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The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy: Fast-paced modern fantasy with humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure

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When a fiery meteor crashes in Montana, four friends think they’ve just found a cool story to tell. Instead, they stumble into a secret war.

Stanley “Mitzy” Mitz never asked to be a hero. But when he picks up a strange shard from the smoking crater, his life tilts upside down. The artifact thrums with ancient energy, blessing him with supernatural luck that borders on impossible. For his friends, though, the shard is anything but lucky—its side effects are strange, painful, and dangerous. And someone out there wants it badly enough to kill.

From small-town Montana nights to the streets of Paris and mysteries buried in Egyptian history, Mitzy, Gonzo, Vee, and Chrissy are dragged into a globe-spanning chase where every discovery unlocks new powers—and new enemies. The shard is only one piece of a much larger puzzle, and if the wrong people put it together, the consequences could shake the world.

Packed with witty banter, high-stakes suspense, and breakneck twists, The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy launches the Stone of Amun-Ra series—an urban fantasy adventure full of humor, danger, and modern mythmaking. Perfect for fans of The Dresden Files, Percy Jackson, and The Da Vinci Code, this contemporary fantasy will hook both teens and adults who crave fast-paced action with a supernatural edge.

Luck has found Mitzy. But luck always comes with strings attached.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2025

2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read

About the author

Ephie Risho

5 books12 followers
Ephie Risho is the author of two fantasy series that span audiences and styles—from laugh-out-loud contemporary adventures to sweeping epic quests.

His newest project, The Stone of Amun-Ra, blends humor, heart, and high-stakes mystery into a modern fantasy thriller. The first book, The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy, follows Stanley “Mitzy” Mitz and his ragtag friends from Montana who stumble upon a glowing shard that changes their lives forever. The artifact grants Mitzy impossible good luck—but also draws the attention of secret societies, ruthless agents, and powers that trace back to ancient Egypt. What begins as a midnight meteor shower quickly spirals into a globe-spanning chase filled with danger, banter, and unlikely heroism.

Risho is also the co-author—along with his oldest child, Blue—of The Elementalists, a sweeping YA epic that blends classic quest fantasy with contemporary heart. Perfect for readers 8–13 (and family read-alouds), the series follows friends whose bond is tested by goblin wars, ancient magic, and choices that carry real consequences. Expect brisk pacing, big set-pieces, and an undercurrent of hope: courage grows, friendships harden into family, and even impossible odds can be outwitted.

The Elementalists — Book by Book

Phoenix Rising (Book 1)
When fire rains down on her village, twelve-year-old archer Amber discovers a spark within herself—real elemental power she can barely control. Teaming up with bold Basil and big-hearted Theo, she uncovers a plot that threatens the realm far beyond her valley. Between midnight escapes, woodland skirmishes, and a perilous trek into enemy territory, Amber must decide what kind of hero she’ll be: a lone ember that burns out…or the spark that lights a beacon. A propulsive origin story about bravery, belonging, and the first price of power.

Crodor the Ancient (Book 2)
A massive goblin host marches on Arendon—but the goblins are puppets, controlled by wizards who want the kingdom to tear itself apart. The only shot at survival? Freeing Crodor the Ancient, a legendary red dragon bound by a cruel spell. To break the curse, Amber, Basil, Theo, and their friends must outwit treacherous mountain clans, solve an elemental riddle, and face the terrifying question at the heart of the war: can you trust a dragon you’ve been raised to fear? Expect siege battles, dragon flight, and a pact that will change everything.

Secret of the Kraken (Book 3)
With the land war stalled, the trail turns seaward—to myths whispered by sailors and a map no dwarf will admit to drawing. The Elementalists venture into storm-lashed waters, where emperors bargain in half-truths and a colossal Kraken guards what it was sworn to keep: clues to a scepter powerful enough to tip the balance against the wizards. In hidden cities and bioluminescent caverns, loyalties are tested and a heartbreaking choice emerges: to claim power, someone must pay the debt the ocean is owed.

The Twelfth Scepter (Book 4)
Prophecy speaks of twelve scepters—eleven known, one lost—that together can either heal the world…or end it. As the wizards rally behind a ruthless queen and darkness lengthens, the Elementalists race to assemble the final pieces before the last eclipse. Old mentors return, betrayals come due, and each hero must wield their gift at full strength—fire, earth, water, air, plants and animals—no longer as children learning control, but as guardians willing to sacrifice. From sky-bridges across the world to a final confrontation where friendship itself becomes a weapon, the series crescendos to a payoff that’s earned, surprising, and deeply satisfying.

Across both series, Risho writes fantasy with a modern edge—fast-paced, witty, and heartfelt—where ordinary kids and twenty-somethings alike discover they’re capable of extraordinary things. Start with Phoenix Rising or dive into The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy and meet your new favorite found family.

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for The Book and Bubble.
290 reviews25 followers
October 27, 2025
4.5🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5

The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy by Ephie Risho

A meteor crashes in Montana, and Mitzy and his friends stumble upon a glowing shard covered in strange, hieroglyphic-like writing. They are curious about the shard and as each of them pass it around, they realize it holds power. When each of them hold the shard, they find they possess powers. Together, they plan to uncover the mystery of where the shard came from and what it means.

Their journey takes them across the world, from quiet Montana to Paris and then to Chile. They are being chased by a dark secret society that will do anything to get to the shards first. Along the way, they grow closer as friends. They learn to trust one another and even making a new friend in France. These characters are quirky and fun!

This story is filled with action, history, and adventure. I loved the mixture of mystery and friendship. The book is fast paced and filled with adventures, this one’s worth picking up!
Profile Image for Tracey Moore.
131 reviews5 followers
October 28, 2025
The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy is book 1 of the Stone Of Amun- Ra series, this was such an incredible read which is action-packed and fast-paced all the way through.

This follows a story of a meteor that crashes down in Montana which Mitzy and his friends find a part of and finds that it holds a special magical power, from here we follow Mitzy and his friends on an amazing adventure to find out the mysteries and the history of the powerful shard.

The story is filled with fun and lovable characters who form a strong friendship group as they go on their adventures which goes from strength to strength as their trust in each other grows.

I absolutely enjoyed this book and was invested from the first couple of pages. This was such an easy read with an incredible style of writing. I'm looking forward to carrying on the journey with book two.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,630 reviews134 followers
October 23, 2025
This is the first book in a brand new series by this author and I was totally intrigued by the front cover image and title.

Having read the whole of The Elementalists series by Ephie and daughter, Celia last year, I was really excited to jump into this first book in the Stone Of Amun-Ra series.

 

I absolutely got sucked into this from the first few pages.

Being used to the brilliant writing style, I knew this would be an easy read, but we're literally thrown into the action from the start and the excitement and adventure never lets up.

 

I loved all the characters, especially Mitzy. They all seemed authentic and believable as characters and I'm sure that many YA readers should find them relatable and as easy to get behind as I did.

I was rooting for them the whole way and racing through the pages to find out what would happen next for the group.

 

There was obviously some degree of world building here as we come to terms with the magic Mitzy gained from finding the shard - but this never felt too forced nor info-dump.

This storyline flowed well with everything presented as it needed.

 

I got Alex Rider meets Lucky Man vibes whilst reading this - both shows (books) that I've loved watching with the kids over the years - and this had that same pull for me. 

 

I was completely hooked and raced through this in just a couple of sittings - and I'm already feeling a little impatient to get my hands on book 2 to continue this journey!
Profile Image for 2manybooks2littletime.
423 reviews57 followers
October 28, 2025

1. 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 • I can honestly say that this is the first time that I started a book and was in the same city as the characters in the book. As I sat in my hotel room in Missoula, MT, I felt a little bit closer to this story! And the story brings us to all corners of the world as the characters search for their answers.

2. 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 • I hope you are ready for a crusade into the depths of a hidden world that holds answers that our characters so desperately need. They face many dangers along the way and I was urging them to find their strengths when given the chance.

3. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 • The idea of each person having a special trait is, to me, a metaphor to real life. Every person does have something special within them that they were meant to be…not everyone finds that, though. I love how each of our characters is able to discover their ‘trait’ while on their adventures.

4. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 • The injection of humor into the most suspenseful parts of the adventure gives the story a more real-life feel. It is apparent how surreal all of it is to the group of friends who were thrust into it.

5. 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 • And the adventure continues! As the end of the story neared, it was apparent that more was coming. We only have two shards, so the other four need to be discovered! I can’t wait to see what awaits Mitzy and his friends!
Profile Image for Penny.
3,082 reviews81 followers
September 24, 2025
I can’t seem to find a book in exactly the genre I want to read, but in my quest for such a book, I came across this one. Sure, I said to myself, “Why not?” I quite enjoyed this series. It’s filled with tons of non-stop action, an interesting premise, and some quirky characters. Mitzy, our main character, and his friends witness a meteor crash, and their lives are turned completely upside down. From those hours to the end, we are lead on wild ride from one continent to another learning bit by bit what’s going on. While this had a YA/NA feel to it and not being a favorite of mine, I did enjoy this from the beginning to the end. It’s well-written, fun, and quite enjoyable. I will definitely be reading the next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Profile Image for Cathryn Melani (cat.inspired).
488 reviews24 followers
October 22, 2025
Stanley “Mitzy” Mitz never asked to be a hero. But when he picks up a strange shard from the smoking crater, his life tilts upside down.

MY THOUHTS -
This was such a fast paced, funny, action packed read.
I fell into this from the first few pages. Mitzy and several of the other characters are just so fun and quirky and easy to connect with.

The world building all becomes part of the story so easily, that you just get to focus on the action and twists. And there are lots of those for sure.

I absolutely loved the paranormal / sci fi element of the story and how the characters had that instant likeable factor.

This is a fantastic start to a new series. One I will definitely be following.

Highly recommend to teens and adults alike.

Thanks to Love Book Tours for my gifted book. All thoughts are my own
Profile Image for Fatguyreading.
767 reviews33 followers
October 21, 2025
The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy is book 1 in the Stone of Amun-Ra series, in which we follow our intrepid main character Stanley "Mitzy" Mitz and his three friends, who discover a meteor crash near their small Montana town. But things get complicated when a shard that Mitzy picks up from the crater turns out to have the power to grant him unbelievable luck. But someone's heard about the shard and is out to get it, and will stop at nothing to do so.

Want to know more? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.

So all in all, a wonderfully twisty story with surprises around every corner. There's some great humour to be found here and gumption by the bucket load, with a fast paced storyline and believable characters that feel real.

4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
115 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2025
A fast paced, full of action story. All of the main characters are introduced straight away and you are thrown into the drama and mystery. There is no messing around with this book. at first you think it is going down the sci fi, alien route but it becomes clear pretty fast that although there is a supernatural element, it is not as alien as you think. There are so many different films you could compare this too... think The Mummy, Men in Black, National treasure and Divinci Code all one. I got really hooked and cannot wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Rose Regan.
12 reviews
October 24, 2025
✨ARC Review✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌶️

This was a nice change of pace from my usual reading. It felt like a book I would have speed-read through as a kid and devoured any and all lore around it while sending fan letters to the author.

If you love magic and watching people struggle to get to terms with it then this is the one for you 💜

Definitely one I'll come back to in the future and I can't wait for book 2!!
Profile Image for Hollie Payne.
154 reviews4 followers
October 21, 2025
This is such a different genre to what i would normally read, but im glad I took the plunge with this book!
I loved how the storyline started and how fast paced everything was (im not the biggest fan of slow beginnings!)
Mitzy and his friends were such enjoyable charcters to read along with, and the plot is so unique to anything I've read before.

This is book 1 in the Stone of Amun-Ra series, and i already can't wait for the next one
340 reviews12 followers
October 20, 2025
The action in this story began almost straight away, and then it did not let up! I accidentally raced through over only two evenings.

The characters are so likeable, especially Mitzy. His whole life gets thrown upside down when he finds a shard that brings him Luck. His sarcasm and wit during the situation were so funny and enjoyable.

I think it was a great start to a series. I feel interested and invested in the storyline. There's plenty going on with twists, too, that kept my attention, wanting to know what would come next.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,354 reviews136 followers
October 31, 2025
The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy by Ephie Risho.
Stone of Amun-Ra book 1.
This was a really good read. I loved the cover of this book. I signed up straight away. I got into the story straight away. I did love all the characters. Mitzy was my favourite though. I loved the writing style and the story. I loved how the story flowed. The world-building. Everything. I read this in a few days. I couldn't put it on. I am looking forward to the next book. I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Tami Wylie.
680 reviews35 followers
October 30, 2025
I love it when a book starts full pelt with the action and never lets up, which is exactly what this one does. Along with all of the action, there is danger and humour mixed in. It was hard to put this one down . I found Mitzi to be a perfect main character and his friends were all great as well. The writing is smooth and flows along perfectly. The story is brought to life with some brilliant world building by the author. This was a fast paced, exciting read.
7 reviews
October 29, 2025
Picture this: a meteor crashes near your hometown and leaves behind an oddly glowing stone. What do you do? Obviously, you pass it around your friend group like it’s show and tell. I mean, there couldn’t possibly be any consequences to this, could there?

This book is honestly right down my alley (meaning I was already interested when I saw the series title The Stone of Amun-Ra, you got my attention Risho) The action starts from the get-go. It is jam-packed with quirky characters, wild cross-continental travel, and plenty of humour. Just the right amount of chaos, a little in the vein of the Percy Jackson books.   

 

It pulls you in and spits you out ready for book two.

 

Not going to lie, I really thought it was going to be aliens. It’s not aliens. I personally think it’s better than Alines. The way Risho handles the magic, especially the “good luck” was very interesting. I was wondering, though, whilst reading, if it was going to be like the rabbit's foot in Supernatural, at first. Whether it is or isn’t, you’re going to have to read the book and find out yourself.

 

Overall, I think the book was well written; it handles its world-building rather well, which can often be a downfall for the first book in a series. And yes, this is more skewed to a YA audience, but I think if you like a good action adventure, you can pick this up and have a good time. I sure did. 

This is one of those books I want to talk about, but don’t want to spoil anything. So go read it.

 

Definitely one of my top reads of the year

Profile Image for Andrea Hulme.
62 reviews15 followers
October 31, 2025
The Unbearable Luck of Being Mitzy is book 1 of the Stone Of Amun- Ra series, this was a fast paced and action-packed adventure from the minute you opened the book. I really like it when you immediately get immersed into a story.

This follows a story of a meteor that crashes down in Montana which Mitzy and his friends find a piece of. From there we follow Mitzy and his friends as we go globe trotting around the world and learn that the shard of 'rock' hold special magical powers. We go on one curious adventure after another in the pursuit of answers.

I loved the historical aspects of the story, the origins of the shard. I loved that this was like one gigantic puzzle as the characters and we piece together one mystery after another.

We meet a lot of fantastic characters along the way. With Mitzy and his friends we follow them every step of the way.

This was an enjoyable and fun book to read. A world of fantasy enriched by the fabulous and compelling writing.
Profile Image for Oldbookishwoman.
332 reviews15 followers
October 25, 2025
The story very quickly hits the ground running and doesn't let up. Mitzy is a great MC as are his friends. The unseen enemies really ramp up the peril level which helps to elevate the plot.
This has lots of high adventure, humour and peril. The writing style is easy to read and flows well. It's very descriptive helping the reader to "picture the scene" there is world building and a chance of character growth for this series.
All in all a fun read. Great book for teens and older.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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