In Believe by Angie Bailey readers are introduced to the world of Never-Believers, a group of people who don’t believe in things like smiling, magic, birthdays, or Christmas. In the middle of this dreary world is Abigale Johnson, a thirteen year old girl, who is a bit of an odd duck in her family. She lives a sad life being tormented by her brothers and overlooked by her parents. One day while on a train to her dreaded Aunt Violet’s house, she finds herself teleported into the world of the Believers, a people of color and magic. She lands on the Faedora, the fairy school train where the next generation of Believers are taught. It’s here she meets new friends who show her a greater world, as they try to unravel the mystery of how she ended up there to begin with.

The amazing world the author created in this imaginative novel is reminiscent of Harry Potter and I was instantly hooked. The book contains a rich universe that is intriguing, and kept making me want to read. I love the idea of a whole school on a floating train. This was a fun read and the twists were not what I had guessed and they were pleasant surprises.

Author Angie Bailey has created great colorful, and non colorful characters that contrast each other well. The Never-Believers give a horrid plain picture of what life without simple joys can be like, and then we get refreshed by the Believers who are colorful and different, and take joy in things that are unusual.

While I enjoyed this fascinating story, I felt that the pace moved quickly and I would have liked to have spent more time getting to understand the backstory with a buildup to the mystery. The world that is created is awesome and I would have liked to have seen more of it, and gotten to know its characters a bit deeper. I know this is just book one of the series, so I’m excited to see more of the world and characters in future books.

Believe is a fascinating story that allows your imagination to run wild. This is an intriguing fantasy story with fascinating characters that readers who are looking for a creative and heartfelt young adult adventure will surely enjoy. I highly recommend this beautiful read for the young, or young at heart.

Pages: 260 | ASIN: B09NTXJY43