J M Bergen

I received an Early Reviewer copy of this book through LibraryThing. I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was Book 2, even though it says book 2 on the cover. I started reading it, and was a little bit confused. Once I figured out that it was Book 2, I read a quick plot overview of the first book and continued onward. The main characters in the book are 14 year old boys who are on summer break from school. It's interesting that such young kids are tasked with finding magical artifacts or else the whole world will fall apart. Gotta love fantasy, amiright? Anyway, i found the characters to be likeable and the read to be very quick. The book read a little young for me (probably a middle grade read), but I didn't find it to be a bad read. It's reminiscent of Percy Jackson. I like that the book is a quick read, and that you get to see the characters grow their skillsets.… (more)

Twelve-year-old Thomas has been searching for a book about magic—real magic—since the night his father told him, “Magic is real,” and then walked out of his life. Thomas has finally found one. Now what?

The beginning of this book was amazing. It told me everything I needed to know about Thomas’s world simply by showing his interactions with other people. By Chapter 4, I knew how Thomas dealt with the school bully, crushes, friendships, his widowed workaholic mother, and his best friend’s large, noisy, extended family. I loved that Thomas never really leaves his home life behind. Even when he travels away from it, his mother and friends still play crucial roles. The plot involved magic, of course, but Thomas’s logic, courage, and friendships were just as important. This fantasy was a great read!… (more)

Thomas Wildus is back! The boys have had time to relax, and recuperate, but it's not to last. Following an apparently magical hacking, the race is on to find another magical artifact before Arius can get it. But sinister workings are afoot. Friends may prove enemies in disguise, and adversaries may become allies in this fast-paced sequel.

This was a great follow up to Book of Sorrows, and was certainly filled with surprises. Thomas finds a pair of unlikely allies that I hope remain allies after all. I find, after what they've been through, that I rather like them. I felt a great deal for Arius too, still blind from the last book. I'm partial to characters with eye issues, given my own visual challenges.

Highly recommended for fans of Rick Riordan Presents, Percy Jackson, Magnus Chase, and Harry Potter.

***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (more)