M.S.V. Walker's Blog
August 23, 2025
Editorial Review
Publisher's Weekly Booklife,
EDITOR'S PICK
Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions.
Drawing inspiration from classic magic-academy fantasies while forging its own path, the first entry in Walker’s promising series stars Mica Powers, a 13-year-old daredevil who travels the Superstition Mountains on a thunder cycle. While searching for his kidnapped mother, he dreams of spinning storms like the rest of his friends. Along the way, he meets newcomer Estee Bradford, an orphan sold for her powers by cruel foster parents. As Mica and Estee’s powers manifest, another power sleeps, hunted by those with evil intentions. Entangled in this wild clash, Mica and Estee must use their new abilities to uncover the legend at the heart of the Superstition Mountains.
As students at the Domain Arizona School of Spinical Studies, Mica and his perceptive pals star in a spellbinding, swiftly paced introduction to this magical world. Walker’s vivid imagery fully immerses the reader in each surprising scene: “Rolling waves of thunder echoed over the ice-covered ground, and the odd sound of a woman’s laughter reverberated everywhere.” Every quirk of the Spinicals colors their culture, whether it’s their allergy to rubber or the glitter in their hair, and the Domain Arizona reflects this vivid inventiveness with its landscapes of copper, silver, and lapis lazuli. Walker and the Spinicals stir feelings of awe, and their mythic feats keep the story fresh and exciting.
The wonder of Spinical magic is balanced by relatable characters and a commitment to emotional realism, no matter what powers they wield or dangers they face. Mica himself has a reckless, passionate charm and a yearning for his mother that pulls at the heartstrings. Estee, too, evokes sympathy with a life so loveless she questions even the smallest acts of kindness. The Spinicals all boast distinct personalities that are a joy to watch in action, especially when they work together. Adolescent readers will find them easy to relate to and root for. A thrilling start to a series full of whimsy and passion.
Takeaway: Electrifying opener to an action-packed, character-rich YA fantasy.
Comparable Titles: Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Richard Paul Evans’s Michael Vey.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
EDITOR'S PICK
Mica Powers and the Legend of the Superstitions.
Drawing inspiration from classic magic-academy fantasies while forging its own path, the first entry in Walker’s promising series stars Mica Powers, a 13-year-old daredevil who travels the Superstition Mountains on a thunder cycle. While searching for his kidnapped mother, he dreams of spinning storms like the rest of his friends. Along the way, he meets newcomer Estee Bradford, an orphan sold for her powers by cruel foster parents. As Mica and Estee’s powers manifest, another power sleeps, hunted by those with evil intentions. Entangled in this wild clash, Mica and Estee must use their new abilities to uncover the legend at the heart of the Superstition Mountains.
As students at the Domain Arizona School of Spinical Studies, Mica and his perceptive pals star in a spellbinding, swiftly paced introduction to this magical world. Walker’s vivid imagery fully immerses the reader in each surprising scene: “Rolling waves of thunder echoed over the ice-covered ground, and the odd sound of a woman’s laughter reverberated everywhere.” Every quirk of the Spinicals colors their culture, whether it’s their allergy to rubber or the glitter in their hair, and the Domain Arizona reflects this vivid inventiveness with its landscapes of copper, silver, and lapis lazuli. Walker and the Spinicals stir feelings of awe, and their mythic feats keep the story fresh and exciting.
The wonder of Spinical magic is balanced by relatable characters and a commitment to emotional realism, no matter what powers they wield or dangers they face. Mica himself has a reckless, passionate charm and a yearning for his mother that pulls at the heartstrings. Estee, too, evokes sympathy with a life so loveless she questions even the smallest acts of kindness. The Spinicals all boast distinct personalities that are a joy to watch in action, especially when they work together. Adolescent readers will find them easy to relate to and root for. A thrilling start to a series full of whimsy and passion.
Takeaway: Electrifying opener to an action-packed, character-rich YA fantasy.
Comparable Titles: Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Richard Paul Evans’s Michael Vey.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
