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The Magi #1
The Magi
Thirteen-year-old Elijah Hawk has never heard of the Magi. He doesn't know about the secret power they have. He has never been to Savenridge, the Magi city hidden deep inside the northern forests. Most of all, Elijah is unaware of the dangers hunting him, in search for something he has. After one terrifying night, however, all of that changes!
On a quest to solve the murder of his parents, Elijah stumbles upon the land of the Magi. Learning their secrets and training with their power is the least of his problems. In order to find out why his parents were killed, Elijah learns that he must confront the dangers that are hunting him. What's more terrifying is learning that stumbling upon this new world of the Magi may not have been an accident afterall.
On a quest to solve the murder of his parents, Elijah stumbles upon the land of the Magi. Learning their secrets and training with their power is the least of his problems. In order to find out why his parents were killed, Elijah learns that he must confront the dangers that are hunting him. What's more terrifying is learning that stumbling upon this new world of the Magi may not have been an accident afterall.
Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2011
359 people are currently reading
538 people want to read
About the author
Kevin M. Turner
6 books71 followersKevin M. Turner lives in California with his wife and daughter. He has taught English to middle school students for nine years and also teaches philosophy and education to teaching credential candidates. He began writing to give a fun read to his students who were reluctant to pick up a book.
The Magi, a young adult fantasy adventure, is his first novel. He is currently working on the sequel entitled The Sphere, coming out soon.
When Turner is not writing, he enjoys golfing and cycling. He is also a shameless USC football fan.
To connect with Kevin M. Turner, or for more information, visit his website at www.kevinmturner.com
The Magi, a young adult fantasy adventure, is his first novel. He is currently working on the sequel entitled The Sphere, coming out soon.
When Turner is not writing, he enjoys golfing and cycling. He is also a shameless USC football fan.
To connect with Kevin M. Turner, or for more information, visit his website at www.kevinmturner.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 5, 2011
Sometimes I debate between 4 and 5 stars, wondering if the book really is a 5-star. But there was No question when It came time to rating The Magi. I would give it a hundred stars if I could! It's completely magical, brilliantly clever and absolutely wonderful!
When Elijah Hawk learns about The Magi, and that he's one of them, his life takes an abrupt turn and he's thrown into an adventure he will not soon forget. Elijah is a incredible protagonist with a strong voice and admirable personality. He is determined, intelligent and profoundly realistic. Every time I started reading, he took me in his world and made me forget anything else existed. I felt like I was standing there with him. His fears, his grief, his joy - his emotions were all so real they were palpable. Accompanying Elijah, there are a number of supporting characters that are just as remarkable. There are friends, teachers, mentors, townsfolk. Every one of them are a great addition and complete the world that is created in The Magi.
Along with these fantastic characters, the world building in The Magi is equally exceptional. The first half of the book is dedicated to creating this magical world that I could not stop but admire. I could picture it all in my head as clearly as if I was standing in it. I'm going to say this book is comparable to Harry Potter, not because the story is similar, but because I got the same thrill and magical feeling from reading this as I did when I was introduced to Hogwarts. The magic in The Magi is created using the 4 elements which is fascinating, really. The adventure we're taken into is fast moving and exciting, and I could not help but read and read until it was all, sadly, over. Fortunately, this is a planned 5-book series that I doubt will even be enough to satisfy my need for more!
Harry Potter fans - I have no doubt you will LOVE this series. It's complete with magic, adventure, mystery, friendship - really, everything! Any adult and children alike will undoubtedly adore it!
When Elijah Hawk learns about The Magi, and that he's one of them, his life takes an abrupt turn and he's thrown into an adventure he will not soon forget. Elijah is a incredible protagonist with a strong voice and admirable personality. He is determined, intelligent and profoundly realistic. Every time I started reading, he took me in his world and made me forget anything else existed. I felt like I was standing there with him. His fears, his grief, his joy - his emotions were all so real they were palpable. Accompanying Elijah, there are a number of supporting characters that are just as remarkable. There are friends, teachers, mentors, townsfolk. Every one of them are a great addition and complete the world that is created in The Magi.
Along with these fantastic characters, the world building in The Magi is equally exceptional. The first half of the book is dedicated to creating this magical world that I could not stop but admire. I could picture it all in my head as clearly as if I was standing in it. I'm going to say this book is comparable to Harry Potter, not because the story is similar, but because I got the same thrill and magical feeling from reading this as I did when I was introduced to Hogwarts. The magic in The Magi is created using the 4 elements which is fascinating, really. The adventure we're taken into is fast moving and exciting, and I could not help but read and read until it was all, sadly, over. Fortunately, this is a planned 5-book series that I doubt will even be enough to satisfy my need for more!
Harry Potter fans - I have no doubt you will LOVE this series. It's complete with magic, adventure, mystery, friendship - really, everything! Any adult and children alike will undoubtedly adore it!
November 13, 2011
This is a book that will keep you wanting more. It holds your interest from beginning to end. It reminded me of a cross between Harry Potter and Avatar the Last Airbender. A great adventure for any age!
From the start I felt sorry for Elijah. The beginning of the book pretty much throws you into the death of his parents and sister, who he loves deeply. Family is a big theme in this book which I love. He goes to live with his Uncle only to have him disappear. Elijah is taken to a school which he later finds out is more than it seems. Things change pretty fast from there. The end is left wide open. I'm ready to read the next book!
This series is going to be great! I can't wait to see where this series goes! You can read the first 5 chapters on Kevin's blog. You should go read it. I promise you won't be disappointed.
From the start I felt sorry for Elijah. The beginning of the book pretty much throws you into the death of his parents and sister, who he loves deeply. Family is a big theme in this book which I love. He goes to live with his Uncle only to have him disappear. Elijah is taken to a school which he later finds out is more than it seems. Things change pretty fast from there. The end is left wide open. I'm ready to read the next book!
This series is going to be great! I can't wait to see where this series goes! You can read the first 5 chapters on Kevin's blog. You should go read it. I promise you won't be disappointed.
November 4, 2011
What an exciting book! This read gave me the same thrill and satisfaction as the first Harry Potter.
Elijah (main character) really came to life for me. Often in fantasy books, the hero is made of iron, and only slightly affected by sadness. But when Elijah experiences his own tragedy, his grief was very realistic. I would liked to have seen Elijah's friends, Samuel and Hannah, developed a bit more, but I really enjoyed reading Paul, who was a perfectly loyal rascal. Elijah's mentor, Olivia, came across as very majestic, and I loved the Roddick's two girls. They were quirky and so cute!
Characters: 4 Stars
From the very first page, this book catapulted me into action after action, and added a fun, new spin on an old piece of culture. The secrets promised delivered to the full extent, and throughout the whole book, I got the feeling that Turner wasn't going to take the easy way out! I'll eagerly be awaiting the sequel!
Plot: 4 Stars
I could tell this was a first book, and sometimes it was a little hard to follow, but overall, I was very impressed! The world was very cohesive, and loose ends that may have been forgotten in other books, were neatly tied up! :)
Style: 3.9 Stars
Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Fantasy/Action
YA Fiction
November 30, 2011
The Magi is the first of author Kevin M. Turner’s The Magi Series, with book two, The Sphere, coming soon. The story, aimed at younger teens, tells of an ordinary boy, Elijah, from the perfect family, who is suddenly orphaned and whisked away to boarding school. Elijah’s father dies saving his life. His uncle suddenly deserts him. And his school-teachers torment and mortify him. When the only teacher he likes disappears, Elijah’s almost ready to give up, but there are adventures aplenty in store and all sorts of mysteries to be solved.
Soon Elijah and his new friends are struggling to master the elements and putting their ideals on the line to rescue strangers. They study, make mistakes, and learn, while the school term passes and threats of war dismay. At the end of term Elijah looks forward with hope, as do readers, to next year’s joys.
The author’s dialog, particularly between Elijah and his sister, is very convincing. The world of the Magi and their interaction with ours is nicely imagined and described in authoritative detail. And the story, with its plot and nicely timed lessons, is well-told. Some details and explanations might overwhelm an impatient young reader, but reminders are often well-placed to guide them back into the tale. This should certainly be a fun series, and I’m curious to see where it goes. The blend of light and dark with pleasing characters choosing paths somewhere in between is nicely done and the lessons of loyalty, integrity and honor are well-drawn and well-learned. A good teen novel to start an intriguing series.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review
Soon Elijah and his new friends are struggling to master the elements and putting their ideals on the line to rescue strangers. They study, make mistakes, and learn, while the school term passes and threats of war dismay. At the end of term Elijah looks forward with hope, as do readers, to next year’s joys.
The author’s dialog, particularly between Elijah and his sister, is very convincing. The world of the Magi and their interaction with ours is nicely imagined and described in authoritative detail. And the story, with its plot and nicely timed lessons, is well-told. Some details and explanations might overwhelm an impatient young reader, but reminders are often well-placed to guide them back into the tale. This should certainly be a fun series, and I’m curious to see where it goes. The blend of light and dark with pleasing characters choosing paths somewhere in between is nicely done and the lessons of loyalty, integrity and honor are well-drawn and well-learned. A good teen novel to start an intriguing series.
Disclosure: I received a free ecopy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review
November 12, 2011
The Magi is great! I can't wait for book 2. Elijah Hawk, a normal middle school boy, through a series of wild events, discovers nothing in his world is what he thought it was. He is plunged into a completely new world of fantasy that had me believing it was real and possible. From the beginning, I was propelled forward wondering what would happen next. Clues are interspersed that peaked my interest. It is a fast moving adventure/mystery with quality character development. A must read. Enjoy!
September 6, 2012
Rating Clarification: 2.5 stars
The Magi by Kevin M. Turner is the first book in a potential 5-book series. It is currently only available as an e-book but the price is pretty awesome. I mean honestly, how can you pass up a $3.99 book? Especially an incredibly high rated book about a magical quest. This book started out very (very) strongly for me By chapter 3, I was already loving the story much more than I expected and I flew through the first half of this book. Sadly, the story kind of lost it's steam for me at around the halfway point and I started getting frustrated with how the story was going. This stuck with me till around the last few chapters. While it didn't end as strongly as it began, I felt it did a good job of tying up some loose ends, introducing some promising new elements and just enough suspense to keep me curious about the next part of the story.
Like I mentioned this books starts with a bang. Our protagonist, Elijah, is a 13 year old boy newly made aware of a secret magical community that exists unknown to the rest of the world; a community to which he is a member of: The Magi. Their magical powers lie in the control and manipulation of the elements. Instantly, I thought: like Harry Potter meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. And considering those are my 2 absolute favorite stories of all time, the comparison wasn't made lightly and I delighted in it! From the word go, this story had me enticed. While I saw similarities with other stories of this genre, they were easily overlooked by everything new Kevin M. Turner was bringing to the table. Elijah is a likeable and quite intelligent protagonist. I was a fan of how he was able to put things together: he's believable and admirable. The world-building was full of promise and potential; it felt excited and impressed. The universe of the Magi and their enemies the Malaphists felt refreshing, and the plot itself was heavy on intrigue and mystery. Themes I desperately look for in magical quest stories. And while the idea of controlling the elements has been done, I've always been a fan of this concept AND it was so well meshed with the mythology of this world that it just worked for me, you know? On top of this, the story just read effortlessly. Obviously aimed at a very young audience (much more so in my opinion than Harry Potter or Avatar: The Last Airbender, despite Elijah being 13 to Harry's 11 and Aang's 12), the vocabulary is kept simple yet clever, the descriptions are made effectively with minimal time wasted and they were still enough to paint vivid pictures before my eyes as I read them.
So what happened? Well as I previously stated, just past the halfway point I started having some issues with the way the story was developing. Once Elijah starts his training with other young Magis some parts began to feel a bit rough to me...even underdeveloped. Like the dialogue between Elijah and his friends. It felt formal to me, and I couldn't really picture 13 year-olds talking to one another like that. And it affected my ability to connect with them all as characters. (Elijah's inner mental dialogue was comparatively engrossing and well-done, so it's clear the author has the skill to pull this off.) The pacing started to feel way-off around this point as well. Things were moving along too quickly in relation to what had been developed before. As the story moved along, I felt that every new plot twist or 'idea' had potential, but lacked detail and depth. I wanted more words, more descriptions, more feelings...just plain more. You didn't get to fully appreciate everything that's going on it just moved so fast. These things had the effect of drawing me out of the story; my attention would lessen and I'd stop reading. And then I began to notice other things that bothered me, probably due to my mind being distracted...things that hadn't bother me at first, but because my mind tended to wander, I'd notice how many similarities there were between all magical quest stories that came into being Post-Potter. It seems like there's almost a go-to recipe for writing these kinds of stories, and while I'll always love the genre, I felt let down that so many themes were again being recycled. Especially considering how amazing this book started out! It did pick up again near the ending there, and while it didn't match the the first half in terms of enchantment and mystique, it did reintroduce many of the themes I had fallen in love with during the beginning of this book; like the inherent mystery of this world and Elijah's past and powers, the intriguing magical artifacts and the locked diary.
I still feel this was a promising start to a potentially great series. The first half of the book is proof of that. And considering it was written by a teacher to give his students something fun to read, it's truly is an impressive piece of work. I'm definitely curious enough to read the next installment and as it is I hope it'll build on what was already brilliant in this story, instead of focusing on the negative. I almost gave this 3 stars, but honestly the second half of this book really affected my overall impression of this book so I'll give it a 2.5 stars. It was better than o.k., I liked it, but not compared to other books I've giver 3-stars to recently. It just didn't hold up. I think young kids reading this with their parents would thoroughly enjoy reading this story together. Die-hard fans of ya fantasy quests should check it out as well, regardless of what it is lacking it's still worth the read.
The Magi by Kevin M. Turner is the first book in a potential 5-book series. It is currently only available as an e-book but the price is pretty awesome. I mean honestly, how can you pass up a $3.99 book? Especially an incredibly high rated book about a magical quest. This book started out very (very) strongly for me By chapter 3, I was already loving the story much more than I expected and I flew through the first half of this book. Sadly, the story kind of lost it's steam for me at around the halfway point and I started getting frustrated with how the story was going. This stuck with me till around the last few chapters. While it didn't end as strongly as it began, I felt it did a good job of tying up some loose ends, introducing some promising new elements and just enough suspense to keep me curious about the next part of the story.
Like I mentioned this books starts with a bang. Our protagonist, Elijah, is a 13 year old boy newly made aware of a secret magical community that exists unknown to the rest of the world; a community to which he is a member of: The Magi. Their magical powers lie in the control and manipulation of the elements. Instantly, I thought: like Harry Potter meets Avatar: The Last Airbender. And considering those are my 2 absolute favorite stories of all time, the comparison wasn't made lightly and I delighted in it! From the word go, this story had me enticed. While I saw similarities with other stories of this genre, they were easily overlooked by everything new Kevin M. Turner was bringing to the table. Elijah is a likeable and quite intelligent protagonist. I was a fan of how he was able to put things together: he's believable and admirable. The world-building was full of promise and potential; it felt excited and impressed. The universe of the Magi and their enemies the Malaphists felt refreshing, and the plot itself was heavy on intrigue and mystery. Themes I desperately look for in magical quest stories. And while the idea of controlling the elements has been done, I've always been a fan of this concept AND it was so well meshed with the mythology of this world that it just worked for me, you know? On top of this, the story just read effortlessly. Obviously aimed at a very young audience (much more so in my opinion than Harry Potter or Avatar: The Last Airbender, despite Elijah being 13 to Harry's 11 and Aang's 12), the vocabulary is kept simple yet clever, the descriptions are made effectively with minimal time wasted and they were still enough to paint vivid pictures before my eyes as I read them.
So what happened? Well as I previously stated, just past the halfway point I started having some issues with the way the story was developing. Once Elijah starts his training with other young Magis some parts began to feel a bit rough to me...even underdeveloped. Like the dialogue between Elijah and his friends. It felt formal to me, and I couldn't really picture 13 year-olds talking to one another like that. And it affected my ability to connect with them all as characters. (Elijah's inner mental dialogue was comparatively engrossing and well-done, so it's clear the author has the skill to pull this off.) The pacing started to feel way-off around this point as well. Things were moving along too quickly in relation to what had been developed before. As the story moved along, I felt that every new plot twist or 'idea' had potential, but lacked detail and depth. I wanted more words, more descriptions, more feelings...just plain more. You didn't get to fully appreciate everything that's going on it just moved so fast. These things had the effect of drawing me out of the story; my attention would lessen and I'd stop reading. And then I began to notice other things that bothered me, probably due to my mind being distracted...things that hadn't bother me at first, but because my mind tended to wander, I'd notice how many similarities there were between all magical quest stories that came into being Post-Potter. It seems like there's almost a go-to recipe for writing these kinds of stories, and while I'll always love the genre, I felt let down that so many themes were again being recycled. Especially considering how amazing this book started out! It did pick up again near the ending there, and while it didn't match the the first half in terms of enchantment and mystique, it did reintroduce many of the themes I had fallen in love with during the beginning of this book; like the inherent mystery of this world and Elijah's past and powers, the intriguing magical artifacts and the locked diary.
I still feel this was a promising start to a potentially great series. The first half of the book is proof of that. And considering it was written by a teacher to give his students something fun to read, it's truly is an impressive piece of work. I'm definitely curious enough to read the next installment and as it is I hope it'll build on what was already brilliant in this story, instead of focusing on the negative. I almost gave this 3 stars, but honestly the second half of this book really affected my overall impression of this book so I'll give it a 2.5 stars. It was better than o.k., I liked it, but not compared to other books I've giver 3-stars to recently. It just didn't hold up. I think young kids reading this with their parents would thoroughly enjoy reading this story together. Die-hard fans of ya fantasy quests should check it out as well, regardless of what it is lacking it's still worth the read.
