162. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

BOOK REVIEW: The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell (GRAB IT IN A BOOKSTORE NEAR YOU)

As a teenager and even through my young adult years, I get perpetually fascinated with the world of magic and the unknown. Let it be the Harry Potter Saga or even the Hunger Games, magic has a certain way ofkeeping you gripped in your seat no matter how old you are. If you are one for magic, this book is going to bring you far, far away....

What happens when the world of magic and the human world collide? Obviously, all hell breaks loose! In this story, the humans who deem themselves the Warriors view all those who practice magic to be evil and are intent on bringing them down. The magical people on the other hand feel that it's injustice as except for Witches, all other magic is pure and harmless.

Xar happens to be the son of Encanzo the Enchanter, a great magician. However, Magic hasn't come to him yet although he has passed the age. This makes him a laughing stock among his family and an embarrassment to his father. To hide his disappointment, Xar turns to mischief to prove that he can do just as well without Magic. This time, he intends to capture an 'extinct' Witch to derive Magic for his own use.

Wish is a Warrior Princess but just like Xar, she is deemed as an uncouth Warrior by her own mother, Queen Sychorax, Queen of the Warriors. What makes it even worse is that Wish's personal bodyguard, Bodkin, knows she has an even bigger secret. Wish has stolen her mother's witch-killing sword and has her own pet spoon (enchanted of course)!

When she goes in search of her run-away pet spoon one day, she gets caught in a witch trap set up by Xar. What happens when two like sides of a magnet see each other? That's right, they instantly dislike each other. But as they go through adventure after adventure, they begin to become thick friends and as all magical stories go (for this first book at least), all's well that ends well.

I love this young reader book for it's simple yet interesting story line that had me gripping the edges of the book. I especially liked Wish as she reminded me of myself when I was younger, odd but loveable at the same time. Highly recommended, I'd give this book a 10/10!