Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw is the first in an action-packed series perfect for readers who love an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero.
The coming-of-age story follows teenager Ignatius (nicknamed “Iggy”) who finds himself transported to a medieval world filled with magic. In the Kingdom of Skye, Iggy develops special powers and accomplishes quests in an effort to find his way home, fighting the evildoers along the way. While the genre is fantasy and the setting includes magic, mythological creatures, celestial races, and different lands, action-adventure is the undercurrent of the writing style, unveiling clues and surprises as the plot unfolds.
This YA fantasy is perfect for both teens and adults, as it gently reminds us that we are responsible for our destiny - and the most unexpected people can be the best teachers.
As an Emergency Room physician for nearly 40 years, D.A. Mucci found that the pandemic brought new horrors into the ER. Writing fantasy fiction became an enjoyable escape for him from what was happening in the real world. Now he invites readers to journey with him into the uncharted reaches of the Kingdom of Skye with his YA fantasy debut, Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw.
Mucci calls both Connecticut and Florida home, and with his wife Jeanne by his side, he's constantly dreaming up new, fantastical creatures, daring escapades, and witty one-liners. He looks forward to writing more adventures for Iggy in this series, and hopes they provide readers the same delightful escape it brought him.
*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I realized very early on what kind of book this was going to be.
The writing style of this book is full of purple prose and clunky dialogue. The villain of the story is described as having a hooked nose (even though none of their family members are also described this way), someone uses the g-slur to describe a character’s costume, and a 15-year-old girl is sexualized through the act of showing her underwear multiple times to the main character to get a rise out of him.
I was very close to putting this book down and never picking it up again.
I’m not really sure why I gave this book a second chance. Perhaps I felt bad because this is the author’s first piece of writing. Maybe I wanted to accurately spread the word about this book after giving the characters a chance to be better.
(Not gonna lie, the slur was later on in the book. So no, it doesn’t really get better.)
One thing I can commend this author for is their imagination. It’s easy to tell that the author has thought about this world a lot and figured out the details. As a reader, I can’t pinpoint any detail that reminds me of another piece of media, and everything seems fresh and interesting once we dive into this fantasy world the author has created.
It’s admirable that this author set out to write a book and finished their goal. However, this author needs a bit more time to hone their craft and create a book that stands out, and as it is right now, I don’t think this book is ready to be published.
Wow! This book is a whole new world with so many original creatures and concepts. Every chapter is entertaining and the characters are relatable. I can’t wait to see what happens with the main character, Iggy. I have so many questions and predictions as to what will happen next! This is definitely a book for you if you want to escape reality and experience an exciting adventure.
I was given an Advance Read Copy of D.A. Mucci’s debut novel, “Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw”, and this is my honest review. The first book in this series introduces readers to a highly engaging main character, Ignatius, or as he refers to himself, “Iggy”. He’s a shy boy on the cusp of adolescence, with all the self-doubt that comes with this age in life. Yet unforeseen circumstances catapults him into a fantastical realm, where he is learns to assert himself, for both his survival, and that of others whom he comes to trust and love. Readers will enjoy following Iggy on his quest to grow into the warrior-hood that was thrust upon him, and root for him as he surmounts the obstacles in his way. The author’s rich imagination has provided a fascinating world filled with original creatures and landscapes. The plot moves quickly, and makes you eager to read on to learn what comes next. Mucci has done a good job of weaving in various subplots that keep the story from being simplistic. His description of Iggy dealing with his physical limitations as a young teen are humorous, as are Iggy’s attempts to interject and explain modern language and customs to those inhabiting this medieval fantasy land. If you enjoy rooting for the underdog and having fun while doing it, I recommend this book. I will be eagerly waiting to see what’s next on the horizon for Iggy!
In this YA fantasy, 15-year-old Iggy is transported from our world into the kingdom of Skye. Why? He has no clue. But thankfully there are some pretty cool swords to help him stay alive until he figures it out.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book and the simplicity of the story. It’s a classic Arthurian fantasy that reminded me of the stories I loved as a kid. Swords. The unlikely Chosen One. Quests. And of course monster slaying. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish and I truly have no complaints!
The narrator was incredibly good and brought me into the story. Narrators definitely affect whether or not I enjoy an audiobook and Tim Campbell did a stupendous job at voice characterization and keeping me interested in the plot at all times. He also knew when he was coming up on a plot twist and I applaud him for the slight pauses that built the tension even more.
As for content that I need to mention, there were a few things that were a little off-putting but I don’t consider them severe enough to deduct a whole star, so my rating is actually 4.5 stars that is rounded up on sites that don’t accept halves. During Iggy’s brief time in high school at the beginning of the book, a girl tries to bate Iggy into a fight with her boyfriend by flashing him her undergarments and claiming he was “ogling” her. Iggy was chivalrous and looked away immediately, though he and his brother did make jokes about it together later. Unfortunately, I know how common this type of situation is in high school, so it made Iggy’s experience incredibly realistic. Is it necessary to the story? No. Could it have been left out? Absolutely. So, there’s that. But these brief few paragraphs in the story are the only thing that is even slightly questionable in this book and I don’t think the whole story deserves a star deduction for that. There is some crude language and name-calling, as well as sporadic, mild cursing (I think I counted three or four times throughout the whole book). Again, unnecessary for a book meant for teens, but it’s hard to find any books without it these days so it wasn’t enough to knock a star in my opinion.
So overall, I really enjoyed Iggy’s story and I’m excited to finish the series and see his quest to completion!
I received this book from the author for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy in return for an honest review. This book had a lot of ups and downs for me. Firstly, it is not appropriate for an adult to be writing about a 15-year-old girl feeling herself for a boy. Besides that, the slow-moving plot and lack of world-building made it difficult to read. Additionally, the book ends on a cliffhanger, which in some books can be ok, however for this one, I feel as though there wouldn't be enough plot left to write an entirely new book. On a positive note, Iggy was a very relatable character, and I enjoyed seeing him grow throughout the book. This was a hard book to read and I do not anticipate myself picking up a sequel, as the overall plot was predictable and did not interest me as much as I wish.
I just finished reading D. A. Mucci’s new book, "Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw". To be frank, I have never been a fan of fantasy novels but this book is so much more. It really evolves into character development as we watch what happens to young Iggy after he finds himself transported to the world of Skye. The plot is amazing, the writing crisp, the descriptions awesome. You really feel that you know what everything looks like from houses to forests to mountains, as Iggy progresses on his quest. I hope Dr. Mucci sees this review and I implore him to begin work on the second book as I can’t wait to find out what happens to Iggy and how if ever, he will return to present day. Congratulations Dr. Mucci, well done!
Received a review copy from NetGalley, this is an honest review. Right from the start this story is breathtaking in how much detailed surrounding the kingdom of Skye... a once luscious and beautiful place that had been filled with animals and people. Now it's a kingdom with no beating heart. In desperate for a hero, a teen named Iggy finds himself becoming the hero these people need. Mastering a set of growing magic skills in a challenge but its mastering the skills in handling the towering secrets that are claiming Skye is something else altogether. A wondrous journey in a finely painted world. Highly recommended.
The first chapter got me hooked, but then I wanted to throw the whole thing in the trash after the chapter with the teenage girl being sexualize and slut shamed for no reason. I have a 15 year old who is first year in highschool, and this is an extremely unrealistic situation. Girls don't just show off "the goods" to boys to get their attention. This added nothing to the story and gave major ick factor seeing as this was written by an older man. There are many other situations where a school fight could happen between students, and this was just gross. I did not finish after this, maybe its a good story, but no thanks.
Such a fun adventure and a great book to introduce yourself into the fantasy genre! It's action-packed and relatable for any kid who felt like the underdog growing up. Finding strength within yourself that you didn't know you had is so powerful and watching that unfold in Iggy was fantastic. Definitely go out and get this! Can't wait for the next one.
This is not my normal genre of books but I was hooked immediately. I really liked Iggy. Anyone who has been bullied in school can immediately identify. Iggy gets transported to a magical world with interesting plot twists and turns. I found the author’s descriptions very vivid and interesting. This is book 1 of a 5 part series so don’t expect full closure.
David's ability to build a world that sucks you in and keeps you invested is unmatched! What I enjoyed most was seeing how the main character, Ignatius transformed from an awkward high schooler to a sword carrying warrior in the Kingdom of Skye! Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
The thrill of discovering new worlds, being thrust into edge-of-the-seat adventure, and learning to go beyond expectations makes this a read to get lost in and wish for more.
Ignatius, aka Iggy, is just entering high school and determined to continue as the quiet guy on the sidelines...although his older brother is very concerned he's going to get bullied. While Ignatius does have his plan laid out and has no doubt it will get him through the school days without too much incidence, fate sees otherwise. Running from a group of bullies, Iggy finds himself transported to a world he's only seen in his dreams with creatures more dangerous than his worst nightmares. All he wants is to return home, but to do so, he must not only discover his own journey, he must fulfill the last wish of a great warrior and complete the being's quest.
In the first chapters, the author grounds Iggy in today's modern world by starting him out as a freshman in high school. Not only does Iggy come across as awkward, but so did the first scenes...and I almost laid this one down. But I'm so glad I didn't because as soon as Iggy gets transported to the Kingdom of Skye, the tale grabs and awkwardness drifts away. Iggy has never grown into his own skin, allowing tons of room for character growth...and the author uses this well. Iggy's immediately thrust into a dangerous situation with the death of creatures, which would normally send him running. This natural and believable reaction as well as the light hints of what bravery really lies within Iggy, make it clear that the reader is in for a fun ride.
The world is rich with well done characters and scenes. It's not clear where everything is going, leaving room for many unexpected twists and turns. By telling the tale from various view points, it's no problem to follow the plot weave and not get lost in the details. Plus, the evil, which awaits and is unknown to Iggy, creates a dark shadow and raises the tension throughout the read.
This is the first book in the series, and it does leave off with many loose ends. So, hopefully, it won't take too long for book two to appear. While for the YA audience, it steers more toward the younger end. I'd even recommend this one for upper middle graders.
I received an ARC and almost gave this one 5 stars.
This started out encouragingly enough. In a far-off kingdom, a wicked king who relies on dark powers has jealously slain anyone who could dare lay claim to his throne, including his children, both legitimate and illegitimate. Well, I guess he missed one. And so we have the makings of an interesting fantasy story.
Switch to modern day and Iggy is an orphan starting his first day of high school. So just when I'm hoping we can get to know Iggy, the supposed hero of the story, we do, but not in a good way. A girl is flirting with him -- not to flirt but to embarrass him -- by flashing him repeatedly in class. Well of course he enjoys the show. It's not that I think a 14 year old boy wouldn't enjoy that, but for one thing it's unlikely a girl would behave that way on HER first day of high school, and I think it shows a lot about what the author thinks about women and young girls. The scene also has no real bearing on the plot line and is gratuitous and unnecessary. It's a vile portrayal and now I know Iggy is not someone I would root for. Neither is this author.
To the author: DO BETTER. Slut shaming teenage girls is disgusting. You're a grown man, supposedly a doctor. I wouldn't bring my daughter to your ER. I wouldn't trust you alone with her. But ha ha, right? Glad you had a little laugh including it in your story. Your book went in the trash.
* I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review shared here on Goodreads.
NOTE: I received a Kindle copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway. These are my own honest opinions of this book.
This book is a pretty good YA fantasy. However, it seemed a bit spasmodic to me. As a reader, I would just get used to one setting and group of characters and suddenly the protagonist was in another setting with a brand new group of characters. I understand that this book is a part of a series, but it seemed like it was just the first volume of an ongoing story, much like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (but not on the same caliber as that masterpiece). There wasn’t a real conclusion to this story. Also, everything seemed to come just a bit too easy for the protagonist and he seems to be related somehow to every kind of sentient creature in this fantasy world. Furthermore, this book could benefit from more editing. There were quite a few grammatical errors. Finally, I just didn’t find the strong language and an incident that occurred early in the book enjoyable. This book wasn’t for me and I wouldn’t recommend it to others. I much prefer The Lord of the Rings and the Chronicles of Prydain.
Ignatius and the Swords of Nostow is a YA fantasy novel about a teenage boy named Iggy who finds himself dreading the first day of school. But before he can get through the day, he finds himself transported from his home in Pennsylvania to a magical realm called Skye. It's there, in that realm, where Iggy's new adventure begins. This is an imaginative, unique fantasy story that, while it did take me a little bit to get into, kept me glued to the pages (albeit taking a couple of extra days to finish thanks to real life being crazy-busy and taking away from my reading time), eager to see what would happen next. Iggy is a fun character. He's relatable, and I found myself liking him throughout the story. He may have his moments, but he's a good kid, and you can't help but root for him. The plot is engaging, with lots of action, mythical creatures, vivid imagery, and a couple of surprises thrown in. It's easy to get sucked into the world of Skye and feel like you're on this journey right along with Iggy. I really enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to more adventures with Iggy. If you're a fan of YA fantasy, give this one a go. 4 stars!
I received a copy of this book from Books Forward. Mucci creates an entire fantasy world that Iggy crashes into after running away from a major problem in the real world. He has no idea why he is there, or even, where "there" is. Readers are pulled in to the adventures along with Iggy as he first receives the Nostaw swords and then completes the quest to become a full Nostaw warrior. The characters unfold their stories in ways that make sense and leave the reader wanting to know more at the same time. By the end, each has revealed enough to see how they fit together in the overall plot. This first book in the series sets the tone and provides the background for the future battles of good versus evil. I wish the QR codes were more interactive but they do offer a way to see more information. I'm not fond of the sexualization of a fifteen year old girl to begin the story and hope the author does better in future books.
I was scrolling through trying to find my next read when I happened upon this gem. I started reading and to my surprise kept reading to the end, this despite the fact that I am not a fan of novels that transport characters to a different realm. Iggy is a 15 year old with this issue and his reactions are spot on. Like, Dorothy in the Wizrd of Oz, Iggy just wants to go home but of course there is more to this than just getting home. The author does a wonderful job with the "more". From the mispronunciations of his home town, to the various characters... I absolutely dare you to not love Mallek, he is the perfect arch villian. I look forward to the next installment and encourage you to read & enjoy.
Thanks Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read. The author managed to create quite intriguing magical world full of fantastic beasts, some of which are not what you typically expect from beasts - they are mighty warriors, living in seclusion, whose abilities in battles are legendary. The world building is really nice and takes your imagination to amazing places. Combine this with an awkward, introvert and insecure boy who gets swallowed into the greatest adventure of his life, one which is too big for him to understand at a time, but he grows and shows his worth and true power. Definitely recommend this book.
I'm a little torn on this story - on the one hand, the world is really well-developed and unique. On the other, there are some really uncomfortable scenes involving a fifteen-year-old girl. Honestly, I would've bumped this to a four if it didn't have that. Ok, now that that's out of the way - I really did love diving into this world. The hero of the story, Ignatius, aka Iggy, is easy to like and root for. The story moves along smoothly for the most part, with enough twists to keep you reading. It definitely sets up for an exciting sequel, (which I hope will be better in some aspects, but just as exciting)!
This story is breathtaking! It is absolutely an epic fantasy that keep me so entranced I had a hard time putting it down. Here you meet Iggy who runs from his bully in PA and ends up in the Kingdom of Skye. Here he learns to survive and to thrive, along with learning a ton of new skills. He makes friends, allies, and even enemies but he never stops showing his morally good soul. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
I do not think I will ever stop raving about how well written this was, or how much I truly loved the journey this story took me one. I am so glad I saw this and decided to give it a shot, absolutely 100 recommend.
This was a good book for what it was. The revelations were timely. I love the villain arch. Iggy was so adorable, in a clueless kind of disarming way. It's good that he doesn't see how he has changed. I am excited to learn about how he came to be in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. I will definitely be looking for more to this story. It can go so many directions.
As far as the actually writing, there were a few grammatical errors, but not enough to feel like potholes.
*Thank you to Books Forward for sending me a copy of "Ignatius and the Swords of Nostrom" by David Mucci in exchange for an honest review.*
So I'm not sure how I feel about this. I liked the premise of this, but the execution wasn't there. I also wasn't a fan of having to pull out my phone to scan a QR code/ go to a website to understand all the characters/types of races etc. I liked Iggy, but this ultimately wasn't for me.
This was one hell of a story... and I absolutely can't wait for the next book in the series...
I loved Iggy, and the development of his character arc as the story unfolded... I loved the world building... I loved the fascinating fantasy creatures... and I loved the surprising twists and action packed narration that made this one fast paced read from the beginning to the end...
The narrator was amazing... he brought this story alive...
The story is very fluid, and the world setting is contained to the characters themselves. I liked there was not any over embellishment of the action or description of the settings. It kept me interested throughout the whole story with enough mystery of what else is out there. As I am an older reader, I found this book which seems to be geared to younger adults refreshing.
This book starts out slow and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it at first, but it was interesting enough to keep me reading. The more I read, the more interesting and exciting the book got. It is a very intriguing tale. Now I have finished and the only thing I am disappointed in is the fact that it is definitely the first of a series and I have to wait for the second book.
This is a book that I was able to read in two sittings. It was so good that I couldn’t stop. All the plot twists and characters development is amazing. Great Work Mucci!!1
Good book, well written, characters seem to have depth and flaws. Looking forward to the next one. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good light read.
A very fun and well-thought-out story with likable characters. Was hard to put down and I finished it in a day. Looking forward to the next book in the series.