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Overworld Arcanum #1
Conrad Edison and the Living Curse
CURSED FOR LIFE
Conrad Edison is cursed.
His foster parents die in horrible ways around his birthday, and he ends up back at the orphanage where he and the other children are treated like indentured servants. Forced to work the farm and other menial chores, Conrad holds no hope for a better life.
When a man with the ability to mind-control animals inexplicably tries to kill Conrad, the harrowing scrape with death gives him a new perspective on life. He discovers the man had a flying carpet and a talking phone and that the orphanage is only the front for an insidious slave ring.
Determined to elude his cursed fate, Conrad decides to escape the orphanage once and for all. The phone leads him to a magical place called Queens Gate and for the first time in his life, he dares to hope for a better life.
But unless he can free himself from the curse, the terrible secret it guards could destroy everything.
Conrad Edison is cursed.
His foster parents die in horrible ways around his birthday, and he ends up back at the orphanage where he and the other children are treated like indentured servants. Forced to work the farm and other menial chores, Conrad holds no hope for a better life.
When a man with the ability to mind-control animals inexplicably tries to kill Conrad, the harrowing scrape with death gives him a new perspective on life. He discovers the man had a flying carpet and a talking phone and that the orphanage is only the front for an insidious slave ring.
Determined to elude his cursed fate, Conrad decides to escape the orphanage once and for all. The phone leads him to a magical place called Queens Gate and for the first time in his life, he dares to hope for a better life.
But unless he can free himself from the curse, the terrible secret it guards could destroy everything.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2015
112 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
John Corwin
81 books550 followersJohn Corwin is the bestselling author of the Overworld Chronicles.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2015
Good book
With the main characters being so young...the book reminds me of Harry Potter. I have read the entire Overword Chronicles and know to expect the series to pick up the pace. Pillow
With the main characters being so young...the book reminds me of Harry Potter. I have read the entire Overword Chronicles and know to expect the series to pick up the pace. Pillow
September 20, 2017
Interesting
I started off really confused, couldn't figure out how this fit in. So decided to just go with it. Finally, the timeline started to make sense. Those Goodreile(?) People were just awful, and the doctor deranged. I am hoping that the headmaster was right, they don't need more evil running around.
I started off really confused, couldn't figure out how this fit in. So decided to just go with it. Finally, the timeline started to make sense. Those Goodreile(?) People were just awful, and the doctor deranged. I am hoping that the headmaster was right, they don't need more evil running around.
January 31, 2021
Fantastic story!💜
I’m so happy I found this. A spin-off series from the Overworld Chronicles. Great storyline as well as amazing characters. Well written, easy to read and so much fun. Heartbreaking, mysterious & magical adventure. Once again John Corwin doesn’t disappoint. I highly recommend this book/series.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
I’m so happy I found this. A spin-off series from the Overworld Chronicles. Great storyline as well as amazing characters. Well written, easy to read and so much fun. Heartbreaking, mysterious & magical adventure. Once again John Corwin doesn’t disappoint. I highly recommend this book/series.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
March 16, 2017
Cute story
While apparently aimed at the Y/A market, this was still a fun story to read. No doubt comparisons to the Harry Potter books will be made because of the nature of the story. A young orphan discovers his magical lineage, is hot stuff on a flying broomstick, has his gal pal (also from the orphanage where he had lived) and his guy pal (the first boy his age he meets when he arrives in the Overworld), and ends up being a hero. The are some other parallels but that's pretty much where the similarities stop.
While it isn't necessary to read John Corwin's Overworld series first it does provide some background and characters and events from that series are referenced in this book. So you might as well read them too. They are good entertainment.
While apparently aimed at the Y/A market, this was still a fun story to read. No doubt comparisons to the Harry Potter books will be made because of the nature of the story. A young orphan discovers his magical lineage, is hot stuff on a flying broomstick, has his gal pal (also from the orphanage where he had lived) and his guy pal (the first boy his age he meets when he arrives in the Overworld), and ends up being a hero. The are some other parallels but that's pretty much where the similarities stop.
While it isn't necessary to read John Corwin's Overworld series first it does provide some background and characters and events from that series are referenced in this book. So you might as well read them too. They are good entertainment.
June 1, 2015
Solid entry into the Harry Potter school of fantasy. The author does a good job of taking bits and pieces of what is expected of a certain type of YA fantasy and fuses them into something a bit different. There is a good deal of death in this book, so I would suggest parents squeamish about their children reading of such things, may want to read the book in advance. I think the book sets up a series that will be interesting, with a big emphasis on how Conrad and his friends are not their parents, though from what is shown in this book, they have an uphill battle with the neighbors.
October 23, 2016
Great story . . . Not Harry Potter at all
This is a great story full of characters you want to invest your time in. I didn't read Harry Potter so I don't get the comparison. This is a successful attempt to expand on the universe that John has created in his other novels. The overworld universe . . . Please keep them coming . . .
This is a great story full of characters you want to invest your time in. I didn't read Harry Potter so I don't get the comparison. This is a successful attempt to expand on the universe that John has created in his other novels. The overworld universe . . . Please keep them coming . . .
April 28, 2016
A well written magical world
If you like Harry potter then you will enjoy this book. The plot was interesting, and moved at a great place. The book was darker than Harry potter, but still fine for a young adult audience. The author really brought the magical world to life
If you like Harry potter then you will enjoy this book. The plot was interesting, and moved at a great place. The book was darker than Harry potter, but still fine for a young adult audience. The author really brought the magical world to life
June 15, 2015
This story is lots of fun and full of adventure. It is not really meant for younger teens or children though the protagonists are pre-teens. Kill 'em all!
May 20, 2016
Really enjoyed this book. Reminded me of Harry Potter. Didn't want to stop reading to go to bed!
November 10, 2016
Ambria is a bossy little bitch!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews