Tangle Magic (large format edition)

Jessica Palmer's latest colouring book, Tangle Magic, features 80 fantastical hand-drawn images, each with a hidden 'charm' motif to look out for. The artworks are on high quality paper so there is no show-through, plus there's a page on how to colour a gem. * Crafts Beautiful * Tangle Magic was published in its original smaller format back in 2016; this new edition is larger, which makes the fantastic illustrations look even more impressive. The paper is smooth with a slightly glossy texture and of above average thickness, so will take water-based pens if you don't press too hard (not Sharpies). Like its sister publication Tangle Wood (also reviewed on this site) it is also ideal for newer media such as brush pens or watercolour pencils. Many pictures are spread on two pages, and there are fewer options for your own drawings than in Tangle Wood, but then this book has its own charm. For one thing it comes complete with a colouring lesson at the front on how to colour a gem using pencils and there are quite a few gems to test your new skills on. The emphasis is very much on fantasy, and the author's imagination has been given free rein resulting in some amazing and original images. A peacock rides on a broomstick, a chameleon wears a wizard's hat, chickens ride bicycles and a bird is made from snowflakes. Birds feature widely, fighting over gems, wearing clothes and ornate crowns. There are pages of jewellery to add gems to, creatures made up of vegetation and a blank crystal ball awaits your own vision of the future. The line widths vary from very fine to medium, but all look hand drawn with no pixilation. Another feature common to all this author's books is a list of items to find hidden in the pictures and a this book belongs to page. Even the covers can be coloured, plus the end papers. I do hope we haven't seen the last of Jessica Palmer's wonderful colouring books. -- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *