MAX MCDANIELS LIVES a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry. Many strange people are in...
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Dec 22, 2011
Adam
rated it: 
A decent first effort. I see these books as a cross between Harry Potter and Fablehaven. The story is fast paced and interesting. The characters are a bit flat but I expect will flesh out a lot over the course of the series.
I have a difficult time not comparing these books to Harry Potter and that is unfair since I've read all 7 of the books in that series. Going back and reading the first book shows that the Tapestry first effort is on a similar level. The key will be whether or not More...
I have a difficult time not comparing these books to Harry Potter and that is unfair since I've read all 7 of the books in that series. Going back and reading the first book shows that the Tapestry first effort is on a similar level. The key will be whether or not More...
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Apr 08, 2008
Cynthia
rated it: 
Wow! Harry Potter, look out! Max McDaniels rocks Rowan Academy! This book reminds me of Harry Potter because it is a boy hero going to a magical school learning to battle evil, but don't let yourself be suckered into thinking this might be some cheap Harry Potter imitator. Max and Rowan Academy stand on their own as the beginning of an incredibly good series! All of the characters are amazingly well-drawn and the world that Max McDaniels lives in feels so real. It's a world of magic and my
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Apr 08, 2009
The Library Lady
rated it: 
Okay, it might turn out to be what some reviews keep saying "a Harry Potter knockoff", with no merits of its own. But since Jo Rowling stole freely from her predecessors, and just happens to be a good writer who revived an old formula at the right time, I'm willing to give this one a chance....
UPDATE (4/7/09)And I'm glad I did. Lots of wonderful touches--people keep mentioning "Mum" the reformed (well mostly)hag cook with good reason--she's wonderfully funny. Well More...
UPDATE (4/7/09)And I'm glad I did. Lots of wonderful touches--people keep mentioning "Mum" the reformed (well mostly)hag cook with good reason--she's wonderfully funny. Well More...
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Feb 27, 2008
Karen
rated it:
I love when I pick up a book, knowing very little about it, and discover that it is just what I was looking for. Because this is a book about a young teenager who goes to boarding school to learn magic, the comparisons to Harry Potter are inevitable, but this is so much more than a Harry Potter read-alike.
Basically, this is the story of Max. While visiting an art museum with his father, Max sees a vision in a tapestry. This vision draws attention to Max, both favorable and negative More...
Basically, this is the story of Max. While visiting an art museum with his father, Max sees a vision in a tapestry. This vision draws attention to Max, both favorable and negative More...
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Jan 29, 2012
Shanna
rated it:
I picked this book up at the used bookstore yesterday. At first glance it seemed to be your typical Harry Potter copycat, you know which one i'm talking about. Young boy is magically discovered at the age of thirteen and sent off to a special boarding school. However, the author definitely puts his own spin on things.
He creates his own take on some Celtic mythology with a few twists and turns. The main character's name is Max McDaniels, and he's just found out he's got mystic powers. More...
He creates his own take on some Celtic mythology with a few twists and turns. The main character's name is Max McDaniels, and he's just found out he's got mystic powers. More...
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Nov 20, 2011
Jess
rated it:
My first thought upon beginning to read this book: This is very Harry-Potter-like.
That impression didn't change that much between the beginning and the end, because you can't help but make that comparison: Young boy discovers he's magic and gets sent to a special school for training his abilities? That comparison is going to be made, like it or not.
I found, though, that by the end, I didn't mind the comparison because there was enough to make this book unique. Rather than More...
That impression didn't change that much between the beginning and the end, because you can't help but make that comparison: Young boy discovers he's magic and gets sent to a special school for training his abilities? That comparison is going to be made, like it or not.
I found, though, that by the end, I didn't mind the comparison because there was enough to make this book unique. Rather than More...
Nov 14, 2011
Marley
rated it:
The Hound of Rowan neatly introduces the fantasy world of Max McDaniels that proved to be both delightfully magical and absolutely inviting. Admittedly the book is slow to start, but keep in mind that this is only the first in a series with the main intention to draw you into the world and its major conflicts at first glance. Personally, I would say that it definitely succeeds. The book is filled with likeable characters and intriguing creatures, with smooth interjections of humour and mythologi
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Oct 30, 2011
Brina
rated it:
Max McDaniels ist auf den ersten Blick ein ganz normaler Junge, der mit seinem Vater glücklich zusammenwohnt und ein bodenständiges Leben führt. Es gibt aber auch eine andere Seite von Max McDaniels: Er entdeckt bei einem Museumsbesuch einen Raum, der gar nicht existieren sollte. Dadurch wird er für das Internat Rowan entdeckt und angeworben. Rowan ist ein Internat für Magier, indem Kinder für sechs Jahre lang ausgebildet werden.
Nur mit schwerem Herzen lässt sein Vater ihn ziehen und Max le More...
Nur mit schwerem Herzen lässt sein Vater ihn ziehen und Max le More...
Sep 20, 2011
Gary
rated it:
Okay, let's get one thing out of the way immediately. You simply can not avoid making a direct comparison to the Harry Potter series. Having said that, The Hound of Rowan is an entertaining book (the first of a series) to read. Author, Henry Neff has worked hard to create a world that exists apart from "normal" humans just like Rick Riordan succeeded in doing with Percy Jackson. Typical of young adult fiction, Neff throws his main character Max McDaniels into a world that on one hand i
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Jul 11, 2011
Kim-the-girl
rated it:
This was a great book! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens next. This book is A LOT of set up for the following books, but I enjoyed it a lot. I read this aloud to Ethan while on the road to UT and then after his eye surgery. There are characters from all over the world and I quickly learned that I am NOT good with accents :) but it sure made us laugh!
Ethan commented that it was a lot like Harry Potter, BUT I countered that any coming of More...
Ethan commented that it was a lot like Harry Potter, BUT I countered that any coming of More...
Mar 01, 2010
Dianna
rated it:
i picked this up at the library because i was trapped in the kid's section. the comparison with harry potter is obvious -- magic kid goes to magic school, evil lord someone from past coming back to menace, blah blah -- and really, it was ok. a fairly quick read. the whole outline sounded like a pretty good one, if leaning towards knock-offish, but the main problem with it is it's so shallowly drawn. thin characters, little detail, and glossing over large bits. like, in one part, the book ma
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Oct 07, 2009
Jane
rated it: 
It took me ages to make it through this book. Finally, in the last couple weeks, I managed to pick up a little steam and read to the end.
It's about a young boy, Max, who learns that he has some fantastical gifts one day when he's visiting a museum. He is contacted and whisked away to a private school for kids with his same abilities, and while at the school helps figure out that an evil force is plotting. He is captured, escapes, and by using some of his unique abilities is able to hel More...
It's about a young boy, Max, who learns that he has some fantastical gifts one day when he's visiting a museum. He is contacted and whisked away to a private school for kids with his same abilities, and while at the school helps figure out that an evil force is plotting. He is captured, escapes, and by using some of his unique abilities is able to hel More...
Jul 10, 2011
slayra
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 11, 2011
Darth
rated it:
A fun and interesting novel, "The Hound of Rowan" clearly targets fans of Harry Potter as it tells the story of a young boy which enters a magical school. The boy is called Max McDaniels and is chosen because of a strange vision he had, when he saw a tapestry - this shows that he might be special even among special kids. So he enters the Rowan Academy in which he develops the skills of a brave and feisty warrior and a fine sportsman. He also meets friends, clashes with a schoolbully an
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Jan 31, 2010
Ariel
rated it:
Name: Ariel Foster Hour: 1st
SSR: Book-A-Month
What month did you read this book for? January
Title: The Tapestry: The Hound of Rowan
Author: Henry H. Neff
Date started/date completed: January 25 – January 28
Total Pages: 414
Rating of book (1-10): 10
Evaluate the ending of the book. Considering how the book unfolded, is it an effective ending? Why? Why not? It is an effective ending for a book t More...
SSR: Book-A-Month
What month did you read this book for? January
Title: The Tapestry: The Hound of Rowan
Author: Henry H. Neff
Date started/date completed: January 25 – January 28
Total Pages: 414
Rating of book (1-10): 10
Evaluate the ending of the book. Considering how the book unfolded, is it an effective ending? Why? Why not? It is an effective ending for a book t More...
Mar 31, 2010
Jaemi
rated it:
This is another of the boy who discovers he's magical and ends up in a special school type books, but it's different enough that you don't feel you're simply reading not-Harry-Potter.
Max McDaniels has led a fairly standard life, at least up until his mother disappeared. But while out with his father for an annual Museum visit, in honor of his missing mother's birthday, things take a turn for the truly strange. An odd, and scary man was staring at him on the train. The same man was se More...
Max McDaniels has led a fairly standard life, at least up until his mother disappeared. But while out with his father for an annual Museum visit, in honor of his missing mother's birthday, things take a turn for the truly strange. An odd, and scary man was staring at him on the train. The same man was se More...
Apr 06, 2010
Bruno
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Feb 05, 2008
I hear that some people feel this is a Harry Potter rip-off - a hilarious idea when you consider just how many magical academies exist in children's fiction pre-Rowling. We shall have to see... For my part, given the title, and the "Celtic" influences in this book, I have to wonder if it rips off Pat O'Shea's brilliant "Hounds of the Morrigan," one of my all-time favorite children's fantasies.
Jun 21, 2010
Jane
rated it:
Max McDaniels is a 12-year old boy who lives with his father. His mother has been “gone” for three years; she was never found. While visiting a museum with his dad, Max happens upon a tapestry which changes his life. Because of the tapestry, his existence is made known to both the good and the evil, and both pursue Max to bring him to their side. Max comes to attend a school that is supposed to be hidden from all things evil, but he finds out that it is not as well protected or as well hidde
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Apr 28, 2010
Ilse
rated it:
I'm liking this book even though i just started. I have to say i'm not understanding every part of it, so i hope that as i keep reading on i will understand the plot and the way the book was written. I like the fact that its a mysterios book where you dont know what is going to happen.
This book is not my favorite but i do like it, i feel that it really describes the characters feelings and thoughts. I usually never read fantasy books because i never thought i would like them, b More...
This book is not my favorite but i do like it, i feel that it really describes the characters feelings and thoughts. I usually never read fantasy books because i never thought i would like them, b More...
Oct 05, 2011
Melek
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 04, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
If you like Harry Potter and you like Lightening Thief, I can almost guarantee that you'll like this book. There are some striking similarities between this and Harry Potter... not quite passing the plagiarism border. They're both about magic schools, both main characters have dark hair, Series starts around the same age (this guy's 12), they're going through the whole hero cycle thing where they're destined for a dangerous and probably fatal world-saving mission. Despite all of these similarit
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Mar 25, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 16, 2011
K
rated it:
The summary reminded me of Harry Potter; the book itself made me think more of Percy Jackson. Since I liked both of those series, that's a compliment, by the way. Actually, for it being Neff's first book, I'd say it was better than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, though not the later Harry Potter books.
The one thing that stood out to me the most about this book is the room configurations near the beginning. It's a fascinating bit of detail, allows the author to indulge in a bit More...
The one thing that stood out to me the most about this book is the room configurations near the beginning. It's a fascinating bit of detail, allows the author to indulge in a bit More...
May 29, 2010
Chris
rated it:
This book had a lot of good things going for it. For a storyline that eerily mirrored a certain boy wizard, there were enough plot differences to make it not another knock-off. The school game of not-Quidditch WASN'T Quidditch! It was a different game that was well thought out! I enjoyed that. There was enough folklore and mythology to keep me intrigued, and the overall plot seemed to be good. However (and there's always a "however" in situations like this), the pacing of the boo
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Nov 30, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Reminds me of a cross between Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson novels, mostly due to the magic boarding school setting. Although Neff's debut novel is written better than Riordan's The Lightning Thief, it lacks the latter's action and excitement. Furthermore, although it's unfair to compare nearly anything with Harry Potter, the comparison is inevitable because of the similarity in setting (magic dormitory building, magical soccer-type matches, etc.); the school setting of The Hound of Rowan
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Jul 20, 2010
Du
rated it:
Si extrañabas Harry Potter, entonces ya hay una solución, claro está que es la solución si lo que quieres es volver a leer Harry Potter escrito por otro autor y con los nombres de los personajes algo cambiados.
Y es que me pareció terriblemente familiar todo lo que iba leyendo, desde la academia de magia, el método de selección, el mentor que va a buscar a nuestro protagonista, el personaje paternal que es medio inutil, el hogar incompleto del protagonista, la imposibilidad de abandon More...
Y es que me pareció terriblemente familiar todo lo que iba leyendo, desde la academia de magia, el método de selección, el mentor que va a buscar a nuestro protagonista, el personaje paternal que es medio inutil, el hogar incompleto del protagonista, la imposibilidad de abandon More...
Oct 31, 2011
Katie
rated it: 
This book is basically a Harry Potter rip-off. While it has some differences (for example, technology is embraced not eschewed; the kids have animals that they care for; the kids come from across the world, not just the UK), it’s pretty similar – ie: the kids have untapped powers, the kids are specially selected, the kids go through a process similar to the sorting, there is a school sport (soccer-esque), there is a powerful yet charming headmistress, quirky teachers, and a villainous group that
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May 11, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
This might not be the best book ever, but it completely captured my imagination and I enjoyed it immensely. I loved the world that Madeline L'Engle created in "A Wrinkle of Time" and C.S. Lewis in "The Chronicles of Narnia." While this story isn't as deep, Neff's new world is intriguing.
During a visit to the Art Institute, Max experiences a strange vision about a Celtic Tapestry. Afterward, he finds an invitation in his back pocket to attend an exclusive private sc More...
During a visit to the Art Institute, Max experiences a strange vision about a Celtic Tapestry. Afterward, he finds an invitation in his back pocket to attend an exclusive private sc More...
May 29, 2009
Kristen
rated it:
This book is kind of like, this generation's American Harry Potter. The world of magic is artfully hidden from non-magical people's eyes and Max McDaniels gets a shocking wake-up call when he discovers the world. The book details his movement to a new boarding school, leaving behind his bereaved father who treats his missing mother as if she was still there. Max finds that his fate is foretold in a prophecy that has to do with the tapestry that introduced him to this magical world. I enjoyed
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