This Peculiar Magic

by Jenny Kalahar

“What kind of a crummy magical power is that?”
What if you’d been practically invisible for years and years, finally get visible, and then find out that you’re stuck with the world’s worst-ever magical ability?
That’s exactly what happened to Finley R. Thompson.
Everything about his new power stinks. Before he could even get used to the idea of his skill, he’d been whisked away to a tiny town somewhere in the stubbly cornfields of Indiana. There, he and a group of teens from around the world with that same peculiar magical ability will live and train in a giant building that looks boring and bland to the outside world, but on the inside …
The fantastic hallways of Flatch Academy are overwhelming and enchanting, but there is a dark, mysterious and frightening side to the Flats’ super-secret society. Will Finley find out the one truth that could change everything for so many kids who have been made invisible, too? And is he the boy they’ve all been waiting for for centuries?

232 pages, ebook

Published March 17, 2016

About the author

Jenny Kalahar is the author of fifteen books and has been published in several anthologies, in literary journals, and in her humor column in Tails Magazine. She is the editor of Last Stanza Poetry Journal. She and Patrick previously owned bookshops in Michigan and Ohio, and now sell books via the internet. Jenny is the publisher for the Poetry Society of Indiana and the founder and leader of Last Stanza Poetry Association. She was nominated for the Indiana state Poet Laureate position, a Best of the Net, and twice for a Pushcart Prize in poetry. When not writing, reading, or working with old books, she loves expeditions through flea markets and playing piano and percussion.

Reviews

[H L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original premise that is well executed and holds the reader's attention to the end. Unlike other magic school or super hero academy stories there are no competitions or rivalries between students. It's different and enjoyable with more depth than expected and I recommend it. The only drawback was I fethe ending was a bit rushed

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't decide whether to give this book a 3 or a 4, because in reality I would consider it somewhere around a 3.33, and since that doesn't get to the halfway point, I had to go with 3 stars. Overall, it's sort of a semi-interesting story about a kid who enters a magic school. I am a great lover of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books, and I really wanted something that would help fill that spot, but this didn't really do it, I'm sad to say, though clearly the author was trying. This book was not edited well, as I found several spelling mistakes that really should have been easy to find. I also just could not get behind the manner of magic they use. I won't get into it so as not to give anything away, but let's just say, it's not a pleasant topic, and I seriously doubt this will ever result in a movie series. I think there really must have been a better kind of magic the author could have come up with. I also noticed quite a bit of repetition of subject that just seemed altogether unnecessary. Beyond that, the story took a lot of building up and then finished off a bit suddenly. I wish there had been more in-depth explanation about what the teachers were all up to and aware of, but perhaps that will come later In my opinion, the writing was pretty good, but not great.

Having said all of that, though, there are interesting parts of the story and it's certainly family-friendly and all the characters are ridiculously nice. I am curious to see what becomes of the main character and his guide, so I might consider reading book number 2. Clearly the author is planning at least 6 books in the series because graduating from the school takes at least 6 years (and a possible mysterious 6A level). I am hoping things improve in the sequels.