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.

I Shall Awaken by Katerina Sardicka

Most of my posts are for middle-grade novels, but this one is for young adults. There's nothing inappropriate, but the fear gets intense at times.

What worked:

The mystery of four missing children emerges when three of them suddenly appear twelve years later. The fact they have no memory of their disappearance allows readers to wonder, but the question of what happened to the fourth boy Max adds a twist. Astrid is determined to save her brother but that requires an understanding of what happened. A twelve-day deadline creates additional suspense as days go by. Dora was with the kids when they disappeared from kindergarten nap time, but no one knows why she was left behind. People think she’s crazy when they hear her account of the events so she’s now reluctant to share what she saw. The whole plot focuses on Astrid’s efforts to solve the mystery, find her little brother, and bring him safely home.

The kids receive mixed reactions when they reappear, but the general public is consistently rude, nosy, and opinionated. Astrid’s mother has been ill since her disappearance, and her uncle, cousin, and grandmother are not happy to see Astrid return. Dora’s father becomes very angry and violent when her friends come back, and Sophia’s mother already had her declared legally dead years earlier. The village is male-dominated and the Elders set rules and pass judgment for all citizens to follow. The strict atmosphere is stifling and suffocates the young people. The teens find little understanding and support to help them heal.

The story has an air of the supernatural, but the author keeps any specifics vague for the first half of the book. Children wear tattoos to guard against evil spirits and spells are cast at bedtime to ward off demons. Astrid suffers nightmares to the point that she’s afraid she’ll be attacked by shadowy creatures if she falls asleep. The ceremonial bonfire lit during a holiday celebration goes out and villagers are unable to get it relit. A dead cat is found among its ashes and other animals start dying around town and in the woods. Something evil has clearly targeted the town, but what? The truth behind Max’s disappearance is a huge, expected twist as the plot nears its climax.

What didn’t work as well:

The plot in the first half of the book progresses steadily, but slowly. Astrid tries to learn what happened twelve years ago but receives almost no assistance. The continual resistance she encounters helps to develop the conflict but it also keeps the mystery from moving forward. The second half of the book is chocked full of tension and suspense as secrets are revealed and Astrid realizes what must be done. The resolution leaves me wondering.

The Final Verdict:

Discover your power within. After establishing the conflict and backstories in the early pages, the plot becomes an exciting, supernatural mystery with surprises, twists, and imagination along the way. I can easily recommend you give this book a shot.

Lost in the Mushroom Maze (Dungeoneer Adventures #1) by Ben Costa & James Parks

What worked:

Coop is the only human at the Dungeoneer Academy but he’s the leader of the Green Team. He’s also the target of two academy bullies, and his best friend Oggie, a bugbear, is supportive but not much help when they attack. Oggie is pretty strong but he’s better at drawing than wrestling like others of his kind. Mindy, an imp, provides the brains for the team, while Daz, a cute and daring boggart, does many of the more physical tasks. The Green Team will need to learn to mesh their talents if they hope to pass their upcoming Final Gauntlet to avoid expulsion from the academy. The title refers to the final test, although the circumstances of the challenge are not what the characters expect. The artful illustrations don’t just accompany the text, as readers will miss important details if the pictures are skipped over.

Dungeoneers are like archaeological adventurers as they search for lost or undiscovered places. Surviving in a maze of giant mushrooms provides a taste of what this series will offer. The Green Team encounters dense vegetation that often becomes more lethal and dangerous than they expect. Giant beasts roam the wilderness, searching for prey to devour, and threaten the team’s survival, and even innocent-looking little mushrooms might feast upon unsuspecting characters. Coop’s paralyzing fear of spiders only magnifies the terrors found inside the maze.

The plot is told from Coop’s point of view, as he tries to lead his friends past challenges of all kinds. Coop battles with self-confidence throughout the whole book and his internal conflict isn’t resolved until the exciting climax. He doesn’t see himself as anything special and can’t understand what others might see in him. He has a secret crush on Daz that tends to distract his attention at times. Coop has tremendous respect for the Dungeoneer’s Code and he has it memorized and follows its tenets at all times. The first few refer to dungeoneers in general, while the others provide guidance while in the field. Never split the party, fortune favors the bold, and expect the unexpected are especially relevant rules.

What didn’t work as well:

Nothing comes to mind, so I won’t force myself to think of something.

The Final Verdict:

Always do the right thing. This book won’t make literary history, but it will be very entertaining for middle-grade readers. While it’s not the best book written, I can’t think of anything that didn’t work well. It has interesting characters, suspenseful action, evokes feelings, and describes good friends accepting each other and working together. I highly recommend you give it a shot.

A Reluctant Witch's Guide to Magic by Shivaun Plozza

What worked:

Reluctant witch is an appropriate title, since Willa is slow to accept her magical ability. Despite witnessing her thoughts causing things to happen, she doesn’t want to stay in the king’s castle to learn about magic. In one year, she’ll be forced to decide which of the two covens will become her home, and choosing from opposing sides isn’t unique in children’s novels. However, in this case, Willa will blow up if she doesn’t make a choice, and that is truly peculiar and imaginative. The two witch covens have been at war for years, casting spells back and forth at each other, with an area of Ordinary Folk living in between. The focus of the plot shifts from Willa’s problem to mysterious spells being cast directly at Ordinaries, a violation of the laws of the land.

Willa is an orphan, and she dreams of being reunited with her parents, victims of a spell that changed them into clouds. This is a bit strange, since most of the memories describe them as being critical and trying to suppress her undiscovered magic. Willa hasn’t felt like she belonged with anyone since her parents left, so she’s excited to meet Gish, a messenger for the king’s clerk, and Marceline, a princess looking for adventure. Together, the story describes their efforts and escapades to find the rogue witch terrorizing the Ordinary Folk and to help Willa. There must be a way for her to not choose one of the creepy, disgusting covens without exploding when she turns thirteen.

The author makes humor a big part of the descriptions. The opening scene finds frogs literally raining down from the sky, and other spells cause people and animals to dance until they drop or capture their voices in floating bubbles. The king is frightened of magic and is often found behind plants hiding from his constituents. The prince takes over and becomes obsessed with finding witches which makes him an irritating character, if not an actual antagonist. Willa searches the library for help with her magical problem, but a mischievous, rogue book constantly torments her and thwarts her efforts. Spell-casting by the two covens involves dancing, spinning around, and repeating nonsense words, and Willa’s attempts frequently result in unpredictable incantations. An inner voice of wild magic wants to be released, so Willa frequently has mental clashes as she struggles to keep the power under control.

What didn’t work as well:

The silliness of the magic sometimes overshadows more important moments. It’s awkward to have critical confrontations or investigations while strange-looking characters or errant spells are involved. However, the whimsy and playfulness of the book are keys to its appeal. It has a clear, engaging conflict that is enhanced by the author’s wit.

The Final Verdict:

You can’t make a swan quack. Learning to be who you’re meant to be, not what others try to make you, is an important lesson. The mystery of a rogue witch stirring up war and a main character who might explode offer compelling problems to entertain readers. The addition of humor is icing on the cake. I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

The Dragon Flyers Book 1 by Cynthia Star

What worked:

The pace of the book is very rapid which should appeal to reluctant readers. The chapters are short and include illustrations of the characters and their dragons, and the whole thing can be read in one sitting. The plot follows David and his dragon Moonlight, as David hopes to join the elite Dragon Flyers team. He must learn everything in the “Dragon Book of Secrets” before applying for membership. He then participates in his first act as a new member, and this whole story is completed in under 60 pages.

The characters and dragons are quite interesting despite limited descriptions. David is surprised to learn the Dragon Flyers are led by a girl, but he’s happy to become a member alongside his best friend Joe. The individual dragons have unique powers that are very useful when upholding the Dragon Flyers Motto: defenders of right, righters of wrong. David’s dragon is able to control moonlight, while another one is able to hide using camouflage. The first adventure involves rescuing one of their comrades.

What didn’t work as well:

The problem with a book this short is it leaves out details concerning the characters and plots. Little time is given to a backstory, so readers are thrown right into the action from the beginning. We’re left wondering about the world happening beyond David’s location, how David became paired with a dragon, and exactly who the Dragon Flyers are defending.

The Final Verdict:

Working together as a team. The premise of the book is great, especially having dragons with unique abilities working together. More description and details would make this book meatier, as it feels like it’s over just as it gets started. I know there are at least two more books in the series, so I recommend reading them all at the same time.

Barb and the Ghost Blade (Barb the Last Berzerker #2) by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

What worked:

This is the second book in the series but it can be read independently. Barb is human but can raise her berzerker powers to become a devastating warrior. She’s accompanied by several loyal creature characters, including her closet friend, a yeti named Porkchop. You can read the first book if you’re curious about how they first met. Barb hears the legend of a Ghost Blade that most berzerkers believe to be a myth that supposedly makes the person invincible. She already carries the Shadow Blade from book one, but it’s coveted by the book’s antagonist.

Barb receives a vision from her deceased mother saying she must find someone called Franny Flame Fingers who can summon the Wise Wizards. They will be needed to stop Witch Head from destroying Bailiwick. The rest of the plot tells of Barb’s exciting adventure to fulfill this quest. In this world, monsters and humans are enemies and berzerkers are especially hated by the monsters. However, Barb is able to display empathy for monsters in the first book, so she may be the character to end the conflict. Her efforts are complicated since all the other berzerkers had their minds controlled by Witch Head in the previous book.

The illustrations in this graphic novel and the added humor, some of it crude, are sure to entertain young readers. Using colorful illustrations for fight scenes and time changes helps the plot move briskly without unneeded description. Porkchop has a fear of spiders, a giant is easily offended, and the characters exchange playful banter throughout. Some scenes are amusing simply because of the situations or the idea that monsters are involved. A disguised Barb finds a belt she likes in the middle of a city she was forbidden to enter, and the yeti wants her to visit his favorite BBQ joint in the same city.

What didn’t work as well:

I’m not crazy about how the book ended at a climactic point in the story. The lack of words limits the author’s ability to fully develop characters’ personalities or to describe events, but that’s normally to be expected with graphic novels. However, it makes this book an easy, entertaining read for readers and reluctant readers alike.

The Final Verdict:

Barb kicks butt! The series moves briskly for young readers, and Barb displays an admirable sense of tolerance and understanding toward her “enemies”. The light-hearted, but tender, interactions between the characters make it easy for readers to become engrossed in the plot. I recommend you give this book a shot and suggest you read “Barb the Last Berzerker!” too.

Into the Vortex (Dylan Dover #1) by Lynne Howard

What worked:

The plot tells a familiar tale, with a twist, of an average 12-year-old boy discovering his amazing powers. The prologue shares a prophecy of four quadruplets being born that might save, or destroy all immortals, and then describes some shady activities surrounding the birth of quadruplets, three boys and one girl. Twelve years later Dylan flees from bullies and accidentally falls through a vortex where he’s collected by guards. It turns out he’s one of the quadruplets and a warlock, and there are many characters surprised by his appearance. Much of the plot deals with reuniting the siblings and includes many twists and uncertainties.

There are different levels of evil laced in the story. Balthazar is the main antagonist, as it’s his plan originally to separate the quadruplets at birth. He works for one of the immortal leaders, but it’s not clear if this man is committed to maintaining peace. Balthazar posts an elf named Reus at the vortex to prevent any of the children from returning from the human world, but Reus fails with that task. Balthazar orders Reus to correct the mistake, and Reus must obey to remain alive. He follows Balthazar out of fear, not loyalty, so it makes his character unpredictable.

The most interesting part of the story is the mystery surrounding the quadruplets. They’re separated into four different places at birth, but the location of the girl isn’t shared. It might be Dylan’s new friend named Thea due to her special abilities, but she doesn’t have the birthmark shared by the three boys. It will create a complicated relationship in the future if she turns out to be the missing sister. Dylan is reunited with his older brother Remy fairly quickly, and the brothers discover they’re more powerful together than apart. The problem of the final child is left unanswered for most of the plot. The major unanswered question is whether reuniting the children will be the salvation or ruination for immortals. The prophecy is unclear.

What didn’t work as well:

The book’s conclusion leads right into a sequel but leaves a feeling of unfinished business. It’s understandable given the circumstances, but I wish the author had chosen a different place to stop. A couple of major changes are introduced, and readers will want to know what happens next. I’m looking forward to the next book!

The Final Verdict:

Don’t mess with magical brothers! The idea of separated, magical quadruplets is creative, but still familiar enough to easily follow. Dylan, Remy, and Thea are interesting, and likable characters and they’re determined to support each other to the end. Readers will enjoy the mystery, intrigue, and adventure of the story, and I highly recommend you give this book a shot.