Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic

by Jamar J. Perry

In this magical middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers, a shy boy must step up and become his own hero after his best friend disappears at a magical school. Jaden and Elijah have been best friends since they were born. They're so close that Jaden doesn't even mind that he's constantly living in talented, high-achieving Elijah's shadow-well, he doesn't mind much. But then Elijah disappears, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic note asking for Jaden's help. The next day, Jaden is invited to attend Elijah's fancy private boarding school. Only, it turns out it's not a boarding school at all. It's a school for magic! Somehow, before Elijah vanished, he used his note to transfer part of his own magic into Jaden-a feat that is supposed to be impossible. Determined to find his friend, Jaden agrees to attend the school and learn to control his new powers. But a sinister force is threatening to destroy the whole magical world. And if Jaden doesn't stop it, he'll be the next to disappear.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Magic, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun middle grade fantasy that centers the friendship of two Black boys!

What Worked: I have made it my personal mission to devour as many middle grade fantasy books by Black authors as I can this year and Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic was slated next on my list. I absolutely adored the relationship that Perry builds between Jaden and Elijah. The love that is shared between them is the driving force for how Jaden deals with issues that come up at Five Emergences School of Magic. I appreciated the uniqueness of the magic system. Jaden and readers learn more about how he acquires his magic and how rare it is and that specifically added an element that I had not previously seen in other middle grade fantasy novels. I also appreciated the friendships and support system that Jaden is able to build while at school. It's an element that is important to his ability to really find out what happened to Elijah.

What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, while I found one or two unique elements throughout my read of this book, it does contain quite a few magical boarding school tropes that are a part of so many middle grade fantasy titles. That doesn't make this a bad book, but it does make it feel less unique when it has potential to stand out amongst the crowd. There were also some characterizations that are not carried through to the end of the novel. Because this book does end in a way that leaves room for a sequel, I do think that that can be rectified in a follow up.

Overall, this was a solid read and I'm hoping that we get to see more in this world!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial reaction: I'm steadily picking up more recommendations for reads in MG. This was a nice, full adventure of a boy named Jaden who embarks on a journey to find his missing best friend Elijah. I appreciated being able to see Jaden's journey at a mysterious magic school, navigating power that is new to him and looking into whether or not the rumors of his best friend's disappearance and actions were true. I did feel that some characters could have used a little more development, but the overall ride was worth it. 4 stars.

Full review:

Let me sit down and talk about this lovely read to give it the flowers it deserves. I remember I first saw "Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic" in a line of new releases and actually recommended locally to a few peer book buyers who were looking for recent Middle Grade reads. I had not read this one for myself yet at the time, but it was one I kept my eye on. I knew the people I recommended it to were looking for a Black boy protagonist who was enrolled in a magic school and actively wielded magic. Jamar J. Perry is also the author of the Cameron Battle books, and since I had not read those, I figured this was a good one to start with.

Pleasant surprise for me, because it was a solid introduction for me to read Perry's work and see where it goes. Jaden is a 7th grade kid who is very close to his BFF Elijah; they're about to start school. They visit each others houses, play ball, inseparable. Things take a very quick and terrible turn when one day, Jaden visits Elijah's house and it's dark. No one's home. Questions ensue. And then Jaden gets terrible news on Elijah that he clearly grieves...but doesn't quite believe. I was surprised by how well this tackles the initial grief over Elijah's sudden fate. Appreciated how we're allowed to see Jaden and his family grieve together, alongside his heartbreak.

But then Jaden discovers a few things in Elijah's room that make him realize that Elijah's fate is not so clear cut. Add to that an accident that reveals Jaden has powers and an entry into another realm - a magic school - that gives him an eye to where Elijah really is, but is still missing. Jaden has to navigate this mysterious new place apart from his family in order to discover the truth. He has to learn how to hone his magic, ask questions among his peers and the adults in the school, navigate a number of bullies (who don't make it easy on him considering!), and ultimately face a danger that threatens the balance of the school.

It's a ride with a balance of seeing the magic system and interactions between the folks at the school. I appreciated being able to follow Jaden's overarching journey here. Think the only thing that I really wish could have been a little stronger was the character backgrounds of the secondary characters. The teachers/adults I think were fine, but the students I think could have been a little more fleshed out. I don't think there's any denying that Jaden himself and his friendship with Elijah was very strong - that's what kept me compelled through the book. Also Elijah's presence throughout the novel, even if he may not be physically on the page - is felt throughout. The way this novel ties things together in the end is sweet and satisfying, but leaves open the possibility for another adventure, one I'm very eager to take and learn more. Definitely looking forward to picking up more books by Perry.

P.S. Kudos to whoever did that beautiful art on the cover, because they got the character and his garments right on from the description. Love, love it.

