”…will instantly draw in any reader who has secretly (or not so secretly) wished for a little more wonder in their world. Parallels will of course be drawn to the Harry Potter series—and rightfully so—but this book also shares much in common with Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.” – 5 Stars, Red City Review‘Magic is real, Thomas. No matter what happens, always remember that magic is real.’… magic is real.’
Seven years have passed, and Thomas hasn’t forgotten. He hasn’t forgotten the blue of his dad’s eyes either, or the tickle of beard on his cheek as they hugged goodbye. Last moments with a parent are memorable, even if you don’t know that’s what you’re having.
Now, with his 13th birthday rapidly approaching, Thomas’s search for magic is about to take a radical and unexpected turn. At an out-of-the-way shop filled with dusty leather books, a strange little man with gold-flecked eyes offers him an ancient text called The Book of Sorrows. The price is high and the rules are strict, but there’s no way Thomas can resist the chance to look inside.
With the mysterious book guiding the way, a strange new world is revealed – a world in which Thomas has a name and destiny far more extraordinary than he ever imagined. But time is short. Even as Thomas uncovers his secret family history, a powerful new enemy emerges, threatening to end his rise to power and destroy everything he holds dear.
Through a fresh voice, genuine characters, and a unique story line, Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows is destined to appeal to fans of Harry Potter and readers of all ages who love the search for magic and adventure.
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Magic is real!? Yeah right.
Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by JM Bergen has that Harry Potter vibe to it but its completely different. Thomas has gone on quite the adventure in this book. He finds out what happened with his dad and about magic.
What I liked
• The book has a modern take for a middle-grade fantasy book about magic. It’s pretty neat to read and has problems that any young person has to learn to handle.
• Thomas knows Kung Fu. I like this because it’s good to see a main character who has more than just magic or something to defend themselves. It also lets the kids’ reading the book know that they can do it.
• Thomas eventually stood up against the bully.
• I loved the comic books that Thomas reads since those are pretty funny and showed that he is a twelve-year-old boy.
• The lead up to everything for Thomas was marvelous. The magic, the book, and the bad guy were well thought out and fabulous.
What I didn’t like
I didn’t like that the author did some time jumps in the book and I wasn’t sure where we were at first, but then it became clear for most of them. Also, how Thomas’ mom dealt with not talking about his dad for the last seven years, wasn’t a good way to handle this situation. Granted there were somethings she couldn’t tell Thomas yet about his dad, but she could have done a bit more.
Five Stars
Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by JM Bergen is the first book in a new series, and I am thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Thomas grows a lot in this book, and it’s just the first one. He also learns a lot about his family history, and about himself. This book is impressively entertaining, and I couldn’t put it down for anything. I highly recommend this book to those who love middle-grade fantasy books.
Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
Baroness Book Trove.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I was pleasantly surprised reading this book. I absolutely loved it. It was full of action from start to finish and it was something a little bit different to what I am used to reading. It breathed fresh air into the fantasy genre and I cannot wait to devour the next book and its contents.
The book covers many genres though it is primarily a fantasy. Thomas was an average young kid at school except that his father had disappeared seven years back. And his father believed in magic.
Thomas finds a book in the ancient language and unknowingly awakens his own power and drags on his friend Enrique in it too.
The story has plenty of adventure, action, magic and it was a lovely read.
Thomas Wildus is a kid much like my boys were when they became teenagers. He loves to make jokes behind the teacher’s back. Also, he likes to flirt with the prettiest girl in class and explore all things magical and rare.
When he chances upon H & A Booksellers, Purveyors of Fine Books and Rare Manuscripts, he encounters an incredibly rare book on magic. Thomas has been thinking about magic since the day his father disappeared seven years ago. Before he left he told Thomas ‘Magic is real, Thomas. No matter what happens, always remember that magic is real.’
This book isn’t your typical fantasy. It feels so real as Thomas explores the ancient writing and questions the magic that appears on the cover. (Not to mention the van that keeps following him and the lady with the taser trying to kidnap him.) Boys and girls alike will enjoy the mystery and adventure. Thomas begins his somewhat unorthodox schooling in waking up the powers his mentors believe he posses in another part of the world. The fact that he finds a way to drag his unwitting friend, Enrique, into the drama makes you want to give the kid a hearty high-five.
It’s a book about magic, adventure, friendship, family, and courage. It deserved the 2019 Feathered Quill Book Award and more. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. This is one the kids will definitely have fun with! It’s also a book that will teach them about persistence and determination, which is noteworthy.
Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen is a book I requested from NetGalley and a book I won but haven’t received yet. The books from NetGalley only stay active for a short period of time so I am glad I won so I can have my grand daughters read this book! A magic book, a strange book store , kidnapping, magic powers, evil super being, excitement, suspense, mystery, and more! Everything a middle grade fantasy reader would want!