The Hound of Rowan (2007)

This is a good series to read if you love Harry Potter and find yourself desperate for more. It is definitely not as amazing as Harry Potter, but few things are ;) But it is a good book and certainly worth reading. It follows the same basic story line of boy who doesn't know he's a wizard, a school of magic, a boy who's important, a prophecy, an evil villain, etc.

I'll agree with and echo what sensitivemuse said: if you're desperate for more Harry Potter, you'll probably love this book because the two are so similar. If you love Harry Potter and you'd be insulted by something 'copying' it, you'll probably hate this book. There are huuuuuge similarities between this and Harry Potter so decide for yourself if that's something you'd like or hate. ( )

This is a story about Max McDaniels, and how he does in his boarding school. Well, that's the basics. The story starts as Max and his dad goes into an art museum to celebrate his mom's birthday. (Apparently, she disappeared a long time ago... this has GOT to play a role somewhere...) On the way to the museum, Max saw a strange man, with, what looked like a dead eye (that's white). While escaping from that man, he sees a mysterious tapestry (other people say the tapestry has the Cattle Raid of Cooley on it. Tain Bo Cuailnge, as it's called). This is where Max's journey begins. He gets a letter requesting that he goes to a school called Rowan. In the school, he makes friends, rivals/enemies, and gets new abilities (amplifying, aka: superspeed). Later, when scrubbing the deck with enemy/rival Alex Munoz, he gets captured by the Enemy (aka: monsters intent on destroying the world). They later use his blood to reawaken the demon/evil thing Astaroth. With a little help from the White Eyed Guy (going by Ronin) he saves some kids that've been kidnapped and gets help.

This is a good book, with interesting ideas. With Max being a reincarnation(?) of Cuchulain, (Something in Irish myth...) he could do magic without being called that (aka: the "Spark"). Well, the books have it's ups and downs. One cool thing was that the Irish in the book is REAL. The cover is kinda cool too, because all those little pictures? They tell parts of the story. They also have clever twists, like Alex Munoz trying to murder Max, because he apparently hates Max THAT much. (Everyone know they were rivals, but no one would expect that he would go THAT far...) All in all, it's a great book.

VOYA - Heather Hepler
After a trip to the Art Institute in Chicago, where Max discovers a tapestry that literally comes to life in front of him, he is invited to attend Rowan, a very exclusive school on the East Coast. His decision to enroll places him at the center of an ancient power struggle between good and evil. Leaving his father and a relatively safe and normal life behind, Max enters a world where things are often not as they seem. Max is paired with David, a very intelligent and gifted boy. Together they design their own room, or rather the ancient building housing the school designs it for them. They find themselves sharing a richly decorated room complete with a ceiling that somehow allows them to view the stars. It is only the first of many unusual discoveries that the new students make. With a kitchen staffed by a hag and a reformed ogre, a pet sanctuary filled with a variety of magical creatures, and a roster of classes that suggest more than just a basic academic education, Rowan continues to surprise them at every turn. Despite the obvious nods to the magic and creativity of Harry Potter, the first installment in The Tapestry series offers sufficiently unique characters and an interesting twist on an American boarding school experience to keep it from being just another knock-off. Max's intelligence and goodhearted nature give the story a solid emotional core even as the surprising twists and turns keep the pages turning. Neff's first novel is sure to draw many new fans eager to see what happens next ( )

The Hound of Rowan is an enjoyable first novel, following in the literary footsteps of many boarding-school stories (magical or otherwise). There are a few rough spots in the writing/storytelling, but overall this is a solid book. ( )