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Dragons in a Bag #3
The Witch's Apprentice
The dragons may be out of the bag, but Jaxon is ready to hatch some magic of his own in this third book in the critically acclaimed series.
Ever since the baby dragons were returned to the magical realm, things have been off . The New York summer has been unusually cold. A strange sleeping sickness is spreading across the city. And Jaxon’s friends Kenny and Kavita have begun to change, becoming more like the fairy and dragon they once cared for.
On top of all that, Jax is hiding a secret—Vik entrusted him with a phoenix egg! Jax wants to help his friends and learn how to hatch the phoenix, but so far his lessons as a witch’s apprentice haven’t seemed very useful. Where can he find the strength—and the magic—he needs?
Ever since the baby dragons were returned to the magical realm, things have been off . The New York summer has been unusually cold. A strange sleeping sickness is spreading across the city. And Jaxon’s friends Kenny and Kavita have begun to change, becoming more like the fairy and dragon they once cared for.
On top of all that, Jax is hiding a secret—Vik entrusted him with a phoenix egg! Jax wants to help his friends and learn how to hatch the phoenix, but so far his lessons as a witch’s apprentice haven’t seemed very useful. Where can he find the strength—and the magic—he needs?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2022
37 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Zetta Elliott
80 books440 followersI’m a Black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children. I was born and raised in Canada, but have lived in the US for 30 years. I earned my PhD in American Studies from NYU in 2003; I have taught at Ohio University, Louisiana State University, Mount Holyoke College, Hunter College, Bard High School Early College, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.
My poetry has been published in New Daughters of Africa, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, the Cave Canem anthology, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Check the Rhyme: an Anthology of Female Poets and Emcees, and Coloring Book: an Eclectic Anthology of Fiction and Poetry by Multicultural Writers.
My novella, Plastique, was excerpted in T Dot Griots: an Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers, and my plays have been staged in New York, Cleveland, and Chicago. My essays have appeared in School Library Journal, Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly. My short story, “The Ghost in Her Bones,” was published in a 2020 special issue of Obsidian.
My picture book, Bird, won the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books’ New Voices Contest and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. My young adult novel, A Wish After Midnight, has been called “a revelation…vivid, violent and impressive history.” Ship of Souls was published in February 2012; it was named a Booklist Top Ten Sci-fi/Fantasy Title for Youth and was a finalist for the Phillis Wheatley Book Award. My short story, “Sweet Sixteen,” was published in Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance in July 2012. My YA novel, The Door at the Crossroads, was a finalist in the Speculative Fiction category of the 2017 Cybils Awards, and my picture book, Melena’s Jubilee, won a 2017 Skipping Stones Honor Award. I received the Children’s Literature Association’s Article Award for my 2014 essay, “The Trouble with Magic: Conjuring the Past in New York City Parks.”
I am an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing, and I have self-published numerous illustrated books for younger readers under my own imprint, Rosetta Press; 3 were named Best of the Year by the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and Benny Doesn’t Like to Be Hugged is a first-grade fiction selection for the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Dragons in a Bag, a middle grade fantasy novel, was published by Random House in 2018; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named it a Notable Children’s Book. Its sequel, The Dragon Thief, was named a Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 by CBC Books. The fifth book in the series, The War of the Witches, will be published in January 2024. The prequel will be self-published in 2024.
Say Her Name, a young adult poetry collection, was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in January 2020; it was named a 2020 Book of the Year for Young People by Quill & Quire and a 2020 “Best of the Best” YA Title by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association; it was also a nominee for the YALSA 2021 Excellence in Nonfiction Award and a Top Ten title for Rise: A Feminist Book Project. Say Her Name won the 2021 Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry.
A Place Inside of Me: a Poem to Heal the Heart from FSG was named an ALA Notable Book and a Notable Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English; it won a 2021 Skipping Stones Honor Award and Noa Denmon won the Caldecott Honor Award for her stunning illustrations. Moonwalking (FSG 2022), a middle grade verse novel co-authored with Lyn Miller-Lachmann earned four starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; it made the NYPL and Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of 2022 lists, was one of Kirkus Reviews’ 100 Best Middle Grade Books, and made the 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society list. The National Education Association has selected Moonwalking for its 2024 Read Across America program.
I was honored to
My poetry has been published in New Daughters of Africa, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, the Cave Canem anthology, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Check the Rhyme: an Anthology of Female Poets and Emcees, and Coloring Book: an Eclectic Anthology of Fiction and Poetry by Multicultural Writers.
My novella, Plastique, was excerpted in T Dot Griots: an Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers, and my plays have been staged in New York, Cleveland, and Chicago. My essays have appeared in School Library Journal, Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly. My short story, “The Ghost in Her Bones,” was published in a 2020 special issue of Obsidian.
My picture book, Bird, won the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books’ New Voices Contest and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. My young adult novel, A Wish After Midnight, has been called “a revelation…vivid, violent and impressive history.” Ship of Souls was published in February 2012; it was named a Booklist Top Ten Sci-fi/Fantasy Title for Youth and was a finalist for the Phillis Wheatley Book Award. My short story, “Sweet Sixteen,” was published in Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance in July 2012. My YA novel, The Door at the Crossroads, was a finalist in the Speculative Fiction category of the 2017 Cybils Awards, and my picture book, Melena’s Jubilee, won a 2017 Skipping Stones Honor Award. I received the Children’s Literature Association’s Article Award for my 2014 essay, “The Trouble with Magic: Conjuring the Past in New York City Parks.”
I am an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing, and I have self-published numerous illustrated books for younger readers under my own imprint, Rosetta Press; 3 were named Best of the Year by the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and Benny Doesn’t Like to Be Hugged is a first-grade fiction selection for the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Dragons in a Bag, a middle grade fantasy novel, was published by Random House in 2018; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named it a Notable Children’s Book. Its sequel, The Dragon Thief, was named a Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 by CBC Books. The fifth book in the series, The War of the Witches, will be published in January 2024. The prequel will be self-published in 2024.
Say Her Name, a young adult poetry collection, was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in January 2020; it was named a 2020 Book of the Year for Young People by Quill & Quire and a 2020 “Best of the Best” YA Title by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association; it was also a nominee for the YALSA 2021 Excellence in Nonfiction Award and a Top Ten title for Rise: A Feminist Book Project. Say Her Name won the 2021 Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry.
A Place Inside of Me: a Poem to Heal the Heart from FSG was named an ALA Notable Book and a Notable Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English; it won a 2021 Skipping Stones Honor Award and Noa Denmon won the Caldecott Honor Award for her stunning illustrations. Moonwalking (FSG 2022), a middle grade verse novel co-authored with Lyn Miller-Lachmann earned four starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; it made the NYPL and Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of 2022 lists, was one of Kirkus Reviews’ 100 Best Middle Grade Books, and made the 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society list. The National Education Association has selected Moonwalking for its 2024 Read Across America program.
I was honored to
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 5, 2022
Read this as a read-aloud with my two boys (ages 5 & 7). We've LOVED the series so far and this third installment continues the excellence in children's literature. We've learned so much, asked so many questions, and checked our systems and beliefs and values as only great fantasy novels can make you.... all while truly enjoying the story.
This is a work of art. A cultural endeavor that literally spans worlds, time, and generations. It turns out, life is complicated. Who do you trust? Who trusts you? What if there's more at play than what you can see? Integrity is critical to finding our place in this world - beyond the things we can't control - and helping us find the truth even when things get messy.
This is a work of art. A cultural endeavor that literally spans worlds, time, and generations. It turns out, life is complicated. Who do you trust? Who trusts you? What if there's more at play than what you can see? Integrity is critical to finding our place in this world - beyond the things we can't control - and helping us find the truth even when things get messy.
February 14, 2022
I was beyond thrilled to see this series continuing. There's a huge cliffhanger, so hopefully that means a fourth book. This one as the afterword confirms is a pandemic book. There's a huge tonal shift — a sadness and a cynicism that wasn't in the previous books. But there's also hope for the younger generations (aka the intended readers of this book) that they will be able to step up in these changing times and make the world a better place.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...
January 21, 2022
Holy cliffhanger batman! I need the next book immediately!
Another great book in the series, this one does have a middle book feel and a heck of cliffhanger but I am here for as many books as she wants to write in this series!
This is such a wonderful series and would also make a fun road trip book!
Ron Butlers narration was excellent as always!
4 stars
Another great book in the series, this one does have a middle book feel and a heck of cliffhanger but I am here for as many books as she wants to write in this series!
This is such a wonderful series and would also make a fun road trip book!
Ron Butlers narration was excellent as always!
4 stars
June 9, 2025
A fantastic book for kids! I finished reading this with my daughter and I too was invested in the story and the characters. It gives a lot of black history details as part of the book and we ended up learning a lot too. I will probably go back and read the previous books and will definitely be reading the next part with my daughter.
May 24, 2022
Jaxon and Ma head to Chicago for a witch's convention. Before they leave, Vik gives Jaxon a phoenix's egg for safekeeping, and lets him know Kavita is undergoing a transformation into a dragon-like creature and Kenny has wings.
Once in Chicago, Jaxon is excluded from the convention and spends time with a Watcher called Vaughan so he can tour the city. Vaughan also lets Jaxon know Blue is in town, and that Jaxon was called by the witch's to testify about his role in the events of books one and two.
Jaxon is such a great kid! Despite his frustrations with how Ma is controlling his access to information, he finds a way to stand up for himself and inform the witches at the convention about what he saw and his responsibility in the events.
His friends are also great, and I love how even with all their mysterious and a little scary transformations, they're trying to figure things out and support each other.
This is a lovely series so far, and I hope there are more adventures coming because I love the supernatural world coexisting with ours that Zetta Elliott has created,
Once in Chicago, Jaxon is excluded from the convention and spends time with a Watcher called Vaughan so he can tour the city. Vaughan also lets Jaxon know Blue is in town, and that Jaxon was called by the witch's to testify about his role in the events of books one and two.
Jaxon is such a great kid! Despite his frustrations with how Ma is controlling his access to information, he finds a way to stand up for himself and inform the witches at the convention about what he saw and his responsibility in the events.
His friends are also great, and I love how even with all their mysterious and a little scary transformations, they're trying to figure things out and support each other.
This is a lovely series so far, and I hope there are more adventures coming because I love the supernatural world coexisting with ours that Zetta Elliott has created,
January 15, 2022
The third book in the Dragons in a Bag series doesn’t know what it wants to be - travelogue, treatise on how important black history is, fantasy, coming of age story. I suppose it can be all these things but with a short book and a cliffhanger ending, it isn’t a very satisfying read.
The author did a good job of portraying Jax’s confusion about his role with relation to Ma, the trip to Chicago and who he could trust.
The phoenix is a cute addition.
The history of Chicago is educational.
As I finished the book and as I think about it now, I just don’t feel any sense of satisfaction and I wonder why I spent the time reading this book. I’m not the middle grade target audience, but I’ve read many middle grade books so I have some idea about what this age group likes. They will like the magical creatures. They may be interested in touring Chicago. But I would be surprised if this gains the following that some other middle grade fantasies have. In the name of equality it will get recognition by reviewing and award groups like the first book did, which is what brought the series to my attention. But I find the book a bit frustrating due to the cliffhanger. The story was finally making some progress and then it ends. In the acknowledgments the author says she didn’t know if the series would continue after book 2. Then she ends book 3 in a cliffhanger with no reassurance to the reader that book 4 will be published.
All of these things bring the book a 3 star review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
The author did a good job of portraying Jax’s confusion about his role with relation to Ma, the trip to Chicago and who he could trust.
The phoenix is a cute addition.
The history of Chicago is educational.
As I finished the book and as I think about it now, I just don’t feel any sense of satisfaction and I wonder why I spent the time reading this book. I’m not the middle grade target audience, but I’ve read many middle grade books so I have some idea about what this age group likes. They will like the magical creatures. They may be interested in touring Chicago. But I would be surprised if this gains the following that some other middle grade fantasies have. In the name of equality it will get recognition by reviewing and award groups like the first book did, which is what brought the series to my attention. But I find the book a bit frustrating due to the cliffhanger. The story was finally making some progress and then it ends. In the acknowledgments the author says she didn’t know if the series would continue after book 2. Then she ends book 3 in a cliffhanger with no reassurance to the reader that book 4 will be published.
All of these things bring the book a 3 star review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Read
April 1, 2022a fun read, but what a cliffhanger ending.....
November 3, 2022
I continue to really enjoy this series, more so with each book. I was shocked to learn from the author's note that this book nearly didn't get published due to publishers' reticence. This book is my favorite of the series so far and I'm excited to keep reading Jax's story.
Read
February 3, 2024Wonderful in so many ways, highly recommended if you're up for some adventure & some nuanced characters. I wanted more like the first book, more everyday magic, with small adventures. So, I'm not going to continue with the series.
