Malin Penns was born in a small town in Nottingham, England, in a small suburban house in a tight-knit neighbourhood. She grew up with her two brothers (one adopted and older than her by a year, and the other biological and two years younger than her). Her father, who had kept his wizard abilities secret, left her mother with her and her brothers when she was only six years old when he decided the burden of being a father of three was too much for him to bear, so she never got the chance to learn that she had magic in her veins. She was homeschooled until the second grade, and since then she never really fit in. She was outgoing, loud, and reckless, and she always stood up for those who wouldn't stand up for themselves. Even if the boys were humiliated by having to have a girl stand up for them, she would do it anyway. She was bullied by the girls in her class, and no one would be friends with her because she was 'problematic'. She didn't mind, however, as her two brothers (James being the elder one and Erik the younger) were always there for her. Whenever she came home from school crying, James would be there to tell her it was all going to be ok, and Erik would be there to make her laugh by purposely humiliating himself or telling a joke.

Malin was being teased relentlessly by her elder brother, James, for having to get reading glasses. She was getting so frustrated and upset that the mirror hanging on the wall beside the pair burst into pieces, showering bits of glass onto the floor, but not touching James and Malin.