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The Tale of Bryant Adams #1
How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days
Ever wanted to grow a five-story tall flower in Central Park? How about fight a deadly battle under the subway tunnels of Manhattan?
Don't worry. I never wanted to either. But if you're ever being chased by ladies made of mist and have to save the girl with the sparkly eyes you've never had the guts to say actual words to, there's an app for that.
I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn't have, burned down my high school's theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A seer guarded by the undead is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I’m pretty sure the cops are after me for destroying my dad's penthouse.
But it gets better! Now I'm stuck being the sidekick to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place. It'll be a miracle if I survive until Monday.
Don't worry. I never wanted to either. But if you're ever being chased by ladies made of mist and have to save the girl with the sparkly eyes you've never had the guts to say actual words to, there's an app for that.
I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn't have, burned down my high school's theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A seer guarded by the undead is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I’m pretty sure the cops are after me for destroying my dad's penthouse.
But it gets better! Now I'm stuck being the sidekick to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place. It'll be a miracle if I survive until Monday.
ebook
First published August 15, 2017
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About the author
Megan O'Russell
52 books492 followersMegan started writing when she discovered playing Cordelia in King Lear leaves you way too much time waiting backstage. She began her career as an author during an ill-fated trip to Oz. She hasn't stopped writing (even when living on a tour bus) since.
Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.
Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into seven different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always is a new way to escape into adventure.
Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.
If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats) you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell
Megan's wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she's not planning her next escapade, she's diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn't have to worry about what rules she's supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase.
Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into seven different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always is a new way to escape into adventure.
Megan would love to connect with you on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok but feels obliged to warn you in advance that you will be hearing about her cats…a lot.
If you want to stay up to date on all Megan's books and adventures (and hear about her cats) you can find all her social media links, including where to sign up for her readers community at: https://linktr.ee/meganorussell
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December 9, 2023
How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days by Megan O’Russell
The Tale of Bryant Adams series #1. YA fantasy. (Reads as middle grade though the main character is 16.) 1st person.
Bryant lives with his mother in New York, goes to a public school and has one friend, Devon. He has a crush on Elizabeth, and is set up with her by his mother during a theater rehearsal, as a math tutor. He is a nerd after all. His father lives on the top floor of a building overlooking Central Park but he’s not in town often so Bryant is able to use the apartment for quiet study time. Bryant and Devon find a phone in a cab when things go off the rails. Turns out the phone can throw flames, cast spells and lots of other wizardly things and Erik, who lost the phone, is just the person to help Bryant, Devon and Elizabeth travel the underworld in and under the tunnels in Manhattan.
A geeky fun adventure of magic, next level trouble, and a missing millionaire father that leaves his wallet open for his son to use as needed. Bryant keeps his nerd sidekick character in place as Erik trains him for a wizard level future.
The adventures have just started. 3 more books to conquer the New York demons.
Fun for natives of NY with lots of familiar locations mentioned.
The Tale of Bryant Adams series #1. YA fantasy. (Reads as middle grade though the main character is 16.) 1st person.
Bryant lives with his mother in New York, goes to a public school and has one friend, Devon. He has a crush on Elizabeth, and is set up with her by his mother during a theater rehearsal, as a math tutor. He is a nerd after all. His father lives on the top floor of a building overlooking Central Park but he’s not in town often so Bryant is able to use the apartment for quiet study time. Bryant and Devon find a phone in a cab when things go off the rails. Turns out the phone can throw flames, cast spells and lots of other wizardly things and Erik, who lost the phone, is just the person to help Bryant, Devon and Elizabeth travel the underworld in and under the tunnels in Manhattan.
A geeky fun adventure of magic, next level trouble, and a missing millionaire father that leaves his wallet open for his son to use as needed. Bryant keeps his nerd sidekick character in place as Erik trains him for a wizard level future.
The adventures have just started. 3 more books to conquer the New York demons.
Fun for natives of NY with lots of familiar locations mentioned.
November 13, 2019
Bryant is a regular kid in New York, who stumbles onto a magical phone, and into a whole load of trouble.
Bryant is weird enough without magic. He's the geeky, quiet kid at school. He sticks his head in the sand, happy to be invisible and ignored, watching the people he cares about actually enjoy life. His mum teaches Drama (roping in her son, of course); his best friend is the coolest guy in school; his dad is a millionaire (off doing what millionaires do); and his crush is simply being perfect.
Bryant's life takes an odd turn, when he finds a mobile phone, dropped by a very pale-looking guy.
Before he can see about returning it to its rightful owner, Bryant accidentally sets the school on fire with an app, then destroys his dad's apartment with a tornado.
Suddenly things aren't as straight-forward, and he's joined by his best friend Devon, and crush Elizabeth. They have a mission to keep the powerful phone from falling into the wrong hands.
On their journey, they learn about the world of magic beneath their feet, and the battle going on between the light and shadows.
This story was somewhat kooky to start with, but by half-way I was really enjoying it.
I was a little disappointed that Bryant did become just a sidekick - I know it mentions it in the blurb, and I know it's in keeping with his character to let someone else lead; but this was supposed to be his story, and he got relegated to a supporting player. Eric is basically in charge, and Devon was being pro-active, even Elizabeth stepped up and played her part. Meanwhile, Bryant was there to provide more fire-power.
There's plenty of danger and action, and it establishes that even in this magical world, nothing is clear-cut. It keeps you guessing as to who are the good-guys/bad-guys/ambiguously-grey-guys.
Overall, this was fun, and I look forward to the rest of the series.
Bryant is weird enough without magic. He's the geeky, quiet kid at school. He sticks his head in the sand, happy to be invisible and ignored, watching the people he cares about actually enjoy life. His mum teaches Drama (roping in her son, of course); his best friend is the coolest guy in school; his dad is a millionaire (off doing what millionaires do); and his crush is simply being perfect.
Bryant's life takes an odd turn, when he finds a mobile phone, dropped by a very pale-looking guy.
Before he can see about returning it to its rightful owner, Bryant accidentally sets the school on fire with an app, then destroys his dad's apartment with a tornado.
Suddenly things aren't as straight-forward, and he's joined by his best friend Devon, and crush Elizabeth. They have a mission to keep the powerful phone from falling into the wrong hands.
On their journey, they learn about the world of magic beneath their feet, and the battle going on between the light and shadows.
This story was somewhat kooky to start with, but by half-way I was really enjoying it.
I was a little disappointed that Bryant did become just a sidekick - I know it mentions it in the blurb, and I know it's in keeping with his character to let someone else lead; but this was supposed to be his story, and he got relegated to a supporting player. Eric is basically in charge, and Devon was being pro-active, even Elizabeth stepped up and played her part. Meanwhile, Bryant was there to provide more fire-power.
There's plenty of danger and action, and it establishes that even in this magical world, nothing is clear-cut. It keeps you guessing as to who are the good-guys/bad-guys/ambiguously-grey-guys.
Overall, this was fun, and I look forward to the rest of the series.
September 24, 2017
Megan O’Russell’s YA novel, How I Magically Messed up My Life in Four Freakin’ Days, instantly drew my attention because of its title and its colourful cover art. However, the following lines in the blurb really got my attention. “I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn’t have, burned down the set shop for my high school’s theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A drag queen seer who lives under a bridge is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I think the cops might be after me for destroying my dad’s penthouse.”
I just had to read it!
For me, the mark of a good writer is one who, within the first few pages, grabs your attention and holds it, but also hits you solidly with a character’s “voice” and gives you a good glimpse into the character's nature and some of the issues that are important for that individual. O’Russell did this extremely well.
Bryant is a teenager whose mind constantly wanders and daydreams. He is the smart geek who’s too shy to speak to the girl he admires and who has a handsome best friend who is his opposite and epitomises all that is cool. From the first page the quips and one-liners keep going throughout the entire novel; several times I found myself laughing out loud as I read.
Bryant’s troubles start when he finds a cell phone in a cab and decides it’s safer for him to return it to the owner rather than have it disappear into lost and found at the cab company. Innocently unleashing a series of magical disasters, being pursued by evil wizards and a group of deranged witches becomes par for the course in Bryant’s life and his dealings with the “Rasputin of phones.”
O’Russell sets a cracking pace from the beginning of the book all the way through to the end. This was an extremely enjoyable, fast read and I highly recommend it for MG readers all the way through to adults.
I hope O’Russell writes more adventures of Bryant Adams, because I’d love to read them and you will too.
Four Stars!
I just had to read it!
For me, the mark of a good writer is one who, within the first few pages, grabs your attention and holds it, but also hits you solidly with a character’s “voice” and gives you a good glimpse into the character's nature and some of the issues that are important for that individual. O’Russell did this extremely well.
Bryant is a teenager whose mind constantly wanders and daydreams. He is the smart geek who’s too shy to speak to the girl he admires and who has a handsome best friend who is his opposite and epitomises all that is cool. From the first page the quips and one-liners keep going throughout the entire novel; several times I found myself laughing out loud as I read.
Bryant’s troubles start when he finds a cell phone in a cab and decides it’s safer for him to return it to the owner rather than have it disappear into lost and found at the cab company. Innocently unleashing a series of magical disasters, being pursued by evil wizards and a group of deranged witches becomes par for the course in Bryant’s life and his dealings with the “Rasputin of phones.”
O’Russell sets a cracking pace from the beginning of the book all the way through to the end. This was an extremely enjoyable, fast read and I highly recommend it for MG readers all the way through to adults.
I hope O’Russell writes more adventures of Bryant Adams, because I’d love to read them and you will too.
Four Stars!
July 17, 2017
Every once in a while, I forgot my mom was raised in the Bronx. Watching her calmly pointing a knife at the guy who had tried to kill us without her hand so much as shaking made me appreciate my New York heritage. Truly, we are a species unto ourselves.
HOW I MAGICALLY MESSED UP MY LIFE IN FOUR FREAKIN' DAYS sounded so much like the love child of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter who was then adopted by the Magisterium series. So, it should've been awesome! Modern-day world setting, snarky and unsuspecting chosen one & friends, magical mayhem and a cellphone instead of a wand.
And it was all of that. And yet it just didn't work for me.
"Why didn't you throw it into the river?"
"Because we didn't want it to turn into a remake of the Jumanji movie."
I didn't find Bryant Adams (.. summer of siiiixtyyyy niiiiine, seriously, I was singing it the whole time) to be a very sympathetic character. I mean, he's seventeen, he's having random jealous tantrums because his best friend is a stud and charismatic, he's freaking out about these new abilities, sure, this all seems pretty acceptable. But I honestly thought this book was middle grade and despite the very YA-ness of it all.. it still felt really middle grade; which made the experience kind of weird. I think I actually would've liked Bryant better if he had been younger.
"Are you alive?"
"No, I'm calling from beyond the grave."
As for the other characters? Elizabeth was okay. I liked that she was more than just the emptyheaded pretty girl love interest that tagged along. But honestly there's not much else I can say of her. Truly not sure why she bothered to return Bryant's feelings. And, last of our trio, was Devon. I really really liked Bryant's bestie. I'm curious about what was insinuated about his own fate (a word that was way too often used) but to be honest I don't know if I'll ever read on to find out.
"Sometimes the most absurd things in life are the most valid."
"So a magic cellphone that destroyed my life is the most valid thing in the world? That's great, just great."
We have a bad guy who might be a good guy, bad ladies who are bad, and a slew of unique and interesting magical aspects and creatures to this very confusing world. I lost track of the the Consortium vs Thaden vs.. the BeVille people.. I don't even know. I got so so lost so many times about the politics and the restrictions on magic and it honestly made me feel dumb. I don't know if it was my boredom that helped to lose me or being lost left me bored. I couldn't tell you.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to, I don't know, warn people they have super magic powers before it turns their lives into flaming death holes?"
There's a lot of interesting in O'Russell's story, a lot of potential, but either it never reached that peak for me.. or it shot straight up, overtaking it, and I could never catch up. But if you like Percy or Harry or the kids from Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's series, you might very well find this perfectly satisfies your love for urban/modern fantasy. Sadly it just didn't work for me.
2 "no one has time to hunt down everyone who might one day produce a spell or two, and the overcrowding would be terrible" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
HOW I MAGICALLY MESSED UP MY LIFE IN FOUR FREAKIN' DAYS sounded so much like the love child of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter who was then adopted by the Magisterium series. So, it should've been awesome! Modern-day world setting, snarky and unsuspecting chosen one & friends, magical mayhem and a cellphone instead of a wand.
And it was all of that. And yet it just didn't work for me.
"Why didn't you throw it into the river?"
"Because we didn't want it to turn into a remake of the Jumanji movie."
I didn't find Bryant Adams (.. summer of siiiixtyyyy niiiiine, seriously, I was singing it the whole time) to be a very sympathetic character. I mean, he's seventeen, he's having random jealous tantrums because his best friend is a stud and charismatic, he's freaking out about these new abilities, sure, this all seems pretty acceptable. But I honestly thought this book was middle grade and despite the very YA-ness of it all.. it still felt really middle grade; which made the experience kind of weird. I think I actually would've liked Bryant better if he had been younger.
"Are you alive?"
"No, I'm calling from beyond the grave."
As for the other characters? Elizabeth was okay. I liked that she was more than just the emptyheaded pretty girl love interest that tagged along. But honestly there's not much else I can say of her. Truly not sure why she bothered to return Bryant's feelings. And, last of our trio, was Devon. I really really liked Bryant's bestie. I'm curious about what was insinuated about his own fate (a word that was way too often used) but to be honest I don't know if I'll ever read on to find out.
"Sometimes the most absurd things in life are the most valid."
"So a magic cellphone that destroyed my life is the most valid thing in the world? That's great, just great."
We have a bad guy who might be a good guy, bad ladies who are bad, and a slew of unique and interesting magical aspects and creatures to this very confusing world. I lost track of the the Consortium vs Thaden vs.. the BeVille people.. I don't even know. I got so so lost so many times about the politics and the restrictions on magic and it honestly made me feel dumb. I don't know if it was my boredom that helped to lose me or being lost left me bored. I couldn't tell you.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to, I don't know, warn people they have super magic powers before it turns their lives into flaming death holes?"
There's a lot of interesting in O'Russell's story, a lot of potential, but either it never reached that peak for me.. or it shot straight up, overtaking it, and I could never catch up. But if you like Percy or Harry or the kids from Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's series, you might very well find this perfectly satisfies your love for urban/modern fantasy. Sadly it just didn't work for me.
2 "no one has time to hunt down everyone who might one day produce a spell or two, and the overcrowding would be terrible" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
September 16, 2017
4 Cranky Stars
First let's start off with how long this title is. It's a mouthful. I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite my age I've always loved YA and the sweetness behind it.
Bryant was a awkward 17 year old guy with his head in the clouds. He daydreamed so much that he was constantly being pulled out of traffic by little old ladies. He is always with his ever present best friend the enigmatic Devon. Bryant is trying to make it one day at a time while admiring his high school crush and staying up to date with the latest video games. Typical teenage boy things yet Bryants life is about to become anything but normal when they find a cell phone left behind in a taxi.
Bryant finds the owner of this cell phone and suddenly his life is in an uproar. Sides are choosen and maybe just maybe he might discover a side he never knew existed all the while winning the girl.
I did enjoy this book but I wasn't sure at first what to make of it. I read YA often but I still wasn't sure my feelings till about the middle of this book and I wanted to see the greater good win. I thought at times I had this book figured out but boy was I wrong. I loved the supporting characters of Devon and Elizabeth and who could forget the oracle slash Mama Odie character of Lola!! She was pure magic.
Eric at one point started to grow on me but I remained leary of him till the end. This book would be good for a teenager or young adult looking for a fun magical journey in the heart of New York City. I'm curious to see how this series will play out.
First let's start off with how long this title is. It's a mouthful. I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite my age I've always loved YA and the sweetness behind it.
Bryant was a awkward 17 year old guy with his head in the clouds. He daydreamed so much that he was constantly being pulled out of traffic by little old ladies. He is always with his ever present best friend the enigmatic Devon. Bryant is trying to make it one day at a time while admiring his high school crush and staying up to date with the latest video games. Typical teenage boy things yet Bryants life is about to become anything but normal when they find a cell phone left behind in a taxi.
Bryant finds the owner of this cell phone and suddenly his life is in an uproar. Sides are choosen and maybe just maybe he might discover a side he never knew existed all the while winning the girl.
I did enjoy this book but I wasn't sure at first what to make of it. I read YA often but I still wasn't sure my feelings till about the middle of this book and I wanted to see the greater good win. I thought at times I had this book figured out but boy was I wrong. I loved the supporting characters of Devon and Elizabeth and who could forget the oracle slash Mama Odie character of Lola!! She was pure magic.
Eric at one point started to grow on me but I remained leary of him till the end. This book would be good for a teenager or young adult looking for a fun magical journey in the heart of New York City. I'm curious to see how this series will play out.
May 26, 2019
This is hilarious!
How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days by Megan O'Russell is the funniest book for teens/middle grade I have read in so long! This really needs to be a 10 star book! The colorful characters are a real hoot! The clever and witty dialogue had me laughing out loud. The plot was so hilarious that I want to call my grandkids and have them start reading it right now! I laughed, giggled, and smiled all though this book! I wish this was a movie! Fantastic book!
Not finds a phone in can but keeps it and plans to return it later. He opens it and finds out it it a magical device! After causing havoc with it, the owner is tracking him down! So funny!
How I Magically Messed Up My Life in Four Freakin' Days by Megan O'Russell is the funniest book for teens/middle grade I have read in so long! This really needs to be a 10 star book! The colorful characters are a real hoot! The clever and witty dialogue had me laughing out loud. The plot was so hilarious that I want to call my grandkids and have them start reading it right now! I laughed, giggled, and smiled all though this book! I wish this was a movie! Fantastic book!
Not finds a phone in can but keeps it and plans to return it later. He opens it and finds out it it a magical device! After causing havoc with it, the owner is tracking him down! So funny!
October 6, 2017
O’Russell combines a nuanced urban fantasy world with a plausible teenage misfit to create a mature take on young adult fantasy.
Bryant Adams is an ordinary teenager with ordinary teenage problems, like having divorced parents, crushing on the girl who sits next to him in half his lessons, and having his mother teach drama at his school. And, between his best friend being a hit with women of all ages, his mother wanting to set him up on a date, and keeping visits to his father’s flat a secret, his free time seems just as filled with serious problems. Until he finds a magical cellphone and discovers that he didn’t know what problems were.
O’Russell opens with a portrayal of teenage life that will be immediately recognisable to readers familiar with US teen drama, YA fiction, and – potentially – actually being a US teenager in the post-smartphone era. While this does include long-term unspoken attraction and fixation on other objectively minor matters, O’Russell provides enough reason for Bryant to not have addressed matters that even readers less interested in the trials of youth are more likely to feel sympathy than the desire to knock sense into anyone.
The trust in description that this establishes both makes the later revelations of Bryant’s past and the existence of magic seem more believable, and creates a stronger contrast between the mundane and mystical. This in turn allows O’Russell to maintain the absence of intelligibility that characterises the most interesting systems of magic while leaving the reader feeling that there is an underlying truth.
In contrast to the metaphysics of the world, both the practitioners of magic and their spells are decidedly practical: although the possibility of McGuffins isn’t ruled out, there are no Barkeresque ancient sorcerers pursuing artefacts for the sake of possessing them or Powersian spells that turn pennies over on Lammas Eve; only the classic fireballs, force-blasts, and wind shields of high fantasy integrated into the modern age. This practicality is especially present in O’Russell’s use of a smartphone as the replacement to the dusty tomes and arcane tools of the classic wizard.
As befits a fusion of smart but uncool teenager with magical smartphones, there is a strong thread of humour – both observational and slapstick – throughout the novel. However, this is balanced by an equal thread of actual threat, making each stronger by contrast.
Bryant is an engaging protagonist. He is, as with almost all YA fantasy heroes, more special than average and unaware of it; however, the advantages he has come with more than trivial downsides in the life of the ordinary teenager or are things he had no way to discover, so his transition from misfit to victor feels like following someone’s successes rather than watching someone oblivious to their privilege.
The teenage supporting cast exhibit an objectively reversed but structurally parallel transition: their apparent social success at the beginning grows through the revelation of weakness into a more realistic and sympathetic character.
However, the greatest triumph of character might be in the adults. Unlike some YA stories, adults display both greater maturity and greater ability than Bryant in most circumstances: while he might or might not be destined to be a great magician, he is no Chosen One surrounded by fools; but rather a significant participant in plans that benefit equally from the experience of others.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking urban fantasy with a young adult perspective.
I received a free copy from the publisher with a request for a fair review.
Bryant Adams is an ordinary teenager with ordinary teenage problems, like having divorced parents, crushing on the girl who sits next to him in half his lessons, and having his mother teach drama at his school. And, between his best friend being a hit with women of all ages, his mother wanting to set him up on a date, and keeping visits to his father’s flat a secret, his free time seems just as filled with serious problems. Until he finds a magical cellphone and discovers that he didn’t know what problems were.
O’Russell opens with a portrayal of teenage life that will be immediately recognisable to readers familiar with US teen drama, YA fiction, and – potentially – actually being a US teenager in the post-smartphone era. While this does include long-term unspoken attraction and fixation on other objectively minor matters, O’Russell provides enough reason for Bryant to not have addressed matters that even readers less interested in the trials of youth are more likely to feel sympathy than the desire to knock sense into anyone.
The trust in description that this establishes both makes the later revelations of Bryant’s past and the existence of magic seem more believable, and creates a stronger contrast between the mundane and mystical. This in turn allows O’Russell to maintain the absence of intelligibility that characterises the most interesting systems of magic while leaving the reader feeling that there is an underlying truth.
In contrast to the metaphysics of the world, both the practitioners of magic and their spells are decidedly practical: although the possibility of McGuffins isn’t ruled out, there are no Barkeresque ancient sorcerers pursuing artefacts for the sake of possessing them or Powersian spells that turn pennies over on Lammas Eve; only the classic fireballs, force-blasts, and wind shields of high fantasy integrated into the modern age. This practicality is especially present in O’Russell’s use of a smartphone as the replacement to the dusty tomes and arcane tools of the classic wizard.
As befits a fusion of smart but uncool teenager with magical smartphones, there is a strong thread of humour – both observational and slapstick – throughout the novel. However, this is balanced by an equal thread of actual threat, making each stronger by contrast.
Bryant is an engaging protagonist. He is, as with almost all YA fantasy heroes, more special than average and unaware of it; however, the advantages he has come with more than trivial downsides in the life of the ordinary teenager or are things he had no way to discover, so his transition from misfit to victor feels like following someone’s successes rather than watching someone oblivious to their privilege.
The teenage supporting cast exhibit an objectively reversed but structurally parallel transition: their apparent social success at the beginning grows through the revelation of weakness into a more realistic and sympathetic character.
However, the greatest triumph of character might be in the adults. Unlike some YA stories, adults display both greater maturity and greater ability than Bryant in most circumstances: while he might or might not be destined to be a great magician, he is no Chosen One surrounded by fools; but rather a significant participant in plans that benefit equally from the experience of others.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking urban fantasy with a young adult perspective.
I received a free copy from the publisher with a request for a fair review.
September 25, 2017
Thanks to NetGalley and to the editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the title of this book, it's funny and it made me wanted to read it. The story is good and I enjoyed the reading. It's not perfect, there are some things that could have been done better, and I think a younger reader would enjoy this reading more than an adult, too, but if you are in need of a short reading, that would not take more than a couple of hours and that is entertaining, this book it's the right one.
Bryant is a good main character, and his friends are quite good, too. The story is original and I liked it, I liked the idea of a magic cell phone. But some things are a bit approximately, like Bryant's father. We heard of him a lot, and in some parts his important (or we think so, at least) but we never see him. Never.
All in all, I enjoyed the reading and I am satisfied with it, I know that a good middle-grade book, a really good one, can satisfy both adults and young, and this is not the case, but not all the books can be a masterpiece and this one is good enough.
I loved the title of this book, it's funny and it made me wanted to read it. The story is good and I enjoyed the reading. It's not perfect, there are some things that could have been done better, and I think a younger reader would enjoy this reading more than an adult, too, but if you are in need of a short reading, that would not take more than a couple of hours and that is entertaining, this book it's the right one.
Bryant is a good main character, and his friends are quite good, too. The story is original and I liked it, I liked the idea of a magic cell phone. But some things are a bit approximately, like Bryant's father. We heard of him a lot, and in some parts his important (or we think so, at least) but we never see him. Never.
All in all, I enjoyed the reading and I am satisfied with it, I know that a good middle-grade book, a really good one, can satisfy both adults and young, and this is not the case, but not all the books can be a masterpiece and this one is good enough.
July 20, 2017
Witty, Imaginative and Action Packed
This book puts a number of clever and often very funny spins on the standard who-knew-I-was-magical-? teen action rom-com, and the result is fast-paced and entertaining.
Our hero, Bryant, is a bit mopey and is almost stupefied by his crush on manic-pixie-dream-girl Elizabeth. It doesn't help that Bryant's absolutely loyal best friend, Devon, is a dreamy lady-killer with a wicked deadpan sense of humor. The book opens slowly, giving us a chance to get to know these three characters and to set up their backstories and the larger New York City background for the adventure. But, once Bryant picks up a cell phone accidentally left behind in a cab by a creepy, pasty, vampirey guy, well, the tale takes off like a rocket.
Right off the bat we learn a good deal about these three characters, all of it good. Bryant isn't a mope. He's smart, insightful, resourceful, and while he's maybe a little angsty, he's also almost ready to get in touch with the hero within. He's the narrator and his running rueful first person commentary, (along the lines of I-can't-really-believe-this is happening to me, but what the heck), is endearing and refreshing. Elizabeth isn't just the pixie dream girl love interest. She's a bit salty, with take charge gumption and impatience with any shilly-shallying. Devon is a stand up guy with a no-nonsense attitude, no smarm, and the style of a wingman on steroids. Together these three make up a funny, smart, take no prisoners team that can handle quips and taglines in between fights with demon things and shadow whatevers.
And they need all of that because the guy who lost his phone wants it back in, like, the worst way. It's sort of an iPhone that has stored within it every evil spell app ever, and it is powerful beyond comprehension. And guess what? It responds to possibly-also-magical Bryant, even though Bryant doesn't know what any of those odd spell icons stand for. The gang has lots of fun almost destroying NYC while running away from cadres of evil guys and figuring out how the phone works and trying to reach an amicable resolution to the what-do-we-do-now question.
The book is well-written. After the first chapter or two it is fast paced, with occasional breathers and a few pauses for comic relief. None of it is plausible and none of it makes a lot of sense, but you can say that about all of the Greek Myths, and they're loads of fun. Actually, when you think about the most popular books that follow those myth arcs, (like, say, "Percy Jackson"), this is a more flippant, looser, brighter and more improvisational variation on that style. It also seems just a touch hipper, older and more ironic than those books, which also helps to distinguish it from the crowd.
So, this goes down in the list as a nice find. Smart, funny and high energy, it was a very entertaining treat. The ending, BTW, felt very sequel friendly, which is a nice thought.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book puts a number of clever and often very funny spins on the standard who-knew-I-was-magical-? teen action rom-com, and the result is fast-paced and entertaining.
Our hero, Bryant, is a bit mopey and is almost stupefied by his crush on manic-pixie-dream-girl Elizabeth. It doesn't help that Bryant's absolutely loyal best friend, Devon, is a dreamy lady-killer with a wicked deadpan sense of humor. The book opens slowly, giving us a chance to get to know these three characters and to set up their backstories and the larger New York City background for the adventure. But, once Bryant picks up a cell phone accidentally left behind in a cab by a creepy, pasty, vampirey guy, well, the tale takes off like a rocket.
Right off the bat we learn a good deal about these three characters, all of it good. Bryant isn't a mope. He's smart, insightful, resourceful, and while he's maybe a little angsty, he's also almost ready to get in touch with the hero within. He's the narrator and his running rueful first person commentary, (along the lines of I-can't-really-believe-this is happening to me, but what the heck), is endearing and refreshing. Elizabeth isn't just the pixie dream girl love interest. She's a bit salty, with take charge gumption and impatience with any shilly-shallying. Devon is a stand up guy with a no-nonsense attitude, no smarm, and the style of a wingman on steroids. Together these three make up a funny, smart, take no prisoners team that can handle quips and taglines in between fights with demon things and shadow whatevers.
And they need all of that because the guy who lost his phone wants it back in, like, the worst way. It's sort of an iPhone that has stored within it every evil spell app ever, and it is powerful beyond comprehension. And guess what? It responds to possibly-also-magical Bryant, even though Bryant doesn't know what any of those odd spell icons stand for. The gang has lots of fun almost destroying NYC while running away from cadres of evil guys and figuring out how the phone works and trying to reach an amicable resolution to the what-do-we-do-now question.
The book is well-written. After the first chapter or two it is fast paced, with occasional breathers and a few pauses for comic relief. None of it is plausible and none of it makes a lot of sense, but you can say that about all of the Greek Myths, and they're loads of fun. Actually, when you think about the most popular books that follow those myth arcs, (like, say, "Percy Jackson"), this is a more flippant, looser, brighter and more improvisational variation on that style. It also seems just a touch hipper, older and more ironic than those books, which also helps to distinguish it from the crowd.
So, this goes down in the list as a nice find. Smart, funny and high energy, it was a very entertaining treat. The ending, BTW, felt very sequel friendly, which is a nice thought.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
January 23, 2023
This story is well-written with interesting characters. Set in contemporary NYC, the teens find themselves fighting against dark magic and forces of darkness and evil. Some pretty gory scenes for a book aimed at younger YA. However I’m sure it’s nothing that they haven’t seen in a movie. Actually this would make a good movie. It’s the first in a series but the story is complete and a reader wouldn’t necessarily have to go on with the rest of the series.
October 26, 2017
I love a tale set in NYC. Add teen angst, monsters and magic, and I AM SO THERE. Looking forward to getting to know Bryant, Elizabeth, Devon, and (maybe even) Eric more in future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2017
Bryant finds a lost phone and suddenly there are fires springing up all over town, a huge flower growing in central park, he finds out he's a magician and the girl of his dreams has finally noticed him. A fun read.
Want to read
September 29, 2017Review copies can be requested here: [closed - other review opportunities found here]
October 10, 2017
I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an open and honest review.
What can I say, I love the types of quirky, slightly off kilter stories that Curiosity Quills publish and so when I saw this on their site I had to take a look. Was I disappointed? Nope!
What’s it about? Well, if I was to undersell ‘How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin’ Days’ I would say it’s a book about a boy who discovers he is can use magic… thanks to a mobile phone.
But it’s not just that and it’s not a Harry Potter rip off and thank goodness for that! As I seem to be about one of the only people in the world who doesn’t like HP! Love JK on Twitter… not a fan of the books. Go figure! :-D
However, with this book - sorry, the title is so long I can’t keep plugging it like I usually do - think more a mix of the least annoying bits of HP with great big dollops of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere mixed in with a bit of teen angst and a smattering of Arthur Dent’s hapless exploits as a hitchhiker and you get a better idea of what’s it all about. Just then add some independent and new ideas on an old theme and you’re there!
Plus it’s the first book in a potentially entertaining new YA/ NA urban fantasy series and I hope you can see now why I felt it got the score I gave it.
See, calling it ‘like Harry Potter’ is a serious underselling insult and I hope it is never described as that. If it is - shame on that reviewer!
Okay, back to what’s it all about… well, it’s set in modern day New York City where normal, everyday teens go from the usual angst of high school, fitting in and looking cool to having life turned on its head due to a misplaced phone and our characters then find themselves learning about a hidden world within their own. I mean, who doesn’t love those ‘what if’ hidden world’s within their own? I love them!
For those not into ‘teen drama’ don’t panic! Yes the main characters are teens - and sold as a YA book - but are still enjoyable by young and old. I didn’t need my inner teenager to enjoy this story; I managed it on my old fogey own. ;-)
And even though this is obviously the first book in a series - the subtitle of ‘The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 1’ is a bit of a hint - this can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone tale. I mean, there are still going to be a few threads flapping about at the end of it you might want tied up… but that’s for the next book. They can be ignored by those only wanting to read this first book… but people who think that way are just being silly and should stop pretending - read the next book when it comes out, you know you want to! ;-)
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would. I mean, isn’t it obvious I am pro not just this book but the rest of the tales to come in this series? Really? You didn’t spot that in my heaping on the praise bit? :-D
So yes, lovers of HP may or may not like it… I don’t know, as I simply don’t GET loving Harry Potter. But fans of urban fantasy or speculative fiction where there is a ‘what if’ world within our own… you’re going to enjoy this read. Yes, think ‘Neverwhere’, ‘RoofWorlders’, ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’… Think fun, entertaining and enjoyable while still setting reality on a slightly different angle to normal. You will enjoy this book!
Would I buy this book for myself?
Yeah, I can see that as a possibility. I mean, right now it is wavering between ‘library book’ and ‘eBook I own’ status… but as long as the series keeps going in this way, I can see it becoming one I proudly own and will tell everyone about who dares to make eye contact with my while I am reading it. ;-)
In summary: A great look at the hidden world of magic and what happens when teens access it. I highly recommend.
What can I say, I love the types of quirky, slightly off kilter stories that Curiosity Quills publish and so when I saw this on their site I had to take a look. Was I disappointed? Nope!
What’s it about? Well, if I was to undersell ‘How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin’ Days’ I would say it’s a book about a boy who discovers he is can use magic… thanks to a mobile phone.
But it’s not just that and it’s not a Harry Potter rip off and thank goodness for that! As I seem to be about one of the only people in the world who doesn’t like HP! Love JK on Twitter… not a fan of the books. Go figure! :-D
However, with this book - sorry, the title is so long I can’t keep plugging it like I usually do - think more a mix of the least annoying bits of HP with great big dollops of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere mixed in with a bit of teen angst and a smattering of Arthur Dent’s hapless exploits as a hitchhiker and you get a better idea of what’s it all about. Just then add some independent and new ideas on an old theme and you’re there!
Plus it’s the first book in a potentially entertaining new YA/ NA urban fantasy series and I hope you can see now why I felt it got the score I gave it.
See, calling it ‘like Harry Potter’ is a serious underselling insult and I hope it is never described as that. If it is - shame on that reviewer!
Okay, back to what’s it all about… well, it’s set in modern day New York City where normal, everyday teens go from the usual angst of high school, fitting in and looking cool to having life turned on its head due to a misplaced phone and our characters then find themselves learning about a hidden world within their own. I mean, who doesn’t love those ‘what if’ hidden world’s within their own? I love them!
For those not into ‘teen drama’ don’t panic! Yes the main characters are teens - and sold as a YA book - but are still enjoyable by young and old. I didn’t need my inner teenager to enjoy this story; I managed it on my old fogey own. ;-)
And even though this is obviously the first book in a series - the subtitle of ‘The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 1’ is a bit of a hint - this can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone tale. I mean, there are still going to be a few threads flapping about at the end of it you might want tied up… but that’s for the next book. They can be ignored by those only wanting to read this first book… but people who think that way are just being silly and should stop pretending - read the next book when it comes out, you know you want to! ;-)
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would. I mean, isn’t it obvious I am pro not just this book but the rest of the tales to come in this series? Really? You didn’t spot that in my heaping on the praise bit? :-D
So yes, lovers of HP may or may not like it… I don’t know, as I simply don’t GET loving Harry Potter. But fans of urban fantasy or speculative fiction where there is a ‘what if’ world within our own… you’re going to enjoy this read. Yes, think ‘Neverwhere’, ‘RoofWorlders’, ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’… Think fun, entertaining and enjoyable while still setting reality on a slightly different angle to normal. You will enjoy this book!
Would I buy this book for myself?
Yeah, I can see that as a possibility. I mean, right now it is wavering between ‘library book’ and ‘eBook I own’ status… but as long as the series keeps going in this way, I can see it becoming one I proudly own and will tell everyone about who dares to make eye contact with my while I am reading it. ;-)
In summary: A great look at the hidden world of magic and what happens when teens access it. I highly recommend.
December 5, 2017
This could be the beginning of a fantastic new wizarding series and I am really looking forward to seeing where Bryant Adams takes us next!
You know, there seems to be a whole lot of magic in NYC. Tons of paranormal stuff going on amongst the hustle and bustle. I think I may need to go back for a visit.
Actually, the location of the story works really well because as most people know, there are literally miles of underground tunnels and abandoned subway stations that can easily be home to a magical race of people. Nicer to think that than it’s just home to millions of rats. *Shudder. As usual, I’m totally going off on a tangent but what I’m trying to say is that the location is great and provides the perfect backdrop to Bryant’s adventure.
I really liked this book. The characters are fun and well-developed, the writing is great and contemporary, and the story is entertaining. There are some of the usual tropes present like “the nerdy guy getting the girl” or “the underdog becoming the hero” but it works. They become tropes for a reason right? There are also some really unique ideas too. The idea of a smart phone having spell apps? Brilliant.
If you enjoy yound adult fantasy, wizards, and intrepid youths, I think you will like this book too. Bryant is a very likable protagonist and I can’t wait to see what he gets into next.
Rating… A
You know, there seems to be a whole lot of magic in NYC. Tons of paranormal stuff going on amongst the hustle and bustle. I think I may need to go back for a visit.
Actually, the location of the story works really well because as most people know, there are literally miles of underground tunnels and abandoned subway stations that can easily be home to a magical race of people. Nicer to think that than it’s just home to millions of rats. *Shudder. As usual, I’m totally going off on a tangent but what I’m trying to say is that the location is great and provides the perfect backdrop to Bryant’s adventure.
I really liked this book. The characters are fun and well-developed, the writing is great and contemporary, and the story is entertaining. There are some of the usual tropes present like “the nerdy guy getting the girl” or “the underdog becoming the hero” but it works. They become tropes for a reason right? There are also some really unique ideas too. The idea of a smart phone having spell apps? Brilliant.
If you enjoy yound adult fantasy, wizards, and intrepid youths, I think you will like this book too. Bryant is a very likable protagonist and I can’t wait to see what he gets into next.
Rating… A
September 8, 2017
I received a free Kindle copy of this book from Netgalley and this has not influenced this review I am now submitting.
The 'Percy Jackson' series is still going strong, even with all of various spin-offs that slowly curve back to follow back into the main story, and when this book 'How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Friggin' Days' was mentioned by another reviewer as very similar, but for slightly older readers I was intrigued to see if this was true. I read up to the second book of the 'The Heroes Of Olympus', and wanted to see if there was another series that I could start and maybe read side-by-side with the works of Rick Riordan. It's good to know that the other reviewer was spot on, and I'm glad that I discovered this while looking through the new books up on Netgalley.
I prefer stories that have a touch of mystery and magic in it, and many times this means that any books that I pick up of either or both of these genres, there is a rendition of 'boy/girl discovers they have powers, and these are unlike what anyone else have ever seen', before the customary fall from grace and sudden redemption. This is especially true in the case of children's books, and there are good ones that are imagined differently but they can be hard to find.
This book is clearly the first book, and that isn't a bad start. The characters are still in the bones stage with small bits of padding at the moment, but there is a change here where there is so much potential from how the author has built that padding on the characters. The main character Bryant Adams does discover he has magic, but the method of how he discovers it and even how it is used by him, holds the interest because it's not following the general formula for such story lines.He only figures out how to use certain spells, is not suddenly able to be proficient in nearly everything, and when faced with problems, the story doesn't completely dissolve into angst. There is angst,this does involve teenagers, but it doesn't overpower everything and force the reader to wade through it, or skip pages, until the story picks up again.
Bryant Adam's companions are noticeably more interesting, but just as the main character isn't a Marty Stu that aggravates the reader with how he could be 'anyone', the sparks that are Elizabeth and Devon don't completely outshine him and make the reader lose interest in whatever Bryant is up to. Elizabeth is given a background mystery that means she won't fall to the wayside just to be saved the entire time, or else fall into the category of 'knows everything', and Devon is a intriguing rogue that has various skills up his sleeve that make him a delight. The two can only grow from what have been shown so far, and there is so much potential.
This also exists within the other characters Bryant comes across, with my favorite (excluding the main character and the other two teenagers) is Lola. I -adore- Lola. I'd normally find her way of speaking aggravating, but somehow she felt real and one I would want to return to the story multiple times. She may be the 'elderly master who knows everything', but she's realistic in her manner and doesn't try to hide -everything- from the main character. The other 'mentor' falls more into the hole of keeping secrets and 'thinks he knows better and so makes decisions without informing the teenagers' and this makes me slightly less invested in him. There is still a very good chance that he will evolve into a character more of his own, considering how the author treated all of the other characters, and I hope this is so.
There is only the beginnings of the world that Bryant is now tangled up in, so it's difficult to ascertain if I feel there has been enough world building. It gives me the slight vibes of the game 'The Wolf Among Us', with the magic users being controlled by ones among them who decide who can be where and what they can do, and many being hidden away. I'm hoping that this will also be rich enough that I don't keep comparing it to that game, but I won't be able to know if this has been sucessfully done unless I continue reading.
I don't think that this would be much of a hardship though, and I am looking forward to the second book coming out within the next couple of years.
The 'Percy Jackson' series is still going strong, even with all of various spin-offs that slowly curve back to follow back into the main story, and when this book 'How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Friggin' Days' was mentioned by another reviewer as very similar, but for slightly older readers I was intrigued to see if this was true. I read up to the second book of the 'The Heroes Of Olympus', and wanted to see if there was another series that I could start and maybe read side-by-side with the works of Rick Riordan. It's good to know that the other reviewer was spot on, and I'm glad that I discovered this while looking through the new books up on Netgalley.
I prefer stories that have a touch of mystery and magic in it, and many times this means that any books that I pick up of either or both of these genres, there is a rendition of 'boy/girl discovers they have powers, and these are unlike what anyone else have ever seen', before the customary fall from grace and sudden redemption. This is especially true in the case of children's books, and there are good ones that are imagined differently but they can be hard to find.
This book is clearly the first book, and that isn't a bad start. The characters are still in the bones stage with small bits of padding at the moment, but there is a change here where there is so much potential from how the author has built that padding on the characters. The main character Bryant Adams does discover he has magic, but the method of how he discovers it and even how it is used by him, holds the interest because it's not following the general formula for such story lines.He only figures out how to use certain spells, is not suddenly able to be proficient in nearly everything, and when faced with problems, the story doesn't completely dissolve into angst. There is angst,this does involve teenagers, but it doesn't overpower everything and force the reader to wade through it, or skip pages, until the story picks up again.
Bryant Adam's companions are noticeably more interesting, but just as the main character isn't a Marty Stu that aggravates the reader with how he could be 'anyone', the sparks that are Elizabeth and Devon don't completely outshine him and make the reader lose interest in whatever Bryant is up to. Elizabeth is given a background mystery that means she won't fall to the wayside just to be saved the entire time, or else fall into the category of 'knows everything', and Devon is a intriguing rogue that has various skills up his sleeve that make him a delight. The two can only grow from what have been shown so far, and there is so much potential.
This also exists within the other characters Bryant comes across, with my favorite (excluding the main character and the other two teenagers) is Lola. I -adore- Lola. I'd normally find her way of speaking aggravating, but somehow she felt real and one I would want to return to the story multiple times. She may be the 'elderly master who knows everything', but she's realistic in her manner and doesn't try to hide -everything- from the main character. The other 'mentor' falls more into the hole of keeping secrets and 'thinks he knows better and so makes decisions without informing the teenagers' and this makes me slightly less invested in him. There is still a very good chance that he will evolve into a character more of his own, considering how the author treated all of the other characters, and I hope this is so.
There is only the beginnings of the world that Bryant is now tangled up in, so it's difficult to ascertain if I feel there has been enough world building. It gives me the slight vibes of the game 'The Wolf Among Us', with the magic users being controlled by ones among them who decide who can be where and what they can do, and many being hidden away. I'm hoping that this will also be rich enough that I don't keep comparing it to that game, but I won't be able to know if this has been sucessfully done unless I continue reading.
I don't think that this would be much of a hardship though, and I am looking forward to the second book coming out within the next couple of years.
July 19, 2018
*this review contains minor spoilers*
How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days is the definition of, "well...that escalated quickly." (It's also the story of my life).
How I Magically Messed Up My Life is a comedic fantasy novel about a kid, Bryant, who finds a cell-phone that, well... Magically messes up his life. I don't know if the author fully intended 'Humor/Comedy' to be a subgenre of the book, but it certainly has funny, relatable elements — everyone feels like they've Magically Messed Up their life every now in then. Only, Bryant actually does.
There is an element about this book that confuses me, though. In my opinion, the title and cover and the summary and the way the main character, Bryant, acts strongly reminds me of a Middle Grade book. In fact, when I accepted this book to review — based SOLELY on title and summary — I 100% went into it thinking I was about to read a Middle Grade book. The plotline and how the storyline read like Young Adult, though, which is what confuses me — Bryant is reportedly seventeen-years-old, but he doesn't really act like a seventeen-year-old. His narration and the way he acts remind me of a much younger teen — in my opinion, he reads more like a twelve or thirteen year old. So, that's why the Young Adult placement on Goodreads confuses me. It's unclear (to me, at least) what the audience level of this book is supposed to be.
The audience level confusion made this book a little hard to read in some places. I think the plot was interesting — especially the escalation of the plot events themselves — but there were points where I became so wrapped up in how Bryant sounded that I couldn't really focus on the plot. ESPECIALLY when Elizabeth became involved. I understand having a crush, but everything about this particular crush read like something from middle school, not high school — and especially not from a seventeen-year-old. Bryant's argument with Devon about Elizabeth was especially ridiculous. All I could picture were two children arguing on a playground.
I think this book was strongest in its beginning and in its build-up to the point where they... made alliance(?) with Eric. After that, though, it... I don't want to say it "became bad," because I do not think this was a bad book, but it lost the allure it had at the beginning, and I think it lost that appeal for two reasons:
1. As I said before, there were points where I was too busy focusing on the middle grade-sounding narration.
2. The alliance with Eric.
Now, like the others, Eric was not a bad character. In fact, at the beginning, I thought he was a rather strong villain — especially in the apartment. However, the alliance confused me because... why would they trust a creepy man who was trying to kill them in their first encounters? I mean, I read the book so, obviously, I know WHY Eric was chasing after them, but it just seems sort of suspicious. Do Bryant and his friends have no concern over the fact that he might turn around and try to kill them again? His reasoning, to me, did not seem strong enough. And, again — their trusting nature might be believable if they were YOUNGER (Read As: Middle Grade age), but they're not. Bryant is 17 years old, for crying out loud. Didn't his mother ever teach him not to put his full trust in strangers? ESPECIALLY strangers who were trying to kill him upon their first meeting?
Overall, as I said, this was not a bad book. And I think it could totally have its appeal for fantasy-readers — though I've never read the series, it kinda gives me Harry Potter vibes. However, the intended audience level is still quite confusing... and the first Harry Potter book is meant for Middle Grade/younger YA. So... I would recommend it, I'm just not sure to what audience.
How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days is the definition of, "well...that escalated quickly." (It's also the story of my life).
How I Magically Messed Up My Life is a comedic fantasy novel about a kid, Bryant, who finds a cell-phone that, well... Magically messes up his life. I don't know if the author fully intended 'Humor/Comedy' to be a subgenre of the book, but it certainly has funny, relatable elements — everyone feels like they've Magically Messed Up their life every now in then. Only, Bryant actually does.
There is an element about this book that confuses me, though. In my opinion, the title and cover and the summary and the way the main character, Bryant, acts strongly reminds me of a Middle Grade book. In fact, when I accepted this book to review — based SOLELY on title and summary — I 100% went into it thinking I was about to read a Middle Grade book. The plotline and how the storyline read like Young Adult, though, which is what confuses me — Bryant is reportedly seventeen-years-old, but he doesn't really act like a seventeen-year-old. His narration and the way he acts remind me of a much younger teen — in my opinion, he reads more like a twelve or thirteen year old. So, that's why the Young Adult placement on Goodreads confuses me. It's unclear (to me, at least) what the audience level of this book is supposed to be.
The audience level confusion made this book a little hard to read in some places. I think the plot was interesting — especially the escalation of the plot events themselves — but there were points where I became so wrapped up in how Bryant sounded that I couldn't really focus on the plot. ESPECIALLY when Elizabeth became involved. I understand having a crush, but everything about this particular crush read like something from middle school, not high school — and especially not from a seventeen-year-old. Bryant's argument with Devon about Elizabeth was especially ridiculous. All I could picture were two children arguing on a playground.
I think this book was strongest in its beginning and in its build-up to the point where they... made alliance(?) with Eric. After that, though, it... I don't want to say it "became bad," because I do not think this was a bad book, but it lost the allure it had at the beginning, and I think it lost that appeal for two reasons:
1. As I said before, there were points where I was too busy focusing on the middle grade-sounding narration.
2. The alliance with Eric.
Now, like the others, Eric was not a bad character. In fact, at the beginning, I thought he was a rather strong villain — especially in the apartment. However, the alliance confused me because... why would they trust a creepy man who was trying to kill them in their first encounters? I mean, I read the book so, obviously, I know WHY Eric was chasing after them, but it just seems sort of suspicious. Do Bryant and his friends have no concern over the fact that he might turn around and try to kill them again? His reasoning, to me, did not seem strong enough. And, again — their trusting nature might be believable if they were YOUNGER (Read As: Middle Grade age), but they're not. Bryant is 17 years old, for crying out loud. Didn't his mother ever teach him not to put his full trust in strangers? ESPECIALLY strangers who were trying to kill him upon their first meeting?
Overall, as I said, this was not a bad book. And I think it could totally have its appeal for fantasy-readers — though I've never read the series, it kinda gives me Harry Potter vibes. However, the intended audience level is still quite confusing... and the first Harry Potter book is meant for Middle Grade/younger YA. So... I would recommend it, I'm just not sure to what audience.
September 2, 2017
Rating: 2.75 Stars
When I was sent this summary to decide whether or not to review it, I thought I'd go ahead because based on the description alone it sounds like the kind of book a fan of the Percy Jackson series would enjoy. It promises a lot of crazy accidents, fantastical elements in a modern setting, and characters that are just this side of unbelievable.
I like the collection of characters that were presented in the book, with a slight exception for the main one. Bryant's self-deprecation might have been a quirky character trait at first, but it wore down quickly and became too much. Constantly throwing out sarcastic references to how ugly his hair was or how unlucky he was to be uncool compared to his friend Devon...there's only so much I read before I started rolling my eyes.
Devon had a couple of funny lines, my favorite of which was after he and Bryant tried to destroy the magic phone:
There was something that I thought was a bit off about the characters, though it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Everyone from Bryant to Devon to Elizabeth, the people that were supposed to be 17 or 18, read younger than that and it made imagining them dealing with the events of the story...sticky. If Bryant's age hadn't been explicitly stated, I would have pegged him for 13 or 14. It doesn't sound like a lot of difference, but it made the narrative feel a bit weird, reading a character as way younger than they're supposed to be.
The family relationship between Bryant and his mom felt very real. I think his mother may be the most normal mom I've read in a fantasy book. What I didn't get was some of her decisions, like the apparent family agreement that's 30 pages long and has Article 17:
While in theory this article sounds like something that might occur in a family, a trust exercise if you will, what does it say that there's a written out "contract" with something like this and who knows what else? Bryant explains it to Elizabeth that he had his mom sit down and hash it out after the first time he was grounded. To be honest, I don't get the sense that he's the kind of kid that think of that sort of thing either now or in the past when he was grounded.
The romance between Bryant and Elizabeth took up a lot of page time, which I suppose would've been alright if it didn't feel so forced. It doesn't have to do with my reading these kids as younger than stated, but the fact that their interactions felt stale.
Pace wise things moved along decently, something I was grateful for after having been stuck in a slump of slow books. The way the story moved and how the characters were presented to the reader made it a little hard to get invested overall; I'd liken it to watching an action movie: two hours of people and places and fights flying by and you enjoy the moment, even if you can't fully grasp what the individual motions are.
Overall, I would say that the book was okay for me, though I can see how it would appeal to a wider audience.
I'd recommend this book for fans of fantasy novels like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's Magisterium series, and Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. books.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When I was sent this summary to decide whether or not to review it, I thought I'd go ahead because based on the description alone it sounds like the kind of book a fan of the Percy Jackson series would enjoy. It promises a lot of crazy accidents, fantastical elements in a modern setting, and characters that are just this side of unbelievable.
I like the collection of characters that were presented in the book, with a slight exception for the main one. Bryant's self-deprecation might have been a quirky character trait at first, but it wore down quickly and became too much. Constantly throwing out sarcastic references to how ugly his hair was or how unlucky he was to be uncool compared to his friend Devon...there's only so much I read before I started rolling my eyes.
Devon had a couple of funny lines, my favorite of which was after he and Bryant tried to destroy the magic phone:
"It's the Rasputin of phones," Devon murmured. "It can never die."
There was something that I thought was a bit off about the characters, though it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Everyone from Bryant to Devon to Elizabeth, the people that were supposed to be 17 or 18, read younger than that and it made imagining them dealing with the events of the story...sticky. If Bryant's age hadn't been explicitly stated, I would have pegged him for 13 or 14. It doesn't sound like a lot of difference, but it made the narrative feel a bit weird, reading a character as way younger than they're supposed to be.
The family relationship between Bryant and his mom felt very real. I think his mother may be the most normal mom I've read in a fantasy book. What I didn't get was some of her decisions, like the apparent family agreement that's 30 pages long and has Article 17:
"Article seventeen states that in a true emergency no questions will be asked and no punishment given if the son approaches the mother with a genuine fear."
While in theory this article sounds like something that might occur in a family, a trust exercise if you will, what does it say that there's a written out "contract" with something like this and who knows what else? Bryant explains it to Elizabeth that he had his mom sit down and hash it out after the first time he was grounded. To be honest, I don't get the sense that he's the kind of kid that think of that sort of thing either now or in the past when he was grounded.
The romance between Bryant and Elizabeth took up a lot of page time, which I suppose would've been alright if it didn't feel so forced. It doesn't have to do with my reading these kids as younger than stated, but the fact that their interactions felt stale.
Pace wise things moved along decently, something I was grateful for after having been stuck in a slump of slow books. The way the story moved and how the characters were presented to the reader made it a little hard to get invested overall; I'd liken it to watching an action movie: two hours of people and places and fights flying by and you enjoy the moment, even if you can't fully grasp what the individual motions are.
Overall, I would say that the book was okay for me, though I can see how it would appeal to a wider audience.
I'd recommend this book for fans of fantasy novels like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Holly Black and Cassandra Clare's Magisterium series, and Jonathan Stroud's Lockwood & Co. books.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2017
***Review Contains Spoilers***
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a nice twist on the “kid finds out they’re actually magical” genre, involving a magical cellphone and a whole host of unusual characters. The plot is very fast paced; it picks up in the first couple chapters then doesn’t stop until the very end. There’s a good balance between action and character development (all of the characters had a purpose and, at the very least, minor subplots, which is a rarity in these types of stories) and the world building was done very well, so the magical elements of the story never became overwhelming.
Bryant’s narration is funny and overall he’s a likable character. It was kind of annoying how he spent ¾ of the story denying his magical abilities; it felt really forced and it had no real effect on the plot or any of the other characters.
Devon was by far my favorite part of the story. It was nice to see a side character be more than just comic relief, and next to Eric, he was the most competent of the main characters. It's never explicitly stated what he is (the best explanation we get is an “adventurer”) but I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to find out. Eric was a great twist on the “wise master wizard” that comes into the protagonist’s life (I’d prefer a young, manic troublemaker any day) and his banter with Devon was highly entertaining.
For the first half of the story, I found Elizabeth really annoying. I’m glad she wasn't just the love interest along for the ride, but her character was all over the place. She was very quick to freak out or burst into tears every single time anything at all went wrong, and I mean literally anything. She was more like a caricature than an actual person, who inserted herself into the situation then had a breakdown every time something minor happened. I wish the idea that Elizabeth was a “seer” was introduced sooner, or at least less suddenly, because it was just kind of randomly dropped in halfway through the story and then she suddenly realized she had always had these powers to see through illusions.
I did feel like the word fate was thrown around a little too much. I get that the author was trying to make a point, but it started to feel repetitive after a while. Also, even though there was a lot of world building, there were also a lot of moments where Eric decided not to explain something to the main characters because “it would take too long.” Even though it was a funny way of not fully explaining the world the characters are thrust into, it would have been nice if there was a little more explanation at the end, because I was left with a lot of questions. The ending was very abrupt and there were a lot of logistical details that could have been cleared up (maybe I’m just bitter that I have to wait until the next book in the series to come out) but overall, this is one of the better urban fantasy novels I’ve read in awhile.
***I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review!***
I really enjoyed this story. It’s a nice twist on the “kid finds out they’re actually magical” genre, involving a magical cellphone and a whole host of unusual characters. The plot is very fast paced; it picks up in the first couple chapters then doesn’t stop until the very end. There’s a good balance between action and character development (all of the characters had a purpose and, at the very least, minor subplots, which is a rarity in these types of stories) and the world building was done very well, so the magical elements of the story never became overwhelming.
Bryant’s narration is funny and overall he’s a likable character. It was kind of annoying how he spent ¾ of the story denying his magical abilities; it felt really forced and it had no real effect on the plot or any of the other characters.
Devon was by far my favorite part of the story. It was nice to see a side character be more than just comic relief, and next to Eric, he was the most competent of the main characters. It's never explicitly stated what he is (the best explanation we get is an “adventurer”) but I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to find out. Eric was a great twist on the “wise master wizard” that comes into the protagonist’s life (I’d prefer a young, manic troublemaker any day) and his banter with Devon was highly entertaining.
For the first half of the story, I found Elizabeth really annoying. I’m glad she wasn't just the love interest along for the ride, but her character was all over the place. She was very quick to freak out or burst into tears every single time anything at all went wrong, and I mean literally anything. She was more like a caricature than an actual person, who inserted herself into the situation then had a breakdown every time something minor happened. I wish the idea that Elizabeth was a “seer” was introduced sooner, or at least less suddenly, because it was just kind of randomly dropped in halfway through the story and then she suddenly realized she had always had these powers to see through illusions.
I did feel like the word fate was thrown around a little too much. I get that the author was trying to make a point, but it started to feel repetitive after a while. Also, even though there was a lot of world building, there were also a lot of moments where Eric decided not to explain something to the main characters because “it would take too long.” Even though it was a funny way of not fully explaining the world the characters are thrust into, it would have been nice if there was a little more explanation at the end, because I was left with a lot of questions. The ending was very abrupt and there were a lot of logistical details that could have been cleared up (maybe I’m just bitter that I have to wait until the next book in the series to come out) but overall, this is one of the better urban fantasy novels I’ve read in awhile.
***I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review!***
October 7, 2017
This is a magical, fast-paced, fantasy packed—with a lovely dose of modern day teen—ride.
This hero is and yet isn't your normal guy. He goes to a super average high school in New York, isn't exactly on the popular end of things, and lives with his mom in an okay-ish apartment where they barely make the bills. But, on the other end, his dad is super rich. . .not that he lets anyone know that. Things get weird when he and his best friend find a phone left in the back of a taxi—a magical phone which could destroy New York. Soon, all sorts of creatures are out to get that phone, and they don't give a rip if he lives or dies in the process.
I sat down with this book and read it all the way through with maybe a pause for dinner. It's not a deep read, and not literally beautiful, but rather sits in a modern teen world, where girls and popularity are more important than contemplating the mysteries of the universe. The hero is a nice guy with hidden layers of his own, which make him more complex than he first appears. He gets in over his head and has to ease his way into the entire magic thing. And that's not an easy task but is full of tension and a lovely sprinkle of humor.
While the hero is a little of a misfit, this isn't a tale based on how he learns to kick-butt or fit in. Instead, it's his friends which help pull him through and make for a balanced mix. Even the romance flows at a gentler pace. While there is one and it grows (little bit of hand holding included), there's more to it than boy meets girl and falls head over heels in love. All characters have their own personalities, and it shows in this and every aspect.
Fantasy flies free in this plot, letting all sorts of creatures and magic unfold. It makes the battles interesting, the twists unexpected and the entire thing simply fun. The evil is evil and hard to beat, and there are moments where it's not clear if the hero will come through or not. It's a bit whimsical, but never becomes childish. Especially the younger end of the YA will enjoy this one. . .and those who never lose their desire for simple, magical fun.
Summed up, this is a quick paced, easy read for YA fantasy friends, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
This hero is and yet isn't your normal guy. He goes to a super average high school in New York, isn't exactly on the popular end of things, and lives with his mom in an okay-ish apartment where they barely make the bills. But, on the other end, his dad is super rich. . .not that he lets anyone know that. Things get weird when he and his best friend find a phone left in the back of a taxi—a magical phone which could destroy New York. Soon, all sorts of creatures are out to get that phone, and they don't give a rip if he lives or dies in the process.
I sat down with this book and read it all the way through with maybe a pause for dinner. It's not a deep read, and not literally beautiful, but rather sits in a modern teen world, where girls and popularity are more important than contemplating the mysteries of the universe. The hero is a nice guy with hidden layers of his own, which make him more complex than he first appears. He gets in over his head and has to ease his way into the entire magic thing. And that's not an easy task but is full of tension and a lovely sprinkle of humor.
While the hero is a little of a misfit, this isn't a tale based on how he learns to kick-butt or fit in. Instead, it's his friends which help pull him through and make for a balanced mix. Even the romance flows at a gentler pace. While there is one and it grows (little bit of hand holding included), there's more to it than boy meets girl and falls head over heels in love. All characters have their own personalities, and it shows in this and every aspect.
Fantasy flies free in this plot, letting all sorts of creatures and magic unfold. It makes the battles interesting, the twists unexpected and the entire thing simply fun. The evil is evil and hard to beat, and there are moments where it's not clear if the hero will come through or not. It's a bit whimsical, but never becomes childish. Especially the younger end of the YA will enjoy this one. . .and those who never lose their desire for simple, magical fun.
Summed up, this is a quick paced, easy read for YA fantasy friends, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
January 11, 2018
There are a few editing issues in a specific area of the book. It's pretty minor, and doesn't interfere with the story, so I didn't find it an issue. I know it bothers some people, so I'm throwing it out there. The other 99% of the book is pretty perfect.
I found the storyline to be interesting and unique. Main character Bryant finds a phone with magical powers, and after a couple of mishaps, he and his friends, Devon, and Elizabeth try to decide what they can do with the evil device. Megan O'Russell's voice is rhythmic and really nails the personality of Bryant down with it. He's a typical boy, going through school, has a crush on a girl, and a Mother who volunteers him for things without asking. He spends most his time with his best friend Devon, although he's a little bit jealous of Devon. The story unfolds with a good deal of comedy, as well as some soul searching. This is a little vague on how the plot unfolds, but anyone that has read my reviews knows I don't want to accidentally drop spoilers.
The story has a beginning, middle, and end, with no cliffhangers, and I found it a pleasant read. I would have liked for it to go a little further than it did at the end, but it's solid the way it is. I think this would be a great read for middle grade readers, as well as teens. There is no sex, and while there are a few curse words, it's minimal.
The characters are well thought out with their own personalities and struggles. Bryant is insecure and has some self-esteem issues. He's been in love with the same girl for a long time, but sees no reason why she might be willing to go out with him. It doesn't make it easier that his best friend Devon is very popular, and smooth with the ladies. The two are good friends and very loyal to each other. Elizabeth? To say much about her place in the story would definitely drop some spoilers. I'll just say that she's intelligent, and a drama student in Bryant's Mother's class. Bryant's Mother is protective, and supportive of Bryant and his friends. Megan O'Russell did a great job with the characters.
If you know any teenagers that like to read, this is definitely a book worth reading.
I found the storyline to be interesting and unique. Main character Bryant finds a phone with magical powers, and after a couple of mishaps, he and his friends, Devon, and Elizabeth try to decide what they can do with the evil device. Megan O'Russell's voice is rhythmic and really nails the personality of Bryant down with it. He's a typical boy, going through school, has a crush on a girl, and a Mother who volunteers him for things without asking. He spends most his time with his best friend Devon, although he's a little bit jealous of Devon. The story unfolds with a good deal of comedy, as well as some soul searching. This is a little vague on how the plot unfolds, but anyone that has read my reviews knows I don't want to accidentally drop spoilers.
The story has a beginning, middle, and end, with no cliffhangers, and I found it a pleasant read. I would have liked for it to go a little further than it did at the end, but it's solid the way it is. I think this would be a great read for middle grade readers, as well as teens. There is no sex, and while there are a few curse words, it's minimal.
The characters are well thought out with their own personalities and struggles. Bryant is insecure and has some self-esteem issues. He's been in love with the same girl for a long time, but sees no reason why she might be willing to go out with him. It doesn't make it easier that his best friend Devon is very popular, and smooth with the ladies. The two are good friends and very loyal to each other. Elizabeth? To say much about her place in the story would definitely drop some spoilers. I'll just say that she's intelligent, and a drama student in Bryant's Mother's class. Bryant's Mother is protective, and supportive of Bryant and his friends. Megan O'Russell did a great job with the characters.
If you know any teenagers that like to read, this is definitely a book worth reading.
November 17, 2017
I received an e-ARC of this book from Sara (https://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com). This does not affect my review in any way
Summary: This book is a mix of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson
I should have finished this book since but I’ve been on a reading slump for ages and I kept on reading a little then stopping. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. On the contrary, I really loved this book.
What drew me to it at first was the very long name and the book cover. That cover is beautiful.
Bryant is an ordinary guy. He’s a pasty white boy (his words not mine) who has had a crush on the same girl (Elizabeth) for years and who is under the shadow of his cool, handsome best friend, Devon. This may make some boys jealous and mean but Bryant isn’t like that. He does get a bit jealous once in a while but nothing serious. His mum is the drama teacher in his school and to him, that just makes him even less cool.
When he and Devon find a phone left behind by some bleached-out guy in a taxi, series of events happen that change them forever.
I liked all the characters in this book; even the villain. Bryant was okay. He was a good friend, honorable, sweet but with flaws. I don’t like perfect characters and Bryant is certainly not one. When he suspects Devon of going after Elizabeth behind his back, an ugly side to him was shown. I liked how the author put down the harmful book trope of jealous, possessive people as being “romantic”
Devon was a cool guy. The bad boy kind that girls like and guys admire. He was also quite a talker and a very loyal friend to both Bryant and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was the smart person in the trio. She was the one who realised that the phone was the source of the burned down theatre stage in the synopsis and her advice helped them a lot during their adventure. I really liked that through her, the author didn’t perpetuate the stereotype of “dumb blondes”
The careless bleached-out guy who left his magical phone in the taxi was Eric, an enigmatic, weird guy whose search for knowledge caused a lot of problems.
Something worth mentioning about this book was its diversity; Bryant sees old, black women as his protectors and there’s also a transgender character!!
The plot of the book is very good and straightforward. My only question was why Bryant had magical powers despite both his parents being normal. That wasn’t explained.
The villain wasn’t very villainous but for a sort-of middle grade book, that can be expected.
The ending was action-packed and very fast-paced and it made up for the rather slow beginning.
In conclusion, I really liked this book and I want everyone to read it.
Favourite Quotes
“She was girl angry. Girl angry is way worse than guy angry. Guy angry might get you shoved in a locker or punched in the face. Girl angry could get your soul ripped out and your spirit broken beyond repair.”
“Sometimes the most absurd things in life are the most valid.”
“I know it’s because they all love their babies so much, they would do anything to protect them. But then if the kids manage to survive whatever the mama was trying to protect them from, they come dump a dying mama on my sofa.”
“Can someone please take me through why the evil dude who wants to kill us is better than the evil ladies who want to kill us? It sounds sexist, but I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.”
“I thought I heard the dulcet tones of teenaged angst.”
Read more of my reviews at www.stuffedshelvesite.wordpress.com
Summary: This book is a mix of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson
I should have finished this book since but I’ve been on a reading slump for ages and I kept on reading a little then stopping. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. On the contrary, I really loved this book.
What drew me to it at first was the very long name and the book cover. That cover is beautiful.
Bryant is an ordinary guy. He’s a pasty white boy (his words not mine) who has had a crush on the same girl (Elizabeth) for years and who is under the shadow of his cool, handsome best friend, Devon. This may make some boys jealous and mean but Bryant isn’t like that. He does get a bit jealous once in a while but nothing serious. His mum is the drama teacher in his school and to him, that just makes him even less cool.
When he and Devon find a phone left behind by some bleached-out guy in a taxi, series of events happen that change them forever.
I liked all the characters in this book; even the villain. Bryant was okay. He was a good friend, honorable, sweet but with flaws. I don’t like perfect characters and Bryant is certainly not one. When he suspects Devon of going after Elizabeth behind his back, an ugly side to him was shown. I liked how the author put down the harmful book trope of jealous, possessive people as being “romantic”
Devon was a cool guy. The bad boy kind that girls like and guys admire. He was also quite a talker and a very loyal friend to both Bryant and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was the smart person in the trio. She was the one who realised that the phone was the source of the burned down theatre stage in the synopsis and her advice helped them a lot during their adventure. I really liked that through her, the author didn’t perpetuate the stereotype of “dumb blondes”
The careless bleached-out guy who left his magical phone in the taxi was Eric, an enigmatic, weird guy whose search for knowledge caused a lot of problems.
Something worth mentioning about this book was its diversity; Bryant sees old, black women as his protectors and there’s also a transgender character!!
The plot of the book is very good and straightforward. My only question was why Bryant had magical powers despite both his parents being normal. That wasn’t explained.
The villain wasn’t very villainous but for a sort-of middle grade book, that can be expected.
The ending was action-packed and very fast-paced and it made up for the rather slow beginning.
In conclusion, I really liked this book and I want everyone to read it.
Favourite Quotes
“She was girl angry. Girl angry is way worse than guy angry. Guy angry might get you shoved in a locker or punched in the face. Girl angry could get your soul ripped out and your spirit broken beyond repair.”
“Sometimes the most absurd things in life are the most valid.”
“I know it’s because they all love their babies so much, they would do anything to protect them. But then if the kids manage to survive whatever the mama was trying to protect them from, they come dump a dying mama on my sofa.”
“Can someone please take me through why the evil dude who wants to kill us is better than the evil ladies who want to kill us? It sounds sexist, but I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.”
“I thought I heard the dulcet tones of teenaged angst.”
Read more of my reviews at www.stuffedshelvesite.wordpress.com
July 21, 2017
A little while back I received the e-ARC for How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days by Megan O'Russell through NetGalley. So a big thank you to Megan O'Russell and Curiosity Quills Press for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
The cover hadn't even been revealed yet when I requested this book, but truth be told: that synopsis sounded way too good.
All of that happened during four days?! This book sounded like it was pact with lots of goodness so it upped my expectations immediately. Like, a lot. On the other hand, I started wondering if there would be "too much" going on.
I can already tell you the answer to that question: nope, nope, nope.
This book was near perfection on that part! And I hate the fact that I'll have to wait for the sequel, because... Surely there has to be one?! Please, give me more Bryant!
Megan O'Russell's writing style immediately drew me in. It's fast-paced - but not too fast -, fluent and as thus, easy to read. Even though there aren't any amazingly poetic descriptions present in the book, the descriptive style she uses is good enough to make you lose yourself in the story.
The concept of the story is amazing too. Like, can you imagine finding a magic cell phone? Surely your life would be turned upside down as well! I keep wondering what else that cellphone will be capable of - and how Bryant is going to get himself in trouble for using it, haha.
Character-wise there's only one negative and that's the lack of character development. It could've been me, but I was just missing some chances in Bryant's character as a whole. Yes, he's been through a lot in the book but it didn't feel like it actually changed him in any way. And surely, everything that happened has to leave a mark somehow?
As for his best friend, Devon, I can only say... That is the kind of best friend I'd wish everyone has. He does what has to be done and - even though a little arrogant - is a fun character as well!
Of course I can't not say anything about Elizabeth, because... Girl power! She's smart, uses her brains and isn't afraid to take on a challenge. Even when she has no clue about what she's getting herself into. She totally reminded me of Annabeth [Percy Jackson], honestly.
I'm definitely recommending this book for anyone who likes Harry Potter - because magic! -, Percy Jackson - because adventures! - or anything else that's adventure- and magic-related.
I'm giving How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days 4/5!
Kathy
The cover hadn't even been revealed yet when I requested this book, but truth be told: that synopsis sounded way too good.
All of that happened during four days?! This book sounded like it was pact with lots of goodness so it upped my expectations immediately. Like, a lot. On the other hand, I started wondering if there would be "too much" going on.
I can already tell you the answer to that question: nope, nope, nope.
This book was near perfection on that part! And I hate the fact that I'll have to wait for the sequel, because... Surely there has to be one?! Please, give me more Bryant!
Megan O'Russell's writing style immediately drew me in. It's fast-paced - but not too fast -, fluent and as thus, easy to read. Even though there aren't any amazingly poetic descriptions present in the book, the descriptive style she uses is good enough to make you lose yourself in the story.
The concept of the story is amazing too. Like, can you imagine finding a magic cell phone? Surely your life would be turned upside down as well! I keep wondering what else that cellphone will be capable of - and how Bryant is going to get himself in trouble for using it, haha.
But forward isn't always safer than back, even if back wasn't all that nice to begin with.
Character-wise there's only one negative and that's the lack of character development. It could've been me, but I was just missing some chances in Bryant's character as a whole. Yes, he's been through a lot in the book but it didn't feel like it actually changed him in any way. And surely, everything that happened has to leave a mark somehow?
As for his best friend, Devon, I can only say... That is the kind of best friend I'd wish everyone has. He does what has to be done and - even though a little arrogant - is a fun character as well!
Of course I can't not say anything about Elizabeth, because... Girl power! She's smart, uses her brains and isn't afraid to take on a challenge. Even when she has no clue about what she's getting herself into. She totally reminded me of Annabeth [Percy Jackson], honestly.
I'm definitely recommending this book for anyone who likes Harry Potter - because magic! -, Percy Jackson - because adventures! - or anything else that's adventure- and magic-related.
I'm giving How I Magically Messed Up My Life In Four Freakin' Days 4/5!
Kathy
September 18, 2024
Magic, wizards, and plenty of action.
4 thrilling stars!
Sixteen year old Bryant finds a lost phone in a New York City taxi. But this is not an ordinary cell phone. The symbols on its buttons are strange and unfamiliar to him.
Thus begins an adventure Bryant, his best friend, Devon, and the girl he's always desired, Elizabeth, will never forget.
Bryant wants to return the phone to its shadowy owner, a tall, thin man named Eric. But before he can do so, Eric, a powerful wizard, attacks Bryant in his wealthy father's NYC penthouse. Through this attack, Bryant learns that he, too is a wizard, albeit an undisciplined one. He manages to fend Eric off, but also sets his father's penthouse on fire!
What follows is an action-packed thrill ride of spells, magic and revenge that kept this reader eagerly awaiting the book's conclusion.
Containing wonderous world building (of at least 4 various worlds!), smooth plotlines and just the correct amount of snark and humor, this book has it all. Eric has a very dry sense of humor and Devon is written expertly as the big, muscular "Doubting Thomas" type who constantly irritates Eric. Elizabeth is a "seer", able to see things no one else can see in the shadows. And Bryant manages, in his bumbling, doubting way, to learn enough spells to assist Eric in an epic battle of evil vs. evil vs. good.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
4 thrilling stars!
Sixteen year old Bryant finds a lost phone in a New York City taxi. But this is not an ordinary cell phone. The symbols on its buttons are strange and unfamiliar to him.
Thus begins an adventure Bryant, his best friend, Devon, and the girl he's always desired, Elizabeth, will never forget.
Bryant wants to return the phone to its shadowy owner, a tall, thin man named Eric. But before he can do so, Eric, a powerful wizard, attacks Bryant in his wealthy father's NYC penthouse. Through this attack, Bryant learns that he, too is a wizard, albeit an undisciplined one. He manages to fend Eric off, but also sets his father's penthouse on fire!
What follows is an action-packed thrill ride of spells, magic and revenge that kept this reader eagerly awaiting the book's conclusion.
Containing wonderous world building (of at least 4 various worlds!), smooth plotlines and just the correct amount of snark and humor, this book has it all. Eric has a very dry sense of humor and Devon is written expertly as the big, muscular "Doubting Thomas" type who constantly irritates Eric. Elizabeth is a "seer", able to see things no one else can see in the shadows. And Bryant manages, in his bumbling, doubting way, to learn enough spells to assist Eric in an epic battle of evil vs. evil vs. good.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
June 24, 2018
A Good, Solid Fun Filled Read 🌟😂
The title of this book drew me in (A 1st for me) & the fact it was in my favourite genre sold it, I'm so glad I enjoyed it. Another 1st for me was that the lead character was male 😱😂 I wasn't sure how I'd find that but it was absolutely fine 💙
Bryant is 17, he feels exceptionally ordinary, brown 'poo' coloured hair, same coloured eyes, tall & skinny and none of this helped by his best & only friend, Devon, looking like male model!! 🙄 He flirted with ease, girls & ladies even fell at his feet yet Bryant wasn't even sure he'd get his first girlfriend before he entered a Senior Citizens Home. Tsk 😂
Bryant has idolized Elizabeth Wick since he'd first seen her. She's his 'perfect girl' but he gets tongue tied around her.
These 3 eventually have to come together to save each other, Bryant's Mum, Manhattan & more!!! It all starts out so simply, Devon finds a mobile phone in the back of a taxi, gives it to Bryant to return then .... Lives get messed up in four freaking days!!!
There are Baddies, then even worse Baddies ... Witches, Wizards and much much more 😃🌟🎉🌟 It's a fun, snarky time with the possibility to become a hero - maybe - if they survive!!! 😳 A really decent read!! 😎
Debbie, 1970, UK
The title of this book drew me in (A 1st for me) & the fact it was in my favourite genre sold it, I'm so glad I enjoyed it. Another 1st for me was that the lead character was male 😱😂 I wasn't sure how I'd find that but it was absolutely fine 💙
Bryant is 17, he feels exceptionally ordinary, brown 'poo' coloured hair, same coloured eyes, tall & skinny and none of this helped by his best & only friend, Devon, looking like male model!! 🙄 He flirted with ease, girls & ladies even fell at his feet yet Bryant wasn't even sure he'd get his first girlfriend before he entered a Senior Citizens Home. Tsk 😂
Bryant has idolized Elizabeth Wick since he'd first seen her. She's his 'perfect girl' but he gets tongue tied around her.
These 3 eventually have to come together to save each other, Bryant's Mum, Manhattan & more!!! It all starts out so simply, Devon finds a mobile phone in the back of a taxi, gives it to Bryant to return then .... Lives get messed up in four freaking days!!!
There are Baddies, then even worse Baddies ... Witches, Wizards and much much more 😃🌟🎉🌟 It's a fun, snarky time with the possibility to become a hero - maybe - if they survive!!! 😳 A really decent read!! 😎
Debbie, 1970, UK
December 3, 2017
Bryant Adams spends his life feeling out of place and awkward. His best friend is more attractive and outgoing than him, his Mum is the most popular teacher at his school and his Dad is a millionaire. Bryant however is decidedly average…until he starts to develop some pretty unusual skills.
The best thing about YA fiction is that it is full of typical teenage angst and frustration and this is no exception. Wether he is chasing mythical creatures or evading death, all that really matters is will Bryant ever build up enough courage to ask out the girl of his dreams.
A well written, light hearted Autumnal read, perfect for an October evening curled up at home. The book is set up perfectly for a sequel and leaves you wanting to know what’s next for the heroic trio.
Reviewed by Jessica
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
The Pursuit of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own
The best thing about YA fiction is that it is full of typical teenage angst and frustration and this is no exception. Wether he is chasing mythical creatures or evading death, all that really matters is will Bryant ever build up enough courage to ask out the girl of his dreams.
A well written, light hearted Autumnal read, perfect for an October evening curled up at home. The book is set up perfectly for a sequel and leaves you wanting to know what’s next for the heroic trio.
Reviewed by Jessica
http://thepursuitofbookiness.co.uk/20...
The Pursuit of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own
August 2, 2017
I actually quite enjoyed this read way more than I expected. I was intrigued by the title and the description so decided to give it a try. I'm very glad I did. The book did seem to start a bit slow, but only because the author was setting up the characters, which ended up being quite necessary for the rest of the book. Once the action starts, it doesn't stop. If there was one flaw I would say that some of the main charcuterie thoughts were over-explained and his reaction and disbelief was noted a bit too often, while some of the side characters had their reactions overly subdued. Personally, it didn't really bother me, but it was something I noticed while reading. Overall, I would recommend the book to fans of Percy Jackson, Septimus Heap, and Alex Rider.
I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2017
How I Magically Messed Up My Life...is an exceedingly fun and entertaining read. Megan O'Russell, who has a knack for writing YA novels that folks of all ages will enjoy, has written, in my opinion, her best book yet with this offering. Like The Tethering novels and Girl of Glass the author has created likeable and, despite the magic/fantasy aspects the characters find themselves in, identifiable characters that draw you into the story and leave you wanting more. The humor and use of a magical smart phone propels the story along as Bryant Adams wages his way through both the magical and everyday (having a friend that is cooler than you, pining after a girl who is just out of reach, etc) plot points within this great new novel. If you have never read any of the author's previous books I highly suggest you remedy that by reading this book and moving on to her previously published novels!
August 24, 2017
Humor, adventure, friendship and family. "How I magically messed up my life" is an interesting mix of other mid grade stories like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, but still it's own story and a solid addition to the genre. A kid stumbles into a situation out of his understanding and control, magic and mayhem ensue. Bryant is an average teenager, has a best friend Devon, a girl from school that he has a crush on Elizabeth, and his mom. He and Devon were on the way home one night and found a cell phone, and cue adventure. "How I magically messed up my life" is well written and well paced. You get a feel for Bryant, Devon, and Elizabeth throughout the book. There is some solid world building and solid magic world building. Well written, and fun "How I magically messed up my life" is a great adventure.
September 15, 2017
I rather enjoyed reading this book! Full of magic and danger, even though it is a YA read, I was thoroughly entertained. And it seems pretty accurate of teens. In fact, so much so that I wouldn't recommend it for young teens but only due to the language in it. Bryant, Elizabeth, and Devon end up on quite a harrowing journey and all because they found a cell phone in a cab and decided to return it to the owner. Just that one thing led to a whole string of insane events that put everyone in danger and brought them a new and unexpected ally. There is so much I want to know about the characters though. Who is Bryant's dad exactly? Do wizards age normally in this series? What were the purple flames? Does the giant flower ever go away? Who exactly is Thaden? What's Lola's story? Her thoughts on the group were quite interesting, leading me to wonder about Devon. Bryant seems pretty cut and dried when it comes to what he is, but not Devon. I would love to read more of their adventures!
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