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The Rules #1
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic
Desperate to pay for college, Bridger Whitt is willing to overlook the peculiarities of his new job—entering via the roof, the weird stacks of old books and even older scrolls, the seemingly incorporeal voices he hears from time to time—but its pretty hard to ignore being pulled under Lake Michigan by... mermaids? Worse yet, this happens in front of his new crush, Leo, the dreamy football star who just moved to town. Fantastic. When he discovers his eccentric employer Pavel Chudinov is an intermediary between the human world and its myths, Bridger is plunged into a world of pixies, werewolves, and Sasquatch. The realm of myths and magic is growing increasingly unstable, and it is up to Bridger to ascertain the cause of the chaos, eliminate the problem, and help his boss keep the real world from finding the world of myths.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2017
78 people are currently reading
6599 people want to read
About the author
F.T. Lukens
13 books3,606 followersF.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Otherworldly, Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming Love at Second Sight (2025) as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 457 reviews
November 3, 2020
I must admit that I was a bit hesitant to read this story at first. Lukens was a new-to-me author, but the cute cover and blurb pulled me in. This time, though, taking a chance paid off big time. : )
I loved how quirky and flat out odd this journey was, as 17 y.o. awkward high school student, Bridger, embarked on a new job, which turned out to be an entirely new life. And a very happy, eventful one at that.
The prevailing dry humor, as Bridger is thrown into one bizarre supernatural situation after another, felt natural and never once tried too hard. I especially loved the pixies and Bridger's encounter with the virgin-friendly unicorn.
The story felt upbeat and light, mostly, except for the part at the end where Bridger had to make an extremely difficult choice, one that could not only devastate his newly-blossoming love life, but potentially lead to the deaths of others.
The story also focused a lot on the importance of family, those related by blood and those of your own making, and acceptance, by others as well as yourself.
And while the innocent, budding romance between Bridger and football star Leo wasn't the main focus of the story, it was critical to the plot and felt necessary. Unlike some fantasy stories, this one actually did have a nice mix of both of those elements as the story progressed.
In regards to the story being YA, this one didn't feel *overly* YA, if that makes sense. Yes, the setting was high school; however, with only a few minor changes, I felt that the story could have easily been an NA read, instead, as juvenile humor wasn't a major thing here.
Other than a few make-out sessions, there wasn't any steam. This story was more about the pursuit than the tackle and it ends with an adorable HFN, with the potential for (much?) more in the future.
Personally, I'd love to see this story turn into a series, following the adventures of Bridger, Leo, Astrid and the rest of the magical gang from the creepy old house fighting to keep both humans and the 'myths' safe and blissfully separate.
My only niggle is that, with the first 90% of the book leaving me feeling breathless and excited, for me at least, the end fell a bit flat from what I was expecting.
So while not entirely "pinecones and candy canes and epic and awesome" (nod to TJ Klune fans, holla!), this feel good tale did keep me intrigued and wanting more, so I'd rate it a solid 4.25 stars and definitely recommend it to fans of both fantasy and YA/NA genres.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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August 21, 2017
*3.5 stars*
Fun, entertaining YA paranormal romance from a new-to-me author.
I was really impressed by The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic. I'm usually SO hesitant to try a new author because I've been burned time and time again by crappy stories from newbie writers, but this one was worth the chance! If you like your stories a little quirky, then this one is for you.
The world building-elements were super interesting. It reminded me a little of Clean Sweep, but a more rudimentary version with some different concepts. I think if the author had just done a little more developing with the world it would have been amazing, but it was still very impressive.
The author tried to do a lot with this story and often succeeded. The romance was there, though it felt like a side element to the larger story, IMO, but I still liked the two guys together. I'm a sucker for a jock in YA romance, and I liked that we got one here. The story is totally steam-free, BTW, for those who are interested. This would be an appropriate story for actual YA readers, which sometimes isn't the case with a high school romance.
It was a fun story with some great dialogue and interesting relationships between the MC and many side characters. It was overall really well done, but again, I think that with a little something deeper (and a less anticlimactic ending), it would have knocked my socks off. Still, F.T. Lukens should be proud of this one, and I'll be looking for more from this author in the future.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
Fun, entertaining YA paranormal romance from a new-to-me author.
I was really impressed by The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic. I'm usually SO hesitant to try a new author because I've been burned time and time again by crappy stories from newbie writers, but this one was worth the chance! If you like your stories a little quirky, then this one is for you.
The world building-elements were super interesting. It reminded me a little of Clean Sweep, but a more rudimentary version with some different concepts. I think if the author had just done a little more developing with the world it would have been amazing, but it was still very impressive.
The author tried to do a lot with this story and often succeeded. The romance was there, though it felt like a side element to the larger story, IMO, but I still liked the two guys together. I'm a sucker for a jock in YA romance, and I liked that we got one here. The story is totally steam-free, BTW, for those who are interested. This would be an appropriate story for actual YA readers, which sometimes isn't the case with a high school romance.
It was a fun story with some great dialogue and interesting relationships between the MC and many side characters. It was overall really well done, but again, I think that with a little something deeper (and a less anticlimactic ending), it would have knocked my socks off. Still, F.T. Lukens should be proud of this one, and I'll be looking for more from this author in the future.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
July 2, 2018
4.5 Stars. First off, let me say that what really intrigued me about this book was its glorious cover and intriguing title. I was hoping that the writing and story within would capture my attention as surely as the cover had. It did!
Here we have a paranormal/fantasy YA book in which magic, including myths and legends live hidden amongst the human world. Our trepidatious MC, Bridger, desperate to leave small town Michigan via college, answers a job ad on Craigslist for an assistant. Some high flying acrobatics later, he lands the job. What he doesn't know is that now he is assistant to an intermediary, Pavel, who seeks to solve the problems of the magical beings.
Bridger finds himself trying to accept that magic is real, fretting over his sexuality, lying to his best friend, getting good grades, escaping rampaging unicorns, and angsting over his gigantic crush on Leo, the new jock in town. He’s got a full plate.
The characters Lukens created were very engaging, from Bridger, to seemingly perfect Leo (and there is a good reason for this), to Pavel, and to Astrid, Bridger’s best friend. Along with these primary and secondary characters, we see a host of magical creatures who Bridger and Pavel confront to keep the two realms at peace. This diverse cast make for a creative and lively read.
The excellent writing helped the plot move along. What I liked most about this story was that I wasn't given all the information up front. I had to see this from Bridger’s eyes. And while frustrating at times because I wanted to know all, it served its purpose to keep me engaged and invested in the outcome of not only the clash between the magical and human, but between Bridger and Leo, as well.
This is the second of Lukens’ books that I've read, and I must say that I will now list her as one of my favorite YA authors, and one of the best in the GLBT genre.
**I received an advance review copy of this eBook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Here we have a paranormal/fantasy YA book in which magic, including myths and legends live hidden amongst the human world. Our trepidatious MC, Bridger, desperate to leave small town Michigan via college, answers a job ad on Craigslist for an assistant. Some high flying acrobatics later, he lands the job. What he doesn't know is that now he is assistant to an intermediary, Pavel, who seeks to solve the problems of the magical beings.
Bridger finds himself trying to accept that magic is real, fretting over his sexuality, lying to his best friend, getting good grades, escaping rampaging unicorns, and angsting over his gigantic crush on Leo, the new jock in town. He’s got a full plate.
The characters Lukens created were very engaging, from Bridger, to seemingly perfect Leo (and there is a good reason for this), to Pavel, and to Astrid, Bridger’s best friend. Along with these primary and secondary characters, we see a host of magical creatures who Bridger and Pavel confront to keep the two realms at peace. This diverse cast make for a creative and lively read.
The excellent writing helped the plot move along. What I liked most about this story was that I wasn't given all the information up front. I had to see this from Bridger’s eyes. And while frustrating at times because I wanted to know all, it served its purpose to keep me engaged and invested in the outcome of not only the clash between the magical and human, but between Bridger and Leo, as well.
This is the second of Lukens’ books that I've read, and I must say that I will now list her as one of my favorite YA authors, and one of the best in the GLBT genre.
**I received an advance review copy of this eBook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
dnf
April 20, 2020Cute and well-written and charming. Except... it's just too damned cute for me. Ugh. I made it to 32%, but the pixies did me in. I feel like a grouchy old curmudgeon shouting, "Get those damn pixies off my lawn!"
Recommended to people who aren't me.
Recommended to people who aren't me.
November 21, 2019
This was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it.
Not quite silly enough to be a romp, but close -- nice balance of action, fantasy, humor, romance, with strong character building.
There were a few things I thought were weaker, mostly the parts that drove plot conflict, which felt contrived for that purpose. For instance, how many times can you have the sound of the compact be an issue before you just, you know, alter how that works? (Why can't Pavel use a phone, anyway? Was that explained?)
I really liked the idea of the Jungian Hero's Journey and how Lukens had that function in the plot, but I didn't think the person in question's status as a hero was fleshed out enough. The book seems to skip over the actual meat of the heroism. If just being an all around decent person whom others liked and who was also athletic was enough to qualify as a Supernatural Hero wouldn't this same problem be arising all the time?
Also, why was everyone so pissy about the protagonist wanting to go to college out of state? That's hardly an unusual desire for a small town kid.
But anyway, I don't want to dwell too extensively on the flaws. I'm sure the majority of readers won't be bothered by those weak points. This isn't intended to a super-serious story with tightly constructed world-building. This is just how my brain works and why I'm no fun.
I did enjoy this, enough that I plan to read more by Lukens soooner rather than later.
If you like the ordinary-person-ends-up-working-with-supernatural-whatever subgenre this is definitely a strong entry, and the emotional aspects (coming out or not, romance and friendship, parent/child relationships, insecurity) are well-handled.
Not quite silly enough to be a romp, but close -- nice balance of action, fantasy, humor, romance, with strong character building.
There were a few things I thought were weaker, mostly the parts that drove plot conflict, which felt contrived for that purpose. For instance, how many times can you have the sound of the compact be an issue before you just, you know, alter how that works? (Why can't Pavel use a phone, anyway? Was that explained?)
I really liked the idea of the Jungian Hero's Journey and how Lukens had that function in the plot, but I didn't think the person in question's status as a hero was fleshed out enough. The book seems to skip over the actual meat of the heroism. If just being an all around decent person whom others liked and who was also athletic was enough to qualify as a Supernatural Hero wouldn't this same problem be arising all the time?
Also, why was everyone so pissy about the protagonist wanting to go to college out of state? That's hardly an unusual desire for a small town kid.
But anyway, I don't want to dwell too extensively on the flaws. I'm sure the majority of readers won't be bothered by those weak points. This isn't intended to a super-serious story with tightly constructed world-building. This is just how my brain works and why I'm no fun.
I did enjoy this, enough that I plan to read more by Lukens soooner rather than later.
If you like the ordinary-person-ends-up-working-with-supernatural-whatever subgenre this is definitely a strong entry, and the emotional aspects (coming out or not, romance and friendship, parent/child relationships, insecurity) are well-handled.
August 24, 2017
RULES & REGULATIONS is a smart, fast-paced, high-stakes adventure that draws you in and takes you for a delightful ride into the world of myth and magic. Alongside worrying about AP classes and his crush, Bridger falls headfirst into the chaotic world of being an Intermediary’s assistant. With an awkward mentor and pixies as his guide, he has to learn how to be that bridge between the magical and mundane world (and escape a rampaging unicorn!).
Bridger’s sharp wit, sarcasm and resourcefulness absolutely shine on every single page, and he makes for a hilarious narrator, especially during the many WTF moments (and there are many. He meets a SASQUATCH. It’s amazing.) His relationship with his best friend Astrid is wonderfully dynamic and complex as Bridger starts having to lie about his magical new job, and then things get even more complicated with a potential boyfriend, and also a potentially end of the world.
Lukens delivers at every level, from the overwhelming awkwardness of a first crush, the complex dynamics of friendship, family relationships, and handles coming out in an authentic, clever, and hilarious way. I’m going to be quoting “I’m going to go be bisexual in my room” for a long time. RULES creates a fantastic new universe that I absolutely need more of.
Bridger’s sharp wit, sarcasm and resourcefulness absolutely shine on every single page, and he makes for a hilarious narrator, especially during the many WTF moments (and there are many. He meets a SASQUATCH. It’s amazing.) His relationship with his best friend Astrid is wonderfully dynamic and complex as Bridger starts having to lie about his magical new job, and then things get even more complicated with a potential boyfriend, and also a potentially end of the world.
Lukens delivers at every level, from the overwhelming awkwardness of a first crush, the complex dynamics of friendship, family relationships, and handles coming out in an authentic, clever, and hilarious way. I’m going to be quoting “I’m going to go be bisexual in my room” for a long time. RULES creates a fantastic new universe that I absolutely need more of.
January 29, 2023
A hectic life of a teenager, a senior and a geek, who has a crush on a jock. He is ready to come out, but is petrified of the consequences. A life, packed with magical creatures running amok on top of all non-magical problems. You bet it's a fun read! :)
Chris, thanks for lending the book. EmilieSA, thank you for the rec!
I really enjoyed this one :)
4.5 stars
Chris, thanks for lending the book. EmilieSA, thank you for the rec!
I really enjoyed this one :)
4.5 stars
September 14, 2024
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic is a fun and quirky YA paranormal fantasy. We follow Bridger, who's looking for a job to help pay for out of state college. After a very unusual entrance 'interview', Bridger gets the job of assistant for the eccentric Pavel Chudinov.
First tasked with organising his library, it quickly becomes clear that Bridger's employer is not what he seems and that he's hiding something from him. Bridger just didn't expect that secret to be the supernatural world.
Turns out Bridger is actually the assistant to the intermediary of the human world and its myths. Pavel is tasked with keeping both sides safe, and keeping the mortal world ignorant of the supernatural. But then the myths start acting strange, putting the secret and people at risk.
__
I had a lot of fun with this one. The romance is sweet, the plot and concept was a good time. I jumped right into the sequel after finishing this.
First tasked with organising his library, it quickly becomes clear that Bridger's employer is not what he seems and that he's hiding something from him. Bridger just didn't expect that secret to be the supernatural world.
Turns out Bridger is actually the assistant to the intermediary of the human world and its myths. Pavel is tasked with keeping both sides safe, and keeping the mortal world ignorant of the supernatural. But then the myths start acting strange, putting the secret and people at risk.
__
I had a lot of fun with this one. The romance is sweet, the plot and concept was a good time. I jumped right into the sequel after finishing this.
October 21, 2017
It's quite easy to see why so many people are raving over The Rules and Regulations For Mediating Myths & Magic ... from page to page, I was simply delighted with the humor, the charm, and the exciting adventures unfolding in Bridger's life. As a fan of wonderful comedy-fantasies like The Princess Bride and Stardust, F.T. Lukens captures all of the things I love about interweaving the worlds of magic, myths, and fantasy with tender, budding romance from a YA perspective. Lukens takes what makes books like Carry On incredibly enjoyable and adds a fresh twist of modern, small-town life, high school crushes, family, and a main character who is already facing his own greatest challenge: coming out as bisexual.
From the opening scene, I was completely hooked. Lukens carves out an insanely hilarious introduction to her main character, Bridger Whitt, and his "climb" into the mysterious world of myths, magic, and cryptids. From snarky pixies to a rampaging unicorn, a grumpy Sasquatch, and even the perfect femme fatale in a she-wolf, there is no end to all the enthralling creatures featured in this novel. (FYI: the mermaids gave me nightmares, in a good way.) And don't worry if you're new to any of this: Lukens gives just enough hints, background, and twists about each character (or creature) that you'll feel right at home with it all.
Bridger is an accidental comedic gem. He's witty, clever, uncertain, and a little clumsy, too. His constant battle with honesty was a great character flaw. It strikes true to human nature and the inability to trust others with secrets in our lives. Bridger's friendship with best friend Astrid is a joy, but it's his sweet relationship with his mother that truly engaged me as a reader. There's an honesty to how Lukens wrote Bridger's bond with his mom. His fears of coming out to her. The way they connect over tacos or watching Jeopardy together. Bridger's mom's desire to do anything (though, with a slight reluctance) to ensure Bridger has what he needs to attend college, to live a life outside of their small town is a nice, fresh take on an often clichéd YA universe.
Oh... and then there's Bridger and his crush, Leo. I fell head over heels with their bumbling, clumsy, blush-worthy moments together. Their romance isn't the entire focus of the novel, but it is by far the biggest breath of fresh, intoxicating air in this fast-paced adventure.
Another wonderful point of interest is Bridger's mentor, Pavel. He's mysterious, secretive, and poorly-dressed. Yes, tweed jackets and bunny slippers -- everything you need from an Intermediary who sips tea with pixies while trying to prevent the end of the world. But the slow-developing relationship he has with Bridger is a treat. Almost fatherly, but not quite, something Bridger is missing since his own father's disappearance as a child.
What Lukens excels at is the complexity of coming out. How it's not an easy transition from the awareness of one's sexuality to sharing that piece with those close to you. Lukens doesn't rush things. It's not easy. She makes this process for Bridger an honest, real life experience. His desire to move away for college in order to finally live his authentic truth rings so close to many young adults. Why does Bridger have to come out to win the heart of his openly gay crush? Why can't he figure himself out without having to include the entire town in on his inner struggles? Lukens soars with how she takes Bridger through this part of his life... including humorous moments that add to how clumsy and awkward coming out can be.
This book is filled with enough love, magic, and cranky cryptids to delight a reader for a long, long time. The biggest flaw is ... it ends before I was ready for it to end.
From the opening scene, I was completely hooked. Lukens carves out an insanely hilarious introduction to her main character, Bridger Whitt, and his "climb" into the mysterious world of myths, magic, and cryptids. From snarky pixies to a rampaging unicorn, a grumpy Sasquatch, and even the perfect femme fatale in a she-wolf, there is no end to all the enthralling creatures featured in this novel. (FYI: the mermaids gave me nightmares, in a good way.) And don't worry if you're new to any of this: Lukens gives just enough hints, background, and twists about each character (or creature) that you'll feel right at home with it all.
Bridger is an accidental comedic gem. He's witty, clever, uncertain, and a little clumsy, too. His constant battle with honesty was a great character flaw. It strikes true to human nature and the inability to trust others with secrets in our lives. Bridger's friendship with best friend Astrid is a joy, but it's his sweet relationship with his mother that truly engaged me as a reader. There's an honesty to how Lukens wrote Bridger's bond with his mom. His fears of coming out to her. The way they connect over tacos or watching Jeopardy together. Bridger's mom's desire to do anything (though, with a slight reluctance) to ensure Bridger has what he needs to attend college, to live a life outside of their small town is a nice, fresh take on an often clichéd YA universe.
Oh... and then there's Bridger and his crush, Leo. I fell head over heels with their bumbling, clumsy, blush-worthy moments together. Their romance isn't the entire focus of the novel, but it is by far the biggest breath of fresh, intoxicating air in this fast-paced adventure.
Another wonderful point of interest is Bridger's mentor, Pavel. He's mysterious, secretive, and poorly-dressed. Yes, tweed jackets and bunny slippers -- everything you need from an Intermediary who sips tea with pixies while trying to prevent the end of the world. But the slow-developing relationship he has with Bridger is a treat. Almost fatherly, but not quite, something Bridger is missing since his own father's disappearance as a child.
What Lukens excels at is the complexity of coming out. How it's not an easy transition from the awareness of one's sexuality to sharing that piece with those close to you. Lukens doesn't rush things. It's not easy. She makes this process for Bridger an honest, real life experience. His desire to move away for college in order to finally live his authentic truth rings so close to many young adults. Why does Bridger have to come out to win the heart of his openly gay crush? Why can't he figure himself out without having to include the entire town in on his inner struggles? Lukens soars with how she takes Bridger through this part of his life... including humorous moments that add to how clumsy and awkward coming out can be.
This book is filled with enough love, magic, and cranky cryptids to delight a reader for a long, long time. The biggest flaw is ... it ends before I was ready for it to end.
December 25, 2019
Really adorable YA story, something I rarely read let alone like. Lukens pairs up skinny, snarky, pretty, and closeted Bridger with charming, sweet, football star Leo. Amidst paranormal creatures of myth, they battle with friends to save their town while they navigate their fledgling relationship. I would have liked better/bigger world building and more backstory on the intermediator and his friends. Regardless, I still enjoyed the story and am smiling as I write this brief review. More, please, Ms. Lukens.
April 3, 2020
Simply brilliant.
Can't believe I'm adding a YA book to my Favorites shelf, but there you have it.
Can't believe I'm adding a YA book to my Favorites shelf, but there you have it.
July 17, 2017
While coming to terms with his bisexuality, Bridger Whitt is trying to raise enough money for college somewhere far away from Midden, Michigan. He takes an unconventional assistant job and ends up helping Pavel, the intermediary between myths and the regular world, contain unicorns, werewolves, and more, all while trying to keep his friendship with Astrid alive and learn how to ask out Leo, the hot new guy on the football team. By all rights, The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic should be too corny to work. But F.T. Lukens pulls it off.
She does so with a rich and funny tone that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and with good, well-developed characters that fill the space that could be left by the cornier plot points. Our main character, Bridger Whitt, is sarcastic and introverted; his best friend, Astrid, is a field hockey star; his mother is over-worked but does his best; and Leo is a hot cinnamon roll. Pavel is almost the typical, grumpy mentor, but he has a heart of gold and a desire to please. Lukens’s magical world is so simple that it becomes almost meta—it is wholly aware of itself, and as a result, it really is as hilarious as it seems. The story is entertaining, because you sympathize with its characters and because the plot is genuinely fun. Mermaids try to drown Bridger just as he’s having a good time with his crush; their plan for getting Bigfoot to go back up North is to ask nicely; the pixies who assist Pavel have a weakness for sugar and butter. The “teen boy just trying to get his crush but the magical world keeps getting in the way” actually really does work here.
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic is fluffy, fun, and flat-out well-written. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It comes out on September 7—preorder it now for well-written teenage friendship, a coming out story, A+ bisexual rep, fluffy romance, a rampaging unicorn, and other magical creature fun.
She does so with a rich and funny tone that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and with good, well-developed characters that fill the space that could be left by the cornier plot points. Our main character, Bridger Whitt, is sarcastic and introverted; his best friend, Astrid, is a field hockey star; his mother is over-worked but does his best; and Leo is a hot cinnamon roll. Pavel is almost the typical, grumpy mentor, but he has a heart of gold and a desire to please. Lukens’s magical world is so simple that it becomes almost meta—it is wholly aware of itself, and as a result, it really is as hilarious as it seems. The story is entertaining, because you sympathize with its characters and because the plot is genuinely fun. Mermaids try to drown Bridger just as he’s having a good time with his crush; their plan for getting Bigfoot to go back up North is to ask nicely; the pixies who assist Pavel have a weakness for sugar and butter. The “teen boy just trying to get his crush but the magical world keeps getting in the way” actually really does work here.
The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic is fluffy, fun, and flat-out well-written. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It comes out on September 7—preorder it now for well-written teenage friendship, a coming out story, A+ bisexual rep, fluffy romance, a rampaging unicorn, and other magical creature fun.
January 31, 2020
Main points to this review:
1) The characters were cool and the plot development was was fine but...
2) I was not a fan of the way the 3rd person narrative was written.
3) I found the extra “voice” (I imagine an announcer not a narrator the majority of the time) to be annoyingly and unnecessarily distracting and turned me off.
1) The characters were cool and the plot development was was fine but...
2) I was not a fan of the way the 3rd person narrative was written.
3) I found the extra “voice” (I imagine an announcer not a narrator the majority of the time) to be annoyingly and unnecessarily distracting and turned me off.
January 9, 2018
Bridger Whitt is on a mission to get into college, away from his town, and to reinvent himself, particularly because, well, he’s bisexual. Let’s stop here.
BISEXUAL YOU SAY?! A MALE!? Yes, and it’s all to exciting to see this, especially in a young adult book. Society and American culture specifically has deemed bisexuality between females acceptable, and many straight men, well… dig it. However, the gay community and straight community share a common thread, and that is that ‘Oh, you are just confused…’. So we need this. We need bisexuality to be explored in all its glory and wonderfulness. We need books that showcase the continuum of sexual identity…. Ok moving on….
Bridger Whitt, is constrained by his current situation, and like many of these stories, ones where the main character reconcile his/her sexuality he has that one, understanding best friend. Meet Astrid. She’s cool, and of course we needed some contrast so she’s got a bit of rockstar to her.
He finds a posting for a job, that has little details, but for financial reasons and a nip of curiosity, he stands under the shadows of a peculiar house, at a designated time, and fumbles with the idea of how to step inside. You see, all the windows and doors are locked, except, for a small window squinting at the tippiest top of the roof.
He manages to his own amazement and slight indignation, to step into a world that appears mundane, and whose caregiver, Pavel and his secretary ordinary, but there’s a faint feeling of something amiss.
As days turn into weeks, Bridger tumbles into a world, and it’s very Potter-esque. He might need this whole scene to evolve both psychologically and mentally, even though he wants out. He becomes reactionary at his frustrations and confusion and opens the flood-gates on angst. He tests his new boss and his boss tests Bridger, and at its center it’s all about trust and how much to give of oneself to a stranger.
As occurrences test him physically and mentally, and his sense of reality tinkered with, Bridger falls for his ultimate crush, Leo. Leo’s the top of the social game, and soars with sports. He’s drifted from Mexico to Bridger’s HS, a charm around his neck. And as Bridger’s old world and everything in it is slapped and his old reality and everyone in it fading, he’s pulled into Leo’s orbit. Moreover, because Leo is this charming, ultra successful player of all things sports, they are able to unfold their love, their passion, for all their peers to see.
It’s cute, but rather young, and while it started off less cute, with a clear path and focus, things quickly dissolved, and this unraveling continues along, intensifying, as characters’ develop. It’s almost like the author was able to really build up an interesting world, but when demand for developing the characters continued, the author struggled with dividing equal attention to plot and characters. As the end neared the novel had fallen into a pit of Nickelodeon like style. It could have been so much darker, and the characters could have been strong and wonderful, but many, specifically Bridger’s parents and Astrid, were water down versions of their potential. Astrid became once again relevant as a finale approached, and she seemed to enter seamlessly into the magical world that Bridger had struggled with immensely.
If you’d like to read a similar book, much deserving of the praise it's getting, and one with similar elements, pass on this and get yourself a copy of, “A gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue’.
BISEXUAL YOU SAY?! A MALE!? Yes, and it’s all to exciting to see this, especially in a young adult book. Society and American culture specifically has deemed bisexuality between females acceptable, and many straight men, well… dig it. However, the gay community and straight community share a common thread, and that is that ‘Oh, you are just confused…’. So we need this. We need bisexuality to be explored in all its glory and wonderfulness. We need books that showcase the continuum of sexual identity…. Ok moving on….
Bridger Whitt, is constrained by his current situation, and like many of these stories, ones where the main character reconcile his/her sexuality he has that one, understanding best friend. Meet Astrid. She’s cool, and of course we needed some contrast so she’s got a bit of rockstar to her.
He finds a posting for a job, that has little details, but for financial reasons and a nip of curiosity, he stands under the shadows of a peculiar house, at a designated time, and fumbles with the idea of how to step inside. You see, all the windows and doors are locked, except, for a small window squinting at the tippiest top of the roof.
He manages to his own amazement and slight indignation, to step into a world that appears mundane, and whose caregiver, Pavel and his secretary ordinary, but there’s a faint feeling of something amiss.
As days turn into weeks, Bridger tumbles into a world, and it’s very Potter-esque. He might need this whole scene to evolve both psychologically and mentally, even though he wants out. He becomes reactionary at his frustrations and confusion and opens the flood-gates on angst. He tests his new boss and his boss tests Bridger, and at its center it’s all about trust and how much to give of oneself to a stranger.
As occurrences test him physically and mentally, and his sense of reality tinkered with, Bridger falls for his ultimate crush, Leo. Leo’s the top of the social game, and soars with sports. He’s drifted from Mexico to Bridger’s HS, a charm around his neck. And as Bridger’s old world and everything in it is slapped and his old reality and everyone in it fading, he’s pulled into Leo’s orbit. Moreover, because Leo is this charming, ultra successful player of all things sports, they are able to unfold their love, their passion, for all their peers to see.
It’s cute, but rather young, and while it started off less cute, with a clear path and focus, things quickly dissolved, and this unraveling continues along, intensifying, as characters’ develop. It’s almost like the author was able to really build up an interesting world, but when demand for developing the characters continued, the author struggled with dividing equal attention to plot and characters. As the end neared the novel had fallen into a pit of Nickelodeon like style. It could have been so much darker, and the characters could have been strong and wonderful, but many, specifically Bridger’s parents and Astrid, were water down versions of their potential. Astrid became once again relevant as a finale approached, and she seemed to enter seamlessly into the magical world that Bridger had struggled with immensely.
If you’d like to read a similar book, much deserving of the praise it's getting, and one with similar elements, pass on this and get yourself a copy of, “A gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue’.
September 21, 2018
Myths are unpredictable. Magic is troublesome.
* * * *
4 / 5
Myths & Magic is a simple, Skulduggery Pleasant-esque tale of a boy who answers a weird job offer (Craigslist, am I right?) and is dragged into a world of myths and magic. Add in a hefty dollop of teenage angst and a bisexual coming-out story and you've got a pleasant, easy read.
"Family isn't about blood, Bridger. It's about who is there for you and who makes you happy"
Bridger Whitt is an ordinary boy applying to out-of-state universities so he can run away from his loving mum and best friend Astrid so that he doesn't have to come out as bisexual. He applies to a weird job offer on Craigslist and ends up as assistant to a weird bloke called Pavel who won't tell Bridger what he does. We've all been there. Turns out Pavel is an intermediary between the human world and the world of myths and magic, but through a series of freak events (including Bridger being savaged by a mermaid) they seem to be drawing devastatingly closer together. Bridger is also very busy crushing on hot neighbour Leo.
Myths and Magic reminded me heftily of one of my favourite ever book series, Skulduggery Pleasant; in both you have a young teen diving eagerly into a world of magic and wonder, trying to keep their lives separate and their parents in the dark. Unlike Valkyrie Cain, Bridger actually has friends (okay, one) and a hot crush. We've got the weird mentor figure - Pavel is grumpy but also quite sweet with a heart of gold - and the bizarre monsters - a unicorn that will only interact with virgins, an enchanting werewolf.
Bridger is easy to like and the story is simple to follow. It's got a cute gay romance, some predictable twists, a bit of angst, and all the highs and lows of teenage drama. What more could you want?
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * * *
4 / 5
Myths & Magic is a simple, Skulduggery Pleasant-esque tale of a boy who answers a weird job offer (Craigslist, am I right?) and is dragged into a world of myths and magic. Add in a hefty dollop of teenage angst and a bisexual coming-out story and you've got a pleasant, easy read.
"Family isn't about blood, Bridger. It's about who is there for you and who makes you happy"
Bridger Whitt is an ordinary boy applying to out-of-state universities so he can run away from his loving mum and best friend Astrid so that he doesn't have to come out as bisexual. He applies to a weird job offer on Craigslist and ends up as assistant to a weird bloke called Pavel who won't tell Bridger what he does. We've all been there. Turns out Pavel is an intermediary between the human world and the world of myths and magic, but through a series of freak events (including Bridger being savaged by a mermaid) they seem to be drawing devastatingly closer together. Bridger is also very busy crushing on hot neighbour Leo.
Myths and Magic reminded me heftily of one of my favourite ever book series, Skulduggery Pleasant; in both you have a young teen diving eagerly into a world of magic and wonder, trying to keep their lives separate and their parents in the dark. Unlike Valkyrie Cain, Bridger actually has friends (okay, one) and a hot crush. We've got the weird mentor figure - Pavel is grumpy but also quite sweet with a heart of gold - and the bizarre monsters - a unicorn that will only interact with virgins, an enchanting werewolf.
Bridger is easy to like and the story is simple to follow. It's got a cute gay romance, some predictable twists, a bit of angst, and all the highs and lows of teenage drama. What more could you want?
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
July 2, 2018
First off...great cover. It pretty much sold me on buying this book. Even though it is an ebook, and I won't be seeing it all that often. I'm just a real sucker for good covers, i guess.
As to the story itself...I really liked it. Even if YA isn't normally my thing. I appreciated how normal Bridger felt, and that this wasn't a Chosen One story-line. Bridger is just a normal dude who ended up in some really weird situations. And it was pretty consistently funny for the whole story.
My one gripe is that Bridger went with the whole "not tell him the truth for his own good" cliche. Which I find annoying in any situation. But other than that, I loved this, and hope that their is a second book in the series at some point. I can easily see how it could carry on with the set up it has.
As to the story itself...I really liked it. Even if YA isn't normally my thing. I appreciated how normal Bridger felt, and that this wasn't a Chosen One story-line. Bridger is just a normal dude who ended up in some really weird situations. And it was pretty consistently funny for the whole story.
My one gripe is that Bridger went with the whole "not tell him the truth for his own good" cliche. Which I find annoying in any situation. But other than that, I loved this, and hope that their is a second book in the series at some point. I can easily see how it could carry on with the set up it has.
July 7, 2017
I loved The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic. Right from the first page, I found myself caught up in Bridger's life and the strange new occurrences that take place when he starts his new job. The world building was good--sufficient to answer questions but not so much that it felt like an info dump--and Bridger was a relatable and delightful character. I read it over three nights and I was always eager to turn the page and see what would happen next. If you are looking for a fantasy read with LGBT characters and plenty of humour then this is the book for you!
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.
October 31, 2017
THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE! Major fantastic beasts and where to find them vibes. IT was such a fun little journey of discovery and I’m glad I picked this up. Also I’ve been looking for diversity In my readings, characters that aren’t blonde, blue eyes, white. I ADORED that the love interest was a POC and it was embraced so warmly. Cute ass book. To the author, go you.
June 29, 2018
This was hilarious and heartwarming and like, solid urban fantasy.
July 24, 2017
*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I will check the quotes after publication as requested*
He walked out of the bathroom not at all ready to face whatever was waiting for him, but totally ready to fake it.
I’m so happy I found this book. This book, THIS BOOK, made me so happy; it filled me with lots of giggles. Never underestimate a spontaneous giggle. I laughed so much out loud I freaked out my dog a little bit: he got worried about my safeness and came by my side to see if I was okay. I had so much fun reading it I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did.
Bridger is a very sexually confused teenage boy looking for a job to pay for college. He is funny, very brave but as I said he is going through many difficulties that are going to put not few obstacles in our poor boy’s road to happiness. He found out he is bisexual and has a very obvious crush on his neighbor and high school football star, Leo. He is scared to come out, to be hated, left alone, so he plans to escape, to go far away for college. Oh boy, that idea was destined to failed from the beginning!
“I’m going to go be bisexual in my room. If that’s okay with you? Great? Great.”
Money for college means a job and Bridger lands the weirdest job he could find. He works for Pavel, the intermediary for myths of the state they live in. His job will be to assist Pavel in order to maintain the mythical world hidden from the human world. It seems something is disrupting the balance of things and Bridger’s job is going to be harder than anticipated. Pavel, who has a family made of pixies, a gorgeous werewolf and seemingly apathetic secretary, is a wonderful boss; he listens to Bridger, helps him out and gives useful advice right when he needed it. I think Pavel is magical and not only because he has magic; when he understands a pop reference he is so proud of himself and the most adorable man ever. You gotta love Pavel, he’s one of a kind!
“You have no idea the amount of research I have put into keeping up with the things you say.” Bridger smiled, despite everything.
Bridger finds himself dealing with feelings he can’t fully express and mythical creatures that need to be convinced to be elsewhere because they’re in places they shouldn’t be.
The Leo problem is only known to his best friend, Astrid; she tries to help him but if one is stubborn and more than a little afraid then there’s little she can do to make a difference. Leo (full name freaking LEONIDAS, as in this-is-Sparta Leonidas!) is adorable and he clearly flirts with Bridger every time he can; he has a crush on our boy but our boy is not ready and my heart hurt a little. I was so glad there wasn’t the dreaded misunderstanding or unnecessary love triangles but still, I was scared for them because they were so cute together and I wanted only good things for them like cuddles and many many kisses. It was the perfect romance, sweet, with a twist of mythical magic. I loved it!
“Well, if you’re going to go gay over someone, not a bad choice.”
“Astrid!” he whispered hotly. “For one, I still like girls. And two, keep your voice down!”
“Fine. If you are going to go bi, not a bad choice.”
For a moment I was genuinely scared because there were many things that could go wrong but I trusted the author to not break my heart. I was on edge until the very end and I loved loved loved how the story unfolded. It was a magnificent book and, I repeat myself, I am so happy I found it.
Go read it as soon as it comes out. It’s worth it!
He walked out of the bathroom not at all ready to face whatever was waiting for him, but totally ready to fake it.
I’m so happy I found this book. This book, THIS BOOK, made me so happy; it filled me with lots of giggles. Never underestimate a spontaneous giggle. I laughed so much out loud I freaked out my dog a little bit: he got worried about my safeness and came by my side to see if I was okay. I had so much fun reading it I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did.
Bridger is a very sexually confused teenage boy looking for a job to pay for college. He is funny, very brave but as I said he is going through many difficulties that are going to put not few obstacles in our poor boy’s road to happiness. He found out he is bisexual and has a very obvious crush on his neighbor and high school football star, Leo. He is scared to come out, to be hated, left alone, so he plans to escape, to go far away for college. Oh boy, that idea was destined to failed from the beginning!
“I’m going to go be bisexual in my room. If that’s okay with you? Great? Great.”
Money for college means a job and Bridger lands the weirdest job he could find. He works for Pavel, the intermediary for myths of the state they live in. His job will be to assist Pavel in order to maintain the mythical world hidden from the human world. It seems something is disrupting the balance of things and Bridger’s job is going to be harder than anticipated. Pavel, who has a family made of pixies, a gorgeous werewolf and seemingly apathetic secretary, is a wonderful boss; he listens to Bridger, helps him out and gives useful advice right when he needed it. I think Pavel is magical and not only because he has magic; when he understands a pop reference he is so proud of himself and the most adorable man ever. You gotta love Pavel, he’s one of a kind!
“You have no idea the amount of research I have put into keeping up with the things you say.” Bridger smiled, despite everything.
Bridger finds himself dealing with feelings he can’t fully express and mythical creatures that need to be convinced to be elsewhere because they’re in places they shouldn’t be.
The Leo problem is only known to his best friend, Astrid; she tries to help him but if one is stubborn and more than a little afraid then there’s little she can do to make a difference. Leo (full name freaking LEONIDAS, as in this-is-Sparta Leonidas!) is adorable and he clearly flirts with Bridger every time he can; he has a crush on our boy but our boy is not ready and my heart hurt a little. I was so glad there wasn’t the dreaded misunderstanding or unnecessary love triangles but still, I was scared for them because they were so cute together and I wanted only good things for them like cuddles and many many kisses. It was the perfect romance, sweet, with a twist of mythical magic. I loved it!
“Well, if you’re going to go gay over someone, not a bad choice.”
“Astrid!” he whispered hotly. “For one, I still like girls. And two, keep your voice down!”
“Fine. If you are going to go bi, not a bad choice.”
For a moment I was genuinely scared because there were many things that could go wrong but I trusted the author to not break my heart. I was on edge until the very end and I loved loved loved how the story unfolded. It was a magnificent book and, I repeat myself, I am so happy I found it.
Go read it as soon as it comes out. It’s worth it!
September 7, 2017
FT Lukens has got to be one of my all time favorite authors in paranormal LGBT YA. I've loved all the books this author has published. When this one came across my interwebs my immediate reaction was, "Wow, this reminds me of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy." But this book is all the creative wonders FT Lukens conjurs from that brilliant brain.
There's some bizarre moments and strange elements in this story for sure. The MC is the awkward Bridger who is 17 years old and has a new job. This job changes everything for him... Like LIFE changing.
Bridger's journeys and experiences were amazing. I was laughing and smiling and truly enjoying the uplifting feelings this book gave to me. It's a story of family and life choices. About growing up and facing forward. It's about embracing moments, no matter how weird, and owning them. All through Bridger's journeys he's trying to maintain his friendship with Astrid, navigate his bisexuality, and figure out how to step up and be something with Leo.
It's funny, brilliant, exciting, suspenseful, and yes there's some serious moments, and cheesy moments. It's such a winner. If you love paranormal YA then just don't think twice, get this.
There's some bizarre moments and strange elements in this story for sure. The MC is the awkward Bridger who is 17 years old and has a new job. This job changes everything for him... Like LIFE changing.
Bridger's journeys and experiences were amazing. I was laughing and smiling and truly enjoying the uplifting feelings this book gave to me. It's a story of family and life choices. About growing up and facing forward. It's about embracing moments, no matter how weird, and owning them. All through Bridger's journeys he's trying to maintain his friendship with Astrid, navigate his bisexuality, and figure out how to step up and be something with Leo.
It's funny, brilliant, exciting, suspenseful, and yes there's some serious moments, and cheesy moments. It's such a winner. If you love paranormal YA then just don't think twice, get this.
February 25, 2018
This gets two stars for decent bisexual boy representation (although I was a bit puzzled by the complete lack of bi/homophobia, especially in the context of a high school football team in Michigan??), but tbh the rest is kinda bad: flat characters, mediocre writing, uninspired use of fantasy tropes, predictable and boring plot. Some teens will probably really like this, but it was a chore for me to get through.
May 12, 2023
mimo al alma i love her very dearly
July 23, 2017
This is a well written and fun YA story.
Bridger knows that he is bisexual but he doesn't really want to tell anybody about this. He wants to wait until the end of his senior year and then start a new life in a university across the country in Florida where no one knows him and he can be himself, but in order to get to Florida he is going to need a job.
His luck turns up when he spots a job advert on Craigslist and he decides to apply but the job has some rather odd criteria and even getting to the interview is a rather weird challenge. Bridger gets the job and then enters into a new world of myth and magic and beings which should remain at the boundaries of the real world but something rather odd is happening and these mythical figures are making their presence felt in the real world. Bridger teams up with his new boss to find out what is happening.
As Bridger falls into the adventure of his new job and juggles his schoolwork and home life he also recognises his growing feelings for Leo, the boy next door, but Bridger doesn't realise that Leo has growing feelings for him. When Bridger finds out about this he is surprised but he has a lot on his plate at the moment with magic and mayhem, and he doesn't really want to come out, even though he does really like Leo.
Dealing with mythical beings provides Bridger with adventure, new friends and a good wage and as his friendship with Leo develops he believes that he can get to the point where they might be something more to each other than just casual friends, but something is happening in the mythical world and Leo is at the heart of it and it means that Bridger might need to make some choices that are even harder than the decision to come out.
This is a lovely YA story with a slight Harry Potterish feel. It blends this together with serious themes about growing up, family, school, friendship and coming out. The characters are well developed and engaging and I think it will be particularly attractive for younger readers. It is a very entertaining story and a pleasure to read.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review
May 15, 2020
This was such a cute, quick read.. and when I say quick, I mean "finished it in one day" quick.
The story was very cute, different from what I have ever read before and really funny. The ending was a little anticlimactic but I was still satisfied with it.
Closer to 2.5 than 3.5 though, still good enough for a solid 3 stars.
I feel like Lukens has a very good standing with me, as I quite enjoyed her Star Host series as well.
Despite the rating I do recommend this book.
The story was very cute, different from what I have ever read before and really funny. The ending was a little anticlimactic but I was still satisfied with it.
Closer to 2.5 than 3.5 though, still good enough for a solid 3 stars.
I feel like Lukens has a very good standing with me, as I quite enjoyed her Star Host series as well.
Despite the rating I do recommend this book.
April 18, 2018
this was so lovely, exactly what I needed to cheer me up <3 gave me lots of Simon VS meets In Other Lands feels, which I adored! the conclusion was a bit anticlimatic, but I still loved so many things about it i'll give it full 5 stars
November 19, 2023
4.5 stars
April 4, 2022
this was so good!! i loved all the creatures and the characters.
August 30, 2022
Good! But underwhelming
April 20, 2020
Ok so this was absolutely the adorable quirky fun read I didn't know I needed today. I was thoroughly entertained throughout this story and had a permanent smile on my face while reading. I really felt like this story had just the right amount of teenage angst to be accurate without drowning you in Bridger's teenage confusion. I loved him and his friends so much. Of course the light hearted tone of this book just pulled me right in. There's great snark and sarcasm while at the same time having a great soul to this book.
Bridger is entering his senior year and is determined to do one thing and one thing only, keep his head down and get as far away as possible once he can escape to college. Because the new boy moving in across the street has completely thrown Bridger's world upside down. He's been attracted to boys before, but it was easy to push that to the side and focus on the fact that he also liked girls. That is until Leo. But the last thing Leo wants is to be the focus of attention and ridicule in school, or run the risk of his mother hating him, by coming out. So really the only safe way to handle things is to bottle it all up until he goes away to college and there he can be himself from day one. To that end he needs a job if he's going to be able to afford all of the bills associated with his go to school. What he never expected was that a unique job interview that had him climbing a drain pipe to enter the house through a door up on the roof would lead to the craziest rabbit hole he'd ever go down since his new employers job is to prevent the real world from ever finding out that the world of myth's and legends even exists. A task that seems to be getting harder and harder to do lately.
I loved every quirky moment of this story. I was cheering for Bridger both in his life and trying to figure out himself, as well as his life with his eyes opened to the myths around him. I felt for him as he faced his feelings and his coming out. The perfect boy in Leo was still such a sweet soul you couldn't help but like him. And his new boss Pavel just had me wanting to know more. Not to mention I adored Astrid and how she wouldn't take any bullshit from her best friend. She knew something was up and her feelings of betrayal were understandable. I could read book after book in this world and would never get tired of things.
Bridger is entering his senior year and is determined to do one thing and one thing only, keep his head down and get as far away as possible once he can escape to college. Because the new boy moving in across the street has completely thrown Bridger's world upside down. He's been attracted to boys before, but it was easy to push that to the side and focus on the fact that he also liked girls. That is until Leo. But the last thing Leo wants is to be the focus of attention and ridicule in school, or run the risk of his mother hating him, by coming out. So really the only safe way to handle things is to bottle it all up until he goes away to college and there he can be himself from day one. To that end he needs a job if he's going to be able to afford all of the bills associated with his go to school. What he never expected was that a unique job interview that had him climbing a drain pipe to enter the house through a door up on the roof would lead to the craziest rabbit hole he'd ever go down since his new employers job is to prevent the real world from ever finding out that the world of myth's and legends even exists. A task that seems to be getting harder and harder to do lately.
I loved every quirky moment of this story. I was cheering for Bridger both in his life and trying to figure out himself, as well as his life with his eyes opened to the myths around him. I felt for him as he faced his feelings and his coming out. The perfect boy in Leo was still such a sweet soul you couldn't help but like him. And his new boss Pavel just had me wanting to know more. Not to mention I adored Astrid and how she wouldn't take any bullshit from her best friend. She knew something was up and her feelings of betrayal were understandable. I could read book after book in this world and would never get tired of things.
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