The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
Pages: 328
Publish date: April 1st, 2017
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781760127763
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon AU – Booktopia – Angus & Robertson Bookworld
The unsolvable problem: If Sophia is a genius, why can’t she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life?
Fact: Sophia is smart. As in, certified-child-prodigy, breezing-through-uni-subjects-even-though-she’s-only-in-year-twelve smart. This terrifies her, because geniuses have a tendency to end up as recluses and weirdos – and with her current social ineptness, she’s halfway there already.
Truth: Joshua is good at magic tricks, ignoring most things about year twelve, and not thinking at all about life after high school.
Fact: Sophia can’t even talk to her best friend Elsie about her anxieties, because Elsie is firmly focused on her own future – and on plans that will mean leaving Sophia behind.
Truth: Joshua has had a secret crush on Sophia since forever, but he doesn’t have forever to act on it.
Fact: There are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for … and the messiness of the real world is one of them.
Truth: Timing is everything.
The Secret Science of Magic:
Now, I thought I would have a little fun with my stop on The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil blog tour. So kick back and relax, today you are getting a review and a cupcake recipe!
I received an arc of The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil from Hardie Grant Egmont in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil follows protagonist Sophia and Joshua. Two very different people who come together in their last year of high school in unforeseeable circumstances that might just work out to be the best thing for them both.
Sophia is a genius – a maths genius. She is her last year of high school, but breezing through university courses. However, genius’ tend to be recluse and weirdos, who either excel or fail. And Sophia feels like she is on the path to failure. With everything building up in her – she doesn’t need any more trouble.
Sophia was an interesting protagonist and while not easily relatable. I could connect to her on other levels. I adored that The Secret Science of Magic had a focus on leaving high school and deciding what you are going to do next. It’s what so many people have to go through and it hit hard. The anxiety that Sophia feels throughout the book was just so spot on. That was me 3 years, it’s still me today. And I could feel it deep inside me.
Josh was totally adorable. He has had a crush on Sophia for quite a couple of years, and with the end of high school looming – he knows that he has to tell her. But instead of just saying it to her face, he decides to woo her – with magic! I love illusionist and magicians. I find them fascinated and I love working out how things are done – so I found a kinship with Josh. He is also awkward and funny.
The romance was adorable. I loved how Sophia and Joshua were both so unsure about what to do, but they fit with each other so well. Sophia, I think needed someone like Josh not just as a love interest, but as a friend. Someone who understood her even when she at her worse.
Friendship is also another big aspect of The Secret Science of Magic. Sophia only really has one friend when this book starts – and Sophia feels like she is losing her. High School is hard enough, but only having a certain group of friends or friend and then they are off once it ends – that hurts – a lot.
I spoke about this before, but I loved that anxiety was presented in The Secret Science of Magic. It’s so hard leaving school and going into the big wide world and Sophia feels it. But, it’s not just about school, but about life. And when everything that was planned out for you is gone – how do you go on? I really felt the anxiety that Sophia presents within the book. Obvious I am not a genius, so not that part – but everything that comes with it.
Overall, The Secret Science of Magic is an adventure. It’s a beautiful story of coming of age, growing up, and learning. It’s about letting go, and not just finding yourself, but believing in who you can become. It deals with the notion of first love, leaving high school, friendship, family and so much more. It’s one of those books that you pick up and just fall in love.
- - Your favourite Vanilla Cake Mix
- - Blue and Red Food Colouring. ( I used Wiltons colour paste in Sky Blue and Red)
- - Black and Red Edible Markers
- - White Fondant
- - Lemon Essence
- - Buttercream (I used Rich'n Smooth Vanilla Flavoured Topping)
- - Pick your favourite cake mix and follow directions.
- - Then split 1/3 of the mixture into a separate bowl and stir in the Red food colouring a little at a time, until you get to your desired colour.
- - Put this into a small cake tin. You want the mixture to be about 2cm high.
- - Bake this at 180 degrees Celcuius for 20 minutes or until cooked.
- - Once the red cake is cooked and cooled, use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut enough hearts for your cupcakes. Put everything aside.
- - With the rest of the mixture, mix the Blue food colouring, until vibrant.
- - Place a spoon of blue cake batter on the bottom of each cupcake holder.
- - Then place your heart inside. Make sure you know which way the heart is facing.
- - Place the rest of the blue cake batter around and over the heart. Until a third way up the holder.
- - Cook cupcakes for 20-25 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when pocked.
- - Roll out fondant to 4 mm thickness and cut 6 rectangular card shapes (3cm x 5cm approx) and allow to harden over night.
- - Once hard, draw a black line around the inside edges with a food safe marker and ruler.
- - Draw a '2' on the left corner with black marker and rotate card and repeat. Allow to dry.
- - With a red marker or food colour mixed with a little Lemon Essence draw a small line in the middle of the card and add two small love hearts on either end. Add 2 small hearts beneath the '2'. Allow to dry.
- - Create an egg timer shape around the hearts using the book cover as reference. Allow to dry.
- - Mix blue food colouring and lemon essence and pain edges of card.
- - Wisk Buttercream and pipe with a large round nozzle onto cupcakes.
- - Crumble some of the left over red cake onto the buttercream.
- - Place dried card on top.
- - Enjoy!
- - Use the joint of the cupcake holder to know where the heart is.
- - Card Topper is best made 2 days before you want the cupcakes. This is so they can harded and paint can dry.
- - Use small heart shape cutter and press slightly into card to create your heart shape in egg timer.
The post Blog Tour: The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil appeared first on Angel Reads.
