The Witches of Orkney series is the current nighttime read-aloud for my fifth-grade daughter and me and we are loving it. She was thrilled when the publisher sent the series for review--with witches, Norse mythology, and a magical school, it's filled with so many elements she loves. This is a prequel series, set in the same world as The Legends of Orkney. The fourth book in this series is out October 12, 2021.

In this follow-on to The Blue Witch, Abigail is beginning her second year at the Tarkana Witch Academy. But things are not going well. The evil spellbook continues to tempt her with dark magic, and the school is buzzing about the Rubicus Prophecy; could she be the one chosen to break Odin's curse? When Abigail and her friends are pulled into a quest to retrieve a crucial item, they end up in the catacombs beneath the Academy, fighting for their lives.

The Witches of Orkney is a fun series to read aloud with kids, with plenty of adventure, magic, and mythology. These are not as complex as some of the big names in middle-grade magic and mythology series (you know the ones), but they are excellent options for kids who love a bit of magic but may not want doorstopper books. I also love that these are set on Orkney. I visited a number of years ago and it is a fascinating place, filled with mysterious ancient historical sites that Adams brings to life.