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The Hidden World of Changers #1
The Gathering Storm
When four middle schoolers discover that they can transform into mythological animals, they become part of a powerful, hidden world—the world of Changers—in this wild new urban fantasy series.
Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella aren’t exactly friends at their middle school—in fact, they couldn’t have anything less in common. But when they start developing powers, including the ability to transform into mythological animals, they find out that they are Changers, a magical race that history has forgotten. But there’s little time for questions. A powerful warlock is racing toward their town, destroying everything in his wake. Can Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella harness their newfound powers in time to save their home? Can they even stop arguing before the last bell?
Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella aren’t exactly friends at their middle school—in fact, they couldn’t have anything less in common. But when they start developing powers, including the ability to transform into mythological animals, they find out that they are Changers, a magical race that history has forgotten. But there’s little time for questions. A powerful warlock is racing toward their town, destroying everything in his wake. Can Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella harness their newfound powers in time to save their home? Can they even stop arguing before the last bell?
176 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2016
25 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
H.K. Varian
9 books9 followersH.K. Varian has always loved reading about ancient mythology, ruins, and magic. Though H.K. once dreamed of having awesome powers like in Changers, writing became kind of like magic in and of itself. Today H.K. lives, writes, and has adventures in Pittsburgh, though most of them don’t involve battling warlocks, storming castles, or retrieving enchanted objects.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 11, 2019
This is a satisfactory beginning to a series about superpowered kids, and likely a four-star read for middle schoolers. For me, it's 2.5 stars rounded to three for its possibilities. Felt rushed from about the middle to the end but has potential.
January 1, 2021
If I had to pick a word for this book, I'd go with "competent."
It was a fair read - but a rather boring one. There's a reason I didn't pick "comfortable" or "familiar" to describe this title; those words sound too fond to really convey how detached I felt while reading this book. It does nothing in particular wrong, and in fact, does a fair amount right, but there was a sense of deja vu to reading this, with a plot so predictable it had played out in my mind almost beat for beat in my head before I reached the end. There are stories that hit a lot of common tropes, and then there are stories that seem to be running on a checklist, and this is just a few hairs shy of being one of the latter.
It's a typical fantasy story - four kids discover they're different from their peers, and are taken under the wing of an older, wiser mentor to learn their new powers and come to terms with their destinies. Characters must hide their new, fascinating powers/abilities/heritage/secret world from their peers whilst overcoming the new challenges that those new blessings take. All the while, a villain lurking in the shadows threatens to destroy this new, magical world the protagonists have come into, by corrupting it or taking the power for themselves, and once their mentors are compromised, these new, green heroes must test their mettle against the big bad, or else they and the magical world they protect will.... well. You know the drill.
The thing is, secret magical worlds, and secret magical destinies, are kind of my bread and butter. They can almost all be boiled down to such a plot with little to no variation on it, and - well - as Hallmark Movies and Superhero Flicks prove, sometimes predictable plots aren't a flaw, they're a bonus! When. Done. Well. "Changers" had all the beats I look for in a new series: characters who come from different backgrounds and social statuses, learning to work together, to master cool hidden powers, all to save a magical world hidden right under our noses. It had potential, and yet I found myself remarkably detached from the story thanks to the lack of emotional complexity put into it.
Mack, for example. He's the only kid with a family member directly involved with the magical world, (so far,) and his Grandfather's legacy is closely tied with the villain and the plot, a legacy which is a lot of pressure to live up to. At least, you'd think. But see, Mack's the last of the four to learn how to Change, having to sit on the sidelines while the other three stretch their newly-Changed muscles, and for a kid who always dreamed of having a magical destiny, this is a huge disappointment for him. So he spends the lion's share of the book acting frustrated - acting *cheated*, really, because he's the only one of the four who actually WANTED this, and his Grandfather won't help him Change for some plot contrived reason - and since changing seems to be instinctual, rather than something taught or mastered, the plot gives him little to do but pout about it.
Imagine, instead, a plot where Kitsune need to be in a state of calm in order to Change, and Mack's growing anxieties at being left behind leave him unable to master the Zen state of mind required to join his friends. Mack would have something to learn, and thus something tangible to fail at, and something that dove into the depths of his character. Why does the mundane world bore him so? Why does he fear being ordinary? How can he let go of his growing self doubt and find calm in the face of such odds seen at the end of the book?
(It also gives him a real reason to be frustrated at his Grandfather's lack of teaching; surely there must be a ~trick~ to meditating, he thinks, while his Grandpa knows that Mack's problems are deeper than a simple breathing exercise can resolve, but I digress.)
The other characters felt... similarly lacking, to me. Fiona's storyline felt like it was the most fleshed out of the bunch, and I felt like I could almost feel her thrill when she changed for the first time. But the moment I heard Fiona's backstory, and saw the distant figure in the water... well, let's just say Fiona's whole character arc passed before my eyes in an instant - a plotline that this series won't cover until *book four.* If the series' most complex character is so easy to figure out, that should tell you something.
The characters' motivations do their job well enough, but the social and emotional problems they face are very shallow. Surface level, and nothing much more, which can lead to a bit of a boring read for those who connect to stories through characters they relate to.
Now- a break from the lamenting to bring you the pros!
I am fairly well versed in mythology, or I'd like to think so, anyway, but the mythologies the book chooses to focus on - Kitsunes, Selkies, Impudulu, Nahuals - had even me browsing wikipedia for more information. This series would undoubtedly introduce a lot of kids to new mythologies and cultures they're unfamiliar with. Also! The characters' ethnicities are diverse and actually seem to match the mythological creatures they Change into - a bonus, in my eyes. It's a very deft way to dodge accidental cultural appropriation.
The prose is, again, competent and easy to read, straightforward and understandable. And, however shallow I found the conflicts, the story does set them up and execute the character dynamics it's aiming for. The end seems a little rushed, but it does find a way to bring the young protagonists directly into the conflict with the villain without having the experienced adults throw that destiny on their shoulders. The adults absolutely intend to deal with the Villain head on, themselves, and only end up needing the kids' help because of a very firmly foreshadowed loophole.
Honestly, my biggest problem with the book felt like it was too predictable, too simple, too safe. It actually felt like it was made with being adapted into a tv/cartoon show in mind, rather than just trying to excel on its own as a book. It was a way to pass the time, I suppose, and though I don't feel compelled to pick up the second in the series, reading it wasn't a terrible way to spend an afternoon.
It was a fair read - but a rather boring one. There's a reason I didn't pick "comfortable" or "familiar" to describe this title; those words sound too fond to really convey how detached I felt while reading this book. It does nothing in particular wrong, and in fact, does a fair amount right, but there was a sense of deja vu to reading this, with a plot so predictable it had played out in my mind almost beat for beat in my head before I reached the end. There are stories that hit a lot of common tropes, and then there are stories that seem to be running on a checklist, and this is just a few hairs shy of being one of the latter.
It's a typical fantasy story - four kids discover they're different from their peers, and are taken under the wing of an older, wiser mentor to learn their new powers and come to terms with their destinies. Characters must hide their new, fascinating powers/abilities/heritage/secret world from their peers whilst overcoming the new challenges that those new blessings take. All the while, a villain lurking in the shadows threatens to destroy this new, magical world the protagonists have come into, by corrupting it or taking the power for themselves, and once their mentors are compromised, these new, green heroes must test their mettle against the big bad, or else they and the magical world they protect will.... well. You know the drill.
The thing is, secret magical worlds, and secret magical destinies, are kind of my bread and butter. They can almost all be boiled down to such a plot with little to no variation on it, and - well - as Hallmark Movies and Superhero Flicks prove, sometimes predictable plots aren't a flaw, they're a bonus! When. Done. Well. "Changers" had all the beats I look for in a new series: characters who come from different backgrounds and social statuses, learning to work together, to master cool hidden powers, all to save a magical world hidden right under our noses. It had potential, and yet I found myself remarkably detached from the story thanks to the lack of emotional complexity put into it.
Mack, for example. He's the only kid with a family member directly involved with the magical world, (so far,) and his Grandfather's legacy is closely tied with the villain and the plot, a legacy which is a lot of pressure to live up to. At least, you'd think. But see, Mack's the last of the four to learn how to Change, having to sit on the sidelines while the other three stretch their newly-Changed muscles, and for a kid who always dreamed of having a magical destiny, this is a huge disappointment for him. So he spends the lion's share of the book acting frustrated - acting *cheated*, really, because he's the only one of the four who actually WANTED this, and his Grandfather won't help him Change for some plot contrived reason - and since changing seems to be instinctual, rather than something taught or mastered, the plot gives him little to do but pout about it.
Imagine, instead, a plot where Kitsune need to be in a state of calm in order to Change, and Mack's growing anxieties at being left behind leave him unable to master the Zen state of mind required to join his friends. Mack would have something to learn, and thus something tangible to fail at, and something that dove into the depths of his character. Why does the mundane world bore him so? Why does he fear being ordinary? How can he let go of his growing self doubt and find calm in the face of such odds seen at the end of the book?
(It also gives him a real reason to be frustrated at his Grandfather's lack of teaching; surely there must be a ~trick~ to meditating, he thinks, while his Grandpa knows that Mack's problems are deeper than a simple breathing exercise can resolve, but I digress.)
The other characters felt... similarly lacking, to me. Fiona's storyline felt like it was the most fleshed out of the bunch, and I felt like I could almost feel her thrill when she changed for the first time. But the moment I heard Fiona's backstory, and saw the distant figure in the water... well, let's just say Fiona's whole character arc passed before my eyes in an instant - a plotline that this series won't cover until *book four.* If the series' most complex character is so easy to figure out, that should tell you something.
The characters' motivations do their job well enough, but the social and emotional problems they face are very shallow. Surface level, and nothing much more, which can lead to a bit of a boring read for those who connect to stories through characters they relate to.
Now- a break from the lamenting to bring you the pros!
I am fairly well versed in mythology, or I'd like to think so, anyway, but the mythologies the book chooses to focus on - Kitsunes, Selkies, Impudulu, Nahuals - had even me browsing wikipedia for more information. This series would undoubtedly introduce a lot of kids to new mythologies and cultures they're unfamiliar with. Also! The characters' ethnicities are diverse and actually seem to match the mythological creatures they Change into - a bonus, in my eyes. It's a very deft way to dodge accidental cultural appropriation.
The prose is, again, competent and easy to read, straightforward and understandable. And, however shallow I found the conflicts, the story does set them up and execute the character dynamics it's aiming for. The end seems a little rushed, but it does find a way to bring the young protagonists directly into the conflict with the villain without having the experienced adults throw that destiny on their shoulders. The adults absolutely intend to deal with the Villain head on, themselves, and only end up needing the kids' help because of a very firmly foreshadowed loophole.
Honestly, my biggest problem with the book felt like it was too predictable, too simple, too safe. It actually felt like it was made with being adapted into a tv/cartoon show in mind, rather than just trying to excel on its own as a book. It was a way to pass the time, I suppose, and though I don't feel compelled to pick up the second in the series, reading it wasn't a terrible way to spend an afternoon.
February 25, 2017
Easy reading, fast-paced and imaginative
Recommended to all my children and grands. What a youth or young adult book should be. Clean. Encouraging. Good values.
Recommended to all my children and grands. What a youth or young adult book should be. Clean. Encouraging. Good values.
September 13, 2024
really good
November 6, 2016
Varian, H.K. The Gathering Storm (The Hidden World of Changers), 167 pages. Simon & Schuster. 2016. $17.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: G;
Four students in middle school are surprised to find their last class for the day is P.E. Independent Study. They barely know each other, but Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella all become connected when they learn they are Changers. Each of them have the ability to transform into mythological creatures. Not long after they start to explore their newfound abilities, they learn that a powerful warlock is heading for their town.
I was hooked from the second page of this book and didn't want to put it down! This is one I will be recommending to readers, especially those that like Spirit Animals. I can't wait to read the second book in this intriguing and captivating series!
EL (K-3) & EL, MS - ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Amy, Elementary Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Four students in middle school are surprised to find their last class for the day is P.E. Independent Study. They barely know each other, but Mack, Fiona, Darren, and Gabriella all become connected when they learn they are Changers. Each of them have the ability to transform into mythological creatures. Not long after they start to explore their newfound abilities, they learn that a powerful warlock is heading for their town.
I was hooked from the second page of this book and didn't want to put it down! This is one I will be recommending to readers, especially those that like Spirit Animals. I can't wait to read the second book in this intriguing and captivating series!
EL (K-3) & EL, MS - ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Amy, Elementary Teacher.
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
March 23, 2016
The mark of a good juvie book is capturing and keeping the attention of the child reading. And while my eleven year old self would have loved this book, my adult self was not as big of a fan. The premise was enticing and the storyline had promise... unfortunately the book felt rushed. The mark of a great juvie book is one that as an adult, I can still read and be excited about.
