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Gifted #1
Gifted
Just what the world needed: another teenage wizard.
The Bishop of Oxford is very, very dead.
Atleast the police think it's the Bishop - it's impossible to be sure, since someone made off with his head.
Fifteen-year-old Frank Sampson is the forensic sorcerer on the case. But he is easily distracted...
Gifted will introduce you to a world of murder, mystery and magic that you've never seen before; a world where dangerous demons can be summoned from hell to solve crimes. But only by those with the talent and courage to control them.
(blurb on back of book)
The Bishop of Oxford is very, very dead.
Atleast the police think it's the Bishop - it's impossible to be sure, since someone made off with his head.
Fifteen-year-old Frank Sampson is the forensic sorcerer on the case. But he is easily distracted...
Gifted will introduce you to a world of murder, mystery and magic that you've never seen before; a world where dangerous demons can be summoned from hell to solve crimes. But only by those with the talent and courage to control them.
(blurb on back of book)
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Donald Hounam
9 books13 followersDonald Hounam grew up just outside Oxford. He toyed with Medieval history at St Andrews University, and wrote a PhD thesis on apocalyptic beliefs in the early Crusades.
He threw paint around at the Ruskin School of Drawing in Oxford, then found himself in Dublin where he threw more paint around and reviewed films until his flatmate set the building alight one Christmas, whereupon he scuttled back to England and started making up stories...
He threw paint around at the Ruskin School of Drawing in Oxford, then found himself in Dublin where he threw more paint around and reviewed films until his flatmate set the building alight one Christmas, whereupon he scuttled back to England and started making up stories...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 17, 2017
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Frank is a forensic sorcerer with powerful gifts. He's pulled into a murder investigation when a bishop gets beheaded. If Frank wants to solve the mystery behind the murder, he's going to have to do some very dangerous magic.
When I discovered this novel on NetGalley, I thought it sounded so promising - just the kind of urban fantasy I needed in my life. In the end, though, I have it admit, it was quite underwhelming in comparison to what I was hoping for. While I liked being thrown right into the world of the characters, and some of the background, I had a difficult time connecting to the characters. I didn't really care very much about anyone at all let alone our leading fifteen year old. Partly that may be because the story jumps around so much, possibly in response to the type of kid Frank actually is.
Overall, this novel has several good things going for it, but it didn't live up to my expectations. There's so much further the novel could go and so much more that the author could explore. You may be interested in trying A Dangerous Magic by Donald Hounam if you like Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chonicles.
Frank is a forensic sorcerer with powerful gifts. He's pulled into a murder investigation when a bishop gets beheaded. If Frank wants to solve the mystery behind the murder, he's going to have to do some very dangerous magic.
When I discovered this novel on NetGalley, I thought it sounded so promising - just the kind of urban fantasy I needed in my life. In the end, though, I have it admit, it was quite underwhelming in comparison to what I was hoping for. While I liked being thrown right into the world of the characters, and some of the background, I had a difficult time connecting to the characters. I didn't really care very much about anyone at all let alone our leading fifteen year old. Partly that may be because the story jumps around so much, possibly in response to the type of kid Frank actually is.
Overall, this novel has several good things going for it, but it didn't live up to my expectations. There's so much further the novel could go and so much more that the author could explore. You may be interested in trying A Dangerous Magic by Donald Hounam if you like Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter Chonicles.
Did Not Finish
May 30, 2017DNF at 20%
I’m sorry, I just can’t get into this book. I’m just not clicking with it. Here’s why:
1. The writing style and storytelling aren’t engaging. There are too many parts that don't move the story forward. Maybe it's the narrative voice I don't like. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure.
2. The characters feel flat. I don’t feel connected to them or even care about them.
3. Too many slaughtered animals.
4. The magical rules are confusing and don’t make a lot of sense. For example, there were about 22 pig heads stored in a cold basement. The pig heads were used to determine the time of death of murders that occur in their city and it mattered which pig head is used. I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous.
I read two other books from Lerner Publishing Group and absolutely loved them. The Notations of Cooper Cameron is a children’s historical fiction novel and Paper Butterflies is YA contemporary.
I’m sorry, I just can’t get into this book. I’m just not clicking with it. Here’s why:
1. The writing style and storytelling aren’t engaging. There are too many parts that don't move the story forward. Maybe it's the narrative voice I don't like. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure.
2. The characters feel flat. I don’t feel connected to them or even care about them.
3. Too many slaughtered animals.
4. The magical rules are confusing and don’t make a lot of sense. For example, there were about 22 pig heads stored in a cold basement. The pig heads were used to determine the time of death of murders that occur in their city and it mattered which pig head is used. I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous.
I read two other books from Lerner Publishing Group and absolutely loved them. The Notations of Cooper Cameron is a children’s historical fiction novel and Paper Butterflies is YA contemporary.
September 24, 2026
The world-building in this exciting novel is absolutely fantastic but requires patience and concentration like the sorcery within. Here, the “gift” of magic is more like a disease, shunned by most and exploited by the powerful. Frank is a relatable protagonist complete with the exasperation puberty often brings. The plot and language are a bit choppy, especially in the beginning but the satisfaction and richness builds if the reader is willing to invest some time. Recommended.
February 6, 2015
(Extended review on blog)
Gifted pulls you in right from the start. A diverse story suitable for lovers of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments and screen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. This book has little elements of everything; mystery, humour, heavy topics, with a dash of sorcery. Hounam has developed this world intricately and thoroughly, introducing the reader to "nekkers" and "tatties" and "Ghosts", to name a few. The confused narrative of the main character, Frank Sampson, is a blessing and a curse. It realistically represents the mind frame of a teenager, making the book relatable to its young adult audience, but often makes it difficult to make sense of settings and plot. I found myself many times having to reread pages because I had no idea where the characters were, or why they were there. However the descriptive scenes are rich and powerful, so you might not understand the significance of the setting, but you can sure imagine it. I wish the author had pulled the reader in a little more slowly, not just introducing us to "tatties" and such without much background information. It was't until halfway through I really knew what a "nekker" was! The main feeling I had when reading this book was confusion; I felt I wasn't really able to keep track of the characters or plot, which is expected when reading a 'who dunnit' but not in this capacity. Another thing that added to my confusion was the timing. When is this book set?! However it is very clear that Hounam is a gifted (pun 100% intended) novelist who has a vivid imagination and his books have potential to swell cults the size of the Mortal Instruments fandom. You want to understand Frank and his motives, Marvo and her thoughts. There is depth to be had in these characters. Gifted is an intense and compelling read with a deliciously unexpected plot twist, and the book is worth reading for the Percy Jackson level of sass in Frank, who kept me laughing page after page.
Gifted pulls you in right from the start. A diverse story suitable for lovers of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments and screen adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. This book has little elements of everything; mystery, humour, heavy topics, with a dash of sorcery. Hounam has developed this world intricately and thoroughly, introducing the reader to "nekkers" and "tatties" and "Ghosts", to name a few. The confused narrative of the main character, Frank Sampson, is a blessing and a curse. It realistically represents the mind frame of a teenager, making the book relatable to its young adult audience, but often makes it difficult to make sense of settings and plot. I found myself many times having to reread pages because I had no idea where the characters were, or why they were there. However the descriptive scenes are rich and powerful, so you might not understand the significance of the setting, but you can sure imagine it. I wish the author had pulled the reader in a little more slowly, not just introducing us to "tatties" and such without much background information. It was't until halfway through I really knew what a "nekker" was! The main feeling I had when reading this book was confusion; I felt I wasn't really able to keep track of the characters or plot, which is expected when reading a 'who dunnit' but not in this capacity. Another thing that added to my confusion was the timing. When is this book set?! However it is very clear that Hounam is a gifted (pun 100% intended) novelist who has a vivid imagination and his books have potential to swell cults the size of the Mortal Instruments fandom. You want to understand Frank and his motives, Marvo and her thoughts. There is depth to be had in these characters. Gifted is an intense and compelling read with a deliciously unexpected plot twist, and the book is worth reading for the Percy Jackson level of sass in Frank, who kept me laughing page after page.
April 26, 2017
Review by Sarah - Year 9
Gifted is about fifteen year old Frank Sampson who is a forensic sorcerer which is a magician who helps the detectives solve crimes. He is helping the police find out what happened to the Bishop of Oxford. However, there are many twists in this tale including the fact that they found the body but not the head. Even though Frank is a sorcerer in his own right he still faces ordinary fifteen year old boy problems; the biggest of which - GIRLS.
There are lots of magical elements like in Harry Potter but the storyline is very different. For instance, in Harry Potter we have the Death Eaters but in Gifted there are lots of demons. However, the romantic theme runs throughout both Harry Potter and Gifted. On the contrary, I don’t think Gifted is very like Harry Potter at all.
Throughout the book we discover lots of about the characters and secrets are revealed. For example, we get the thought that maybe Kazia isn’t who everyone says she is. Also there are beings that we are not told enough about to know what they are exactly.
My favourite part of the book is when Frank and Kazia – a mysterious girl – are running from a seemingly dangerous man with a gun. I liked it because it really gets you on the edge of your seat.
Although I enjoyed that part of the book that does not mean I enjoyed the entire book. Unfortunately, in many parts the storyline becomes, in my opinion, wearisome because they drag on and seem never ending so I got bored in parts as the author goes into too much description but in other sections he doesn’t go into enough detail, there is no consistency.
I didn’t have a favourite character towards the start of the book but by the end my favourite character is Marvo because I think she portrays a regular teenager the most out of the characters so I was disappointed in the way characters developed.
There are several mature scenes and quite a bit of strong language throughout the narrative, making it suitable for the 13+ age range.
Gifted is about fifteen year old Frank Sampson who is a forensic sorcerer which is a magician who helps the detectives solve crimes. He is helping the police find out what happened to the Bishop of Oxford. However, there are many twists in this tale including the fact that they found the body but not the head. Even though Frank is a sorcerer in his own right he still faces ordinary fifteen year old boy problems; the biggest of which - GIRLS.
There are lots of magical elements like in Harry Potter but the storyline is very different. For instance, in Harry Potter we have the Death Eaters but in Gifted there are lots of demons. However, the romantic theme runs throughout both Harry Potter and Gifted. On the contrary, I don’t think Gifted is very like Harry Potter at all.
Throughout the book we discover lots of about the characters and secrets are revealed. For example, we get the thought that maybe Kazia isn’t who everyone says she is. Also there are beings that we are not told enough about to know what they are exactly.
My favourite part of the book is when Frank and Kazia – a mysterious girl – are running from a seemingly dangerous man with a gun. I liked it because it really gets you on the edge of your seat.
Although I enjoyed that part of the book that does not mean I enjoyed the entire book. Unfortunately, in many parts the storyline becomes, in my opinion, wearisome because they drag on and seem never ending so I got bored in parts as the author goes into too much description but in other sections he doesn’t go into enough detail, there is no consistency.
I didn’t have a favourite character towards the start of the book but by the end my favourite character is Marvo because I think she portrays a regular teenager the most out of the characters so I was disappointed in the way characters developed.
There are several mature scenes and quite a bit of strong language throughout the narrative, making it suitable for the 13+ age range.
April 20, 2019
Oh, I so wanted to like this. That cover is so gorgeous and, you know, wizards and stuff.
Alas, it was not to be. Though there were a lot of really cool ideas in this book, my overall feeling on reading it was one of irritation. So much so that when the reveal of the big bad happened, I mostly just felt relieved that it was almost over. Not the emotion I think the author was aiming for.
The irritation stemmed from Frank's narration. He was like a typical teenage boy - meandering thought process, dwelling on irrelevancies, jumping around in his attention and focused on girls. Very good characterisation on Hounam's part, but it made the narrative difficult to follow at times. Things I felt were probably important were skipped over, and there were a few 'if you know what I mean' moments where I felt like shouting at the book 'No! No I don't know what you mean!' Which mostly made me feel like I was missing something, and that hampered how much I enjoyed the story.
There was great stuff in there, though, so it's not all negative. I really like how visceral the sorcery was, with dead cat bits and human body parts used to create the spells, and the demons were pretty gross too. I liked some of the interaction between the characters, and felt there was enough room in the world for further exploration. I'm just not sure I've enjoyed the story in this instalment enough to come back to it, which is a shame.
Alas, it was not to be. Though there were a lot of really cool ideas in this book, my overall feeling on reading it was one of irritation. So much so that when the reveal of the big bad happened, I mostly just felt relieved that it was almost over. Not the emotion I think the author was aiming for.
The irritation stemmed from Frank's narration. He was like a typical teenage boy - meandering thought process, dwelling on irrelevancies, jumping around in his attention and focused on girls. Very good characterisation on Hounam's part, but it made the narrative difficult to follow at times. Things I felt were probably important were skipped over, and there were a few 'if you know what I mean' moments where I felt like shouting at the book 'No! No I don't know what you mean!' Which mostly made me feel like I was missing something, and that hampered how much I enjoyed the story.
There was great stuff in there, though, so it's not all negative. I really like how visceral the sorcery was, with dead cat bits and human body parts used to create the spells, and the demons were pretty gross too. I liked some of the interaction between the characters, and felt there was enough room in the world for further exploration. I'm just not sure I've enjoyed the story in this instalment enough to come back to it, which is a shame.
March 19, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
Gifted is an intriguing novel about fifteen-year-old Frank Sampson, a forensic sorcerer who would like nothing more than to be left alone, but as one of the most promising pupils of the academy he graduated from, he’s often enrolled in work for the police force. This time around, he gets to help solve the murder of the Bishop of Oxford, who seems to be missing his head. Yet from the moment he arrives, Frank wonders if the body even belongs to the Bishop, and he gets a bad feeling about all of it. Especially about working alongside Marvo, his police colleague, who is about his age and has the keen ability to spot things others can’t. In a world where grown ups slowly go blind or completely lose the ability to see by the time they hit thirty, spotting things others can’t, is high in demand.
Frank is Gifted, which means he has the ability to perform magic. As a forensic sorcerer, he can do things like see it the head matches the body, how long the person has been dead, and all kind of things. Magic also doesn’t happen “just like that” – rituals and spells are needed. It’s all rather elaborate, and that’s what I like about it. It’s so completely unlike magic in other books. This magic needs incantations and spells and complex rituals – it’s not like the Harry Potter books where characters just wave a wand. Also, the book has a much darker undertone, with the mention of necromancers, of raising the dead, and of course, the murder waiting to be solved. “Who killed the Bishop and why” is the number one question throughout the book, but meanwhile we’re introduced to this amazing world of magic and witchcraft.
The world building and setting is the main reason why I gave this book five stars. I loved all of it. Seriously. From the spells, the summoning of demons and how that works, to Frank’s work place, to how the whole magic society works, to how outsiders deal with the gifted, everything about it makes sense. The book reminded me a lot of Lockwood & Co, another favorite of mine, but whereas Lockwood & Co deals with ghosts, and practically turned the whole world ghost lore upside down, Gifted does the same but with magic.
The characters are a mixed bag. Frank is spotless – I mean, he has tons and tons of flaws stacked upon even more flaws, but this makes him perfect. So human. So broken. Then we’ve got Marvo, who is flawed too, and who makes a great sidekick for Frank. I wasn’t too fond of Frank’s apparent infatuation for Kazia, the Bishop’s niece. He saw her once and fell head over heels for her – but then again, Frank is fifteen, and falling randomly in love is common for people that age, so I didn’t mind that much.
If you want an original magic system, and an intriguing setting, I would highly recommend this book. One of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read in years.
Gifted is an intriguing novel about fifteen-year-old Frank Sampson, a forensic sorcerer who would like nothing more than to be left alone, but as one of the most promising pupils of the academy he graduated from, he’s often enrolled in work for the police force. This time around, he gets to help solve the murder of the Bishop of Oxford, who seems to be missing his head. Yet from the moment he arrives, Frank wonders if the body even belongs to the Bishop, and he gets a bad feeling about all of it. Especially about working alongside Marvo, his police colleague, who is about his age and has the keen ability to spot things others can’t. In a world where grown ups slowly go blind or completely lose the ability to see by the time they hit thirty, spotting things others can’t, is high in demand.
Frank is Gifted, which means he has the ability to perform magic. As a forensic sorcerer, he can do things like see it the head matches the body, how long the person has been dead, and all kind of things. Magic also doesn’t happen “just like that” – rituals and spells are needed. It’s all rather elaborate, and that’s what I like about it. It’s so completely unlike magic in other books. This magic needs incantations and spells and complex rituals – it’s not like the Harry Potter books where characters just wave a wand. Also, the book has a much darker undertone, with the mention of necromancers, of raising the dead, and of course, the murder waiting to be solved. “Who killed the Bishop and why” is the number one question throughout the book, but meanwhile we’re introduced to this amazing world of magic and witchcraft.
The world building and setting is the main reason why I gave this book five stars. I loved all of it. Seriously. From the spells, the summoning of demons and how that works, to Frank’s work place, to how the whole magic society works, to how outsiders deal with the gifted, everything about it makes sense. The book reminded me a lot of Lockwood & Co, another favorite of mine, but whereas Lockwood & Co deals with ghosts, and practically turned the whole world ghost lore upside down, Gifted does the same but with magic.
The characters are a mixed bag. Frank is spotless – I mean, he has tons and tons of flaws stacked upon even more flaws, but this makes him perfect. So human. So broken. Then we’ve got Marvo, who is flawed too, and who makes a great sidekick for Frank. I wasn’t too fond of Frank’s apparent infatuation for Kazia, the Bishop’s niece. He saw her once and fell head over heels for her – but then again, Frank is fifteen, and falling randomly in love is common for people that age, so I didn’t mind that much.
If you want an original magic system, and an intriguing setting, I would highly recommend this book. One of the most unique fantasy books I’ve read in years.
January 20, 2015
Gifted is the term given to children who possess a magical ability. They are taught how to master their ability at a young age and then work within society until their twenties when they start to lose their Gift. Our main character is fifteen year old Frank, a recent graduate who is working as a forensic sorcerer.
After a slow start I began to really enjoy the story. The main plot surrounds the investigation into the death of the Bishop of Oxford and the mystery kept me intrigued. It’s a whodunnit and whilst I had my theories, I didn’t work out who the real culprit was. A sure sign of a good mystery!
I mostly enjoyed the writing style as it is written well and easy to follow. I wasn’t a huge fan of the slang such as “sez” for “says” but I think a younger reader would be able to appreciate that more. The spell dialogue became a little repetitive but it wasn’t a huge problem in the long run.
I like the world that the author has created. I was particularly intrigued by the elementals who are created to serve a purpose and then disposed of. That was a nice science fiction touch and I would have loved even more of that. The world is different from our own but it is still easy to relate to the characters and the challenges facing them.
There is a mixed bag of characters in this book. My favourite character was Marvell. I loved the interactions between her and Frank and it was nice to see their friendship blossom throughout the book. I also like that we were introduced to some of Marvell's back story and I'd love to find out what really happened to her brother.
Gifted is a nice twist on the usual kid-with-magical-powers story. I'm looking forward to reading what happens next!
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.
After a slow start I began to really enjoy the story. The main plot surrounds the investigation into the death of the Bishop of Oxford and the mystery kept me intrigued. It’s a whodunnit and whilst I had my theories, I didn’t work out who the real culprit was. A sure sign of a good mystery!
I mostly enjoyed the writing style as it is written well and easy to follow. I wasn’t a huge fan of the slang such as “sez” for “says” but I think a younger reader would be able to appreciate that more. The spell dialogue became a little repetitive but it wasn’t a huge problem in the long run.
I like the world that the author has created. I was particularly intrigued by the elementals who are created to serve a purpose and then disposed of. That was a nice science fiction touch and I would have loved even more of that. The world is different from our own but it is still easy to relate to the characters and the challenges facing them.
There is a mixed bag of characters in this book. My favourite character was Marvell. I loved the interactions between her and Frank and it was nice to see their friendship blossom throughout the book. I also like that we were introduced to some of Marvell's back story and I'd love to find out what really happened to her brother.
Gifted is a nice twist on the usual kid-with-magical-powers story. I'm looking forward to reading what happens next!
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley.
January 28, 2015
Source: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, thanks to both!
Title: Gifted
Author: Donald Houman
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars
Frank has the gift, well, at least that's one word for it. He's a sorcerer. And he's brilliant, but he's also seen as a bit of a liability. Especially by the 'Jacks' he's working with on one of the strangest cases I've ever read about in a YA book. The Bishop of Oxford is dead. He was found beheaded in his office, but is it really him? And whodunnit? Can Frank figure it out? Is there something darker happening here? Can Frank convince the police who hate him and ignore his longing for the beautiful but erratic Kazia, the bishops 'niece'?
The first thing that made me want to read this book was the cover, yes looks do matter. And I was drawn in by the blackboard kind of NUMB3RS thing going on, and when the cover actually relates to the book, it's a beautiful moment. Also the title, I wanted to know what the gift was, and it's quite a unique gift. I loved how unique the gift was, in the sense that it develops and then one day it disappears. I loved how Frank was such a normal teenager too, except for the magic thing, but he had feelings and he had shields and he was sarcastic and I kind of liked that. I liked how he was like an actual person and I felt so bad for him at certain points, Ferdia annoyed me so much.
The writing in this book was pretty good and the plot was really interesting, I could see myself going on to read the next one, Pariah, but it wouldn't be at the top of my to read pile.
I feel like Fantasy isn't really my genre, but all in all this was a pretty decent book and I recommend it to fans of fantasy and fans of a good protagonist!
Title: Gifted
Author: Donald Houman
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars
Frank has the gift, well, at least that's one word for it. He's a sorcerer. And he's brilliant, but he's also seen as a bit of a liability. Especially by the 'Jacks' he's working with on one of the strangest cases I've ever read about in a YA book. The Bishop of Oxford is dead. He was found beheaded in his office, but is it really him? And whodunnit? Can Frank figure it out? Is there something darker happening here? Can Frank convince the police who hate him and ignore his longing for the beautiful but erratic Kazia, the bishops 'niece'?
The first thing that made me want to read this book was the cover, yes looks do matter. And I was drawn in by the blackboard kind of NUMB3RS thing going on, and when the cover actually relates to the book, it's a beautiful moment. Also the title, I wanted to know what the gift was, and it's quite a unique gift. I loved how unique the gift was, in the sense that it develops and then one day it disappears. I loved how Frank was such a normal teenager too, except for the magic thing, but he had feelings and he had shields and he was sarcastic and I kind of liked that. I liked how he was like an actual person and I felt so bad for him at certain points, Ferdia annoyed me so much.
The writing in this book was pretty good and the plot was really interesting, I could see myself going on to read the next one, Pariah, but it wouldn't be at the top of my to read pile.
I feel like Fantasy isn't really my genre, but all in all this was a pretty decent book and I recommend it to fans of fantasy and fans of a good protagonist!
February 3, 2015
The Bishop of Oxford is found at his desk, headless and therefore very dead. But Frank Sampson, a fifteen-year-old forensic sorcerer is not so sure about the identity of the body or the killer’s motives. But solving the case is not going to be easy because everyone is making life very difficult for him and Kazia, the victim’s beautiful ‘niece’ is a very powerful added distraction.
This is Charles Stross’s ‘Laundry’ meets Harry Potter with attitude and raging hormones. The style of writing is in a class all of its own.
If you really want to be rewarded by the lively and inventive plot, it is necessary to get through at least the first three chapters to become accustomed to all the technical forensic sorcery language and reported style of delivery. The writing is very text dense and so full of detail at times that it threatens to become overwhelming. But once your mind becomes attuned to all this, what unfolds is an action packed, angst-filled book full of wry and humorous observations on the alternative magic-filled world that Frank Sampson inhabits.
I suspect it will either be a book that readers cannot get on with or cherished as the cult classic it may well become.
This is Charles Stross’s ‘Laundry’ meets Harry Potter with attitude and raging hormones. The style of writing is in a class all of its own.
If you really want to be rewarded by the lively and inventive plot, it is necessary to get through at least the first three chapters to become accustomed to all the technical forensic sorcery language and reported style of delivery. The writing is very text dense and so full of detail at times that it threatens to become overwhelming. But once your mind becomes attuned to all this, what unfolds is an action packed, angst-filled book full of wry and humorous observations on the alternative magic-filled world that Frank Sampson inhabits.
I suspect it will either be a book that readers cannot get on with or cherished as the cult classic it may well become.
February 29, 2016
14+ and not for sensitive readers
This is another one that is hard for me to judge...
I liked the main character, and only was annoyed about his adoration for a girl he only spotted for a second... But that might have just been teenage hormones. ;) Also he just is quite stupid for someone very smart at some parts - but not so much that it would have make me enjoy the book less.
I also liked the plot - it was an interesting mix of fantasy, magic, CSI and thriller.
I liked the alternative world - so much the same and yet so many things different!
It is VERY bloody and full of gore for a YA book! I don't mind that, but it is surely not for the faint of heart!
The long, long incantations were boring me - and also I disliked the mix of fantasy and Jesus of Nazareth & Maria and so on... It just charred me out of the story a bit.
I did not have a problem with the narration - for me it was really easy to follow the plot. I liked the humor in the story and the main characters POV.
All in all an entertaining story that I read in just a few hours (spread over a couple of days).
This is another one that is hard for me to judge...
I liked the main character, and only was annoyed about his adoration for a girl he only spotted for a second... But that might have just been teenage hormones. ;) Also he just is quite stupid for someone very smart at some parts - but not so much that it would have make me enjoy the book less.
I also liked the plot - it was an interesting mix of fantasy, magic, CSI and thriller.
I liked the alternative world - so much the same and yet so many things different!
It is VERY bloody and full of gore for a YA book! I don't mind that, but it is surely not for the faint of heart!
The long, long incantations were boring me - and also I disliked the mix of fantasy and Jesus of Nazareth & Maria and so on... It just charred me out of the story a bit.
I did not have a problem with the narration - for me it was really easy to follow the plot. I liked the humor in the story and the main characters POV.
All in all an entertaining story that I read in just a few hours (spread over a couple of days).
February 10, 2019
My Review: This one was so confusing. The magic system was just weird and not easy to follow and I just could not conntect to any of the characters in the story. The story itself was off and well man did they kill a lot of animals.
Go Into This One Knowing: Animal Slaughter
Go Into This One Knowing: Animal Slaughter
February 4, 2017
I just couldn't get into this book. I LOVE paranormal. I LOVE YA. But this story just didn't catch my interest. Maybe because I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to be reading it :\
August 29, 2018
In a magical world where people peak in their abilities at their late teens and then go blind or at least near blind by thirty, the adolescents are in the awkward position of having the most talent but being still teenagers and under older adults who are bitter over their losses. Frank Sampson is the most talented sorcerer of the age, but he chafes under certain restrictions and meaningless rules so he got himself stuck in forensic magic rather than the theoretical stuff he'd rather do. He is called in to help solve the case of a beheaded Bishop. But he manages to rub everyone wrong and constantly get himself in trouble before he can make headway in the case. He's also got people against sorcerers following him around trying to off him, as well as a little review board case coming up about his use of an eyeball in unsanctioned ways.
I really wanted to like this one. It sounded right up my alley with fantasy and forensics combined. I found the magic a little too dark though (there are several demons summoned), and I could have done without the pages of descriptions of how Frank intricately set up his spells (a note to the wise, just skip these sections...it really doesn't help the plot or the solving of the crime to read all these details). Instead of getting to know Frank and better understanding his quirks as the book went on, I found that I started joining the ranks of everyone who couldn't stand him. I don't know why Marvo (the person assigned to assist him) stuck around. You can forgive annoying when the detective is brilliant (like Sherlock) but he wasn't even that brilliant. He did stupid things seemingly just to annoy people. And yes, he solved the crime eventually but that seemed more by chance than skill or smarts. Then there was Frank's world. I think the book could have been better if the world building was done a little better. I had a hard time wrapping my head around what kind of reimagined history/steampunk world Hounam had in mind. It felt like he wanted the Victorian world and 20th century mashed up, but didn't pick any development consistently. (Like there are electric lights if you want them, but nothing else in the world uses electricity.) I think really the final straw for me was Frank commenting on a suicide and telling the reader how to slit your wrists more effectively. That was totally not necessary, and could even be harmful. So though I liked the premise, I found the execution a bit lacking. Which is sad.
Notes on content: A handful of mild to moderate swearwords. No sex scenes, but it is related how a man of the church was manipulating women for sexual purposes. There are four murders carried out through a variety of means form knife wounds to demon's consuming the victim. One autopsy and a cat dissection somewhat described. As mentioned before, the character tells readers at one point how to most effectively commit suicide by slitting the wrists. Lots of dark magic involving demons and such.
I really wanted to like this one. It sounded right up my alley with fantasy and forensics combined. I found the magic a little too dark though (there are several demons summoned), and I could have done without the pages of descriptions of how Frank intricately set up his spells (a note to the wise, just skip these sections...it really doesn't help the plot or the solving of the crime to read all these details). Instead of getting to know Frank and better understanding his quirks as the book went on, I found that I started joining the ranks of everyone who couldn't stand him. I don't know why Marvo (the person assigned to assist him) stuck around. You can forgive annoying when the detective is brilliant (like Sherlock) but he wasn't even that brilliant. He did stupid things seemingly just to annoy people. And yes, he solved the crime eventually but that seemed more by chance than skill or smarts. Then there was Frank's world. I think the book could have been better if the world building was done a little better. I had a hard time wrapping my head around what kind of reimagined history/steampunk world Hounam had in mind. It felt like he wanted the Victorian world and 20th century mashed up, but didn't pick any development consistently. (Like there are electric lights if you want them, but nothing else in the world uses electricity.) I think really the final straw for me was Frank commenting on a suicide and telling the reader how to slit your wrists more effectively. That was totally not necessary, and could even be harmful. So though I liked the premise, I found the execution a bit lacking. Which is sad.
Notes on content: A handful of mild to moderate swearwords. No sex scenes, but it is related how a man of the church was manipulating women for sexual purposes. There are four murders carried out through a variety of means form knife wounds to demon's consuming the victim. One autopsy and a cat dissection somewhat described. As mentioned before, the character tells readers at one point how to most effectively commit suicide by slitting the wrists. Lots of dark magic involving demons and such.
September 24, 2017
I received a copy of this book thanks to a good reads giveaway. I was very excited that I had won. It seemed like a great story. I really liked the books' artwork and thought it was going to be a modern day " magic lives among us. It isn't, the book takes place in the late 1800s. The book and the artwork doesn't seem to match up. Yes, magic smoke and all that. The cover is an example of modern art and the book takes place 200 years ago. If the cover had a horse and cart on a cobblestone road or had displayed a more accurate image for the time in which the book takes place, I wouldn't have had thought the book would take place somewhere in the twenty first century. The time in which the book takes place doesn't show up right away. Until the author mentioned the year I hadn't known when the story was taking place. I read twenty or so pages before I started wondering why I was forcing myself to read this. Over the next few days pushed myself to continue reading this book. It's not the first book to start slow and than build up. Today while reading I kept wondering why the charectors in the book acted and reacted the way they did. The book starts without any real backstory. Who is the main character? I mean what is his back story? If he hates the brothers so much than why is he there. In the book there are many different jobs/careers for sorcerers, so why did he choose this particular occupation. The book is far more about the story than the characters. I prefer character centered stories, not stories with characters I barely know. I feel like I am being harsh and I apologize that I am giving a review of a book I couldn't continue reading. I felt like I was back in school reading some book I was assigned and was irritated i had to trudge through it. That's when I decided to stop reading it. There are many great ideas and creative elements in this book that I liked. For example a door that bites cockroaches. I liked the idea of sorcerers living with regular people instead of hiding their existence.The idea that normal folks would be fearful, suspicious or harass surcerers seems very true to life. More people fear what they don't understand than learn to understand and accept. I feel bad anytime I decide to stop reading a book. I feal worse because I wanted to like it and because I won it. I plan to give it to someone who is a more avid reader than I am. I am giving it three stars because I think it is probably a good read, I liked the authors' style and I like the grittiness of the novel.
October 16, 2021
dnf. real rating: 1.5/5 stars
I usually try to give all books a chance and am usually pleasantly surprised. I'm probably being overly harsh for giving up on it so early on, but I feel like I'm definitely not the target audience for this novel. The novel opens with a semi-graphic description of an autopsy of a cat, and that might just be the peak of the story. In the following chapter, the author seems to almost be obsessed with horse shit; mentioning it several times and then covering the main character's face in it for- for comedy, I guess?
The main character frequently says things like 'by the way' and 'in case you haven't realised', stating obvious plot points which makes it hard to pinpoint what age group this is aimed at. It's too gruesome to be a children's book, but the way the author spells things out makes it seem like it's for a younger audience. Maybe young teens might enjoy it?
1.5 stars because the plot COULD be interesting if it was executed well and despite my dislike of the book, I understand I'm not who the author intended this book for.
I usually try to give all books a chance and am usually pleasantly surprised. I'm probably being overly harsh for giving up on it so early on, but I feel like I'm definitely not the target audience for this novel. The novel opens with a semi-graphic description of an autopsy of a cat, and that might just be the peak of the story. In the following chapter, the author seems to almost be obsessed with horse shit; mentioning it several times and then covering the main character's face in it for- for comedy, I guess?
The main character frequently says things like 'by the way' and 'in case you haven't realised', stating obvious plot points which makes it hard to pinpoint what age group this is aimed at. It's too gruesome to be a children's book, but the way the author spells things out makes it seem like it's for a younger audience. Maybe young teens might enjoy it?
1.5 stars because the plot COULD be interesting if it was executed well and despite my dislike of the book, I understand I'm not who the author intended this book for.
April 24, 2018
Hounam, Donald A Dangerous Magic 336 pgs., Random House Children’s Publishers, $17.99, Language: PG(8 swears, 0 “F”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
Frank Sampson is a sorcerer who specializes in forensic sciences. When he is called in to help solve a beheading case, things become more complicated when some of his magic shows the body and head found are not the same. Frank is thrown into a large web of conspiracies that can prove to be deadly in time.
This book was really good. It was super fun to read and I loved every page. Mature Content is PG because there is an underlying romance, police work, and some discrimination between people. Violence is PG because there are a few fights and it is a book about a murder investigation.
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL Student Reviewer: JM(9th grade)
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Frank Sampson is a sorcerer who specializes in forensic sciences. When he is called in to help solve a beheading case, things become more complicated when some of his magic shows the body and head found are not the same. Frank is thrown into a large web of conspiracies that can prove to be deadly in time.
This book was really good. It was super fun to read and I loved every page. Mature Content is PG because there is an underlying romance, police work, and some discrimination between people. Violence is PG because there are a few fights and it is a book about a murder investigation.
MS, HS - ESSENTIAL Student Reviewer: JM(9th grade)
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
February 20, 2022
So, this is "gifted" but repackaged?
If all adults get The Blur somewhere between 20 & 30, then by default all visual work has to be done by teens. Nice setup.
I thinks that's three books that I've read, almost in a row, where "Girls Can't Do The Thing" that boys do. I thought society was past that point? Can't we have lots of SF books where it is perfectly normal that "Girls Can Do The Thing" and the plot revolves around something besides The Girl Is Doing The Thing!!!!eleventy!!!!
Girls can't be sorcerers, they can only be witches, which is a lesser thing. Girls can't be in the Anti-Sorcerer Brotherhood. It's a brotherhood, not a society. As to girls in the church, don't even ask.
But girls can be police, no problem.
If all adults get The Blur somewhere between 20 & 30, then by default all visual work has to be done by teens. Nice setup.
I thinks that's three books that I've read, almost in a row, where "Girls Can't Do The Thing" that boys do. I thought society was past that point? Can't we have lots of SF books where it is perfectly normal that "Girls Can Do The Thing" and the plot revolves around something besides The Girl Is Doing The Thing!!!!eleventy!!!!
Girls can't be sorcerers, they can only be witches, which is a lesser thing. Girls can't be in the Anti-Sorcerer Brotherhood. It's a brotherhood, not a society. As to girls in the church, don't even ask.
But girls can be police, no problem.
November 1, 2017
Frank is a teenage forensic sorcerer. He gets called in to help solve a murder case, but there are lots of complicating factors.
I found this to be like a bad cross of "The Screaming Staircase" series and "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer." It has an old English setting and tone with paranormal creatures and abilities thrown into the mix. I didn't find any of the characters to be engaging, and while the world building held lots of promise, it was not well-executed - although there were some good plot twists along the way. Because of the text complexity and some violence/gore, I would recommend for grades 9 and up (if you have to give it to someone)...
I found this to be like a bad cross of "The Screaming Staircase" series and "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer." It has an old English setting and tone with paranormal creatures and abilities thrown into the mix. I didn't find any of the characters to be engaging, and while the world building held lots of promise, it was not well-executed - although there were some good plot twists along the way. Because of the text complexity and some violence/gore, I would recommend for grades 9 and up (if you have to give it to someone)...
September 20, 2018
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I enjoyed the way this book written and I feel for Frank. He seems to have a few issues of his own. It seems that this would be a hard to live this world. Since magic peaks at an early age and is lost in adulthood. I am not sure how it would be to go through a loss like that and how to deal with life after the fact. I loved the world but his obsession with the girl just seemed a bit over done. I love the story line and would love to see more.
July 2, 2018
Really interesting take on an alternate reality where magic is the real deal. I really enjoyed Frank with his jaded view of life and witty sarcasm. Also the idea of tying in loss of sight with loss of the Gift is unique. I'll be looking forward to the next installment!
September 21, 2017
Enjoyable to read but it didn't quite spark my enthusiasm.
Maybe, the world was to complex to be thrown into. Maybe my readingspace wasn't ideal.
Give it a try.
Maybe, the world was to complex to be thrown into. Maybe my readingspace wasn't ideal.
Give it a try.
December 16, 2018
Horrible book. Do not give to kids. Scary and gross, and completely unfathomable for a while with all the made-up slang words. Blindness?!?! Not a world for me.
January 20, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5
The book had a slow and bland beginning. With the "Coz" and "Sez" made it less likeable for me and less of a YA novel than a middle school book.The writing used was very casual, yet comforting at times that the novel went by smoothingly. Yet the writing itself wasn't great, wasn't nicely descriptive, it wasn't music to my ears.
WAIT. I forgot to mention. That first page, that really drew me in with the cat. Job well done. Otherwise i would have delayed Gifted if it wasnt for the intriguement behind The Cat.
Character Wise, there was a few lorry-loads of them. Less than other books, yes. More than is needed for this novel, yes. I was beat down by all the names and nicknames. Especially since some of them were out-of-this-world unique and similar to another out-of-this-world unique name, they got mixed up. There was only a bit of development for each character, and most of the secondary character were the stereotypical ones, nothing much to them. And a lot of the primary characters were simple, predictable.
Speaking of predictability, the plot was. All the foreshadowing was more of a foretelling. Or terribly obvious a few paragraphs beforehand. The plot twists were passable, some were silly, some good, most unlikeable. Its got to do with the predictable characters too.
As mentioned before hand, most of the characters were unlikeable. They took time to get smug with. Most of them were annoying. Especially Frank. He ended up making the most stupid decisions alot of the time. The choices just left him with more consequences. 99% of the story is about his bad choices and how he digs himself out of them. He was an ass, dumb too, oblivious to the obvious. Marvo/Magdalena/Marvell was a sweet one though. A try hard. Understandable. Caring. Smart. The was the loveable character in this novel. I loved her. No one else was a worthy enough character. Her interactions to one character and fro were what i lived for in this book. She would have made a better MC than Frank.
It was nice to have a protagonist who isn't all good. Who isn't oh-so-special. Frank knows he is a great sorcerer, but he also treats it like a curse. Not that sounds a bit like Juliette in Shatter Me. Still, the protagonist wasn't a perfect person. That was nice to have, someone who stole human body parts.
There was a hint of a love triangle. But I was thankful the book didn't orbit around the romance. Only a paragraph here and there. It was sweet in a non-romantic way.
Last Con, the spell work was repetitive. So were some dialogues. But otherwise it was fine.
The world building was a job well done. Doughnut City was very, very interesting. History of the Hole. What was in The Hole. Around the Hole. Religions. Types of people. The sci-fi/fantasy aspect with the alchemy, magic, vision and most of all the elementals. The world building was a job very well done in the book. I loved it there. Donut city is on my bucket list of fictional places i must go to.
I do recommend the novel for middle school fans of fantasy mystery.
The book had a slow and bland beginning. With the "Coz" and "Sez" made it less likeable for me and less of a YA novel than a middle school book.The writing used was very casual, yet comforting at times that the novel went by smoothingly. Yet the writing itself wasn't great, wasn't nicely descriptive, it wasn't music to my ears.
WAIT. I forgot to mention. That first page, that really drew me in with the cat. Job well done. Otherwise i would have delayed Gifted if it wasnt for the intriguement behind The Cat.
Character Wise, there was a few lorry-loads of them. Less than other books, yes. More than is needed for this novel, yes. I was beat down by all the names and nicknames. Especially since some of them were out-of-this-world unique and similar to another out-of-this-world unique name, they got mixed up. There was only a bit of development for each character, and most of the secondary character were the stereotypical ones, nothing much to them. And a lot of the primary characters were simple, predictable.
Speaking of predictability, the plot was. All the foreshadowing was more of a foretelling. Or terribly obvious a few paragraphs beforehand. The plot twists were passable, some were silly, some good, most unlikeable. Its got to do with the predictable characters too.
As mentioned before hand, most of the characters were unlikeable. They took time to get smug with. Most of them were annoying. Especially Frank. He ended up making the most stupid decisions alot of the time. The choices just left him with more consequences. 99% of the story is about his bad choices and how he digs himself out of them. He was an ass, dumb too, oblivious to the obvious. Marvo/Magdalena/Marvell was a sweet one though. A try hard. Understandable. Caring. Smart. The was the loveable character in this novel. I loved her. No one else was a worthy enough character. Her interactions to one character and fro were what i lived for in this book. She would have made a better MC than Frank.
It was nice to have a protagonist who isn't all good. Who isn't oh-so-special. Frank knows he is a great sorcerer, but he also treats it like a curse. Not that sounds a bit like Juliette in Shatter Me. Still, the protagonist wasn't a perfect person. That was nice to have, someone who stole human body parts.
There was a hint of a love triangle. But I was thankful the book didn't orbit around the romance. Only a paragraph here and there. It was sweet in a non-romantic way.
Last Con, the spell work was repetitive. So were some dialogues. But otherwise it was fine.
The world building was a job well done. Doughnut City was very, very interesting. History of the Hole. What was in The Hole. Around the Hole. Religions. Types of people. The sci-fi/fantasy aspect with the alchemy, magic, vision and most of all the elementals. The world building was a job very well done in the book. I loved it there. Donut city is on my bucket list of fictional places i must go to.
I do recommend the novel for middle school fans of fantasy mystery.
August 11, 2015
The prospect of reading a book about a teenage forensic sorcerer was just too enticing so this book leapfrogged its way to the top of my reading pile. I was expecting a lower-end YA read, given the slight nature of the book: perhaps a pared-down "Screaming Staircase" for junior readers. However, the story is quite a complex murder/conspiracy and there are other signs that this is a book suited to older readers. The first is the nature of the narrator and the second the darkness of the dystopic setting.
The narrator is Frank, the junior forensic sorcerer (or Forcer) called to the baffling case of the headless body found in the home of the Bishop of Oxford. Frank's life has been harsh. Once his 'gift' was recognised when he was six, he was whisked off the St Cyprians, a residential monastic school for sorcerers. This lonely childhood was an improvement on life with a drunken and violent father. Now, he is being hosted by an order of monks, most of whom are frightened of him and many of whom consider sorcerers to be an abomination. As well as being reviled within the church, ostensibly their parent organisation, hate groups and fanatics hunt down sorcerers. Frank is also a very prickly, surly, smart-mouthed fifteen year-old with minimal social skills and a habit of self-harming. At times, he's not even very likeable although, in the end, is shown to have an admirable moral core. This drive to find the truth is his redeeming feature and it will be interesting to see whether the knowledge that he has a friend, should he choose to acknowledge her, will be his salvation.
I found the world of this novel to be much darker than the ones in the Bartimaeus Trilogy or Lockwood and Co. The demons conjured here are vicious and nasty; no ironic footnotes from the demons in this book. The darkness goes beyond the demonology: this is a cursed world. The urban landscape is not only physically damaged but also socially - there are beggars, squatters, homeless people, petty criminals and high-level corruption. The prospects of people are also limited and depressing: those with the gift will lose before they are thirty, while ordinary humans will lose a significant part of their vision at a similar time. Life in this place is all-round bleak!
I see this book as a natural avenue for the fans of Jonathon Stroud but despite the humorous moments, this book is altogether darker in tone and content. It is the beginning of a series. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
The narrator is Frank, the junior forensic sorcerer (or Forcer) called to the baffling case of the headless body found in the home of the Bishop of Oxford. Frank's life has been harsh. Once his 'gift' was recognised when he was six, he was whisked off the St Cyprians, a residential monastic school for sorcerers. This lonely childhood was an improvement on life with a drunken and violent father. Now, he is being hosted by an order of monks, most of whom are frightened of him and many of whom consider sorcerers to be an abomination. As well as being reviled within the church, ostensibly their parent organisation, hate groups and fanatics hunt down sorcerers. Frank is also a very prickly, surly, smart-mouthed fifteen year-old with minimal social skills and a habit of self-harming. At times, he's not even very likeable although, in the end, is shown to have an admirable moral core. This drive to find the truth is his redeeming feature and it will be interesting to see whether the knowledge that he has a friend, should he choose to acknowledge her, will be his salvation.
I found the world of this novel to be much darker than the ones in the Bartimaeus Trilogy or Lockwood and Co. The demons conjured here are vicious and nasty; no ironic footnotes from the demons in this book. The darkness goes beyond the demonology: this is a cursed world. The urban landscape is not only physically damaged but also socially - there are beggars, squatters, homeless people, petty criminals and high-level corruption. The prospects of people are also limited and depressing: those with the gift will lose before they are thirty, while ordinary humans will lose a significant part of their vision at a similar time. Life in this place is all-round bleak!
I see this book as a natural avenue for the fans of Jonathon Stroud but despite the humorous moments, this book is altogether darker in tone and content. It is the beginning of a series. It will be interesting to see where it goes.
January 27, 2015
To start with, I need to say a massive thank you to Penguin Random House UK Children's publishing, for accepting my request to review this book from NetGalley, and to NetGalley for the service that they provide.
'You don't choose to be Gifted. It seems like fun at first, when you're setting things alight and bringing your mates out in spots. But then you notice that people are scared of you. They resent the fact that you can do these tricks and they can't. They're afraid you'll turn them into something slithery.'
'Gifted' might be one of the most unique YA books that I have ever read. Set sometime in (what I'm guessing) is the early 1900's, it focuses upon Frank, a sorcerer working for the police. He does forensic science work on the various dead bodies that turn up, and his working day takes a turn for the exciting when the Bishop of Oxford is found dead - and beheaded - in his library.
After the initial discovery of the body, Marvell, Frank's partner in crime, fetches him to investigate the scene, setting up some interesting personality dynamics within the first fifty pages. Frank's boss, Caxton, hates him with a burning passion, mostly because of a fear of sorcerers, and his co-worker Ferdia is post-peak, so that doesn't give them the happiest of relationships either.
But other than the initial set-up, this book moves extremely slowly, and the set-up is rather confusing to start with. I'm not going to delve too far into spoilers of the plot, because it is quite a good murder mystery and it is quite difficult to see who did it, and why. But I am going to delve into the world, explaining how the sorcery in this novel works, so that if you do pick this book up it will be a lot smoother to get into. I found it to be quite a struggle to start with, because all of these things were being referred to as if we should know what they meant, but they didn't get properly explained until a good quarter of the way in. So here we go:
Read the rest of my review here!
January 25, 2015
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
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I really enjoyed this book. It had a great mystery to it, and the magic system was intriguing. Only teens have perfect vision and certain gifts. When people reach twenty-five, they start to get the Blur and slowly they go blind. For sorcerers, reaching twenty-five means that they're going post-peak and their Gift will soon be gone.
Frank is a great, fresh voice, a little snarky at times, but I loved it. Marvell is a good partner for him, their back and forth is amusing at times. There's a great cast of characters in this book from Ferdia, the post-peak sorcerer who still thinks he's amazing, to Caxton, the almost blind police investigator that relies on Marvell to do her job. The reactions to sorcerers in Doughnut City is quite extreme, and I really felt sorry for Frank in having to deal with it all the time.
I really liked the twist at the end. I was following the mystery quite well, I thought, and I was sure I had it all figured out and then a spanner was thrown in the works and everything was revealed. Definitely took me by surprise!
A good mystery with a new take on the 'boy wizard' trope. Gifted is a must-read for YA fans.
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I really enjoyed this book. It had a great mystery to it, and the magic system was intriguing. Only teens have perfect vision and certain gifts. When people reach twenty-five, they start to get the Blur and slowly they go blind. For sorcerers, reaching twenty-five means that they're going post-peak and their Gift will soon be gone.
Frank is a great, fresh voice, a little snarky at times, but I loved it. Marvell is a good partner for him, their back and forth is amusing at times. There's a great cast of characters in this book from Ferdia, the post-peak sorcerer who still thinks he's amazing, to Caxton, the almost blind police investigator that relies on Marvell to do her job. The reactions to sorcerers in Doughnut City is quite extreme, and I really felt sorry for Frank in having to deal with it all the time.
I really liked the twist at the end. I was following the mystery quite well, I thought, and I was sure I had it all figured out and then a spanner was thrown in the works and everything was revealed. Definitely took me by surprise!
A good mystery with a new take on the 'boy wizard' trope. Gifted is a must-read for YA fans.
May 31, 2015
This is a really funny and clever novel. Kind of Harry Potter for the more grown up. Frank is gifted, able to do sorcery and summon demons and all other manner of magic. He works for the police, the Jacks, who are investigating the case of a body with a missing head. Frank and his Jack sidekick Marvel are a great team but difficulties abound and they are at various times totally endangered and working as a team, and at others so frustrated with each other that there is the kind of witty banter that I really like. It is one of those books which doesn't explain the terminology for the various kinds of magic and occupations of the people involved, but it reveals the meanings gradually as you read. This can be a bit confusing but if you stick with it you will realise that neckers refers to necromancers etc. A really cool book, totally different from the usual magic stories and really engaging. Liked it a lot!
May 4, 2019
Full review to come!
February 4, 2015
This was a very enjoyable and interesting read with rich and powerful writing that really draws you into the story.
Set in a steampunk-like version of Oxford, the main characters are 15 and 16 but acting as adults in a fantastic magical universe where the rules are even more rigid than our own.
Part Elizabethan England, part pure magical fantasy, the first person viewpoint works brilliantly with the complex and confused main character - 15 yr old Frank Sampson, the forensic sorcerer brought in to help with a strange death.
I look forward to reading more about this brilliant character!
Thanks to Penguin Random House UK Children's publishing, for accepting my request to review this book from NetGalley.
Set in a steampunk-like version of Oxford, the main characters are 15 and 16 but acting as adults in a fantastic magical universe where the rules are even more rigid than our own.
Part Elizabethan England, part pure magical fantasy, the first person viewpoint works brilliantly with the complex and confused main character - 15 yr old Frank Sampson, the forensic sorcerer brought in to help with a strange death.
I look forward to reading more about this brilliant character!
Thanks to Penguin Random House UK Children's publishing, for accepting my request to review this book from NetGalley.
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