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The Wizard of 4th Street #2
The Wizard of Whitechapel
Details the adventures of a student wizard, Wyrdrunne, and Kira, who along with an unlikely group of assistants, must save the last survivor of Camelot
215 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1988
About the author
Simon Hawke
92 books242 followersAlso published as J.D. Masters.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 9, 2008
So this books starts with Merlin and Modred, so I'm thinking fine, another modern King Arthur story. And then it adds Jack the Ripper. And a bumbling magician. A werewolf. An overweight fairy. An international jewel thief. Or two. A 13 year old Cockney gangster. And eventually I realize this book doesn't know what it wants to be, other than mediocre.
This story really wanted to be a comedy, but the author like an overbearing parent ruthlessly smothered his child's ambition and force him to be a bland action adventure instead.
This story really wanted to be a comedy, but the author like an overbearing parent ruthlessly smothered his child's ambition and force him to be a bland action adventure instead.
April 26, 2021
I guess I wasn't the only person to think Whitechapel only means Jack the Ripper. Clearly, Simon Hawke thinks so as well, so much so as to steal the Ripper headlines, recreate useless murders precisely a century later. Don't worry that doesn't spoil the plot because there wasn't one really.
"It all started with a dream..." it says on the back of the book. No, it started with an earlier book. The premise of this book was laid out in the previous installment, "The Wizard of 4th Street",(which I didn't read, nor was I aware that I had to) so the reader gets thrown into a regurgitated remnant of Arthurian lore in the modern day, for the bazillionth time in our existence. Yay, another Merlin/Arthur ripoff. I also understand Morgana died last book so there's that.
Anyway, there was a Conflict?Convergence? something that allowed our world to have magic. And in the first story, three key figures from that story received/stole magical runes that gave them powers. And that is enough to not pick up further books. Alas, I started on the second entry.
In this one, we get
-1/3 of the book filled with bickering, finger pointing, and lengthy descriptive introductions that hardly constitute a story, which includes Merlin, yes that Merlin, body sharing? with his final descendant, a seemingly very powerful 300lb. fairy/professor (who could have actually snapped his fingers to turn this story into 3 pages, and a French thief from who knows where or why within this story. Along with the triad, whom I never felt were worth following or engaging with their actions.
- In another 1/3, we get supposedly purposeful murders a la Jack the Ripper and his prostitutes in the modern day, complete with underequipped, overwhelmed British police.
-And the final 1/3 contains two members seeking the third of their triad because of some connected dream, yet we never find out why, what for, and who cares.
Cut to the finale in the mysterious castle (probably only because its England and the writer had nothing for the plot or real understanding of geography or magic.) Throw in the hokum of black magic, pentagrams, black robes, orgies, a switchblade knife, and the werewolf (I am not making this up, surely I could do a better job with everything thrown into this story to distract from the poor writing, lack of story structure, and written dialect "blimey gov"-major distraction for me, which the writer gave up on in the later chapters.)
I enjoy good fantasy, however, I would not call this one good fantasy. There are decent elements to play with, instead we get lame hooks and tropes from the genre, unwitty banter without a basis of humor, and no real sense of danger or necessity to go along with what's happening in the story. We are told of the Dark Ones, but nothing is said further to hype this beings (see last book perhaps.)
And what of these 3 runes? and what is the magic structure? and why is their licensing for magic usage? and why are magicians flying the planes, what happened to the basic engine principle? Its there for the cabs, buses, and limos...just curious. Where is the build up for why these three characters continue to have the runes and what are they supposed to with the runes besides watch them flash and brighten? Ugh so many more questions than enjoyment in this story.
I recommend avoiding this one (and the series, unless of course you are into self inflicted torture.)
Thanks for reading.
"It all started with a dream..." it says on the back of the book. No, it started with an earlier book. The premise of this book was laid out in the previous installment, "The Wizard of 4th Street",(which I didn't read, nor was I aware that I had to) so the reader gets thrown into a regurgitated remnant of Arthurian lore in the modern day, for the bazillionth time in our existence. Yay, another Merlin/Arthur ripoff. I also understand Morgana died last book so there's that.
Anyway, there was a Conflict?Convergence? something that allowed our world to have magic. And in the first story, three key figures from that story received/stole magical runes that gave them powers. And that is enough to not pick up further books. Alas, I started on the second entry.
In this one, we get
-1/3 of the book filled with bickering, finger pointing, and lengthy descriptive introductions that hardly constitute a story, which includes Merlin, yes that Merlin, body sharing? with his final descendant, a seemingly very powerful 300lb. fairy/professor (who could have actually snapped his fingers to turn this story into 3 pages, and a French thief from who knows where or why within this story. Along with the triad, whom I never felt were worth following or engaging with their actions.
- In another 1/3, we get supposedly purposeful murders a la Jack the Ripper and his prostitutes in the modern day, complete with underequipped, overwhelmed British police.
-And the final 1/3 contains two members seeking the third of their triad because of some connected dream, yet we never find out why, what for, and who cares.
Cut to the finale in the mysterious castle (probably only because its England and the writer had nothing for the plot or real understanding of geography or magic.) Throw in the hokum of black magic, pentagrams, black robes, orgies, a switchblade knife, and the werewolf (I am not making this up, surely I could do a better job with everything thrown into this story to distract from the poor writing, lack of story structure, and written dialect "blimey gov"-major distraction for me, which the writer gave up on in the later chapters.)
I enjoy good fantasy, however, I would not call this one good fantasy. There are decent elements to play with, instead we get lame hooks and tropes from the genre, unwitty banter without a basis of humor, and no real sense of danger or necessity to go along with what's happening in the story. We are told of the Dark Ones, but nothing is said further to hype this beings (see last book perhaps.)
And what of these 3 runes? and what is the magic structure? and why is their licensing for magic usage? and why are magicians flying the planes, what happened to the basic engine principle? Its there for the cabs, buses, and limos...just curious. Where is the build up for why these three characters continue to have the runes and what are they supposed to with the runes besides watch them flash and brighten? Ugh so many more questions than enjoyment in this story.
I recommend avoiding this one (and the series, unless of course you are into self inflicted torture.)
Thanks for reading.
February 17, 2021
Not as problematic as i was worried, w/r/t stereotypes of women and minorities. Originally read over 25 years ago. (will likely be the same review for each of the 4-5 books i'm currently re-reading)
July 12, 2022
Candy book! Quick and fun read.
November 2, 2011
[July 2022. Common theme...reading funk, though I'm on the tail end of this one and am continuing on so I can actually finish the whole series this time] Even more dated. I wonder about authors who use pop culture or contemporary names to anchor theor readers and then 30+ years later the names don't mean as much (and not at all to any new readers) Still, it is engaging. and I'd forgotten this line i liked: "I mean, if I won't be rememberin' anythin', anyway, " said Liam, "I may as well stick around an' see what it is I'm goin' ta forget."
[Update, 3/29/2016: another reading funk, pick this up to break it. And it worked...so far...]
Light, distracting reading. I enjoy Simon Hawke when I'm worn down and just need a simple, imaginative fantasy.
[Update, 3/29/2016: another reading funk, pick this up to break it. And it worked...so far...]
Light, distracting reading. I enjoy Simon Hawke when I'm worn down and just need a simple, imaginative fantasy.
September 8, 2014
A continuation from Wizard of 4th Street, this novel takes place about a week after the events of that novel. Modred has been nabbed, and Wyrdrune and Kira, who wear two of the three gems that make a triune with the power to stand up to the Dark Ones, must rescue him before a necromancer uses Modred's life force to empower itself to do terrible harm.
There is a new Jack the Ripper at large, and Wyrdrune and Kira have met up with a fat faerie nemed Makepeace and a 13-year-old punk rocker descended from Nimue now possessed by Merlin to help them with their mission. Again, this story is a fun ride.
There is a new Jack the Ripper at large, and Wyrdrune and Kira have met up with a fat faerie nemed Makepeace and a 13-year-old punk rocker descended from Nimue now possessed by Merlin to help them with their mission. Again, this story is a fun ride.
September 18, 2007
I have read this book 5 or 6 times it is the continueation of The Wizard series by Simon Hawke.
May 31, 2009
Like the previous book: good characters, good story, but with a plot epic enough to warrant a more in-depth storytelling.
June 16, 2010
An absolutely fantastic urban fantasy.
March 31, 2011
fast paced plot, high action, minimal character development
June 23, 2012
I so love this book. The pages are yellow but still good enough to keep reading. Kept my imagination going. A must read for anyone interested in magic.
May 2, 2016
The second (third if you count the prequel) volume of the series continues the story of the first. A fun read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews