Το αγόρι που δεν ήταν μάγος

OutCast #1

by Christopher Golden, Πέτρος Χατζόπουλος (Translator)

Ασθενικό πλάσμα, έκτρωμα, λάθος της φύσης; Ένα είναι σίγουρο: ο δωδεκάχρονος Τίμοθι είναι ο μόνος άνθρωπος στον κόσμο χωρίς μαγικές δυνάμεις. Γι’ αυτό κι έχει περάσει όλη του τη ζωή εξόριστος σ’ ένα μακρινό νησί. Όταν επιστρέφει για πρώτη φορά στην πόλη όπου γεννήθηκε, ο Τίμοθι μαγεύεται στην κυριολεξία – γιατί αυτός είναι ένας κόσμος γεμάτος μαγεία: κτίρια που αιωρούνται στον αέρα, ξόρκια, λάμψεις και φαντασμαγορία. Όμως ο Τίμοθι είναι σημαδεμένος. Αδίστακτοι φονιάδες παραφυλάν κάθε του βήμα. Πράκτορες της κυβέρνησης των Μάγων επιβουλεύονται τη ζωή του. Αν κι ο Τίμοθι δεν μπορεί να καταλάβει για ποιο λόγο νιώθουν να τους απειλεί· στο κάτω-κάτω, χωρίς μαγικές δυνάμεις, είναι τελείως ανήμπορος. Είναι ακίνδυνος. Ή μήπως όχι;

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens

308 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com

Reviews

[Χρύσα Αναστασίου · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars because I felt that some parts of the story were rushed and I wanted moooooore!

I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. A few of my goodreads friends have read it but I stumbled upon it because someone recommended to me due to its steampunk and magic elements. I thought I'd give it a shot because it sounds good but it was a great read and a series I'll be definitely continuing on with.

At first, the story seems to be about the main character, Timothy, and I felt a connection with another character, Leander the mage, but I didn't hope to learn a lot about him because, you know, he's not the main character and all that. But no! We get to meet a lot of new characters, from races and species that seem amazing and very interesting, see vividly described places and read some beautiful written battles scenes.

I loved the general idea of the book (in a world full of magic lives a kid that is unable to do magic) but it's not only about that. Timothy is an intelligent young boy who learns to use and develop his other talents, who is kind and humble, who wants to better himself and protect the people he cares about.

I won't get into more details because I don't want to spoil anything. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes steampunk and magic, enjoys good writing and wants to spend a few hours with a group of characters that'll grow on them before they even know it.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS SHOULD BE A MOVIE!

Great start of a fantastic series aimed at the Young Reader to Young Adult market. It can also be read by any age group who enjoys being surprised at a whole different approach to altering the usual theme of the power regarding Magic and the efforts to either contain or corrupt that power based in a world of Magicians and the company of allies they keep.

Strongly written where the Characters developed within these pages are easy to like. And then, there are those who you take an instant dislike...

A lad who has no concept of using anything but his inventive mind and his simple, physical hands.

I truly look forward to the 2nd Book in the series: "Dragon Secrets".

Authors URL: http://www.sniegoski.com/outcast.html

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read years ago.

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ειλικρινά, πίστευα πως μετά τον Harry Potter δεν θα ασχολούμουν ποτέ ξανά στη ζωή μου με την εφηβική, μαγική λογοτεχνία του φανταστικού. Φυσικά ο λόγος δεν έχει να κάνει με το ότι δεν μου άρεσε η προαναφερόμενη σειρά, το κάθε άλλο , την λάτρεψα και την αγαπώ όσο λίγες. Απλά θεωρούσα ότι δεν θα μπορούσε μετά από μια τέτοια εμπειρία να βρεθεί κάτι ανάλογο που να μου κεντρίσει το ενδιαφέρον, πόσο μάλλον να με συγκινήσει. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, και καθώς περιφερόμουν στα ράφια του Πατάκη, ανάμεσα σε τόσα και τόσα βιβλία, το μάτι μου καρφώθηκε στο συγκεκριμένο και για κάποιον αδιευκρίνιστο λόγο, μου γεννήθηκε η επιθυμία να το διαβάσω και έτσι, βρισκόμαστε εδώ σήμερα, με μένα να τους έχω δώσε μαι ευκαιρία και να σας μιλάω για τον Τίμοθι και για το πως ξεκίνησε η ιστορία του.

Ένας από τους ισχυρότερους μάγους στον κόσμο πεθαίνει, αφήνοντας πίσω του μια μεγάλη ιστορία αλλά και ένα σπίτι γεμάτο αρχεία που πρέπει να τακτοποιηθεί. Ο πιο αγαπημένος μαθητής και φίλος του αναλαμβάνει όλες τις υποχρεώσεις που προκύπτουν με το θάνατό του ωστόσο, υπάρχει μία που δεν μπορεί να κατανοήσει. Στο νεκροκρέβατό του, ο μέντορας και φίλος του, του ζήτησε να προστατέψει τον Τίμοθι. Όμως ο Τίμοθι πέθανε λίγο μετά αφού γεννήθηκε, μαζί με τη μητέρα του. Ήταν το παραλήρημα ενός γέρου και άρρωστου ανθρώπου; Ή μήπως όχι; Πολύ σύντομα ανακαλύπτει μια μυστική, μαγική πόρτα, η οποία κι οδηγεί σε ένα μέρος πολύ όμορφο και έρημο συνάμα και στην κατάλευκη παραλία του θα συναντήσει ένα αγόρι κοντά στα δώδεκα. Και όσο κι αν δεν το πιστεύει, αυτός είναι ο Τίμοθι που όλου θεωρούσαν νεκρό. Και το αγόρι δεν ξαφνιάζεται που τον βλέπει. Ξέρει πως αφού εκείνος βρίσκεται εκεί, ο πατέρας του πια δε ζει και έτσι, δεν έχει να κάνει τίποτα άλλο από το να αποκαλύψει την αλήθεια στο νέο κηδεμόνα του.

Ο Τίμοθι αν και γιος δύο μάγων, δεν έχει καμία μαγική ικανότητα. Δεν μπορεί να εκτελέσει ούτε το πιο απλό ξόρκι και αυτό, όχι λόγω αντίληψης ή περιορισμένου ταλέντου αλλά, εξαιτίας της απουσίας της μαγείας από το αίμα του. Όσο παράξενο και παράδοξο κι αν ακούγεται, είναι η αλήθεια και είναι και ο λόγος που ο πατέρας του αποφάσισε να κρύψει την ύπαρξή του. Όχι από ντροπή αλλά, από φόβο. Φόβο γιατί οι άνθρωποι, μάγοι ή μη, πάντα θέλουν να καταστρέψουν αυτό που δεν μπορούν να καταλάβουν, ατό που δε μπορούν να εξηγήσουν, εκείνο που στα μάτια τους φαντάζει αλλόκοτο, μια ανωμαλία της φύσης. Ο Τίμοθι ωστόσο αποφασίζει να αφήσει πίσω τη ζωή που έζησε μέχρι σήμερα, μεταπηδώντας στον κόσμο των μάγων, διεκδικώντας στην κοινωνία τους τη θέση που θα έπρεπε δικαιωματικά να κατέχει. Αν νομίζετε όμως ότι η ύπαρξή του γίνεται δεκτή αβίαστα, κάνετε λάθος. Ο Τίμοθι δεν είναι απλά μια ανωμαλία που μπορεί κανείς να την ξεπεράσει. Δεν είναι μόνο ότι δεν έχει μαγικές δυνάμεις αλλά, ότι καμία μαγεία δεν μπορεί να τον αγγίξει, κάνοντάς τον άτρωτο σε έναν κόσμο που η μαγεία εκτός από θαύματα, μπορεί και να σκοτώσει. Αυτό τον καθιστά παράλληλα ως κάτι αξιοθαύμαστο και ως ένα επικίνδυνο όπλο στα χέρια εκείνων που μπορεί να θέλουν να τον εκμεταλλευτούν.

Οι Christopher Golden και Tom Sniegoski ενώνουν τις δυνάμεις τους σε μια σειρά βιβλίων, για το πρώτο σκέλος της οποίας μπορώ να καταλογίσω σαφέστατα περισσότερα θετικά απ' ότι αρνητικά. Ο κόσμος που δημιουργούν γύρω από τον Τίμοθι και την παρέα του, είναι σαφέστατα μαγικός και γοητευτικός, θυμίζοντάς μας κάτι από κλασσικά παραμύθια μαγείας. Το μείον του χαρακτηριστικού αυτού είναι ότι υπάρχει κάπως περιορισμένος χώρος κινήσεων, πράγμα που περιμένω να αλλάξει στα επόμενα βιβλία της σειράς, ανακαλύπτοντας ακόμα περισσότερα για τον κόσμο των μάγων. Οι χαρακτήρες είναι αρκετά καλά δομημένοι, με τον Τίμοθι σαφέστατα να ξεχωρίζει αποτελώντας αντικείμενο μελέτης, διαμάχης και σκοτεινών συνωμοσιών, μην μπορώντας η μαγεία να τον βλάψει, μην μπορώντας να εκτελέσει ο ίδιος μαγικά έχοντας ωστόσο ένα κοφτερό μυαλό και μια εξαιρετική εφευρετικότητα που του επιτρέπει να πιάνει το κάρβουνο και να το κάνει χρυσάφι. Αυτό που εγώ θα ήθελα ήταν να δοθεί λίγος ακόμα χρόνος και σε κάποιους άλλους χαρακτήρες, πράγμα όμως που επίσης πιστεύω ότι θα αλλάξει.

Κατά τ' άλλα έχουμε μια εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρουσα ιστορία, με έναν χαρισματικό και άξιο παρακολούθησης κεντρικό ήρωα, με μια ιδιαιτερότητα ξεχωριστή και σαφέστατα, εμπνευσμένη και πρωτότυπη. Η δράση και η εξέλιξή της είναι διαρκής και έντονη, ακολουθώντας σταδιακή κορύφωση με στιγμές τεταμένης έντασης, που μας εξιτάρουν και προφανώς σκοπό έχουν να μας βάλουν στο κλίμα καταστροφολογίας και συνομωσιολογίας που θα επικρατήσει κατά την πορεία της ιστορίας, έτσι όπως αυτή θα εξελιχθεί στα επόμενα τρία βιβλία. Ο "Εξόριστος" δεν είναι Harry Potter και αυτό είναι κάτι που πρέπει να αναφέρω ξεκάθαρα. Είναι ωστόσο ιδιαίτερα ενδιαφέρον και γιατί όχι, θα μπορούσε να εξελιχθεί στον επίπεδο του μικρού μάγου που όλοι αγαπήσαμε, όχι γιατί έτσι πρέπει αλλά, γιατί έχει στην πραγματικότητα αυτή τη δυνατότητα καθώς βασίζεται σε κατάλληλες προδιαγραφές.

[Βαλάντης Δοξάκιερ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ορισμένα σημεία περιγραφής και ανάλυσης σε πολλές σελίδες του σε 2 με 3 κεφάλαια είναι λίγο αργά , βαρετά και κουραστικά σημεία αλλά έχει πολύ δράση θαυμάσιους χαρακτήρες , μοναδικά πανέμορφα και παράξενα τοπία και κτήρια και απίθανη πλοκή και μυστικά που σε κάνουν να θέλεις να είναι παραπάνω οι σελίδες του βιβλίου με τα μυστικά και τις συνωμοσίες και μια απίστευτη φαντασία , εύκολο , πανίσχυρο και πρωτότυπο σύστημα μαγείας !!! Ο βασικός Ήρωας μας ο Τιμοθι και πρωταγωνιστής της σειράς αυτής βιβλίων φαντασίας που είναι πολύ χαριτωμένος , καλοσυνάτος , πιστός , φιλικός και γενναίος είναι πολύ παράξενα εφυέστατος για το μικρό του μέγεθος και χωρίς μαγικές δυνάμεις αλλά με μια υπερφυσική ικανότητα , εργαλεία και δεξιότητες που τον κάνει επίσης πανίσχυρο και πιο δυνατό και επικίνδυνο από τους άλλους μάγους !!! Θα του έβαζα 4 η και 5 αστεράκια αλλά με κούρασαν , με πήγαιναν αργά , με μπέρδεψαν και με έκαναν να βαρεθώ ορισμένα σημεία περιγραφής και ανάλυσης σε πολλές σελίδες σε 2 με 3 κεφάλαια και αναγκαστικά το σταμάτησα το βιβλίο για 3 μήνες και έπιασα άλλα πιο ενδιαφέρων και φανταστικά βιβλία φαντασίας αλλά δεν σημαίνει ότι το μισούσα , το βαριόμουνα η το έβρισκα ενοχλητικό αυτό το 1ο βιβλίο της υπέροχης και μοναδικά διαφορετικής και απίθανης σειράς φαντασίας με τον αξιολάτρευτο μικρό , πανέξυπνο και γενναίο νεαρό υπερφυσικό αγόρι πολεμιστή !!!! ΤΟ ΜΥΘΙΣΤΟΡΗΜΑ ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΤΕΙΝΩ ΜΑΖΙ ΜΕ ΟΛΑ ΤΑ ΥΠΛΟΙΠΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΣΕΙΡΑΣ ΕΝΤΕΛΩΣ ΓΙΑ ΟΣΟΥΣ ΛΑΤΡΕΥΟΥΝ ΜΑΓΟΥΣ ΣΑΝ ΤΟΝ ΤΙΜΟΘΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΧΑΡΙ ΠΟΤΕΡ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΟΥΣ ΤΕΤΟΙΟΥΣ ΗΡΩΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΕΙΡΕΣ ΒΙΒΛΙΩΝ ΦΑΝΤΑΣΙΑΣ !!!!

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually go for the magic users.Let's face it,magic is exciting and makes almost anything possible.But,Timothy proved me wrong.This boy is a genius,and even though he doesn't use magic in a world where anything you want can't be achieved otherwise,he manages to beat those that want him dead.The Un-Magician is a book that is really good to read if you're interested in this genre,but it also teaches the reader that different people - different than us,that is - are not abominations of nature.They're just unique,something that should be normal for every person alive.

[Ginny Kaczmarek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although I was intrigued by the concept of a nonmagical kid trying to survive in a magical world, I can't recommend this book for modern readers. In fact, I kept checking the publication date (2004? Seriously?) because of its harmful stereotypes.

For one, Ivar, a sidekick to the protagonist, fulfills every stereotype of the "noble savage." The last of a make-believe tribe, this man is usually barefoot, practically nude, silent, invisible, and would sacrifice his dignity--indeed, his life--for the white boy he works for/mentors/protects/depends on. He's even referred to as a "savage" (or objectified with the name of his tribe, as in "The Asura") in the *narrative* text. WHAT?!

For another, the only female--and that includes fantastical creatures such as talking birds and dragons--doesn't appear until almost halfway through the book. Of course, she is both alluring and (probably) evil, and disappears after a few scenes. The few other females in the text are not even characters: unnamed minions, a barely-there ghost, and a lovely-but-mysterious girl who helps out in a pinch but is never identified. Ugh.

I gave this book a star for some original details and world-building, and the writing itself is good, if somewhat dry. But I can't recommend it because of those damagingly outdated concepts. (Don't get me started on the too-good-to-be-true protagonist who will apparently save another race's world in the sequel).

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF 89%. This is not a terrible book. The prose is good. It's well structured. The fantasy world building is unobjectionable. There's no sense of realism though.

Our magicless protagonist is a genius, we are told, and to prove that we see Tim has designed and constructed an android, complete with sapience... in a hand-build home on a deserted coastline. That's some amazing logic right there.

My temper started to fray when Tim's optimistic protector is told that their supposed benefactor may be behind a spate of murders. Thus this wise magician immediately heads out to confront the possible evil over-lord; without bringing any back-up, or notifying anyone of his plans. When this brilliant plan fails predictably, Tim and three of his closest (only) friends immediately head off to the rescue, without informing anyone... nope I'm done.

[Samantha Seidel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting concept with a very thrilling ending. The beginning drags because of all the backstory and explaining of the mage order, but it picks up near the end when the plot is revealed and put in motion. While I enjoyed the ending, I’m not sure if I’ll read the rest of the series (if I can find them).

[Elzbeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a series but can actually exist as a stand alone. I wish there was a little more character development, but overall, a good, quick read

[Elizabeth Caplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but also your standard magical middle grade book. I felt that it started out slow and a little corny but progressed into a more interesting plot after the first 50 or so pages.

Initially, I was worried that the book may just turn out boring. I’ve read books trying to be original many times by focusing on an underrepresented audience. For example, Patrick Ness’s The Rest of Us Just Live Here. Oftentimes, people don’t write stories like this because it’s genuinely hard to write them well. I read the premise of Outcast — a freak, no magic in a world of magic. And thought — “who cares?”. Turns out, there’s a reason to. Despite expectations, Golden made a world where having no magic has a lot more to it than meets the eye. In a society where magic doesn’t just prosper, it’s fundamental to living. Synonymous to needing to breathe or having a heartbeat or eating to survive. Timothy not having magic is a true oddity, disrupting the entire world’s belief in how the world was created an runs. Almost like a glitch in the matrix.

Though there were many eye-roll-inducing characters or coincidences or Timothy making a steam-engine coal-fire-running robot friend at the age of 10 -_-, I did enjoy the book. It provided an interesting new premise while following the typical structure and plot progression as many middle grade stories.

Also, I remembered this after reading another woman’s review. The female rep was very weird and moderately uncomfortable. With the first woman you meet being about 150 pages in being a duplicitous lady who poisons her enemies named, get this, “Belladonna”.

Overall: 3.5-4/5. borderline between mildly interesting and nothing special. But not too much objectively *wrong* with the book either.

[Aelvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a world where everyone has magic, Timothy is a freak because he has none. Hidden by his father in a secret dimension ever since his birth, he has grown up safe and protected, but after his father's death he returns to his father's world. Timothy doesn't believe those who warn him it will be dangerous---why should his deformity matter? But when those fears prove true, Timothy has to decide where his loyalties lie.

The descriptions in this book are strong; places like the Island of Patience and SkyHaven are beautifully painted. The prose is simple but strong. Timothy, despite being an exceptionally brilliant child, is still struggling with his insecurities and the shame of being born such a disgrace.

That said, the book did not particularly stand out to me. It's jumpy in several places, such as where Timothy decides to leave SkyHaven. Timothy's thoughts are often presented only after he has arrived at his conclusions, which makes it harder to follow how he is thinking. The villain delayed his devious plan just long enough for Timothy to barge in for a rescue, for no real reason I could tell.

The ending leaves things wide open for the sequel, though the major story arc did tie up. Overall, this was not particularly unique in concept or execution, although there were some good moments. I rate this book Neutral.

[Atipa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poor book. I think it's early teenage quality book, or younger reader perhaps. I found Tim clever beyond his years but poor in thought. He didn't choose anything and followed whatever Leander and Nicodemus suggested too blindly. In all honesty, Tim should have been suspicious of everyone else except Leander, especially when he was first attacked by assassins who should have not known of his existence. If Leander was the only one who knew about Tim, who ever he had told was the one who had sent the assassins.

The theme of it isn't new, to manga and anime readers and watchers respectively - To aru Majustu no Index. But the potential the book had, if Tim had found himself alone looking for allies in Arcanum and fending for himself just after the first assassination attempt, would have made this book epic.

[Matthias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! It takes place in a magical world where everything is operated by, well, magic. The main character, Timothy Cade by name, is a son of a mage who was born without magic. In fact, he completely nullifies it. Tim's father sent him to a dimension where he can live with his "disabilities" in peace without anyone discovering him. What he lacks in Magic, he makes up for in making things. He even made his own robot friend named Sheridan. After his father dies, one of his students, Leander Maddox, discovers him and his disabilities. He decides to take care of Tim. Later, people discover how much of a threat Timothy can be. How can he be a threat? I can't tell you. You'll have to read it yourself.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for young adults, this is an uncomplicated but delightful tale of a young boy whose father was the greatest magician in a world where everybody is a magician. Timothy was born not only without magic but with a field that is immune to magic. His father placed in a pocket dimension along with the last of a primitive warrior tribe to teach him survival. There Timothy grew until his father's death. On his deathbed, the father left Timothy in the care of his best friend. The friend thinks Timothy's father had misjudged the danger Timothy might be in and brings him home. Within a day, assassins are after Timothy, fearing what he might be able to do since he is immune to magic. This is a great tale of magic and intrigue. It shows how ingenuity can win over magic.

[Jaime]

Timothy has been surrounded by magic his entire life. Living on a remote island, EVERYONE has magical powers. Well, almost everyone. Timothy is the ONLY person with no powers and he has always been an outsider with his people. When he finally goes back to the city where he was born, assassins hunt him and he has no idea why. Why would anyone want to kill someone with no powers?

Interesting take on fantasy. Filled with enough adventure to keep my students interested!

Suitability: Grades 3-7

Recommendation: Recommend

Genre: Fantasy

Would you purchase this book? Yes Why? New take on an old genre

Dewey Classification: FAN FIC SNI

Price: $17.99

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book at the thrift store and I really liked reading it. I thought it was a good story and a quick read. There is a whole series, which I would not mind reading, but I have so many books laying around my house that I want to read that I should refrain at this time. If I did have little boys or girls that were of this reading level then I would definatly get this whole series though. I did enjoy it... So I guess this book will just go back to the thrift store for someone else to get and enjoy like I did.

[Sean Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with Sabriel I found this offering a little too young and childish to utterly enjoy it. Sniegoski has done it before (sleepper code wasn't much good without sleeper agenda, for instance). Nevertheless I felt little for the writing or the characters and the world comes over as just a little flat.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edit: I'm leaving my original 4-star rating up since I was the target audience when I first read this book. I remember loving this series and recommending to all my friends who liked fantasy. When I tried to reread it years later, I was definitely not as enthralled. But hey, it did its job.

Original:
I love the way this author reversed the usual roles of the main character and magic. The clever change works out really well and makes the trials of the main character more exciting (and different than usual).

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very sweet story about a boy who does not allow his handicap to slow him down. While some parts of the story seemed predictable to someone who has read a lot of fantasy before, the story still flowed very well, and the main character was one I could empathize with. This is a story which would keep the interest not only of a child reading it, but also of any adult who may be reading it aloud.

[Denae Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though these are great books in a unique world with fascinating characters, the authors spend too much time from secondary viewpoints. They go into a little too much detail about stuff that doesn't really matter. Sure, the reader may need a little info from other characters' views, but only a little.

[Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good! I absolutely loved this story and its characters, even though the bad guys were kind of dumb, hahaha. (I love how they gave the main characters plenty of time to make decisions and get away - it was funny.) But man, this story has a lot of charm. I enjoyed it. Middle-grade fantasy fans will like this book for sure!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5

It's weird to come back to this series, which I must have last read well over ten years ago now. Took me forever to find it as well, in part I think because of the rebranding that was done. I am interested though, as I only ever read the first two, to see where this series goes!

[Cathy]

A cute juvenile fantasy. Inventive boy, cool side-kicks, danger and drama, but I can tell too much ahead of time and just can't get into finding out how the obvious happens. I think I'm just too old for this one, but I suspect that my 10-year-old buddy would like it very much.

[Cathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly straightforward and simple plot, but then again it is a kid's book. I like the fact that instead of a world with only a handful of magic users in this world everyone has magic, except for the main character. It's a nice change of pace.

[Janice Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a reprint of a story called The Unmagician. I guess it didn't generate enough interest so it was renamed. Timothy has no magic in a place where everyone has magic. That makes him dangerous because he can walk through spells like they aren't there. Loved the series.

[jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good

[Clare D' Lune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh, I loved loved LOVED these books when I was younger, so I decided to read them again and I STILL love them!!! : D