipeg," Brenda Suderman, Winnipeg Free Fress
[F]ans of fantasy will undoubtedly delight in the magic, engaging protagonists, talking statues, a mischievous library ghost, unique school activities, an ophidiophobic Minister on the Status of Magical Creatures, cops called Firecatchers, the bullying Sly twins, and the other minutiae of daily life in MiddleGate.
- Darleen Golke, Canadian Review of Materials (CM)
There are many interesting features of MiddleGate that young readers will appreciate: phosphoworm lanterns; eyeglasses whose frames change colour; unusual sweet foods such as snakecake and chocolate toads; the "ditchball" game they play; and the school subjects they study (numeristics, verbology, cartology, botanicals, shadow-cutting). I like the way the author includes Manitoba features such as mosquitoes, cold winter weather, the Dragonfly Festival at Bird's Hill Park, and the Narcisse Snake Pits. At the same time many features of MiddleGate are completely different, such as the mysterious exploding blue eggs and the talking statues.
- Donna Gamache, Prairie Fire: A Canadian Magazine of New Writing
The Serpent's Spell is an ancient story with a modern twist. The story of two kids' adventures, discovering the Brimstones Snakes monument and the long-last gate to the Caves of Narcisse, is enticing, mysterious, and captivating.
- Whistler Independent Book Awards
Wil has a magical medallion that his grandmother had entrusted to him before she died in a suspicious fire, and it may have something to do with the mystery of the snakes. The kids encounter danger with kidnappings, serpents, evil magic, and shadow duals....The characters are exciting and fresh, and the plot is fast-paced and creative.
- Grandma Bev, Teens Read Too
The pace is fast...and the quotes in Latin...[are] a nice touch that adds to the overall fun!
- Douglas R. Cobb, Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book
- Kirkus Reviews
Snakes aren't the only victims in Bridgman's superb page-turning flight of fancy....[and] there is a lot of fun to be enjoyed before the serpicide mystery is solved. There is also a good deal of useful information about snakes, their habits and habitats. Finally Bridgman's spellbinding story has sentence after sentence of melodiously evocative language....If it's exquisitely told spells you're after, 'The Serpent's Spell' has more than enough for even the most discriminating and insatiable reader.
- M. Wayne Cunningham, Books in Canada
Rae St. Clair Bridgman has crafted a superb opening to an enthralling fantasy series where adventure waits around every corner. I found the character development to be a particular triumph of the work, crafting in both Sophie and Wil some very endearing figures whom young readers can look up to, but also relate to for their vulnerabilities and uncertainty in the face of tough challenges. The narrative is highly descriptive, with gorgeous imagery and clever wordplay to bring the action to life in a fully multisensory fashion.
- K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Serpent's Spell is an ancient story with a modern twist. The story of two kids' adventures, discovering the Brimstones Snakes monument and the long-last gate to the Caves of Narcisse, is enticing, mysterious, and captivating.
- Whistler Independent Book Awards Review
This is a delightful story perfectly suited for the middle-grade reader. There is plenty of action and likeable characters - even
the snakes! This is definitely a book to recommend for the B.R.A.G. Medallion and I look forward to reading more in this
series. This is an excellent fantasy novel with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. The emotional tone of the novel was particularly effective and authentic. All relationships developed naturally and I especially liked the way that of Sophie and Wil was handled. The information about snakes was woven in seamlessly never feeling like an info dump. In fact, everything about the story of the snakes was brilliant for they were always sympathetic, a remarkable feat in this serpent-hating world. The pacing also was excellent, with a strong forward momentum and lots of twists and turns. All in all a very successful novel.
- B.R.A.G. Medallion Review
The Serpent's Spell is a delight for all readers! Rae Bridgman adds sorceress zeal with a numeristic table of contents, Latin verbiage, and sketchings that bring the magic of snakes and sorcery alive. As this first adventure begins, the reader is left with one key question.... when will the next adventure begin?
- Regan Windsor, Reader Views
Rae Bridgman has created a wonderful yarn that is reminiscent of the Harry Potter series in that witchcraft, sorcery, and unusual magical games are the backdrop; but there the comparison ends. The Serpent's Spell is in a class of its own.
- Shelly Campbell , Sime-Gen Reviews
The Serpent's Spell is a quaint little novel that is perfect for a rainy day....The twist with all the snakes was quite enjoyable and the revealing of the antagonist behind the deaths of so many snakes took me by surprise. Reading the climax over again, I remembered all of the clues that the author dropped throughout the novel and was kind of mad at myself that I hadn't figured it out sooner....This is a series to keep your eye on, and hopefully there will be many more books to come!
- Lindsey, Sarah's Stars
[The Serpent's Spell] has an atmosphere and mood of its own...a charming and engaging story...including lovely illustrations and quizzical latin phrases for each chapter, it was fun to turn the pages.
- Amberdrake, FantasyBookSpot
Bridgman’s snake lore and information about eggs, specifically magical Firebird eggs, sets her magical fantasy apart from other Harry Potter-type books....The Serpent’s Spell is a delightful read. It is hoped that Rae Bridgman will continue Wil and Sophie’s adventures in MiddleGate for years to come.
- Janie Franz, MyShelf
. . . a very nice edition. Bridgman divides her story up into 52 short chapters . . . but also provides a neat drawing as a chapter heading, as well as a Latin saying for each; the combination made for a unique feel.
- James Schellenberg, BiblioTravel: For Books That Take You Away
The Serpent's Spell is an ambitious first trip down a fantasy path that is already well-blazed by such notables as J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter), Eion Colfer (Artemis Fowl) and Jenny Nimmo (Charlie Bone) . . .
- "Ambitious fantasy weaves magic in Winnipeg," Brenda Suderman, Winnipeg Free Fress
[F]ans of fantasy will undoubtedly delight in the magic, engaging protagonists, talking statues, a mischievous library ghost, unique school activities, an ophidiophobic Minister on the Status of Magical Creatures, cops called Firecatchers, the bullying Sly twins, and the other minutiae of daily life in MiddleGate.
- Darleen Golke, Canadian Review of Materials (CM)
There are many interesting features of MiddleGate that young readers will appreciate: phosphoworm lanterns; eyeglasses whose frames change colour; unusual sweet foods such as snakecake and chocolate toads; the "ditchball" game they play; and the school subjects they study (numeristics, verbology, cartology, botanicals, shadow-cutting). I like the way the author includes Manitoba features such as mosquitoes, cold winter weather, the Dragonfly Festival at Bird's Hill Park, and the Narcisse Snake Pits. At the same time many features of MiddleGate are completely different, such as the mysterious exploding blue eggs and the talking statues.
- Donna Gamache, Prairie Fire: A Canadian Magazine of New Writing
The Serpent's Spell is an ancient story with a modern twist. The story of two kids' adventures, discovering the Brimstones Snakes monument and the long-last gate to the Caves of Narcisse, is enticing, mysterious, and captivating.
- Whistler Independent Book Awards
Wil has a magical medallion that his grandmother had entrusted to him before she died in a suspicious fire, and it may have something to do with the mystery of the snakes. The kids encounter danger with kidnappings, serpents, evil magic, and shadow duals....The characters are exciting and fresh, and the plot is fast-paced and creative.
- Grandma Bev, Teens Read Too
The pace is fast...and the quotes in Latin...[are] a nice touch that adds to the overall fun!
- Douglas R. Cobb, Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book