Simon and Milt Bevell and the Sorceress of Oden

by Lisa M. Whitehead

Catch a portal into a world of elemental magic, where mythical creatures roam the forest, magical herbs heal ailments, and garden gnomes legislate for better living conditions. The dawn of a new age in middle grade fantasy has arrived in this debut novel perfect for fans of Skandar the Unicorn Thief and the Narnia series.
Simon and Milt Bevell live in the tiny hamlet of Shadow Grove, void of all excitement, until a late autumn evening, when a Traveler comes to town, seeking out their father, Arlo Bevell, who was a seer and prolific spellcaster, from the Seventh Realm.
Despite Simon’s skeptical nature the Traveler convinces Simon and Milt to journey to a magical realm to aid in locating a missing Sorceress from the Corridor of Oden, and possibly find out what happened to their father, who disappeared ten years ago. Once there, Simon and Milt learn they too have magic abilities that make them both powerful and dangerous.
As the Seven Corridors teeter on the brink of war, Simon struggles with his magical heritage and his duty to find the missing sorceress. Dangers mount when deadly creatures surface in Oden and Milt must work to keep his brother alive with his newfound skills as a healer.
Littered with witty banter, a charming cast of characters, and danger lurking in every chapter, Simon and Milt Bevell is a tale for the ages.

268 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2025

About the author

Lisa M Whitehead lives with her three rescue cats at the House of Catterton. She’s been writing stories and going on magical adventures since she was a little girl growing up on her family farm in Twin Grove, Wisconsin. Her daydreams include slaying monsters and saving the realm from evil.

Reviews

[Jess Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of being one of the first to read this book. It is a profound and wonderful journey for any reader, young or older. It gives one hope and courage to face fears and go on an adventure.
Simon and Milt are thrust into a world they never knew existed. They are sent on a wondrous journey through a magical realm to help save all they've ever known. You really get to know Simon and Milt, and I felt as though I was on the journey with them. The author has wonderful character building and world building. It's just a fantastic magical story!

[Therese G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is magic! It gives you that feeling you had when you were a kid and you were reading something exciting…..you hold your breath for a second and imagine what could be next!
Only appropriate that the title leads off with Simon and Milt; as they are the true soulful characters and I surely hope this book is the genesis of a wonderful series with them leading the way.
You will especially enjoy the suspense and character development! All the stars!⭐️🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Kelly Bolger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that I was going to like this book but I didn’t expect to ABSOLUTELY FRICKING ADORE IT! 🎉🎉🎉
It’s not often a book sweeps me off my feet like this one just did.
I devoured it.
Within a couple of chapters, I was all in for the Bevell brothers - they are warm, funny and charming & I was hooked. Couple that with the outstandingly good world building & call me obsessed.
The author calls upon a wealth of knowledge of the canon of classic fantasy children’s literature in this book and generously nods to them while taking the readers breath away with the snappy pace & up-to-date tone.
The nostalgia for the books of my childhood was so intense while reading this.
It’s been a minute since a book left me so keen for the next instalment- I hope it’s soon!!!!
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Narnia, Alice etc…you HAVE to read this!
Five stonking great stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice adventure to help you unwind and escape. A beautifully vibrant fantasy world. For a debut novel I felt like I was in good hands as I followed Simon and his brother Milt on their adventure. I think Milt was my favorite character. as an Ex-Emt I am always partial to the healer. =)

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a whirlwind! I still feel a little dizzy and will probably do a reread soon!
I loved the fantasy world, which was so beautifully described that I felt like I was right there with the characters and saw it with my own eyes. After finishing the book, I feel a little homesick, the way I felt homesick for Hogwarts or the Shire after finishing the Harry Potter series and The Hobbit / LOTR.
I also already miss the characters. My absolute favorite was Milt. He made me laugh out loud so many times!
I still have a lot of questions, and with the cliffhanger ending, I sure hope we won't have to wait too long for the next book!

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun adventure! I loved the references to some of my favorite fantasy and magical books like Harry Potter, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Percy Jackson, The Wizard of Oz, and a few others. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment to see what new adventures Simon and Milt face.

[Ashley Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! It had all the whimsical things you love, magic and myth, humor and suspense! As well as a connection to beloved stories that we know. By the halfway point, the author seemed to really flow with the story, and it just got better and better! And then the ending hits, and you are left with questions and wanting more! I am hoping for many more adventures with Simon and Milt Bevell!

[Matt Mccann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world building was fantastic and once the setting was placed the action was mesmerizing and I wanted more.

[Back of Beyond Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

This novel leans far too heavily on allusions to beloved children’s classics, borrowing not only their imagery but also their core ideas, to the point where it feels less like an homage and more like a crutch. Rather than forging its own imaginative path, the book seems content to rest upon the achievements of its predecessors — a choice that feels deliberate and, frankly, disappointing. For readers with a deep affection for works like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Chronicles of Narnia, or Alice in Wonderland, these derivative elements are likely to feel intrusive rather than charming. Though I finished the book several days ago, its reliance on borrowed brilliance continues to leave an unpleasant aftertaste.


The instances of imitation are, unfortunately, both numerous and conspicuous. To defend this thesis, I will offer several examples. While these carefully chosen examples are not spoilers of significance, they will make brief mention of instances not relevant to the plot-at-large that occur throughout the book. Further reading of this review will not affect your enjoyment of the novel, presuming you enjoy it at all.


The children’s entrance into the fantastical world, through a brick wall in an alley, is so strikingly reminiscent of Harry Potter’s first venture into Diagon Alley that it borders on replication rather than inspiration.


Elsewhere, there is an entire chapter titled The Impervious Forest, unmistakably calling to mind Harry Potter’s perilous journey through The Forbidden Forest. Although the inherently murky incompetency of the author’s writing makes the forest’s caretaker’s species uncertain, one could intuit from his description that he’s a centaur—which amplifies the Harry Potter connection to more troubling extremes. And when, in this forest, the protagonist, Simon, is presented with arrows crafted from the feather of a firebird, it’s difficult not to hear the echo of Harry’s phoenix-feathered wand.


The parallels continue with the so-called Garden Gnome Liberation Act, a plot point in which, as proudly paraded in the book’s synopsis, “garden gnomes legislate for better living conditions.” One hardly needs to squint to see the clear reflection of Hermione Granger’s crusade for house-elf rights in Harry Potter.


Even the book’s antagonist reads like a thinly veiled pastiche of Severus Snape. Described in similarly brooding terms, he even has a moment of melodramatic reflection, sniveling over the long-ago theft of his beloved by another central character — a scene so evocative of Snape’s tragic backstory that it feels less like a nod and more like a borrowed script.


And these are merely a handful of the more glaring examples. The author’s tendency to lift iconic elements from Harry Potter is pervasive, but it does not stop there. If it’s a children’s book you’ve cherished, chances are you will encounter something here that feels suspiciously transplanted from its pages into this narrative. Ultimately, rather than building something new and wondrous, the novel seems content to inhabit the hollowed-out echoes of far greater stories, and for me, that left the experience feeling disappointingly hollow as well.

[Debbie Hagedorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable fantasy for middle grade readers. I believe kids that age will easily identify with Simon and Milt and their struggles to fit in, both in reality and the new world they are led into. The many references to Harry Potter and other fantasy novels will strike a chord with many.