Overall score: 4/5 stars.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept sneaking off to read this and was done with it in less than a day! I loved this book because the characters were l felt real peoplelovable. I felt attached to Jaden, especially when the plot turned unexpected corners (like when Jaden and Elijah fought). Although it might seem a little sad getting started, it’s in truth very exciting, adventurous, and a little funny. I adored this and would love to see a second one published in this series, so if you know a middle-grade reader who loves fantasy, please press this into their hands.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me clearly say that my problem with this book stems from not being the audience. This is a book for kids, not parents.

It’s an entry in the Harry Potter genre, with a kid discovering his magical powers and going off to magic school where he makes friends, clashes with snobby kids, and gets bullied a bit but pushes back because he’s got super strong magic powers. The innovative part is that he is here to save his best friend, who had magic before him but apparently died and there’s a mystery. Jaden has a mission!

why am I so down? When Jaden goes off to mystery school, the headmaster comes to him secretly, invites him to school, and then whisks him off before his parents leave magical stasis, LEAVING THEM A NOTE. These parents have already been established as perhaps a bit overprotective!?!?!!!

And then at the end, Elijah the best friend comes back from his supposed death, and the boys go off to play basketball together, and they don’t even text Elijah’s parents to mention he is alive. Or apparently tell Jaden’s folks, who are probably panicking over their son’s disappearance.

I don’t expect this to bother kids. This is completely my problem.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black boy magic meets the boy who lived. After the devastating loss of Jaden’s bff, he’s hit with magic and off to a magical school. Jaden’s determination to find out what happened, while also in a new world, is something everyone can relate to. Lots of fun and I’m looking forward to the next book! For those readers who are waiting for the next Amari or Nevermoor, this will fill the gap and also become your next new series.

I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher

Giving this four stars because I feel like this review verges on snarky. This is very well written, with an engaging world and intriguing characters, and there are even some twists on middle grade fantasy tropes. My snarkiness arises from having read too many books with these tropes of tweens getting powers in middle school and having to save the world because magic is draining out of it. Young readers will NOT mind this.

Jaden and Elijah have been friends for a long time, even though Elijah no longer attends middle school in their Columbia Heights, D.C. neighborhood and instead attends a private boarding school. As the first day of 7th grade approaches, Jaden is even sadder that he won't be able to be with his best friend, and when Elijah isn't home when Jaden goes to his house for a planned sleepover, he's worried. It's worse than he imagines; Jaden's parents later come with the sad news that Elijah has drowned while visiting his grandparents. This doesn't sound right to Elijah, and when he is at the wake, he finds a notebook in Elijah's room with a note that says "Horrible evil is after me. Help me.". He then passes out, and his parents think it's just the toll that his friend's death has taken on him. It's more than that; on the way home, a burst of power shoots out of Elijah and causes a car wreck. When a mysterious man shows up at the house, while Jaden's family is frown, the truth comes out; Jaden has magic, and must attend the Five Emergences School of Magic, where Elijah really went to school, to learn to control it. He learns that his best friend was not only the most powerful sorcerer for generations, but also that he is suspected of siphoning magic off from others and working with the Ruin, who is draining magic from the world of Wonder. Professor Simeone Carmine whisks Jaden off to the school via puddle travel and flying Haizum. Their trip includes a stop at Matthias's Wandshop for the Boundless, where he can't get a wand to bond with him, necessitating his participation in a wand Bond Trial. He meets his roommate, Mikael, who informs him that Elijah was rather a local celebrity, but has fallen into disrepute. He also meets Silas Rivers, the fae prince of the Summerlands, who is sour and mean to Jaden at every turn, as are his friends. Life at the school is exciting, and Jaden throws himself into his studies in Sorcery and Spellcasting, Deterring Danger, Enchantment, and Elixirs, all while trying to find out what is going on with Elijah. He realizes that he worked closely with Luxor, a professor who vanished at the same time; the same time exactly, which comes to light when the students delve into the history of the enchantment bracelets that all of the students and staff must wear. Jaden also finds out that his magic is very rare Inheritance Magic, which means that Elijah most likely passed powers on to him. Eventually, Jaden is able to discover that Elijah wasn't siphoning magic from others, but was having his own powers siphoned by a surprising source. Will Jaden be able to stop the Ruin and save his friend?
Strengths: Like this author's Cameron Battle and the City Spies, this story starts with something rarely seen in middle grade literature; a close friendship between two boys. Jaden's family was great, and I was a bit sad when they were frozen and he was whisked away. A magical story where the protagonist has to save the world WHILE his parents are tracking his phone and demanding he be home in time for dinner would be fantastic! Silas is an easily identifiable nemesis, Mikael is a kind and supportive roommate, and the professors are surprisingly well developed characters who are fairly competent and useful. The draw for young readers will be all the details of the ancient bristlecone wand that Jaden bonds with, the investigation into what happened to Elijah, and the thwarting of evil that (is this really a spoiler?) Elijah is able to do.
Weaknesses: I've read hundreds of magical academy books, and I'm also old and jaded and firmly believe that the world has absolutely NO magic in it. This had many middle grade magical academy tropes, but young readers who really, really want to get a letter like Jaden's inviting them to a magical school and whose souls are NOT dead will love all of Jaden's adventures as well as his successes in saving the world from destruction when all of the magic is sucked out of it.
What I really think: There is room for a sequel, as there is more work and investigation to be done at the school. If Perry keeps this series to two books, that would be perfect. I'll definitely purchase this for fans of Sanders' Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew, Elle's Park Row Magic Academy, Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, Royce's Conjure Island, and the large number of magical academy books that have been published since 1998 as this has a few twists, a well developed magical world, and a generally upbeat tone, despite, you know, both the magical and real world being in danger of being destroyed and taken over by evil.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In JADEN POWERS AND THE INHERITANCE MAGIC, Jaden is in a state of disbelief when he learns that his best friend Elijah has disappeared. At his friend’s home, he discovers an odd note from his friend, asking for help. The next day Jaden finds himself with an invitation he can’t refuse to attend the exclusive boarding school where Elijah was a student. He soon finds out that it is not an ordinary boarding school, but a magical one. Jaden learns that his friend was a powerful magician and somehow transferred his magical powers to Jaden. He immerses himself in the magical school, learning how to control his power and investigating his friend’s disappearance.

The rich world building and well-developed, engaging cast of characters keep the action moving and hold reader interest as Jaden works to unravel the mystery that has brought him to the school. This book will delight fans of magical academy stories and leave them wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of the book.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun magical mystery. Jaden is best friends with Elijah, who attends a prestigious
boarding school that keeps them separated during the school year. Jaden has been dreading attending the local middle school by himself. Elijah disappears and during his memorial service, Jaden passes out. He wakes up and magically causes his family car to crash. He is approached by Carmine, who tells Jaden that he can attend a magical school, where it turns out Elijah also attends. But everyone believes that Elijah has turned evil and so at first it's hard to make friends. Luckily, there are other kids at the school that believe that Elijah is innocent and so Jaden and his two new friends set out to find out who is siphoning the magic from the school and the world. There are lots of similarities to other magic school/save the world/new powerful magician on the block books but Jaden has an interesting voice and it will be fun to see where this one goes.

[Jennifer Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars from a critical POV, but readers of the intended audience would probably give it 4 stars. It was an entertaining and engaging enough read, especially for a younger reader who has not already read tons of MG and YA fantasy, but it was rather formulaic and I felt like it was just too similar to so many other middle-grade fantasies, Harry Potter in particular. I'm glad to see another entry into MG fantasy with main characters that are POC, but I'd love to read a mg fantasy novel that showed some real originality and creativity something that felt refreshing rather than the same old familiar tropes.

[Jay DeMoir · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cameron Battle brought me to this series and I must say… Jaden was underwhelming. At times he seemed much older than the 12 years he was supposed to be. Parts of this mimicked much of the same things all other magical books have since Harry Potter and it’s difficult for most books to come out from JK’s shadow. This book attempts to do that, but didn’t quite do it. The last chapter also felt a bit rushed with the return. It didn’t feel authentic enough. Lastly, this felt more like a romantic pairing than just friendship

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Actual rating: 2.5 stars)
I wish this book had lived up to my mild expectations. Unfortunately this book disappointed greatly. This book copies so much from well-known Harry Potter tropes like an instant, serendipitous friendship along with a girl declaring herself their friend a la the way the so-called "Golden Trio" came about. The plotting felt clunky and the worldbuilding made no sense. Unfortunately, this book is a no for me.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an adult i found this book to be very exciting. I loved the magical school and some of the concepts. The deceptions and plot twist was good for this age group.

My only gripe would be there was some plot holes.

[Erica Schimmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. A MG fantasy that’s under 300 pages? Yes please and thank you and one of the reasons I bumped this up to 4 stars. I will be able to find reads for this.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The friendship between Jaden and Elijah was one of my favorite parts of this book. I only wish there was more on page time spent between the two of them. I also enjoyed how the inheritance magic worked in the book, but I also wish more time was spent exploring it instead of hiding it. I was also a bit frustrated by how the school system worked in this world, but given the plot of this book it works. For it's intended audience I think this story works quite well and would be fun time. I do think there are some good surprises in the story, that can be pieced together by an experienced eye, and can be great way for kids to build on their critical thinking skills.

[rachel x]

look at this stunnnnning cover