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Jackaby #1.5
The Map
Perfect for fans of "Jackaby" who are desperately awaiting the release of its sequel, "Beastly Bones, "this novella-length story follows the rollicking events of Abigail Rook's birthday celebration. Abigail hopes that her birthday will slip by unnoticed and uncelebrated, but her employer, detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby, has other plans. Using magical party crackers that teleport the pair to unknown destinations in time and space and a cryptic map that may lead to a forgotten treasure, Jackaby intends to give Abigail what he considers to be the best gift of all--adventure. Abigail and Jackaby must tame an enormous (and carnivorous) rabbit, defend a castle, and master a dirigible if they want to find the treasure and get back to New Fiddleham alive.
56 pages, Unknown Binding
First published June 1, 2015
About the author
William Ritter
21 books1,874 followersWILLIAM RITTER is an Oregon educator and author of the New York Times bestselling Jackaby series. He is the proud father of the two bravest boys in the Wild Wood, and husband to the indomitable Queen of the Deep Dark.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
April 16, 2016
“There is no golden light, Mr. Jackaby. Not for normal people.” Jackaby’s gift as a seer allows him to penetrate magical concealments, make impossible connections, and recognize the auras surrounding objects and people, particularly those with magical significance. I have the rather less unique ability to see the world the way it actually appears.
“No?” Jackaby tilted his head in mock sympathy. “It must be so dismal being you.”
“Only in present company,” I teased back.
----
Aah, I have missed you two:)
A fun and lovely short story/novella for the series (somehow I missed it being released ).. this is the Jackaby I loved and missed from book two.
Can Jackaby take me on an adventure for my birthday? :) Specially loved the reference to the song 'Whiskey in the Jar' (one of my favorites )
The market was very interesting as well.
Hopefully the third book is of the same vibe as this.
“No?” Jackaby tilted his head in mock sympathy. “It must be so dismal being you.”
“Only in present company,” I teased back.
----
Aah, I have missed you two:)
A fun and lovely short story/novella for the series (somehow I missed it being released ).. this is the Jackaby I loved and missed from book two.
Can Jackaby take me on an adventure for my birthday? :) Specially loved the reference to the song 'Whiskey in the Jar' (one of my favorites )
The market was very interesting as well.
Hopefully the third book is of the same vibe as this.
July 8, 2018
I did not think I was going to like this book but I see I was wrong. I actually loved it. It was weird but also very funny. I would read the 4 books that go with this book.
August 26, 2015
I am in love with Mr. William Ritter. He is so good at making me laugh. He writes with out hurry. With a wonder and a laugh. The best way to write.
I absolutely love Jackaby. He is sweet and completely clueless to others emotions. I think Abigail and Jackaby are the right sort of team. I wonderful ying to his yang.
In this delightful novella Abigail has turned another year older. Jackaby the ever entertaining employer and friend decided to celebrate Abigail's birthday with an adventure. He takes her to a magical market. Along the way Miss Rook discovers an old treasure map that brings sweet memories of her childhood. What Miss Rook doesn't know is that Jackaby secretly bought that treasure map for her birthday and they are about to go on a great adventure.
This was literally the cutest 57 pages of adventure ever. I just loved every moment. This has made me so giddy to pick up Beastly Bones this week :D
I absolutely love Jackaby. He is sweet and completely clueless to others emotions. I think Abigail and Jackaby are the right sort of team. I wonderful ying to his yang.
In this delightful novella Abigail has turned another year older. Jackaby the ever entertaining employer and friend decided to celebrate Abigail's birthday with an adventure. He takes her to a magical market. Along the way Miss Rook discovers an old treasure map that brings sweet memories of her childhood. What Miss Rook doesn't know is that Jackaby secretly bought that treasure map for her birthday and they are about to go on a great adventure.
This was literally the cutest 57 pages of adventure ever. I just loved every moment. This has made me so giddy to pick up Beastly Bones this week :D
January 21, 2017
“It’s not about the treasure— it’s about the hunt. - Abigail”
Jackaby and Abigail set off on another (smaller) adventure. It is Abigail's birthday and Jackaby takes her to a mystical market where the two find a map and decide to follow it to the very end. The pair must decipher the map and follow it to the X.
This story is very cute. It's a fast and quick read. Any fan of the series so far will absolutely love this short story.
I suppose since it doesn't spoil anything major from the first book you can definitely read this one before you read Jackaby, the first book in the series. If you want to try it out before you buy the book series definitely do so.
The plot was absolutely great and I highly recommend the short story to everyone who has read the series.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Jackaby and Abigail set off on another (smaller) adventure. It is Abigail's birthday and Jackaby takes her to a mystical market where the two find a map and decide to follow it to the very end. The pair must decipher the map and follow it to the X.
This story is very cute. It's a fast and quick read. Any fan of the series so far will absolutely love this short story.
I suppose since it doesn't spoil anything major from the first book you can definitely read this one before you read Jackaby, the first book in the series. If you want to try it out before you buy the book series definitely do so.
The plot was absolutely great and I highly recommend the short story to everyone who has read the series.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
July 30, 2020
This was such a lovely little novella :) I adored it with my whole heart :) especially since it’s all about Abigail’s birthday and I read it on my own birthday, which was just such a cute bonus :) you do need to read at least one book in the Jackaby series to fully understand this gem, because we don’t get too much explanations about the world or the characters… it’s just a great little addition to the series with a fun adventure that I won’t spoil you because it’s very short :) if you know the characters and like the world, it’s definitely worth the read :)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
June 4, 2021
That was a fun read.
I loved how William Ritter has added so much character to a sidekick. Abigail Rook is so much more than just a chronicler of their adventures. She is funny, really smart, brave and simply too awesome and cool to be a mere sidekick.
This is how Jackaby describes her and it fits so perfectly: “That, Miss Rook, is an irresponsible and irrational sentiment, and one of your finest qualities.”
I loved how William Ritter has added so much character to a sidekick. Abigail Rook is so much more than just a chronicler of their adventures. She is funny, really smart, brave and simply too awesome and cool to be a mere sidekick.
This is how Jackaby describes her and it fits so perfectly: “That, Miss Rook, is an irresponsible and irrational sentiment, and one of your finest qualities.”
February 26, 2016
Oh my word, this story! GAH. *huggles it* Okay, so it's a short story/novella type thing, which is free on Kindle, set between Jackaby and Beastly Bones. It's a short, fun read, and has an even different feel than the other two, but I simply LOVED it.
It's Abigail's birthday, and Jackaby takes her on a treasure hunt with an old map and fantastical things ensue. But get this: it's entirely based around trying to find the treasure from the Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar." This kind of totally made my day!!! Just... the idea of it. I suppose for anyone who reads it who's not familiar with the song, they'd just be like "whaaat?" but since I grew up on old Irish songs and always loved that one, it was simply fabulous.
I hardly have anything to say on this one because I don't want to ruin any of the plot, but it was just a rollick and I loved it. It had its share of perils and such, but mostly it was just an excuse for Jackaby and Abigail to go on an adventure together and interact, which was just so much FUN! I think sometimes, some of my favorite character pairings/groups could just do NOTHING plot-wise and I'd still enjoy it. In a way, big scary mysteries/adventures/problems which constitute "plot" can even take away from the fun of simple character interaction which is my favorite part of some things.
(Like in Avengers 2, my favorite part is when they're hanging out together trying to pick up Thor's hammer, just bickering and having fun. It's the BEST! I'd watch a whole movie about them hanging out; it's almost not as fun when they have to go do PLOT things... So, just an example.)
Anyways, it's so worth it just to see them interact, but the rest of the plot is fun too, and the hints from the song (some of which I guessed), and the touch of almost-steampunk with an airship and all, and the goblins with their semi-Scottish accents which was so fun to read, and THAT ENDING. So much. <3
Basically, READ IT. It's just fabulous and I adore it to bits.
(I don't recommend the rest of the series and I didn't read the last one. But I enjoyed the first book and this novella. I think there's also some language? I don't recall.)
It's Abigail's birthday, and Jackaby takes her on a treasure hunt with an old map and fantastical things ensue. But get this: it's entirely based around trying to find the treasure from the Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar." This kind of totally made my day!!! Just... the idea of it. I suppose for anyone who reads it who's not familiar with the song, they'd just be like "whaaat?" but since I grew up on old Irish songs and always loved that one, it was simply fabulous.
I hardly have anything to say on this one because I don't want to ruin any of the plot, but it was just a rollick and I loved it. It had its share of perils and such, but mostly it was just an excuse for Jackaby and Abigail to go on an adventure together and interact, which was just so much FUN! I think sometimes, some of my favorite character pairings/groups could just do NOTHING plot-wise and I'd still enjoy it. In a way, big scary mysteries/adventures/problems which constitute "plot" can even take away from the fun of simple character interaction which is my favorite part of some things.
(Like in Avengers 2, my favorite part is when they're hanging out together trying to pick up Thor's hammer, just bickering and having fun. It's the BEST! I'd watch a whole movie about them hanging out; it's almost not as fun when they have to go do PLOT things... So, just an example.)
Anyways, it's so worth it just to see them interact, but the rest of the plot is fun too, and the hints from the song (some of which I guessed), and the touch of almost-steampunk with an airship and all, and the goblins with their semi-Scottish accents which was so fun to read, and THAT ENDING. So much. <3
Basically, READ IT. It's just fabulous and I adore it to bits.
(I don't recommend the rest of the series and I didn't read the last one. But I enjoyed the first book and this novella. I think there's also some language? I don't recall.)
July 6, 2015
"Morning, sir."
“Obviously,” he replied without turning around. It wasn’t that Jackaby was rude, exactly. Tactless though he was, there was an earnestness to the man. “I should expect you to have long outgrown being impressed by the fact that the sun rises daily in the east, Miss Rook. Really. You can manage more impressive observations than that.” Then again, Jackaby might have just been rude.
“Obviously,” he replied without turning around. It wasn’t that Jackaby was rude, exactly. Tactless though he was, there was an earnestness to the man. “I should expect you to have long outgrown being impressed by the fact that the sun rises daily in the east, Miss Rook. Really. You can manage more impressive observations than that.” Then again, Jackaby might have just been rude.
July 14, 2017
Read 12.12.2017
5 Stars
I LOVE these books; L O V E them. This was a perfect short story and highly enjoyable. I wish there had been an audio of it [since I totally love the narrator for this series as well], but just reading it was delightful as well. It makes me want to dive right into the next novel even though I do not have time to be starting a new book like that. :-)
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Reread 3.7 - 3.9.2022
5 Stars
SUCH a fun little birthday story!!! I love how Jackaby and Abigail work together in this one and I love how Jackaby cedes to Abigail in things because of it being her birthday present. Such a fun story overall.
5 Stars
I LOVE these books; L O V E them. This was a perfect short story and highly enjoyable. I wish there had been an audio of it [since I totally love the narrator for this series as well], but just reading it was delightful as well. It makes me want to dive right into the next novel even though I do not have time to be starting a new book like that. :-)
--------------------------------------------------------
Reread 3.7 - 3.9.2022
5 Stars
SUCH a fun little birthday story!!! I love how Jackaby and Abigail work together in this one and I love how Jackaby cedes to Abigail in things because of it being her birthday present. Such a fun story overall.
August 15, 2015
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Give me a treasure hunt and I will love you forever.
William Ritter kind of did, so... Yes, I love his series!
In this little short story, Jackaby takes Abigail on an adventure to find the Bold Deceiver's treasure and celebrate holiday!
I will say that I was under the impression it lacked the realness of the 1st book, since in this novella there aren't just paranormal creatures but pure magic and gravitating islands and teleporting from one place to another using party crackers.
But it was hilarious and entertaining and I'm startint to get all the #Roockaby feels!
Can't wait to read book 2!
Give me a treasure hunt and I will love you forever.
William Ritter kind of did, so... Yes, I love his series!
In this little short story, Jackaby takes Abigail on an adventure to find the Bold Deceiver's treasure and celebrate holiday!
I will say that I was under the impression it lacked the realness of the 1st book, since in this novella there aren't just paranormal creatures but pure magic and gravitating islands and teleporting from one place to another using party crackers.
But it was hilarious and entertaining and I'm startint to get all the #Roockaby feels!
Can't wait to read book 2!
October 27, 2016
In this short story it's Abigail's Birthday and Jacaby has plans for her. She wants adventure so they set off on one. All in all a fun quick read. I enjoy Jackaby's character so much as well as Abigail Rook.
February 18, 2018
"It's not about the treasure - it's about the hunt." -Abigail Rook
It's no secret that I love novellas and I was excited to learn that there is a novella for the Jackaby series! This was a fun little story featuring Jackaby's idea of a great birthday gift for Abigail Rook - an adventure! The detective duo stumbled onto a treasure map created by the subject of an old pub song and began a treasure hunt. The hunt was full of the strange and mysterious, featuring giant vegetables, magpies, goblins, and many fine hats.... and Jackaby's knit hat. The use of party crackers and unqiue locales had me in a festive birthday spirit! It was nice to get to know Jackaby a bit more and experience a small taste of his life as the Seer among non-humans. It is safe to say that it was a birthday Miss Rook will not soon forget!
It's no secret that I love novellas and I was excited to learn that there is a novella for the Jackaby series! This was a fun little story featuring Jackaby's idea of a great birthday gift for Abigail Rook - an adventure! The detective duo stumbled onto a treasure map created by the subject of an old pub song and began a treasure hunt. The hunt was full of the strange and mysterious, featuring giant vegetables, magpies, goblins, and many fine hats.... and Jackaby's knit hat. The use of party crackers and unqiue locales had me in a festive birthday spirit! It was nice to get to know Jackaby a bit more and experience a small taste of his life as the Seer among non-humans. It is safe to say that it was a birthday Miss Rook will not soon forget!
September 28, 2017
Quick, humorous and whimsical. Lovely!!
August 17, 2018
Yawn..
September 7, 2015
Such a fun filler between Jackaby and Beastly Bones, a wonderful reminder of why I had enjoyed the first book so much. I just loved the references to Whiskey In The Jar and couldn't stop humming or singing it as I read. The story was short, but not too short. Of course, I wish it had been another hundred or so pages longer, but I will get more from these characters soon enough. Rook and Jackaby make a great pair and I am so anxious for more!
May 5, 2019
05/05/2019
fun little story about a little treasure hunt! Perfect to get me back into the Jackaby universe
fun little story about a little treasure hunt! Perfect to get me back into the Jackaby universe
February 27, 2018
It was fun but it feels as if the world inside of this short story is not the same as the world we got to know in Jackaby. In Jackaby, Jackaby makes it clear that he is a man of science but the mode of transportation that they use in this short story reeks of magic. I wished it would have been explained a bit more like a science thing or maybe something from a creature because now, it kinda feels like it doesn't fit with the story we got in Jackaby. Other than that it was fun though.
June 17, 2018
This was a short fun adventure back in the world with Jackaby and Miss Rook. Clearly made want to pick up the next in the series.
October 8, 2019
Fun birthday adventure story with Abigail Rook and Jackaby.
January 4, 2019
Ahhhh! How lovely to spend more time with Abigail Rook and Jackaby!
January 9, 2016
This short story takes place between Jackaby and Beastly Bones and was absolutely delightful. Abigail Rook is hoping that her birthday will escape the notice of her employer, R.F. Jackaby, but he has decided to help her celebrate in a spectacular way. He takes her to a mystical market, where she notices a treasure map but declines it as a present. Of course Jackaby knows better and presents it to her. Using magical party crackers that teleport them to whatever destination they wish, they follow the map where hopefully they will reach its buried treasure conclusion. Of course, it’s an adventure, which is Jackaby’s objective, and that is the best gift ever for Abigail. I loved all of the different challenges the pair encounter, and of course, each of them has unique talents that aid in the quest. This is such a wonderfully fantastic world, I hope we get many more stories for Abigail and Jackaby.
January 9, 2020
It is Abigail Rook's birthday, and Jackaby has decided to surprise her with a little adventure - whether Abigail likes it or not!
I've read Jackaby 1-4 already, but didn't realize there was a short story/novella available as well. You can probably read this whenever, but I'd recommend reading it after at least the first book, Jackaby. I believe it was published between the first and second books, so reading it then would make the most sense! It's a cute story and doesn't add anything to the main storyline, but if you like Jackaby and Abigail's interactions, you should read it.
Best of all, I got this story for free on Amazon Kindle, so go ahead & get it!
I've read Jackaby 1-4 already, but didn't realize there was a short story/novella available as well. You can probably read this whenever, but I'd recommend reading it after at least the first book, Jackaby. I believe it was published between the first and second books, so reading it then would make the most sense! It's a cute story and doesn't add anything to the main storyline, but if you like Jackaby and Abigail's interactions, you should read it.
Best of all, I got this story for free on Amazon Kindle, so go ahead & get it!
July 7, 2016
"The air is anathematic, laden with an aura of untold danger." "Untold danger. Charming. That seems to be the unifying theme of today's outing."
Fun, short story in which Jackaby has a special birthday treat for Abigail: a treasure hunt to hidden lands, full of riddles and the aforementioned untold dangers during which they travel by pulling on party crackers (which, by the way, I still find ingenious!). It doesn't really add much to the first book in my opinion, but it does strengthen the fun "partners in crime" relationship they have going, which is immensely fun to read about!
Fun, short story in which Jackaby has a special birthday treat for Abigail: a treasure hunt to hidden lands, full of riddles and the aforementioned untold dangers during which they travel by pulling on party crackers (which, by the way, I still find ingenious!). It doesn't really add much to the first book in my opinion, but it does strengthen the fun "partners in crime" relationship they have going, which is immensely fun to read about!
August 30, 2016
I could not have asked for a more brilliant novella. Finally, a short story that actually adds to the series and enhances the character development. It made me adore Jackaby far more than I originally did and it answered some of my question about his supernatural gifts. I honestly loved it more than I can say.
If you a fan of the series, don't overlook it. It's most definitely worth a read.
If you a fan of the series, don't overlook it. It's most definitely worth a read.
July 4, 2015
Actually 3.5 stars. I sure do like Jackaby, and this novella was definitely a good fix for that. It's a good mini adventure to get me ready for when Beastly Bones comes out!!
September 26, 2015
Jackaby knows how to give awesome birthdays...
December 25, 2015
Cute addition to the Jackaby series. Love that it was quite a bit more fantastical than the full novels.
January 3, 2016
This was such a cute little story. I want to read Beastly Bones so bad, but this was almost enough to tide me over for another couple of days. I love Jackaby and Abigal Rook, that is all.
December 4, 2018
Well, this raises the bar for birthday celebrations.... Another fun Jackaby installment.
November 9, 2020
It's been several years since I read the first Jackaby novel, so I was a little apprehensive of continuing the series after so long. I remember that I liked the first book, but had little to no recollection about what the series was actually about. I only remembered that it was like Dr. Who with a twist, which I'm definitely intrigued by enough to keep it on my TBR for such a long time.
I think that reading The Map ended up being a great choice. Although it didn't really provide a lot of background information for the first novel, it put me right back in that world and I found myself unlocking a lot of old memories. Not only that, but The Map was one of the most interesting novellas I've read in awhile. The plot was engaging, mysterious, and fun. For such a short book, I was really impressed by how comprehensive it was and I feel prepared to jump into the rest of the series without issues or confusion.
I think that reading The Map ended up being a great choice. Although it didn't really provide a lot of background information for the first novel, it put me right back in that world and I found myself unlocking a lot of old memories. Not only that, but The Map was one of the most interesting novellas I've read in awhile. The plot was engaging, mysterious, and fun. For such a short book, I was really impressed by how comprehensive it was and I feel prepared to jump into the rest of the series without issues or confusion.
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