Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility

Tommy Black #2

by Jake Kerr

In this widely anticipated second volume of the Tommy Black series, Tommy finds himself searching for magical artifacts and fighting Nazi magicians in World War 2 Europe. Dedicated to reshaping his family's legacy, Tommy Black has spent two years mastering the powerful Staff of Light and freeing the magical creatures in England. While he was focusing on his personal mission, however, Germany had invaded Europe, igniting the flames of world war. Desiring to help, Tommy volunteers to free the magical creatures in Germany to disrupt the Nazi war machine. Joined by his friend, the powerful magician Naomi, and two others, the group soon discover an extraordinary secret that changes everything--Tommy may not be the only Archmage in the world.

Genres: Middle Grade, Adventure, Speculative Fiction, Fantasy

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

After fifteen years as a music industry journalist Jake Kerr's first published story, "The Old Equations," was nominated for the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards. His stories have subsequently been published in magazines across the world, broadcast in multiple podcasts, and been published in multiple anthologies and year's best collections.

A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his family and a menagerie of pets.

Reviews

[S.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I read the first book in this series. Somehow this one slipped into my TBR and only recently saw the light of day. But as I read it, memories of the first book came back to me, giving me some background (although missing parts, I'm sure) on the story and characters.

A little back story to help you along. Tommy Black is a young teen who has discovered that his parents were not what they seemed, and that he has a legacy that he just cannot ignore. In the first book, Tommy Black and the Staff of Light, Amazon describes it as:"New York. 1938. Living in the quiet apartment of his overprotective grandfather, fourteen-year-old Tommy Black knows little about a world on the brink of war. But when he and his grandfather are attacked by ominous shadow creatures on a Saturday afternoon walk, Tommy learns not just about the trouble in Europe, but that magic exists, his grandfather is a great Archmage, and he is heir to his grandfather's magical staff--a staff he has no idea how to control."

So book 1 focuses on Tommy coming to terms with his newfound heritage and learning how to master the Staff of Light.

Now onto book 2. Tommy has spent a couple of years mastering his newfound talents and is desperate to 'reshape his family's legacy' and to continue his work to free the magical creatures that have been enslaved by the world. Tommy is a very likable hero. He seems genuine and not caught up in selfish endeavors just to better his own comfort.

This book is about growing and moving through challenges. Tommy's intentions are noble, but he needs to deal with the remnants of some fractured relationships from the first book. These are the first steps toward realizing his overall goal. He reunites with Naomi, and its the discoveries they make about themselves and each other that shape the path they take. Both characters are done well. They have their own strengths and weaknesses to deal with and work hard to find a balance. The author has done a great job and from the reviews I have read, it has gleaned similar thoughts from other readers.

As I write this review I have found there are only 2 books in this series. That surprises me, as I think there are definitely more stories to tell. I hadn't thought that this second book was the end. I felt the story was still incomplete and left open for more. If this is the last of the series, then I'm a little disappointed, as I would like to have read more on the adventures of Tommy and Naomi.

In a Nutshell:
A nicely done story of a teenage boy learning to deal with a life that is full of surprises. Tommy Black is hero with heart and friends that are loyal and brave. Recommended for MG fans that like to be lost in magic and mystery.

[C.J. Milbrandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second installment in what promises to be a trilogy. Mages and fading magic. War efforts and language barriers. Illusions and explosions. Friendship and ifrit.

Kerr has set up an intriguing world, and I like Tommy's idealistic outlook. His choices clash interestingly with Naomi's more aggressive approach. Honestly, I had a harder time settling in with this installment. There's been a time skip, so there's a lot of recap as we're reacquainted with cast and setting. Then there's planning, organizing, questioning, traveling ... and generally moving the characters into position ... for the finale that awaits in Book 3.

Iggy kind of saved the book for me. I hope the final installment releases someday soon.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little harder to get into than the first book in the series but worth it once you do. It has all the humor and action of the first book and does not dissapoint. I read the last third of the book in one sitting as I had to see how it turned out.

[Katie Mulry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's been around a year since I read Tommy Black and the Staff of Light and didn't remember everything that happened, I really enjoyed reading the sequel. I liked seeing how the characters changed over two years apart and how they grew, and how the plot of the entire series became more evident, with Tommy's quest to find the other two artifacts. I loved the historical element in the first book, and I enjoyed it even more here, with Tommy and his friends fighting Nazis and traveling war-torn Europe. Once again, there were some important questions about magic and its uses raised, and it was especially interesting to me to see how different characters coped with magic starting to die. I loved reading about Tommy and Naomi's relationship, especially since they're friends in this book and can joke a lot more than in the first. I also really liked how Tommy had trouble controlling and using magic. I feel like in a lot of fantasy books, the main character is the "chosen one" who's automatically perfect at magic without ever having to try, and I think the Tommy Black series is kind of unique in that Tommy's the opposite of that, and that he really doesn't deserve the staff and the power it holds. That added a lot of interesting internal conflict, both in this book and the previous one, and I really enjoyed it. I'm excited for the sequel!

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis- Tommy Black has freed most of the marids in England and America – magical beasts that were enslaved and placed into locomotive engines – and is currently at odds with the greatest magician in England because of it. Because of the second world war going on, and the need for transport (trains!) is great, Tommy has effectively put Britain at odds to winning against Germany. So, a deal is made – Tommy won’t be stopped from his mission of freeing enslaved magical creatures, and he will actually be given resources to do so… If he goes into Germany to free their enslaved creatures. Tommy accepts, and he and his friends get ready to go to Germany. But what happens when Tommy’s Staff of Light begins working unreliably?

What I Thought- This was an amazing book. I found it pretty ironic that Tommy never actually sets foot in Germany at all. That was a tad funny. The story takes a realistic side-trip, and the plot spurs on from that. The book is mostly action, with a little bit of darkness, and a little bit of humor. It reads almost as if you were at a movie theater. There is a lot of character development within Tommy, as he matures and comes more into his role as Archmage. Mr. Kerr has a good writing style that draws you into the book, making it appear rather realistic, and leaving the reader wishing it was possible to live in the world created. I enjoyed this book immensely, didn’t expect certain twists, and can’t wait for book 3!
*NOTE* I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book

[Jose Antonio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was in great need of further proof-reading before publishing. The spelling, grammatical and typing mistakes are numerous and egregious, and really pulled me out of the reading experience. Not that it was much of an involving read to begin. It took long to really get going, the name-dropping felt contrived, Tommy's crush on Naomi isn't exactly engaging (I don't find myself rooting for that couple) and everyone calling themselves the heir of Jamshid got on my nerves pretty quickly. I was especially annoyed (almost angry) by a certain character who claims the title full of righteousness when she had received her artifact from someone to whom she wasn't even related. You don't become a rightful heir by receiving a present! (Or maybe you could, but only under certain circumstances which definitely don't happen in the book.)

That said, the battles are exciting and the book does eventually turn into a fun read. And having Naomi being a badass mighty warrior and the most powerful magician in the world, rather than just a sidekick or, worse, a D.I.D., is refreshing.

All in all, even if the second volume wasn't as good as the first one, I am looking forward to the third.

[Christine Ottaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book though I felt at a disadvantage having not read the first one. It felt like joining a conversation that had been going a while. I struggled a little with names and places and when the book was supposedly set - was it at a known or fictions point in history?
If it was indeed set during the actual Second World War the author needs to work a lot harder at historical accuracy. France was occupied by the Nazis in the IIWW and there would've been no British camp outside Paris for the magical train to deposit the protagonists. The French also had no authority under the occupation - Nazis rule OK - so no one would have been handed over to the French authorities - there were none.
Having said all that it was an exciting book, well written and the interplay between Tommy and Naomi worked well. Some of the other characters were less convincing. However I will make the effort to read The Staff of Light.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable follow-up to the Staff of Light. If predictable, it was still a fun sequel.