Reviews
John Booth has been a favorite author of mine for a while now, and I am so delighted to have the opportunity to review his soon to be released “House Of Silver Magic” the first in a brand new Magic series.
Meet the Grange family. Mandy the eldest at fifteen, followed by William and twelve year old Jenny. With the mother Eleanor ever present to keep a watchful if disbelieving eye on her 3 children.
The relationship between the siblings is crafted with a sure knowledge of young people and their interactions.
The dialogue is marvelously accurate.
When husband and father James Grange dies in mysterious circumstance the powers that be appear to turn on the shocked and bereaved family, forcing them out of their home without a place to turn and no money.
Until their solicitor arrives with strange instructions and a cheque for 30,000 pounds.
His instructions make no sense to the family, how is it possible that they could win at auction a millionaires home for such a paltry sum. But win the house they do, and their adventure into the world of magic and mystery begins.
The three youngsters each have strange instances of seeing what can’t possibly be there.…Or can it?
Meet the Dees. The beautifully described magical protectors of the home. They are there to defend the occupants that are of “the blood’.
The relationship develops between the three Grange children and the protectors of the 'Source'
What follows is a young adult reader’s delight, and older readers me included will enjoy Author John Booth’s marvelous powers of description and clever, well delivered dialogue.
Evil doers intent on murdering the Grange family…carrying magic silver from the mysterious 'Source’ Mrs. Constance and her psychopathic son are the very epitome of evil, characterizations so well drawn that the reader can despise them without effort.
What follows is reading pleasure as good versus evil. With enough twists and turns to keep readers satisfied and interested.
The retaliation of the Dees against the murderous Mrs. Constance and her deranged son will have young readers satisfied that justice prevailed.The pacing is masterful. The plot line just terrific…and the intricate weaving of these things and that x factor all authors crave make this a must read for not only young adults, but for all readers that remain young at heart.
I look forward with pleasure to the remainder of the series.
Highly recommended. This book would make a wonderful Christmas gift for young and old alike.
**********
SMASHWORDS REVIEWS
Review by: Lisa Hinsley on Apr. 18, 2011 :
I downloaded Wizards with a little anticipation. I’m not the author’s target audience, but I enjoyed reading the Stephanie Meyer vampire novels with my teen daughter, so thought I’d give it a go. I read the first chapter just to get a feel for the book, and couldn’t put it down.
Wizards is an engrossing read – but should come with a warning. He ends on a cliff-hanger that makes me wish the next book was out now, as this is surely part of a series. The main character Jake, is a very likable character, fluffing his way through life and finding himself in increasingly tricky situations. He attracts trouble wherever he goes, while at the same time growing enormously as a person as the book goes on, and I was on his side the entire time. He’s the kind of teen boy I wouldn’t mind my daughter coming home with! Reading this has put me on a path to find any other books published by this author.
Last note: Hurry up and release another book with Jake, I am desperate to find out what happens next!
Review by: Maria K. on Feb. 28, 2011 :
Is it possible to be a major contributor to a brand new publishing house, a brilliant author with a sense of humor so wicked, it consistently leaves his readers in stitches, and still remain a genuinely nice guy? Apparently, yes. Enter John Booth.
Those who have read his naughty Drizzle stories, which I can only describe as psychedelic fantasy, might be startled to discover that the guy behind the curtain, who breathed life into the servant dwarf, his frequently clueless master and the rest of the insane retinue, is easily one of the sweetest people on the planet.
John's latest offering Wizards pushes the envelope of traditional fantasy and young adult literature.
Perhaps Eddie Izzard was onto something, when he said in Glorious that hopscotch was an ancient sacred ritual only girls understood. Well, Jake Morissey is a boy who appears to have figured it out... only to land in a truckload of trouble and mischief.
Rave Reviews for November Knight:
"November Knight is a stunningly creepy, atmospheric, and well-crafted story. It's a rare YA paranormal thriller that features characters you care about, a watertight plot, and enough appeal to hold both teen and adult readers spellbound until the last page. The story holds you rapt from the first word to the last. If you're looking for thrills, shivers down your spine, and even the occasional laugh, you can't do much better than this!"—CA Swark
"From the moment I started reading, I instantly felt connected to the main character, Jimmie. That connection never goes away. Pollack is a wizard of words the way he paints scenes, describes emotions, and sets the tone. This is a hauntingly good novel that will permanently be part of your essence once you read it."—Sybil L. Nelson
"I love Pollack's writing. His fiction is dark and unsettling yet he doesn't go for the traditional horror slasher route of so much teen fiction. The set-up here is wonderfully chilling—the boy who can foresee disaster but cannot necessarily prevent it from happening. Traumatised by his failure to save a little girl from drowning, he pours his soul into his music. There IS horror and some truly chilling scenes, but there is also a depth of tenderness in this book which certainly brought a tear to the eye of this cynical old reader. It's a novel about redemption as much as it's about ancient evils and teen love. Read it."—J Trelithen
"November Knight is a great edge of the seat read that keeps pulling you in for more with every word. The opening chapter sets the pace for the ride the reader is about to take and doesn't let up. The pace, the action, and the fear you experience with Jimmie keeps you reading, and makes it hard to stop. Just one more chapter... and you keep on going. Highly recommended."—Lorii
