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You can win one of three copies of The Great Fox Heist being given away by WRD magazine.
🥳🎊🎉
Details available here: Link to competition here
As early copies of The Great Fox Heist are sent out some reviews have started to come in.
“What is so fantastic about The Great Fox Heist is how maturely Justyn treats the reader – magic is such an alluring concept and you are instantly captivated by the impossibility of Flick’s latest mission amongst trying to work out who is trustworthy and who’s out to exploit the Bell System. Flick continues to be a fantastic role model for children (particularly in the way that her disability doesn’t deter her from the task at hand) and I also loved how this book gives us answers about magic’s most potentially dangerous weapon. It all leads to a shocking, twist-filled finale, which will leave your head spinning, and you’ll be desperate for more. Dispelling the illusion that sequels aren’t always better, The Great Fox Heist ups the tension and murky alliances so The Great Fox series just gets better and better. By the end, you’ll be thinking Paul Daniels who?”
Link to early copy review website
“The Great Fox Heist is a thrilling adventure that will keep you guessing; loyalties are tested and questions are definitely raised. With twists that will leave you reeling, I promise that this is a sequel that is even better than the first book and one that will leave you desperately hoping that there will be a book 3. It’s a compelling read and one that got me out of bed early on Saturday morning so I could finish it. I loved this book and will be shouting about it every chance I get – and I will absolutely be adding it to my April display in Waterstones Newcastle.”
Link to early copy review website
“I was hooked in from the very off and desperate to see what was going to happen – both in terms of the illusions themselves and to Flick. Through his fabulous writing and clear specialist knowledge of illusions, Justyn Edwards ensured that as before I was unable to work out how the tricks were pulled off and could not see how the plot was going to develop, making this one of my favourite books of the year so far – one I urge you to treat yourself to if you haven’t already.
I have no idea as to a date for a possible Book 3 but I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for it, as I know many others will. Until then, I will continue to hope that I will be able to magically increase my shelf space somehow!”
Link to early copy review website
“A magician will try to pull the wool over your eyes and have you believe you are seeing things you are not. There’s no pulling the wool over any eyes here though as I tell you that Justyn Edwards’ sequel to The Great Fox Illusion is spectacular.
After being victorious in a televised magic contest, Flick Lions and her accomplice magician Charlie are in the Swiss town of Linth. Flick is hoping to find her father and that the Great Fox is true to his word. The Great Fox hopes to become the new chancellor of The Global Order of Magic. For them both to get what they want, Flick must pull off a seemingly impossible trick…steal a priceless necklace from the most secure bank vault in the world…
Penned with the magic wand of a master illusionist, The Great Fox Heist is another sparkling story of magic, deception and misdirection. This brilliantly original and fresh series continues apace and this time the stakes are higher, danger is lurking around every turn and nothing is as it seems in the picturesque town of Linth.
When magicians roll into town, you can be certain of one thing…trickery. And in this fast-paced, uber-slick tale Flick needs to quickly unravel what exactly is going on if she is going to pull off an impossible heist, get the answers she needs about her dad and keep the Bell System, the greatest trick of all time with the power to change the world forever, out of the wrong hands.
Brilliantly written, this thrilling, page-turning mystery will keep you guessing. Like the best illusionists Edwards holds you in the palm of his hand, completely mesmerised by what is happening and frantically trying to piece together the puzzles and clues as you work alongside Flick in a frenetic race against time to uncover the truth. This won’t be an easy task though, the book even warns you about this with its opening line, ‘This book is a trick.’
At the heart of this magnificent story is a main character who is feisty, observant, intelligent and somewhat vulnerable. Desperate for answers but unsure who to trust, Flick often goes it alone and even her prosthetic leg – that is written about sensitively and authentically – cannot slow her down. Her ever-developing friendship and connection with Charlie is another magic thread as once again we root for the duo to pull another rabbit out of the hat and to find the truth through the lies.
If you’re a magical nerd like me who not only loves magic acts and fascinating illusions but wants to learn some of the tricks of the trade then you need to read this book. Whilst members of the esteemed Magic Circle may not be too fond of Edwards revealing closely guarded secrets I am loving it and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Big twists, big turns and even bigger reveals! Superb entertainment value. Justyn Edwards, take a bow.”
Link to early copy review of The Great Fox Heist
Cover reveal for the French edition of The Great Fox Illusion as early copies of The Great Fox Heist are sent out
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The cover for the French edition of The Great Fox Illusion has been revealed – Les Prodigieux Secrets du magicien Fox. It looks stunning thanks to the amazing artwork of Flavia Sorrentino.
And speaking of her amazing covers, early copies of The Great Fox Heist are being sent out now, and they look yummy. 🙂


The Great Fox Roadshow (now with added lasers) will be appearing at the following events over the next few weeks and months.
A series of World Book Day school visits | 2-3 March |
Dudley Children’s Book Awards Ceremony | 21 March |
The Great Fox Heist launch – Waterstones Truro | 8 April |
The Great Fox Heist launch – school visits | 18-19 April |
Reading Rocks – virtual event | 26 April |
The Great Fox Heist launch – World Tour of some London bookshops (more details to follow!) | Early May |
The Festival of Imagination at the Eden Project | 27th, 28th, 31st May |
St Austell Festival of Children’s Literature | 17 June |
Kernow Youth Book Awards Ceremony | 5 July |
Find out more about booking events here
The Great Fox Illusion is listed for the Phoenix Book Award, the Dudley Children’s Book Award, the Children’s Literature Festivals Book Awards, and the Kernow Youth Book Awards
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The Great Fox Illusion has been longlisted for the Phoenix Book Award and the Children’s Literature Festivals Book Awards. It has also been shortlisted for the Dudley Children’s Book Award and the Kernow Youth Book Awards. More news to follow! 🙂

The cover for The Great Fox Heist was revealed by the fantastic Heather at Reading Rocks – https://wherereadingrocks.com. Produced by the brilliant Flavia Sorrentino (https://flaviasorr.com), it’s another stunner!
THE GREAT FOX HEIST
Flick is a magician who needs answers. Her father is still missing, and top illusionist the Great Fox doesn’t seem interested in finding him, despite his promises. Meanwhile, she and her friend Charlie must represent the Great Fox in a new competition in the Swiss town of Linth. The Global Order of Magic is electing a new chancellor, and the Fox insists that if he wins, it will help – but Flick isn’t so sure. Determined to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance and of The Bell System, his greatest and most mysterious magic trick, Flick must pull off an impossible diamond heist to win. But danger lurks around every corner, and nothing is what it seems.

Because the Blue Peter Book Awards and the Costa Children’s Book Awards both closed, author Elle McNicoll set up a new prize – the Adrien Prize. This award is for novels with a positive portrayal of a character with a disability, and The Great Fox Illusion has made the longlist!
Here is the full longlist:
The Night The Moon Went Out by Samantha Baines (Bloomsbury)
The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards (Walker)
Wilder Than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell (Puffin)
A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushby (Farshore)
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks but Emily Kenny (Rock the Boat)
The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton (Puffin)
THE GREAT FOX ILLUSION by Justyn Edwards, narrated by Charlie Sanderson @justynedwards, @WalkerBooksUK @CharlieSanderohttps://t.co/q2dChYIeEU
— W. F. Howes Ltd. (@WFHowes) November 2, 2022
We are so delighted that The Great Fox Illusion by @justynedwards has been longlisted for The Adrien Prize! Congratulations to Justyn and all the longlisted authors! https://t.co/g5iGxvXDq9 pic.twitter.com/yktoUTDRaS
— Walker Books (@WalkerBooksUK) November 2, 2022
Children in Read has been running for the past 6 years and raises money for BBC Children in Need by auctioning off signed and dedicated books donated by authors. This year, lot 563 is a signed and dedicated copy of The Great Fox Illusion, complete with a signed postcard and bookmark. Why not put in a bid for this great cause?
THE GREAT FOX ILLUSION is released in Italian as CACCIA ALLA GRANDE VOLPE. The publisher Rizzoli says:
“A tredici anni Flick Lions è un’esperta di illusionismo; del resto suo padre, scomparso in circostanze oscure, era un grande mago. Per questo decide di partecipare a una gara televisiva in cui il premio in palio è nientemeno che l’eredità della Grande Volpe, un celebre illusionista senza discepoli. Non le è difficile passare le selezioni e assicurarsi un posto nella competizione. L’antica villa in cui si svolge la sfida è tutto tranne che ordinaria, tra pareti mobili e un ascensore parlante, ma sono i misteri da risolvere e gli indizi da trovare a renderla davvero unica. Le due squadre di concorrenti si affrontano in una gara di astuzia e velocità: devono svelare per primi i trucchi che si celano dietro numeri grandiosi. Uno tra tutti? La sparizione della Statua della Libertà. Flick però non è lì tanto per vincere la competizione quanto per un segreto che cambierà per sempre il mondo della magia. E per trovarlo è disposta a tutto. Tra inganni e illusioni, Caccia alla Grande Volpe ci trascina in una gara senza esclusione di colpi, in cui s’intrecciano coraggio e vendetta, magia e avventura.”
In other news, The Great Fox Roadshow (me in my new trainers) will be appearing at the Appledore Book Festival and the Falmouth Book Festival over the next few weeks. The show will feature lasers, a live trip to Mars, my trumpet-playing cat jumping 23 buses in a speedboat, and a lot of exaggeration. Hope to see you there!
The Great Fox Illusion (De grote vossenjacht) has been released in Dutch as a hardback by De Fontein, and it has now also been recorded and released as an audiobook in English (available on CD or download), and in Dutch (available for download on storytel.com). In other news, the release date for Great Fox 2 (ssshhhhh – title and cover haven’t been revealed yet!) will be April 2023.
It was a real pleasure to be interviewed for the In The Reading Corner podcast series. You can listen to this HERE.
There is also an interview about The Great Fox Illusion on the ReadingZone website. Here are some of the answers but you can read the full interview by clicking HERE.
4. Can you tell us about your main character, Flick, and why you have given her a disability?
Disabilities have always played a big part in my family, and Flick embodies a lot of what I observe and admire in people who have disabilities. She works with what she has. Despite her limitations, she doesn’t hang about and she takes no prisoners. She is a very determined young lady!
5. Flick has a lot to battle through, including the way people respond to her disability. What would you like your readers to take from her experiences?
Readers with disabilities need to see themselves in books and enjoy their stories being told. Readers without disabilities need to learn about those that have them. I strongly believe everyone benefits from that interchange.
9. So, can you give us a glimpse into Book 2?
Flick and Charlie end the first book having stepped behind the curtain and into the world of magicians. They’ve put some noses out of joint in that process. In the second book, those rivalries increase, and Flick and Charlie find they have the attention of some very powerful enemies. They’re basically in a lot of trouble!