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Tommy Black #1
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light
For fourteen-year-old Tommy Black, nothing is worse than being raised by an overprotective grandfather in the city that never sleeps. That is until his grandfather is captured by magical creatures and Tommy has to save him with his family's magical staff.
That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light?
Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.
From Nebula, Sturgeon, and Million Writers Award nominee Jake Kerr comes the Tommy Black trilogy, an action adventure series that evokes the rollicking tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs in a mid-century setting, while retaining a thoroughly contemporary feel.
That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light?
Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.
From Nebula, Sturgeon, and Million Writers Award nominee Jake Kerr comes the Tommy Black trilogy, an action adventure series that evokes the rollicking tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs in a mid-century setting, while retaining a thoroughly contemporary feel.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2014
30 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Jake Kerr
59 books38 followersAfter fifteen years as a music industry journalist Jake Kerr's first published story, "The Old Equations," was nominated for the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards. His stories have subsequently been published in magazines across the world, broadcast in multiple podcasts, and been published in multiple anthologies and year's best collections.
A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his family and a menagerie of pets.
A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his family and a menagerie of pets.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 21, 2020
Adventure series, fantasy books or fairytales are not to make people believe magical creators, rivers, djinn, dragons and more, they aim to show existence of true love, goodness, friendship and strong bonds between humans like in this book. Tommy Black has to face with the problems after he meets with the reality of his grandfather past in the first book of this adventure series. He takes the road to know how to use and save magical staff. By this way he can turn back and save his grandfather.
You will try to guess how to shape their fate from Tommy’s choices. Yes, we’re learning from our choices and mistakes like Tommy. Many of the characters are people which we can come across in our real life with their desire of possessing, acquisition and power or who lost in loneliness. Their decisions shape Tommy’s future until Tommy learns how to understand people and their approach. All creatures in this book have the same capacity for being good or bad, they will show you who they are with their choices.
Naomi, a girl Tommy’s age, who born with a talent of magic is significant character in this series. I feel so close to her since she’s extraordinary and the way of her approach towards Tommy makes me smile and clings to printed pages of this series. I’m curious about whether they will have special moments and what happened to her in the remaining part of the series.
The second things which make me addicted to this book were ancient Persian artifacts and parts which mention Persian culture briefly. I’m surprised when I saw Ali and Pehlivan names because we’ve those names in my country. Pehlivan meaning in my language is hero or champion of oil wrestling which is one of the Turkish national sports. Therefore, I read this book with great enthusiasm.
For non-native speakers of English, Tommy Black series would be great opportunity to improve their vocabulary knowledge and use of grammar in a sentence. Since Jake Kerr is pretty successful about finding right words to describe situation and characters. You can lose yourself in this book and start to imagine Middle East, 1930s and a world has begun to change thanks to author’s fluent language and descriptive expression.
When you reach the conclusion, you’re going to participate in people who’re waiting to read second book of Tommy Black Series with bated breath. It’s foreseeable that many readers want to draw and create beautiful fan artworks to show other people how they imagined characters, magical creatures and events. I’m awaiting for see those artworks impatiently to compare with my dreams.
I strongly recommend this series especially ones who love fantasy books!
You will try to guess how to shape their fate from Tommy’s choices. Yes, we’re learning from our choices and mistakes like Tommy. Many of the characters are people which we can come across in our real life with their desire of possessing, acquisition and power or who lost in loneliness. Their decisions shape Tommy’s future until Tommy learns how to understand people and their approach. All creatures in this book have the same capacity for being good or bad, they will show you who they are with their choices.
Naomi, a girl Tommy’s age, who born with a talent of magic is significant character in this series. I feel so close to her since she’s extraordinary and the way of her approach towards Tommy makes me smile and clings to printed pages of this series. I’m curious about whether they will have special moments and what happened to her in the remaining part of the series.
The second things which make me addicted to this book were ancient Persian artifacts and parts which mention Persian culture briefly. I’m surprised when I saw Ali and Pehlivan names because we’ve those names in my country. Pehlivan meaning in my language is hero or champion of oil wrestling which is one of the Turkish national sports. Therefore, I read this book with great enthusiasm.
For non-native speakers of English, Tommy Black series would be great opportunity to improve their vocabulary knowledge and use of grammar in a sentence. Since Jake Kerr is pretty successful about finding right words to describe situation and characters. You can lose yourself in this book and start to imagine Middle East, 1930s and a world has begun to change thanks to author’s fluent language and descriptive expression.
When you reach the conclusion, you’re going to participate in people who’re waiting to read second book of Tommy Black Series with bated breath. It’s foreseeable that many readers want to draw and create beautiful fan artworks to show other people how they imagined characters, magical creatures and events. I’m awaiting for see those artworks impatiently to compare with my dreams.
I strongly recommend this series especially ones who love fantasy books!
January 10, 2015
I really enjoyed Tommy Black and the Staff of Light . It had an interesting concept, although one that could have been boring if it had been written differently, and the narration was age-authentic to Tommy and entertaining to the reader. It touched on intriguing moral concepts about magic as well, and was full of action.
That said, quick notes:
I didn't find the description of the book to be exactly truthful to the events in the book, or at least my interpretation of the synopsis was misleading.
Tommy Black has lived with his overprotective grandfather in New York City since his parents died in a subway accident when he was little. When he and his grandfather are attacked by magical creatures, Tommy is given his grandfather's cane, the family magical staff. Tommy and a friend of his grandfather's flee the battle, and Tommy learns about his family's legacy and his own ability to wield the staff: making light. On a quest to rescue his grandfather, who Tommy believes has been captured, he meets a girl named Naomi who happens to be a skilled magician and hates him, encounters various magical creatures, rides on a river that can take travelers anywhere, stays at a fortress cloaked in illusions, meets other magicians, and unravels the truth behind his family's legacy and his grandfather's capture.
From the back cover summary, I had thought Tommy already knew about magic and just wasn't any good. At the start of the book, though, he knows almost nothing, and a lot of the book is spent watching him learn about it. Another thing I liked about this was that Tommy wasn't a natural. He didn't immediately have everything mastered, and actually spent quite a long time learning just how to do magic and figuring out that his talent isn't so useless after all.
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is relatively fast-paced, and it's exciting and fun to read. It's well-written, too, or at least I thought so. It has a good amount of description of scenery (not overwhelming but not lacking), although I got a bit confused when it was talking about the walls in the illusions in the fortress. It also portrays Tommy's emotions well, and includes lots of character thought as well as action.
There are also some ethical questions in this book about magic, something I found really neat. They're not as in-depth as I had hoped, and were somewhat minor themes, but they were there, and I really liked that. Should people just let magic die? Is it alright to enslave these magical creatures, since they're just animals? What if your legacy isn't really yours? These were a just a few of the questions raised.
I liked Tommy as a character, and I thought his struggles were very interesting and realistic, even though a lot of it was magic-related. He's trying to figure out all this insanity that's just been thrown at him at the same time he's dealing with losing his grandfather and trying to sort through his feelings for Naomi. There are a lot of internal issues as well as external ones; this I thought was very well done.
The magic itself was different than in a lot of books. It wasn't spells like in Harry Potter or the Kane Chronicles, nor was it some strange ability like in the Charlie Bone series. The magic in Tommy Black and the Staff of Light was more of a force that could be used, and it seemed alive in a way. I liked that magic wasn't just some neat ability so much as it was like a creature and that it was dying.
So, overall, Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is a really good book!
That said, quick notes:
- Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is written in first person past tense. This combination usually tends to annoy me but was the right choice for this story.
-The main character, Tommy Black, is fourteen. The book is set in 1938.
-I can't remember if it curses, but I don't think it does, and there's not really any romance. I would recommend it for kids who have read Harry Potter or The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.
I didn't find the description of the book to be exactly truthful to the events in the book, or at least my interpretation of the synopsis was misleading.
Tommy Black has lived with his overprotective grandfather in New York City since his parents died in a subway accident when he was little. When he and his grandfather are attacked by magical creatures, Tommy is given his grandfather's cane, the family magical staff. Tommy and a friend of his grandfather's flee the battle, and Tommy learns about his family's legacy and his own ability to wield the staff: making light. On a quest to rescue his grandfather, who Tommy believes has been captured, he meets a girl named Naomi who happens to be a skilled magician and hates him, encounters various magical creatures, rides on a river that can take travelers anywhere, stays at a fortress cloaked in illusions, meets other magicians, and unravels the truth behind his family's legacy and his grandfather's capture.
From the back cover summary, I had thought Tommy already knew about magic and just wasn't any good. At the start of the book, though, he knows almost nothing, and a lot of the book is spent watching him learn about it. Another thing I liked about this was that Tommy wasn't a natural. He didn't immediately have everything mastered, and actually spent quite a long time learning just how to do magic and figuring out that his talent isn't so useless after all.
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is relatively fast-paced, and it's exciting and fun to read. It's well-written, too, or at least I thought so. It has a good amount of description of scenery (not overwhelming but not lacking), although I got a bit confused when it was talking about the walls in the illusions in the fortress. It also portrays Tommy's emotions well, and includes lots of character thought as well as action.
There are also some ethical questions in this book about magic, something I found really neat. They're not as in-depth as I had hoped, and were somewhat minor themes, but they were there, and I really liked that. Should people just let magic die? Is it alright to enslave these magical creatures, since they're just animals? What if your legacy isn't really yours? These were a just a few of the questions raised.
I liked Tommy as a character, and I thought his struggles were very interesting and realistic, even though a lot of it was magic-related. He's trying to figure out all this insanity that's just been thrown at him at the same time he's dealing with losing his grandfather and trying to sort through his feelings for Naomi. There are a lot of internal issues as well as external ones; this I thought was very well done.
The magic itself was different than in a lot of books. It wasn't spells like in Harry Potter or the Kane Chronicles, nor was it some strange ability like in the Charlie Bone series. The magic in Tommy Black and the Staff of Light was more of a force that could be used, and it seemed alive in a way. I liked that magic wasn't just some neat ability so much as it was like a creature and that it was dying.
So, overall, Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is a really good book!
November 27, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and am giving it a 5* despite the fact that here and there descriptions ran on too long for my tastes. The main thing which struck me about this book was that it was paced perfectly. I don't normally like to jump straight into a big action scene, and here the build-up to the initial appearance of magic was just long enough to get me invested in the main character. The voice was also right on target for a YA fantasy. The characters and their relationships were great, too, pretty complex but not at all hard to keep track of.
Looking forward to the sequel!
Looking forward to the sequel!
October 27, 2020
Not perfect, but good enough YA fantasy.
I liked the different story and magic in this one, that didn't feel like the 100th carbon copy of other YA books.
However the setting didn't exactly work as well for me. Hitler being names as "that german wizard" did annoy me, as I definitely like books that enlighten teens about that horrible time frame, but making Hitler a wizard just feels off to me, like just not taking the topic as serious as it is. Also if it didn't mention Hitler, I'd probably not really have picked up on this taking place quite a while ago, and not today, so the time frame could have been written better.
Aside from that I liked the characters wellenough, even though they could have done with a little more of depth, and the plot was interesting enough to keep me going. The tone and voice was easy to digest and fluent enough to keep me going.
I liked the different story and magic in this one, that didn't feel like the 100th carbon copy of other YA books.
However the setting didn't exactly work as well for me. Hitler being names as "that german wizard" did annoy me, as I definitely like books that enlighten teens about that horrible time frame, but making Hitler a wizard just feels off to me, like just not taking the topic as serious as it is. Also if it didn't mention Hitler, I'd probably not really have picked up on this taking place quite a while ago, and not today, so the time frame could have been written better.
Aside from that I liked the characters wellenough, even though they could have done with a little more of depth, and the plot was interesting enough to keep me going. The tone and voice was easy to digest and fluent enough to keep me going.
August 5, 2015
Full disclosure, the author Jake Kerr is a friend and my brother in law. That said, if I hadn't enjoyed the book, I wouldn't be giving it a good review. Life is too short to blow smoke up people's asses, no matter how much you might like them personally.
Ok, with that out of the way, my unbiased review. Firstly, I don't read too many YA books. I don't really have a lot of patience for how repetitive and simplistic they can be. I also don't love fantasy as a genre; as soon as I see a made-up name, I'm ready to quit. And this book does dip its toe into those waters, I'm not gonna lie. HOWEVER, Jake Kerr doesn't talk down to his reader. If the story takes a little time, or some points are reiterated a few times, it's easily understood to be the product of some pretty major world building going on to set the stage for what will be a trilogy. Like most first books of a series, Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is doing a lot of heavy lifting for the stories to follow, and it does so pretty respectably. And when the action gets going, it's rip roaring! By the mid to final chapters, I was swept along by the tale; by the finish, and then the promotional first chapter of the forthcoming second installment of Tommy's story, the author had clearly hit his stride. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books. I think this series would be especially attractive to younger boys, particularly those quite like Tommy Black himself; bookish, romantic, who are still young enough to seek magic in the world, and who dream of ways in which they could also feel heroic. Tommy Black is a role model of which I believe any parent would approve.
Ok, with that out of the way, my unbiased review. Firstly, I don't read too many YA books. I don't really have a lot of patience for how repetitive and simplistic they can be. I also don't love fantasy as a genre; as soon as I see a made-up name, I'm ready to quit. And this book does dip its toe into those waters, I'm not gonna lie. HOWEVER, Jake Kerr doesn't talk down to his reader. If the story takes a little time, or some points are reiterated a few times, it's easily understood to be the product of some pretty major world building going on to set the stage for what will be a trilogy. Like most first books of a series, Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is doing a lot of heavy lifting for the stories to follow, and it does so pretty respectably. And when the action gets going, it's rip roaring! By the mid to final chapters, I was swept along by the tale; by the finish, and then the promotional first chapter of the forthcoming second installment of Tommy's story, the author had clearly hit his stride. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books. I think this series would be especially attractive to younger boys, particularly those quite like Tommy Black himself; bookish, romantic, who are still young enough to seek magic in the world, and who dream of ways in which they could also feel heroic. Tommy Black is a role model of which I believe any parent would approve.
July 13, 2016
In a Nutshell | A promising series.
Without doubt it was the cover of this book that grabbed me (it's awesome). Add the promise of a new hero on his first adventure and I was hooked.
Tommy's life is changing and this tale is the start his journey to find answers to a hidden past. It's one of those stories where there is a lot of doubt as to what's real and what's illusion. It's a challenge for the reader to know who to trust.
The Staff of Light is a fun adventure-filled start to a series that I'm sure its target readers will devour.
Drop by www.swlothian.com for more reviews.
Without doubt it was the cover of this book that grabbed me (it's awesome). Add the promise of a new hero on his first adventure and I was hooked.
Tommy's life is changing and this tale is the start his journey to find answers to a hidden past. It's one of those stories where there is a lot of doubt as to what's real and what's illusion. It's a challenge for the reader to know who to trust.
The Staff of Light is a fun adventure-filled start to a series that I'm sure its target readers will devour.
Drop by www.swlothian.com for more reviews.
December 25, 2017
Tommy didn't realize there was anything special about his grandfather until the day they're swarmed by shadows in a back alley. In the midst of a magical battle, Tommy inherits his grandfather's staff, becoming the next Archmage.
Djinn and ifrit. Rivers and rivals. Trains and waystations. Shadows and streetlights. One thing that sets this story apart is its historical setting (there's talk of war in Europe, Hitler, etc.), with its accompanying social expectations (eg. girls can't become mages). Tommy's clarity and compassion are a welcome contrast to the confusion he faces ... since everyone seems to have a different plan for the staff he carries.
Looking forward to the next installment!
Djinn and ifrit. Rivers and rivals. Trains and waystations. Shadows and streetlights. One thing that sets this story apart is its historical setting (there's talk of war in Europe, Hitler, etc.), with its accompanying social expectations (eg. girls can't become mages). Tommy's clarity and compassion are a welcome contrast to the confusion he faces ... since everyone seems to have a different plan for the staff he carries.
Looking forward to the next installment!
August 23, 2017
Tommy's grandfather is an Archmage and has the staff of light. Choas erupts and he gives the staff to Tommy. Problem is Tommy didn't even know anything about this world like five minutes before this so he has to catch up as he runs.
The real chemistry of this story is between Tommy and Naomi. There should have been even more interaction. Their sparing conversations were so much fun.
Tommy's power with the staff, and his understanding of beings at their core really makes him stand out. He us the kid hero we all want to be.
I think this book would make a great movie or series. I'd love to see the madrid destroy the train.
The real chemistry of this story is between Tommy and Naomi. There should have been even more interaction. Their sparing conversations were so much fun.
Tommy's power with the staff, and his understanding of beings at their core really makes him stand out. He us the kid hero we all want to be.
I think this book would make a great movie or series. I'd love to see the madrid destroy the train.
June 4, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the conflict between magic and technology. Tommy is a good character who tries to do the right thing. Even if it backfires sometimes. I hope he is able to create a home for the shadow creatures. Rating six out of 10.
October 10, 2017
Very interesting story. Liked the characters, and the way they Are presented. Its a new twist for ww1-2. Dantcwait to see if Hitler is a magician.
January 4, 2015
My first #NextYACraze read for 2015, was Tommy Black and the Staff of Light, by Jake Kerr. Kerr, a music industry journalist, is also a Nebula Award nominated writer and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards.
The book is a dense 400 pages. Don't let that scare reluctant readers. The font is big, and the line spacing set at perhaps 1.5 inches. It reads easy, and fast. I would also like to point out the cover illustration is wonderful, and catchy, and relevant. Now, the back cover synopsis of the story reads:
For fourteen-year-old Tommy Black, nothing is worse than being raised by an overprotective grandfather in the city that never sleeps. That is until his grandfather is captured by magical creatures and Tommy has to save him with his family's magical staff.
That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light?
Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.
Not bad, right? The book is set in the 1930's. Once all-powerful magic is becoming less necessary thanks to strides in technology. Tommy's grandfather walks with a cane. It is no ordinary cane. In fact, it is a magical staff that his family has been in possession for generations. It is a true object of magical power, and it is desired by many other ... interested parties.
In New York, Tommy and his grandfather are attacked. The grandfather is taken to Persia, while Tommy just barely escapes with the staff. The things that have Tommy's grandfather want the staff in exchange for his return. Unfortunately, there are other people who want the staff for the power it possesses.
The suspenseful journey is just getting started as Mister Ali guides Tommy along a coming-of-age story that is full of creative mystical creatures and a few characters I hope to see together in future installments in the Tommy Black saga.
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is an easy read. Kerr's writing is smooth and simple, without it sounding trite or condescending. He as a skill for the craft. He also keeps the chapters taut. I basically read the book in a few sitting. Knocking off fifty to a hundred pages at a time.
The only downfall to the book is the first two hundred pages. That sounds very harsh. I do not mean it harshly. Just, when you compare the first half against the second half --there is a major difference in storytelling.
One character, Mister Ali, assists Tommy on the magical journey (magic river, enslaved trains, illusion encased compounds). His job is almost like a teacher, to help Tommy understand his new role of Archmage (keeper of the staff). I lost count of how many times he told Tommy that he had answers and important information, but in the next sentence stated that there was no time to talk, or that they could discuss everything later . . . Their journey together makes up the first few hundred pages, and while there is a lot going on, and it is FAR FROM BORING, I was not a fan of Ali. The second half of the book is when the story / action really overwhelms the reader. More developed and intriguing characters are added to the soup. There is an intensity to Naomi, and one of the evil villains, that gives the story genuine flavor, and urgency.
Jake Kerr's book is a winner. I cannot wait until the release of the second in the series. I feel like I should have read the first book in bed, under the covers, with a flashlight. I am most definitely a Tommy Black fan! And I feel fortunate to kick off my search for the #NextYACraze with such a strong, and well written novel!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Damn the Dead and Blood River
http://www.philliptomasso.com/
The book is a dense 400 pages. Don't let that scare reluctant readers. The font is big, and the line spacing set at perhaps 1.5 inches. It reads easy, and fast. I would also like to point out the cover illustration is wonderful, and catchy, and relevant. Now, the back cover synopsis of the story reads:
For fourteen-year-old Tommy Black, nothing is worse than being raised by an overprotective grandfather in the city that never sleeps. That is until his grandfather is captured by magical creatures and Tommy has to save him with his family's magical staff.
That wouldn't be so bad, but the only magic he can do with the staff is weak--making light. What the heck can you do with light?
Tommy finds out as he fights golems, shadow creatures, and djinn in a journey that features a magical river, an enchanted train, and an illusionary fortress. But the worst part of all? Tommy has to save his grandfather with the help of Naomi, a girl whose talent with magic is only rivaled by her ability to hurl insults.
Not bad, right? The book is set in the 1930's. Once all-powerful magic is becoming less necessary thanks to strides in technology. Tommy's grandfather walks with a cane. It is no ordinary cane. In fact, it is a magical staff that his family has been in possession for generations. It is a true object of magical power, and it is desired by many other ... interested parties.
In New York, Tommy and his grandfather are attacked. The grandfather is taken to Persia, while Tommy just barely escapes with the staff. The things that have Tommy's grandfather want the staff in exchange for his return. Unfortunately, there are other people who want the staff for the power it possesses.
The suspenseful journey is just getting started as Mister Ali guides Tommy along a coming-of-age story that is full of creative mystical creatures and a few characters I hope to see together in future installments in the Tommy Black saga.
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light is an easy read. Kerr's writing is smooth and simple, without it sounding trite or condescending. He as a skill for the craft. He also keeps the chapters taut. I basically read the book in a few sitting. Knocking off fifty to a hundred pages at a time.
The only downfall to the book is the first two hundred pages. That sounds very harsh. I do not mean it harshly. Just, when you compare the first half against the second half --there is a major difference in storytelling.
One character, Mister Ali, assists Tommy on the magical journey (magic river, enslaved trains, illusion encased compounds). His job is almost like a teacher, to help Tommy understand his new role of Archmage (keeper of the staff). I lost count of how many times he told Tommy that he had answers and important information, but in the next sentence stated that there was no time to talk, or that they could discuss everything later . . . Their journey together makes up the first few hundred pages, and while there is a lot going on, and it is FAR FROM BORING, I was not a fan of Ali. The second half of the book is when the story / action really overwhelms the reader. More developed and intriguing characters are added to the soup. There is an intensity to Naomi, and one of the evil villains, that gives the story genuine flavor, and urgency.
Jake Kerr's book is a winner. I cannot wait until the release of the second in the series. I feel like I should have read the first book in bed, under the covers, with a flashlight. I am most definitely a Tommy Black fan! And I feel fortunate to kick off my search for the #NextYACraze with such a strong, and well written novel!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Damn the Dead and Blood River
http://www.philliptomasso.com/
December 27, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars, but closer to 4. Tommy Black is a great novel for fans of series like Henry Neff’s Tapestry series (The Hound of Rowan) and Jenny Nimmo’s The Complete Charlie Bone Series. Granted it’s no where near their level of writing, but the author has some great promise. Tommy Black has elements of the young protagonist who is destined for greatness but hasn’t yet been trained in his talent. As usual the conflict appears before his training can commence so he has to learn as he goes along, a real trial by fire.
I’m always curious to see how authors portray certain magical abilities and superpowers and I always appreciate it when they really think through the full functionalities of such a talent. For example when you look at Marvel’s Quicksilver, you may think, “Okay, he has superspeed, so what?” But, superspeed means he can also cause time to slow for others, explosions based on massive vibrations among other wonders. So in essence, the speed aspect of his talent is just the lens, but he can manipulate speed to fit his needs or whims. I say all of that to illustrate how Jake Kerr, much like Nimmo did with Charlie Bone’s talent for speaking to pictures, has extended his protagonist's abilities by giving him a seemingly useless talent, and then expanding it to its full capabilities. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’d be curious to see how far Kerr takes Tommy’s ability to wield light with the staff.
One of my qualms for the book was in the character development for Tommy and Naomi. While I immensely liked both of them, I felt that they were very immature for fourteen year olds. I’ve taught kids from 6-10th grade and they seemed more like eleven or twelve based on how they are portrayed in the book, Tommy’s inner-dialogue and the choices he makes. I get the author wanting to stick to the 1930’s and the fact they were both raised in seclusion with only one major adult figure, but they both seemed just a tad bit childish for me. On the other hand, they were both quite talented and made a good team. I like how they seemed to compliment one another.
In future stories, I’d like to see Kerr use more age appropriate development for his character major and minor arcs, this way I can believe in the people he’s created a bit more. I’d also like to see some hidden mages and other types of magic not revealed to us just yet, kind of like Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles, when we see that Carter and Sadie are just he beginning of a new era of magicians. Just a thought, but the story was still fun-filled and action-packed!
3.5 stars, but closer to 4. Tommy Black is a great novel for fans of series like Henry Neff’s Tapestry series (The Hound of Rowan) and Jenny Nimmo’s The Complete Charlie Bone Series. Granted it’s no where near their level of writing, but the author has some great promise. Tommy Black has elements of the young protagonist who is destined for greatness but hasn’t yet been trained in his talent. As usual the conflict appears before his training can commence so he has to learn as he goes along, a real trial by fire.
I’m always curious to see how authors portray certain magical abilities and superpowers and I always appreciate it when they really think through the full functionalities of such a talent. For example when you look at Marvel’s Quicksilver, you may think, “Okay, he has superspeed, so what?” But, superspeed means he can also cause time to slow for others, explosions based on massive vibrations among other wonders. So in essence, the speed aspect of his talent is just the lens, but he can manipulate speed to fit his needs or whims. I say all of that to illustrate how Jake Kerr, much like Nimmo did with Charlie Bone’s talent for speaking to pictures, has extended his protagonist's abilities by giving him a seemingly useless talent, and then expanding it to its full capabilities. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’d be curious to see how far Kerr takes Tommy’s ability to wield light with the staff.
One of my qualms for the book was in the character development for Tommy and Naomi. While I immensely liked both of them, I felt that they were very immature for fourteen year olds. I’ve taught kids from 6-10th grade and they seemed more like eleven or twelve based on how they are portrayed in the book, Tommy’s inner-dialogue and the choices he makes. I get the author wanting to stick to the 1930’s and the fact they were both raised in seclusion with only one major adult figure, but they both seemed just a tad bit childish for me. On the other hand, they were both quite talented and made a good team. I like how they seemed to compliment one another.
In future stories, I’d like to see Kerr use more age appropriate development for his character major and minor arcs, this way I can believe in the people he’s created a bit more. I’d also like to see some hidden mages and other types of magic not revealed to us just yet, kind of like Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles, when we see that Carter and Sadie are just he beginning of a new era of magicians. Just a thought, but the story was still fun-filled and action-packed!
April 5, 2015
Synopsis: 14-year-old Tommy Black was living a good life, until he and his guardian (his kind, but boring, grandfather) are attacked by shadows. Apparently his grandfather is a powerful magician that holds a powerful magic staff (who knew?). Whoever has held the staff is called an Archmage, and it is passed on through Tommy’s family. Tommy will be the next Archmage. All of this is quite a surprise to Tommy. Things get even more complicated when Tommy finds out that the magic is dying, and the Shadows (the evil monsters) want the Staff and they are willing to do anything to get it. Now Tommy isn’t sure if his grandfather is dead or alive and Tommy must join forces with a young granddaughter of a powerful Waymaster (a magician who commands a Waystation (which is a magical train station)). It helps that the young girl is an immensely powerful sorceress. It doesn’t help that she is a cynic. But will that be enough to stop the Shadows and find Tommy’s grandfather? And did I mention that Tommy has NO idea how to use the staff? All he can do is make light! Things are about to get very interesting.
What I Thought: I read a lot and I read a lot of magic stories. It is very cool when I come across something very different. This is an amazing book. I was really blown away by the story. Mr. Kerr has created a unique world of magic that can take place anywhere on Earth. It wasn’t until about half-way through the book that I realized that the book takes place right before World War II (one conversation is between 2 experienced magicians wondering if Hitler is some magician of the voice, or just a guy good at speaking (because he rallied so many people)) . Then I had an AH HA! moment. It isn’t that the setting isn’t described well – Mr. Kerr’s writing is top-notch (it’s just that all of the details clicked. Like I realized that the “theater” mentioned was an acting theater, not a movie theater.). The plot line is solid and the story totally entertaining. Tommy is a great character, and while the protagonist is 14, the book could easily be early Young Adult or late Middle Grade because of the length and reading level of the book. It’s the kind of story you can really get lost in. Tommy has confidence and knowledge that he doesn’t know he has. You cheer him on throughout the book. There is no graphic violence in the book (people get attacked by magical creatures, a person dies, people get shot at, etc., but none of it is gory or graphic).
This book’s recipe:
a good-sized handful of magic,
2 boatloads of adventure and excitement,
1 cup of monsters, finely minced,
& 1 dash of history,
I can’t wait for Book 2! – Could you tell I REALLY liked this one? ;)
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
What I Thought: I read a lot and I read a lot of magic stories. It is very cool when I come across something very different. This is an amazing book. I was really blown away by the story. Mr. Kerr has created a unique world of magic that can take place anywhere on Earth. It wasn’t until about half-way through the book that I realized that the book takes place right before World War II (one conversation is between 2 experienced magicians wondering if Hitler is some magician of the voice, or just a guy good at speaking (because he rallied so many people)) . Then I had an AH HA! moment. It isn’t that the setting isn’t described well – Mr. Kerr’s writing is top-notch (it’s just that all of the details clicked. Like I realized that the “theater” mentioned was an acting theater, not a movie theater.). The plot line is solid and the story totally entertaining. Tommy is a great character, and while the protagonist is 14, the book could easily be early Young Adult or late Middle Grade because of the length and reading level of the book. It’s the kind of story you can really get lost in. Tommy has confidence and knowledge that he doesn’t know he has. You cheer him on throughout the book. There is no graphic violence in the book (people get attacked by magical creatures, a person dies, people get shot at, etc., but none of it is gory or graphic).
This book’s recipe:
a good-sized handful of magic,
2 boatloads of adventure and excitement,
1 cup of monsters, finely minced,
& 1 dash of history,
I can’t wait for Book 2! – Could you tell I REALLY liked this one? ;)
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 3, 2016
Tommy Black and the Staff of Light doesn't do anything terribly wrong. It also doesn't do anything exceptional. It just...is.
Tommy Black is about a boy named...well, Tommy Black. This boy hates and yet reveres his grandfather, a crotchety old man known for tapping the ground with his cane. But Tommy's world is rocked when they're confronted by shadow monsters in an alley. It turns out Grandpa is actually a powerful archmage and his cane a magical artifact passed through his family. One that Tommy is forced to inherit so that he's spared the shadow's wrath. Now he's on the run, unsure of his grandfather's fate and unable to use the staff--except to emit useless light.
The premise is perfectly fine and the Persian theming is quite charming. But the execution isn't as compelling. I try to keep in mind that I'm not the intended audience of this book, but it's kind of...flighty. It seems written with a fast pace in mind above all else, so it doesn't stop to breathe and characterize itself much.
Tommy spends a good portion of the book on the run and is never left time to consider his situations at anything but face value. But even in the rare instances the book slows down, it doesn't devote much time and attention to detail. Naomi has her world rocked hard enough to begin a book-long character arc, but we only see the fallout in one scene before she's back to her usual cocky self. A betrayal is assumed to be malicious and only a brief conversation with an unrelated party suggests it might not be (before never coming up again).
Tommy is given a detail, no matter how ambiguous, and most of the time that first answer is the right one. Why? Because NEXT SCENE. It ends up working, in a bizarre way, because you're never given the time to dwell on these things until it's over. It's always moving forward, always onto something new. And it keeps your attention, in spite of its stumbles. It's an action-packed book.
When Tommy Black finally had nothing new to say, it ended abruptly without fanfare. And my reaction was: "Well, all right." I wasn't necessarily satisfied, but I wasn't angry either.
I just...was.
Tommy Black is about a boy named...well, Tommy Black. This boy hates and yet reveres his grandfather, a crotchety old man known for tapping the ground with his cane. But Tommy's world is rocked when they're confronted by shadow monsters in an alley. It turns out Grandpa is actually a powerful archmage and his cane a magical artifact passed through his family. One that Tommy is forced to inherit so that he's spared the shadow's wrath. Now he's on the run, unsure of his grandfather's fate and unable to use the staff--except to emit useless light.
The premise is perfectly fine and the Persian theming is quite charming. But the execution isn't as compelling. I try to keep in mind that I'm not the intended audience of this book, but it's kind of...flighty. It seems written with a fast pace in mind above all else, so it doesn't stop to breathe and characterize itself much.
Tommy spends a good portion of the book on the run and is never left time to consider his situations at anything but face value. But even in the rare instances the book slows down, it doesn't devote much time and attention to detail. Naomi has her world rocked hard enough to begin a book-long character arc, but we only see the fallout in one scene before she's back to her usual cocky self. A betrayal is assumed to be malicious and only a brief conversation with an unrelated party suggests it might not be (before never coming up again).
Tommy is given a detail, no matter how ambiguous, and most of the time that first answer is the right one. Why? Because NEXT SCENE. It ends up working, in a bizarre way, because you're never given the time to dwell on these things until it's over. It's always moving forward, always onto something new. And it keeps your attention, in spite of its stumbles. It's an action-packed book.
When Tommy Black finally had nothing new to say, it ended abruptly without fanfare. And my reaction was: "Well, all right." I wasn't necessarily satisfied, but I wasn't angry either.
I just...was.
November 19, 2014
I received this book via Storey Cartel for my review.
I really enjoyed this story! I would have devoured this book in far less time if I had more opportunities to just "read". Due to circumstances beyond my control, with stolen moments such as reading a few pages when I should've been sleeping, I've completed the book. I adore the relationships between father/son grandfather/grandson and so on. I loved the world and it's creatures. The fact that an instrument of magic is passed down through generations is awesome and that it manifests itself differently with each archmage. The book is fast paced and action begins nearly at the opening page and doesn't slow down. There are many choices to be made, to do right or wrong by what you think or by what is expected. Choices that may cause chaos can also bring balance, so deciding correctly is a soul searching dilemma. Learning to join forces, likeable characters, searching a path that is the best for all, honoring promises, action, magic, relationships, dishonorable choices, making right choices but using wrong methods, loss of a parent/s and a train I would LOVE to ride. This book has a lot going for it and I look forward to reading the next one. There is no cliff hanger here, however, some might feel a bit cheated... as for me I just didn't want the tale to end. A very fun read!
I really enjoyed this story! I would have devoured this book in far less time if I had more opportunities to just "read". Due to circumstances beyond my control, with stolen moments such as reading a few pages when I should've been sleeping, I've completed the book. I adore the relationships between father/son grandfather/grandson and so on. I loved the world and it's creatures. The fact that an instrument of magic is passed down through generations is awesome and that it manifests itself differently with each archmage. The book is fast paced and action begins nearly at the opening page and doesn't slow down. There are many choices to be made, to do right or wrong by what you think or by what is expected. Choices that may cause chaos can also bring balance, so deciding correctly is a soul searching dilemma. Learning to join forces, likeable characters, searching a path that is the best for all, honoring promises, action, magic, relationships, dishonorable choices, making right choices but using wrong methods, loss of a parent/s and a train I would LOVE to ride. This book has a lot going for it and I look forward to reading the next one. There is no cliff hanger here, however, some might feel a bit cheated... as for me I just didn't want the tale to end. A very fun read!
December 7, 2014
My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 Unicorns - I really liked it!!!
***Received a copy of the ebook for an honest review via StoryCartel
The cover is definitely relevant to the story though I can’t say that anything grabs my attention if I saw it on a book shelf, but this is my opinion :)
I really enjoyed this story, and it has a lot of messages mixed in that nicely mixed in and not forced. I think Jake’s writing style makes it easy to picture everything in your mind while you read. It has some great information on Persia as well as some terms that are Persian if you want to learn :)
This book has magic, fighting, magical creatures, and stories within the story. I really like Tommy as a main character. He follows his heart, and I love that he is not cruel. He fights for what is right even when everyone else tells him he can’t or to give up. He is kind to all creatures even when others tell him they are mindless or not worth his time.
This book would be a fabulous addition to my classroom when I can afford to add it :) I think anyone with an adventurous boy who likes action, magic, and reading would enjoy reading this book. I think it is a great fit for kids around 14 years old, but any adult who loves this type of kid action adventure would enjoy it too.
***Received a copy of the ebook for an honest review via StoryCartel
The cover is definitely relevant to the story though I can’t say that anything grabs my attention if I saw it on a book shelf, but this is my opinion :)
I really enjoyed this story, and it has a lot of messages mixed in that nicely mixed in and not forced. I think Jake’s writing style makes it easy to picture everything in your mind while you read. It has some great information on Persia as well as some terms that are Persian if you want to learn :)
This book has magic, fighting, magical creatures, and stories within the story. I really like Tommy as a main character. He follows his heart, and I love that he is not cruel. He fights for what is right even when everyone else tells him he can’t or to give up. He is kind to all creatures even when others tell him they are mindless or not worth his time.
This book would be a fabulous addition to my classroom when I can afford to add it :) I think anyone with an adventurous boy who likes action, magic, and reading would enjoy reading this book. I think it is a great fit for kids around 14 years old, but any adult who loves this type of kid action adventure would enjoy it too.
January 15, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book for more than it being an exciting, adventurous Fantasy story. Tommy ends up meeting a girl, Naomi, who is better at magic than most who have trained for years. However, this being set right before World War II, she comes up against sexist ideas about what girls can and can’t do throughout the story. She’s constantly underestimated by everyone, except Tommy, but they pay the price for their narrow mindedness. I find it refreshing to read a Fantasy story, especially a middle-grade one, in which sexism is faced without being preachy or accepted and allowed to go without remark of any kind.
The book journal I use to write down notes and thoughts about my review books has a rating scale from 1 to 10 for various elements of the story, such as quality of writing, pace, characters, etc. I marked a 9 or 10 for every single element. I highly recommend Tommy Black and the Staff of Light to Fantasy lovers of all ages, especially if you enjoy Urban Fantasy.
The book journal I use to write down notes and thoughts about my review books has a rating scale from 1 to 10 for various elements of the story, such as quality of writing, pace, characters, etc. I marked a 9 or 10 for every single element. I highly recommend Tommy Black and the Staff of Light to Fantasy lovers of all ages, especially if you enjoy Urban Fantasy.
August 29, 2016
That was awful. I bought this book because the first sentence caught my attention. But that's it. The book just dragged and dragged. Each chapter read like its previous. There wasn't any point to the plot, just random scenes that found themselves in one book. It seemed to me that the author thought to himself: "Hmmm. Nothing happened in the past two chapters. So let's add something interesting, let's have the characters attacked by... hmm... oh, I know - a Jinny!"
And the characters. Could there be a worse protagonist than Tommy? He just doesn't do anything, he follows whoever the author plotted him to follow, and that's it. I actually didn't care about him. The relationships - if there were any, I might've said something about them.
I can't believe this book was published.
And the characters. Could there be a worse protagonist than Tommy? He just doesn't do anything, he follows whoever the author plotted him to follow, and that's it. I actually didn't care about him. The relationships - if there were any, I might've said something about them.
I can't believe this book was published.
December 7, 2014
Life for Tommy Black in New York City in 1936 is anything but exciting. Since Tommy's parents died in a subway accident, he lives with his grandfather an overly cautious, overprotective old man. Then on a routine day out to the movies and dinner, Tommy's entire perspective of the world shifts as he and his grandfather are attacked by Shadows. Tommy soon learns that magic exists, his grandfather is a hero and he is heir to a powerful staff--a staff he has no idea how to control. I enjoyed this middle grade fantasy adventure book and will recommend it to my students. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2015
In the end, a great fantasy adventure with a interesting Charlie-Bone-esque character. Taking place right before WWII, Kerr tells an alternate history: magic won the Great War, but technology is rapidly replacing the need for wizardry. Love the concept, but the execution left much to be desired. I really struggled reading the first two-thirds of the book. The story dragged with a lot of expository writing (I soon learned to skim those parts) and even the action parts were made dull with most sentences starting with "I." It picked up a bit more towards the end, and I hope Kerr can carry that momentum into the next book.
February 17, 2020
The Cover Artwork was what really drew me in to this novel, I can’t describe how much I love it! That style is so epic we need more like it in future series! 100 out of 10 🌟
The reason I insisted on making this review 4 stars instead of 5, is simply because I did not care for the main character. I enjoyed the plot, found the setting unique- but was disappointed in Tommy’s personality which carried into his performance.
I found him to be very pessimistic throughout most of the book, never taking any credit for any of the cool actions he did with his Magic. Come on kid, you could at least fake some confidence from surviving intense life threatening scenarios.
The reason I insisted on making this review 4 stars instead of 5, is simply because I did not care for the main character. I enjoyed the plot, found the setting unique- but was disappointed in Tommy’s personality which carried into his performance.
I found him to be very pessimistic throughout most of the book, never taking any credit for any of the cool actions he did with his Magic. Come on kid, you could at least fake some confidence from surviving intense life threatening scenarios.
November 22, 2014
Reading Tommy Black and The Staff of Light once again made me believe - not only in magic but also in the ability of oneself. A must-have book and a perfect Christmas gift! It's excitement brought me to a whole new world one would gladly return to after a long period of time. Meaning, I would gladly reread and relive the book in the future. :) I wish, after the whole series is published, they'll be able to make it into a movie so that they could take the book into a whole new level of excitement.
October 14, 2015
Loved it!
This is a YA story but also a good read for an adult who just enjoys a good story. The hero is a 14 year old boy who suddenly discovers that magic is real and has been part of his family since the Crusades.
The story is fast paced and well written. It includes some new ideas about magic and magical creatures and held my interest. It also shows the importance of kindness, understanding and the error of pre-season judgment.
I highly recommend this story. Now, please excuse me. I need to buy the second book in this series!
This is a YA story but also a good read for an adult who just enjoys a good story. The hero is a 14 year old boy who suddenly discovers that magic is real and has been part of his family since the Crusades.
The story is fast paced and well written. It includes some new ideas about magic and magical creatures and held my interest. It also shows the importance of kindness, understanding and the error of pre-season judgment.
I highly recommend this story. Now, please excuse me. I need to buy the second book in this series!
February 12, 2015
As with Jake Kerr's short stories, this book ends leaving the reader wanting more. Unlike his short stories, I know there is a sequel on the way and I can't wait to read it. The book is thoroughly enjoyable and moves fast. The main character, Tommy, is very realistically portrayed in the story. The only disappointment is that some of the more interesting characters are only in the story for a very short time. I hope we will see some of them return for larger parts in the sequel.
November 25, 2014
Got this book for free in exchange for an honest review from Storycartel.com.
This series has a lot of potential. Initially, I had many comparisons to Harry Potter, but those started to fall away as superficial and the world that the author is creating here is much more intermingled with our own. I found the characters interesting and the storytelling straightforward and fun. I am always hesitant to praise a series before it completes, but this one is worth watching.
This series has a lot of potential. Initially, I had many comparisons to Harry Potter, but those started to fall away as superficial and the world that the author is creating here is much more intermingled with our own. I found the characters interesting and the storytelling straightforward and fun. I am always hesitant to praise a series before it completes, but this one is worth watching.
December 21, 2014
Truly a good book, even for an old reader like me. The book takes you to a place and time where magic was dying and life had to find a middle place for it or lose it forever. Tommy or stoplight as his friend tends to call him is suddenly pushed into a life of magic he didn’t even know existed. Not the illusionist type magic but real magic where lives could be formed and destroyed in a moment.
Very good read recommended for ages 10 and up
Very good read recommended for ages 10 and up
March 20, 2016
Usually, I very much enjoy young adult novels featuring magic
But this one didn't hold my attention. The premise is interesting but the story flow is choppy. There's something missing from the characterization and the characters motivations.
But this one didn't hold my attention. The premise is interesting but the story flow is choppy. There's something missing from the characterization and the characters motivations.
October 12, 2015
Enjoyable read
Enjoyable read. Wish it would have had more details in regards to the the history of the various magical creatures. Book had a number of grammatical errors. Some sentences didn't make any sense. Ending was very abrupt.
Enjoyable read. Wish it would have had more details in regards to the the history of the various magical creatures. Book had a number of grammatical errors. Some sentences didn't make any sense. Ending was very abrupt.
June 13, 2016
Interesting premise, but needs some work. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ride. Review to come.
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