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Blade Singer
Manuel "Manny" Boreaux, a troubled adolescent from Texas, is magically transported into the body of a goblin pickpocket in an alternate world inhabited by faerie creatures. Manny must quickly adapt to the danger all around him and try to find a way to get back home, a feat complicated by the pickpocket's association with a notorious gang of thieves. But when Manny uncovers a plot to assassinate a young king, he must enlist the aid of an elf cavalier and a cat burglar to thwart a Sidhe witch's scheme to ignite a civil war between humans and the Fae.
202 pages, ebook
First published June 12, 2014
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227 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 11, 2017
3.5
Manny Boreaux is a seventh grade student whose parents died in a car accident six months ago. He lives with his aunt, but finds himself in denial and resentment, making bad decisions. His going to a bookstore chasing memories, leads him magically to an adventure where he is in a parallel world full of magic, guards using rapier, fay beings, and where suddenly he is a thief that is becoming a goblin.
I picked this book for curiosity because is co-authored with Martha Wells (Raksura books).
This is like the Musketeers with faery races .
An entertaining page-turned, but feels more like a novella than a novel. Despite being a stand-alone novel, a second installment is clearly pending.
Manny Boreaux is a seventh grade student whose parents died in a car accident six months ago. He lives with his aunt, but finds himself in denial and resentment, making bad decisions. His going to a bookstore chasing memories, leads him magically to an adventure where he is in a parallel world full of magic, guards using rapier, fay beings, and where suddenly he is a thief that is becoming a goblin.
I picked this book for curiosity because is co-authored with Martha Wells (Raksura books).
This is like the Musketeers with faery races .
An entertaining page-turned, but feels more like a novella than a novel. Despite being a stand-alone novel, a second installment is clearly pending.
August 31, 2015
**Originally posted on Oct 7th on Bookish Wanderlove.**
*I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Opening Lines
When two authors come together and write a book I've always been curious to know how that works out. Do you notice a difference when it comes to writing styles? Is there a part when you think "Ah, this part is written by that author" and so on? Well, I still don't know if that happens because while reading Blade Singer all I noticed was how perfectly everything flowed!
Manny's life hasn't been easy, and it only gets more complicated when he's transported into the body of a goblin pickpocket. From beginning to end Blade Singer is filled with adventure and action and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the writing style, I loved how descriptive everything was; this really helped me imagine and picture everything. My favourite part would be watching the character development of Manny, I loved seeing him evolve.
The only thing that I didn't like was I personally felt there was a lack of a back story about the goblin pickpocket, maybe that's just me. But this wasn't something that I heavily weighed my rating on. Overall, Blade Singer is an AMAZING adventure novel that can be read by all age groups! I didn't want it to end, I really hope there's a sequel!!
*I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Opening Lines
“Manny Boreaux's gaze darted back and forth between the three large boys advancing on him. They had spaced themselves out pretty well. Given his small, wiry frame, they probably figured he could move quickly when he wanted to. Guess it had to happen sooner or later, Manny thought. These boys had been all over him from the moment he had walked into his homeroom class at his new school. Junior high was supposed to be hard enough without adding a trio of bullies eager for fresh meat. They were big but Manny didn't think they looked particularly bright.”
When two authors come together and write a book I've always been curious to know how that works out. Do you notice a difference when it comes to writing styles? Is there a part when you think "Ah, this part is written by that author" and so on? Well, I still don't know if that happens because while reading Blade Singer all I noticed was how perfectly everything flowed!
Manny's life hasn't been easy, and it only gets more complicated when he's transported into the body of a goblin pickpocket. From beginning to end Blade Singer is filled with adventure and action and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the writing style, I loved how descriptive everything was; this really helped me imagine and picture everything. My favourite part would be watching the character development of Manny, I loved seeing him evolve.
The only thing that I didn't like was I personally felt there was a lack of a back story about the goblin pickpocket, maybe that's just me. But this wasn't something that I heavily weighed my rating on. Overall, Blade Singer is an AMAZING adventure novel that can be read by all age groups! I didn't want it to end, I really hope there's a sequel!!
June 21, 2014
Blade Singer tells the story of Manny Boreaux, who picks up a strange book in a bookstore and is transported to another realm--and another body. Recently orphaned when his parents died in a car crash, Manny has been struggling in school and in life, but his previous problems seem small when compared to the ones he faces in this new, magical realm--like finding his way home, escaping the clutches of a notorious gang, and, of course, saving the kingdom.
An enjoyable romp through a vividly-imagined fantasy setting, Blade Singer has very little to criticize. Perhaps the only thing that really bothered me was the interaction between Manny and the goblin pickpocket who's body he finds himself trapped in. The mechanics of their relationship are never really explained and seem bizarrely one-sided. Other than that, however, I really have nothing bad to say about this book. It's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it.
An enjoyable romp through a vividly-imagined fantasy setting, Blade Singer has very little to criticize. Perhaps the only thing that really bothered me was the interaction between Manny and the goblin pickpocket who's body he finds himself trapped in. The mechanics of their relationship are never really explained and seem bizarrely one-sided. Other than that, however, I really have nothing bad to say about this book. It's a fun read and I would definitely recommend it.
October 11, 2014
Manny hails from the capital of Texas: Austin! I had an instant connection with him. He’s been taken in by his aunt and he’s a bit of a handful. She’s not very happy with his doings and troublemaking.
One day Manny gets transported to an alternate world after riffling through some books at the local, independent bookstore. He finds this book that is very old, and a coin inside. The coin is like a portkey to the other world.
When Manny arrives, he has no idea what is going on. Things are so different and strange. There are all kind of creatures, and he comes to learn he has inhabited the body of a young goblin pickpocket. All Manny wants to do is get back home. He can’t help but wonder what his aunt is thinking – is he unconscious in his world? Does his aunt think him dead?
Little does Manny know that the body he now has ownership of – belonging to one Remy – belongs to a gang of thieves. A wanted gang of thieves. It kind of reminded me of the gypsies in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II and how they have taken up a hiding residence within the city. Like in his world, Manny is also in a bit of hot water and has to get himself out of some scrapes.
With a shake of his head, Etienne started away down the side street.
“Dad, wait!” Manny called after him. “You have to tell me -“
Etienne waved a hand without looking back. “I have no time, boy.”
He doesn’t recognize me? Manny started after him.
Manny stumbles upon an elf guard who has a striking resemblance to his father. The guard just thinks he’s crazy. He also stumbles upon fellow thief Adrianna, who also bears striking resemblance to his mother. Adrianna is like a mother to Remy, so she kind of takes him under her wing. She doesn’t know what happened to Remy, but she doesn’t want anything happening to his body.
The figure leaned close to whisper. “Don’t panic,” it said, and the voice was familiar. “It feeds on that. You can hide from it, trick it. It can’t catch you if you use your head. Trust your instincts.”
But Adrianna and Remy (or as the table turns, Manny) are indebted to one hag witch: Morrigan. And a powerful witch she is. Through happenstance, Adrianna and Remy uncover a sordid plot for revenge and power – and the real identity of Morrigan.
Manny and Adrianna do their best to gather all the help they can – starting with the elf who so resembles his father, but someone has other plans for Manny.
This book was full of action and fast-paced. I did go through a couple of lulls when there was so much action and no dialogue, but I would recommend this book. It is interesting and yes, it does play off of some Arthurian legend, with Morgan le Fay and Merlin both appearing in the book, as well as a sword that is basically Excalibur (but called Amechanteur).
One day Manny gets transported to an alternate world after riffling through some books at the local, independent bookstore. He finds this book that is very old, and a coin inside. The coin is like a portkey to the other world.
When Manny arrives, he has no idea what is going on. Things are so different and strange. There are all kind of creatures, and he comes to learn he has inhabited the body of a young goblin pickpocket. All Manny wants to do is get back home. He can’t help but wonder what his aunt is thinking – is he unconscious in his world? Does his aunt think him dead?
Little does Manny know that the body he now has ownership of – belonging to one Remy – belongs to a gang of thieves. A wanted gang of thieves. It kind of reminded me of the gypsies in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II and how they have taken up a hiding residence within the city. Like in his world, Manny is also in a bit of hot water and has to get himself out of some scrapes.
With a shake of his head, Etienne started away down the side street.
“Dad, wait!” Manny called after him. “You have to tell me -“
Etienne waved a hand without looking back. “I have no time, boy.”
He doesn’t recognize me? Manny started after him.
Manny stumbles upon an elf guard who has a striking resemblance to his father. The guard just thinks he’s crazy. He also stumbles upon fellow thief Adrianna, who also bears striking resemblance to his mother. Adrianna is like a mother to Remy, so she kind of takes him under her wing. She doesn’t know what happened to Remy, but she doesn’t want anything happening to his body.
The figure leaned close to whisper. “Don’t panic,” it said, and the voice was familiar. “It feeds on that. You can hide from it, trick it. It can’t catch you if you use your head. Trust your instincts.”
But Adrianna and Remy (or as the table turns, Manny) are indebted to one hag witch: Morrigan. And a powerful witch she is. Through happenstance, Adrianna and Remy uncover a sordid plot for revenge and power – and the real identity of Morrigan.
Manny and Adrianna do their best to gather all the help they can – starting with the elf who so resembles his father, but someone has other plans for Manny.
This book was full of action and fast-paced. I did go through a couple of lulls when there was so much action and no dialogue, but I would recommend this book. It is interesting and yes, it does play off of some Arthurian legend, with Morgan le Fay and Merlin both appearing in the book, as well as a sword that is basically Excalibur (but called Amechanteur).
September 30, 2014
Blade singer surprised me in a good way for a book starring a boy who made so many bad choices at the beginning. Flying home on a plane, I chose to read instead of watching Maleficent. Even though Manny had lost his parents and had a bully pushing him towards the dark side, I was starting to regret not watching the movie until magic transported Manny to another world. I was hooked soon after he landed in the body of a goblin boy who had made even more bad decisions. It didn’t take long for Manny to regret his own bad choices when he had to deal with the results of the goblin’s.
The timing of Manny’s transport wasn’t coincidence. In a hotbed of human and faerie conflicts, the Chevaliers (think Musketeers) were fighting a losing battle against a powerful witch gang leader set on overthrowing the crown (not a spoiler because it’s in the blurb). Manny met Seely and Unseely: magical folk who can change from one to the other depending on behavior, not always by choice because of deprivation and human prejudice. Oberon, Mab, and even Merlin figured in the history, and the plot had plenty of twists. I loved how the authors connected Manny’s longing for his dead mother and father with characters he met in the other world. They also did a good job with the good guy/bad guy character mix; some on both sides didn’t fit the mold.
It didn’t matter that I was stuck on a plane. I read in one sitting because the pacing kept me turning pages right up until the last one. (spoiler warning) However, once the goblin boy started giving advice, I kept wondering why he wasn’t upset about Manny taking over his body. And when it became evident the goblin used Manny’s body during that time, I wondered how the goblin’s mind could be two places at once. And if the goblin was aware of what Manny was doing, why didn’t the reverse hold true? Those are the only problems besides comma splices. I doubt most tweens will notice either. They will notice lots of action, a satisfying character arc, and puzzles to solve. For adults, I give 4 stars. However, I try to rate books according to the target audience, so I’m giving 5. Great for reluctant readers. Blade Singer will sing to their souls like it did to mine. Assuming the authors address the body switching issues in the next book, I’ll be waiting for the coin toss. I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The timing of Manny’s transport wasn’t coincidence. In a hotbed of human and faerie conflicts, the Chevaliers (think Musketeers) were fighting a losing battle against a powerful witch gang leader set on overthrowing the crown (not a spoiler because it’s in the blurb). Manny met Seely and Unseely: magical folk who can change from one to the other depending on behavior, not always by choice because of deprivation and human prejudice. Oberon, Mab, and even Merlin figured in the history, and the plot had plenty of twists. I loved how the authors connected Manny’s longing for his dead mother and father with characters he met in the other world. They also did a good job with the good guy/bad guy character mix; some on both sides didn’t fit the mold.
It didn’t matter that I was stuck on a plane. I read in one sitting because the pacing kept me turning pages right up until the last one. (spoiler warning) However, once the goblin boy started giving advice, I kept wondering why he wasn’t upset about Manny taking over his body. And when it became evident the goblin used Manny’s body during that time, I wondered how the goblin’s mind could be two places at once. And if the goblin was aware of what Manny was doing, why didn’t the reverse hold true? Those are the only problems besides comma splices. I doubt most tweens will notice either. They will notice lots of action, a satisfying character arc, and puzzles to solve. For adults, I give 4 stars. However, I try to rate books according to the target audience, so I’m giving 5. Great for reluctant readers. Blade Singer will sing to their souls like it did to mine. Assuming the authors address the body switching issues in the next book, I’ll be waiting for the coin toss. I was provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2014
Manny was a kid who was going through a very hard time after loosing both parents in an accident. He was left to live with his Aunt. Manny was having a very hard time adjusting, and he found himself in a lot of trouble.
Manny goes into a bookstore that he likes to visit, and sees that there is someone new behind the counter. Mr Gray. Manny goes to the back of the store and empties his backpack while going through the books on the shelf. Then he sees one he hasn't seen before. It's old, mysterious, and so of course he has to grab the book and then.....
Manny is transported into a magical world.
Manny is not quite himself. When he sees a reflection of himself yet he doesn't see a "boy" any more. He had grown longer arms and pointed ears. Evensong he encountered called him a goblin, yet he had all the memories of his "normal" life. Things are very confusing for him, and he has to try and find a way back his world. There and then the adventure begins.
This was such a cute book. I cannot wait to re-read it with my son. He will love it. I mean what isn't to love. A young boy being transported to a magical world with magical creatures, and having magical adventures. Yes, please!
I don't want to give anything away, but when I got to the end I was like "OOOOHHHH"! It's just such a fun read. I am always looking for things to read with my son that will keep his attention, and I believe this book will have the ability to do so.
I do not think there was anything I didn't like about this book, other than it is definitely for a younger reader. Thankfully I still LOVE reading those kinds of books. I loved the magical world. I loved to read about adventures. I often wonder if all boys have stories like this running through their heads :).
Source: I received this book as part of a tour in return for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review in anyway, and these are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
Manny goes into a bookstore that he likes to visit, and sees that there is someone new behind the counter. Mr Gray. Manny goes to the back of the store and empties his backpack while going through the books on the shelf. Then he sees one he hasn't seen before. It's old, mysterious, and so of course he has to grab the book and then.....
Manny is transported into a magical world.
Manny is not quite himself. When he sees a reflection of himself yet he doesn't see a "boy" any more. He had grown longer arms and pointed ears. Evensong he encountered called him a goblin, yet he had all the memories of his "normal" life. Things are very confusing for him, and he has to try and find a way back his world. There and then the adventure begins.
This was such a cute book. I cannot wait to re-read it with my son. He will love it. I mean what isn't to love. A young boy being transported to a magical world with magical creatures, and having magical adventures. Yes, please!
I don't want to give anything away, but when I got to the end I was like "OOOOHHHH"! It's just such a fun read. I am always looking for things to read with my son that will keep his attention, and I believe this book will have the ability to do so.
I do not think there was anything I didn't like about this book, other than it is definitely for a younger reader. Thankfully I still LOVE reading those kinds of books. I loved the magical world. I loved to read about adventures. I often wonder if all boys have stories like this running through their heads :).
Source: I received this book as part of a tour in return for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review in anyway, and these are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
October 17, 2014
I received a copy of the book from the author for a book tour in exchange for an honest review
Blade Singer takes MG fantasy to a whole new level with its adventures and complexities. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. Manny is a kid from Texas who's going through a rough time after the death of his parents, he's not totally good or totally bad either. He's grey, doing both bad and good like any other kid does. Yet, one decision lands him in a world where Sidhe and humans live together, and he's no longer a human himself.
Manny is memorable in a way that I wouldn't have thought possible. I'm a massive lover of fantasy books and rarely find myself enjoying MG books as much as I enjoyed Blade Singer. It's set a new standard for me on what fantasy is to be like when you put the characters in a world not of our own. Each of the characters are interesting and memorable, though one of the characters is by far my favorite just because of how he acts! I loved the plot, it was never too slow in its pace, and it hardly ever moved too fast for my enjoyment. There was action followed by planning and more action and it just kept repeating and building for the end of the book where everything came together and we learned what was truly happening in the town. It was explosive and fantastic, I can hardly wait for the likely second book! I will have high hopes for it, and I hope the authors can follow up to such an amazing novel.
Blade Singer takes MG fantasy to a whole new level with its adventures and complexities. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. Manny is a kid from Texas who's going through a rough time after the death of his parents, he's not totally good or totally bad either. He's grey, doing both bad and good like any other kid does. Yet, one decision lands him in a world where Sidhe and humans live together, and he's no longer a human himself.
Manny is memorable in a way that I wouldn't have thought possible. I'm a massive lover of fantasy books and rarely find myself enjoying MG books as much as I enjoyed Blade Singer. It's set a new standard for me on what fantasy is to be like when you put the characters in a world not of our own. Each of the characters are interesting and memorable, though one of the characters is by far my favorite just because of how he acts! I loved the plot, it was never too slow in its pace, and it hardly ever moved too fast for my enjoyment. There was action followed by planning and more action and it just kept repeating and building for the end of the book where everything came together and we learned what was truly happening in the town. It was explosive and fantastic, I can hardly wait for the likely second book! I will have high hopes for it, and I hope the authors can follow up to such an amazing novel.
October 1, 2014
Blade Singer was a wonderful adventure! Manny a young boy troubled after losing his parents is having a hard time at school and at home. One day while avoiding a meeting with someone he decides to go for a walk and ends up in a used bookstore. There he is whisked away from reality and plunged into a realm of complete fantasy- with witches, goblins, fae, thieves and a town that looks like the Renaissance festival come to life.
This story is wonderfully written, getting to know a little about Manny but really coming to know him through the adventure he begins and the changes in him throughout the plot, I really enjoyed it. The plot itself was interesting and captivating the whole time. There wasn't a moment where I wanted to put down the book - as a matter of fact, I read the whole thing in one sitting. The characters were fun and funny and I loved the setting. It was a great read for a relaxing evening. There was just enough action to keep me on my toes but not so much as to create anxiety in the reader. I loo forward to reading more from these authors.
Recommended to young readers, fantasy lovers, and those who love The Neverending Story or even Harry Potter. I found reminders of these books throughout - but in a good way :) Happy Reading!
This story is wonderfully written, getting to know a little about Manny but really coming to know him through the adventure he begins and the changes in him throughout the plot, I really enjoyed it. The plot itself was interesting and captivating the whole time. There wasn't a moment where I wanted to put down the book - as a matter of fact, I read the whole thing in one sitting. The characters were fun and funny and I loved the setting. It was a great read for a relaxing evening. There was just enough action to keep me on my toes but not so much as to create anxiety in the reader. I loo forward to reading more from these authors.
Recommended to young readers, fantasy lovers, and those who love The Neverending Story or even Harry Potter. I found reminders of these books throughout - but in a good way :) Happy Reading!
September 28, 2014
Fantasy with an edge... Blade singer is a fast-paced book filled with the right combination of fantasy and reality that allows the reader to fully suspend belief while still having a relatable experience. The basic breakdown of the story follows the main character, Manny, as he deals with the recent loss of his parents, and challenges growing up. He goes through the normal range of emotions, and then more as he attempts to escape dealing with his present situation. That escape comes to fruition when he finds himself transported into a book... and into the body of a thieving goblin. Manny has to learn to survive in a different body and different world.
This is a fun story filled with many of the traditional elements of fantasy that I love. I found myself entertained, intrigued, and engaged. I will admit to feeling a little weary in the beginning as I recognized inspiration from other familiar stories. The beginning sequence of bullies, and finding refuge within the bookstore reminded me a bit too much of The Neverending Story... It wasn't until after those beginning chapters that I began to feel more invested in the story and characters. Overall, the writing is strong, the characters well developed, and the world fun. I would recommend this to the tween audience.
This is a fun story filled with many of the traditional elements of fantasy that I love. I found myself entertained, intrigued, and engaged. I will admit to feeling a little weary in the beginning as I recognized inspiration from other familiar stories. The beginning sequence of bullies, and finding refuge within the bookstore reminded me a bit too much of The Neverending Story... It wasn't until after those beginning chapters that I began to feel more invested in the story and characters. Overall, the writing is strong, the characters well developed, and the world fun. I would recommend this to the tween audience.
October 2, 2014
Manny is just some dude from Texas that is now a goblin in an alternate world trying to prevent a war between humans and the Fae. The Fae are faerie critters! Think Disney fairies but meaner & trying to take over not just their own world but maybe ours, too. Nasty little beasties and Manny is right in the middle of it all!
I devoured this book-it was so good! It took a while to get started; there was a bit too much back story. There were also a couple of places where I had to say, well that was convenient! But none of this is a deal breaker-just read the beginning really quickly and get to the ‘meat’ of the story!
I always like books with great characters and Blade Singer does NOT disappoint-lots of details that brought these fantasy creatures to life and made their actions in the plot really make sense. The plot itself is very good-not just the same old fantasy/alternate reality. A nice twist on how the ‘real’ world & Fae world intersect. I hope there are sequels!! This book is not just for adults-older YA kids/fans of the genre would have no problem enjoying Blade Singer. 5 stars.
I devoured this book-it was so good! It took a while to get started; there was a bit too much back story. There were also a couple of places where I had to say, well that was convenient! But none of this is a deal breaker-just read the beginning really quickly and get to the ‘meat’ of the story!
I always like books with great characters and Blade Singer does NOT disappoint-lots of details that brought these fantasy creatures to life and made their actions in the plot really make sense. The plot itself is very good-not just the same old fantasy/alternate reality. A nice twist on how the ‘real’ world & Fae world intersect. I hope there are sequels!! This book is not just for adults-older YA kids/fans of the genre would have no problem enjoying Blade Singer. 5 stars.
October 7, 2014
This book was a nice fun read. I kept me interested and I liked finding out about the world as Manny did. It has all the right fantasy element's to keep young readers captivated, and the world in which it takes place is really great and the whole concept of the book was really imaginative. At first it seems like the stereotypical fantasy book,but my mind changed quickly. I'm such a sucker for books with the Fae,Goblins and Witches so this was a must read! I will recommend it to the young readers in my family!
July 1, 2014
This is a fun, fast read of adventure and self-discovery. The tale follows a boy, Manny Boreaux, from Austin, Texas as he is plunged into a fantasy realm and assailed by all manner of witches, goblins, and trolls. There are some real scares in the book. The descriptions are lush. The action is very cinematic and the fantasy elements are richly drawn. A Great read!
August 25, 2014
This book is so much fun! Blade Singer is tremendously inventive with great world-building, memorable characters and an unexpectedly emotional story arc. It is full of swashbuckling action and terrifying villains and I can't wait until my kid is old enough to read it.
I hope the authors write more books set in this world. I'd love to spend more time there.
I hope the authors write more books set in this world. I'd love to spend more time there.
September 5, 2014
My rating is based on my 5th grade daughter's read through - she was captivated from the first page, and could hardly put the book down. So, a VERY enthusiastic thumbs-up from her perspective.
I plan to read the book myself, and I'll update my review with more details once I've done so.
I plan to read the book myself, and I'll update my review with more details once I've done so.
November 15, 2020
Manny, the main character, is 14 and it feels like that's the audience too. The book is a bit simplistic at times, though not necessarily in an unpleasant way. Overall it's just a lovely adventure book with all the loose ends tied up neatly in the end. It's pretty cute.
July 20, 2014
An enjoyable read. I would say this book is aimed at the "tween" reader who enjoys fantasy and adventure.
December 21, 2023
A fun YA fun swashbuckling adventure that touches on loss and grief
I didn't like Manny at the beginning. It's understandable that this character had recently suffered great tragedy by losing his patents, and that affected his behavior. But Manny on Terra was nobody to cheer for. Things changed when Manny's soul was transported into another body, this one in Avalon. The story fell into a more familiar adventure fantasy trope, and many of the characters that Manny/Remy interacted with were interesting and admirable. This story's ending definitely leaves room for continuing adventures. If Aaron de Orive and Martha Wells (one of my favorite living authors) collaborate on more stories, I will read them. It would be interesting to see how Manny acts in his home world after his experiences in the other.
I didn't like Manny at the beginning. It's understandable that this character had recently suffered great tragedy by losing his patents, and that affected his behavior. But Manny on Terra was nobody to cheer for. Things changed when Manny's soul was transported into another body, this one in Avalon. The story fell into a more familiar adventure fantasy trope, and many of the characters that Manny/Remy interacted with were interesting and admirable. This story's ending definitely leaves room for continuing adventures. If Aaron de Orive and Martha Wells (one of my favorite living authors) collaborate on more stories, I will read them. It would be interesting to see how Manny acts in his home world after his experiences in the other.
April 16, 2025
3.5
I read Blade Singer because Martha Wells is listed as a co-author.
It was fine, a very basic D&D-ish story involving dwarves, elves, and trolls as well as Merlin, Queen Mab, and Oberon. A young boy struggles after losing his parents and finds his strength and power after being magically transported by a coin inside a book in a used bookstore to an alternate world. Not exceptional, but the right age child might enjoy it. It ended with the promise of a sequel, but so far as I can tell one has not been published.
I wonder what the role of Martha Wells was. Her works are usually more original than this.
I read Blade Singer because Martha Wells is listed as a co-author.
It was fine, a very basic D&D-ish story involving dwarves, elves, and trolls as well as Merlin, Queen Mab, and Oberon. A young boy struggles after losing his parents and finds his strength and power after being magically transported by a coin inside a book in a used bookstore to an alternate world. Not exceptional, but the right age child might enjoy it. It ended with the promise of a sequel, but so far as I can tell one has not been published.
I wonder what the role of Martha Wells was. Her works are usually more original than this.
January 2, 2024
I started the book before realizing that it was YA. When I did, I checked the length, and decided it's probably not long enough to get tiresome. Sure enough, it's a quick read, the plot is pretty straightforward, the characters likeable, the moral lessons a bit heavy-handed though.
April 26, 2025
I read this fun little fantasy romp for work. It's a fairly quick-paced book, with a splash of Arthuriana and an interesting method of handling the main character Manny's grieving process over losing both of his parents. It seems suitable for middle school through high school readers!
July 9, 2025
A grieving teenager who recently lost his parents in a car accident gets pulled into a fantasy world. Crazy adventures and self improvement ensue. It was a good story but very much incomplete. Rather abrupt ending without satisfactory resolution.
June 26, 2025
I enjoyed it. Fun young hero story.
January 5, 2015
A fun adventure with some moral lessons about deciding to do the right thing, compassion for others, and the power of getting a fresh perspective!
Manny is given a fresh perspective on his problems by force when he exchanges bodies with a goblin pickpocket in a fantasy world who had problems of his own.
In a world where the choices you make and your attitude towards life determine whether you remain a seelie fay or turn visibly into the goblin and troll-type unseelie, the setting is a fascinating twist on long-standing tropes around the two fairy courts, pulling on a wealth of traditional folklore and spinning it into a musketeers-like setting with its own history and character.
I feel like this book might shade a bit towards Middle Grade rather than YA, even more so than Martha Wells' other YA books following Emilie. Nonetheless, even as an adult I found it an entertaining read with a vivid setting.
Also, of note (why should this be of note?), our young hero is clearly of Hispanic background, embedded in a culture of youthful secular values and very Catholic family values. It isn't dwelt on in any length, it's just a part of who he is, and it's a refreshing change from the generic white kid that is the frequent default. All themes of prejudice, lack of opportunity, and being judged on appearance are dealt with entirely in the fantasy world of goblins, elves and humans trying to coexist.
As an adult reader, I'd give it a 3.5, as it is very "young" in places...but since "young" is the intended audience, I'll round that one up. Altogether, I would readily pick up a sequel to this book should the authors choose to write us one, I would give Aaron de Orive another try, and I would as always try anything by Martha Wells. This is perhaps tied as my least-favorite book of hers, and I still quite liked it. They only go up from here, up to including some of my favorite books of all time.
Manny is given a fresh perspective on his problems by force when he exchanges bodies with a goblin pickpocket in a fantasy world who had problems of his own.
In a world where the choices you make and your attitude towards life determine whether you remain a seelie fay or turn visibly into the goblin and troll-type unseelie, the setting is a fascinating twist on long-standing tropes around the two fairy courts, pulling on a wealth of traditional folklore and spinning it into a musketeers-like setting with its own history and character.
I feel like this book might shade a bit towards Middle Grade rather than YA, even more so than Martha Wells' other YA books following Emilie. Nonetheless, even as an adult I found it an entertaining read with a vivid setting.
Also, of note (why should this be of note?), our young hero is clearly of Hispanic background, embedded in a culture of youthful secular values and very Catholic family values. It isn't dwelt on in any length, it's just a part of who he is, and it's a refreshing change from the generic white kid that is the frequent default. All themes of prejudice, lack of opportunity, and being judged on appearance are dealt with entirely in the fantasy world of goblins, elves and humans trying to coexist.
As an adult reader, I'd give it a 3.5, as it is very "young" in places...but since "young" is the intended audience, I'll round that one up. Altogether, I would readily pick up a sequel to this book should the authors choose to write us one, I would give Aaron de Orive another try, and I would as always try anything by Martha Wells. This is perhaps tied as my least-favorite book of hers, and I still quite liked it. They only go up from here, up to including some of my favorite books of all time.
June 4, 2016
As a fan of Martha Wells, I'd been planning to read this for some time. It worked out that I did this weekend, and it was an enjoyable read. It's a middle school story about a boy whose parents died suddenly 6 months or so earlier. He's now living with his aunt and is struggling with the emotional aftermath of his loss. While he knows his aunt loves him, he is filled with anger and guilt. His grades have begun to slip and he's getting into trouble at school regularly.
One day Manny is avoiding something his aunt ants him to do, and finds himself at a bookstore he used to visit when his parents were alive. While there he has a magical experience and comes to in a fantasy world of the type he has enjoyed reading about. However, he's not a hero or rich. He's a poor thief who is beginning to show the results of his cruel and mean circumstances physically. However, Manny is not comfortable with a life of crime and is horrified by some of the people he is forced to associate with. He is fortunate to have a partner and protector in a young woman who is very much like his dead mother.
Manny finds that the adventures his body was engaged in as well as the fact that he has transferred worlds become relevant. As does his reaction to the people who look like his dead parents. As he learns about his skills in this world and helps to overcome an evil plot, he gains friends and receives other benefits as well. When he finally finds out how to return to his own world, he knows he'll miss his new friends, but has also come to terms with how much he loves his aunt and with the loss of his parents.
Overall it isn't a very deep book, but it is entertaining and a fun read. I would have loved it when I was 12 or so.
One day Manny is avoiding something his aunt ants him to do, and finds himself at a bookstore he used to visit when his parents were alive. While there he has a magical experience and comes to in a fantasy world of the type he has enjoyed reading about. However, he's not a hero or rich. He's a poor thief who is beginning to show the results of his cruel and mean circumstances physically. However, Manny is not comfortable with a life of crime and is horrified by some of the people he is forced to associate with. He is fortunate to have a partner and protector in a young woman who is very much like his dead mother.
Manny finds that the adventures his body was engaged in as well as the fact that he has transferred worlds become relevant. As does his reaction to the people who look like his dead parents. As he learns about his skills in this world and helps to overcome an evil plot, he gains friends and receives other benefits as well. When he finally finds out how to return to his own world, he knows he'll miss his new friends, but has also come to terms with how much he loves his aunt and with the loss of his parents.
Overall it isn't a very deep book, but it is entertaining and a fun read. I would have loved it when I was 12 or so.
June 12, 2016
A solid example of a trope that I, er, don't actually like very much. "Person pulled from the real world into some other fantastical one" never really does it for me. But it was cowritten by Martha Wells, who's one of my very favorite authors, so I decided to give it a chance.
Its problems, for me, are largely the same as any other story in this genre. I didn't care about the mundane world that Manny left behind. I didn't care about his problems back home. We didn't spend enough time to get to know his family or his bullies for any of them to matter as anything more than plot devices.
Furthermore, the book is riddled with clunky similes that relate everything Manny sees to his own world. "Magnifying glasses or lenses could be used to start a campfire, like that kid lost in the mountains and done in the book they had read a couple years ago in English class" is particularly egregious. I get it, guys. He's a kid, and he's from our world. Stop hitting me over the head with it. And stop trying to use kid lingo. It's not working. Nothing I've ever read by Martha Wells before has been clunky, so I'm tempted to blame Aaron de Orive on those parts, but I haven't read anything else by him, so that's not very fair of me.
That being said, the story happening in the fantasy world is pretty gripping. I honestly wish they'd just written the book set in that world. I love the concept of the Change, especially since it only affects Sidhe, and I wish more time had been spent exploring that and why it happens. The characters are fun, and while there's nothing truly ground breaking about the plot, it's still really enjoyable.
Its problems, for me, are largely the same as any other story in this genre. I didn't care about the mundane world that Manny left behind. I didn't care about his problems back home. We didn't spend enough time to get to know his family or his bullies for any of them to matter as anything more than plot devices.
Furthermore, the book is riddled with clunky similes that relate everything Manny sees to his own world. "Magnifying glasses or lenses could be used to start a campfire, like that kid lost in the mountains and done in the book they had read a couple years ago in English class" is particularly egregious. I get it, guys. He's a kid, and he's from our world. Stop hitting me over the head with it. And stop trying to use kid lingo. It's not working. Nothing I've ever read by Martha Wells before has been clunky, so I'm tempted to blame Aaron de Orive on those parts, but I haven't read anything else by him, so that's not very fair of me.
That being said, the story happening in the fantasy world is pretty gripping. I honestly wish they'd just written the book set in that world. I love the concept of the Change, especially since it only affects Sidhe, and I wish more time had been spent exploring that and why it happens. The characters are fun, and while there's nothing truly ground breaking about the plot, it's still really enjoyable.
July 20, 2016
This was a pleasant enough YA adventure along a Wizard-of-Oz-ish model: real-world boy with issues-to-work-through gets whisked off to a magical world where he helps stop a threat while learning to appreciate his old life. The actual meat of the story seemed fairly slight - like there were only a handful of significant plot events - even in comparison to other YA works I've read recently, so it may actually fall more in the "Intermediate" age range? Either way, it's probably a good read for kids or teens who like adventure stories, but it's not going to be particularly memorable for me, personally.
September 21, 2015
Martha Wells has long been one of my favorite authors; I'm unfamiliar with de Orive, but I'll definitely be looking forward to more of his work (or any more collaborations between the two; it seems like this book has a sequel hook, so fingers crossed there). Blade Singer was therefore an insta buy for me, and I wasn't at all disappointed. The world building has the same care and originality she always displays, and characters were easy to like and very nuanced. While it's one of her younger-reader books, I enjoyed it immensely and would highly recommend it.
October 25, 2015
This highly enjoyable book is part Dungeons & Dragons, part Three Musketeers, and part Wizard of Oz. If I liked it this much as an adult, I can only imagine how much younger readers will enjoy the story of Manny, a boy dealing with the deaths of his parents, who is swept away to another world. Others have mentioned the great world-building, and I have to agree.
August 19, 2015
My 9 yr old boy loved it! He gave it a rating of Awesome. His favorite character is Manny and his favorite scene is the last big swordfight.
January 20, 2015
I'm not a huge fantasy fan, but this book was a fun read. Great for young adults who need to get into reading. Kept me turning pages to the very end.
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