The Journey Begins: Magic Hunters #1 by Jill and Brad Williamson

What worked:

The story focuses on Hunter, the woodsman’s son from the Snow White story. He makes an ill-advised deal with a traveling minstrel that results in the elimination of all magic in the kingdom. Magical objects are sucked up into a giant, red cloud in the sky, and characters with any connection to magic now find they have selective amnesia. Some can’t remember their own names. Where can Hunter find help? Wizards and fairies lose their magic from the inadvertent spell, so searching for them will be useless. He ends up traveling throughout the realm in search of elusive answers. The conspiracy to eliminate magic may be larger than readers expect.

This book is a spin-off from the story of Snow White, and other fairy tales and stories are referenced too. The characters range from Robin Hood to Merlin to Mother Goose. The magic mirror is the starting point for the devastating spell, although it may not be the magic mirror from Snow White’s story. Hunter’s cousins are sheepherders named Bo and Mary, and several queens are former fairy tale characters. These details add a bit of familiarity to make connections with characters and events easier to follow. The author keeps some of the information vague allowing the story to remain fresh and different. Hunter’s main companion is Izzy and it’s unclear which fairy tale she comes from. She’s lost her memory but her clothes tell Hunter she’s probably from royalty. Her positive outlook in most situations is a refreshing attitude as the pair encounter new obstacles and challenges.

I normally prefer to have a clear conflict, antagonist, and goal in mind, but the author keeps these vague. The loss of magic is the obvious issue but why it happens is unknown. Who was the character trapped in the mirror and who was the minstrel setting things in motion? Why have they conspired to eliminate magic in the kingdom and what might be their motive for doing it? Hunter and Izzy discover missing objects and memories as they travel, but they don’t know if there are unseen consequences from the purge of magic. Readers will slowly learn the truth right along with Hunter and Izzy.

What didn’t work as well:

The first half of the book seems to find the plot mired in a rut. It feels as though Hunter is making progress only to find he’s on the wrong track. One step forward then one step to the side. It takes the plot a while to finally gain traction, but finding a crooked old man in the middle of the forest, who might or might not be trustworthy, gets things moving forward.

The Final Verdict:

Help comes from unexpected sources. The most entertaining aspect of the book is the wide range of fairy tale, nursery rhyme, and literary characters making appearances along the way. Izzy’s kindness and positivity are other highlights. This book is the first step in a series-long adventure and I recommend you give it a shot.