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Jax Freeman
Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits
All Aboard! The sequel to Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek has pulled into the station!
From the award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy comes a magical series about a special boy who is granted summoning powers from his ancestors.
Seventh grader Jackson "Jax" Freeman recently learned two important facts: one, he's a summoner—someone who can call on the magical powers of his ancestors to help him do amazing things—and two, he isn't the only person with this ability.
After much training, Jax and four of his summoner classmates from DuSable Middle school in Chicago are thrust into a competition called the Tournament of Spirits where they'll face the most skilled summoners from around the world.
But while everyone is focused on winning, Jax is given a special side quest by the elders of the four magical families: he has to spy on each of the competitors—including his own teammates—in order to uncover who is releasing endangered, and very dangerous, cryptids into the arena.
Can Jax take the top spot in the tournament and save himself and his friends from a mysterious foe?
Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talents are on full display in this thrilling adventure that's packed with magic, friendship, non-stop action, and a lot of heart.
From the award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy comes a magical series about a special boy who is granted summoning powers from his ancestors.
Seventh grader Jackson "Jax" Freeman recently learned two important facts: one, he's a summoner—someone who can call on the magical powers of his ancestors to help him do amazing things—and two, he isn't the only person with this ability.
After much training, Jax and four of his summoner classmates from DuSable Middle school in Chicago are thrust into a competition called the Tournament of Spirits where they'll face the most skilled summoners from around the world.
But while everyone is focused on winning, Jax is given a special side quest by the elders of the four magical families: he has to spy on each of the competitors—including his own teammates—in order to uncover who is releasing endangered, and very dangerous, cryptids into the arena.
Can Jax take the top spot in the tournament and save himself and his friends from a mysterious foe?
Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talents are on full display in this thrilling adventure that's packed with magic, friendship, non-stop action, and a lot of heart.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
368 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
2939 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 9, 2025
Star Rating: 4 stars
Date: 12/1/25 – 12/6/25
Note: This is the 2nd book in the Jax Freeman series so this will not be an in-depth review.
I found Kwame Mbalia through his Tristan Strong series which he published through the Rick Riordan Presents imprint that I was trying to follow for a while, but then I got overwhelmed and had to stop (AuDHD things😊). However, when I am looking for a fun middle grade to break up some of my more intense fantasy, historical fiction, and science fiction reads, I return there or as I found out when I started the Jax Freeman series, Mbalia now has his own imprint called Freedom Fire. Yay, because he was my favorite author that I found through the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint! Well, recently I just finished a good, but also dense, read (The Strength of the Few by James Islington if you don’t follow my reviews), and I felt like I needed a break, so I decided to read the newly released Jax Freeman book, Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits.
The Jax Freeman series follows a young African American boy who must move to live with his grandmother after things at home don’t go as planned. Once there, he finds out that some members of his family have magic abilities and so does he, so he starts attending DuStable Middle School which not only caters to his typical needs as a middle schooler but also has classes to teach him how to use his magic. He also discovers the magical world of Chicago and in book 2, the rest of the world, and he realizes that his family line has a unique place in this world; they’re porters, running a magical train called the Phantom Shriek and shuttling everyone, including spirits, to wherever they need to go. The first book has him settling in and learning about this world and his and his family’s place in it, and book 2 has him participating in a magical tournament while also making friends and doing side quests along the way.
First off, I really like how Jax isn’t your typical protagonist; he’s heavy and has experienced bullying to the point that he had to relocate to a new environment. He’s also a class clown who has no business being the leader of his friend group as he’s totally winging all their adventures and quests. However, I find him funny and relatable and would love to be his friend! I also love how Mbalia pulled in aspects of African American culture and history into this narrative. He did this with Tristan Strong as well; although that one was more history-based, and in this one, he is pulling more on the community aspect of African American culture, like the magic system is based around getting help and guidance from your ancestors and overcoming obstacles as a family and community as well as standing strong as an individual, family, and community through all the different forms of adversity. He even hints at the fact that marginalized individuals, families, and communities do not get the same help and spotlight in many cases and how wrong that is.
Although this book has many good qualities, it wasn’t perfect. I don’t really understand what the overarching plot in this narrative is supposed to be, and that led to me being confused and getting pulled out of the story a lot. I mean I don’t need an overarching plot; they can be isolated adventures, but it seems like Mbalia is going for one; it just isn’t as clear as I want it to be, which is kind of frustrating. I don’t need it to be shoved in my face or anything, that would annoy me too, but a little more clarity and connection is needed. All in all, this book did what I needed it to do; it helped me decompress from my more intense read, keeping me from sliding into a reading slump. 4 stars; not Mbalia’s best, but still solid!!!!!
Date: 12/1/25 – 12/6/25
Note: This is the 2nd book in the Jax Freeman series so this will not be an in-depth review.
I found Kwame Mbalia through his Tristan Strong series which he published through the Rick Riordan Presents imprint that I was trying to follow for a while, but then I got overwhelmed and had to stop (AuDHD things😊). However, when I am looking for a fun middle grade to break up some of my more intense fantasy, historical fiction, and science fiction reads, I return there or as I found out when I started the Jax Freeman series, Mbalia now has his own imprint called Freedom Fire. Yay, because he was my favorite author that I found through the Rick Riordan Presents Imprint! Well, recently I just finished a good, but also dense, read (The Strength of the Few by James Islington if you don’t follow my reviews), and I felt like I needed a break, so I decided to read the newly released Jax Freeman book, Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits.
The Jax Freeman series follows a young African American boy who must move to live with his grandmother after things at home don’t go as planned. Once there, he finds out that some members of his family have magic abilities and so does he, so he starts attending DuStable Middle School which not only caters to his typical needs as a middle schooler but also has classes to teach him how to use his magic. He also discovers the magical world of Chicago and in book 2, the rest of the world, and he realizes that his family line has a unique place in this world; they’re porters, running a magical train called the Phantom Shriek and shuttling everyone, including spirits, to wherever they need to go. The first book has him settling in and learning about this world and his and his family’s place in it, and book 2 has him participating in a magical tournament while also making friends and doing side quests along the way.
First off, I really like how Jax isn’t your typical protagonist; he’s heavy and has experienced bullying to the point that he had to relocate to a new environment. He’s also a class clown who has no business being the leader of his friend group as he’s totally winging all their adventures and quests. However, I find him funny and relatable and would love to be his friend! I also love how Mbalia pulled in aspects of African American culture and history into this narrative. He did this with Tristan Strong as well; although that one was more history-based, and in this one, he is pulling more on the community aspect of African American culture, like the magic system is based around getting help and guidance from your ancestors and overcoming obstacles as a family and community as well as standing strong as an individual, family, and community through all the different forms of adversity. He even hints at the fact that marginalized individuals, families, and communities do not get the same help and spotlight in many cases and how wrong that is.
Although this book has many good qualities, it wasn’t perfect. I don’t really understand what the overarching plot in this narrative is supposed to be, and that led to me being confused and getting pulled out of the story a lot. I mean I don’t need an overarching plot; they can be isolated adventures, but it seems like Mbalia is going for one; it just isn’t as clear as I want it to be, which is kind of frustrating. I don’t need it to be shoved in my face or anything, that would annoy me too, but a little more clarity and connection is needed. All in all, this book did what I needed it to do; it helped me decompress from my more intense read, keeping me from sliding into a reading slump. 4 stars; not Mbalia’s best, but still solid!!!!!
November 7, 2025
Jax has found out he is a summoner, one that can summon the magical powers of his ancestors, and there are more like him, and even some in his Chicago school. Jax and the others get tossed into a tournament with some of the best summoners around, how are they going to compete, heck, they are only eleven to thirteen-year olds. But Jax isn’t just there for the tournament he is also to spy on everyone, even his classmates, to see who is letting dangerous things through to the mortal side. But to win this tournament is to save himself and his friends, can Jax do everything that is expected from him?
I love these books! I have not read a bad Riordan presents book yet. This one does not disappoint as a sequel at all, if anything I can’t wait to see what comes next. Jax has a special kind of talent it is tied to his ancestors, the more he learns about them the more he learns about himself. I love the characters good and bad they all only bring out the best in this book. There is so much action and suspense it will have even adults staying up past their bedtime to find out what happens next. I really do love this book; even reluctant readers will come to find it hard to put down.
Review copy provided by Edelweiss
I love these books! I have not read a bad Riordan presents book yet. This one does not disappoint as a sequel at all, if anything I can’t wait to see what comes next. Jax has a special kind of talent it is tied to his ancestors, the more he learns about them the more he learns about himself. I love the characters good and bad they all only bring out the best in this book. There is so much action and suspense it will have even adults staying up past their bedtime to find out what happens next. I really do love this book; even reluctant readers will come to find it hard to put down.
Review copy provided by Edelweiss
September 27, 2025
Kwame Mbalia launches a brand-new middle-grade fantasy that’s equal parts magic, mystery, and adrenaline. Seventh grader Jackson Freeman has just discovered he’s a summoner able to call on the powers of his ancestors and he’s not alone. Along with four other gifted classmates from DuSable Middle School in Chicago, Jax is sent to compete in the high-stakes Tournament of Spirits, where the world’s most skilled summoners battle for glory.
But while everyone else is focused on winning, Jax is handed a secret mission by the elders of the four magical families: spy on each competitor including his own teammates to discover who’s unleashing dangerous, endangered cryptids into the arena. Suddenly the tournament isn’t just about proving himself; it’s about keeping his friends safe and unmasking a mysterious saboteur.
Mbalia mixes lightning-fast action scenes with layered worldbuilding rooted in ancestral magic and cultural pride. Readers will cheer for Jax as he grapples with loyalty, teamwork, and the cost of secrets all while dodging monsters and rival summoners.
But while everyone else is focused on winning, Jax is handed a secret mission by the elders of the four magical families: spy on each competitor including his own teammates to discover who’s unleashing dangerous, endangered cryptids into the arena. Suddenly the tournament isn’t just about proving himself; it’s about keeping his friends safe and unmasking a mysterious saboteur.
Mbalia mixes lightning-fast action scenes with layered worldbuilding rooted in ancestral magic and cultural pride. Readers will cheer for Jax as he grapples with loyalty, teamwork, and the cost of secrets all while dodging monsters and rival summoners.
June 9, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This sequel to Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek is the perfect dose of methadone to Harry Potter addicts who can't get enough fantasy academy stories. I've just read too many tournament stories to be able to get really invested.
This sequel to Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek is the perfect dose of methadone to Harry Potter addicts who can't get enough fantasy academy stories. I've just read too many tournament stories to be able to get really invested.
November 24, 2025
It took me at least a 1/3 of the book to get into the story, and like with the first book, not all of the plot points quite made sense to me, but it was a fun story with great characters all the same!
December 20, 2025
I liked this one better than the first Jax. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews