Twelve-year-old Peter Michaels is accustomed to weird things happening with a regularity that seems to be a part of his life. But when an old man dressed in strange clothes falls from the sky and lands in Peter’s front yard, the weird quotient, as his dad would put it, gets ratcheted way up. Peter does the only thing he can. He helps the man into his house. That mistake leads to a second, the one … one that puts an end to Peter’s dream of making the all-star baseball team. As Peter soon discovers, comforting a dying wizard puts your mark on an unbreakable pact—one that will ensnare him and his two best friends, Raven Dakota and Stumpy Simpkins, in a fight for their lives…
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This is the second book I’ve read by S.P. Brown. I already knew he was a good storyteller from the immersive experience I had from the other book I’d read. Fallen Wizard is classified under the “children’s” category, in the same way that the Harry Potter books fall into that category. But in that same way the JK Rowling books appeal to a wide range of readers – everyone from kids to adults – so does Fallen Wizard.
Twelve-year-old Peter loves playing baseball. And making the all-star team is all he wants to think about. But when he discovers a strangely dressed, old man lying in his yard, he finds it near impossible to concentrate on his favorite sport. Peter is used to strange occurrences happening in and around him, but this is just plain weird. The old man apparently fell out of the sky and needs help that only Peter can provide. The man turns out to be a wizard who, because of the circumstances he finds himself in, has bestowed his powers to young Peter. So begins a magical adventure that Peter would rather not have been dragged into.
He is joined by his two friends, Raven and Stumpy, as they journey into another dimension where being a wizard is not so weird. All he wants to do is find a way to give the wizard powers back and be home in time for dinner. But along the way, he finds that others are out to harm him to obtain those powers.
This is a well-written fantasy book that I didn’t really expect to get so caught up in. I was never big on fantasy novels. But I do enjoy a great story… and this story is engaging and quickly captured my imagination. Simply put, Brown knows his craft. And this is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There is good character development, a solid plot, and a satisfying ending. All the elements needed to provide a rewarding reading experience. I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of wizards and magical fantasy books… or anyone who just wants to be transported into a world of great storytelling.
Fallen Wizard is a magical tale of adventure.
Peter Michaels only wants to play baseball. But a certain wizard has other ideas and plans, and throws Peter an unexpected and very nasty curveball.
Imaginative storytelling on the part of SP Brown. Have your boys give this one a try.
FALLEN WIZARD, by S.P. Brown, is a truly enchanting, easy-to-read and well-written tale. Highly imaginative world-building, with a bevy of fascinating characters, including a mysterious dying old wizard and three 12 year-old kids, plot twists, tons of action, mystery and adventure, this is a story that is entertaining and enjoyable by readers of all ages.
Although this wonderful tale has been thus-far presented as a stand-alone, I can easily envision S.P. Brown’s FALLEN WIZARD as the first book in an extensive series, shelved in a bookstore or library near J.K. Rowling’s, HARRY POTTER series and C.S. Lewis’s, CHRONICLES of NARNIA.
I absolutely loved this book, and most heartily recommend FALLEN WIZARD to all ages. This is one of those magical tales which can be read and enjoyed again and again.
Magic and Wizards
Odd things are always happening to twelve-year-old Peter Michaels. But even he isn’t prepared for his family’s azalea bush to attack an old gray-haired man. If that’s not strange enough, the old gent turns out to be a sorcerer who draws an unwilling Peter and his two friends away from their homes and into a world of magic, wizards and piskies.
This was a fun read with many unexpected twists and turns. Reminiscent of Harry Potter, it will appeal to all ages. I highly recommend it.
S.P. Brown’s YA novel, Fallen Wizard, is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with many twists and turns. Young Peter Michaels learns the hard way that the often-quirky mishaps in his life may have a hidden genesis. When an elderly man falls from the sky right near his home, Peter takes him in and makes him comfortable. The old man says he’s dying, and Peter calls on his best friends Stumpy and Raven, to help him decide what to do. Together, they watch with deep fascination and angst as the man—who can only be a magician—disappears, leaving behind his boots and his belt. Pulled head-first into the realm of wizards, the three friends must claim their powers and defeat an evil wizard who wants Peter’s boots. Peter’s transformation from a care-free baseball-playing older brother to a young man with immense responsibility happens thoughtfully within the progression of the book. There are lessons here for everyone about the ties that bind, including family love and the importance of friendship, and belief in your abilities.