I hope that Varian can grow his characters adequately in the next 3 installments so that the reader will fall in love with them. If not, the books will end up being ones that you read once and forget about.
I hope that Varian can grow his characters adequately in the next 3 installments so that the reader will fall in love with them. If not, the books will end up being ones that you read once and forget about.
April 7, 2017
The book overall was pretty good. There were points of confusion trying to pronounce the Changer names. I like the idea of Changers, a world with people that have powers and shapeshifting. I liked how each chapter sort of switched between the characters. I liked that the author put a description of a Changer at the beginning. I am happy that it is part of a series so I can read more. The coolest part I'd say, is all the different Changer animals that people turn into.
September 16, 2018
Even I give credit for the world building and incorporating different mythologies in way that grade schoolers can enjoy...I found the plot to be very cliche and stereotypical plus the short length made things feel too rushed.
Read
September 19, 2017This is a good book if you like fun reads. I recommend this book to people who like kids with superpowers.
May 13, 2018
An interesting beginning of a new series. Although a bit predictable, it would be excellent for those middle schoolers who like fantasy, adventure, action, and diversity. Makato Kimura discovers that he is a kitsune (fox spirit) and has special Changer powers. He meets others like him (a selkie, an impudulu, and a nahual) who must battle an evil sorcerer. There is not much information on the sorcerer, which I am sure will be forthcoming. Also, the origins of each and family connection will be forthcoming. Not only does Varian write with an easy prose, he includes mythology that many students will not be familiar with, thereby teaching them some new cultural myths.
April 24, 2020
The first in a series about four teens that discover they can change into different animals from mythology.
This book focuses on the teens discovering their powers and starting their training. The point of view for this story is Mack who can change into a kitsune from the Far East. It looks like a fox with flaming paws and up to 9 tails.
A powerful wizard is trying to force the changers into becoming his army. It falls to the four youngest changers to try and stop him.
This isn't a bad series but it is geared to younger readers. While adults can enjoy it, it will seem on the simplistic side to them.
This book focuses on the teens discovering their powers and starting their training. The point of view for this story is Mack who can change into a kitsune from the Far East. It looks like a fox with flaming paws and up to 9 tails.
A powerful wizard is trying to force the changers into becoming his army. It falls to the four youngest changers to try and stop him.
This isn't a bad series but it is geared to younger readers. While adults can enjoy it, it will seem on the simplistic side to them.
September 11, 2018
It was a fun kids read. Good for a 4th grader to 6th. It was a clean read no swearing or vulgar words. One part had a mild sarcastic remark send no serious violence. Kept interest, would read out loud.
Read
October 8, 2023I'm in awe of the storytelling in this book. The plot is intricate, and the characters are so well-drawn that they felt like old friends. The emotional depth of the story had me laughing, crying, and everything in between. It's a true masterpiece, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
January 14, 2019
An okay read.
March 15, 2019
The BEST book I ever read. It was SO awesome!
#ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!
#ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!
November 13, 2020
From a 10 yr old: It is awesome. I love learning about kitsune.
March 19, 2021
I like the... everything!
November 23, 2023
3.5
Good, solid start to a new series. The writing is good, and the characters don't feel like cutouts. I'm interested to read the second.
Good, solid start to a new series. The writing is good, and the characters don't feel like cutouts. I'm interested to read the second.
January 16, 2024
Read this whole series with my 9 year old son. We really enjoyed them. Great fantasy/action books for kids!
February 8, 2024
Great start to the series, but missing something
April 13, 2020
4 stars not 4.5 because of the ending/ middle. It felt really rushed towards the end, and they were able to fight and almost kill the bad guy, when they didn’t even practice that much with their powers. And the bad guy was suppose to be this big powerful guy but..... not so much. And it was kind of predictable.
September 3, 2016
This was a fast, easy read about a group of kids who are not friends, but find out that they have a common bond. They need to pull together to save the people they care about, and to figure out who they are as a team.
This will be good for a 5th grade book talk.
This will be good for a 5th grade book talk.
April 7, 2017
This was a very quick read. Some of the plot points are hard to buy and the action unfolds a bit too quickly. However, in an elementary library, I can see this being a very popular chapter book series.
April 10, 2017
the words were spaced
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews