Book Review: The Revenge of Magic by James Riley

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

A vacation day visit to Washington, DC by Fort Fitzgerald and his father ends tragically with his father's kidnapping by a monstrous creature who breaks through the earth. 

Fort struggles to make sense of his father's disappearance and vows to avenge his father's death. Six months later, a man named Dr. Opps shows up to his aunt's house and invites him to the Oppenheimer School to learn magic. Fort jumps at the chance with visions of Hogwarts running through his mind. He quickly discovers the school is a government run military school and nothing like Hogwarts with guards everywhere.

The school is full of secrets and Fort wants to solve the mysteries laid at his feet, like why everyone thinks he's trying to destroy the school and who the girl he sees when he sleeps that seems to take over his mind. The only problem is that Fort is given three days to master three spells in three days or he will be sent home. He learns it's nearly an impossible task but is he up to it? Will he be able to find out what's hiding within his new school before attacks? And what is with the books of magic discovered around the world next to bones of dragons? Who will have the power to use the magic and will Fort's friends, Jia, Rachel and Cyrus be able to help Fort?

While the idea of military magic academy is an intriguing take, the book lacks the magic of a strong protagonist that we see in the Harry Potter novels. Since the novel mentions Hogwarts, it's fair to compare the two and the reader will probably not connect as much to Fort as they do Harry. However, older middle grade readers who don't mind wading through the length of the novel, will find some fascinating tidbits of magical information.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (March 5, 2019)
ISBN: 978148148577
Ages: 8-12
Pages: 416

Joshua and the Lightning Road by Donna Galanti: Book Review

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FTC Disclosure: Book received at no charge in exchange for honest review.

Joshua never understood why his grandfather repeatedly warned him about lightning. But when he and his best friend, Finn get too close to the windows during a terrible storm, his grandfather's warnings take on new meaning. In a flash of lightning, Finn is snatched through the window. A hand  grabs Joshua as well and the pair are taken to another realm where they must work as slaves to provide the energy to power the strange world.

Even worse, the two friends are separated and Joshua must devise a plan to find Finn. Together with his new friend, Charlie, they escape their work quarters only to find themselves on the Lightning Road in the face of a frightening "child collector" and beasts scarier than anything they could have imagined. Joshua must find courage he never knew existed to face the battle of his life against the fallen Greek Gods in the Lost Realm of Nostos. Will he have what it takes to rescue the kidnapped children and return them to earth?

Galanti creates a vivid mythological world with plenty of action that will keep the attention of the reader. At times terrifying, Joshua and the Lightning Road also touches on more heartwarming aspects like friendship and what it really takes to make a family. A solid recommendation for the fantasy, adventure fan. Strong, relatable characters and imaginative world building make this debut children's novel one you will hope will continue in a several book series.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Month9Books May 19, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-1942664048

Pages 278

Ages: 9-12

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Book Review: Fluff Dragon (Bad Unicorn Book 2) by Platte F. Clark

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review.

Fresh off the defeat of a killer unicorn, Max Spencer and his friends want nothing more to return home. Instead they are trapped in the magical world of Margus. Unfortunately, Max is the only one who can read the Codex of Infinite Knowability so when it stops working, he has to figure out how to reboot it before he and his friends can return.

Max, his friends, and a cast of zany characters must thwart the evil Rezormoor Dreadbringer, who wants to acquire the Codex and find the recipe for reproducing a fluff dragon, a creature essential for making hair pieces for the powerful men of the kingdom. The humor in the first part of the book makes it hard to take the plot serious but it ends up working in the end. The reader will get plenty of laughs while still recognizing the danger for Max and his group.

Book 2 of the Bad Unicorn Trilogy, Fluff Dragon is a case where the second installment is better than the first.

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (4/14/2014)

Pages: 384

Ages:8-12

ISBN-13 9781442450158

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆

This book can be purchased at the following retailers.

Bad Unicorn by Platte Clarke: Book Review

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Nothing seems special about Max Spencer, a seventh grader who never stood out. That is, until the book, Codex of Infinite Knowability ends up in his hands and he discovers that he is the only one who can read it.

The book holds powerful magical spells, so powerful that an evil sorcerer from another realm will do anything to get his hands on it. When he sends Princess the Destroyer on a mission to bring back the book, Max will have to learn to use the Codex to save himself and his friends from the hungry unicorn. The sorcerer promises Princess the unicorn all of the humans she can eat if she brings back the book. Will Max have what it takes to fend off the man eating beast?

Though witty humor lifts Bad Unicorn and will give the reader plenty of chuckles, the target audience may be a little young to get some of the jokes, especially the ones that reference Al Gore. Author Platte Clark, creates a twisted magical world which proves intriguing but falls short on producing a likable protagonist and sidekicks. However, a riveting climax helps lift an otherwise rambling story. Nevertheless, those who love twits in fantasy laced with humor, may enjoy this book.

Good to Recommended for the upper middle grade fantasy reader.

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (April 16, 2013)

ISBN: 9781442450127

Pages: 432

This book can be purchased from the following retailers:

**I received a reader's copy at no charge from the publisher to facilitate my review.