The Fairy Realm series are wholesome lighthearted reads featuring a secret fairy realm found through a doorway at the edge of the garden. There's magic and mythical creatures and miniature horses that talk (because what else would you find in a secret fairy realm? duh.) It's reminiscent of Shirley Barber's gorgeous picture books albeit with less impressive artwork (Shirley Barber is incredibly talented). It's a good series for tween girls. I loved this series as a kid, they were imaginative and magical and I loved every minute. I'm pretty sure this series is what started my love of charm bracelets too.

The Magic Key
I loved the last book because gnomes are awesome. But I'm pretty fond of rainbows and toadstools too so this was fantastic. Jessie is eagerly anticipating her birthday party until the day of the party she wakes up to find it's raining. Her party is supposed to be outdoors and now - it'll be ruined! Granny tells her not to worry, all will be well, but she's upset and moody. So Granny sends her off to count the toadstools and there begins her adventure. I love the idea of the toadstools housing a pixie village. The pixies were funny - I liked the name Littlebreeze. I enjoyed the terms they used - her birthday was a "moon day", she was to have "many happies", gifts were "gifties", treats were "treaties" - there was something very endearing about it all. And their gifts were amusing. Golden lolly wrappers used for wrapping the gifties. I liked the idea of safety pins bringing good luck - not that I'm sure I've ever found a safety pin on the ground before.

I liked the parrot and the rainbow fairies. Poor Emerald getting lost and losing her magic treasure (Queen Jessica gave her a safety pin to cheer her up before sending her through the door but Emerald drops it and feels so ashamed she has never returned). It was great how her lost treasure tied into to Littlebreeze's gift. Hopefully the rainbow fairies will visit Blue Moon once more. And I loved Jessie's dress. I like the idea that it soaked up the colours from the rainbow fairies crystals. And this time Maybelle sends along her new charm - a tiny key for her charm bracelet. Only to work near toadstools. I really wanted to know if that meant she'd automatically be made big then as well. But my favourite part was the note the pixies sent saying sorry. To start with it was tiny and Jessie had to find her magnifying glass to read it. And their spelling cracked me up.

"DEAR JESSIE, WE ARE SORY YOU GOT BLONE AWAY. HEER ARE YOUR GIFTIES AND ONE EXTRA FROM THE REALM FOKE. MAYBELLE SEZ DON'T WORRY. IT ONLY WERKS NEAR TOADSTOOLS. SEE YOU SOONE.

I adored this addition to the series. 5 stars. ( )