Book Review for Dawn of the Reaper by Paul F. McGowan

Dawn of the Reaper, by Paul F. McGowan, is a fantastical coming-of-age book about a young boy who discovers his origins and righting the tragedy of the past.

A mother manages to escape a monster that threatens to destroy her child. She places the child in the care of two strangers, before whispering words of love to him and then dying. 15 years later, Rowan is the apprentice to Archibald, an accomplished sorcerer who owns a shop called The Wand and Scroll. One day, he and his friend, Sydney, accompany Archibald to Evernight, a city where the King resides. When Rowan wins a magical tournament, he catches the eye of a man named Cyrus, who attempts to kill him. Rowan must now embark on a journey to determine just how to stop Cyrus, as well as reclaim a past that was once lost to him.

I found Rowan’s character endearing. While I was confused on just how much he knows about his family, he was overall a nice boy with an incredible talent for magic. Still, like any other adolescent, he longs for adventure, and wants to be somewhere where he can explore with his friend, Sydney. He was raised in a loving home, and despite his talent, he’s still humble enough to care for anyone he meets. He truly is noble in that sense, falling in line with the age old trope that kind people possess a powerful lineage that could defy all odds. It’s a bit cliche, but heartwarming nonetheless.

What I truly enjoyed about the book, however, was the setting. The details were crisp and clear. McGowan painted warm, yet magical scenes that made me think of stories such as Harry Potter, or even the game, Skyrim. Whenever I read this book, it did feel like I was being transported into another world. As such, what lacked in character uniqueness was the setting itself. It felt like a fairy tale, and was something I fell in love with.

I enjoyed the familial concepts throughout this book. The fact that Rowan carved out a family of his own, despite his mother and father not being there, was something that I liked reading. Even when he was on the run, when he thought that his guardian had died, he still had the courage to make new friends and to find a support system. It showed Rowan’s resilience and his determination to survive, as well as the fact that you can find allies anywhere, even in your times of need.

This book is an excellent read for children of all ages. Not only does it show the strong friendships formed in spite of tragedy, but it also reaffirms the truth that good will always triumph over evil. As such, I would give this book a rating of a 3.9 out of 5.0 stars.