Wizard for Hire

Wizard for Hire #1

by Obert Skye

What if there was a wizard in your hometown who offered his services to anyone in need? What if you were scared because your scientist parents had been kidnapped and you couldn’t tell the police?

What if you stumbled across a classified ad in your local newspaper that read, “Wizard for Hire. Call 555-SPEL”? Would you call?

Fourteen-year-old Ozzy is desperate to find his parents, but he’s not so sure about the ad....He’s read about wizards in books like Harry Potter, but they couldn’t actually exist in the world today, could they?

Enter Labryinth, aka “Rin,” who dresses the part. Sort of. His bathrobe and high-top tennis shoes seem unorthodox. At least Rin acts like a wizard, but Ozzy has his doubts. Do real wizards write notes on their shoes and eat breakfast for every meal? Most of all, Ozzy just wants to know if Rin can cast any magic spells.

With the help of a robotic-talking raven invented by Ozzy’s father, a kind and curious girl at school who decides to help Ozzy, and, of course, a self-proclaimed wizard who may or may not have a magical wand, Ozzy begins an unforgettable quest that will lead him closer to the answers he seeks about his missing parents.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Magic

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2018

About the author

Obert Skye read his first book at age two. He wrote his first story at age four. And he was nearly trampled by a herd of water buffalo at age six. For a short time, he lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where he spent time as a candy-taster. Several years ago, Obert Skye says, he discovered the existence of Foo. Publishing his story as a fictional series was not Obert’s first choice. Nevertheless he is content that the “history” is being told.

Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters.

Reviews

[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Wizard for Hire wasn’t quite what I was expecting, it surprised me (in a good way).

I read middle grade books to recapture some of the magic I felt as a kid venturing into Harry Potter and many of the other amazing titles I was lucky enough to read. Wizard for Hire did an excellent job giving me the nostalgia I craved while providing some unexpected food for thought. Skye found the perfect balance between fun for kids and evoking for adults.

Honestly, this is going to be a relatively short review. I don’t want to get into specifics about what still has me reeling a few days after finishing the book because it’s an essential discovery component to the story and I don’t want to lessen the experience for anyone. Suffice to say that I really appreciate what I think the author was trying to do and I personally found a lot more to take away from the story than I ever expected to from a middle grade book. My only holdup was that the story didn’t take the shape I was expecting, and as odd as it sounds I kind of feel the loss of what could have been. Even so, I’m far from being disappointed with the end result.

Recommendations: I’d hand this to slightly older middle graders / young teens. It has a few somewhat bleak moments. As an adult reading it, I definitely think it’s a great pick if you're in the mood for something light and maybe a little surprising. :)

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com

Other books you might like:

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

علاقه من به کتاب‌های ژانر کودک و نوجوان بی حد و مرزه جوری که حتی با دیدن اسم و جلدهای فوق‌العادشون حالم خوب و قلبم پر از اکلیل می‌شه. شناختن نویسنده و کتاباشون پیش‌کش، گاهی پیش میاد که اصلا خلاصه کتاب رو هم نخونم اما جلد خوش آب و رنگش منو حسابی جذب می‌کنه که اون رو وارد لیست کنم تا بخونمش. برای این کتاب هم این ماجرا پیش اومد. جلد «wizard for hire» اولین چیزی بود که چشمم رو گرفت و باعث شد بخوام هرچه سرعت‌تر اون رو بخونم.
اوزی و خانواده‌ش توی جنگل‌های سرسبز پورتلند زندگی می‌کنند و زمانی که اوزی هفت‌سال بیشتر نداره خانواده‌ش توسط مردهای سبزپوش دزدیده می‌شه و حالا اون توی خونه خزه‌پوش وسط جنگل تنها مونده. اون به هر سختی هست بزرگ میشه و وقتی با کلارک آشنا و پاش به محیط بیرون باز می‌شه تصمیم می‌گیره که پدرومادرش رو پیدا کنه. اون از پلیس‌ها می‌ترسه پس چی بهتر از اینکه یه جادوگر که آگهی‌ش رو توی روزنامه دیده استخدام کنه تا به اون کمکش کنه؟
از خلاصه داستان هم مشخصه که با یه داستان با کلیشه همیشگی کارتون‌ها و داستان‌های کودک و نوجوان طرف هستیم اما این داستان رو شخصیت‌های جذابش هستن که متفاوت می‌کنه. اوزی، کلارک و صد البته رین باعث شدن که از لحظه لحظه کتاب لذت ببرم.
یک سوم کتاب با یه داستان شیرین و ساده از روزمرگی‌ها و تلاش‌های اوزی برای زندگی و جا دادن خودش توی اجتماع طرفیم که در کل می‌شه گفت اوکی و دوست‌داشتنیه اما بعد از ورود رین_جادوگر جذاب داستان_جذابیت داستان سه برابر می‌شه و رین شخصیتی بود که حتی اگه کاراش خنده‌دار هم نبود اما باعث می‌شد حالم خوب بشه و مدام یه لبخند ملیح گوشه لبم باشه. به قول بقیه رین جادوگر نبود بلکه وجودش فراتر از جادو بود. (رین تو جز افرادی هستی که شاید هیچ‌وقت فراموشت نکنم)
من از ژانر کودک و نوجوان توقع بالایی ندارم برای همین بیشتر مواقع کتاب‌هایی که از این ژانر می‌خونم برام دلچسب و جذابه و این کتاب هم در کل برای من یه داستان دوست‌داشتنی با شخصیت‌هایی فوق‌العاده بود که با قلم روونش برام تجربه شیرینی رو رقم زد.
باید به طراح جلد شخصا درود فرستاد با طرحی که واسه این کتاب زده نه تنها جذاب و زیباست بلکه موقع‌العاده مرتبط به داستان و شخصیت‌هاست.
موقع آپدیت متوجه شدم که این کتاب یه مجموعه هستش و واقعا خوشحال شدم. حتما توی اولین فرصت ادامه‌ش میدم! امیدوارم که همین‌جور دوست‌داشتنی باقی بمونه.
این کتاب با اسم «جادوفروش» با ترجمه خیلی‌خوب و روون زهرا توفیقی از نشر پرتقال منتشر شده و به دوستانی که مایل به خوندن ترجمه‌ کتاب هستن پیشنهاد میشه.


شاید اسپویل؟!

رین لعنت بهت که آخر نفهمیدیم جادوگری یا نه!😂

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wizard for Hire
By: Obert Skye
This book is a fantastic middle grade book! Full of scary adventure, fun and silly situations, unusual characters, tense moments, tender moments, and extraordinary moments! A boy's family is kidnapped and he is left alone in the Oregon wilderness! He has a house, food, books, and his brains. He lives there years until he decides he needs to find his parents. This is his story and how he ended up hiring a Wizard! Loads of crazy fun!

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb and the cover and was surely not disappointed. A very entertaining read and need to find the next book in the series

[Jeff Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get an ARC of this book. There is much to like about Wizard for Hire. An engrossing read, it kept me turning the pages late into the night and during the days. Ozzy was left behind as a young boy after his parents were abducted in a secluded cabin in the Oregon woods. He's a smart kid and lives on his own in the middle of nowhere for years. This hook pulled me in right away, making me care about this kid and the strange circumstances he found himself in. There is heart and humor. And a mechanical talking raven. Not only does Ozzy figure out how to start attending high school, but his interactions and bewilderment at society really rings true. Then he meets Rin, a local wizard for hire. Is the guy's magic for real? Is it a ruse? Obert Skye keeps you guessing as the strange and the mystical weave together at a brilliant pace to a dramatic conclusion. Looking forward to this new series!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute read! This was a lot of fun to read, it had an interesting mystery, a sarcastic sidekick, and a hilarious (possible) wizard. The story moved at a nice pace and Ozzy was sweet and someone I wanted to cheer on.

Ozzy's parents were kidnapped when he was seven, leaving him to raise himself for the next seven years. Luckily he discovered Clark, a mechanical bird with a narcissistic personality, who helps him look for clues and make friends at the local school. Then he comes across an ad for a wizard and enlists his help to finally find his parents.

You never quite know if Rin is a real wizard or not. We don't see him do magic per se, but sometimes odd things happen around him. Either way he's hilarious and does seem to want to help Ozzy. His daughter also befriends Ozzy and he has an adorable crush on her.

I was totally engaged with this book and I'm definitely going to read the next one to see what happens!

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ...

This was super delightful ...
exactly what I needed to wash away
the horrible experience of the
previous audiobook listen.

Lookin' forward to the rest of the trilogy. 😊

[Mel (Epic Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comparisons of Wizard for Hire to Harry Potter would be very appropriate. Especially the first two Harry Potter books that are a little lighter next to the ones later in the series. Obert Skye takes us on a journey to follow a child who is left alone after his parents are taken away. There are some perhaps stretched imagination things that happen at first for our young boy to survive but I quickly got over any of those as I got caught up in the story.

Characters
The absolute best part of Wizard for Hire is the various characters. They are quirky, odd and have very unique personalities. It's difficult to create character who jump off the page from the first moment you meet them; but Skye manages to do just that. Now maybe it's because there are nods to Frodo meeting Aragon (as the Ranger) that happen in the scene that introduces our young boy to a kindly old wizard; but irregardless of a little inspiration for setting I felt like it was just perfect. I love our young gal who gets involved as the story progresses as well! But let's face it the story is all about our young boy and his quirky friend the wizard in the end. Kind of like Harry Potter can be dumbed down to being about Harry and Dumbledore at it's core.

Magic
There are sooo many clever 'magical' things that happen! I don't want to share any of them as they are just too special to spoil. But let's put it this way; things may seem magical from one perspective, and yet from another just be a very clever adult tricking a child. And yet... we do have a talking bird right off the bat which means some magic has to be real right?

Plot
There's a fair bit of plot in this first novel of the series. Not unlike in Harry Potter Skye has to set-up the reasons for the parents being gone, the way the boy is surviving, and subsequently bring in a factor that forces our young lad to venture into the world. However at no time did I ever think this was too much or overwhelming. It felt well paced and there was never any info dumping which I greatly appreciated!

Harry Potter
If you think I've mentioned Harry Potter too many times you may be right. But trust me I haven't said it near as many times as it's referenced in Wizard for Hire. Our young boy has a copy of the books and so there are many, many times where the 'magic' of his world is compared to a concept in Harry Potter. The wizard even goes so far as to say that Rowling got "some things right." but other things "very wrong". Implying that perhaps Rowling built her world of magic off a 'real' magical world.
I think this is very cute; but I did find it tiresome after awhile. That said I was an adult when Harry Potter came out; so I could see someone loving all the references and nods who experience Potter as a child.

Overall
This is a very fun and clever book. It's written for 9-11 children but I think it's worthy of anyone in any age group reading. It could easily be a book where a parent reads it to a child one chapter at a time (just like Harry Potter). I am really looking forward to the next installment and hope that we can learn a little more about 'magic' in this world and what may or may not be real.
There's a lot to still discover in this world. Skye has done a brilliant job of keeping the reader eager for the next book!

For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I've been duped by this one. It presents itself as a YA fantasy book where a boy hangs out with a Wizard who solves problems with magic. That's not how it goes down AT ALL. We're promised fantasy, and handed magical realism. Had I been reading this by myself, I would have put it down and walked away about a third of the way in and not looked back. I read it with my 10 year old, who really enjoyed it, despite the book's flaws. The book opens with 7 year old Ozzy being left alone after his parents are kidnapped and hauled away right in front of him. He's all by himself in his house in the woods for 6 years- not a great way to start a supposed fantasy book for kids. He doesn't meet the titular wizard until about 100 pages in, right about where I started to lose interest. It's never clear whether Rin (the wizard) has magic or not- he doesn't like to use it, apparently- so we're treated to this eccentric, weirdly dressed old guy who leads Ozzy on a hunt for his parents that he could have just done himself using his own two feet or the internet. Here I was, expecting this amazing wizard who casts spells and impresses this teen boy, and instead we get a psychological character study about isolationism, and the 'magic in everyday things'. Lame.
The author takes way too long to get from one plot point to the next, focusing on the banter between the characters instead of where the focus should be, finding Ozzy's parents (I had to remind myself of this several times while reading because there were points that I honestly forgot)!
There are some good things here. The characters are well done, the relationships believably built, and the writing is quite engaging for younger kids and adults alike. I also thoroughly enjoyed Clark, the mechanical bird who's the only real spot of magic in this whole book. There's some great stuff about this book- I just don't like being given the old bait and switch. I'll read the next with my son, and hopefully it will be better.

[Totoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

داستان ، شخصیت پردازی ، همه و همه عالی
یه جورایی شبیه شخصیت های مجموعه ی دارن شان هستش. رین شبیه یه ورژن خنگول از لارتن کرپسلیه و اوزی هم یه جورایی دارن 😍
داستان هیچ شباهتی نداره البته. فقط شخصیت ها.

کلارک رو جا نندازم، کلاغ فلزی فوق العاده دوست داشتنی که برای طرفداران ژانر استیم پانک میتونه خیلی جالب باشه


بخصوص ترجمه ی نشر پرتقال که خانم زهرا توفیقی انجام دادن خیلی خیلی لذت بخش بود.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man! What a bundle of fun this book was! Funny, magical, adventurous, you name it. I certainly hope this will be a series.

Soon after seven-year-old Ozzy moves with his parents to a cottage deep in the woods, some men appear, kidnap his parents, and leave Ozzy to die. But Ozzy doesn't die. Now, at fourteen, he's ready to find some answers.

With the help from a mechanical bird and a hired wizard, Ozzy sets out to crack the case on his missing parents.

First off, this book was hilarious. The wizard had me cracking up at every turn. And Clark, the mechanical bird, was also a great source of laughs. But this book isn't just about the gut-busting moments. It's an adventurous story about a boy who survives on his own for years before growing old enough and bold enough to seek answers.

Funny, adventurous, and perfectly magical, I highly recommend this book to middle grade and younger YA readers. You'll especially love this book if you enjoyed the other books by this author like Leven Thumps and the Pillage series.

Content: Clean, but there are some perilous situations.

Source: NetGalley.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit quirrky and a lot of fun!
Its been 7 years since fourteen year-old Ozzy's parents disappeared. What really happened to them? Can Rin (aka Brian), a wizard help find them? Readers will question if Rin is really a wizard or not. They will find out how Ozzy survives on his own and learns the truth about his parents.
Those who liked Lemons, Aliens on Vacation or The Van Gogh Cafe when they were younger or teens who are looking for clean reads will want to give this one a try.

[James Livermore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not well written, the first 1/2 is fairly ridiculous with Ozzy being left alone after his scientist parents are kidnapped. The pacing is really off, the characters not fleshed out, and really no magic or fun. The only semi-interesting character is a robot-bird. Rin the wizard is not really magical, more likely needs to be committed to a mental institution. I have to admit falling for the cover art. Whomever the artist was should get all the royalties from this book, fantastic!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wizard for Hire is funny, clever and full of heart. I love the way this author writes. There are subtle hints of cleverness, humor and mystery in the way he writes. I loved this book. Ozzy was a fantastic character, naive and trusting, but wonderful. Clark was an enjoyable and amusing addition. The most surprising character was Rin. I loved what he brought to this fun story. This book is very entertaining. Ozzy's determination was refreshing.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good! Unfortunately, I think it's just not the kind of thing I'm ever going to be super jazzed up by. Ozzy was sympathetic, there was a lot of humor, the "is-he-a-wizard-or-just-a-crazy-man" mystery with Labyrinth, etc.... All of it was fine, but I've never done well with absurdity, and too much craziness crowded out my ability to care about the characters.

[A.L. Sowards]

This was a fun book, with great characters and an interesting mix of mystery and almost-magic. I read it with my 8 year old twins and they really liked it.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a hard one for me to rate and review. I am obviously not the age of the readers this book was written for. This book is written for a middle grade reader, but I think it would be better for an advanced middle grade reader and above.

I was impressed with the humor in this book. It is full of little quips that brought a smile to my face. There are other parts that are a hard to read about. As a seven year old, Ozzy was abandoned in the forest when his parents were forcefully taken away from him. He was a smart boy and survived on the stock-pile of food his parents left in their home. I am grateful that seven years are basically glossed over, because I would hate to read about a child surviving on his own without guidance.

The book picks up when Ozzy is 14 and learning to explore the world around him. He has his trusty mechanical bird, Clark, to keep him company. Clark is pretty amazing and will capture the attention and imagination of children. He is sarcastic and funny, plus he is a cognizant machine. He's pretty cool.

Ozzy hires a wizard to help him find his parents. Labyrinth, or Rin, is a dilemma. Is he a wizard? Or is he a grown man playing out some fantasy from his youth? He is hard to decipher. But, he comes through for Ozzy and is the only adult helping out a young man in need. There were times I wondered if he was only doing it to get a free meal? Fortunately, Ozzy found money that his parents left that paid for essentials, and the services of a wizard.

I felt as if at times the story lagged. It all was important to the story, so I don't know what could have been done differently. I did enjoy the dialogue and the characters.

I would caution parents in letting their parents read this book. It takes a little maturity, it is about a boy living without parents and contains some violence.

Source: I received a complimentary copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Many, many years ago, I read Obert Skye's Leven Thumps series, and it was my favorite series for a long time. (I'd recommend it if you haven't already read it!) So, when I heard Obert Skye had written another book, I knew I wanted to read it, even if I have definitely aged out of the target audience for this book.

Wizard for Hire was an exciting, wholesome book. Ozzy is on a mission to find his missing parents while trying to avoid the men that he knows took them. He is willing to do whatever it takes to trace down what happened to his parents many years ago. He also has to acclimate back to society after living on his own (Hatchet-style) in an isolated cabin for 7 years.

One of the interesting things about this book was Rin's character. I spent the entire book going back and forth on whether he was really a wizard or just a crazy man. I think that's one of the charms of this book. You can't tell how crazy the main character is, so it leaves the door open for magic in the real world.

The characters were fun. I wouldn't say that I was astounded by their complexity one way or another, but I did enjoy their interactions. The dialogue was natural and often witty. It kept me caring about what was to happen to Rin and Ozzy and all of the other characters in the novel.

The plot was paced well. It balanced action scenes with scenes to get to know the characters remarkably well. The action kept you hooked, but there was also a fair amount of substance between the characters and the situation.

Overall, I would recommend Wizard for Hire to anyone wanting to read a mash-up of a fantasy book and a survivalist novel. You won't be disappointed!

[Pop Bop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do You Believe in Magic?

This is a sneaky, clever, and surprisingly funny wizard quest send up, but with unexpected heart. It's also about five books in one, which is a nice bonus.

We start with setup one. Young Ozzy has been taken by his mad genius parents to hide out in the deep woods outside Portland because the parents have invented something perilous and bad guys want it. One day the bad guys show up and kidnap the parents, leaving Ozzy alone and abandoned. Ozzy spends the next ten years at the isolated cabin raising himself - his only company a mechanical raven built by Dad. Ozzy is well read, well fed thanks to massive survivalist stores, and is a strapping goodnatured naif. This part of the book is fresh and a bit wistful, but the raven Clark punches up every scene he steals.

At part two, Ozzy has to venture into town because there's a world out there and he has to find his parents. Ozzy and Clark hitch a ride on a school bus, (the bus has to stop for railroad tracks, so that's where Ozzy gets on every morning), and Ozzy just walks into school and pretends he's the new transfer kid. As you might expect this is great fish-out-of-water stuff, and it is handled beautifully. The laughs are both obvious and subtle, and our author slips a lot of wry and sometimes vinegary commentary into the proceedings. This part is better than most humorous school-daze stories.

Then, (book three), Ozzy comes across an ad for a wizard for hire and decides that this is what he needs to help him find his parents. The Wizard is clearly a delusional con, but with a heart of gold, a sad backstory, and an upbeat post-hippie sort of vibe. Between the Wizard, who is a metaphorical lost child, and Ozzy, who is a literal lost child, we are on the cusp of an epic road trip. A girl from school who befriended Ozzy, and is a sort of nice girl wild child with secrets of her own, joins the quest, and the three, (along with Clark the raven), go in search of Ozzy's folks.

This final adventure road trip is more standard bad guy action fare, and a bit more suspenseful and violent than I expected, but by this point you are so invested in the characters that you're willing to racket around the country with them. VERY MILD SPOILER. The ending is open and maybe a bit conflicted, but everything isn't always sunshine and talking robot birds.

Books like this are a challenge because sometimes an author can whimsy himself into a corner. That happens here a little bit, but the trip is worth it. The crosstalk is funny and clever. There is a lot of deadpan humor and dry throwaway lines. Clark could carry his own book, but works very well here as Ozzy's foil and friend. There are loads of supporting characters who show up for a while, (Wizard's dad, Wizard's ex-wife, other locals), nail their scenes and then move off stage. This was a remarkably entertaining find and a nice, and sort of warm hearted and even touching, treat.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought going in that this was going to be much more fantastical than it ended up being. In fact, it may be up for debate whether there is even any magic in this book which is odd considering the title. But the author leaves it up to the reader to decide whether to believe Rin is really a wizard or not. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself. Rin is definitely an eccentric character, calling himself a wizard, running around in half a robe and a sorcerer's hat, along with his sneakers and jeans. He loves breakfast for every meal and delights in quoting profound sayings that don't always make sense. Ozzy, the main character, wonders himself whether Rin is a real wizard or not, but he is desperate enough for help to take whatever he can get. Although he does have moments of regret, flipping cars, anyone?

At the age of 7, Ozzy was left alone in a cabin in the woods when his parents get kidnapped by a bunch of men in green. Thanks to his parent's preparations, Ozzy has enough food to live on while he figures out his next step. For the next seven years, Ozzy survives on his own in the cabin in the woods, seeing few people. He reads the books his parents had and searches the house for clues. One day after an unexpected discovery, Ozzy learns more about his parents while simultaneously finding a friend, a mechanical bird named Clark. It's when Ozzy and Clark meet that things start to pick up. In fact, most of the best parts of the book involve Clark who is both fierce in his defense of Ozzy, and sincere in his interest in things made of metal, dumpsters, anyone?

Ozzy meets Sigi after sneaking into the local school for a few weeks (I had a hard time buying this, working at a school myself, but young readers won't). Sigi is the only student in the whole school who is friendly to Ozzy and he remembers her from an encounter he had on the beach which is what inspired him to leave the woods in the first place. Sigi, along with Clark, and Rin help Ozzy as he searches for his parents having multiple adventures involving cars, police chases, and an unexpected relative.

All in all this is a rather unusual book about magic, family, and persistence that takes the reader on quite the ride.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Spoiler free review also found here at Booked J. I was sent a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in the blog tour for the second book. This does not change my view in any shape or form.

Whimsical and a little darker than I'd originally imagined, Wizard for Hire is exactly the type of middle grade novel you should be reading. It is one of those books that serves as a reminder--you feel like a kid again as you read it; when you finish, you think, 'Man, I wish this had been around when I was a kid.'

Which is exactly what makes the experience of reading it. In fact, there was a moment mid-book where I just completely space out on my place and my age. It was magical.

Have you ever read a book that just blew all expectations out of the water? Wizard for Hire is one of the best. I went into it thinking it'd be quirky and magical; diving into what the real cost is for magic and the lives led in the pages, but it was so much more than that. Its cleverness is etched in every plot and every character--its soul is prominent from the start.

Obert Skye crafts an incredibly high paced adventure that will surely capture anyone's attention, no matter their age. Wizard for Hire is full of wit and mystery, and magic for days. As this first chapter, installment, wraps up, it leaves the reader craving more from Skye and we're fortunate enough to be on the fast track for book two.

If you love books full of magic and mystery, you're going to love Wizard for Hire. It is probable you will find parallels in the novel to other middle grade books, but those are only scratching the surface of what the book really is. Which is breathtaking.

I promise you won't forget these characters. And frankly? Obert Skye has me hooked for the long haul. I am so excited to see where we go from here.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming read. My nephews will enjoy this book. Although, it felt like the author held back on this book being the first one. As if to not give away too much. Yet as the saying goes, "The first impression is the most important". In this case, my first impression was a bit luke warm. There was not a lot happening for movement in regards to Rin solving the mystery of Ozzy's parents. Like why were they kidnapped and who took them. Additionally, I wanted to see Rin's skills in action.

Who I did like was Clark, the mechanical raven. He had wits and personality. Sometimes you never knew what Clark was going to say. This is what made him interesting. Although, this book did not have a lot of action, it did help to pave the way for the net book with the lay of the land. So, that in th =e next book, I hope that the action can just begin and not stop. With Ozzy's inquisitive mind, Clark's wits, and Rin's skills; these three will make a good team.

[P.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I have been waiting to get my hands on since I loved the Leven Thumps series. The author did not disappoint me with this quirky book about a seven year old boy whose parents are kidnapped, leaving him alone in the family cabin in the Oregon woods. Fast forward a few years when Ozzy finds a mechanical, solar-charged, raven who is self-aware and talks. Clark the raven becomes Ozzy's best friend and persuades him to venture out of his isolation. That decision leads Ozzy to Labyrinth, the self-proclaimed wizard for hire. The task Ozzy asks is to find his parents who have been missing for seven years. What follows is an adventure full of humor, danger, grief, and acceptance. The author leaves it up to the reader as to whether Labyrinth is really a wizard and whether magic is real. I suggest both are true.

[NaDell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything by this author before, but was pleasantly surprised by how easy this book was to read and interested in where the story would go.
There was a lot of humor and excitement and even some deeper moments of apology and loss mixed in with a bunch of breakfast and a talking metal bird.
It was interesting to me that the wizard wasn't introduced until a quarter of the way through the book. I expected that to happen quite a bit sooner. I loved how they just kept adding to the strange group of friends throughout the book.
Fun, fun book.

[Frank Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and highly entertaining. Clark was brilliant and hilarious and Rin was just mysterious enough to keep me wondering. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I was expecting a lot from this book...I loved the Leven Thumps series so much...but this series I will stop at this book, it's just not for me!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun! The characters are all so well developed, and some are very quirky and endearing. I would give five stars, but I felt it was missing a little more on the information side. It was a slow build to a quick end and I still felt like I didn't have many more answers than I had at the beginning.
And while I love the wizard's character, his continual dodges at actually giving a straight answer can be so maddening at times.
All in all, a fun and unexpected read. Looking forward to more of their story.

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a juvenile book but I enjoyed the humor and creativity of the author. I will most likely continue the series. I love Rin, his philosophy cracks me up. The beginning drug for a bit. It is interesting to think about a 6 yr old surviving in those conditions, not sure it's realistic but it is interesting to think about the survival instinct and how much kids learn when young. Anyway, some things you can't nitpick too much or it takes away from the fun of the book...

[Barb Middleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unbelievable, cheesy, but a great bird as a side kick and lots of action. I can see why the students like it.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great book. Our main Character Ozzy and his family move to Portland, Oregon to to live in the solitude of the mountains. The first day Ozzy is allowed to go behind the cabin by himself to the little river, he hears screaming.

He runs back to the house in time to see people dressed in green taking his parents away. Ozzy was only 7 years old. He was so scared and alone, but quickly learned how to take care of himself. Seven years after his parents go missing, Ozzy finds an interesting box from his father, he decides it's time to go and search for answers.

This book had a lot of funny things happen. Ozzy not being around people for seven years, made him a little odd, but he didn't have any idea why people thought that. I love how confident he was because he didn't know any better. I wish all kids could be this confident. Knowing that it doesn't matter what the world thinks, just that they be a good person.

When Ozzy goes looking for answers it doesn't quite happen like he thought it would. He sees an add in a local newspaper that says "Wizard for Hire", so he of course had to see if it was real.

Then we get to meet Rin. Now he is a great character. In his funny clothes and eccentric personality make him one of a kind. Ozzy meets him tells him he is searching for his family and their alliance begins.

With the two in search for his parents, a fun adventure starts to take place. With Ozzy's bird that he found that is father made the three of them made for a very unlikely crew. They worked well together, yet Ozzy wasn't always convinced that Rin was a "real" wizard.

This was such an interesting book. I loved the characters, and the setting. I loved the world that Ozzy lived in and the one Rin seemed to live in. Skye's writing is amazing, and so much fun to read. It's one book I think I am going to have to read with my son, because it's great for middle grade kids. It's full of adventure, and interesting happenings.

I hope you will take the time to read this one. It was such a great ride.

Source: I was given this book as part of a blog tour. I was not compensated in any way for this review. These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.