The Forgotten Magic: Book 1 - An epic fantasy adventure of dreams and magical powers

by L.D. Lapinski

For the last 400 years, magic has been fading...Edward Crane has always feared he won't have any magic at all. Sure, he's part of a powerful magic Artezan family, but he's adopted. His twin sister, Elodie, isn't so worried, but then everything always seems to work out perfectly for her.

So when Ed discovers he does have an Artezan power after all, he's relieved. And it's more than he ever could have imagined - in fact, it's a dream come true. But the problem with dreams is that sometimes they twist themselves into nightmares.
And with Ed's new abilities growing by the day, there's a chance that this nightmare will become all too real...

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Queer, Young Adult, LGBT

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 29, 2024

About the author

L. D. Lapinski is the best-selling author of JAMIE, Stepfather Christmas, and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency series, including Adventure in the Floating Mountains, which was a 2023 World Book Day title. JAMIE was nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing.

L. D's new middle-grade fantasy series ARTEZANS launches in February 2024 with the first book Artezans: The Forgotten Magic.

L. D.'s books are published around the world in fifteen languages, and each book in the Strangeworlds trilogy has been awarded a Kirkus star - one of the most coveted designations in the book industry,
marking books of exceptional merit.

L. D. Lapinski lives just outside Sherwood Forest with their family, a lot of books, and a cat called Hector. L. D. first wrote a book aged seven; it was made of lined paper and sellotape, and it was about a frog who owned an aeroplane. When L. D. grows up, they want to be a free-range guinea pig farmer.

L. D.'s literary agent is Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency. For Film / TV, contact Emily Hayward Whitlock.

Twitter / Instagram / TikTok: @ldlapinski

Reviews

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, Contender for book of the year! Easy. This won all my awards and I couldn’t give it less than 5 if I tried.

I know the year is only just beginning but I think any subsequent middle grade books I read will be up for a fight with this one! It has everything - fantastic and well thought out characters, utterly brilliant writing and a really well crafted and plainly brilliant plot and storyline. I think I mentioned brilliant twice there but I’ll say it once more for completion - brilliant.

Ed and Elodie had my heart immediately and I was so roped into the story, I couldn’t put it down. Who needs sleep anyway?

Swept up into a world of magic, the two twins Ed and Elodie Crane will soon be coming into their magic and the big reveal. They’re uncertain as to whether they’ll even have magic or what the future will hold for them, but a bigger world of dreams and nightmares await and they both have no idea what they’re about to be in for!

I loves the dream element and the whole concept of the Artezans. This is going to be a fab series and I can’t wait for more to come.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Nichola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when I start a new book, it takes me a couple of chapters to really get in board and this book was the complete opposite. LD Lapinski had me hooked from the first chapter and I was straight into the world of the Artezans, of the magic and waiting to find out if Ed and Elodie, despite being adopted, would have magical powers.
Each summer, children in Artezan families who have left primary school gather at the Cranes house for their reveal- to see if and what their magical powers are. Ed and Elodie Crane are adopted and carefree, successful Elodie isn't worried about the reveal like her brother.
What they come to find through the story is that not only do they have powers but those powers are so important and far more potent than they realise. Life for Artezans is about to change and I cannot wait for the sequel to this book already!
LD seamlessly weaves in new magic with myths and folklore and explains how dreams and nightmares are brought to being. LOVE this book!

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between this and The Strangeworlds Travel Agency, L.D. Lapinski has truly proven how amazing they are at writing portal fantasy. This was very different from their previous series, but just as richly imaginative and magical and full of heart. I already can't wait to read the sequel!

[Stuart Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, brisk plot and characters with some nice LGBTQ rep in the supporting roles. The intro had quite a lot of telling over showing, like it was in a hurry to get the reader to grips with the world, and it lost me a little at first with where the plot went... But I came around and ended up enjoying it. It's a strong opening to this children's fantasy trilogy. Will probably read the rest of the series when they come out!

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book for young readers (P6/7) that uses magic is an exciting and new way. Love it being set in Scotland, use of Scots language and also have LGBT families without it being the main focus / taboo.
Also met the author when they came to speak at school and they were super lovely.

[Tracy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I didn't want this to end. And I want to know when I can get the rest of the series... I hope you're writing LD Lapinski!

Edward and Elodie Crane are twins who live with their Dad and Baba in Covensea in Scotland. Edward is quiet and has, as he sees it, lived in Elodie's shadow; she's good at everything and has loads of friends and Ed is always in her shadow.
They live a weird existence. They go to school and live as any other folk but they have another life. Their dad's are Artezans: they can do real magic! Now at the age of 11 they are going to find out whether they have any magic in them - as adopted children it isn't guaranteed! Ed can only hope that either they both have magic or that he does and Elodie doesn't, he doesn't want to be the one left out again.
Ed collects sea glass from the floor of Sculptor's Cave just near their home. He doesn't know why it is so special to him but he really likes it. The cave makes him feel magical. He's careful though the tide comes in and fills the cave very quickly.
When they find out they are both magical, their magic being of the Hidden and Unseen type, with a purple hue, Ed is relieved. He thinks his is something to do with dreams. Elodie's is being able to understand her cat!
When Ed finds that the sea glass all over his bedroom floor with the glass jar that contained it broken he is confused, even more so when he picks up a piece and it turns to sand in his hand.
They new artezans have to go to school with Nyx, a dream crafter (they knits dream scripts!) at the craft cabin in the village. Ed listens carefully when Nyx talks about their power
But that same sea glass is his tuil; it is able to transport him to the Land of Dreams he understands his power. But why are the Lands of Dreams and Nightmares separated and who separated them? When that same power allows him to send Nightmares (Shudder) from that land to Gregory Poppley, Ed goes too far... But he stops Shudder, doesn't he?
Then things start to go really wrong, he and Elodie argue, Elodie is hearing other voices but she doesn't know who and where they are. Ed thinks it is silly and she is just wanting attention.
But then Ed dreams - but he shouldn't be able to, he is the Dream Laird. Only this is no dream - it's a nightmare. And it gets worse day on day. Then comes the day when Elodie appears in his nightmare...

This is outstanding. A brilliant start to a new series, definitely want to buy for school. The characters are brilliantly written. I really like that their dads are so supportive of them and so loving. And that Gran is a bit of a show off! The mix of Artezan stories from one culture to another is a reflection of any story told from different perspectives.
Thanks NetGalleyUk and Hachette Childrens for the chance to read.

[Saima · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story about magic in the world, especially so as it was set in Scotland and I saw Scottish words on the page (learned a few new ones to me). The adopted twins live in Covensea with their coven, a found family, and come into their powers aged 12 as all magical folk do, the artezans who have always had power of all kinds throughout time. Loved the ideas of magic in this world, weaving it into the witch trials of the past, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of the story goes.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I was a little disappointed. There seems to be a lot of books around recently about young people coming into some sort of power., struggling with it and having to fight a big evil. This seemed to be another retread of this common storyline. Thankfully, as the story progressed, it soon started to stand out amongst the crowd. It became really dark as Edward discovered what he could do with his powers. I did like it when Edward tried to deal with a bully and things went wrong. You could really see how easy it was to become a bully yourself, putting a new perspective on the situation.
Overall a good read. I did find the Strangeworlds series better though.

[whatbooknext · Rating 3 out of 5]

Artizan - a combination of:
Artisan - skilled craftsperson & Artesian - A spring or well that flows upwards
Join these words with a Z instead of an S and you have...

Artezan - One who can wield the magic that flows through them.

Ed and Elodie are twins, and now at age 11 they are to go through a special ceremony for children of Artezan parents to reveal the magic within them.

This is a big deal in the Artezan world and Ed is worried. His sister Elodie has always found making friends, school and life in general... easy. At least that's what it looks like from his point of view. He himself is the opposite - overthinking things and unable to relax in most situations.

They were adopted very young, and are unsure whether they even have any magic. Their fathers are both talented Artezans, and Ed wonders if he will be able live up to the Crane family name. Elodie is his best friend, but will she outshine him yet again at the Reveal ceremony?

Both twins receive good news on the Reveal - both have a power to be proud of. At first Ed is unsure about his, as he is of most things. Elodie's power seems much more straight forward, but as they begin to learn about their individual magic, Ed realises his is much more complicated, wonderful and scary at the same time.

Magic has been dwindling over the centuries for Artezans, and no one knows why. When Ed suddenly finds himself in between a land of dreams and nightmares, he not only discovers his new magical power, he learns about himself, the lost ancient magic, and an evil force that is responsible.

Ed must overcome his hesitative nature and stride forth with confidence to save the new friends he has made, the Artezan way of life and magic, and most importantly of all his best friend and sister - Elodie.


Well written and imaginative and the first in a planned trilogy, I enjoyed the first half of Artezans as Ed struggles with his confidence and place in his world.

I've never be a huge fan of dreamscape stories, but did enjoy the character arc of Edward as he finally finds his self confidence through his love for his twin.

Ed's revenge on a bully was well done, as was his realisation that it wasn't really helping his problem with a difficult boy in his Summer holiday Artezan classes.

Travelling to another world of dreams and nightmares reminded me a little of The Magic Faraway Tree, but for more sophisticated tween readers.

Age - 8+

[Trinique Henlay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found The Forgotten Magic deeply disappointing, not least because it gestures towards themes of belonging, adoption, and self-worth, then handles them with a surprising lack of care.

Edward’s adopted status is positioned as the central source of his anxiety, but instead of challenging the notion that “real” magic - and by extension real value - is inherited, the book quietly reinforces it. Again and again, adoption is framed as a deficit to be overcome, something that makes Ed inherently lesser until he is conveniently proven exceptional after all. For young readers who are adopted, or who sit outside neat biological narratives, this is a troubling message to absorb.

The contrast between Edward and his twin sister Elodie is equally grating. Elodie exists largely as a foil - effortlessly capable, emotionally distant, and narratively disposable. Rather than exploring sibling dynamics with nuance, the book leans into a tired binary where the boy’s insecurity is profound and sympathetic, while the girl’s competence is taken for granted and faintly resented. Her interior life is barely acknowledged, which feels like a missed opportunity at best and quietly sexist at worst.

The magic system itself is vague to the point of carelessness. Powers expand when the plot requires them to, and consequences are gestured at rather than meaningfully explored. We are repeatedly warned that dreams can “turn into nightmares”, but the ethical implications of wielding such power are skimmed over in favour of melodrama. Fear replaces responsibility; angst replaces reflection.

Stylistically, the book indulges heavily in familiar fantasy shorthand - ancient families, fading magic, special boys with hidden gifts - without doing anything particularly new with it. For a genre that has moved on significantly in recent years, this feels oddly backward-looking. Emotional beats are over-explained, yet the deeper questions - about identity, agency, and what truly makes someone belong - remain frustratingly underexamined.

In the end, this is a story that promises depth and delivers reassurance: you are special after all, you just didn’t know it yet. For some readers, that may be comforting. As an educator, I find it worryingly complacent, and far too invested in the idea that worth must still be proven through exceptional power rather than inherent humanity.

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this last night and I wanted to start the second one immediately.

When I first started reading, I thought: a nice kid’s fantasy-kids get magic; mentor teaches them how to hone craft etc etc but as the story builds, you are immersed more and more in the world of the story. A story that is complex and layered; it is setting up for what’s to come as well as resolving enough aspects to satisfy here. We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the history of the Artezans and most of what we are told here has been twisted through different strands of folk lore. I’m looking forward to learning more about how the past is influencing the present in the subsequent books.

The Forgotten Magic mainly revolves around Edward Crane and his early induction into the world of magic. His twin sister, Elodie, is having a parallel experience but handling herself with slightly more grace than her brother! Ed is a flawed character and I really enjoyed his redemption arc. There’s still loads to learn about other characters: the twins’ dads and their magical histories are intriguing as is the twins’ origin story, which was barely revealed.

I love the low fantasy interplay between the magical world and the completely mundane life of humans. For instance, there’s a refence comparing a new, rare scent to a hotching wheelie bin on a summer’s day. These little gems are found throughout the book. The sense of humour is one thing that makes it feel a bit special.

A nod too to the beautiful cover by Joe Todd-Stanton. I’m looking at the ‘Z’ in ‘Artezans’ on the front cover with a different eye now that I’ve finished the book!

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

This young fantasy seems to have gone down really well with a lot of adult readers and reviewers of the genre, but it failed to set my imagination alight. For one thing there is needless wokery always on the fringe, ready to reappear and pull focus unnecessarily. I mean, I really liked the early chapters where our twin siblings were waiting to see what magical attributes would be revealed, and the Scottish vocab was pleasingly novel for such a book. But my heart sank when the news was our male lead, Ed, would be travelling to a world of dreams – the very place where an author can do absolutely anything she wants, even if she really, really oughtn't. And that includes, it seems, things such as a boring bullying/revenge scenario played out in our mundanity – mundane certainly was the word there.

Beyond that there are some really strong scenes of nightmare – it's part of the 'great power/great responsibility' meme here that the darker side of Ed's new powers cannot be ignored. Also, the big reveals of the world the future books will be set in, when we know more of what these heroes are and what they will be doing, are gearing to something with some strength. But by then I'd resorted to skimming this, impatient with the fact this is just another 'young pre-teen with unrevealed magical destiny' plot, and naffed off by the pronoun-mangling and suchlike, which by default takes a star away from my rating. All told, I can see people justified in giving this four stars, even if I was completely unable to stretch that far.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What an amazing read! Artezans: The Forgotten Magic is the first book in an epic new series from L.D. Lapinski. Elodie and Edward Crane are about to find out what, if any, magical powers they have during the Artezan Reveal Ceremony. Elodie isn't worried, but Edward is terrified. He has always lived in the shadow of his twin siste and he's convinced that he won't have any powers. For many centuries , Artezan powers have been weakening, so they're not really expecting anything strong or extraordinary. However, it's Edward, with his new role as Dream Laird with powers over the Land of Dreams, who soon discovers the strength of th power he has been given. But things aren't what they seem. Edit going to be faced with a series of challenges that no-one has ever faced before. Can he and Elodie save the power of the Artezans?
L.D. has a true gift for writing books that are magical and enchanting. The work building is truly exceptional , creating a wholly immersive reading experience. the characters they create are extraordinary and memorable, taking them into the realm of some of the greatest literary characters of all time. I completely fell in love with Edward and Elodie. They will forever have a place in my heart. L.D. is a master storyteller whose stories will join the ranks of some the greatest writers ever. I loved this book and I simply cannot wait for the next instalment.I highly recommend this series and all of L.D.'s books!

[Lizzie Huxley-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no surprise, given how huge a fan I am of the Strangeworld’s Travel Agency, that I was going to love Artezan’s: The Forgotten Magic, the first in a brand new series from LD Lapinski.

Twins Edward and Elodie couldn’t be more different, and Ed feels like he’s never lived up to his golden sister. Magic has been fading for 400 years, but when they go through their Artezan ceremony to find out if they have magic of their own, Ed discovers his is a dream come true. But dreams can be nightmares, and Ed’s power seems to be a lot more complicated than he initially imagined.

I was completely hooked with the world of the Artezan’s: dreams, nightmares and Scottish myth woven together into the perfect fantasy. The Crane twins absolutely have my heart, especially Elodie — another well written brilliant fat girl in kid lit — and their struggles to understand each other through this massive change feel so real.

It’s a timeless story of finding out who you are and your place in the world, with a majorly magical twist. Brilliant, funny and just a little bit scary - the perfect blend for any fantasy adventure.

It’s out on the 29th of February!

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an exciting and immersive story about adopted twins, identity issues and magic. But it is also about so much more! Despite the multiplicity of issues addressed in this book, the writer skillfully weaves the narrative in a way that all these diverse themes are actually done justice.

The story is told largely with a focus on one of the twins, Edward. He's a bit of a worrier, and is concerned that he may never have any magical powers. His twin sister is far more confident in this regard - even though she too is (obviously) adopted. So when Edward's powers kick in, he is initially delighted. But things don't work out quite as planned...

The book carries readers along easily, as the pace of action is satisfying and the interesting developments come thick and fast. Issues such as adoption, identity and bullying are well-handled, as is the relative novelty still (at least in mainstream children's literature) of having same-sex parents. A very enjoyable read. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Suzi Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For the last 400 years, magic has been fading. Artezans are no longer powerful, they are ordinary. But two extraordinary twins are about to change everything….. Get Ready… Magic is BACK!.”

I absolutely ADORED this book (and I’m so excited that this is a series - *frantically searches for the date of the next edition!).

The book follows twins Edward and Elodie Crane as they find out if they are magical (they were adopted into a very magical family) on a pretty big adventure.

I adored Dad and Baba the two dad that adopted the twins - what a relationship full of love and magic. Nyx, my first experience of a character with they and their pronouns, was just written so beautifully.

The magic world building totally took me away into the dreamscape and I can totally imagine this book being a portal into the start of fantasy world book lovers in young minds.

Massive congratulations @ldlapinski for the first in a promising series. I cannot wait to read the next one.

Thank you to @hachettechildrens for sending this copy our way.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly what I expected - or at least the first half was. This started out a lot more domestic than I anticipated, with the stakes not ramping up until the second half or the idea of Artezan Masters coming into play until then (which was something I was beginning to doubt would happen, despite it being the main thing I expected going into this book). I also thought it would be more even between Ed and Elodie, what with them both being on the front cover, but this was definitely Ed's book. That said, I still enjoyed it, even when it was different to what I thought I was getting.

I liked the queer rep - from the twins' dads and Nyx using they/them pronouns. It's always nice to see queer characters just existing, especially in middle-grade books. With that in mind, the idea of giving kids good rep, it was also so nice to see Elodie described as 'fat and beautiful'.

I thought the plot was fun and I'm intrigued about what happens next - I would especially love some more of Elodie and her magic. All in all, a nice little fantasy story.

[Kirsten Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for giving me digital access to this.
Sadly it sat on my kindle for far too long unread. It should have been at the top of my pile.

I loved this adventure and can't wait for the next installment.

Set now, in a world where magic exists but it's been getting weaker for the last 400 years. It's hidden and kept quiet. The main characters - twins who are adopted into a magical family worry that because they are adopted they might not have any magic. Their dads run a summer camp for magical children, a camp that helps children work out how to control/use and develop their area of magic. This adds pressure on them - what if they don't have magic?
This mirrors the worries that some adopted children would also feel - I feel it's done very well!

Anyway ..do they have magic? Well to find out what happens on the day their magic is revealed you need to pick up the book!

Identity, worry, fitting in, expectations...so many themes. A great book that will be very popular.

[Kirsty Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward and Elodie Crane are twins living in a world where magic is real, though hidden, and wielded by the Artezans whose powers vary from uncooking toast, to changing the weather to knitting dreams. We join the Crane twins on the eve of their Reveal when they find out what branch f magic thy will wield, or even if they have magic at all.

As you would expect from LD Lapinski, the world building is rich, deep and fascinating, with an impressive amount of representation threaded throughout. An excellent start to what is going to be another must-read series.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Emm Woodworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. As a huge fan of Strangeworlds I really wanted to love this, but it just fell a little short for me. I enjoy the world building and most of the characters, the plot kept me mostly interested as well, though I was less enthused about the land of dreams. The thing I really struggled with was the lead character, Ed, I found him very unlikeable, whiney and mean. The book states this behaviour is out of character, but all through the book he goes on about how much better things are for his sister and his jealousy is very grating. Saying that though, I will probably read more in the series, the set up for another book has drawn me in

[beereadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good first entry for a new series! I found the characters and their emotional journeys really interesting and the descriptions of the environments are very evocative and detailed. The only thing holding it back (in my opinion) is the exposition-heavy start and the 'tell, don't show' tendencies within the writing- however, as it's a middle grade book with a fairly detailed magic system, I can understand why it was harder to explain things organically and I think following books will go a lot smoother now the lore's established!

[BookBairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a spectacular children’s book! Firstly I loved the Scottish-ness of this book which felt genuine without being over done. I also really appreciated that it wasn’t set in Edinburgh as many children’s Scotland based books are. I thought the characters in this were brilliantly crafted, and I loved the representation which was incidental throughout the story. I thought the magic system worked really well and I was completely swept along on this fantasy adventure. Can’t wait for more from this series!

[Imogen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for my birthday and has been collecting dust so I thought I might as well read it. I was surprised in the best way possible it was a genuinely good kids fantasy book. It was like if Inception (the movie) met The Wishing Spell land of stories. I am actually looking forward to reading the next book. 3.8 round up to 4 stars

[Mae Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I got sent an ARC of this through work because I love L.D. Lapinski’s writing and this did not disappoint! The story was so magical and highly gripping - I could not put it down!! The internal struggles that Ed faced were even something I could relate to as an adult and the world building was STUNNING!!

As always with Lapinski’s writing, the LGBTQ+ rep was amazing and Nyx is my new non-binary icon!

Cannot WAIT for the next instalment!!

[Bookgirl888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly brilliant story that will be loved by fans of magical stories as well as anyone who just likes a good adventure.
Ed wants to be magical like his dads and he's convinced he won't be but that his twin will be. He has no worries as it turns out and he has so much more power than he could have imagined! There's magic, adventure and disaster in this story. But there's also hope, love and acceptance. I can not wait for the next one to come out.

[Lucy DeRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful magical read! Highly recommend for children and adults who love whimsical middlegrade fantasy. This was beautiful. Lots of representation and realistic depictions of emotions, situations and thoughts. It's not about being perfect, it's about learning and trying. Loved this! I need book 2 now!!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and imaginative children’s adventure with a really nice Scottish setting. Pacing was a little bit off so the story wasn’t set up very well, I guess this is more down to it feeling more like a prologue to the next book or the series as a whole and not so much its own story, but it was still a compelling read.

[Sinéad O'Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

LD Lapinski can do no wrong... this wonderful story, the beginning to a brand-new series, surely has to be one of their best. Wonderful word-play in the very title of the story (no spoilers!) - excellent characterisation and a beautiful family dynamic - brilliant use of magic and filled with very real threat - such believable motivation and deeply relatable emotional heart. This novel has it all!

[A.M.]

Adopted into a magic family, the twins can’t wait to see what their powers will be (and if they get any)

Gay dads. Yay!

I am half way through this… and it is not working for me. I do not like Ed. I kind of wish his sister was an equal protagonist… he’s just so whiny.

I gave up; I have more things to read.
did not finish

[Lyra van der Berge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Ready for book two 😍