  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2017 POPGr 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 - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 08/01/2017 Long before our story starts, a great battle was fought between the Witches, who had bad magic, and the Warriors, who had no magic at all. The Warriors swore to destroy all magic, ignoring the fact that some, like the Wizards’ magic, could be good. Now, the Witches have vanished and are presumed extinct by everyone but an incorrigible Wizard boy named Xar. At 13, Xar is a late bloomer—his magic hasn’t arrived, and he worries it won’t—so he sets off with his cohort of magical creatures, entering Warrior territory to hunt a Witch and steal her magic. Instead, he encounters Wish, the odd daughter of the formidable Warrior queen, accompanied only by her bodyguard and forbidden, enchanted pet spoon. The chance meeting catapults the two born enemies into a world of secrets and an adventure they never saw coming. A cheeky, unidentified narrator sets the tone, and Cowell’s trademark chaotic black-and-white illustrations add to the whimsy. This playful, energetic romp is a treat for any reader. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This series starter is imbued with the same madcap spirit that made How to Train Your Dragon (2004) such a hit; if that’s not enough, the six-figure marketing campaign will do the trick. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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