October 24, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! The characters were really well written, and I really liked Elijah and cared about what happened to him. There were some good bad guys in the story, and the line was really well defined between the good and the evil. There were, however, some characters that you didn't know if you could trust, but that added to the intrigue of the story! I definitely want to read the next book in the series to see what happens to Elijah and the rest of the Magi!!
I received this ebook from the author for review.
I received this ebook from the author for review.
Read
November 24, 2025Dnf
May 21, 2019
I love the amazing storyline! on what seems like a normal kid, turns out that he is opened up to an entirely new world of magic as he tries to find out who murdered his parents. The plot twist as he finds out about the Magi, a lost civilization of mages, spread apart in hiding. it is truly amazing how he uses his gift, and how he makes connections and solves mysteries. a truly amazing journey through this world, and beyond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2011
This is the first book in Kevin series and started really good with a intense conversation about death and an attack right in the beggining of the book, put things in the action point really fast. Elijah seams to have some sort of special ability that he doesn’t know about it.
I understand I was necessary for Elijah to go to that awful school and see how the Maliphists ruled their world, but some points I was really sorry for him and those orphans boys.
Loved the author explanation for the magi world and everything revolving around it.
“You see, our world is broken up into four parts. Each part has its own personality. One part is water, which has a particular personality. Another part is fire, which has another personality. The third part is wind, and the last part is the earth.”
A very important part off the book I think was the relationship between Elijah and Master Roddick. The professor made a friendship with him and even played some sort off father picture. Elijah found a second family in Roddick’s house. And that was very important for him, because after everything he’s been through, some normality was very welcome.
Some characters made the book special, like Walter Henderson and his clocks, he sounds like an inventor, only pays attention to his creations and forgets about the world and everyone around.
I though the author explained very well the world of Magi, especially about the differencies between god and bad and the difficulty in understand were’s the line.
The life on the barracks was dangerous and difficult especially since he was trying to understand a different world, but some things helped liked falling in love and discovering some friendships along the way. By the way Becca is awesome, Elijah wouldn’t be able to do half off his hero acts without her.
But the friends and family he found in this strange town is very good for him.
This book made me feel like I was ready Harry Potter for the first time, a lot of mistery, good friends an orphan boy searching for answer and hiding from the bad guy who wanted him dead or alive. Master Roddick
Can’t wait for the next one and to discover more about his family secrets.
I understand I was necessary for Elijah to go to that awful school and see how the Maliphists ruled their world, but some points I was really sorry for him and those orphans boys.
Loved the author explanation for the magi world and everything revolving around it.
“You see, our world is broken up into four parts. Each part has its own personality. One part is water, which has a particular personality. Another part is fire, which has another personality. The third part is wind, and the last part is the earth.”
A very important part off the book I think was the relationship between Elijah and Master Roddick. The professor made a friendship with him and even played some sort off father picture. Elijah found a second family in Roddick’s house. And that was very important for him, because after everything he’s been through, some normality was very welcome.
Some characters made the book special, like Walter Henderson and his clocks, he sounds like an inventor, only pays attention to his creations and forgets about the world and everyone around.
I though the author explained very well the world of Magi, especially about the differencies between god and bad and the difficulty in understand were’s the line.
The life on the barracks was dangerous and difficult especially since he was trying to understand a different world, but some things helped liked falling in love and discovering some friendships along the way. By the way Becca is awesome, Elijah wouldn’t be able to do half off his hero acts without her.
But the friends and family he found in this strange town is very good for him.
This book made me feel like I was ready Harry Potter for the first time, a lot of mistery, good friends an orphan boy searching for answer and hiding from the bad guy who wanted him dead or alive. Master Roddick
Can’t wait for the next one and to discover more about his family secrets.
January 31, 2018
Enjoyable
Easy story to catch onto and it plays with your emotions. I felt I could easily connect to the story.
Easy story to catch onto and it plays with your emotions. I felt I could easily connect to the story.
November 4, 2011
This book had me turning pages and wanting more from cover to cover. I love the way Turner has taken our world and added just enough fantasy to keep it believable. The world draws you in and you find yourself wanting to be a part of this new place. There is great character development and you really care about the people in the book. Turner also keeps the plot moving well. There are some pretty tense moments and the whole thing ties together in the end. I didn't feel like any of the book was slow or lagged. In fact, I loved the mellow times of training and making friends just as much as the action. The book is written for young adult readers, so it is an easy and enjoyable read. There is an opening for a second book- and I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on it.
If you liked Harry Potter, or the Chronicles of Narnia, this book will not disappoint.
If you liked Harry Potter, or the Chronicles of Narnia, this book will not disappoint.
Read
May 28, 2021Incredibly exciting and fast paced book. There are many unexpected turns in this book that gives it more suspense and thrill. The author has very wisely (unknowingly to the reader) answered many questions early in the book. Elijah (the protagonist) gets these questions much later and thus, a great effect is created (that is if you remember the one sentence or reaction by a character which had answered the question much earlier :-) ) . By re-reading the book, you can see the minute attention the author has given to each detail. 👏
It certainly deserves 5 stars.
It certainly deserves 5 stars.
October 31, 2011
this was a great book i liked how it was so discriptive and it actually was one of the best books i ever read i was actually sad when he found out what happend to his parents
December 14, 2017
I just want to say right now that this book was very good and I had a lot of fun reading it. I was really impressed that this was one of the few stories I've seen that actually seems to get the 'dead parent' trope right (take notes Ubisoft). I really loved the characters; they felt very real to me. I admit I have some mixed emotions about the ending and how it was executed, but I still love this book as a whole.
For my full review, please check out my review video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfD3v...
For my full review, please check out my review video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfD3v...
January 30, 2018
Young Adult readers only
Though there are many good ideas and plot development s, this first book needed some serious editing. I was often distracted by poorly worded passages and language that seemed to attempt to oversimplify the message. The repetition of the characters names when it was obvious who the author was talking about was annoying. I understand that the author is writing for a younger audience, but I think he underestimates their ability to follow along.
Though there are many good ideas and plot development s, this first book needed some serious editing. I was often distracted by poorly worded passages and language that seemed to attempt to oversimplify the message. The repetition of the characters names when it was obvious who the author was talking about was annoying. I understand that the author is writing for a younger audience, but I think he underestimates their ability to follow along.
August 10, 2020
This book has an element to it, one that I absolutely love. This idea of something being lost to history, surviving in only single, fragmented references in old texts. This is a part of what sets our hero on his journey.
I'm not big into Young Adult Fiction, but this series is an exception. The characters are well written and likeable. The mentors, uncle, all of it was exceptional and I really enjoyed this book. 5/5 from me.
I'm not big into Young Adult Fiction, but this series is an exception. The characters are well written and likeable. The mentors, uncle, all of it was exceptional and I really enjoyed this book. 5/5 from me.
August 18, 2018
A magical start to the series. Was confused about reading it since a long time as I kept seeing in the store. Finally picked it up out of curiosity and don't regret it in any way. A really nice book.
Thank you Kevin M.Turner
Thank you Kevin M.Turner
October 4, 2020
Great book
Magi was a cool book with an interesting plot line and I could not find any stolen material. If you are looking for a good young adult fantasy book I would definitely recommend this.
Magi was a cool book with an interesting plot line and I could not find any stolen material. If you are looking for a good young adult fantasy book I would definitely recommend this.
December 15, 2017
The Magi
I enjoyed the book enough to read book 2. Some parts were fairly predictable. The main character, Elijah, is likable.
I enjoyed the book enough to read book 2. Some parts were fairly predictable. The main character, Elijah, is likable.
October 15, 2019
Brilliant magical story. Your child will love this and won't want o put it down.
December 7, 2019
This book helped me better understand the elements of the planet, and the freindship formed between him and his friends was amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2020
A good read
December 29, 2021
This was the first fiction book I've been able to read comfortably and without getting distracted for months. It was a joy.
May 20, 2018
A good fantasy book...which keeps us guessing. We know things only when the hero knows things. So we are literally taking this journey with him.
August 26, 2016
Many thanks to author Kevin M.Turner for providing me with an ARC of his novel for an honest review.
The Magi is the first novel in a five-book YA fantasy series initially written for the enjoyment of his students. I'm thankful he decided to share it with the rest of the world.
So what’s it about?
With school just around the corner, thirteen-year old Elijah faces the usual insecurity an average teenager does. He had hoped to fill out more during the summer, become that person who would return to school and be noticed by all.
Unbeknown to Elijah, he was about to realise he had been noticed already.
Waking up in the dead of the night, with the feeling of terrifying danger, Elijah trusts his screaming instincts and makes a run for it. The yellow eyes he’s met with in the darkness, before he manages to flee his house, mark the beginning of a journey he has no choice but to make.
Facing heart-breaking obstacles, including the death of his parents, Elijah eventually stumbles upon the hidden city of the Magi, Savenridge. There he discovers just who the Magi are and begins training with them to learn how the elements of the earth work. He must understand and respect them if, like the Magi, he is to control them.
“Once I explain to you who I am—once you are taken to Savenridge and meet our people, you must never speak to anyone on the outside about what you learn. You must keep our secrets forever. The knowledge we have has been kept a secret for almost three thousand years. What you’re about to be told is powerful. It’s history.”
Whilst among the gifted community the teenager begins to unravel a hidden truth. It soon becomes clear the Magi have enemies, and they want Elijah.
Worth the read?
The Magi was a wonderful form of escape. I was immediately caught off guard with the exciting and tense sample chapters i’d read. Receiving the full novel I thought the pace would slow down at some point, and it did, though not for long.
I liked how Turner created a world where magic had to be learned in order to use. This gave the novel an educational undertone and forces the reader to accompany Elijah on his journey to understand the Earth’s elements.
It has to be said, i was a little worried at first. A thirteen-year old protagonist wouldn’t usually be a character i could relate to. Yet, he's quite mature. He isn't perfect, the flaws and vulnerability he has are believable and written in way that readers everywhere will appreciate. Despite his age, Elijah is written as a very courageous and intelligent boy- but not overly so. He is not good at everything in life or during the Magi training, but the things he is good at; he’s curious as to why this is the case and wants to learn more.
As the ‘hero’ of the story, Elijah is tough when battling obstacles, of course, but that doesn’t mean he always saves the day. His character never forgets the dismal incidents he’s been through. You’re forced to feel what he does as his emotions remain raw throughout the pages.
The other characters are also impossible to forget: The sympathetic teacher Master Roddick, elder in the Magi Olivia Rose, with her majestic aura and unique methods of training Elijah. Both were captivating and stepped right off the page.
From Elijah’s friends, timid Samuel and brash Paul to the feisty introvert Becca- each one was three-dimensional and could have been someone a reader would know. I really enjoyed the way Turner developed these characters and cemented them in your imagination. Even the clockmaker, visited once, in his little hut with clocks covering the walls and tabletops, was fascinating and unforgettable. Some ties were left open, for their progression throughout the series no doubt.
The antagonists were immediately established as people to fear, the line between good and evil being marked clearly. At a certain stage in the novel i did want to know more about one Maliphist in particular. But as i read on the need evaporated when Turner thickened the plot and someone fiercer became known. The city in which the Maliphist’s live fits in perfectly and is easily conjured up in the mind, thanks to an appropriate atmosphere being written.
Summary
With shock turns and evolving problems, the plot remains solid and flows effortlessly. As it draws to an end, everything leads to a satisfying conclusion, though has ties left leaving the series room to grow.
It has been said that Harry Potter fans should love this new series and i agree. I found this novel enthralling and despite its YA tag, i recommend it to everyone. This incredibly exciting first installment is one not to be missed and i eagerly await the sequel.
Thoroughly entertaining and with an attractive book cover too, five stars from me.
© TToria, ttoria.blogspot.com
The Magi is the first novel in a five-book YA fantasy series initially written for the enjoyment of his students. I'm thankful he decided to share it with the rest of the world.
So what’s it about?
With school just around the corner, thirteen-year old Elijah faces the usual insecurity an average teenager does. He had hoped to fill out more during the summer, become that person who would return to school and be noticed by all.
Unbeknown to Elijah, he was about to realise he had been noticed already.
Waking up in the dead of the night, with the feeling of terrifying danger, Elijah trusts his screaming instincts and makes a run for it. The yellow eyes he’s met with in the darkness, before he manages to flee his house, mark the beginning of a journey he has no choice but to make.
Facing heart-breaking obstacles, including the death of his parents, Elijah eventually stumbles upon the hidden city of the Magi, Savenridge. There he discovers just who the Magi are and begins training with them to learn how the elements of the earth work. He must understand and respect them if, like the Magi, he is to control them.
“Once I explain to you who I am—once you are taken to Savenridge and meet our people, you must never speak to anyone on the outside about what you learn. You must keep our secrets forever. The knowledge we have has been kept a secret for almost three thousand years. What you’re about to be told is powerful. It’s history.”
Whilst among the gifted community the teenager begins to unravel a hidden truth. It soon becomes clear the Magi have enemies, and they want Elijah.
Worth the read?
The Magi was a wonderful form of escape. I was immediately caught off guard with the exciting and tense sample chapters i’d read. Receiving the full novel I thought the pace would slow down at some point, and it did, though not for long.
I liked how Turner created a world where magic had to be learned in order to use. This gave the novel an educational undertone and forces the reader to accompany Elijah on his journey to understand the Earth’s elements.
It has to be said, i was a little worried at first. A thirteen-year old protagonist wouldn’t usually be a character i could relate to. Yet, he's quite mature. He isn't perfect, the flaws and vulnerability he has are believable and written in way that readers everywhere will appreciate. Despite his age, Elijah is written as a very courageous and intelligent boy- but not overly so. He is not good at everything in life or during the Magi training, but the things he is good at; he’s curious as to why this is the case and wants to learn more.
As the ‘hero’ of the story, Elijah is tough when battling obstacles, of course, but that doesn’t mean he always saves the day. His character never forgets the dismal incidents he’s been through. You’re forced to feel what he does as his emotions remain raw throughout the pages.
The other characters are also impossible to forget: The sympathetic teacher Master Roddick, elder in the Magi Olivia Rose, with her majestic aura and unique methods of training Elijah. Both were captivating and stepped right off the page.
From Elijah’s friends, timid Samuel and brash Paul to the feisty introvert Becca- each one was three-dimensional and could have been someone a reader would know. I really enjoyed the way Turner developed these characters and cemented them in your imagination. Even the clockmaker, visited once, in his little hut with clocks covering the walls and tabletops, was fascinating and unforgettable. Some ties were left open, for their progression throughout the series no doubt.
The antagonists were immediately established as people to fear, the line between good and evil being marked clearly. At a certain stage in the novel i did want to know more about one Maliphist in particular. But as i read on the need evaporated when Turner thickened the plot and someone fiercer became known. The city in which the Maliphist’s live fits in perfectly and is easily conjured up in the mind, thanks to an appropriate atmosphere being written.
Summary
With shock turns and evolving problems, the plot remains solid and flows effortlessly. As it draws to an end, everything leads to a satisfying conclusion, though has ties left leaving the series room to grow.
It has been said that Harry Potter fans should love this new series and i agree. I found this novel enthralling and despite its YA tag, i recommend it to everyone. This incredibly exciting first installment is one not to be missed and i eagerly await the sequel.
Thoroughly entertaining and with an attractive book cover too, five stars from me.
© TToria, ttoria.blogspot.com
February 4, 2012
***A big thank you to Giselle and the author for the giveaway!***
The Magi for me was a mix between the Harry Potter series, with a bit of Narnia thrown in for kicks. The story, about a boy named Elijah, kind of follows that typical magical kid adventure as Elijah, orphaned, is sent away to a terrible school until he finds out there is more to him, the school, and the world than it seems. Adventure, powers, and friendship follow in this middle school novel that kids and adults will enjoy.
The Magi was very much a checklist of all the tropes you see in what I'm going to call 'academy/school' fantasy, and even fantasy in general:
-Mentor Figure check!
-Surprising and genetic powers check!
-Secret Societies check!
-Orphanism check!
-Friendshipis Magic! check!
-Magical 'schools' check!
-The Classic Four Elements check!
-Making friends with outcasts check!
-Prophetic foretelling of greatness check!
-Evil and Good defined (in general) as black and white characteristics check! [although there were exceptions later, the MAIN baddies/adults were very Evil as were the MAIN goodies/adults, it was only the kids that were really gray. Or at least the ones that weren't strictly good]
And, you know what?, there's nothing wrong with having these tropes, with creating a school-like setting, for having prophecies, for having really EVIL people and really good people. Harry Potter did it, after all. And there's a reason why we like seeing these familiar attributes within this genre: it's comfortable, and while we know what to expect, we still want to jump in and relish the things that made our hearts beat faster the first time around. But, to me, seeing these familiar tropes wasn't like jumping into a worn-in comfortable sweater, but instead was like pulling on a stretched, ratty t-shirt you dug out of your closet. Sure it's still retro, but it's a bit too worn, a bit too old, and a bit too expected. And I think that's really where The Magi didn't live up to the standards I expected of it. I wanted something new, something radically different, but what I got was a slightly different twist on a story I've seen a few too many times.
And the bottom line is that is just didn't work out for me. I couldn't care about the characters, I saw where the story was going, and the writing didn't draw me in.
But that doesn't mean someone else won't like it. Because there were a lot of good things about The Magi. The cast of characters, for instance, were very diverse, and well balance between genders as well as personalities. The story isn't finished, and there is an obvious amount of set-up for further novels. And there is a world that kids and adults will easily identify with. And all in all, The Magi wasn't a bad book, it was just a book that I couldn't like past a 2.5/5.
The Magi for me was a mix between the Harry Potter series, with a bit of Narnia thrown in for kicks. The story, about a boy named Elijah, kind of follows that typical magical kid adventure as Elijah, orphaned, is sent away to a terrible school until he finds out there is more to him, the school, and the world than it seems. Adventure, powers, and friendship follow in this middle school novel that kids and adults will enjoy.
The Magi was very much a checklist of all the tropes you see in what I'm going to call 'academy/school' fantasy, and even fantasy in general:
-Mentor Figure check!
-Surprising and genetic powers check!
-Secret Societies check!
-Orphanism check!
-Friendship
-Magical 'schools' check!
-The Classic Four Elements check!
-Making friends with outcasts check!
-Prophetic foretelling of greatness check!
-Evil and Good defined (in general) as black and white characteristics check! [although there were exceptions later, the MAIN baddies/adults were very Evil as were the MAIN goodies/adults, it was only the kids that were really gray. Or at least the ones that weren't strictly good]
And, you know what?, there's nothing wrong with having these tropes, with creating a school-like setting, for having prophecies, for having really EVIL people and really good people. Harry Potter did it, after all. And there's a reason why we like seeing these familiar attributes within this genre: it's comfortable, and while we know what to expect, we still want to jump in and relish the things that made our hearts beat faster the first time around. But, to me, seeing these familiar tropes wasn't like jumping into a worn-in comfortable sweater, but instead was like pulling on a stretched, ratty t-shirt you dug out of your closet. Sure it's still retro, but it's a bit too worn, a bit too old, and a bit too expected. And I think that's really where The Magi didn't live up to the standards I expected of it. I wanted something new, something radically different, but what I got was a slightly different twist on a story I've seen a few too many times.
And the bottom line is that is just didn't work out for me. I couldn't care about the characters, I saw where the story was going, and the writing didn't draw me in.
But that doesn't mean someone else won't like it. Because there were a lot of good things about The Magi. The cast of characters, for instance, were very diverse, and well balance between genders as well as personalities. The story isn't finished, and there is an obvious amount of set-up for further novels. And there is a world that kids and adults will easily identify with. And all in all, The Magi wasn't a bad book, it was just a book that I couldn't like past a 2.5/5.
December 29, 2011
I have read countless books of this type - some great, some awful and some mediocre - where a young protagonist goes on a magical journey of self-discovery. It's a well beaten and often not very lucrative path to take but there are ones that shine amidst those which do not. Fast pace, an interesting concept and elevated lexis all make The Magi stand out amongst the rest. It took me a long time to get around to reading the book because I seriously underestimated the work itself; I read this book at an accelerated pace that mirrored that of the book.
As I mentioned, the plot - in a nutshell - seemed predictable but there was a well-thought-out, in depth history and explanation into the history of the Magi which I found intriguing. Having a solid foundation which explains the present time in the book really helped me to understand the motives of certain actions and to gain a vivid image of Elijah's world. From the start, the young boy's story is told with mystery and sympathy laced into each page making it fun, exciting, and, on the contrary, also quite sad.
One of the most striking things that made itself evident in the book is just how personable the protagonist is; I have read fantasy novels where the protagonist is depicted in a self-righteous and contrived manner; that certainly wasn't the case in The Magi. Mr. Kevin Turner takes a amiable and alluring character that has a past that feels authentic and places him into an intriguing tale of rivalry, magic and the four elements. The only character that I had a bit of difficulty with was Mr. Roddick who, at time, seemed patronising with a lot of 'do you understand's.
Writers' of YA books often ask me to read their books and some sound like they have been written by young children themselves; now that is not a criticism as a simplistic execution can be extremely effective. The language used in the book is developed and I think it would be valuable for children and teens to read this book and take away new vocabulary with them. The only negative I felt was that there were a lot of telling us Elijah's emotions and not offering anything else for the reader to interpret the emotions; sometimes less is more.
I would recommend this book for the young and also adults who enjoy fantasy but are a bit fed up of the usual. I wouldn't give it a general age limit because I believe that this book is not put into them constraints, rather open to all. For those who do not like fantasy - I am not a huge fan - there is a certain chance that you will enjoy this.
As I mentioned, the plot - in a nutshell - seemed predictable but there was a well-thought-out, in depth history and explanation into the history of the Magi which I found intriguing. Having a solid foundation which explains the present time in the book really helped me to understand the motives of certain actions and to gain a vivid image of Elijah's world. From the start, the young boy's story is told with mystery and sympathy laced into each page making it fun, exciting, and, on the contrary, also quite sad.
One of the most striking things that made itself evident in the book is just how personable the protagonist is; I have read fantasy novels where the protagonist is depicted in a self-righteous and contrived manner; that certainly wasn't the case in The Magi. Mr. Kevin Turner takes a amiable and alluring character that has a past that feels authentic and places him into an intriguing tale of rivalry, magic and the four elements. The only character that I had a bit of difficulty with was Mr. Roddick who, at time, seemed patronising with a lot of 'do you understand's.
Writers' of YA books often ask me to read their books and some sound like they have been written by young children themselves; now that is not a criticism as a simplistic execution can be extremely effective. The language used in the book is developed and I think it would be valuable for children and teens to read this book and take away new vocabulary with them. The only negative I felt was that there were a lot of telling us Elijah's emotions and not offering anything else for the reader to interpret the emotions; sometimes less is more.
I would recommend this book for the young and also adults who enjoy fantasy but are a bit fed up of the usual. I wouldn't give it a general age limit because I believe that this book is not put into them constraints, rather open to all. For those who do not like fantasy - I am not a huge fan - there is a certain chance that you will enjoy this.
February 24, 2012
Kevin Turner is an extremely accomplished writer. When I started out reading The Magi I was drawn to the fact that Elijah Hawk reminded me of Harry Potter. Harry's parents were killed by his enemy and Harry didn't understand at first that he was special and there was a "plan" for his life. Such is the life of Elijah Hawk. He awakes with a feeling that something in his house is wrong and he needs to get out, escape. He does so and runs into his father in the yard. His dad tells him to run and to know that there is a plan. That is the last time he sees any of his family alive. Elijah is sent to live with his uncle until his uncle is "supposedly" arrested, and the creepy detective who originally questioned him about his parent's and sister's death comes for him. He is delivered to Saint Phillip's Academy in Canada. He is befriended by Roddick, one of his teachers. Essentially he is rescued from there, along with his roommate Samuel. They are taken to Savenridge where a group of Magi live. Elijah fits right in. He learns that the Maliphists are after him. Now all he needs to do is stay alive and find out why they want him dead.
I'm not sure I could really tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it enough to write the name and author on the board at school and told all of my students that if they had an e-reader they needed to purchase this book. If they didn't own an e-reader they needed to order the book as soon as possible. This is going to be one of those books that is hard to wait for the sequels.
Kevin Turner is someone I admire for several reasons. Like me, he is a middle school English teacher. I am a published author. I know we should never compare our writing to another and I won't. We write different genres. However, I am striving to create the type of story and voice that flows as well as Kevin's. His writing is pure magic. I was there in Savenridge with Elijah. I was in the Maliphist's prison with Elijah. I could visualize the characters and the landscape. I could feel the power. The most intriguing part was the science. When Elijah began to study the elements I realized I'd never really thought about the properties of water and how it reacted. It was a refreshing story to read and one I will tell everyone about.
I'm not sure I could really tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it enough to write the name and author on the board at school and told all of my students that if they had an e-reader they needed to purchase this book. If they didn't own an e-reader they needed to order the book as soon as possible. This is going to be one of those books that is hard to wait for the sequels.
Kevin Turner is someone I admire for several reasons. Like me, he is a middle school English teacher. I am a published author. I know we should never compare our writing to another and I won't. We write different genres. However, I am striving to create the type of story and voice that flows as well as Kevin's. His writing is pure magic. I was there in Savenridge with Elijah. I was in the Maliphist's prison with Elijah. I could visualize the characters and the landscape. I could feel the power. The most intriguing part was the science. When Elijah began to study the elements I realized I'd never really thought about the properties of water and how it reacted. It was a refreshing story to read and one I will tell everyone about.
December 1, 2011
Honestly, this book was a pleasure to read from beginning to end. It starts off with a bang and keeps right on moving. Here are some of the things I loved about this book.
I really liked Elijah. He seems to be a typical teenager, still growing, still developing. The moments when I sensed Elijah's insecurities were the moments when I felt most connected to him. I felt like Elijah was a kind kid, easy to get along with, which was refreshing.
I really enjoyed the growing relationships between Elijah and his new friends and family and the sense of loyalty that came with that. The book was good to focus on the collective being stronger than the single and that was demonstrated several times when people worked together to accomplish something big.
This was a quote I found funny. Maybe as a mom who cleans bathrooms, I can relate. It goes, "no matter how well he cleaned those bathrooms, he never wanted to be known as the toilet master."
But, my favorite quote was this. "The soul is the fingerprint of the Creator. Once a soul connects to another soul, they unite and become one. So if your soul is able to access the soul of an element, you can control that element the same way you would control your own body." Cool stuff.
You can tell that the author, Kevin Turner, is a teacher. I felt like some of the best moments were those when Elijah was being instructed by his mentor. It sounded very teacher-ish in the best of ways. Kevin tells on his blog how The Magi came to be. Frustrated by kids who didn't want to read or who couldn't find books they wanted to read, Kevin set out to find out what those kids were looking for in a book. Eventually, from those ideas came the plot to The Magi. Kevin says, "For almost half a year I worked on constructing a plot that eventually became The Magi, making sure I stuck to the requests of my students. I may have initially written it for my students, but if it's good enough, I hope to be able to contribute something fun for kids, teens, and adults everywhere."
I would say to Kevin, thank you. And mission accomplished. I think The Magi is a fantastic book filled with exactly the kinds of things kids (and adults) love to read about. I love that this book is family friendly. And I love that Kevin is the kind of teacher who cares and wants to make a difference.
I really liked Elijah. He seems to be a typical teenager, still growing, still developing. The moments when I sensed Elijah's insecurities were the moments when I felt most connected to him. I felt like Elijah was a kind kid, easy to get along with, which was refreshing.
I really enjoyed the growing relationships between Elijah and his new friends and family and the sense of loyalty that came with that. The book was good to focus on the collective being stronger than the single and that was demonstrated several times when people worked together to accomplish something big.
This was a quote I found funny. Maybe as a mom who cleans bathrooms, I can relate. It goes, "no matter how well he cleaned those bathrooms, he never wanted to be known as the toilet master."
But, my favorite quote was this. "The soul is the fingerprint of the Creator. Once a soul connects to another soul, they unite and become one. So if your soul is able to access the soul of an element, you can control that element the same way you would control your own body." Cool stuff.
You can tell that the author, Kevin Turner, is a teacher. I felt like some of the best moments were those when Elijah was being instructed by his mentor. It sounded very teacher-ish in the best of ways. Kevin tells on his blog how The Magi came to be. Frustrated by kids who didn't want to read or who couldn't find books they wanted to read, Kevin set out to find out what those kids were looking for in a book. Eventually, from those ideas came the plot to The Magi. Kevin says, "For almost half a year I worked on constructing a plot that eventually became The Magi, making sure I stuck to the requests of my students. I may have initially written it for my students, but if it's good enough, I hope to be able to contribute something fun for kids, teens, and adults everywhere."
I would say to Kevin, thank you. And mission accomplished. I think The Magi is a fantastic book filled with exactly the kinds of things kids (and adults) love to read about. I love that this book is family friendly. And I love that Kevin is the kind of teacher who cares and wants to make a difference.
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