What do you think?
The Boy Who Went Magic
They say magic is long-gone … but is it?
A chain of fantastical mishaps in schoolboy Bert’s dull life spiral out of control – but then he’s rescued by Finch, a plucky girl-adventurer with metal legs. Soon they’re sailing through the clouds on a pirate airship bound for the forgotten land of Ferenor. Magic is their destination, for reasons Bert will soon discover …
A rip-roaring fantasy adventure of friendship, courage and discovery, perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer.
A chain of fantastical mishaps in schoolboy Bert’s dull life spiral out of control – but then he’s rescued by Finch, a plucky girl-adventurer with metal legs. Soon they’re sailing through the clouds on a pirate airship bound for the forgotten land of Ferenor. Magic is their destination, for reasons Bert will soon discover …
A rip-roaring fantasy adventure of friendship, courage and discovery, perfect for fans of Eoin Colfer.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 4, 2017
I wanted to know more about Bert from the outset. He is rescued from a family who are branded as traitors to the throne. The man who rescues him doesn’t leave an identity, but pays for his education in full, and keeps quiet tabs on Bert. Likewise, Bert’s friend Norton is entirely miserable in Penvellyn. He’d much rather tag along with Bert.
Norton’s relationship with Bert was a highlight of the story. At the start, Bert leaves Norton in school. Bert is desperate for a ‘proper adventure’, and will leave his friend behind if need-be. Bert’s biggest development as a character is in the respect he finds for his friend, and I liked him better for it.
There were so many great locations, at times I wished we had a book for each one. The school, the airship and the strange land of Ferenor – it was like the ultimate Lego game, spread out over an afternoon, in which the adventurer’s legs are pulled off and swapped with the mech’s, while the other adventurer gets the pirate hat. That kind of adventure. A.P. Winter deserves credit. It is difficult to make a world like that believable, but he does so with aplomb. I think this is due to the everyday touches – the school, the museum and the bank, and how totally recognisable they were even with the strange objects inside.
The middle of the story was strong. Wherever there was a goal within the story, there were obstacles. This was interesting from my perspective as an aspiring writer, to see how Winter kept the action going.
The history between Penvellyn and Ferenor acted as a story-within-a-story. The ending implies a sequel. I hope we will find out more about the relationship between the two worlds, and what happened to the mages of Ferenor. Bert learns something pretty huge about himself in the last pages, which hints at the direction the story might take.
There are things we could have learned about Norton. Things we could have learned about the Professor and his airship, and about the land of Ferenor. That can’t be a complaint. It’s more of an impatience. It seems there is more to come, and the first book has whetted my appetite.
Norton’s relationship with Bert was a highlight of the story. At the start, Bert leaves Norton in school. Bert is desperate for a ‘proper adventure’, and will leave his friend behind if need-be. Bert’s biggest development as a character is in the respect he finds for his friend, and I liked him better for it.
There were so many great locations, at times I wished we had a book for each one. The school, the airship and the strange land of Ferenor – it was like the ultimate Lego game, spread out over an afternoon, in which the adventurer’s legs are pulled off and swapped with the mech’s, while the other adventurer gets the pirate hat. That kind of adventure. A.P. Winter deserves credit. It is difficult to make a world like that believable, but he does so with aplomb. I think this is due to the everyday touches – the school, the museum and the bank, and how totally recognisable they were even with the strange objects inside.
The middle of the story was strong. Wherever there was a goal within the story, there were obstacles. This was interesting from my perspective as an aspiring writer, to see how Winter kept the action going.
The history between Penvellyn and Ferenor acted as a story-within-a-story. The ending implies a sequel. I hope we will find out more about the relationship between the two worlds, and what happened to the mages of Ferenor. Bert learns something pretty huge about himself in the last pages, which hints at the direction the story might take.
There are things we could have learned about Norton. Things we could have learned about the Professor and his airship, and about the land of Ferenor. That can’t be a complaint. It’s more of an impatience. It seems there is more to come, and the first book has whetted my appetite.
November 15, 2017
Fast-paced, imaginative, and packed with all the stuff I love (airships! Automata! Magic! Arcane derring-do!), I really enjoyed this story. Bert was endearing, Finch was fantastic, and there were plenty of well-drawn adult characters too. I would have liked a bit more lingering on detail in places, and there were a few unanswered questions (hopefully a sequel is in the works), but overall this was a great read. Recommended.
July 11, 2017
In a world where magic has been banned Bert and Finn go on an adventure to find it. But as the 'mission' enters the unknown is everything as it seems?
A terrific novel for kids aged 9-12 or for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, friendship.
A terrific novel for kids aged 9-12 or for anyone who loves adventure, fantasy, friendship.
April 10, 2018
The Boy Who Went Magic, by A.P. Winter, is a fast-paced, high-flying adventure. A steampunk fantasy for middle-grade readers, its characters live in a world of old magic, pirates, airships and mechanical inventions - making it both mysterious and delightful.
13-year-old Bert is an orphan living at a boarding school in Penvellyn, a city that denies the existence of magic. Penvellyn has a long history of unrest between the government and the royals, with the latter’s power waning as government control increases. When Bert’s class takes a trip to the city’s national museum, the adventure takes off at breakneck speed after Bert meets a pirate named The Professor and finds a magic mirror that sends him through it. What he “sees” on the other side is Prince Voss, a royal obsessed with bringing old magic back to the city along with his own power. Bert, The Professor, the Professor’s daughter Finch (who has mechanical legs) and Bert’s friend Norton are soon swept up in a swashbuckling adventure to the famous land of Ferenor, the fabled city where magic ruled more than two hundred years before. Hanging in the balance is the fate of their city, their future - but also the question of Bert’s past. Do the answers lie in the castle that hangs within the clouds? In order to get there, they’ll have to survive an airship battle and a band of dead pirates first!
A story that is high on action, The Boy Who Went Magic will keep young readers turning its pages to find out what happens next. Having not had much experience with the steampunk genre, but having a taste for both fantasy and adventure nonetheless - as I read of airships and pirates I was reminded of both The Golden Compass & Treasure Island. Kids who are into high-flying adventure, pirates, battles - and overall, like to mix magic with mayhem - should definitely give this book a look.
*Received ARC from Kidlit Exchange & Chicken House (Scholastic) in exchange for an honest review.
13-year-old Bert is an orphan living at a boarding school in Penvellyn, a city that denies the existence of magic. Penvellyn has a long history of unrest between the government and the royals, with the latter’s power waning as government control increases. When Bert’s class takes a trip to the city’s national museum, the adventure takes off at breakneck speed after Bert meets a pirate named The Professor and finds a magic mirror that sends him through it. What he “sees” on the other side is Prince Voss, a royal obsessed with bringing old magic back to the city along with his own power. Bert, The Professor, the Professor’s daughter Finch (who has mechanical legs) and Bert’s friend Norton are soon swept up in a swashbuckling adventure to the famous land of Ferenor, the fabled city where magic ruled more than two hundred years before. Hanging in the balance is the fate of their city, their future - but also the question of Bert’s past. Do the answers lie in the castle that hangs within the clouds? In order to get there, they’ll have to survive an airship battle and a band of dead pirates first!
A story that is high on action, The Boy Who Went Magic will keep young readers turning its pages to find out what happens next. Having not had much experience with the steampunk genre, but having a taste for both fantasy and adventure nonetheless - as I read of airships and pirates I was reminded of both The Golden Compass & Treasure Island. Kids who are into high-flying adventure, pirates, battles - and overall, like to mix magic with mayhem - should definitely give this book a look.
*Received ARC from Kidlit Exchange & Chicken House (Scholastic) in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2018
While this is an interesting story about the advent of magic in a magic-less world, I was less than satisfied with it. Bert is an orphan brought through mysterious circumstances to a school that teaches outmoded lessons like fencing. He’s looked down on by the other kids because he made the mistake of talking wistfully about magic. He gets picked on by the nasty, trash-talking Freston. Then he makes friends with a boy called Norton and a rambunctious girl pirate with metal legs called Finch.
So we already have vague reminiscences of Harry Potter, what with the tragic loss of parents, a weird school and unusual friends of opposite genders. Harry—I mean Bert—stumbles upon magic by accident and doesn’t wield it with any great finesse although he calls it up sometimes under extremis.
Where the novel feels really hollow is in his relationships with Norton and Finch. Norton turns out to be his spirit familiar…or guide, it’s hard to know which. Norton is invisible and inaudible to others and he has a depressed personality that makes Edgar Allan Poe look like Madonna. Finch is lively enough but Bert’s interactions with her aren’t as deep or fervent as they are with Norton, who after all isn’t a person in a real sense of the word.
So while this story is fair in its steampunk and magical elements, the personal relations between characters aren’t as strong as they could be, which weakens reader involvement or concern about the outcome.