June 14, 2022
What a delightful real feeling we get for the angst of young Jaxon, a 9 year-old apprentice to Ma, an old witch nearing retirement. His belief in right and wrong in this new world of magic is challenged by Ma saying he's not yet ready to learn the next steps, and the earlier disposed human who tells Jax just what he wants to hear. Blue says the boy is certainly old enough to make his own decisions, after all... old people don't get it. Jaxon is enticed to listen to someone who, at least at the moment, pretends to be listening and believing in him. Jax keeps us leaning in to help him and pulling him back saying "NO, He's Lying!" and certainly leaves us rooting for Jax and his friend to make the right choices. Another great story by Zetta Elliot
February 11, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up. This book relies too heavily on plot contrivances, failing to communicate to force mistrust, and adults encouraging kids to omit key information and or lie to parents to go on potentially dangerous missions. Still fun but not as good as the first two books in the series.
May 29, 2022
This one didn't really feel like it stayed true to the characters as established in the previous two books, especially Ma, but I hope that the next book will resolve those issues and make more sense.
March 1, 2022
Despite the fact that there's a lot going on in this book, the third in the Dragons in a Bag series, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot and feeling eager for the next installment. Author Zetta Elliott keeps readers guessing about whether certain characters can be trusted, and they may end up just as conflicted about Ma, Blue, and Vonn as Jaxon, the book's protagonist, is. Things have been strange ever since the baby dragons have gone back to the magical realm, and the summer season has been unexpectedly cold. Adults are drowsy and listless while youngsters seem unaffected. Jax is frustrated that Ma hasn't been teaching him much if anything about magic. Instead, she teaches him about plants and their powers, and invites him along to a witch convention in Chicago. He's thrilled, thinking he will finally be inducted into the world of magic, but he's also carrying along a secret passenger. But once he departs Brooklyn with the other witches, Jax ends up spending a couple of days getting to know the city as Vonn, a Watcher who has been in the area for centuries, introduces him to deep dish pizza and various elements of Black history. When Jax learns that Ma has been keeping something important from him, he rebels against her control and takes a stand that puts him at odds with her and Sis. While it appears that he may get everything he's wanted, he just might have made the biggest mistake of his life, a mistake that will cost his friends as well. While it's possible to enjoy this title on its own merits without having read the previous two books, Dragons in a Bag and The Dragon Thief, reading them first provides context for parts of the story and helps readers understand the characters and their behavior better. It's possible to detect the influence of the recent pandemic on the author and how she tells this story even though the pandemic itself doesn't feature in the book. Fantasy fans will probably enjoy this one.
December 6, 2021
Ever since the baby dragons were returned to the magical realm, things have been off. Witch’s apprentice, Jax is frustrated with Ma, his teacher. Instead of teaching him about magic, she only teaches him about plants. The New York summer has been unusually cold. A mysterious ash falls on New York City that causes strange sleeping sickness among the adults, right as Jax, Ma, and her coven go to a convention in Chicago. And Jaxon's friends Kenny and Kavita have begun to change, becoming more like the fairy and dragon they once cared for. On top of all that, Jax is hiding a phoenix egg that was entrusted to him! Jax wants to help his friends and learn how to hatch the phoenix, but so far, he hasn’t learned enough about magic to do so. Where can he find the strength--and the magic--he needs to save New York City? This third installment is a great addition to the series. Although the adults are annoying and uncommunicative, the characters are likable and easy to relate to. The plot is entertaining and contains a lot of new magical element that fans of the series will enjoy. Readers who like dragons, fantasy, and adventure will want to pick this one up. However, readers will need to read the first two books in the series first. 4.5 stars, Grades 3 to 6.
October 11, 2023
Something is wrong with magic and it is affecting the weather. It's the middle of summer, but Jaxon and Ma need winter coats to go gather herbs in the park. Adults are also suffering extreme fatigue. Things are getting so bad that Ma is summoned to Chicago for a convention to discuss what's happening. Jaxon wants to join, but Ma just keeps sending him on sightseeing trips with locals. He feels like she's shutting him out but can't figure out why.
This book is really setting things up for the next book in the series. It's establishing all of these problems, but we have to wait for the next book to fix any of them. One fun bit of the book is Jaxon is given a phoenix egg to care for, and it hatches during his trip. He soon finds that caring for a phoenix is a bit challenging with some humorous results for readers. Recommended for fans of the series.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The phoenix creates some fire hazards but no one is hurt. The magic situation is causing adults to get super tired. Jaxon witnesses an immigrant girl getting bullied and helps out.
This book is really setting things up for the next book in the series. It's establishing all of these problems, but we have to wait for the next book to fix any of them. One fun bit of the book is Jaxon is given a phoenix egg to care for, and it hatches during his trip. He soon finds that caring for a phoenix is a bit challenging with some humorous results for readers. Recommended for fans of the series.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The phoenix creates some fire hazards but no one is hurt. The magic situation is causing adults to get super tired. Jaxon witnesses an immigrant girl getting bullied and helps out.
November 22, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Books through the Fall Day of Dialogue.
Elliott does not disappoint with this third installment in the Dragon series. Jax feels frustrated and afraid that Ma is no longer interested in teaching him magic. He starts to doubt and question everything which makes him a prime candidate to listen when Blue reappears. He has to figure out who to trust and fails this portion because he doesn't take time to pause and reflect. Readers will appreciate and relate to acting before thinking and understand the issues that can cause. He stands up to Ma and offers his own opinion in the major gathering and falls into the trap set by Blue and others. Elliott offers a cliffhanger ending which readers already predicted from the rest of the story.
Looking forward to the next book.
Elliott does not disappoint with this third installment in the Dragon series. Jax feels frustrated and afraid that Ma is no longer interested in teaching him magic. He starts to doubt and question everything which makes him a prime candidate to listen when Blue reappears. He has to figure out who to trust and fails this portion because he doesn't take time to pause and reflect. Readers will appreciate and relate to acting before thinking and understand the issues that can cause. He stands up to Ma and offers his own opinion in the major gathering and falls into the trap set by Blue and others. Elliott offers a cliffhanger ending which readers already predicted from the rest of the story.
Looking forward to the next book.
May 13, 2022
I'm always an advocate of this series. I love the way they break fantasy stereotypes while still maintaining a firm footing as a modern kid's fantasy novel. I just wasn't as happy about this one as I was with the last two. While the little informative reviews for the events of the last two books were fantastically placed, this book definitely read like a book in a series. This book is meant to be book-ended with books 2 and 4 and that makes me a little bit sad. I loved this book, don't get me wrong! Adventures finding magic in a new city, finding it all around you, making new friends and allies, the very believable thoughts of a child faced with daunting magical issues.... I loved it so much. But I wanted to love it MORE.
December 17, 2021
It has magic, adventure, friendship, family, and more.
Nine year old Jaxon is an apprentice to the witch Ma. He's frustrated with how little he's actually learning, but is so eager to be helpful. Ma finally takes him on a trip with her to Chicago to a witches convention, except he doesn't get to go to the actual convention.
He's confused about why he's there, but also distracted by the phoenix egg his friend Vik gave him that hatches suddenly and trying to figure out who to trust.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, just as Jax and his friends were about to set off on a mission.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the advanced copy.
Nine year old Jaxon is an apprentice to the witch Ma. He's frustrated with how little he's actually learning, but is so eager to be helpful. Ma finally takes him on a trip with her to Chicago to a witches convention, except he doesn't get to go to the actual convention.
He's confused about why he's there, but also distracted by the phoenix egg his friend Vik gave him that hatches suddenly and trying to figure out who to trust.
This book ends on a cliffhanger, just as Jax and his friends were about to set off on a mission.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the advanced copy.
November 16, 2021
I really enjoyed The Witch’s Apprentice, as well as earlier books in the series. The first book, Dragons in a Bag, is the younger readers’ selection for this year’s Global Read Aloud (October/November 2021), but I feel that these books can be read and enjoyed by a broad range of readers. Watch my video Book-Talk for the series at https://youtu.be/e017gTOPa4k
(I received a digital advance copy of this book through NetGalley)
(I received a digital advance copy of this book through NetGalley)
February 17, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy of this delightful book. This book had all the elements I love — magic, dragons, adventure, and friendship. The characters and their actions are very relatable to the middle-grade audience (ie acting before thinking and the consequences such actions cause). Based on a cliffhanger ending, we should keep our fingers crossed for another book. I believe that this book (and series) would appeal to a wide audience.
April 22, 2022
A good continuation of a fascinating story. This book continues to center BIPOC people, history, and lore. Important plot lines are developed in a way that suggests the next book will be Awesome! The one major issue that leaves me to rate a 3 rather than above is that in the service of developing those plot lines, the main character spends a lot of time hiding important information from his allies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Quick Summary: Outstanding!
My Review: My family and I have faithfully followed this series. It is such a treasure. The story has evolved so well. Jax and his friends are now endowed with certain abilities that surely must serve a greater purpose. But what? Blue and O.K. are dark and sinister. What do they have planned? Ma and Sis know something. What is it? It's all so unpredictable...and totally outstanding.
Next book, please!
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA
My Review: My family and I have faithfully followed this series. It is such a treasure. The story has evolved so well. Jax and his friends are now endowed with certain abilities that surely must serve a greater purpose. But what? Blue and O.K. are dark and sinister. What do they have planned? Ma and Sis know something. What is it? It's all so unpredictable...and totally outstanding.
Next book, please!
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA
June 12, 2022
The Witch's Apprentice is the third book in the Dragons in a Bag trilogy. The book does a good job of wrapping up the series.
The series is not very complex, but is a good entry-point for my younger readers who want chapter books with dragons, but are not ready for some of the large fantasy books.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The series is not very complex, but is a good entry-point for my younger readers who want chapter books with dragons, but are not ready for some of the large fantasy books.
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 19, 2023
3 stars (I liked it)
I found it interesting to learn about Chicago and I also liked that the book has a lot to say about the real world, despite being a fantasy book, but I feel like this was just a filler in the series. Not a whole lot happens, they are mostly preparing for the next adventure. Luckily, I had forgotten that I hadn't read this book when I picked up book 4 so I have book 4 all ready to go!
I found it interesting to learn about Chicago and I also liked that the book has a lot to say about the real world, despite being a fantasy book, but I feel like this was just a filler in the series. Not a whole lot happens, they are mostly preparing for the next adventure. Luckily, I had forgotten that I hadn't read this book when I picked up book 4 so I have book 4 all ready to go!
June 14, 2023
Read aloud to my 7 and 9 year old- We really enjoyed the first book, liked the 2nd book but had a little trouble getting through the 3rd book. Jax has some difficult decisions regarding loyalty and friendship - and I was disappointed at how quickly some of the "alliances" were built and destroyed with little insight into why the characters behaved like they did . We will read the 4th in the series .
March 6, 2022
In “The WItch’s Apprentice”, Ms. Elliott ups the ante for Jax and his friends. Jax heads to Chicago with Ma. He has a magical surprise in his pocket. He meets new friends and is caught up in a new magical adventure!.This is a great read for kids and adults!
I can't wait for the next novel in the series!
I can't wait for the next novel in the series!
April 21, 2022
This book was the best of the three. While the first two were ok, they felt incomplete in themselves. This book, in contrast, while leaving the adventure undone, feel more like a full story in itself. I enjoyed the complex approach to trust, as well as the wider look into the world of magic. I would recommend it to those who enjoy children's fantasy.
April 18, 2023
I was very delighted and surprised when I saw this book since I enjoyed the two prior books and didn't realize the series was continuing. I'll definitely be reading the rest but I hate reading a series when all the books aren't out yet and there's no word on how many there will be and when the next book will be out.
August 2, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
3.5/5 STARS
This is book 3 in a middle grade fantasy series. I enjoy this series! In this book Jaxon has a phoenix egg that Vik gives him. He tries to find out more about the magic, but Ma is holding out on him and he is frustrated. This one is set in Chicago and has a few references to black history.
I liked the move to Chicago and the new phoenix character.. but I did miss the dragons! It was not as good as the second book but still a fun MG read.
3.5/5 STARS
This is book 3 in a middle grade fantasy series. I enjoy this series! In this book Jaxon has a phoenix egg that Vik gives him. He tries to find out more about the magic, but Ma is holding out on him and he is frustrated. This one is set in Chicago and has a few references to black history.
I liked the move to Chicago and the new phoenix character.. but I did miss the dragons! It was not as good as the second book but still a fun MG read.
November 17, 2023
At first glance I didn't think "The Witch's Apprentice" would be something I enjoyed reading. However, after reading the first book I was excited to read the ones that followed. The characters in this book undergo change and keep the book interesting, making it quite the page turner. The cliffhanger ending in this book definitely made me want to read the next book as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews