4.75 Surprisingly fresh and veering much more into horror than I expected. What's really nice is that the lead is a girl, the second lead a Hispanic boy and the third a stellar object. Really didn't expect that for something wirtte in the early eighties. It's also much more empowering than Harry Potter. No "You're a Wizard Nita" (and she is a wizard, not a witch) or wise old teachers telling you how you should do stuff, but a conscious decision on the protagonist and learning on your own or with peers. The technical language of magic might turn off some kids, but the kids like Nita and Kit, who are way into books will probably eat it all up. I'd suggest a somewhat higher starting age tan HP in general, but you never know.

The sense of wonder is much deeper and less surface level than most other fantasies, although linking life and magic in this way is a little reminiscent of Star Wars' treatment of the Force. Even so, most of the book is - quite literally - rather dark and there's a bittersweet ending that is only somewhat mediated by the setting. It does feature one of the best heroic sacrifices ever and the world-building is top-notch, though I wonder how magic will deal with all the fall-out of mundanes freaking out after the finale.