magic

Book Review: “Amari and the Night Brothers” by B. B. Alston

- Barb Leave a comment
book cover for Amari and the Night Brothers on e-reader

AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B. B. Alston officially ranks as one of my fav middlegrade books. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading it and when I finished, I wanted more—so glad it’s the first book in a series. Its title is listed by HarperCollins as Amari and the Night Brothers: Supernatural Investigations: Volume Number 1. 

Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

There was much to like about the book, so here’s a bit of the what’s-what:

Amari Peters isn’t from a posh neighborhood and is on scholarship to her private school, a place where she’s bullied. Her older brother Quinton has gone missing, and now she’s in trouble at school for standing up to the bullies. Things are a mess. But when she receives a strange briefcase from her missing brother and a nomination for a place in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Amari goes on the hunt for Quinton. 

At the Bureau, she’s enrolled in the summer tryouts for Junior Agent and learning all about the supernatural and magical world that’s filled with magicians, dragons, fairies, sasquatches, and even talking elevators with their own distinct personalities. She’ll compete for a spot in the program against kids who’ve grown up in this fantastical world, while dodging enemies, and learning who she can and can’t trust. Not everything or everyone is as they seem. 

Amari worries she won’t have what it takes to make it through the Junior Agent trials, stand up to the bullies in her training class, learn how to use her own magic, and find her missing brother. 

So why did I like the book so much?

As I’ve said in my social media posts, I think AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS is immersive, imaginative, and thoroughly engaging to read. I was drawn in from the opening pages and had to read more. Amari is a kid I would have loved to have had as a friend when I was a kid. She’s smart, brave, compassionate, and fun. 

The magical elements in the book were fun and unique. I particularly fell in love with the elevators and I love Amari’s roommate’s inventions, especially the sneakandle. 

I most definitely recommend reading AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B.B. Alston. You can read more about the book here.

Book Review: The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

- Barb Leave a comment

“Remember that you are much different now than you were an hour ago, Ceony. Before you merely read about magic; now you have it.”

Chapter 2, page 27, (Mg. Thane)

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg surprised me. This book has a unique magic system that I found intriguing as well as entertaining. I’ve not read another like The Paper Magician and it kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s book one of a trilogy and now I find myself wishing I had bought all three at the same time.

PaperMagician

Author Holmberg introduces readers to Ceony, a young magician embarking on her apprenticeship with Magician Thane. Ceony has selected to enter her post-graduate studies as an apprentice for paper magic. Quite the disappointment to Ceony who had desired something a bit more exciting. Things start out a bit rocky for her as Mg. Thane seems eccentric and not at all what Ceony expected in a Master. However, after a short time, she begins to settle into her new role even when Mg. Thane leaves her on her own for a few days.

Just when Ceony has begun to feel like maybe bonding with paper magic wasn’t the worst thing, her world and life are threatened. A mysterious woman shows up at the Thane home and assaults Mg. Thane, ripping his heart from his chest and stealing away with it. Ceony has to use all her newly developing skills as a paper magician as well as her intellect and bravery to find the woman holding Mg. Thane’s heart and stop her.

Charlie N. Holmberg doesn’t just give us another story with magic and a young apprentice. The Paper Magician is dark, imaginative, and beautifully written. It takes the reader on an intimate journey into one man’s actual heart. Ceony magically enters Mg. Thane’s heart and it’s not a place for the squeamish.

There are lighter moments as well and Fennel the paper dog was a favorite. I didn’t immediately like the character of Ceony, but I grew to admire her and appreciate her as the story unfolded. I am looking forward to reading more about her and this world that Holmberg has created.  

I highly recommend The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg. The next book in the series is The Glass Magician, followed by The Master Magician. You can check out blurbs for all three books here, on the website of Charlie N. Holmberg.