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A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

By: T. Kingfisher
Narrated by: Patricia Santomasso
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Publisher's summary

Fourteen-year-old Mona isn't like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can't control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter, and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt's bakery making gingerbread men dance.

But Mona's life is turned upside down when she finds a dead body on the bakery floor. An assassin is stalking the streets of Mona's city, preying on magic folk, and it appears that Mona is his next target. And in an embattled city suddenly bereft of wizards, the assassin may be the least of Mona's worries....

©2020 T. Kingfisher (P)2021 Tantor

What listeners say about A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

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One of The Best Books I Have Ever Read

This is a delightful and uplifting book about a fantasy land with realistic characters and gifts. I am in love with the story, the world, the kingdom, and its abilities. I don't typically go for fantasy-type books, but this one is incredible. I love this author and did not realize I had read a few of their works already; I admire how they are able to make realistic dialogue and characters. I desperately hope that the author will continue this series, I would love to read about Mona and Spindle's next adventures!

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Adorable fantasy

Cute cozy fantasy written for YA but fun for any age. Good reader. An all around enjoyable choice.

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1 person found this helpful

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different perspective

This is an amusing story that almost immediately captures the listeners attention. Also this is written in a fairy tale style. Perfect for reading [or] listening to one chapter at a time. In the evening to settle the children for bed.

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An Absolute Delight!

This was absolutely delightful! I loved pretty much every second of it. Easily my favorite read of the year so far and the best T. Kingfisher book I have read so far! The narrator, Patricia Santomasso, was awesome as well.
I also didn't expect that emotional gut-punch nor the conversation about some of the tropes in fantasy that don't make much sense (young heroes saving the world while the actual adults are completely useless). Both of which made the story even better.

One thing I have realized about T. Kingfisher after reading a few of her books (Nettle & Bone, Swordheart, Bryony & Roses and this one) is - when she writes about classic (trope-wise) characters, I find them *exceedingly* boring, so much so that it lessens my enjoyment of these stories considerably. Case in point - both of the protagonists in Nettle & Bone (warrior with a dark past and a wallflower girl) or the villains in Swordheart (eeeeevil family members). This story also had one - the knight in the shining armor general. However, he was so little in the story that it didn't matter.
However, on the other hand, when she lets her "non-standard" characters take the stage, they shine and delight at every turn and have wonderful banter. I'd love to read a story purely about the adventures of the witch, fairy grandmother & the devil chicken from Nettle & Bone. Or a story purely about the Rat God priest & the MC from Swordheart or an adventure about Mona and her gingerbread familiar, her awesome aunt, Molly, Spindle & the Duchess. In my opinion, T. Kingfisher should simply ditch all of the generic character archetypes (and just to be clear, those classic types can absolutely be done in an interesting way, I just don't find them enticing at all in her stories) and let her unlikely heroes have the spotlight full time.

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Loved it

I never thought I'd fall in love with a sour dough starter, but here we are.

A very fun world, it reminded me a lot of Discworld, and I'm very much looking forward to any more in this universe.

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The most amazing book ever.

Okay so I have this book at home and I’ve read it like three times before. But when I saw that there was a audiobook I had to come check it out! I think that they really captured the characters and it was just-AMAZING! If your looking for a fun dark-ish and surprising book to listen to I recommend this.
Thanks for the fun book T Kingfisher!

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SUCH A JOY!!!

I don't know WHEN I've enjoyed a book more; pure delight! Not a serious read but all fun. Such amazing creativity in writing! So many stories could follow - one can hope!

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Wonderful and refreshing

I very much enjoyed this book. As someone who normally chooses very dark and unsettling topics that keep me awake at night. I found this book to be a great little vacay and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Quick and smart, moving along unpredictable and sad and funny and just a fun fun ride!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Gingerbread men

Mona is a young baker who finds a dead girl in her aunt’s bakery one morning. This event sets off a chain of events that leads to Mona helping to save the kingdom with her baked goods.
I enjoyed listening to the book. Mona’s reactions were fairly true to how a young girl would react to the things she faces.
I like the creativity Mona and Spindle display. I really like the gingerbread man.

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Fun and exciting

A very good story, although I’d say the familiar is more of a gingerbread man!

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