The Secret Sight of Sparrow Xia

Leia Ham is an author and artist from Singapore. She moved to the US to attend Art Center College of Design, where she earned a BFA in illustration and now works as a visual development artist in the animation industry. A childhood obsession with magical-girls and magical school stories eventually turned into the beginnings of her debut novel, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia. She lives in Pasadena, California, with her husband and miniature schnauzer, both of whom she knits sweaters for. You can find her online at www.leiaham.com

When Sparrow returns to Zenith Academy, her powers have grown. But so has the danger...In a world where magic belongs to the young, Sparrow Xia is back at Zenith Academy to develop her magic. But after the explosive scandal that ended the previous school term, there's tension in the air: government investigators are everywhere, and suspicion lands on Sparrow because of her missing, troubled brother, Ainsley. Now more than ever, the focus on students is to build up the force of their magical powers – but Sparrow knows her own powers don't work that way, and she's discovered a unique new ability that puts everything into focus.Then Ainsley gets in touch: Zenith Academy is under threat, and he needs Sparrow's help. But can Sparrow and her friends trust him? What is this mysterious threat? And with her new talent, can Sparrow see a way to stop it?

Leia Ham

This book is stunning. It's truly the stuff of magic.

Jamie Littler, bestselling author of the Frostheart series

Centring friendship and decency, rather than power, this debut novel feels both fresh and familiar. Readers will enjoy the magical school, and the diverse cast of characters - including a talking raven - and some may recognise the sibling dynamic of one feeling in the shadow of another. There is much to enjoy in this pacy story, not least the stylish and dynamic illustrations by the author herself.

Like the best escapes, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is both warmly familiar and utterly inventive. Sparkling with alluring magical details, engaging artwork, and a brightly drawn community of characters – it’s the kind of book that makes you want to climb into it and never come out.

Jodi Lynn Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Thirteen Witches trilogy

Magic is easy. Becoming yourself — that’s the hard part. With luminous prose and cinematic illustration, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is a stunning debut — a wondrous adventure of resilience and healing, where the greatest power isn’t found in a spell, but in self-acceptance and friendship.

Marjorie Liu, New York Times bestselling author and comic book writer

Welcome to a world that depends on magic - but where magical powers fade away by adulthood. 
 
The pressure is on for Sparrow Xia to develop her pitifully limited fire mage abilities at Zenith Academy. It doesn’t help that expectations are extra high for her because her older brother Ainsley’s magic is exceptionally powerful – the burn scar on Sparrow’s cheek is proof of that. Sparrow can only hope that her studies will help her discover her fire and finally make her family proud. 
 
At Zenith, Sparrow does indeed gain magical strength – and new friends – but her life at school raises more questions than answers. Should she risk her own future in order to help others? And is Sparrow’s magic the most important thing about her? 
 
Then a mysterious illness breaks out at school, draining students of their powers. Sparrow and her friends are drawn into the search for the cause, but they need to be careful: in a world where magic means everything, some people will go to terrible lengths to try to keep it…

Leia Ham

Praise for The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia

This book is stunning. It's truly the stuff of magic.

Centring friendship and decency, rather than power, this debut novel feels both fresh and familiar. Readers will enjoy the magical school, and the diverse cast of characters - including a talking raven - and some ma ...

Like the best escapes, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is both warmly familiar and utterly inventive. Sparkling with alluring magical details, engaging artwork, and a brightly drawn community of characters – ...

This book is stunning. It's truly the stuff of magic.

Centring friendship and decency, rather than power, this debut novel feels both fresh and familiar. Readers will enjoy the magical school, and the diverse cast of characters - including a talking raven - and some ma ...

Like the best escapes, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is both warmly familiar and utterly inventive. Sparkling with alluring magical details, engaging artwork, and a brightly drawn community of characters – ...

This book is stunning. It's truly the stuff of magic.

Centring friendship and decency, rather than power, this debut novel feels both fresh and familiar. Readers will enjoy the magical school, and the diverse cast of characters - including a talking raven - and some ma ...

Like the best escapes, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is both warmly familiar and utterly inventive. Sparkling with alluring magical details, engaging artwork, and a brightly drawn community of characters – ...

Books by Leia Ham

Series by Leia Ham

Sparrow Xia

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