OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile
David Tennant’s atmospheric narration reflects this dark and twisted tale. It’s the story of Xar, son of the King of Wizards, who cannot even cast a spell. Also of Wish, a daughter of the queen of a warrior tribe that does not want magic in the land. But Wish has a magical object. Tennant creates a distinct voice for each of the characters. His reading of the witty dialogue and descriptions builds a world that immerses listeners in the story. Listeners will be engrossed while waiting to find out what happens next for Xar, Wish, and all of their friends. C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
09/18/2017
In a whimsical fantasy set in a “British Isles so old it did not know it was the British Isles yet,” Cowell (the How to Train Your Dragon books) launches a series featuring two feuding societies: the “Wizards, who were Magic” and the “Warriors, who were not.” The Warriors are determined to stamp out all magical beings, forcing the Wizards into hiding along with giants, pixies, and other creatures. When 13-year-old Xar, a Wizard without magic, sets out to capture a dreaded Witch (long thought extinct) in order to steal its power, he instead encounters Wish, a Warrior Princess looking for an adventure of her own. Though supposedly enemies, the two become reluctant allies as their escapades bring them into conflict with an actual Witch, as well as their own families. The tongue-in-cheek voice combines with scribbly b&w interior illustrations, rampant use of capitalized words, and an omniscient (and occasionally unreliable) narrator to sustain a sense of wonder and mayhem from start to finish. Cowell skillfully mixes adventure with silliness in a satisfying story for younger fantasy fans. Ages 8–12. Agent: Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Praise for The Wizards of Once:
"A rollicking adventure tale and coming-of-age story rolled into one enjoyable package...Readers will fall in love with the imaginative worldbuilding and humorous dialogue and asides...A delightful magical romp."
—Kirkus
"A clever and fresh new series.... Cowell fans will be elated to have a new world to get to know, and they'll welcome the author's familiar writing style and humor."
—BCCB
"A plethora of energetic illustrations keeps the excitement high...readers with a penchant for lighthearted fantasy are sure to enjoy this series opener and look forward to the next volume."—Horn Book
"The tongue-in-cheek voice combines with scribbly b&w interior illustrations...to sustain a sense of wonder and mayhem from start to finish. Cowell skillfully mixes adventure with silliness in a satisfying story."—Publishers Weekly
"Cowell crafts two believable and lovable main characters...A strong new series starter by a best-selling author."—School Library Journal
"The first in a series, this book will delight and engage readers of fantasy both young and old."—School Library Connection
"The first volume of a new series by author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon series is an event....Funny, thoughtful and surprisingly wise and lively, this is another coup from Cowell."—The Sunday Times (UK)
"...a new fantasy world fizzing with evil, magic, Iron Age history, laugh-out-loud jokes and a huge cast of memorable characters. Another bestseller is born."—The Daily Mail (UK)
"The detail of Cowell's world is a delight...This one will run and run."—The Observer (UK)
"One of the most eagerly awaited children's books of the year, this magical adventure is also one of the most spellbinding....Enormously entertaining and satisfying, it's narrated and illustrated with tangible energy and verve. The fantasy world and quest-driven plot are a triumph."
—The Bookseller (UK)
Praise for How to Train Your Dragon:
IRA and CBC Children's Choices List 2005
"Short chapters, clever slapstick, kid-pleasing character names and goofy, childlike drawings will keep even reluctant readers turning these pages—and chuckling as they go."—Publishers Weekly
"Cowell crafts two believable and lovable main characters....[a] strong new series starter."
—School Library Journal
"A narrative rich in dragon muck... genuinely fierce [and] intelligent."—Kirkus
"...This is a goofy and exciting tale of an underdog who proves that brains can be just as important as brawn. Kids will hoot at the ridiculous names and sympathize with Hiccup's exasperation with his truly obstinate but strangely lovable dragon. A delightful read."—School Library Journal
"This hilarious farce will appeal to heroic fiction fans."—Booklist
School Library Journal
07/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Readers of "How To Train Your Dragon" will be ecstatic to get their hands on this first volume in Cowell's new series. Thirteen-year-olds Xar (a wizard prince whose magic hasn't kicked in yet) and Wish (a warrior princess who is anything but warriorlike) meet in the wildwood as enemies. When they discover the return of witches, thought to be extinct, they must rise above the prejudices of their parents and work together to fight the bad magic. Cowell crafts two believable and lovable main characters, each with their own story arc, who change just enough in this installment so that readers will want to follow them in upcoming entries. Kids will snicker at the creative swearing ("By mistletoe and leafmould and the ginger sideburns of the Great Grim Ogre") and delight in fantastical details, such as traveling by door. The author's hallmark sketches are sprinkled throughout, and full-page illustrations every few pages of text will help younger readers make it through this hefty tome. While this is a less emotionally compelling and original tale than Cowell's previous work, the author's fans will be quite satisfied with this fast-paced novel. VERDICT A strong new series starter by a best-selling author; buy multiple copies wherever possible.—Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles Public Library
OCTOBER 2017 - AudioFile
David Tennant’s atmospheric narration reflects this dark and twisted tale. It’s the story of Xar, son of the King of Wizards, who cannot even cast a spell. Also of Wish, a daughter of the queen of a warrior tribe that does not want magic in the land. But Wish has a magical object. Tennant creates a distinct voice for each of the characters. His reading of the witty dialogue and descriptions builds a world that immerses listeners in the story. Listeners will be engrossed while waiting to find out what happens next for Xar, Wish, and all of their friends. C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-07-17
A King Enchanter's 13-year-old son and a Warrior Princess wind up together on a humorous journey of self-discovery. Set in a realm where wizards and warriors are at war with one another, this novel is a rollicking adventure tale and coming-of-age story rolled into one enjoyable package. Though from two different worlds, Prince Xar and Princess Wish are united by their mutual misfit status within their respective communities. For Xar, the fact that he cannot perform magic makes him the target of ridicule from his cruel brother and a disappointment to his powerful father, while Wish's inability to conform to the codes of her warrior clan renders her a friendless oddity. A chance meeting in the woods separating their kingdoms brings the teens together on a journey that teaches them the importance of learning to think for themselves. Cowell's latest work offers a fully realized fantasy world abounding with witches, sprites, killer plants, and talking ravens. Her scrappy teenage protagonists are wonderfully flawed and almost scarily realistic in their bravery, selfishness, and desire to please their parents yet not surrender their individuality. The omniscient narrator's voice is pitch-perfect, sounding appropriately young without ever talking down to the target audience. Readers will fall in love with the imaginative worldbuilding and humorous dialogue and asides. Cowell's scratchy, smudgy drawings, many full-page, liberally illustrate the text, depicting both Xar and Wish with pale skin. A delightful magical romp. (Fantasy. 9-13)
