Giveaway: “Star vs. the Forces of Evil: The Magic Book of Spells”

I was about halfway through Star Vs. the Forces of Evil: The Magic Book of Spells, before it dawned on me how clever it is.

I received the book for review as part of a giveaway being sponsored by the Disney Book Group and, while I like the show, I found the book even more immersive and fascinating. If you or your kids are a fan of the show, this book is a must-buy.

I’d expected a book about the history of the rulers of Mewni, leading to our heroine, Star, who is the lead of the Star Vs. the Forces of Evil television show on the Disney Channel. 

From the opening page, It’s clear a great deal of time and thought went into creating The Magic Book of Spells. The narration inside consists of chapters from Glossaryck, a wizard who lives inside the book, and many of the Queens who came before Star.

Each chapter is told in the style of a different queen. For instance, Solaria, the warrior, talks about her intense need to defeat the monsters, while Festiva’s story is told in all Twitter posts, complete with hashtags, about her hopes for the Kingdom.

This is Queen Eclipsa. Who fell in love with a leader of the monsters who has been at war with her people for lo, many years. Needless to say, things do not end well for Eclipsa, especially given she also has to marry a Spider Prince. I suspect any resemblance to goth princesses is completely intentional. If you’ve seen the show, you know she comes into play in Star’s story. Her backstory in this book is terrific.

As for Star herself? Her entry is intriguing because it seems to indicate she came back from Earth and gave up her throne, perhaps having learned something from her time with high school students? Or perhaps it’s hinting at developments in the next season.

In short, The Magic Book of Spells reminded me of The World of Fire and Ice, a book set in the epic fictional world of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, which was supposedly “written” in the reign of Robert I.

The Magic Book of Spells definitely has a better sense of humor than The World of Fire and Ice and an ever-changing tone, depending on which Queen/Princess is providing the entries.

If your child is such a fan of the show that they want to roleplay or plan a party with Star ss. the Forces of Evil as the theme, I spotted several possible activities from the Magic Book of Spells.

One would be to “Make Your Own Wand.” Each Queen has a different wand to power their magical abilities. Create a unique wand using toilet paper or paper towel rolls, glitter glue, crayons or colored pencils, and props of your choice, for a great party activity or even just as a maker activity for your child.

Another creative idea inspired by the book would be to ask children to plan the kind of Princess/Queen they want to be. The personalities of the Queens in the book are obviously exaggerated but that’s what makes the idea of your child choosing their own name and style of ruling such fun. (It might also be a lesson in the responsibilities of leadership but don’t tell them that.)

And, now onto the prize pack, available to one winner, to be chosen in a week:

The Strike a Spell! Prize Pack:

One (1) winner receives:

a copy of Star vs. the Forces of Evil: The Magic Book of Spells,
plus Star’s wand, headband, and wand enamel pins.

From the Disney Book Group Press release on The Magic Book of Spells:

Ever wondered what’s inside The Magic Book of Spells? It contains every spell you’ve ever seen on the show, plus the history of Mewni, as told by thirteen queens. Each chapter is full of secrets, magic, and notes from Star Butterfly!

This fun-packed, full-color jacketed hardcover version of The Magic Book of Spells will give fans of Star vs. the Forces of Evil all the inside information… and a chance to meet four never-seen-before queens.

Plus, the book jacket doubles as an exclusive Mewberty Wings tarot card poster!

 Fans will have access to the past 13 Queens. Well, 12 Queens and one not-quite Queen. They’ll gain insight into their various spells, histories, diary pages, tarot cards, secret loves! They can find out their Aureole sign, recipes for Mewni pies, and if they are really clever unlock a secret language.