So we already have vague reminiscences of Harry Potter, what with the tragic loss of parents, a weird school and unusual friends of opposite genders. Harry—I mean Bert—stumbles upon magic by accident and doesn’t wield it with any great finesse although he calls it up sometimes under extremis.
Where the novel feels really hollow is in his relationships with Norton and Finch. Norton turns out to be his spirit familiar…or guide, it’s hard to know which. Norton is invisible and inaudible to others and he has a depressed personality that makes Edgar Allan Poe look like Madonna. Finch is lively enough but Bert’s interactions with her aren’t as deep or fervent as they are with Norton, who after all isn’t a person in a real sense of the word.
So while this story is fair in its steampunk and magical elements, the personal relations between characters aren’t as strong as they could be, which weakens reader involvement or concern about the outcome.
July 14, 2017
Fantastic (in every sense) novel for young children - and people young at heart. Airships, fights, adventure, wickedness, gadgets, betrayal and, of course, magic, it's a fast moving magical tale that'll delight, alarm and excite the younger reader. Oh to have had books like this to read when I was kid! If you like Harry Potter and Eoin Colfer, you'll love this.
July 1, 2018
Didn't enjoy this. The writing was clunky, the character development was nonexistent and the plot seemed like the author got it by throwing darts at a board of different choices. None of it worked for me.
October 10, 2018
As a young boy Bert was saved from soldiers by a stranger. This stranger even paid for his schooling at a boarding school. All was going well until one day his school group went on a field trip to a New Museum of magic. From then on his life will never be the same.
Bert finds thing out about his past who he is and things about his parents and the guy who dropped him off the and paid for all his schooling.
A bad prince named Vos who wants to rule the kingdom. He wants to be the only one to have magic and will do whatever it takes to accomplish this. Vos knows what happens in the museum to Bert and tracks him down. He wants to take whatever magic he thinks Bert got in the museum away from him and kill him.
His Friend Norton was with him when Vos put Bert into prison and on the adventure to Fereno. Now he is in trouble and Bert will do whatever he has to do. Bert needs to recue Norton before it's to late.
Bert needs to do away with Vos and make the world safe.
Bert finds thing out about his past who he is and things about his parents and the guy who dropped him off the and paid for all his schooling.
A bad prince named Vos who wants to rule the kingdom. He wants to be the only one to have magic and will do whatever it takes to accomplish this. Vos knows what happens in the museum to Bert and tracks him down. He wants to take whatever magic he thinks Bert got in the museum away from him and kill him.
His Friend Norton was with him when Vos put Bert into prison and on the adventure to Fereno. Now he is in trouble and Bert will do whatever he has to do. Bert needs to recue Norton before it's to late.
Bert needs to do away with Vos and make the world safe.
June 13, 2018
This book is steampunk meets Harry Potter meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Casper the Friendly Ghost. I must say, without giving anything away, that I was so delighted to learn there was more to Norton than meets the eye. Because at first, his character seemed quite flat and rather boring, which contrasted with all the other cool, interesting, well-rounded characters, which in fact made the book memorable. I loved the professor/pirate and his no-nonsense daughter, Finch, who had metal legs but didn’t let that stop her from adventure. Bert was everything we’d want in a reluctant hero. There were certainly some familiar tropes, and I’d say this is on the quieter side of steampunk, BUT what sets it apart is the unexpected plot.
October 1, 2025
I thought that The Boy Who Went Magic was a fun and interesting read. The plot is good, the lands are well-described, and the journey is exciting. The characters are also very fun. My issue with it is that the characters seem to feel no negative emotions about some very upsetting things. The book can go from climbing around in the snow to walking between dead bodies, and the characters' emotions don't change. They also never feel bad about destroying an entire town. They only care about their ally's, and the death of their enemies is just another emotionless victory. The characters are all very one-sided, too.
August 2, 2017
For all its 270+ pages this was a very fast read. Lots happening. Intrigue. Murderous power-hungry villain. Unique kid protagonist. Lots of travelling around in airships. The writing style was a bit sparse. A bit like the level of writing in the Beast Quest series with just a little more detail. Sometimes it read like a beat sheet and there was a lot of 'telling'. Horses for courses though. Not a bad read for the lower end of the 9 - 12 age range. (about 3.5 stars, maybe slightly more for enthusiasm).
April 22, 2018
Another for the middle-grade steampunk collection; The Boy Who Went Magic is unusually not set in Victorian England (for which I love it for trying something different). Of all the books in this genre, the pacing reminded me of Sky Thieves and the setting more like Sabriel. It's a quick, pacy read; the characters are just a touch flat for me and I wanted a little bit more detail on the world-building and magic system but that may be my perspective as an adult fan of the genre. If you've enjoyed Eye of the North, Cogheart or Brightstorm this is definitely one to try.
January 7, 2019
The beginning of this book starts with a immediate adventure and reference to a magical past. The drop-off of a young boy at a boarding school made me think this must be a Harry Potter knock-off. As typical, the main character is marked by magic. However, by mid book the adventure turns a bit, taking a more steampunk magical future.
Nothing here is overly remarkable, but I hope to see a future sequel, I felt like this book was just getting going once it was over.
Side note: Side characters seem a little less developed than this magical world.
Nothing here is overly remarkable, but I hope to see a future sequel, I felt like this book was just getting going once it was over.
Side note: Side characters seem a little less developed than this magical world.
March 4, 2018
In a steampunkish world where there hasn’t been magic for over 200 years, a schoolboy with a hazy past “goes magic” after a strange accident at a museum. Suddenly, his life is in danger with the government “quaesters” and a terrifying prince after him. So he puts his trust in his melancholy friend Norton (who possesses enough ennui for 200 emo boys) and a band of airship pirates. It is full of adventure, magic, suspense, and humour.
May 14, 2018
The Boy Who Went Magic is a book about a boy named Bert who got magic powers after he touched a magical artifact. This book isn’t the best book but it isn’t the worst book either. There is plenty of activity which is nice. The plot isn’t that complex so it’s more of a book to pass away time way. It’s a typical book with a main character, an evil villain guy who wants something from the min character and helpful old guy who helps main character.
November 18, 2024
My kid has to read this for school, so I was curious and read it too. Very fast, imaginative and enjoyable read, but I wish the teachers would choose some non-male-centric books.
In this book, the protagonist and antagonist are male, the protag's best friend is male, the other adults in the protag's life are male, and seemingly all of the antagonist's staff are male. The supporting-act females feel like an afterthought. :/
In this book, the protagonist and antagonist are male, the protag's best friend is male, the other adults in the protag's life are male, and seemingly all of the antagonist's staff are male. The supporting-act females feel like an afterthought. :/
June 22, 2019
I picked this up at the library while my daughter was busy finding her own story to read. It’s always nice to read a book about magic. It’s similar to Harry Potter book in a sense that they both didn’t know that magic was within them, and that just it. It was an easy read and a quick escape to another world. 😊💖🌈📚🌤
February 24, 2026
If you’re a fan of castle in the sky you will enjoy this book. It has so many of the same elements and creates an adventurous world that feels extremely similar.
I wish the magic system could’ve been expanded upon and the climactic ending flushed out further but other than that, it was a fun read.
Immediate review and unedited, 4.5*
I wish the magic system could’ve been expanded upon and the climactic ending flushed out further but other than that, it was a fun read.
Immediate review and unedited, 4.5*
December 1, 2017
I think I was expecting something more spectacular. Read like a boy finding magic existing and flying on a dirigable, crashing and seeing what it has wrought might be like.
It was okay but I liked the cover more.
It was okay but I liked the cover more.
June 16, 2017
We all need a friend like Norton.
July 15, 2017
Great book.
December 10, 2018
A new read a like for Harry Potter Fans!
February 8, 2019
How can you not get excited for a protagonist who gets extricated from his orphanage by sky pirates in search of forbidden magic? This is a fun, imaginative adventure.
February 16, 2019
Really enjoyed this book
May 2, 2020
A nice easy read for fans of Harry Potter and Mortal Engines. And airships, I do love a story with an airship.
December 4, 2021
A fun adventure with pirates and magic and dirigibles. What more could one want?
March 15, 2019
The most relatable part is when Bert thinks someone is talking to him But They're Not.
April 8, 2020
The Boy Who Went Magic is a very interesting book about a boy named Bert who touched a "magical" mirror while on a field trip which gave him supernatural powers. This book is something I never thought I would read. It's very creative, which I appreciate. There are a few things I must say, though. Although the story could pull you in sometimes and make you never want to stop reading it, it could get boring at times. Also, I am a person who is very precise, and this book had detail but not enough. It was a very good book besides that.
August 22, 2024
From princes and pirates to airships and forbidden magic, The Boy Who Went Magic can only be described as a rip-roaring adventure that wonderfully balances actions scenes and perilous moments with heart-felt character-centric relationships and interactions.
Aimed at teen readers.
Aimed at teen readers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews