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Order of the Majestic #1
Order of the Majestic
Fans of Brandon Mull and James Riley will love this action-packed, accessible fantasy story about one kid’s journey to discover magic as he’s caught up in an epic battle between two powerful ancient orders.
Twelve-year-old daydreamer Joey Kopecky’s life has been turned upside down. After acing a series of tests, he’s declared a genius and awarded a full scholarship at a special (year-round!) school. He’s understandably devastated, until he takes one last test, and the room around him disappears, replaced by the interior of an old theater.
There, Joey meets the washed-up magician, Redondo the Magnificent, and makes a shocking discovery…magic is real, but sadly, there isn’t much left in the world. It may be too late to save what little remains, but for the first time in his life Joey wants to try—really try—to do something big. Soon he’s swept up into a centuries-old conflict between two rival societies of magicians—the Order of the Majestic, who fights to keep magic alive and free for all, and the dark magicians of the Invisible Hand, who hoard magic for their own evil ends.
The endless battle for control of magic itself has reached a tipping point. For Redondo and the Order to survive, Joey must inherit the lost legacy of Harry Houdini. Will he prove himself worthy, or will the Invisible Hand strike him down? The answer will depend on Joey’s ability to believe, not just in magic, but in himself.
Twelve-year-old daydreamer Joey Kopecky’s life has been turned upside down. After acing a series of tests, he’s declared a genius and awarded a full scholarship at a special (year-round!) school. He’s understandably devastated, until he takes one last test, and the room around him disappears, replaced by the interior of an old theater.
There, Joey meets the washed-up magician, Redondo the Magnificent, and makes a shocking discovery…magic is real, but sadly, there isn’t much left in the world. It may be too late to save what little remains, but for the first time in his life Joey wants to try—really try—to do something big. Soon he’s swept up into a centuries-old conflict between two rival societies of magicians—the Order of the Majestic, who fights to keep magic alive and free for all, and the dark magicians of the Invisible Hand, who hoard magic for their own evil ends.
The endless battle for control of magic itself has reached a tipping point. For Redondo and the Order to survive, Joey must inherit the lost legacy of Harry Houdini. Will he prove himself worthy, or will the Invisible Hand strike him down? The answer will depend on Joey’s ability to believe, not just in magic, but in himself.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2019
23 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
About the author
Matt Myklusch
14 books283 followersMatt Myklusch is the author of 8 middle-grade novels, including the JACK BLANK, ORDER OF THE MAJESTIC, and the SEABORNE series. When he was a kid, he wanted to be a comic book penciller. That didn’t happen, but he never stopped drawing – and now he’s writing comic books! IMAGINE NATION, his new graphic novel series hits the shelves on January 7, 2025.
He lives in New Jersey with his wife and family, where he is always behind schedule on his next book.
He lives in New Jersey with his wife and family, where he is always behind schedule on his next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
May 27, 2020
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this going in. I've read his Jack Blank Adventure series which I enjoyed it, so I was optimistic. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed this start to a new series as well. It has some similar vibes to his first series, but the setting and plot is very different. This may be a bit of a weaker 4 stars for me, but it was exactly the type of book I was wanting when I picked it up.
Joey, like Jack, really loves geeky stuff which is great. I loved the references to HP, Lord of the Rings, comics, etc. There aren't a ton of them, so you won't be missing much if you don't get them, but there were nods to a lot of geeky things I love. I think Joey is a character that you start cheering for straight away. It's hard not to root for someone who is so concretely good and wants the best for the world. He, unfortunately, loses his shoes a lot which was hilarious to me. I do wish we had a more concrete vision of his everyday life with his parents though. His parents obviously care about him immensely, but I find it interesting that Joey isn't all that close with them, especially because he has zero friends at the beginning of the book. I forgot he even had a mother until she pops up later in the story.
I liked the inclusion of the other young characters! Joey having to deal with some competition to learn magic made the story way more interesting. Leanora seems to come from a culture that's similar to the Romani, where they have been deprived of a permanent home and so move from place to place. She's very much one who takes the offensive which I appreciated. Shazad is a lot more reserved and careful, giving the group a good balance. It was nice to see the characters from three very different backgrounds interacting and having respect for one another (mostly). Janelle may have been my favorite minor character, even though she doesn't have any "magical" powers. She's a physics genius, and I loved seeing her geek out over physics.
The setting of the theater reminded me a bit of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium which is a favorite movie of mine (despite it's online rating). I love that Redondo's theater is almost alive, like the toy shop. It was cool to see it's mood change as Redondo changed throughout the course of the story. (Side note: Redondo was great, and I enjoyed how he tried to guide the characters.)
As for the plot, it was compelling. I did not want to put the book down, so I finished it in a couple of days. I think the pacing played a role. Once Joey meets Redondo, the washed out magician, the cascade of events is nonstop, and Joey really needs to make choices without much deliberation. With the very condensed timeline, it me wanting to know what would happen next, and I was excited to see when his "real" life would start intersecting with magic. I'm excited to see what the evil Invisible Hand has in store for the remaining characters next.
Two cons: One is I'm not sure how I feel about the Exemplar school. They have this huge building and enormous resources, but they only have like 20-ish students who are almost guaranteed a successful career just because they go there. I suppose it could be a direct commentary on the inequality of opportunities for students that go to different schools with different means. The only other con I really had were some of the things I mentioned above. Joey doesn't seem to have anything going on in his life at the beginning of the story, which is maybe why it was easier for him to get involved in the Order of the Majestic. He doesn't have any friends. His mother is hardly there, and his father is only really there to make certain he goes for further testing. I would have liked to see Joey have a more concrete "real" life that causes him some more trouble when trying to balance everything.
Joey, like Jack, really loves geeky stuff which is great. I loved the references to HP, Lord of the Rings, comics, etc. There aren't a ton of them, so you won't be missing much if you don't get them, but there were nods to a lot of geeky things I love. I think Joey is a character that you start cheering for straight away. It's hard not to root for someone who is so concretely good and wants the best for the world. He, unfortunately, loses his shoes a lot which was hilarious to me. I do wish we had a more concrete vision of his everyday life with his parents though. His parents obviously care about him immensely, but I find it interesting that Joey isn't all that close with them, especially because he has zero friends at the beginning of the book. I forgot he even had a mother until she pops up later in the story.
I liked the inclusion of the other young characters! Joey having to deal with some competition to learn magic made the story way more interesting. Leanora seems to come from a culture that's similar to the Romani, where they have been deprived of a permanent home and so move from place to place. She's very much one who takes the offensive which I appreciated. Shazad is a lot more reserved and careful, giving the group a good balance. It was nice to see the characters from three very different backgrounds interacting and having respect for one another (mostly). Janelle may have been my favorite minor character, even though she doesn't have any "magical" powers. She's a physics genius, and I loved seeing her geek out over physics.
The setting of the theater reminded me a bit of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium which is a favorite movie of mine (despite it's online rating). I love that Redondo's theater is almost alive, like the toy shop. It was cool to see it's mood change as Redondo changed throughout the course of the story. (Side note: Redondo was great, and I enjoyed how he tried to guide the characters.)
As for the plot, it was compelling. I did not want to put the book down, so I finished it in a couple of days. I think the pacing played a role. Once Joey meets Redondo, the washed out magician, the cascade of events is nonstop, and Joey really needs to make choices without much deliberation. With the very condensed timeline, it me wanting to know what would happen next, and I was excited to see when his "real" life would start intersecting with magic. I'm excited to see what the evil Invisible Hand has in store for the remaining characters next.
Two cons: One is I'm not sure how I feel about the Exemplar school. They have this huge building and enormous resources, but they only have like 20-ish students who are almost guaranteed a successful career just because they go there. I suppose it could be a direct commentary on the inequality of opportunities for students that go to different schools with different means. The only other con I really had were some of the things I mentioned above. Joey doesn't seem to have anything going on in his life at the beginning of the story, which is maybe why it was easier for him to get involved in the Order of the Majestic. He doesn't have any friends. His mother is hardly there, and his father is only really there to make certain he goes for further testing. I would have liked to see Joey have a more concrete "real" life that causes him some more trouble when trying to balance everything.
May 19, 2019
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
This review is a bit difficult for me to write because I really do not feel strongly about ORDER OF THE MAJESTIC. It's a perfectly acceptable middle grade novel, not stellar, but definitely readable.
What I enjoyed, as an adult, were the pop-culture references that I'm not sure would be as amusing to the target audience as they were to me (jokes about long bushy beards belonging in Brooklyn, for example). The friendship between the three main characters that developed was also clearly one of the better aspects of the novel. Joey was fine as a main character, a bit bland, and I had a hard time really getting a grip on his personality. However, that may have also been intentional, as for the majority of the book, he was trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life and schooling.
What didn't work for me was the weird side trip to Joey's new school. I felt like it was a few chapters specifically to give Joey a resource he was going to use later, and as a result, it felt too disconnected, with not really enough time to flesh out the characters he met there.
All in all, this was a well-written book, with a pretty good mystery, but I personally didn't love it.
Sexual content: N/A
This review is a bit difficult for me to write because I really do not feel strongly about ORDER OF THE MAJESTIC. It's a perfectly acceptable middle grade novel, not stellar, but definitely readable.
What I enjoyed, as an adult, were the pop-culture references that I'm not sure would be as amusing to the target audience as they were to me (jokes about long bushy beards belonging in Brooklyn, for example). The friendship between the three main characters that developed was also clearly one of the better aspects of the novel. Joey was fine as a main character, a bit bland, and I had a hard time really getting a grip on his personality. However, that may have also been intentional, as for the majority of the book, he was trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life and schooling.
What didn't work for me was the weird side trip to Joey's new school. I felt like it was a few chapters specifically to give Joey a resource he was going to use later, and as a result, it felt too disconnected, with not really enough time to flesh out the characters he met there.
All in all, this was a well-written book, with a pretty good mystery, but I personally didn't love it.
Sexual content: N/A
April 12, 2019
Joey Kopecky has done it. He has made a perfect score on every test he has been given, and he has been given a full scholarship to a very special school for geniuses. But before he goes to the school, he must take one last test, a test of his magical abilities....
I loved reading this book about a regular kid who is unexpectedly found to be brilliant and magical and who must save the world before all the magic is destroyed. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down until I finished the story. It’s full of fun characters including some other magical kids and a washed-up magician and it’s set in an old magical theater.
Adventure. Danger. Magic. This book has it all.
I loved reading this book about a regular kid who is unexpectedly found to be brilliant and magical and who must save the world before all the magic is destroyed. I picked it up and couldn’t put it down until I finished the story. It’s full of fun characters including some other magical kids and a washed-up magician and it’s set in an old magical theater.
Adventure. Danger. Magic. This book has it all.
Want to read
August 27, 2021IS. THAT. MATT. MYKLUSCH?????? THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE AMAZING JACK BLANK SERIES?? Why, yes, yes it is. I didn't even read the blurb properly. An author who can pull off something as complex as the Jack Blank series that had so many different elements and moving parts and genres within it has my vote of confidence in whatever they write. I will definitely read this and will no doubt enjoy it. All I can say is that I can't wait!!
June 26, 2019
This was one of those OK books - nothing special, nothing memorable. It was one of those that I finished because I finish books. Joey was an interesting character but that was about it.
August 6, 2019
Order of the Majestic takes the reader into the heart of a world where magic is mostly controlled by an evil organization called the Invisible Hand. A young boy named Joey, has no idea that magic is real, for him, he's stressed about his parents wanting him to take some special tests and attend a special private school for geniuses. Just because he aced a few standardized test. But he doesn't see himself as anything special, even after being asked to take a strange test that lands him inside the phantom remains of an old theater. Here he meets Redondo the Magnificent, a talented magician that disappeared twenty years ago. Redondo used to be the head of an organizer called the Order of the Majestic (named after the Majestic Theater in which Redondo now hides). This organization used to oppose the Invisible Hand and worked to spread magic among the masses.
Joey is fascinated by magic's existence, but as he quickly becomes involved in the conflict between the Invisible Hand and Redondo, he's not at all sure that he wants to be involved at all. But something keeps drawing him back. A competition between him and two other young people for the powerful wand that Redondo possesses is something that leaves Joey struggling. He doesn't have the skills to compete against Leonora and Shazad, but he can't bring himself to quit. But when his doubts about himself and about Redondo leave his new-found friends and Redondo in danger of destruction, Joey has to decide if he can find the courage and belief to step up.
The idea of magicians having real magic and Harry Houdini having a powerful wand is a great one for a middle grade fantasy novel. Joey also makes for a great main character as he struggles with self-belief and his reluctance to get involved in the whole evil vs. good use of magic war. It's a valid fear that holds him back after all, he doesn't know Redondo very well, and Redondo is rather a jerk through most of the book. He also knows little about magic and how it works and he's immediately thrown into some difficult situations. And of course, his self-esteem struggles make it hard to believe in anything else and magic requires belief.
I enjoyed the story for the most part, the plot points are rather creative and I loved the phantom theater as a setting. And as I said above, Joey is a sympathetic character. The villains are very villainous and the school Joey might attend is intriguing. What I had a hard time with is Redondo himself. He took himself out of the fight twenty years earlier after an unfortunate series of events and then has the gall to blame Joey when he's tricked and manipulated by the enemy. I really wanted to shake him at that point. Luckily, he redeems himself later on. Overall, Order of the Majestic works as a fantasy involving themes of belief, friendship, and power.
Joey is fascinated by magic's existence, but as he quickly becomes involved in the conflict between the Invisible Hand and Redondo, he's not at all sure that he wants to be involved at all. But something keeps drawing him back. A competition between him and two other young people for the powerful wand that Redondo possesses is something that leaves Joey struggling. He doesn't have the skills to compete against Leonora and Shazad, but he can't bring himself to quit. But when his doubts about himself and about Redondo leave his new-found friends and Redondo in danger of destruction, Joey has to decide if he can find the courage and belief to step up.
The idea of magicians having real magic and Harry Houdini having a powerful wand is a great one for a middle grade fantasy novel. Joey also makes for a great main character as he struggles with self-belief and his reluctance to get involved in the whole evil vs. good use of magic war. It's a valid fear that holds him back after all, he doesn't know Redondo very well, and Redondo is rather a jerk through most of the book. He also knows little about magic and how it works and he's immediately thrown into some difficult situations. And of course, his self-esteem struggles make it hard to believe in anything else and magic requires belief.
I enjoyed the story for the most part, the plot points are rather creative and I loved the phantom theater as a setting. And as I said above, Joey is a sympathetic character. The villains are very villainous and the school Joey might attend is intriguing. What I had a hard time with is Redondo himself. He took himself out of the fight twenty years earlier after an unfortunate series of events and then has the gall to blame Joey when he's tricked and manipulated by the enemy. I really wanted to shake him at that point. Luckily, he redeems himself later on. Overall, Order of the Majestic works as a fantasy involving themes of belief, friendship, and power.
November 1, 2025
It lacked the wildly creative other-worldly feel of the Hogwarts experience while very obviously wanting to ride that tidal wave. Instead the characters, their surroundings, their dialogue, even their names, and especially their experiences are decidedly two-dimensional. Often bordering on the creepy or even demonic, the Tarot card-wielding “good” guy mentor constantly coughs up blood because he has terminal lung cancer, and the “bad” guy actually has killed unknown numbers of children in order to maintain his status. For a debut to a series it gets dark really quickly. Usually the darker, more violent story threads come later towards the end of the series. While there are bite sized pieces of good advice and good lessons learned by the children, the over arching message is, once again, believe in yourself. Each of these children come from supportive, close knit, loving families, but they have a hard time coming up with solutions other than “let’s just kill this guy and be done” so what kind of values did their families instill? I guess that’s why believe in yourself is the only lesson.
There is also a lot of head scratching suspension of disbelief even for a story about magic. For example they travel inter-dimensionally to Siberia to meet an old man who just happens to speak English, and the three children all also speak English even though only one is from the US, or a black hole created in a basement lab can suck in loose fixtures in the room but the room itself and the building are just fine?
There is also a lot of head scratching suspension of disbelief even for a story about magic. For example they travel inter-dimensionally to Siberia to meet an old man who just happens to speak English, and the three children all also speak English even though only one is from the US, or a black hole created in a basement lab can suck in loose fixtures in the room but the room itself and the building are just fine?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2023
There was absolutely no reason to state that Shazad "had a linebacker's body" and that Leanora was "very pretty, so much so that Joey shied away from looking her in the eye". It didn't matter one bit to the plot, and what genuinely matters is how they think and act and not how they look. Even fat-shaming is less bad than regularly making protagonists very handsome or very pretty, and I think anyone who sits down to think about this can understand why. Also, the plot was a bit too nonsensical, though better than his "Jack Blank" series.
November 7, 2019
Order of the Majestic by Matt Myklusch, 421 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2019. $19
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Joey, 13, just aced the state standardized test and he’s been called to take a special test for a special school. Instead, he is given a box of magic tricks and told to master as many as he can in one hour. When he masters them all, he finds a key which transports him to a derelict theater where he finds Redondo the Magnificent, a magician who has been missing for 20 years. Joey is in contention with two other kids to see who will inherit Houdini’s Wand and be the next keeper of the magic for the almost defunct Order of the Majestic, a group that was devoted to letting everyone in the world experience magic. But the Invisible Hand, magicians who want to keep all magic to themselves, send someone to sway Joey to their side.
While Joey’s waffling plays into the finale of the story, it can get very annoying as a reader. I wanted Joey to embrace magic as real, not just tricks. I guess that means I became emotionally invested!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Joey, 13, just aced the state standardized test and he’s been called to take a special test for a special school. Instead, he is given a box of magic tricks and told to master as many as he can in one hour. When he masters them all, he finds a key which transports him to a derelict theater where he finds Redondo the Magnificent, a magician who has been missing for 20 years. Joey is in contention with two other kids to see who will inherit Houdini’s Wand and be the next keeper of the magic for the almost defunct Order of the Majestic, a group that was devoted to letting everyone in the world experience magic. But the Invisible Hand, magicians who want to keep all magic to themselves, send someone to sway Joey to their side.
While Joey’s waffling plays into the finale of the story, it can get very annoying as a reader. I wanted Joey to embrace magic as real, not just tricks. I guess that means I became emotionally invested!
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
February 15, 2019
My daughter grew up with the Harry Potter books, reading the new one each year as it came out. Years later she told me that every 11-year-old in Westport waited all day on their birthday for their letter from Hogwarts. Magic to children is real. I wish it was to adults as well because we could all use a little magic.
January 9, 2020
I received this book as an ARC last year but just now read it ... Whoops! I wasn't sold on it, to be honest. It was very Percy Jackson-ish but not quite as good. I think the idea was intriguing but the delivery fell flat. It seems like a really long book, but all of the events felt very rushed. I passed it on to a fifth grade student. Maybe they will enjoy it a little more than me!
November 25, 2024
The story was pretty intresting I enjoyed it but it lost it's flare and it got very wordy toward the end.
December 5, 2019
This was a surprisingly good read, and my daughter enjoyed it particularly.
Joey Kopecky is from the very non-magical New Jersey (this is the second book we've read that posited NJ is not magical; why is that?). He gets a perfect score on a state exam, the PMAP, (our AZ equivalent is the AZ MERIT) and he's asked to re-test for entry to the prestigious school, Exemplar Academy.
Except, when Joey shows up at the testing center, it's rigged. The proctor is not associated with the PMAP, and he gives Joey a completely different examination -- a trunk full of 150 magic tricks for Joey to master in one hour.
Joey reads the instructions, gets them all done with time to spare, and discovers, at the bottom of the box, a key with a string attached. A note says to pull the string, Joey does, and he's transported to the street outside The Majestic theater.
Fantasms immediately attack him. He uses the key to open a door to the Theater and once safe inside, encounters a man upside down inside a tank of water, working to free himself from chains, a straight-jacket, etc., one of Houdini's famous illusions.
Joey smashes the tank with a crowbar, saving the magician...he thinks. Until the magician reveals he was never really in any danger, and the water itself is a semi-sentient dangerous thing that tries to kill them, until the old magician rebottles it.
Redondo reveals the box was a test, trying to identify candidates for his replacement / retirement or death, whichever comes first. Whoever passes the test will be the next protector of the Majestic, keeping it from the order of The Invisible Hand, which has been trying to get into the theater for decades.
Joey competes against two other teen magicians, Shazad and Leonora, but in the end, the Theater itself picks its new guardian.
I won't reveal the ending, but we enjoyed the tale a lot. We're not usually big readers of old-fashioned magician stories, but this qualifies as a great new take on the old trope.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
Joey Kopecky is from the very non-magical New Jersey (this is the second book we've read that posited NJ is not magical; why is that?). He gets a perfect score on a state exam, the PMAP, (our AZ equivalent is the AZ MERIT) and he's asked to re-test for entry to the prestigious school, Exemplar Academy.
Except, when Joey shows up at the testing center, it's rigged. The proctor is not associated with the PMAP, and he gives Joey a completely different examination -- a trunk full of 150 magic tricks for Joey to master in one hour.
Joey reads the instructions, gets them all done with time to spare, and discovers, at the bottom of the box, a key with a string attached. A note says to pull the string, Joey does, and he's transported to the street outside The Majestic theater.
Fantasms immediately attack him. He uses the key to open a door to the Theater and once safe inside, encounters a man upside down inside a tank of water, working to free himself from chains, a straight-jacket, etc., one of Houdini's famous illusions.
Joey smashes the tank with a crowbar, saving the magician...he thinks. Until the magician reveals he was never really in any danger, and the water itself is a semi-sentient dangerous thing that tries to kill them, until the old magician rebottles it.
Redondo reveals the box was a test, trying to identify candidates for his replacement / retirement or death, whichever comes first. Whoever passes the test will be the next protector of the Majestic, keeping it from the order of The Invisible Hand, which has been trying to get into the theater for decades.
Joey competes against two other teen magicians, Shazad and Leonora, but in the end, the Theater itself picks its new guardian.
I won't reveal the ending, but we enjoyed the tale a lot. We're not usually big readers of old-fashioned magician stories, but this qualifies as a great new take on the old trope.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: http://amb.mystrikingly.com/
February 12, 2021
Written by Matt Myklusch, The Order of the Majestic is overall an excellent book for people who like fantasy and fiction reading. The Order of the Majestic starts off with Joey Kopecky earning a full scholarship for a year-round school. Joey always aced his tests and had good grades. In the admission test to his new school, Joey, after finishing 150 parts of his test, found one last part. He soon saw the world around him vanishing and turning into an old magic theater. Joey, having found his way into the magical world of Redondo the Magnificent, now had to face the threat of the Invisible Hand. Can he stop the dark magicians and keep the Order of the Majestic alive and safe?
What I absolutely love about this book is that it has more settings and characters are not from the United States of America. One of Joey’s friends and fellow students is from Jorako, a made-up country that is revealed to be in the Middle East, and the other is a traveling nomad. My favorite scene in this book has got to be the ending scene, which I will not go into any further detail about besides it has a very unexpected, smart defeat of the villain. Although the plot and the characters are very intruding to read about, I still do have some feedback.
In my opinion, the book was rushed in some parts and had some holes in the storyline. I feel as though some scenes were skipped over, but I could be wrong. The chapters where Joey learned from Redondo felt sort of rushed and too short. But writing style aside, I think it was a magnificent story and it could be a great series to kick off new, young readers’ love for books. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, only because of the reasons stated previously. If not for that, I would have done 5 stars. I recommend this book to people who have read the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson series. I also think that people who like reading about fiction and fantasy. So overall, it’s a good book that could kick-off as a series and I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in fantasy books. [Edit: I just found out that Matt Myklusch has already come out with the 2nd book in this series, The Lost Kingdom, last year. I haven’t read it and I’m planning on it.] [Edit again: There’s a third one that came out this year. I really need to get my head in the game!]
What I absolutely love about this book is that it has more settings and characters are not from the United States of America. One of Joey’s friends and fellow students is from Jorako, a made-up country that is revealed to be in the Middle East, and the other is a traveling nomad. My favorite scene in this book has got to be the ending scene, which I will not go into any further detail about besides it has a very unexpected, smart defeat of the villain. Although the plot and the characters are very intruding to read about, I still do have some feedback.
In my opinion, the book was rushed in some parts and had some holes in the storyline. I feel as though some scenes were skipped over, but I could be wrong. The chapters where Joey learned from Redondo felt sort of rushed and too short. But writing style aside, I think it was a magnificent story and it could be a great series to kick off new, young readers’ love for books. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, only because of the reasons stated previously. If not for that, I would have done 5 stars. I recommend this book to people who have read the Harry Potter series or the Percy Jackson series. I also think that people who like reading about fiction and fantasy. So overall, it’s a good book that could kick-off as a series and I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in fantasy books. [Edit: I just found out that Matt Myklusch has already come out with the 2nd book in this series, The Lost Kingdom, last year. I haven’t read it and I’m planning on it.] [Edit again: There’s a third one that came out this year. I really need to get my head in the game!]
May 1, 2019
While the cover and blurb drew me in, I was a little skeptical about the high page count. This, however, was such a fun read that the heavy page count wasn't a problem.
Joey isn't exactly an exceptional student, but he's great at taking test. When he ends up getting a perfect score on a set of tests and is marked as genius, he's knows that this is a bunch of trash. He doesn't know anything outside of comics and movies. Definitely, not school stuff. Still, his parents are determined to chase this and soon have him registered at a school for the gifted. When he arrives to take some more test which should determine the rest of his life, things take a strange turn. He's given a box of magical tricks, 150 of them and all to be solved within one hour. Somehow, he does it and the results send him soaring into the world of magic and a dangerous war.
This is a fun read full of magic, quirky fun and tons of fast-paced adventure. In other words, it's a blast. The beginning runs fairly quickly as Joey heads from a perfect score to the gifted school and finds himself in a strange and spooky place—a deserted New York street with a theatre and tons of creepy shadows. The setting begs for a fantastical adventure, and that's exactly what this book gives.
The writing flows at just the right pace. There are enough descriptions to draw into the world, but these usually don't run extremely deep. Instead, the plot shoots forward and is pulled along with fun dialogue. Imagination takes flight, making this an adventure made for the age group. And for those adults who still know that magic is possible if one simply is ready to believe.
I received an ARC and loved the imagination and adventure so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Joey isn't exactly an exceptional student, but he's great at taking test. When he ends up getting a perfect score on a set of tests and is marked as genius, he's knows that this is a bunch of trash. He doesn't know anything outside of comics and movies. Definitely, not school stuff. Still, his parents are determined to chase this and soon have him registered at a school for the gifted. When he arrives to take some more test which should determine the rest of his life, things take a strange turn. He's given a box of magical tricks, 150 of them and all to be solved within one hour. Somehow, he does it and the results send him soaring into the world of magic and a dangerous war.
This is a fun read full of magic, quirky fun and tons of fast-paced adventure. In other words, it's a blast. The beginning runs fairly quickly as Joey heads from a perfect score to the gifted school and finds himself in a strange and spooky place—a deserted New York street with a theatre and tons of creepy shadows. The setting begs for a fantastical adventure, and that's exactly what this book gives.
The writing flows at just the right pace. There are enough descriptions to draw into the world, but these usually don't run extremely deep. Instead, the plot shoots forward and is pulled along with fun dialogue. Imagination takes flight, making this an adventure made for the age group. And for those adults who still know that magic is possible if one simply is ready to believe.
I received an ARC and loved the imagination and adventure so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
November 12, 2019
The Order of The Majestic is a story of a 12 - year old prodigy named joey and his discovery and introduction to the magical world. Although there’s one problem with this amazing new situation, Joey has zero experience, leaving him desperate to learn everything he can about this newfound world, but with no one to teach him. Seemingly leaving him with a daunting task for him and him alone to complete. Protect the wand.
The main characters in this story are Joey, a magician named Redondo the Magnificent, a dark magician, and 2 younger magicians around Joey’s age. Joey can be explained in one way. Indifferent. After receiving perfect scores on ALL of his state tests and most of his classes, he is offered acceptance into a higher level school, the only problem is that Joey doesn’t care. Although Joey may seem ignorant for not wanting to take this chance, his reason for it is sensible, he doesn’t want the change and higher requirement.
The setting of this book is predominantly in a theater called “The Majestic.” This theater is described as being run down, having a “marquee missing too many letters for Joey to understand,” dim lights coming from inside, and being located in a magical world. “The Majestic” is only accessible to whoever Redondo the Magnificent, the magician who lives there, allows in.
My favorite part of this book was the fight in the mirror realm. This was my favorite part because it was described as a really nice beach and the fight that took place there proved to be a major part in the book. After reading this book, I would recommend it to anyone 10 to early teens because of it being an easier read, or anyone who has a special interest in the world of magic.
The main characters in this story are Joey, a magician named Redondo the Magnificent, a dark magician, and 2 younger magicians around Joey’s age. Joey can be explained in one way. Indifferent. After receiving perfect scores on ALL of his state tests and most of his classes, he is offered acceptance into a higher level school, the only problem is that Joey doesn’t care. Although Joey may seem ignorant for not wanting to take this chance, his reason for it is sensible, he doesn’t want the change and higher requirement.
The setting of this book is predominantly in a theater called “The Majestic.” This theater is described as being run down, having a “marquee missing too many letters for Joey to understand,” dim lights coming from inside, and being located in a magical world. “The Majestic” is only accessible to whoever Redondo the Magnificent, the magician who lives there, allows in.
My favorite part of this book was the fight in the mirror realm. This was my favorite part because it was described as a really nice beach and the fight that took place there proved to be a major part in the book. After reading this book, I would recommend it to anyone 10 to early teens because of it being an easier read, or anyone who has a special interest in the world of magic.
May 3, 2020
"The testing center looked like the kind of place fun went to die."
After acing a bunch of standardized tests and placing into a school he doesn't want to attend, Joey Kopecky spends a lot of this book wondering what he wants to do with his life. I appreciated his realistic inner-turmoil as he wrestles with the idea that nothing can be accomplished if one is too scared to try, and I liked his distinctively bold and unintentionally-rude personality. As for the other characters, Redondo was the next most interesting. He defies all the cliché expectations for the crochety, powerful mentor in the story, instead filling the role of a less-than-awe-inspiring old man, haunted by secrets he's not ready to divulge. He has an individual "feel" that sets him apart from the designated wise teacher in other books.
In fact, originality is one of the main traits that made this book enjoyable. Every book with magic in it has its own take on the magic system (e.g. incantations vs. using elements, etc.) , but some tend to get repetitive. While I actually prefer the other magic systems, I have to admit that this one is unique.
The plot was engaging, but mostly dialogue. Pages and pages were spent in arguments, explanations, and victory speeches (granted, I read this in E-book form, and I'm not familiar with how one page on one of those translates to one physical page). IMHO, discussion was overused as a mechanism to drive the plot.
As a whole, though not perfect, The Order of the Majestic is engrossing and unique, and just the kind of book I was looking for.
After acing a bunch of standardized tests and placing into a school he doesn't want to attend, Joey Kopecky spends a lot of this book wondering what he wants to do with his life. I appreciated his realistic inner-turmoil as he wrestles with the idea that nothing can be accomplished if one is too scared to try, and I liked his distinctively bold and unintentionally-rude personality. As for the other characters, Redondo was the next most interesting. He defies all the cliché expectations for the crochety, powerful mentor in the story, instead filling the role of a less-than-awe-inspiring old man, haunted by secrets he's not ready to divulge. He has an individual "feel" that sets him apart from the designated wise teacher in other books.
In fact, originality is one of the main traits that made this book enjoyable. Every book with magic in it has its own take on the magic system (e.g. incantations vs. using elements, etc.) , but some tend to get repetitive. While I actually prefer the other magic systems, I have to admit that this one is unique.
The plot was engaging, but mostly dialogue. Pages and pages were spent in arguments, explanations, and victory speeches (granted, I read this in E-book form, and I'm not familiar with how one page on one of those translates to one physical page). IMHO, discussion was overused as a mechanism to drive the plot.
As a whole, though not perfect, The Order of the Majestic is engrossing and unique, and just the kind of book I was looking for.
June 19, 2019
This was a fun, original story!
The magic in this story was in the form of magical illusions, rather than fantasy. There was more than just card tricks, including magical portals to other worlds, but it seemed a little more realistic than other stories. I loved that this was a world built on magic tricks, because it is more accessible to kids. I had a set of magic tricks that I loved playing with as a kid. I think this setting makes the story much more relatable for young readers.
I loved the comparison of magic and science. A few times the characters say “Magic is just science that people don’t understand yet.” I love this description of magic. Some things that people used to think of as magic centuries ago are now classified as science, such as medical advancements. I loved the way this brought the magic into the real world.
I also appreciated that Joey has both of his parents in this story. Often in children’s stories, the main character is either an orphan or from a single parent household. That is supposed to put the characters at a disadvantage right from the beginning, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. I liked that this was a different way to start a middle grade fantasy novel.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a great magical story!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The magic in this story was in the form of magical illusions, rather than fantasy. There was more than just card tricks, including magical portals to other worlds, but it seemed a little more realistic than other stories. I loved that this was a world built on magic tricks, because it is more accessible to kids. I had a set of magic tricks that I loved playing with as a kid. I think this setting makes the story much more relatable for young readers.
I loved the comparison of magic and science. A few times the characters say “Magic is just science that people don’t understand yet.” I love this description of magic. Some things that people used to think of as magic centuries ago are now classified as science, such as medical advancements. I loved the way this brought the magic into the real world.
I also appreciated that Joey has both of his parents in this story. Often in children’s stories, the main character is either an orphan or from a single parent household. That is supposed to put the characters at a disadvantage right from the beginning, but it doesn’t always have to be like that. I liked that this was a different way to start a middle grade fantasy novel.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a great magical story!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2019
Book 1 in a new series by Matt Myklusch, author of the Jack Blank adventures.
Joey gets a perfect score on the mandatory standardized test. He's really good at test taking. And now, lucky him, he gets to go to this special school that meets YEAR ROUND! He's thrilled... well, not really. Before he starts at the new school, he has to take another test that will determine his special area of focus but when he arrives, he is given a box of magic tricks. Really?? That's his specialty?! Well, he does all the tricks in the prescribed time limit and then finds a key attached to a string, when he pulls it, he is transported to another place where he discovers that magic is REAL! But needs his help! And then things start going terribly awry.
Even if my review sounds a bit sarcastic in tone, I truly enjoyed this somewhat predictable tale. A good read-alike for those who enjoy Harry Potter, Pendragon, Magyk, etc. No swearing, sex, drinking or other objectionable things, making it perfectly fine for grades 5-8.
Joey gets a perfect score on the mandatory standardized test. He's really good at test taking. And now, lucky him, he gets to go to this special school that meets YEAR ROUND! He's thrilled... well, not really. Before he starts at the new school, he has to take another test that will determine his special area of focus but when he arrives, he is given a box of magic tricks. Really?? That's his specialty?! Well, he does all the tricks in the prescribed time limit and then finds a key attached to a string, when he pulls it, he is transported to another place where he discovers that magic is REAL! But needs his help! And then things start going terribly awry.
Even if my review sounds a bit sarcastic in tone, I truly enjoyed this somewhat predictable tale. A good read-alike for those who enjoy Harry Potter, Pendragon, Magyk, etc. No swearing, sex, drinking or other objectionable things, making it perfectly fine for grades 5-8.
July 9, 2019
I read this in nearly one sitting. That's hard to say of most books I read these days.
I've been a fan of the author for a while, but I haven't read any of his books in some time. This was a fun reintroduction to his work. The characters and plot-- while fairly standard-- were solid and engaging. The setting was kept tight and vivid. No massive quests, no elaborate puzzles; just a good mystery and fun action.
It wasn't perfect. I feel like I've read this main character's story before. Some things felt too easy, especially the consequences of magical adventuring when returning to the real world. The writing style barely had enough enthusiasm to make up for its bumpy delivery. But the book was a nice diversion. The main character felt real. The plot twisted away from the worn path I thought it was taking, into a better kind of adventure. All in all, I enjoyed myself.
I'm glad I read this. I'm glad it exists.
I've been a fan of the author for a while, but I haven't read any of his books in some time. This was a fun reintroduction to his work. The characters and plot-- while fairly standard-- were solid and engaging. The setting was kept tight and vivid. No massive quests, no elaborate puzzles; just a good mystery and fun action.
It wasn't perfect. I feel like I've read this main character's story before. Some things felt too easy, especially the consequences of magical adventuring when returning to the real world. The writing style barely had enough enthusiasm to make up for its bumpy delivery. But the book was a nice diversion. The main character felt real. The plot twisted away from the worn path I thought it was taking, into a better kind of adventure. All in all, I enjoyed myself.
I'm glad I read this. I'm glad it exists.
March 10, 2021
I like all that I've read from Matt Myklusch! His voice is so fun, and I appreciate that this main characters aren't "perfect;" they get upset, don't ask for help, can be perfectionists, don't believe in themselves, have issues, etc. When I first starting reading his books as a kid, and being a kid that loved the idea that a kid could be the "magic chosen one," it was refreshing to see that the "chosen ones" in his books wasn't entirely comfortable with it, that they didn't feel up to it.
I did feel like this book went by a little fast. It only happened over the course of a few days, and I kept expecting more, though the ending payoff was interesting/unexpected, if a little Harry Potter 7-ish (I really wanted to see more cool, epic magic with the wand, but the ending does hint a possibility of more, so we'll see). I would have liked to see a bit more development with the two other main-ish character kids.
I did feel like this book went by a little fast. It only happened over the course of a few days, and I kept expecting more, though the ending payoff was interesting/unexpected, if a little Harry Potter 7-ish (I really wanted to see more cool, epic magic with the wand, but the ending does hint a possibility of more, so we'll see). I would have liked to see a bit more development with the two other main-ish character kids.
Read
February 22, 2023Joey never wanted to be extraordinary. His test scores changed everything. When Joey gets perfect scores on every standardized test in school he is made an instant genius and accepted into the most prestigious school in New York. However, before he makes it there he is given one last unusual test as an entrance exam. What comes next is an adventure full of magic where Joey and his two rivals are tasked with bringing magic back to a world where it's fading away.
This was actually rather fun to read as the concept of magic in the modern world tends to be. this took a different spin from the Harry Potter style as the school isn't for wizardry but the exact opposite. Science. I enjoyed having Joey compete between the two worlds and how he interacted with the people from both. It was a lot of fun. not terribly serious but a good light-hearted read. would recommend for a rainy day inside
This was actually rather fun to read as the concept of magic in the modern world tends to be. this took a different spin from the Harry Potter style as the school isn't for wizardry but the exact opposite. Science. I enjoyed having Joey compete between the two worlds and how he interacted with the people from both. It was a lot of fun. not terribly serious but a good light-hearted read. would recommend for a rainy day inside
September 6, 2021
I was not sure what I would get when I picked up this book. I did rather enjoy it. There was some spotty items in it but certainly for a middle grade novel a reader will certainly enjoy this story. It's boy with no specific ability or inability, except for he does really well on tests. Heads to a testing center and is given a special project of a magic box to work on. This leads him to a in between world realm where he learns about some past history and ongoing battles of good and evil. Him with the help of two other children from different countries and different backgrounds entirely have to work together to of course vanquish that evil. In the end the evil is not gone which makes it good for a sequel.
December 18, 2019
This book hit me in the feels. Not, like, the sad feels but in the "I want to do cool things but I can't seem to" feels.
This is the first book in a series and it really hyped me up for the next one. Yes there were some slow bits, but there wasn't any info dumps which was nice. It also kinda kept with the way the story was told.
This also reminded me to look to for the magic in everyday life and to continue to create my own. :)
This is the first book in a series and it really hyped me up for the next one. Yes there were some slow bits, but there wasn't any info dumps which was nice. It also kinda kept with the way the story was told.
This also reminded me to look to for the magic in everyday life and to continue to create my own. :)
April 15, 2020
There's nothing exactly wrong with it, just wasn't thrilled either. Another white boy savior of the world fantasy with backup characters from 19th century vaguely 'exotic' localities and spellings.
Somehow extraordinary long but also very rushed feeling.
I do like the introduction of possible interplay between science and magic, wish that'd been more than a last nod.
(If you know the cultural refs-Star Wars, Harry Potter, the MCU, you're going to know exactly what's going to happen blow by blow for the ending.)
Somehow extraordinary long but also very rushed feeling.
I do like the introduction of possible interplay between science and magic, wish that'd been more than a last nod.
(If you know the cultural refs-Star Wars, Harry Potter, the MCU, you're going to know exactly what's going to happen blow by blow for the ending.)
March 3, 2021
I loved Matt Myklusch's Jack Blank trilogy, but I stumbled upon the Order of the Majestic completely by accident only realizing it was written by him after I had the book home.
And once again, Myklusch doesn't disappoint.
I don't think it's always the plot of a book that makes it special, but the writing and the way the story is told can make what would ordinarily be an average book extraordinary and that's what happens here.
4.5 stars and I look forward to the next book in the series.
And once again, Myklusch doesn't disappoint.
I don't think it's always the plot of a book that makes it special, but the writing and the way the story is told can make what would ordinarily be an average book extraordinary and that's what happens here.
4.5 stars and I look forward to the next book in the series.
July 31, 2019
“Onward, young Magicians. We’ve got work to do.”
What an adventure! I was hooked at every turn and the conversations never stopped coming. It isn’t often I find a book these days driven by conversation, but this one is. And that final conversation with Redondo?! I cried.
But the final scene in the book made my heart soar. Because it was right- we can change the world. We just have to believe in ourselves (and a little magic) to be able to do it. <3
What an adventure! I was hooked at every turn and the conversations never stopped coming. It isn’t often I find a book these days driven by conversation, but this one is. And that final conversation with Redondo?! I cried.
But the final scene in the book made my heart soar. Because it was right- we can change the world. We just have to believe in ourselves (and a little magic) to be able to do it. <3
April 18, 2020
This book was a new and original way to show magic-something that needs to be shared, and not hoarded. (Also that magicians are real, and magic is used with relics). I thought that the demise of Grayson Manchester was stupefyingly original, but I did not like the author's implementation of Redondo dying. I thought that the writing in that part was too emotionless, which was surprising, since the writing up to that point had been very descriptive.
June 17, 2025
I found this rather boring. I couldn't get into it and by the end of it I didn't care enough about the characters to read the second book. I returned both to the library.
it also really bugged me that the "Old Man" was only 55. ummm... these days that's not old. I get that to a kid that seems old... but come on!
I'm giving it the extra star because the nerdy little gems hidden throughout made me smile.
it also really bugged me that the "Old Man" was only 55. ummm... these days that's not old. I get that to a kid that seems old... but come on!
I'm giving it the extra star because the nerdy little gems hidden throughout made me smile.
January 4, 2021
My daughter received this book in her BeTWEEN the Bookends subscription box (which I highly recommend, by the way!) and I decided to read it for myself. The story took me on an adventure I wasn't expecting, and it was fun to ponder how the characters were going to escape each perilous situation. I really enjoyed the sprinkling of pop culture references and science within the writing as well.
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