What do you think?
Rate this book
Winterthorn Saga #1
The Non-Magical Declan Moore
Everything you know is a lie.
Declan Moore was raised to believe he was powerless. A worthless branch on a magical family tree. His mother is a witch; his father, a wizard. Declan is… nothing.
Then his parents are taken. Not just taken, turned to iron and carted away in a nondescript van. They’re not the only ones. Overnight, thousands of witches and wizards vanish from their homes, leaving the powerless ones—like Declan—to pick up the pieces.
Then the vans return. The people in them—the ones wearing the black regimental coats—made a mistake. They missed someone. A wizard, a weapon—one too powerful to be controlled or contained. Declan Moore.
Is that why he was never told he could do magic? Why he spent the last seventeen years as an outcast?
Declan doesn’t care. If he can do magic, he can save his parents. The cost be damned.
Declan Moore was raised to believe he was powerless. A worthless branch on a magical family tree. His mother is a witch; his father, a wizard. Declan is… nothing.
Then his parents are taken. Not just taken, turned to iron and carted away in a nondescript van. They’re not the only ones. Overnight, thousands of witches and wizards vanish from their homes, leaving the powerless ones—like Declan—to pick up the pieces.
Then the vans return. The people in them—the ones wearing the black regimental coats—made a mistake. They missed someone. A wizard, a weapon—one too powerful to be controlled or contained. Declan Moore.
Is that why he was never told he could do magic? Why he spent the last seventeen years as an outcast?
Declan doesn’t care. If he can do magic, he can save his parents. The cost be damned.
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultEbooks
346 pages, Paperback
First published August 10, 2023
49 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Taylor
4 books12 followersNathan Taylor is an independent author based in Queensland, Australia.
He made his first professional short story sale in 2018 to Underground Writers Monthly. At this time, he was teaching in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Writing on the weekends and during school holidays, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In 2023, Nathan started his indie publication process with Magpie Drive Press with his contemporary fantasy, ‘The Non-Magical Declan Moore’ and short story collection ‘Puppies, Pizza, Magic and Murder’.
He made his first professional short story sale in 2018 to Underground Writers Monthly. At this time, he was teaching in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Writing on the weekends and during school holidays, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In 2023, Nathan started his indie publication process with Magpie Drive Press with his contemporary fantasy, ‘The Non-Magical Declan Moore’ and short story collection ‘Puppies, Pizza, Magic and Murder’.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 12, 2023
There's a good story here, but I wasn't entirely captivated by it. I liked the premise of a non-magical boy struggling to find acceptance in a magical world, and his journey of discovering his place in that world was well thought out. But I didn't feel much emotional investment in the characters. Part of that may be me being a grammar troll (I can ignore a few errors, but after a certain point they really start affecting my engagement with a story).
Overall, a decent start to a series, with lots of potential for further development (and hopefully less comma splices).
Overall, a decent start to a series, with lots of potential for further development (and hopefully less comma splices).
October 16, 2023
I really loved this book. The magical world building is so fun . Great for ya and ma readers. The Mc journey has so many twists and turns, wins, and losses the reader needs to know what will happen next. The book really focuses on the story and Mc journey, which I love. There are a few parts that seemed a bit glossed over, but it's the first book in what I expect to be an amazing series, and I'm sure the books will get even better! I can't wait to read the next book in the series! I highly suggest this book to ya fantasy readers, especially those with a love of magic and magical academies.
September 24, 2023
Could be improved, but it delivers an interesting story of magic and wizardry.
Note: I was offered an ARC of this book and wrote an editorial review on Reedsy Discovery.
The title is great, the cover inviting, the premise intriguing. But honestly, Nathan Taylor set himself a hard task: You can’t do what he’s doing without being compared to J. K. Rowling. The book started off slow for me, partly because it took me a while to stop feeling like I was reading a variation of HP and the Order of the Phoenix in which the Slytherin goons are headed up by Pansy Parkinson instead of Malfoy. (Sadly, the little villainess Lyle is a complete throwaway, existing only to provide the requisite trope of the cruel high school tormentor.)
Seventeen-year-old Declan is highly reminiscent of Harry at fifteen: moody, thoughtless, skulking behind backs, and sulking outside a coveted place in the inner circle. In short, Declan may be relatable, but he’s just not very likable. Unlike Rowling, Taylor has not established his main character in previous books, so he has a very short window to make the reader care about Declan—and to his credit, he manages it. I didn’t like the kid, but I did want to know what happened to him.
The map and place names suggest an alternate history of Europe in which wizards and muggles (er, sorry, LAMPs) coexist with extreme class distinctions. The plot is driven by two paradoxes: magical iron, which should not exist because iron resists magic… and a boy with latent magic so potent it’s not safe to train him. (Mixing Anakin Skywalker into the wizarding world is not a bad idea at all.) Declan, who has gone his whole life thinking he has no magic, does indeed seem doomed to a non-magical existence by the very power within him.
Courage is acting foolishly to help others. Stupidity is acting foolishly to help yourself. I hope you’re smart enough to understand the difference, Declan.”
The writing is quite readable, even witty in places—such as when one character “gestured some sort of apology,” whereupon another “gestured back something quite different from an apology.” But the book needed more editing. There were typos, lots of proximate repetition (my favorite: “A blinding beam of light landed on Declan, blinding him.”), rampant sentence splices and occasional fragments. The unconventional punctuation does not prevent the reader from following the story, but I found it distracting. And the seemingly random shifts in POV—although helpful to let the reader see what Declan would be in no position to know—felt jarring, without rhyme or reason, until I learned to expect them unexpectedly.
The story really takes off right at the midpoint, where we get a more thorough and spellbinding view of the fantastical world Taylor has envisioned. The last several chapters are page-turners, and Declan finds himself in an intriguing situation when the book ends. If Winterthorn can deliver on the promise of book one, I think the series will win some fans.
Note: I was offered an ARC of this book and wrote an editorial review on Reedsy Discovery.
The title is great, the cover inviting, the premise intriguing. But honestly, Nathan Taylor set himself a hard task: You can’t do what he’s doing without being compared to J. K. Rowling. The book started off slow for me, partly because it took me a while to stop feeling like I was reading a variation of HP and the Order of the Phoenix in which the Slytherin goons are headed up by Pansy Parkinson instead of Malfoy. (Sadly, the little villainess Lyle is a complete throwaway, existing only to provide the requisite trope of the cruel high school tormentor.)
Seventeen-year-old Declan is highly reminiscent of Harry at fifteen: moody, thoughtless, skulking behind backs, and sulking outside a coveted place in the inner circle. In short, Declan may be relatable, but he’s just not very likable. Unlike Rowling, Taylor has not established his main character in previous books, so he has a very short window to make the reader care about Declan—and to his credit, he manages it. I didn’t like the kid, but I did want to know what happened to him.
The map and place names suggest an alternate history of Europe in which wizards and muggles (er, sorry, LAMPs) coexist with extreme class distinctions. The plot is driven by two paradoxes: magical iron, which should not exist because iron resists magic… and a boy with latent magic so potent it’s not safe to train him. (Mixing Anakin Skywalker into the wizarding world is not a bad idea at all.) Declan, who has gone his whole life thinking he has no magic, does indeed seem doomed to a non-magical existence by the very power within him.
Courage is acting foolishly to help others. Stupidity is acting foolishly to help yourself. I hope you’re smart enough to understand the difference, Declan.”
The writing is quite readable, even witty in places—such as when one character “gestured some sort of apology,” whereupon another “gestured back something quite different from an apology.” But the book needed more editing. There were typos, lots of proximate repetition (my favorite: “A blinding beam of light landed on Declan, blinding him.”), rampant sentence splices and occasional fragments. The unconventional punctuation does not prevent the reader from following the story, but I found it distracting. And the seemingly random shifts in POV—although helpful to let the reader see what Declan would be in no position to know—felt jarring, without rhyme or reason, until I learned to expect them unexpectedly.
The story really takes off right at the midpoint, where we get a more thorough and spellbinding view of the fantastical world Taylor has envisioned. The last several chapters are page-turners, and Declan finds himself in an intriguing situation when the book ends. If Winterthorn can deliver on the promise of book one, I think the series will win some fans.
August 14, 2023
Declan Moore is 17 years old and despite his family, it is believed that he is totally non magical. It’s a well written, fast paced journey as Declan discovers the truth regarding his power in this extraordinary magical world. There’s danger, drama and action as a plot is uncovered and thousands of witches and wizards are taken including his mum & dad. It’s an exciting and magical adventure and I look forward to more from this author.
August 16, 2023
What Makes a Hero ?? . . .
The Headmaster announced in front of all of the senior students that Declan Moore had zero magical potential. He was asked to go to classroom 88 with the other non-magical students. He was mortified. And when the Headmaster had to stop out of class, Lyle Arthur, a vicious and cruel witch, insulted and belittled him, getting the rest of the class to laugh at his misery. When his best friend, Ace Marley, walked in, she took joy in telling him, but he coldly told her to go away. And in private, he revealed he already knew about Declan’s potential. When Mrs. Winter took over the non-magical students’ class, she quietly told Declan what he needed to hear and believe as they talked about non-magicals who died bravely for Euryma against a power they could not understand: “The quality of a person’s character has nothing to do with his or her magical ability. Courage is acting foolishly to help others. Stupidity is acting foolishly to help yourself.” Declan was never stupid. Yet when Ace dropped his application to the most prestigious Kings College, and Declan could not find him to return it by the deadline for mailing it, he filled it out himself and put a drop of his blood at the bottom.
His mother is a witch; his father, a wizard. Declan is… nothing. He was still grieving. His mom and dad were working outside on the garden and had “wonderful news”. The school was offering him a groundsman job. Just what he aspired to… working in the dirt. Today everyone would get their offers from the colleges. And he would receive his rejection. Classmates asked him to come with them where they would all open their envelopes. He got off the bus to make a call to his parents and Lyle and her gang grabbed him. She used magic to pin his arms, raise him into the air, and take him into an alley where she slammed his helpless body into the wall. When he called for help, she cut off his breath! They read his rejection letter, but Ace appeared in the alley, furious at them. He froze them on the ground, they would recover in an hour, Declan thanked him and, in lots of pain, decided to just go home. Falling asleep in the bus, he got out and walked in the dark. The streets were empty. Two people were taking away bodies. They grabbed Declan and tested him – he was not a wizard so they left him and picked up two iron sculptures – his parents!!! The men magically tossed him through a window and drove away. Witches and warlocks were gone. But the men in black returned for one they overlooked. The most powerful of all wizards. Could this person save them? Or would they somehow overpower… Declan Moore?
The Headmaster announced in front of all of the senior students that Declan Moore had zero magical potential. He was asked to go to classroom 88 with the other non-magical students. He was mortified. And when the Headmaster had to stop out of class, Lyle Arthur, a vicious and cruel witch, insulted and belittled him, getting the rest of the class to laugh at his misery. When his best friend, Ace Marley, walked in, she took joy in telling him, but he coldly told her to go away. And in private, he revealed he already knew about Declan’s potential. When Mrs. Winter took over the non-magical students’ class, she quietly told Declan what he needed to hear and believe as they talked about non-magicals who died bravely for Euryma against a power they could not understand: “The quality of a person’s character has nothing to do with his or her magical ability. Courage is acting foolishly to help others. Stupidity is acting foolishly to help yourself.” Declan was never stupid. Yet when Ace dropped his application to the most prestigious Kings College, and Declan could not find him to return it by the deadline for mailing it, he filled it out himself and put a drop of his blood at the bottom.
His mother is a witch; his father, a wizard. Declan is… nothing. He was still grieving. His mom and dad were working outside on the garden and had “wonderful news”. The school was offering him a groundsman job. Just what he aspired to… working in the dirt. Today everyone would get their offers from the colleges. And he would receive his rejection. Classmates asked him to come with them where they would all open their envelopes. He got off the bus to make a call to his parents and Lyle and her gang grabbed him. She used magic to pin his arms, raise him into the air, and take him into an alley where she slammed his helpless body into the wall. When he called for help, she cut off his breath! They read his rejection letter, but Ace appeared in the alley, furious at them. He froze them on the ground, they would recover in an hour, Declan thanked him and, in lots of pain, decided to just go home. Falling asleep in the bus, he got out and walked in the dark. The streets were empty. Two people were taking away bodies. They grabbed Declan and tested him – he was not a wizard so they left him and picked up two iron sculptures – his parents!!! The men magically tossed him through a window and drove away. Witches and warlocks were gone. But the men in black returned for one they overlooked. The most powerful of all wizards. Could this person save them? Or would they somehow overpower… Declan Moore?
September 11, 2024
This book has a very Harry Potter feel to it, an awkward 16 year old, classified as a LAMP, mocked by his peers and has a serious dose of "unworthy" clinging to him. No, not the LAMP that emits light, this is an acronym for lacking all magical potential. Needless to say, he's the outcast and has a huge chip on his shoulder. Coming from a very prestigious and strong magical family, he's the dud. So though I sympathised at his predicament, I admit to finding him a bit annoying at first, surly, moody, on the defensive, sulky. But such is to be expected in a YA story. As the story developed, I found myself rooting for him, I found I was vested in seeing Declan rise above it all. So much so, I literally rubbed my hands in glee when I discovered there's more to Declan than what's perceived. Fairly predictably, Declan DOES have magic but it's so deep within him, it's so powerful, it's dangerous, which Declan only discovered when the administrator at the magical college informed him, quite a bombshell moment for Declan!
Soon Declan is finding himself on the run from a group of powerful wizards hunting him and other magic users turning them into iron statues. As they did to Declan's parents. Which sets Declan off to find a solution, to save his parents. Which led him to discover there's so much more to him. I enjoyed the magical elements, and as I mentioned, I enjoyed seeing Declan slowly but surely become aware, going through a whole host of emotions and changes. This isn't an instant hero in the making, rather it's a young boy finding his way around dangerous situations, with a conviction that it's up to him to get to the bottom of things. While there is a definite tone that's dark, there's the beauty of hope and a steadfast resolve which I found very endearing.
This book was an enjoyable read, even though I did find it a struggle at times to keep things clear in my head, characters who I thought would be prominent side characters, turned out not to be and there were a few confusing moments. Like Ace, Declan's best friend, supportive, has his back, all of a sudden disappears, not only physically, but in the story too, just gone. However, the world building was well done, the pacing largely fast and a plot threw me off course with some of the unexpected twists. The second half, to me, was much more exciting and compelling, and the ending was so surprising, opening up a whole lot more intrugue to look forward to in book 2!
Soon Declan is finding himself on the run from a group of powerful wizards hunting him and other magic users turning them into iron statues. As they did to Declan's parents. Which sets Declan off to find a solution, to save his parents. Which led him to discover there's so much more to him. I enjoyed the magical elements, and as I mentioned, I enjoyed seeing Declan slowly but surely become aware, going through a whole host of emotions and changes. This isn't an instant hero in the making, rather it's a young boy finding his way around dangerous situations, with a conviction that it's up to him to get to the bottom of things. While there is a definite tone that's dark, there's the beauty of hope and a steadfast resolve which I found very endearing.
This book was an enjoyable read, even though I did find it a struggle at times to keep things clear in my head, characters who I thought would be prominent side characters, turned out not to be and there were a few confusing moments. Like Ace, Declan's best friend, supportive, has his back, all of a sudden disappears, not only physically, but in the story too, just gone. However, the world building was well done, the pacing largely fast and a plot threw me off course with some of the unexpected twists. The second half, to me, was much more exciting and compelling, and the ending was so surprising, opening up a whole lot more intrugue to look forward to in book 2!
July 23, 2023
I liked the concept here but the story just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Initially it was really immersive from the beginning, great world building, felt like we were being thrust into this world of magical and non-magical people (LAMPs). However, I felt the way in which the story progressed sort of took away from this. I don’t think there was enough time spent on building up the context before the first major catastrophe occurred, kicking off a chain of events which directed the way the story went - and as a result, the reader is constantly playing catch up along with the MC. I get that this is a writing choice, but it just didn’t work for me.
There were a few examples where the thread of the story just didn’t quite seem to have been followed through completely, and as a result things got a bit confusing and hard to follow; for example, there is no mention of pain when Declan lands off the rubble of his house, just that his leg goes from underneath him, but then his ankle is described as “shattered” which seems odd. When Declan and Ava are separated, it’s initially unclear what happens to her bag; on p132 Ava says Declan has her bag but p134 she gets kicked and lands on it, and then on p135 Declan has it. This part really needs revision- it can’t be in two places at once! There’s a similar issue on p140 when Ace says it’s Saturday when Declan asks him to make up an excuse for him at school but it’s only been one night since the previous day, which was Monday!
The other major thing that bothered me in this book was the constant odd and slightly annoying misuse of commas, eg “He dipped below the surface, it was amazing, he could see perfectly.” Different punctuation ought to be used, depending on what the author wants to convey; either full stops or semicolons, or maybe even dashes, but not commas! It really bugged me by the end of the book!
As a whole, the story was quite engaging until the point where Declan descended into depression holed up in his room at the college and then went on an adventure to a magical invisible island. It lost me a bit there - and it only got weirder when we got to the dry water, the venomous intoxicating lizards and the fire bear that spontaneously burst into flames… All while the rest of the magical world outside was apparently burning to the ground (although not literally). I also feel the revelation about John at the end was a bit of a cop-out. It was a shame, as he was an interesting character until that point! Plus what happened to Ace? He just gets a cursory mention at the end?! I thought it would have been better to pick either his full name or his nickname and consistently refer to him that way, as it would be easier for the reader to follow.
Otherwise, I think the idea has promise - it just hasn’t been executed brilliantly as it is, and the myriad of spelling and grammatical errors (which I listed, but won’t list here) did unfortunately impact my enjoyment of the book. I liked the ending though! With a bit of revision I think this could be much improved and I could see it being a successful series.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for an ARC of this book. I received a copy for free and these are my honest opinions.
There were a few examples where the thread of the story just didn’t quite seem to have been followed through completely, and as a result things got a bit confusing and hard to follow; for example, there is no mention of pain when Declan lands off the rubble of his house, just that his leg goes from underneath him, but then his ankle is described as “shattered” which seems odd. When Declan and Ava are separated, it’s initially unclear what happens to her bag; on p132 Ava says Declan has her bag but p134 she gets kicked and lands on it, and then on p135 Declan has it. This part really needs revision- it can’t be in two places at once! There’s a similar issue on p140 when Ace says it’s Saturday when Declan asks him to make up an excuse for him at school but it’s only been one night since the previous day, which was Monday!
The other major thing that bothered me in this book was the constant odd and slightly annoying misuse of commas, eg “He dipped below the surface, it was amazing, he could see perfectly.” Different punctuation ought to be used, depending on what the author wants to convey; either full stops or semicolons, or maybe even dashes, but not commas! It really bugged me by the end of the book!
As a whole, the story was quite engaging until the point where Declan descended into depression holed up in his room at the college and then went on an adventure to a magical invisible island. It lost me a bit there - and it only got weirder when we got to the dry water, the venomous intoxicating lizards and the fire bear that spontaneously burst into flames… All while the rest of the magical world outside was apparently burning to the ground (although not literally). I also feel the revelation about John at the end was a bit of a cop-out. It was a shame, as he was an interesting character until that point! Plus what happened to Ace? He just gets a cursory mention at the end?! I thought it would have been better to pick either his full name or his nickname and consistently refer to him that way, as it would be easier for the reader to follow.
Otherwise, I think the idea has promise - it just hasn’t been executed brilliantly as it is, and the myriad of spelling and grammatical errors (which I listed, but won’t list here) did unfortunately impact my enjoyment of the book. I liked the ending though! With a bit of revision I think this could be much improved and I could see it being a successful series.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for an ARC of this book. I received a copy for free and these are my honest opinions.
August 6, 2023
I received an advanced copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The minute I started reading this, the voice felt right on target with YA. It was approachable and felt right for the audience.
I wish I had gotten to know the characters a little bit more before everything started happening plot wise. I never felt like I got a great sense of who Declan was as a person besides his relationship with magic and the plot. Because I didn't feel like I knew him particularly well, I had a hard time caring about his struggles, and I didn't feel like he grew very much.
I also wanted more time with the other characters. I wish I had known more about them and their inner thoughts and feelings. There were a few characters who came and went quickly but I wanted more time with them to make sure I cared about them, especially his school friend. There started to be some back story there, and I wanted to spend a lot more time with him then I got.
I was confused about the reveal at the end (about one of the characters) because I wasn't sure when it fit into the timeline. It could have been something I missed.
I felt like the timeline of the story was really long, and I had a hard time with the long gaps in time especially when I wasn't getting any character growth or anything from these big gaps. They made the tension drop because the action would happen and then months would go by. Speeding up the timeline, or giving more time with the characters to develop into people we care about (even a flash back or two) would really help.
I liked the unique (at least to me) magic system with strings. I think that was a cool visual for me, and helped explain the way magic worked in a fun way. I wish I had gotten more magic because I enjoyed the system.
The book was a quick read, and therefore I think more time could be spent with each of the characters to make sure we really care about who they are and their goals and growth.
The minute I started reading this, the voice felt right on target with YA. It was approachable and felt right for the audience.
I wish I had gotten to know the characters a little bit more before everything started happening plot wise. I never felt like I got a great sense of who Declan was as a person besides his relationship with magic and the plot. Because I didn't feel like I knew him particularly well, I had a hard time caring about his struggles, and I didn't feel like he grew very much.
I also wanted more time with the other characters. I wish I had known more about them and their inner thoughts and feelings. There were a few characters who came and went quickly but I wanted more time with them to make sure I cared about them, especially his school friend. There started to be some back story there, and I wanted to spend a lot more time with him then I got.
I was confused about the reveal at the end (about one of the characters) because I wasn't sure when it fit into the timeline. It could have been something I missed.
I felt like the timeline of the story was really long, and I had a hard time with the long gaps in time especially when I wasn't getting any character growth or anything from these big gaps. They made the tension drop because the action would happen and then months would go by. Speeding up the timeline, or giving more time with the characters to develop into people we care about (even a flash back or two) would really help.
I liked the unique (at least to me) magic system with strings. I think that was a cool visual for me, and helped explain the way magic worked in a fun way. I wish I had gotten more magic because I enjoyed the system.
The book was a quick read, and therefore I think more time could be spent with each of the characters to make sure we really care about who they are and their goals and growth.
December 8, 2023
A fun read
The Non-Magical Declan Moore - As the title implies, we follow 17-year-old Declan Moore who believes he can’t do magic but really wants to be a wizard to live up to the powerful family name. He’s been pretending to be a wizard while in his prep school until the secrets out of the closet and he’s humiliated, everyone now knows he’s a LAMP (Lacking any Magical Potential).
We have a classic chosen one trope, turns out he cannot only perform magic, but he’s quite possibly the most powerful being in the world. And when his parents and friends are turned into iron statues by an organization that feels the after effects of magic is destroying the world (but is ironically using magic to turn magicians into statues, but ok) he has to realize his potential to save them.
It’s not a bad story, I just wish we had a more active protagonist. Declan doesn’t really do anything, more of a passive protagonist where the story’s happening around him and he’s just being dragged along by other characters. His arc is essentially that he wants magic but can’t use it and we deal with his frustration and bitching about it. I thought it would have been a more compelling story if he was truly a LAMP and maybe had a niche that could help him deal with magical beings, considering LAMPS are treated as second-class citizens.
It’s a YA (young adult) read, and when reading that genre as an adult, one must accept certain qualities about teenage protagonists such as moody bitching and moaning behavior. The world building is good, the way magic works is interesting, essentially threads of different types of energy all around that could be pulled and manipulated. You’ll enjoy it overall, the magic is cool and the pacing is good.
The Non-Magical Declan Moore - As the title implies, we follow 17-year-old Declan Moore who believes he can’t do magic but really wants to be a wizard to live up to the powerful family name. He’s been pretending to be a wizard while in his prep school until the secrets out of the closet and he’s humiliated, everyone now knows he’s a LAMP (Lacking any Magical Potential).
We have a classic chosen one trope, turns out he cannot only perform magic, but he’s quite possibly the most powerful being in the world. And when his parents and friends are turned into iron statues by an organization that feels the after effects of magic is destroying the world (but is ironically using magic to turn magicians into statues, but ok) he has to realize his potential to save them.
It’s not a bad story, I just wish we had a more active protagonist. Declan doesn’t really do anything, more of a passive protagonist where the story’s happening around him and he’s just being dragged along by other characters. His arc is essentially that he wants magic but can’t use it and we deal with his frustration and bitching about it. I thought it would have been a more compelling story if he was truly a LAMP and maybe had a niche that could help him deal with magical beings, considering LAMPS are treated as second-class citizens.
It’s a YA (young adult) read, and when reading that genre as an adult, one must accept certain qualities about teenage protagonists such as moody bitching and moaning behavior. The world building is good, the way magic works is interesting, essentially threads of different types of energy all around that could be pulled and manipulated. You’ll enjoy it overall, the magic is cool and the pacing is good.
October 26, 2023
Declan Moore believes he is powerless, the first in his long line of powerful wizarding family to be born without magic. Whilst everyone else is sending out their college applications, Declan is being left behind.. Until he takes a chance when he finds a dropped empty college application to the best magical college around... Kings College.
On the night the college applications acceptance letters are given, Declan's parents are taken by a group of strangers and suddenly he finds himself on the run from a group of dangerous wizards who are abducting and turning every witch and wizard to iron casts.
What he doesn't understand is why they are chasing him until he meets the King's College Administrator who tells him he is not just a wizard but one of the most powerful wizards of all time...
This book had be on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. With so many twists and turns, it made it impossible to put the book down. I could not predict the way the story was going to go and it was impossible to tell which characters were good and which are double agents in disguise. If you want a book where the entire book keeps you on your toes and where you can fall in love with a relatable character, where your emotions are forever changing, this is a book for you. I can not wait to see what is going to happen next to Declan Moore.
On the night the college applications acceptance letters are given, Declan's parents are taken by a group of strangers and suddenly he finds himself on the run from a group of dangerous wizards who are abducting and turning every witch and wizard to iron casts.
What he doesn't understand is why they are chasing him until he meets the King's College Administrator who tells him he is not just a wizard but one of the most powerful wizards of all time...
This book had be on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. With so many twists and turns, it made it impossible to put the book down. I could not predict the way the story was going to go and it was impossible to tell which characters were good and which are double agents in disguise. If you want a book where the entire book keeps you on your toes and where you can fall in love with a relatable character, where your emotions are forever changing, this is a book for you. I can not wait to see what is going to happen next to Declan Moore.
August 18, 2023
Declan Moore comes from generations of magical folks. He even attends a school named after his multi-great grandfather. But Declan has been labeled a LAMP, which is a person lacking all magical potential. Bullied, feeling like a third wheel and lost to the dream of what his life could have been, Declan quickly finds himself on a quest to survive ensuing mayhem and discover who he really is.
Declan is teamed with mostly superficial characters; there is not a lot of evidence as to their true personalities. There are, however, enough tidbits to keep the people interesting and definitely untrustworthy. Hopefully in the next book we can learn more about them, as details help with making the cast relatable.
The fast pace is exciting, but it feels a bit rushed in some areas. Some in-depth details and drawing out a bit more of the back story would have elevated the text and upped the star count. As it stands, this was a fun read with a good story line and has potential for days to add so much more adventures in future tomes.
A solid 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for the digital copy. My honest review is voluntary.
Declan is teamed with mostly superficial characters; there is not a lot of evidence as to their true personalities. There are, however, enough tidbits to keep the people interesting and definitely untrustworthy. Hopefully in the next book we can learn more about them, as details help with making the cast relatable.
The fast pace is exciting, but it feels a bit rushed in some areas. Some in-depth details and drawing out a bit more of the back story would have elevated the text and upped the star count. As it stands, this was a fun read with a good story line and has potential for days to add so much more adventures in future tomes.
A solid 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for the digital copy. My honest review is voluntary.
June 1, 2024
I somehow missed the release of this one and am late to the party, but I'm glad I got here in the end! In a society of upper class wizards, Declan Moore is a high school senior lacking all measurable magical potential despite a famous lineage. A rotating cast of colourful side characters keep him - and us - continually questioning whether he is indeed unmagical, or just something unquantifiable. Either way, events outside Declan's control quickly see him standing helplessly on the sidelines in a magical uprising where allies are hard to distinguish from foes. I enjoyed the magic system, the character Ace (who I wished we spent more time with) and the broader world building that was alluded to in this book and which I suspect will be built on in sequels. This book sits comfortably at the younger end of YA and kicks off fast, though I felt the pace dropped a bit after the first 35% - the plot thickened here too much for Declan to translate for us, and as such I'm excited for the sequel opening up new settings for us. Fabulous debut from Nathan Taylor.
September 30, 2025
The Non-Magical Declan Moore by Nathan Taylor
I really, really enjoyed this one! In this version of the modern world, witches and wizards lead normal lives, using extraordinary powers to do ordinary things. Unless you're 17 year old Declan, born to magical parents but with no powers of his own.
This one kept me absolutely glued to the page from the very first chapter. Declan was a very relatable characters and I also loved the characters of Horace and Ava as well. Hope we'll see more of them in book 2! I was a little confused about the likabilty of a few characters later on but it makes total sense at the end. The theme of the finding the mole in the Directive was particularly thrilling. Nothing like a little betrayal to keep all the characters on their toes! Honestly by the end I wasn't quite sure what to believe but I'm sure that's what book 2 is for, hope I can get my hands on it soon!
Genre: YA Fantasy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really, really enjoyed this one! In this version of the modern world, witches and wizards lead normal lives, using extraordinary powers to do ordinary things. Unless you're 17 year old Declan, born to magical parents but with no powers of his own.
This one kept me absolutely glued to the page from the very first chapter. Declan was a very relatable characters and I also loved the characters of Horace and Ava as well. Hope we'll see more of them in book 2! I was a little confused about the likabilty of a few characters later on but it makes total sense at the end. The theme of the finding the mole in the Directive was particularly thrilling. Nothing like a little betrayal to keep all the characters on their toes! Honestly by the end I wasn't quite sure what to believe but I'm sure that's what book 2 is for, hope I can get my hands on it soon!
Genre: YA Fantasy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 25, 2024
Enjoyable read.
Enjoyable read. Formatting, spelling, and grammar are all absolutely fine; no errors that I noticed. The plot is interesting and as the first book in the series I'm eager to see where the story goes from here. The MMC is supposedly 17 years old, but he seems younger, I would have said more like 13-14. However, that could be that I'm used to reading books with FMC's. After all, the author is male so is more likely to know about being a teenage boy than I am lol. The pace is a bit slow; I'm not sure how many months passed by in the book where nothing seemed to be happening with the MC and there were a few times when I was willing the story to move along. Having said that, it was an interesting ending and I am looking forward to reading the second in the series.
Enjoyable read. Formatting, spelling, and grammar are all absolutely fine; no errors that I noticed. The plot is interesting and as the first book in the series I'm eager to see where the story goes from here. The MMC is supposedly 17 years old, but he seems younger, I would have said more like 13-14. However, that could be that I'm used to reading books with FMC's. After all, the author is male so is more likely to know about being a teenage boy than I am lol. The pace is a bit slow; I'm not sure how many months passed by in the book where nothing seemed to be happening with the MC and there were a few times when I was willing the story to move along. Having said that, it was an interesting ending and I am looking forward to reading the second in the series.
August 15, 2023
Imagine Harry Potter, knowing magic exists and dreaming of being a great wizard, being told that he has no magic but finding out that he does have magic and needing to learn to use it FAST in a society sharply divided between magic-users and non-magic-users where non-magic-users have decided that magic-users MUST GO. Think of Harry Potter at ground zero in the Bosnian ethnic cleansings. The author did and this, his brain child, is disturbingly poignant and hits right the reader right in the gut. The themes are dark, grim and painful and yet hopeful. This may be intended for young adults, but I suggest that it would be more appropriate for older young adults.
I received an ARC via Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC via Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 17, 2023
I was given a free copy of this book and I decided to give it an honest review.
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. Declan is outed as a non-magical person on the very first page. His life is ruined. And then the roller coaster ride begins. Toward the middle it gets a little slow and I started to worry and then it picked right back up. Declan knows who he can't trust but isn't sure who he can. He is not a hero, he only wants to save his parents. It is hard to explain why I like this book so much without giving away spoilers. While the main plot threads are tied up at the end of the book you find out that this is only the tip of the iceberg and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book.
I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. Declan is outed as a non-magical person on the very first page. His life is ruined. And then the roller coaster ride begins. Toward the middle it gets a little slow and I started to worry and then it picked right back up. Declan knows who he can't trust but isn't sure who he can. He is not a hero, he only wants to save his parents. It is hard to explain why I like this book so much without giving away spoilers. While the main plot threads are tied up at the end of the book you find out that this is only the tip of the iceberg and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next book.
October 16, 2023
I’m surprised how much I enjoyed this book. Although any story about a teenager in a magical world will inevitably be compared to Harry Potter, I really enjoyed the character arc of Declan Moore. There were enough differences to be a standalone character, without the comparisons being too pervasive. I’d have liked to have seen a bit more of ACE. The world building was thorough enough to stand on its own, though could have been more comprehensive, especially Kingsbreak. I loved the island of magical creatures- I would LOVE to see that in a movie! I’m really looking forward to continuing the story. There’s scope for growth in the world-building and expanding the supporting cast, but this is a very solid foundation for a great series to be built upon.
October 21, 2023
*I was provided an ARC with the intention of providing an honest review*
This book has Potential. 😉
The Non-Magical Declan Moore had a slow start but an exciting finale.
It deals with loss, grief and mental health.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting but a little bit shallow in this first book which I hope changes over the next coming books.
The world that Nathan Taylor created is well thought out, interesting and complex.
Towards the end there were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming which I was very impressed by.
Overall I rate this book 4/5 and have already purchased the second book!
This book has Potential. 😉
The Non-Magical Declan Moore had a slow start but an exciting finale.
It deals with loss, grief and mental health.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting but a little bit shallow in this first book which I hope changes over the next coming books.
The world that Nathan Taylor created is well thought out, interesting and complex.
Towards the end there were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming which I was very impressed by.
Overall I rate this book 4/5 and have already purchased the second book!
November 24, 2023
I picked this up because of the idea of a completely not chosen one. I love to see some tropes inverted and turned on their heads and I fell in love with Declan from the first page. He was a delightful and relateable character, one you could empathise with and get to know through the many twists and turns throughout the story. I loved the worldbuilding, the way the magic worked and ending the way it did, I’m very glad I bought book two and can dive right back into that world and the next stage of Declan’s story. All the characters were expertly crafted and this is a series to watch. Very much recommended!
July 15, 2024
It takes a bold author to stare down the beast of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and say "There's room for two" - and Nathan Taylor has done just that.
With a fascinating new take on magic and a varied and intriguing cast of characters, The Winterthorn Saga promises us the same excitement and worldbuilding as series such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Garth Nix's Sabriel.
Though the start of the story had me questioning if it would be rushed and lacking detail, the further I got, the more the details revealed themselves and the more hooked I became.
4.5/5 stars. I can't wait to read the next one.
With a fascinating new take on magic and a varied and intriguing cast of characters, The Winterthorn Saga promises us the same excitement and worldbuilding as series such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Garth Nix's Sabriel.
Though the start of the story had me questioning if it would be rushed and lacking detail, the further I got, the more the details revealed themselves and the more hooked I became.
4.5/5 stars. I can't wait to read the next one.
August 4, 2024
No need for spice, this world building is fantastic. The characters are relatable and this book is perfect for teens but grabs your attention for adults who like magical stories. Declan, the main character, learns more about his life then he realized was missing after applying to the most prestigious college and being denied. His life is flipped upside down in a matter of days and in order to save the world he has to learn more about himself. Gah I'm so so ready for the next book in my hands because I need to see how the next step in his adventure goes and what else he learns about his life. Nathan Taylor has done a fabulous job with this book.
July 8, 2023
The Non-Magical Declan Moore story had me hooked from the beginning. I had just finished another series and was looking for a story that would catch me and this book did not disappoint. Declan is a young adult in the midst of transitioning from the high school world to the college/career world. Throw in some magic, sabotage, and parents in danger and you won’t want to put the book down! Can’t wait for book 2. (And 3… tell me there is a 3!) I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 8, 2024
This was a beautifully written and imaginative story that follows Declan Moore, who is ridiculed and at times abused by his classmates due to his lack of magical potential. However, things take a turn for the worse when individuals with magic are captured and turned to stone by a mysterious group. Declan is then taken to King's College for protection by some well-wishers, but the situation is not what it seems, and he struggles to cope. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast-paced young adult adventure and would definitely recommend it.
July 3, 2023
Captivating, fast-paced and intriguing YA Fantasy.
This journey is one of self discovery and finding your inner strength. It includes all the gorgeous and creative elements of a magical world with a power struggle to get you questioning what you would do in the same situation. Looking forward to the next books in the Winterthorn series. Absolutely loved it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This journey is one of self discovery and finding your inner strength. It includes all the gorgeous and creative elements of a magical world with a power struggle to get you questioning what you would do in the same situation. Looking forward to the next books in the Winterthorn series. Absolutely loved it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 4, 2024
A great coming of age story of seventeen years old Declan Moore having trouble accepting he is the only non-magical person within his family line struggling to survive among his magical peers. The story has interesting characters, creatures and magics. At times it is hard to determine who is trustworthy and who is not. The book ends with a surprising twist and opens up interest into the next book.
August 11, 2023
What a great debut fantasy!
I really enjoyed the progression of how everything happened and what Declan had to go through. This kid goes through things. Just wanted to wrap him in a hug!
I definitely did not see somethings coming and was completely surprised! I loved the twists and turns it took!
Definitely left me very intrigued to see how it’s all going to pan out!
I really enjoyed the progression of how everything happened and what Declan had to go through. This kid goes through things. Just wanted to wrap him in a hug!
I definitely did not see somethings coming and was completely surprised! I loved the twists and turns it took!
Definitely left me very intrigued to see how it’s all going to pan out!
April 23, 2024
I picked this up because it was an Aurealis Award Nominee for Young Adult Novel (2023). I became engrossed in Declan's story and although I would have liked to have seen more of Ace his best friend and Ava the owner of a magical bag, I hope to meet them in the second of the series, which I will pick up immediately.
July 16, 2024
(Posting the review after reading the next part already.)
As an avid fan of YA fantasy books, I have to admit I had a lot of fun with this one.
Firstly, I like the whole concept of a story revolving around a character who, instead of being an all-powerful superhero right from the outset, starts as a sort of an outcast trying to get by.
The adventure quickly gains momentum and keeps the reader interested until the very end. I found the supporting characters likeable and varied in terms of personalities and motivations.
I also appreciate the balance between happy endings for some characters and less favorable turns of events for others.
On finishing the book, I was eager to continue the adventure and bought the second part. Can't wait for the third one! :)
As an avid fan of YA fantasy books, I have to admit I had a lot of fun with this one.
Firstly, I like the whole concept of a story revolving around a character who, instead of being an all-powerful superhero right from the outset, starts as a sort of an outcast trying to get by.
The adventure quickly gains momentum and keeps the reader interested until the very end. I found the supporting characters likeable and varied in terms of personalities and motivations.
I also appreciate the balance between happy endings for some characters and less favorable turns of events for others.
On finishing the book, I was eager to continue the adventure and bought the second part. Can't wait for the third one! :)
September 1, 2024
This book sucks you in and keeps you there all the way through! Right when you think it is going to be predictable, it twists and turns making you unable to guess what comes next and leaves you aghast with what does happen. The Non-Magical Declan Moore is a highly entertaining read and I look forward to reading more by Nathan Taylor in the continuation of the series.
November 18, 2024
This book was a great read! I can honestly say that it kept me on my toes the entire time. Just when I thought I’d figured things out, I was wrong again! I love books that aren’t predictable and can genuinely take me in the story as a character around all the twists and turns. This book was that for me! Can’t wait to read book 2!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews