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Summoned
On an empty baseball diamond in a quiet Toronto suburb, a demon has been summoned.
Seventeen-year-old Alton is miles away, just wishing he had a tutor he didn’t outsmart or outmatch. His prayers are answered when Professor Victor Orvius makes an unexpected visit, offering to teach Alton magic without the restrictions. The only condition is that he follow Orvius’ rules and not ask too many questions.
Alton soon discovers he’s not Orvius’ only student. Reagan is a competitive young witch with a bad attitude and talent for sarcasm. Their personalities clash, causing trouble for both on more than one occasion, until they realize a greater threat than being one-upped.
The demon threatens not only their chances at passing their magic finals—it threatens their lives. If Alton and Reagan can’t learn to get along, they could be facing their deaths…or an eternity together, trapped in another realm.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
5 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 28, 2023
I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book! It was a really fun read! The characters feel really authentic and real, right from the first page. Alton is such a great main character with just the right amount of flaws and a heavy dose of likeability. It's so easy to get pulled into his journey. His love interest, Reagan, is also really well fleshed out and as the story unfolds I found myself wanting to know more and more about her. That made this book unputdownable in the best way! I love the blossoming relationship between Alton and Reagan, the subplots that begin to take shape are also really exciting. I am really looking forward to seeing where this story goes! If you're into demon fighting, magic and magic systems, and some deep thinking about how the underworld might work, all with the perfect dose of romance to boot, this book is for you! Also, some of how the underworld works reminded me a bit of Garth Nix's Sabriel. Great read and highly recommend!
September 6, 2019
Read the original review here.
I’ve been wanting to dig into Mckayla Eaton’s writing for a while, so I jumped on the chance to receive an e-ARC of her debut novel, SUMMONED. What I discovered was a fun fantasy, though subtly-layered in the tradition of YA. Set up as the first of THE DEMON SUMMONER trilogy, Eaton has made an engrossing addition to the shelves of coming-of-age, YA fantasies.
Alton is seventeen and bored. He wished he had a tutor that he could actually present a challenge to his wits and abilities. Then Professor Victor Orvius shows up late one night and recruits Alton as his student, the only condition is that Alton has to follow his rules and he will teach him magic without the usual limits. Naturally, Alton jumps on this opportunity, but soon finds himself not the sole student of the mysterious Professor.
Enter Reagan, a brash young witch, who has a talent for being abrasive and sarcasm. Alton, like any teenage boy who sees a pretty girl, is star struck, but is immediately met with her barbed tongue and aggressive use of magic. They clash and are consistent rivals until there is a far greater threat than their schoolhouse scruples, a demon has been summoned.
Not only has one been summoned, but it threatens their very lives. If Alton and Reagan cannot overcome their differences and get along, they may not get out of this alive or risk being trapped in the demon realm forever.
Sitting down to read Eaton’s debut, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it reads. Alton is relatable as a main character, despite being a somewhat navel-gazing teenager. The beginning stars with an almost “Harry Potter” feel, which depending on how you feel about HP, will cause you to chuckle or cringe when Eaton gives a small nod in homage.
The plot begins to take shape once Reagan is introduced and you can’t help, but appreciate her angsty, rebellious nature. Orvius is one of the better contributions who straddles being a Dumbldore/Snape-esque character, while also maintaining some more distance from his two students.
Eaton manages to throw plenty of fun humor and the banter between Alton and Reagan is always engaging, and the magic is rife with imagination, while still following some classic “rules.” The main beats of this book do become peak points, while some of the transitions from action to more action, often can feel more like filler than genuine plot progression. These transitions are sometimes interspersed with character development, especially with Alton as he reflects, though he often remains too much in his own head rather than acting on it. Maybe that’s part of what Eaton is attempting to portray, but it’s pure speculation on my part.
The book’s climax and ending are somewhat stilted, because of this being the first book in a series, while also pulling double duty of laying groundwork for later entries. This may leave some readers scratching their head, but Eaton is sure to deliver a last line or two that really make you want to revisit Alton, Reagan, and Orvis.
So, if you’re a fan of Harry Dresden, Harry Potter, or teachers of magic in general, this would be a great pick for your next read!
I’ve been wanting to dig into Mckayla Eaton’s writing for a while, so I jumped on the chance to receive an e-ARC of her debut novel, SUMMONED. What I discovered was a fun fantasy, though subtly-layered in the tradition of YA. Set up as the first of THE DEMON SUMMONER trilogy, Eaton has made an engrossing addition to the shelves of coming-of-age, YA fantasies.
Alton is seventeen and bored. He wished he had a tutor that he could actually present a challenge to his wits and abilities. Then Professor Victor Orvius shows up late one night and recruits Alton as his student, the only condition is that Alton has to follow his rules and he will teach him magic without the usual limits. Naturally, Alton jumps on this opportunity, but soon finds himself not the sole student of the mysterious Professor.
Enter Reagan, a brash young witch, who has a talent for being abrasive and sarcasm. Alton, like any teenage boy who sees a pretty girl, is star struck, but is immediately met with her barbed tongue and aggressive use of magic. They clash and are consistent rivals until there is a far greater threat than their schoolhouse scruples, a demon has been summoned.
Not only has one been summoned, but it threatens their very lives. If Alton and Reagan cannot overcome their differences and get along, they may not get out of this alive or risk being trapped in the demon realm forever.
Sitting down to read Eaton’s debut, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it reads. Alton is relatable as a main character, despite being a somewhat navel-gazing teenager. The beginning stars with an almost “Harry Potter” feel, which depending on how you feel about HP, will cause you to chuckle or cringe when Eaton gives a small nod in homage.
The plot begins to take shape once Reagan is introduced and you can’t help, but appreciate her angsty, rebellious nature. Orvius is one of the better contributions who straddles being a Dumbldore/Snape-esque character, while also maintaining some more distance from his two students.
Eaton manages to throw plenty of fun humor and the banter between Alton and Reagan is always engaging, and the magic is rife with imagination, while still following some classic “rules.” The main beats of this book do become peak points, while some of the transitions from action to more action, often can feel more like filler than genuine plot progression. These transitions are sometimes interspersed with character development, especially with Alton as he reflects, though he often remains too much in his own head rather than acting on it. Maybe that’s part of what Eaton is attempting to portray, but it’s pure speculation on my part.
The book’s climax and ending are somewhat stilted, because of this being the first book in a series, while also pulling double duty of laying groundwork for later entries. This may leave some readers scratching their head, but Eaton is sure to deliver a last line or two that really make you want to revisit Alton, Reagan, and Orvis.
So, if you’re a fan of Harry Dresden, Harry Potter, or teachers of magic in general, this would be a great pick for your next read!
August 25, 2019
Read my full review here (much more in blog post): https://lifesanovelty.blogspot.com/20...
Opinions: I am strongly considering rewriting my All-Time Favourites list, because Summoned deserves to be on it! This is the book I've been waiting to read my entire life: supernatural yet casual, demonic yet hilarious. I don't think I'd ever laughed out loud at goats, but now I can proudly say I have. I am impressed with all of the basic things (characters, plot, themes), but even more. Eaton is an excellent writer, in that many of her techniques and methods are engaging, easy to understand, and descriptive. Something I quickly noticed is the chapter length: there are dozens of chapters but they are all subject-based, meaning they don't drone on for eighty pages about ten different subjects. You find out your information and move on. Another thing I was impressed with was the world-building. Before reading, I had lots of questions concerning the demon summoning, the rules of magic, the popularity of magic in this realm, and so on. All of my concerns and more were answered immediately! I was quickly immersed in a world of tension, power, and mystery that still required a bit of improvisation from the reader; not everything was given to you on a silver platter. Although the story arc was formulaic, there was never a dull moment that I felt like I was reading something from another YA book. My only problem was the ending, and that's because I need more! I don't want to let Alton and Reagan go, I need to know what happens to them! All in all, Summoned was an exciting, well-written, entertaining read that deserves nothing less than a full set of stars.
Opinions: I am strongly considering rewriting my All-Time Favourites list, because Summoned deserves to be on it! This is the book I've been waiting to read my entire life: supernatural yet casual, demonic yet hilarious. I don't think I'd ever laughed out loud at goats, but now I can proudly say I have. I am impressed with all of the basic things (characters, plot, themes), but even more. Eaton is an excellent writer, in that many of her techniques and methods are engaging, easy to understand, and descriptive. Something I quickly noticed is the chapter length: there are dozens of chapters but they are all subject-based, meaning they don't drone on for eighty pages about ten different subjects. You find out your information and move on. Another thing I was impressed with was the world-building. Before reading, I had lots of questions concerning the demon summoning, the rules of magic, the popularity of magic in this realm, and so on. All of my concerns and more were answered immediately! I was quickly immersed in a world of tension, power, and mystery that still required a bit of improvisation from the reader; not everything was given to you on a silver platter. Although the story arc was formulaic, there was never a dull moment that I felt like I was reading something from another YA book. My only problem was the ending, and that's because I need more! I don't want to let Alton and Reagan go, I need to know what happens to them! All in all, Summoned was an exciting, well-written, entertaining read that deserves nothing less than a full set of stars.
August 27, 2019
We start off with a demon being summoned which can never be a good thing. But Eaton lets that sit as she introduces Alton, who has been trying to learn everything he can to become a wizard before his exams. He's sought after and then left many tutors in search of the best one, only now, one has come to him.
Orvius promises Alton a better way of tutoring, and there in his home, Alton learns he will be training with a girl named Regan. He's never trained with a girl before as it was against the rules. But it sounds like the duo will be doing plenty of things normally frowned upon. Now they're practicing magic and summoning forbidden by The Chamber, the body that governs the magical people in the world. What does this all have to do with the demon being summoned in the beginning?
So I really liked Alton and Regan, I liked it even better once they started getting along. There were a lot of fun magical elements in the story which kept things interesting. Eaton introduced various demons that ranged from very mild to straight out scary, and I liked the unique approaches they took to get rid of them. Summoned is the first book in a series that is definitely going to go places, I'm looking forward to seeing what more is in store for this duo, well done!
Orvius promises Alton a better way of tutoring, and there in his home, Alton learns he will be training with a girl named Regan. He's never trained with a girl before as it was against the rules. But it sounds like the duo will be doing plenty of things normally frowned upon. Now they're practicing magic and summoning forbidden by The Chamber, the body that governs the magical people in the world. What does this all have to do with the demon being summoned in the beginning?
So I really liked Alton and Regan, I liked it even better once they started getting along. There were a lot of fun magical elements in the story which kept things interesting. Eaton introduced various demons that ranged from very mild to straight out scary, and I liked the unique approaches they took to get rid of them. Summoned is the first book in a series that is definitely going to go places, I'm looking forward to seeing what more is in store for this duo, well done!
June 23, 2020
I didn't mean to 1 star this read and the Goodreads app is trash, but I did mean to put it on my problematic books or authors list. This author refuses to listen to POC authors about her hurtful words and plays victim on Twitter.
October 7, 2020
Think of this as private tutoring for witches and wizards, rather than magic school. We get some "textbook" worldbuilding at the beginning of some chapters - as in reading snippets from a magical handbook.
There's plenty of intrigue for Alton when Professor Orvius turns up and Alton is either not one to shy away from adventure, or is so bored that he is eager to be led astray. Orvius clearly knows more than he is letting on from the start and it is interesting trying to work out his intentions. Teaching magic without restrictions sounds appealing, but is it safe?
Both Alton and Reagan are snippy teens who do not initially see eye to eye - although Alton seems to like eyeing up Reagan head to toe. There's a particularly funny scene with some goats early on that sets up their early relationship well. But over time you begin to see the relationship between them warming and considering what happens this is a good thing.
The magic system is interesting and I have to admit to being a little confused early on about whether we were in a contemporary setting because there was a nod to Harry Potter but magic just seems to be accepted. It didn't feel like the traditional call from a mundane existance into a magical one.
The audio narration was at its best when giving voice to the characters and each was ditinct. I did find the straightforward narrative scenes a little less engaging though.
For me this came across as cross between Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The additions of demons definitely upped the peril level a notch. This is the first of a series and I would definitely continue reading beacuse I felt invested in the character's lives.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKayla Eaton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
There's plenty of intrigue for Alton when Professor Orvius turns up and Alton is either not one to shy away from adventure, or is so bored that he is eager to be led astray. Orvius clearly knows more than he is letting on from the start and it is interesting trying to work out his intentions. Teaching magic without restrictions sounds appealing, but is it safe?
Both Alton and Reagan are snippy teens who do not initially see eye to eye - although Alton seems to like eyeing up Reagan head to toe. There's a particularly funny scene with some goats early on that sets up their early relationship well. But over time you begin to see the relationship between them warming and considering what happens this is a good thing.
The magic system is interesting and I have to admit to being a little confused early on about whether we were in a contemporary setting because there was a nod to Harry Potter but magic just seems to be accepted. It didn't feel like the traditional call from a mundane existance into a magical one.
The audio narration was at its best when giving voice to the characters and each was ditinct. I did find the straightforward narrative scenes a little less engaging though.
For me this came across as cross between Harry Potter and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The additions of demons definitely upped the peril level a notch. This is the first of a series and I would definitely continue reading beacuse I felt invested in the character's lives.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKayla Eaton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
August 8, 2020
Summoned was a good start to a new series about wizards and demons. It set up an interesting premise that can lead into a very compelling turn of events!
First, I'll talk about the characters. Everyone's personalities were very defined and their goals were made clear. I would've liked to see all of the characters and their relations with each other fleshed out more. That's probably my biggest critique. There were many things that were touched upon that I would've loved to learn more about through dialogue. I gore this is really the main focus of book 2.
The plot itself was compelling. I really enjoyed the magical headings in each chapter. Learning magic structures in fictional worlds is always so fascinating to me. It really makes the world come to life.
Overall, I'd say this book was worth the read and am very intrigued to see where it goes.
First, I'll talk about the characters. Everyone's personalities were very defined and their goals were made clear. I would've liked to see all of the characters and their relations with each other fleshed out more. That's probably my biggest critique. There were many things that were touched upon that I would've loved to learn more about through dialogue. I gore this is really the main focus of book 2.
The plot itself was compelling. I really enjoyed the magical headings in each chapter. Learning magic structures in fictional worlds is always so fascinating to me. It really makes the world come to life.
Overall, I'd say this book was worth the read and am very intrigued to see where it goes.
August 30, 2019
I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to The Parliament House for giving me access.
Mckayla Eaton created a modern day world with magic and I want to be a part of it.
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, then you will probably enjoy this. As The Parliament House describes it as a “more mature than Harry Potter”, I definitely agree. I find it to be a more fast paced, condensed version but entirely different at the same time.
Summoned is a fast paced read that left me wanting more. Seriously. This better not be a standalone. I. Need. More.
Mckayla Eaton created a modern day world with magic and I want to be a part of it.
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, then you will probably enjoy this. As The Parliament House describes it as a “more mature than Harry Potter”, I definitely agree. I find it to be a more fast paced, condensed version but entirely different at the same time.
Summoned is a fast paced read that left me wanting more. Seriously. This better not be a standalone. I. Need. More.
December 23, 2019
Although I rarely read fantasy novels, I decided to give this book a chance because it sounded intriguing. Summoned superseded all my expectations. This delightful tale was easy to follow, even for those with a limited knowledge of magic and/or magical beings. Summoned provided an introduction into the world of wizardry through excerpts from a handbook (basically, an all-inclusive textbook) for the young and magical. The characters were sharp-tongued and humorous, capturing the range of emotions that manifest during adolescence. The plot was complex but not too difficult to follow. I look forward to the next two books in this trilogy.
September 2, 2019
First I want to say thank you to The Parliament House Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was an overall fun read! I was slightly confused in the very beginning but it was quickly cleared up. The storyline was enjoyable and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. All in all this was a fun and easy read and I will definitely be looking forward to future releases in his series.
September 9, 2020
Initial Thoughts
I listen to a ton of audiobooks. Before COVID, I had quite a lengthy commute to work so they were a huge lifesaver. Since I work from home now, I wasn’t sure how audiobooks would fit into my life. Turns out, I listen to them even more now. So, I am always looking for new audiobooks to listen to.
Some Things I Liked
Length. This was a really quick listen for me. I easily finished the book in one sitting. I have found that when an audiobook is too long, I sometimes lose interest in the story but because of the length. Here, I did not find that to be the case at all. The story was fast paced and kept me engaged.
Magic school in a modern setting. I really enjoyed the elements of magic woven into every day tasks as well as the way the magic system was explained to the reader. It wasn’t overly complex (to the point of being contradictory or convoluted) but rather, gave me enough context, that I felt I understood it and not bogged down by it.
Subtle romance. I enjoyed the lite romance in this story. I’d be eager to see it expanded on in future sequels, but, I found the amount of romance to be just right for the length of the story.
Series Value
I would definitely continue with this series. I really enjoyed the audiobook but I am so captivated by the story, I would definitely consider reading the next installment just to find out what happens to the characters.
Audiobook Value
I listened to this book at 2.5x speed. I listen to most audiobooks at a minimum of 2x speed so that’s a huge factor for me when listening. That being said, the narration was easy to follow and clear to understand even at that speed.
Similarly, the distinction of voices was excellent. Another issue I’ve seen with audiobooks is that conversations between characters are nearly impossible to decipher as the narrator sounds the same for all characters involved. Not the case here at all. Becci Martin’s voice acting is superb and I had no issues following any conversations. Not once while listening did I find myself needing to rewind because I missed or misunderstood something.
Because of the third person narration, the audiobook read as though someone was telling me a story. Therefore, I believe the audiobook would be the best way to receive this story. Please note, I have not read the physical book to directly compare, but, from what I heard, I am very happy that I listened to this one.
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad I was able to listen to this book. It was not on my radar before seeing the tour opportunity and it’s definitely a book that I’d have been bummed to miss out on. I thought the world building was unique, I am eager to know more about the characters, and the audiobook narration was bright and engaging. This is definitely a series I plan to stick with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Scythe by Neal Shusterman – if you’re looking an engaging audiobook with a similar structure (two students and one teacher in a semi-modern world with a twist), look no further than this series. Please note, Scythe is sci-fi where Summoned is fantasy.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – if you enjoyed the idea of students training to become teachers as well as traveling all over the world mixed with magic, try this series about a magical library and library apprentices. Please note, I read this series and can’t speak to the audiobook format.
I listen to a ton of audiobooks. Before COVID, I had quite a lengthy commute to work so they were a huge lifesaver. Since I work from home now, I wasn’t sure how audiobooks would fit into my life. Turns out, I listen to them even more now. So, I am always looking for new audiobooks to listen to.
Some Things I Liked
Length. This was a really quick listen for me. I easily finished the book in one sitting. I have found that when an audiobook is too long, I sometimes lose interest in the story but because of the length. Here, I did not find that to be the case at all. The story was fast paced and kept me engaged.
Magic school in a modern setting. I really enjoyed the elements of magic woven into every day tasks as well as the way the magic system was explained to the reader. It wasn’t overly complex (to the point of being contradictory or convoluted) but rather, gave me enough context, that I felt I understood it and not bogged down by it.
Subtle romance. I enjoyed the lite romance in this story. I’d be eager to see it expanded on in future sequels, but, I found the amount of romance to be just right for the length of the story.
Series Value
I would definitely continue with this series. I really enjoyed the audiobook but I am so captivated by the story, I would definitely consider reading the next installment just to find out what happens to the characters.
Audiobook Value
I listened to this book at 2.5x speed. I listen to most audiobooks at a minimum of 2x speed so that’s a huge factor for me when listening. That being said, the narration was easy to follow and clear to understand even at that speed.
Similarly, the distinction of voices was excellent. Another issue I’ve seen with audiobooks is that conversations between characters are nearly impossible to decipher as the narrator sounds the same for all characters involved. Not the case here at all. Becci Martin’s voice acting is superb and I had no issues following any conversations. Not once while listening did I find myself needing to rewind because I missed or misunderstood something.
Because of the third person narration, the audiobook read as though someone was telling me a story. Therefore, I believe the audiobook would be the best way to receive this story. Please note, I have not read the physical book to directly compare, but, from what I heard, I am very happy that I listened to this one.
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad I was able to listen to this book. It was not on my radar before seeing the tour opportunity and it’s definitely a book that I’d have been bummed to miss out on. I thought the world building was unique, I am eager to know more about the characters, and the audiobook narration was bright and engaging. This is definitely a series I plan to stick with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Scythe by Neal Shusterman – if you’re looking an engaging audiobook with a similar structure (two students and one teacher in a semi-modern world with a twist), look no further than this series. Please note, Scythe is sci-fi where Summoned is fantasy.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – if you enjoyed the idea of students training to become teachers as well as traveling all over the world mixed with magic, try this series about a magical library and library apprentices. Please note, I read this series and can’t speak to the audiobook format.
Read
October 3, 2020This was such a fun, magical, and fast-paced read! Or should I say listen, since I did the audiobook version of the book? Plus that cover! It’s just so pretty and so spooky and so edgy but classic! I’m a smidge of a cover snob, so I can’t help but talk about the ones I really love. And the book was so fun and the characters were so amazing!
I actually love that this book was set in Canada! I can’t even remember the last book I read that was set in Canada! But even though this is a fantasy book the setting still worked, so don’t worry! It’s a modern story of magic, and while it’s modern it’s also a bit gritty and urban. And I’ve really been into academy type of books lately, so this was just the perfect addition to my TBR! While this book starts off a smidge slow to set the scene, the action/pace quickly and continues to pick up throughout until the very end.
The narration on this story was really good and it was perfect for speeding up! I like to speed up my audiobooks at least slightly, but sometimes the voices get a bit too distorted when I do so. But this one translated really well that way. BUT, on a similar note I don’t think I would be able to listen to this one at the normal speed. It was just a smidge too slow for me to not go a little stir crazy if I had tried. But like I said, I still loved the narration at my chosen speed!
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
I actually love that this book was set in Canada! I can’t even remember the last book I read that was set in Canada! But even though this is a fantasy book the setting still worked, so don’t worry! It’s a modern story of magic, and while it’s modern it’s also a bit gritty and urban. And I’ve really been into academy type of books lately, so this was just the perfect addition to my TBR! While this book starts off a smidge slow to set the scene, the action/pace quickly and continues to pick up throughout until the very end.
The narration on this story was really good and it was perfect for speeding up! I like to speed up my audiobooks at least slightly, but sometimes the voices get a bit too distorted when I do so. But this one translated really well that way. BUT, on a similar note I don’t think I would be able to listen to this one at the normal speed. It was just a smidge too slow for me to not go a little stir crazy if I had tried. But like I said, I still loved the narration at my chosen speed!
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
October 1, 2020
Summoned is my first book by Mckayla Eaton. It is a Young Adult genre book but hey its about magic. I actually enjoyed the book, the story line, the characters, and Mckayla Eaton's writing style were all really good.
Becci Martin is the narrator of this audio book. She does pretty well bringing the story to life. I liked her character voices and attitude.
The books main characters are a couple of teenagers Alton and Reagan and their Tutor Orvius. Reagan is a witch and always has been and was raised in a family with witches. Alton was raised mortal and was mortal until an almost fatal accident, then he became magic. Now he is in The Academy studying his craft so to speak. He is bored with clases and wants more of a challange and a really good Tutor. When Orvius comes to the school to meet Alton he is thrilled. Ovious takes Alton to his home under the guise of tutoring him. This is when he meets Reagan.
Once a the house the training begins, but all is not what it seems. Orvious has a secret agenda for Alton and Reagan. A Demon has been summoned and he needs them to take the Demon down and send it back to where it came from. Oh yea and he needs them to keep breathing afterwards too.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKayla Eaton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Becci Martin is the narrator of this audio book. She does pretty well bringing the story to life. I liked her character voices and attitude.
The books main characters are a couple of teenagers Alton and Reagan and their Tutor Orvius. Reagan is a witch and always has been and was raised in a family with witches. Alton was raised mortal and was mortal until an almost fatal accident, then he became magic. Now he is in The Academy studying his craft so to speak. He is bored with clases and wants more of a challange and a really good Tutor. When Orvius comes to the school to meet Alton he is thrilled. Ovious takes Alton to his home under the guise of tutoring him. This is when he meets Reagan.
Once a the house the training begins, but all is not what it seems. Orvious has a secret agenda for Alton and Reagan. A Demon has been summoned and he needs them to take the Demon down and send it back to where it came from. Oh yea and he needs them to keep breathing afterwards too.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKayla Eaton. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
September 3, 2019
Thank you to Parliament House Press for sending me this book to review! Yall are the best :)
This Book, omggggg it is probably my favorite book that I have reviewed for a publisher.
This book is everything I want in a debut from an author. Eaton takes us to a new world that is very awesome. We meet Alton, who wants MORE out of his training, and Orvius, who is going to give him just that.Then we meet Reagan, a sassy fast-on-her-feet witch who keeps Alton and his defensive ways on his toes. They are both 17 and training to pass their finals, as well as to put a demon back into its hole, which is something no being has done before. They are literally here to change the world. I loved reading about their training and also, Reagan and her love for socks and no pants hits me right in the "I relate" Feels as I sit here in my own baggy t shirt and thigh high socks.
This book had me staying up until I read the last page, then yelling in protest that THAT was all I got.
I loved the characters, I loved the world building, I loved the way they all fit together.
Does it have it's flaws, yeah. Are they in your face, omg? NO. I found the way the characters are put together and the way they acted, 100% realistic. Even the siblings, the relationship with the siblings and how they are to be realistic. That alone puts this book at 5 stars because that is SO rare to find.
I CANNOT wait to read the next book and am currently searching what demons I personally need to summon to get on that list!
PICK UP THIS BOOK, especially if you are a fan of a Harry Potter-like world in the sense it is OUR world with magic.
This Book, omggggg it is probably my favorite book that I have reviewed for a publisher.
This book is everything I want in a debut from an author. Eaton takes us to a new world that is very awesome. We meet Alton, who wants MORE out of his training, and Orvius, who is going to give him just that.Then we meet Reagan, a sassy fast-on-her-feet witch who keeps Alton and his defensive ways on his toes. They are both 17 and training to pass their finals, as well as to put a demon back into its hole, which is something no being has done before. They are literally here to change the world. I loved reading about their training and also, Reagan and her love for socks and no pants hits me right in the "I relate" Feels as I sit here in my own baggy t shirt and thigh high socks.
This book had me staying up until I read the last page, then yelling in protest that THAT was all I got.
I loved the characters, I loved the world building, I loved the way they all fit together.
Does it have it's flaws, yeah. Are they in your face, omg? NO. I found the way the characters are put together and the way they acted, 100% realistic. Even the siblings, the relationship with the siblings and how they are to be realistic. That alone puts this book at 5 stars because that is SO rare to find.
I CANNOT wait to read the next book and am currently searching what demons I personally need to summon to get on that list!
PICK UP THIS BOOK, especially if you are a fan of a Harry Potter-like world in the sense it is OUR world with magic.
September 16, 2020
Audiobook Review
Overall 4
Story 4
Performance 5
Let me begin by saying that I enjoyed this story. The only thing that bugged me is that the author makes it a point to tell the reader this is not a Harry Potter type magic stories and goes on to point out the differences. Did the story strike a HP cord with me? Yes, but only slightly. There are major differences. Was it necessary for the author to blatantly point out the differences? No, and yet she did. Moving on.
Summoned is a fast-paced YA book about teenage witches and warlocks who are tutored in groups of two in the craft. Reagan and Alton are brought together to be trained by Victor Orvius. But Orvius has some strange teaching methods and is harboring a dark secret as to why he brought Reagan and Alton together. But Reagan is perhaps concealing the biggest secret of all.
Summoned has a unique story arc. The characters are well defined and intense. One of my favorite parts of the story is the goats on the roof. I will be checking out the next book in this series.
The narrator Becci Martin did a great job bringing this story to life. I especially enjoyed her portrayal of Reagen.
Overall 4
Story 4
Performance 5
Let me begin by saying that I enjoyed this story. The only thing that bugged me is that the author makes it a point to tell the reader this is not a Harry Potter type magic stories and goes on to point out the differences. Did the story strike a HP cord with me? Yes, but only slightly. There are major differences. Was it necessary for the author to blatantly point out the differences? No, and yet she did. Moving on.
Summoned is a fast-paced YA book about teenage witches and warlocks who are tutored in groups of two in the craft. Reagan and Alton are brought together to be trained by Victor Orvius. But Orvius has some strange teaching methods and is harboring a dark secret as to why he brought Reagan and Alton together. But Reagan is perhaps concealing the biggest secret of all.
Summoned has a unique story arc. The characters are well defined and intense. One of my favorite parts of the story is the goats on the roof. I will be checking out the next book in this series.
The narrator Becci Martin did a great job bringing this story to life. I especially enjoyed her portrayal of Reagen.
March 28, 2020
I love Eaton’s powers of description, especially pertaining to setting. She has a fertile imagination and a witty manner of putting it to the page. Eaton excels at creating characters that keep you guessing.
Summoned is a fun adventure about magic, flirting, and overcoming impossible odds. As the first book in a series, it has established a panoply of characters that I can’t wait to see again. It has established Eaton as an author that I will read whenever she publishes.
Eaton has the potential to be one of the great fantasy writers of our time. If you’re into an entertaining adventure laced with light romance and dark humor, give this book a chance. I did and I couldn’t put it down.
Summoned is a fun adventure about magic, flirting, and overcoming impossible odds. As the first book in a series, it has established a panoply of characters that I can’t wait to see again. It has established Eaton as an author that I will read whenever she publishes.
Eaton has the potential to be one of the great fantasy writers of our time. If you’re into an entertaining adventure laced with light romance and dark humor, give this book a chance. I did and I couldn’t put it down.
January 24, 2022
I got this book by Mckayla Eaton last Christmas and finally got around to reading it. I really enjoyed this fun take on the fantasy genre and also found the magic system in this book to be so interesting! One of my favorite parts of this book was definitely the contrasting but complimentary personalities of Alton and Reagan. Their dynamic and relationship was so much fun to read about. This isn't really important in the grand scheme of the plot, but I also really like the inclusion of Orvius' goats since they're one of my favorite animals. I'm really eager to see what Mckayla has in store for the rest of this series!
March 4, 2021
A great inaugural book in a trilogy. The book had me with an interesting storyline and kept going at a brisk pace throughout with magic and suspense. I will say that the longevity of the novel made it a little harder to align with the emotional journey of the characters together and some of those "just add water" romance coupling. In all, great book.
September 5, 2020
Really enjoyed this book - can't wait for the next in the series!
September 16, 2020
2/5 stars
DNF 30%
I couldn't get into this story even after trying several times. The characters were a bit flat and the story dragged.
DNF 30%
I couldn't get into this story even after trying several times. The characters were a bit flat and the story dragged.
May 13, 2023
I enjoyed being an Advanced Reader for this book. It has an intriguing premise and was a fun read.
November 18, 2020
I was granded access to an audiobook review copy by the author in exchange for an honest review through my participation in a book tour organized by The AudioBookworm Promotions. Thank you to McKayla Eaton and Jess at AudioBookworm for making this happen! My thoughts in this review are my own.
Story: 4 Stars
Audio Performance: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
This YA Urban Fantasy is set in a world just like our own, except with magic. Or is it exactly our world and since we aren't magic users, we don't know it? Our protagonist Alton and his classmates are studying to pass their written and practical final exams in magic use so that they can pursue magical careers. We meet Alton as he's being taken on by a new tutor, Orvius, who takes him home to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where things get interesting. Orvius expects his pupils Alton and Reagan to banish a mid-level demon, one technically too advanced for students of their experience because for reasons Orvius is withholding, they cannot get the Council involved.
In the beginning (after the prologue demon summoning,) I was pretty bored with the story, to be honest. It felt like it was shaping up to be The Magicians but set in Canada, and the change of setting alone was not going to be enough to sway my Canadian heart away from my conflicted feelings about that (other) book. Fortunately for this book, it picked up and swept me along with it in directions I wasn't expecting. As soon as the demon conundrum was presented, my attention was peaked, and the story did not let down from there. Plus, the more I enjoyed the story itself, the more I revelled in the familiar BC setting.
Alton, Reagon, Orvius, and his friend Christian all ended up being well-rounded characters with believable chemistry that I enjoyed. Alton and Reagon grew on me. Orvius and Christian had my heart the moment each appeared!
I wasn't a huge fan of the random passages from wizarding handbooks scattered throughout.
Since my review copy was the audiobook, I'll take a moment to comment on the narrator's performance. Becci's narration is clear and far from boring, though I do feel the pacing of the narration itself could have been a little faster. I was listening on 1.5x speed the whole way through and didn't feel like I wasn't listening to a sped-up version at all. I listened in two sittings, and when it started playing at regular speed the second session before I put it back to 1.5, I felt what I heard was too slow. Other than that, I have no complaints at all. This was an easy and entertaining listen.
Overall I enjoyed this story and I look forward to books two and three in this trilogy. Had the beginning gripped me sooner, this would have been a 5 all around.
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I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
Story: 4 Stars
Audio Performance: 5 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars
This YA Urban Fantasy is set in a world just like our own, except with magic. Or is it exactly our world and since we aren't magic users, we don't know it? Our protagonist Alton and his classmates are studying to pass their written and practical final exams in magic use so that they can pursue magical careers. We meet Alton as he's being taken on by a new tutor, Orvius, who takes him home to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where things get interesting. Orvius expects his pupils Alton and Reagan to banish a mid-level demon, one technically too advanced for students of their experience because for reasons Orvius is withholding, they cannot get the Council involved.
In the beginning (after the prologue demon summoning,) I was pretty bored with the story, to be honest. It felt like it was shaping up to be The Magicians but set in Canada, and the change of setting alone was not going to be enough to sway my Canadian heart away from my conflicted feelings about that (other) book. Fortunately for this book, it picked up and swept me along with it in directions I wasn't expecting. As soon as the demon conundrum was presented, my attention was peaked, and the story did not let down from there. Plus, the more I enjoyed the story itself, the more I revelled in the familiar BC setting.
Alton, Reagon, Orvius, and his friend Christian all ended up being well-rounded characters with believable chemistry that I enjoyed. Alton and Reagon grew on me. Orvius and Christian had my heart the moment each appeared!
I wasn't a huge fan of the random passages from wizarding handbooks scattered throughout.
Since my review copy was the audiobook, I'll take a moment to comment on the narrator's performance. Becci's narration is clear and far from boring, though I do feel the pacing of the narration itself could have been a little faster. I was listening on 1.5x speed the whole way through and didn't feel like I wasn't listening to a sped-up version at all. I listened in two sittings, and when it started playing at regular speed the second session before I put it back to 1.5, I felt what I heard was too slow. Other than that, I have no complaints at all. This was an easy and entertaining listen.
Overall I enjoyed this story and I look forward to books two and three in this trilogy. Had the beginning gripped me sooner, this would have been a 5 all around.
--
I read this title for a blog tour! To read the rest of the post and gain easy access to the rest of the tour, visit: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
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