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The Wizard's Diary #1
The Wizard's Diary
Gemini City is on the brink of disaster!
With an armada of airships flying overhead, pirates disrupting trade on the river, and the arrival of a mysterious mage with extraordinary powers, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
There's only one wizard who can make things right, but he's too preoccupied with his responsibilities to realize Ardilakk Valley is on the verge of changes that will irrevocably alter the practice of magic forever and possibly destroy it.
With one reckless and rather unwizardly act of kindness, Aargh is thrust into the center of a conflict as old as time itself, but the clock is ticking.
The greatest wizard of the age will have to become a fugitive, a warrior, a pirate, a hero, and most importantly, a father to save the world he loves.
Book I: Parts I (Magic Comes to Ardilakk Valley) and II (The Sword Guildebrande)
With an armada of airships flying overhead, pirates disrupting trade on the river, and the arrival of a mysterious mage with extraordinary powers, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
There's only one wizard who can make things right, but he's too preoccupied with his responsibilities to realize Ardilakk Valley is on the verge of changes that will irrevocably alter the practice of magic forever and possibly destroy it.
With one reckless and rather unwizardly act of kindness, Aargh is thrust into the center of a conflict as old as time itself, but the clock is ticking.
The greatest wizard of the age will have to become a fugitive, a warrior, a pirate, a hero, and most importantly, a father to save the world he loves.
Book I: Parts I (Magic Comes to Ardilakk Valley) and II (The Sword Guildebrande)
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2021
70 people are currently reading
2251 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Bradshaw
4 books16 followersROBERT J. BRADSHAW finds inspiration on the rocky shores of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, though putting pen to paper doesn’t always mean writing books. His musical compositions have been heard on concert stages worldwide, from Lincoln Center to Thailand, Europe to Australia (where his opera “.Gabriel” was premiered courtesy of Opera Australia). When concert halls fell silent in 2020, and the intensity of isolation weighed heavily on his family, Rob suggested they workshop an epic fantasy tale for fun–yes, this is the kind of thing his family does for fun! So, every night after dinner, they sat in the living room (on the couch, on the floor with the dog, crawling up the stairs, even sitting in his wife’s spinning office chair going ‘round and ‘round and ‘round…) dissecting every aspect of what would become Aargh and Holly-Mine’s adventures in Ardilakk Valley. Little did Rob know how joyful (and how much work!) the project would be, and he is thrilled to be able to share The Wizard’s Diary with fantasy readers like himself.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 5, 2021
[Audio ARC Review]
The Wizard's Diary is a heartwarming, story about how magic and wizardry came to be, written from the third person pov perspective of a slightly awkward, inquisitive wizard, his pet rat and some interesting side characters. I would probably classify this as a YA read, although, as an adult I enjoyed this as well.
Audio narration by: Alan Turton
--> which was brilliant. I think Turton was the absolute perfect candidate for this story.
Favourites:
- Narration: the audio narration can really make or break a story, and in this case it was the first. Very professional, spot on with various characters, and comfortable to listen to.
- Humour: the narrative of the Wizard's Diary often reminded me of Pratchett's, without his typical depth. This story has some sweet, heartwarming messages but where Pratchett's depth would often be missed by younger readers, this story was more suitable for them; a little lighter and a little easier to understand, but with a similar kind of humour. A book that made me smile more than once.
What I missed:
- Who, what, where: the only thing I struggled with is that I got a little lost in who we were following where and what for sometimes. There's a few seperate POV's and with the journal entries mixed in, I sometimes felt confused as to where we were, especially in the beginning.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence, no gore
*This is completely suitable for adult, YA and even some older MG readers
Conclusion:
A fun, relatively light hearted read. Comparable to a more mellow Discworld novel perhaps, and I can especially recommend the audio verson. You won't regret getting yourself that one to listen to.
The Wizard's Diary is a heartwarming, story about how magic and wizardry came to be, written from the third person pov perspective of a slightly awkward, inquisitive wizard, his pet rat and some interesting side characters. I would probably classify this as a YA read, although, as an adult I enjoyed this as well.
Audio narration by: Alan Turton
--> which was brilliant. I think Turton was the absolute perfect candidate for this story.
Favourites:
- Narration: the audio narration can really make or break a story, and in this case it was the first. Very professional, spot on with various characters, and comfortable to listen to.
- Humour: the narrative of the Wizard's Diary often reminded me of Pratchett's, without his typical depth. This story has some sweet, heartwarming messages but where Pratchett's depth would often be missed by younger readers, this story was more suitable for them; a little lighter and a little easier to understand, but with a similar kind of humour. A book that made me smile more than once.
What I missed:
- Who, what, where: the only thing I struggled with is that I got a little lost in who we were following where and what for sometimes. There's a few seperate POV's and with the journal entries mixed in, I sometimes felt confused as to where we were, especially in the beginning.
Sexual content: none
Coarse language: none
Violence and gore: mild violence, no gore
*This is completely suitable for adult, YA and even some older MG readers
Conclusion:
A fun, relatively light hearted read. Comparable to a more mellow Discworld novel perhaps, and I can especially recommend the audio verson. You won't regret getting yourself that one to listen to.
July 31, 2021
Aarghathlain, or Aargh for the convenience of everyone concerned, is a proud wizard who enjoys talking to trees. After all, what is there left to do anyway? There is only one spell and it is for talking to trees. Trees tell stories of people, families, dwellings, generation after generation. Sometimes it’s hard for wizards like him to get the information they seek because trees can be so talkative with all the wisdom they’ve collected in their lifespan. But after doing this for a long time, Aargh has got the patience and skill to get the job done. Just when he confidently thinks there is nothing left to learn, a little girl surprises him and turns his world upside down. Delve into Robert Bradshaw’s The Wizard’s Diary -- a wonderful fantasy of pure love and magic -- and discover how Aargh humbly turns from a ‘Spire Historian and Keeper of General Generations’ to ‘Novice, Student of the World, and Keeper of the Precious Child’.
The tale unfolds slowly, with necessary flashbacks to complement the current scene. That is why at first it wasn't obvious what was going on, but the revelations were worth the wait. The Wizard’s Diary is a mysterious adventure filled with action and child-like perspective. With its twists and turns, the story never gets boring. Bradshaw emphasizes how the afore-mentioned child-like perspective is important in viewing the world. Becoming an adult is definitely hard but going back to the ways of a child can make a huge difference, especially in self-actualization. The Wizard’s Diary does a good way of presenting right and wrong in a new light. Aside from the plot and the morals, the characters are equally well-written. Some are funny and likable; some are dark and deceptive, but all of them have amazing development. They are simple but there’s more to them underneath their wizard’s robes. Bradshaw writes a compelling story about forming special bonds not only with others but also with the self.
Reviewed for Readers' Favorite .
The tale unfolds slowly, with necessary flashbacks to complement the current scene. That is why at first it wasn't obvious what was going on, but the revelations were worth the wait. The Wizard’s Diary is a mysterious adventure filled with action and child-like perspective. With its twists and turns, the story never gets boring. Bradshaw emphasizes how the afore-mentioned child-like perspective is important in viewing the world. Becoming an adult is definitely hard but going back to the ways of a child can make a huge difference, especially in self-actualization. The Wizard’s Diary does a good way of presenting right and wrong in a new light. Aside from the plot and the morals, the characters are equally well-written. Some are funny and likable; some are dark and deceptive, but all of them have amazing development. They are simple but there’s more to them underneath their wizard’s robes. Bradshaw writes a compelling story about forming special bonds not only with others but also with the self.
Reviewed for Readers' Favorite .
August 21, 2021
As a lover of fantasy fiction I purchased this book hoping to be transported to new worlds with a fantastic but credible storyline. I was not disappointed. I was immediately struck by how this book could be enjoyed by people of all ages. The story in itself is simple and easy to follow, but hidden in the text are some wonderful scenes of humour that genuinely put a smile on my face. Further there are underlying messages relevant to modern times. I will not highlight them here, but allow the reader to discover them for themselves. Children, and YA will love the ideas put forward by the author and will certainly warm to Aargh, the main character.
There are similarities in style to the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett, and I am sure as new books emerge we will be catapulted into a wonderfully crafted world, courtesy of a very talented author
There are similarities in style to the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett, and I am sure as new books emerge we will be catapulted into a wonderfully crafted world, courtesy of a very talented author
July 23, 2021
I won this book through a good reads giveaway. Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy this book. It started out with a journal entry from a wizard. I don’t feel like the characters were introduced to the reader very well. I found myself feeling unsure of what character was talking or who was who. I also felt like the story line jumped around a lot and I had a hard time figuring out what was going on or what had just happened.
July 29, 2021
It's nice to have a new story I can share with my children. We all love tales of magic, and this is a fresh take with unique twists and turns. This is a great book that you and your children will love! I can't wait to see what the author comes along with next!
August 3, 2021
This was a confusing, disjointed read. I didn't finish.
February 3, 2022
Loved this story. Full of adventure. Could not stop reading it.
May 26, 2024
Love this one, easy to read and loved the plot. Theres magic, adventure, growth, and great characters. Definitely a fun read
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews