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Tess Pendragon & the Wand of Avalon
The line of Merlin has survived… Two children born in exile. One good. One evil. Only one can take the throne.
Three days. That’s all that stands between eleven-year-old sorceress Tess and knowing the truth of her legendary ancestry. For as long as she can remember, Tess has lived at a secret magical boarding school, shrouded in mystery. By now, she’s had enough of snobby blonde witches, nagging magical pets, and brewing lessons that require handling spotted bat poop. There’s something far greater for her outside The Brumhopper School of Magic, she’s sure of it.
But when shadowy visions begin stirring inside of Tess, a dark prophecy is revealed that will alter her life forever… An ancient evil has been awakened, and its shadowy powers reside in another young girl, whose destiny is to hunt and destroy Tess.
And it seems that she has found her.
In a whirlwind adventure, Tess must escape the secret school to journey through troll-owned estates, dodgy pubs with singing moose heads, underground jousting pits, and even a haunted dragon tomb, all to retrieve the Wand of Avalon—A wand that belonged to Merlin himself—which can unite the realm and save her friends from the evil that threatens to destroy them.
Will Tess accept the truth of her family name and her role in the greater battle to come? Or will the Realm be cursed into the shadows forever?
Three days. That’s all that stands between eleven-year-old sorceress Tess and knowing the truth of her legendary ancestry. For as long as she can remember, Tess has lived at a secret magical boarding school, shrouded in mystery. By now, she’s had enough of snobby blonde witches, nagging magical pets, and brewing lessons that require handling spotted bat poop. There’s something far greater for her outside The Brumhopper School of Magic, she’s sure of it.
But when shadowy visions begin stirring inside of Tess, a dark prophecy is revealed that will alter her life forever… An ancient evil has been awakened, and its shadowy powers reside in another young girl, whose destiny is to hunt and destroy Tess.
And it seems that she has found her.
In a whirlwind adventure, Tess must escape the secret school to journey through troll-owned estates, dodgy pubs with singing moose heads, underground jousting pits, and even a haunted dragon tomb, all to retrieve the Wand of Avalon—A wand that belonged to Merlin himself—which can unite the realm and save her friends from the evil that threatens to destroy them.
Will Tess accept the truth of her family name and her role in the greater battle to come? Or will the Realm be cursed into the shadows forever?
- GenresFantasyMiddle Grade
316 pages, Paperback
Published September 14, 2021
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 17, 2021
Four days. That’s all that stands between eleven-year-old sorceress Tess and knowing the truth of her legendary ancestry. For as long as she can remember, Tess has lived at a secret magical boarding school, shrouded in mystery. By now, she’s had enough of snobby blonde witches, nagging magical pets, and brewing lessons that require handling spotted bat poop. There’s something far greater for her outside The Brumhopper School of Magic, she’s sure of it.
But when shadowy visions begin stirring inside of Tess, a dark prophecy is revealed that will alter her life forever… An ancient evil has been awakened, and its shadowy powers reside in another young girl, whose destiny is to hunt and destroy Tess.
And it seems that she has found her.
In a whirlwind adventure, Tess must escape the secret school to journey through troll-owned estates, dodgy pubs with singing moose heads, underground jousting pits, and even a haunted dragon tomb, all to retrieve the Wand of Avalon—A wand that belonged to Merlin himself—which can unite the realm and save her friends from the evil that threatens to destroy them.
Will Tess accept the truth of her family name and her role in the greater battle to come? Or will the Realm be cursed into the shadows forever?
I LOVED THIS! Matthews managed to create a world filled with magic, friendship, family, loyalty steeped in history. Her protagonist Tess was courageous, witty and enigmatic and I was rooting for her right from the start.
I loved the characters from both the world of Avalon and the King’s Underground and enjoyed the way Matthews touched on topics of belonging, monarchy and class/poverty in her story.
Full of adventure, humour, suspense and magic I was hooked from start to end. I just hope the next book comes out asap.
But when shadowy visions begin stirring inside of Tess, a dark prophecy is revealed that will alter her life forever… An ancient evil has been awakened, and its shadowy powers reside in another young girl, whose destiny is to hunt and destroy Tess.
And it seems that she has found her.
In a whirlwind adventure, Tess must escape the secret school to journey through troll-owned estates, dodgy pubs with singing moose heads, underground jousting pits, and even a haunted dragon tomb, all to retrieve the Wand of Avalon—A wand that belonged to Merlin himself—which can unite the realm and save her friends from the evil that threatens to destroy them.
Will Tess accept the truth of her family name and her role in the greater battle to come? Or will the Realm be cursed into the shadows forever?
I LOVED THIS! Matthews managed to create a world filled with magic, friendship, family, loyalty steeped in history. Her protagonist Tess was courageous, witty and enigmatic and I was rooting for her right from the start.
I loved the characters from both the world of Avalon and the King’s Underground and enjoyed the way Matthews touched on topics of belonging, monarchy and class/poverty in her story.
Full of adventure, humour, suspense and magic I was hooked from start to end. I just hope the next book comes out asap.
October 4, 2021
There is a good appeal to younger readers, it's like the School for Good and Evil but set in Camelot.
Filled with adventure, magic, and secrets. The story takes a while for it to start, there is a lot of building to get there. Tess has the potential to develop and come into her own as the series progresses, but at this stage she felt more of a character filler and the main bully is a blonde named Brittney, I mean really? Cliché much?
At times it is sometimes too similar to other works (School for Good and Evil, Harry Potter etc.) to really appreciate this as something new. The plot can be halted due to some confusing features in the storytelling, events happening without detail or explanation.
A promising new series, but for me just not promising enough to continue. For anyone who loves Arthurian lore, chosen ones, and magical schools.
Filled with adventure, magic, and secrets. The story takes a while for it to start, there is a lot of building to get there. Tess has the potential to develop and come into her own as the series progresses, but at this stage she felt more of a character filler and the main bully is a blonde named Brittney, I mean really? Cliché much?
At times it is sometimes too similar to other works (School for Good and Evil, Harry Potter etc.) to really appreciate this as something new. The plot can be halted due to some confusing features in the storytelling, events happening without detail or explanation.
A promising new series, but for me just not promising enough to continue. For anyone who loves Arthurian lore, chosen ones, and magical schools.
October 31, 2021
Merlins last Prophecy is about to be fulfilled and Tess is right in the middle of it, I really liked the idea and the setting but i had trouble getting into it. I was in a reading slump and wasn´t paying to much attention to the book. So that was part of it I guess. I had to rerread a lot of scenes. All in all it was a nice read but not enough to get me out of my slump. Still would give the second book a chance.
dnf
October 16, 2021dnf pretty early on
Merlin's last prophecy says there there were two children born from the same line, one good and one evil. Not what they're going to do, but that there is a clear distinction between them - but he doesn't know which is which.
Sooo in the prologue alone we have a wild mash-up of multipe mythologies that annoyed me. Anachronisms, nothing made any sense whatsoever, and I didn't like the writing on top of it. It reminded me a bit - no, a lot - of my fanfic days and of reading stories written by people who just found out they really like telling tales, and had yet to find their own voice, both in terms of ideas and in terms of phrasing.
I feel like I can't even judge the writing of this author yet, because they're so freshly into this that there is no telling where they will wind up in a few hundred thousand words.
I just can tell that there is no way I am going to enjoy this, and if we already have unlogical details in the beginning, and it already annoys me, it would be hard work to read on, so I quit.
The only reason to not quit this would have been that I already dnf-ed books today, but considering the amount of stories in the world and the time I have to consume them, I need to get my priorities straight.
Of course, you could say this might work for the target audience, but it feels both lazy and rude to the children to say they're only children, just put some magic in it and they'll gobble it up.
No recommendations from me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Merlin's last prophecy says there there were two children born from the same line, one good and one evil. Not what they're going to do, but that there is a clear distinction between them - but he doesn't know which is which.
Sooo in the prologue alone we have a wild mash-up of multipe mythologies that annoyed me. Anachronisms, nothing made any sense whatsoever, and I didn't like the writing on top of it. It reminded me a bit - no, a lot - of my fanfic days and of reading stories written by people who just found out they really like telling tales, and had yet to find their own voice, both in terms of ideas and in terms of phrasing.
I feel like I can't even judge the writing of this author yet, because they're so freshly into this that there is no telling where they will wind up in a few hundred thousand words.
I just can tell that there is no way I am going to enjoy this, and if we already have unlogical details in the beginning, and it already annoys me, it would be hard work to read on, so I quit.
The only reason to not quit this would have been that I already dnf-ed books today, but considering the amount of stories in the world and the time I have to consume them, I need to get my priorities straight.
Of course, you could say this might work for the target audience, but it feels both lazy and rude to the children to say they're only children, just put some magic in it and they'll gobble it up.
No recommendations from me.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
September 23, 2021
Very rarely do I give a book a one star rating. Tess Pendragon is that rare book..
I don't know anyone who doesn't love Arthurian legends and introducing it to kids is always amazing. This book is not the book I would give to kids to do that.
It reads so much like Harry Potter. Or a weak Harry Potter rip off. The setup in the first chapter is so similar. And it's the entire book that's like that. Yes, with a book about a magical school it's going to draw parallels because the series was so big for so long.
So it's up to the author to instill it with their own twists and flavor.
I couldn't wait to get to the end of this book. I just wanted to see Tess grow and have more agency and she doesn't. Things happen to her but she doesn't seem to have any real impact on them.
Also, the first instance we have of conflict among the students, to show that Tess is bullied, are the Golden Witches. Three blond girls who bully Tess.
This put such a sour taste in my mouth. It's 2021! Are we really still doing this?
Then there's the writing that just isn't that great. Is it hard to read? No. Is it nice to read? Unfortunately, not for me. I didn't enjoy it. I didn't enjoy any of it.
I know it's a first book so I'm hoping that with time the author gets more solid footing under their writing. I'd like to give them another chance but this book was a poor showcase for me.
I received this digital arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know anyone who doesn't love Arthurian legends and introducing it to kids is always amazing. This book is not the book I would give to kids to do that.
It reads so much like Harry Potter. Or a weak Harry Potter rip off. The setup in the first chapter is so similar. And it's the entire book that's like that. Yes, with a book about a magical school it's going to draw parallels because the series was so big for so long.
So it's up to the author to instill it with their own twists and flavor.
I couldn't wait to get to the end of this book. I just wanted to see Tess grow and have more agency and she doesn't. Things happen to her but she doesn't seem to have any real impact on them.
Also, the first instance we have of conflict among the students, to show that Tess is bullied, are the Golden Witches. Three blond girls who bully Tess.
This put such a sour taste in my mouth. It's 2021! Are we really still doing this?
Then there's the writing that just isn't that great. Is it hard to read? No. Is it nice to read? Unfortunately, not for me. I didn't enjoy it. I didn't enjoy any of it.
I know it's a first book so I'm hoping that with time the author gets more solid footing under their writing. I'd like to give them another chance but this book was a poor showcase for me.
I received this digital arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2022
Digital ARC provided by Netgalley
It was a very enjoyable and fast read. The characters, the magic and all the action were easy to follow, and I adored the theme and the historical plots. I would have liked the character of Tess Pendragon to be slightly different and to have more courage but in the end for the age range I think it is very appropriate the way the character was shaped. It is a bildungsroman that let us see how Tess and her friends manage to take responsibility and find their way toward adulthood.
It was a very enjoyable and fast read. The characters, the magic and all the action were easy to follow, and I adored the theme and the historical plots. I would have liked the character of Tess Pendragon to be slightly different and to have more courage but in the end for the age range I think it is very appropriate the way the character was shaped. It is a bildungsroman that let us see how Tess and her friends manage to take responsibility and find their way toward adulthood.
September 12, 2021
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy for review.
KR Matthews creates a fabulous world that every kid will want to live in.
I think that Matthews really had a clear vision for the world and they people in it. With goblins and trolls and pegasus. This world goes beyond the average and I think that young readers will want to explore the world in the same way that I as a child wanted to explore the world of Harry Potter.
Unfortunately I think that more time should have been spent towards the characterization of Tess. Tess seemed to just rely on everyone else, without any initiative of her own. That's fine for the beginning of the story, but I wanted to see her grow throughout. Instead we get her being led by the hands of the adults around her. They all tell her where she needs to go and what she needs to do. We see a peak of that in the beginning with Brittany, but once the adventure starts in earnest, any drive goes away.
I also think the story could have started sooner. There were so many characters that got a lot of page time, but didn't really have much to do with the actual plot of the book.
The Wand of Avalon felt shoehorned in which is strange given the title. We don't really learn about it until the last 75% of the book and it feels like it should be driving the plot a lot more.
I think that a lot of this book was setting up the world and supporting characters, but I wanted more of Tess actually trying to be something, I wanted more leadership from her, and I definitely wanted her to have a stronger goal.
I didn't like the way that it seemed to make crushes a thing. The characters are 11-12. It feels a little uncomfortable, That goes into what I think could solve a lot of the issues I have with the book.
Tess feels too young. I think if Tess was even just a few years older, the author could have done more with her. It feels like Matthews really wanted to show that Tess was young and unsure, but it went to the extreme. I think if Tess was 13 or 14 it would allow for her to take more initiative without the adults around her stopping her because she is a small child. It seemed like Matthews was teasing some sort of romance with Triston, and that feels off for a preteen character.
On a more positive note I think that the character of Triston has a lot of potential and can be a great mover of the plot, as well as someone who Tess can rely on without it feeling like an adult is handling her problems. She and Triston can work together. I hope that in future books Tess can have more of her peers surrounding her. Yes she needs adults to guide her, but they need to be just that, a guide.
The connection to the dragon girl is intriguing and I think that young readers will be stunned by it. I have my complains about it, but generally I think it was well done..
I really liked this neat take on the world of King Arthur and of course our protagonist in this world Tess. I think this series has the potential to be the next Magic Treehouse or Narnia. This is absolutely a book that I will be purchasing to keep on my shelves for 5th and 6th grade students. I can't wait to watch students pretending to be Tess Pendragon at recess. With a world so well developed, I know that every student who reads it will want to imagine themselves adventuring through it.
KR Matthews creates a fabulous world that every kid will want to live in.
I think that Matthews really had a clear vision for the world and they people in it. With goblins and trolls and pegasus. This world goes beyond the average and I think that young readers will want to explore the world in the same way that I as a child wanted to explore the world of Harry Potter.
Unfortunately I think that more time should have been spent towards the characterization of Tess. Tess seemed to just rely on everyone else, without any initiative of her own. That's fine for the beginning of the story, but I wanted to see her grow throughout. Instead we get her being led by the hands of the adults around her. They all tell her where she needs to go and what she needs to do. We see a peak of that in the beginning with Brittany, but once the adventure starts in earnest, any drive goes away.
I also think the story could have started sooner. There were so many characters that got a lot of page time, but didn't really have much to do with the actual plot of the book.
The Wand of Avalon felt shoehorned in which is strange given the title. We don't really learn about it until the last 75% of the book and it feels like it should be driving the plot a lot more.
I think that a lot of this book was setting up the world and supporting characters, but I wanted more of Tess actually trying to be something, I wanted more leadership from her, and I definitely wanted her to have a stronger goal.
I didn't like the way that it seemed to make crushes a thing. The characters are 11-12. It feels a little uncomfortable, That goes into what I think could solve a lot of the issues I have with the book.
Tess feels too young. I think if Tess was even just a few years older, the author could have done more with her. It feels like Matthews really wanted to show that Tess was young and unsure, but it went to the extreme. I think if Tess was 13 or 14 it would allow for her to take more initiative without the adults around her stopping her because she is a small child. It seemed like Matthews was teasing some sort of romance with Triston, and that feels off for a preteen character.
On a more positive note I think that the character of Triston has a lot of potential and can be a great mover of the plot, as well as someone who Tess can rely on without it feeling like an adult is handling her problems. She and Triston can work together. I hope that in future books Tess can have more of her peers surrounding her. Yes she needs adults to guide her, but they need to be just that, a guide.
The connection to the dragon girl is intriguing and I think that young readers will be stunned by it. I have my complains about it, but generally I think it was well done..
I really liked this neat take on the world of King Arthur and of course our protagonist in this world Tess. I think this series has the potential to be the next Magic Treehouse or Narnia. This is absolutely a book that I will be purchasing to keep on my shelves for 5th and 6th grade students. I can't wait to watch students pretending to be Tess Pendragon at recess. With a world so well developed, I know that every student who reads it will want to imagine themselves adventuring through it.
April 22, 2022
Me tardé la vida en leer esta novela, y eso que suelo escoger libros middle grade cuando quiero leer historias entretenidas rápido.
A continuación reseña con spoilers del comienzo del libro (nada que no puedas deducir a penas lo lees):
Pero bueno, la historia sigue a Tess una chica de ¿12 años? (No lo recuerdo exactamente, pero si es como esa edad). Tess vive en una especie de internado con muchos más chicos de su edad. ¿Dónde está lo extraño de todo esto? Que ellos no tienen ningún recuerdo de su vida antes de ese internado, no saben quiénes son sus padres ni por qué están allí. Lo que sí saben es que se acerca el Revealing Day, donde descubrirán a qué familia pertenecen y supuestamente podrán reunirse con ellos.
Otra cosa importante, es mencionar que existe la magia. En el instituto solo hay un profesor que hace a la vez de director y casi de figura paterna para todos esos niños y niñas de hasta 12 años que llevan prácticamente toda su vida allí. Él es el único adulto al que han visto desde que llegaron, y les da sus lecciones de magia, hechizos, historia antigua, enfrentamientos, etc.
Tess no es la chica más popular del curso, pero es feliz por tener a sus amigos siempre con ella, aunque sí que la pone muy nerviosa el qué pasará el día que descubra quienes son sus padres.
Y , hasta aquí ya tienen la información de lo que se cuenta en los primeros 3 capítulos más o menos.
En fin... la historia tiene mucha magia, aventuras, humor y hasta un asomo de un futuro romance tal vez. Las peleas no son tan épicas ni asombrosas y creo que es porque los protagonistas no tienen mas de 12 años, es lógico que no puedan pelear contra cosas más amenazantes. El libro cumple con entretener.
En lo personal no creo seguir leyendo la saga porque las fantasías con dragones, magia, destinos fijos, profecías, caballeros, justas, etc. no me van tanto. Pero nunca digas nunca.
Si te interesó la historia dale una oportunidad y forma tu propia opinión al respecto, yo estaré encantada de leerte también.
A continuación reseña con spoilers del comienzo del libro (nada que no puedas deducir a penas lo lees):
Pero bueno, la historia sigue a Tess una chica de ¿12 años? (No lo recuerdo exactamente, pero si es como esa edad). Tess vive en una especie de internado con muchos más chicos de su edad. ¿Dónde está lo extraño de todo esto? Que ellos no tienen ningún recuerdo de su vida antes de ese internado, no saben quiénes son sus padres ni por qué están allí. Lo que sí saben es que se acerca el Revealing Day, donde descubrirán a qué familia pertenecen y supuestamente podrán reunirse con ellos.
Otra cosa importante, es mencionar que existe la magia. En el instituto solo hay un profesor que hace a la vez de director y casi de figura paterna para todos esos niños y niñas de hasta 12 años que llevan prácticamente toda su vida allí. Él es el único adulto al que han visto desde que llegaron, y les da sus lecciones de magia, hechizos, historia antigua, enfrentamientos, etc.
Tess no es la chica más popular del curso, pero es feliz por tener a sus amigos siempre con ella, aunque sí que la pone muy nerviosa el qué pasará el día que descubra quienes son sus padres.
Y , hasta aquí ya tienen la información de lo que se cuenta en los primeros 3 capítulos más o menos.
En fin... la historia tiene mucha magia, aventuras, humor y hasta un asomo de un futuro romance tal vez. Las peleas no son tan épicas ni asombrosas y creo que es porque los protagonistas no tienen mas de 12 años, es lógico que no puedan pelear contra cosas más amenazantes. El libro cumple con entretener.
En lo personal no creo seguir leyendo la saga porque las fantasías con dragones, magia, destinos fijos, profecías, caballeros, justas, etc. no me van tanto. Pero nunca digas nunca.
Si te interesó la historia dale una oportunidad y forma tu propia opinión al respecto, yo estaré encantada de leerte también.
January 1, 2022
RATING:
3 STARS
Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon by KR Matthews is a delightful children’s retelling of the legend of Arthur Pendragon and the wizard Merlin. It’s a little slow to get into the action, but once it does it’s a very engaging and fun read. I’m a huge fan of stories about Arthur and Merlin so I was very excited after reading the blurb. The fact that the story features a female lead character was like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
The magic and the worldbuilding of the story was quirky and fun. I loved seeing all sorts of creatures like trolls and goblins and pegasus. The dynamic of how the magic works and the wands was innovative and cool too. And, of course, dragons always make a story better. In addition to the fantastical elements and the references to Arthurian legend, I appreciated how the author touched on issues like belonging and class disparity.
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to the characters in the book. It completely makes sense that with Tess’ age, she would gravitate toward asking adults and those who are more experienced for help. However, with her heritage, I would have loved to see her take more initiative and demonstrate more leadership qualities. A quest featuring those her age (akin to Percy Jackson) would have been more exciting than Tess traveling with adults. I was intrigued by Tess’ connection with the antagonist of the story, but again I was more connected to the story aspect of it than the characters themselves.
Overall, the book is a quick adventure filled read. I would compare it to series like Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. I would recommend the book to those looking for a new middle grade fantasy. The plot might be a bit hectic for older readers, but younger readers should enjoy it with little to no issue. For those who have Kindle Unlimited, this book was available to members at the time this review was written (January 2022).
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher Greater Path LLC for allowing me to read an early copy of the book! I appreciate the opportunity immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon by KR Matthews is a delightful children’s retelling of the legend of Arthur Pendragon and the wizard Merlin. It’s a little slow to get into the action, but once it does it’s a very engaging and fun read. I’m a huge fan of stories about Arthur and Merlin so I was very excited after reading the blurb. The fact that the story features a female lead character was like the cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.
The magic and the worldbuilding of the story was quirky and fun. I loved seeing all sorts of creatures like trolls and goblins and pegasus. The dynamic of how the magic works and the wands was innovative and cool too. And, of course, dragons always make a story better. In addition to the fantastical elements and the references to Arthurian legend, I appreciated how the author touched on issues like belonging and class disparity.
Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to the characters in the book. It completely makes sense that with Tess’ age, she would gravitate toward asking adults and those who are more experienced for help. However, with her heritage, I would have loved to see her take more initiative and demonstrate more leadership qualities. A quest featuring those her age (akin to Percy Jackson) would have been more exciting than Tess traveling with adults. I was intrigued by Tess’ connection with the antagonist of the story, but again I was more connected to the story aspect of it than the characters themselves.
Overall, the book is a quick adventure filled read. I would compare it to series like Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. I would recommend the book to those looking for a new middle grade fantasy. The plot might be a bit hectic for older readers, but younger readers should enjoy it with little to no issue. For those who have Kindle Unlimited, this book was available to members at the time this review was written (January 2022).
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher Greater Path LLC for allowing me to read an early copy of the book! I appreciate the opportunity immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
March 1, 2022
This children’s retelling of King Arthur begins a few days before Revealing Day, when the eleven-year-old protagonist, Tess, and her classmates will learn their true identities and take their place in the world as sorcerers. The countdown is great for suspense, but the whole ‘magic school’ arc felt very rushed—the race to stop Britney could have been an entire book on its own and neither the school structure nor the children’s relationships are properly introduced. I also felt there were too many characters, and the author didn’t give us a chance to truly connect with any of them. Apart from some mysterious scenes, we don't even know Jaida, supposedly the real antagonist.
The world-building, even though it could have been better developed, is quirky and fun, especially the food (I loved all the descriptions, it sounded yummy!). I also loved to read about a lot of different creatures, like gargoyles and trolls; and how, between a lot of fantastical elements, the author still addresses contemporary issues like class disparity, identity search, and belonging.
I don’t have deep knowledge about Arthurian legends and I think I could have enjoyed it more if I did. Despite that, the story itself might be a pleasant introduction to those tales for middle-grade readers. Even though I feel some things could have been better explained, it might be a way to instil curiosity in the younger ones and make them want to find out more about it. In the end, I still think the world the author wanted to create has a lot of potential, especially because the whole girls with entwined destiny's plot, and I’m sure some younger readers will have a blast with it. I just wish it could have been better executed.
I have to thank NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version was published on September 14, 2021.
The world-building, even though it could have been better developed, is quirky and fun, especially the food (I loved all the descriptions, it sounded yummy!). I also loved to read about a lot of different creatures, like gargoyles and trolls; and how, between a lot of fantastical elements, the author still addresses contemporary issues like class disparity, identity search, and belonging.
I don’t have deep knowledge about Arthurian legends and I think I could have enjoyed it more if I did. Despite that, the story itself might be a pleasant introduction to those tales for middle-grade readers. Even though I feel some things could have been better explained, it might be a way to instil curiosity in the younger ones and make them want to find out more about it. In the end, I still think the world the author wanted to create has a lot of potential, especially because the whole girls with entwined destiny's plot, and I’m sure some younger readers will have a blast with it. I just wish it could have been better executed.
I have to thank NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version was published on September 14, 2021.
January 24, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm happy I had the opportunity to read this.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. In Tess Pendragon & The Wand of Avalon we follow Tess, who has attended a magical boarding school for as long as she can remember. In four days she will learn the truth of her legendary ancestry and it will change everything. Tess and another girl are part of an ancient prophecy. One of them has the power to do good, the other has the power to do evil. Only one of them can take the throne and Tess needs to go on an adventure to protect the Realm from the other girl and the shadows she brings with her.
The premise isn't very original and the book isn't either. It's good that the book is already described as a combination of Harry Potter and The School For Good and Evil, because it has a lot in common with Harry Potter. I would also say this book draws heavily on Arthurian legends.
Personally, I felt this book was a bit too much like Harry Potter at times. I read J.K. Rowling's books over and over when I was a kid and there were a few scenes in this book that were a bit too similar. I hope the next parts in the series will be a bit more original, but I don't think I would've minded the similarities as much as a kid, to be honest.
All in all, I enjoyed it, although it wasn't original. I think younger readers will enjoy it more.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. In Tess Pendragon & The Wand of Avalon we follow Tess, who has attended a magical boarding school for as long as she can remember. In four days she will learn the truth of her legendary ancestry and it will change everything. Tess and another girl are part of an ancient prophecy. One of them has the power to do good, the other has the power to do evil. Only one of them can take the throne and Tess needs to go on an adventure to protect the Realm from the other girl and the shadows she brings with her.
The premise isn't very original and the book isn't either. It's good that the book is already described as a combination of Harry Potter and The School For Good and Evil, because it has a lot in common with Harry Potter. I would also say this book draws heavily on Arthurian legends.
Personally, I felt this book was a bit too much like Harry Potter at times. I read J.K. Rowling's books over and over when I was a kid and there were a few scenes in this book that were a bit too similar. I hope the next parts in the series will be a bit more original, but I don't think I would've minded the similarities as much as a kid, to be honest.
All in all, I enjoyed it, although it wasn't original. I think younger readers will enjoy it more.
March 3, 2022
Since they were little, Tess and her fellow classmates have spent their lives in a cottage-cum-boarding school on the island of Avalon, protected by a seal. Looking forward to the revealing day when they would get their childhood memories back and return to their families.
But when Tess and his friend Tristan uncover a plan to break the seal, things take a turn for the worse. And suddenly, the day Tess had been waiting for becomes the worst day of their lives, ripping her away from her friends and everything she has ever known.
Thrown into the realm of the old, Tess must figure out her heritage, her strange magic and reclaim her throne before the dragon-scaled girl from her dreams destroys it all.
This book has an interesting premise. Two girls descendents of Merlin. One born to light. And another destined to bring back the darkness. Bound with an inescapable prophecy.
If it was expounded a little further, had a little more character development, I think it would easily have been a four star read.
The world building was fascinating and I especially loved the tid-bits of trivia thrown here and there.
And although some parts felt more rushed than the others, I still pleasantly enjoyed reading it. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle grade and stories based on Arthurian legend.
But when Tess and his friend Tristan uncover a plan to break the seal, things take a turn for the worse. And suddenly, the day Tess had been waiting for becomes the worst day of their lives, ripping her away from her friends and everything she has ever known.
Thrown into the realm of the old, Tess must figure out her heritage, her strange magic and reclaim her throne before the dragon-scaled girl from her dreams destroys it all.
This book has an interesting premise. Two girls descendents of Merlin. One born to light. And another destined to bring back the darkness. Bound with an inescapable prophecy.
If it was expounded a little further, had a little more character development, I think it would easily have been a four star read.
The world building was fascinating and I especially loved the tid-bits of trivia thrown here and there.
And although some parts felt more rushed than the others, I still pleasantly enjoyed reading it. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle grade and stories based on Arthurian legend.
September 15, 2021
The world of Tess is very fascinating especially how it connects to Merlin. The child (even the adult) in me loves the world of magic and dragons so I think that a lot of young readers will enjoy this.
However, the story would have been better for me if Tess went about her quest with more of her friends instead of adults. Of course, she is still young and definitely would need adults to guide her but that’s it, the adults should just be guides. At the beginning of the story, a lot of kids her age were introduced and I kind of hoped that those same kids were the ones who went on the adventure with her. They would discover their strengths and create bonds that would help them thru every obstacles.
On the other hand, I liked how Tess’s story is slowly being revealed. I loved her journey in rediscovering her heritage. And like most of us, I like seeing a worm become a butterfly and Tess here definitely came out as a butterfly, after being bullied in school and later finding out that she is a Pendragon.
I also like the connection of Tess with the antagonist. It’s intriguing how they are linked as “twins” in the story. I look forward to discovering more about their powers and how both will reign over the magical realm.
Overall, I love this book and I believe that this is a good start to a great series. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
However, the story would have been better for me if Tess went about her quest with more of her friends instead of adults. Of course, she is still young and definitely would need adults to guide her but that’s it, the adults should just be guides. At the beginning of the story, a lot of kids her age were introduced and I kind of hoped that those same kids were the ones who went on the adventure with her. They would discover their strengths and create bonds that would help them thru every obstacles.
On the other hand, I liked how Tess’s story is slowly being revealed. I loved her journey in rediscovering her heritage. And like most of us, I like seeing a worm become a butterfly and Tess here definitely came out as a butterfly, after being bullied in school and later finding out that she is a Pendragon.
I also like the connection of Tess with the antagonist. It’s intriguing how they are linked as “twins” in the story. I look forward to discovering more about their powers and how both will reign over the magical realm.
Overall, I love this book and I believe that this is a good start to a great series. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
September 14, 2021
Honestly, I'm not sure I really enjoyed reading this book, BUT I would be willing to read the next one to see whether some of the issues I had will resolve themselves.
I guess at some point, every Magic School book is going to feel inspired by Harry Potter...but so much of this feels a little TOO obviously Harry Potter. This author has created a very detailed world, and I would really love to see what else is in it that ISN'T an obvious HP-ism.
Tess herself is not an especially active protagonist, and it would be nice to see her gain some agency in her next adventure. Her first encounter of the day is getting bullied by a trio of stereotypically rude pretty blonde girls, in a move that feels a little tired for 2021, and from there it's a lot of the adults guiding her life rather than make her own decisions. If it's going to be her book, I feel she deserves a little more of her own personality and power as a main character.
Again, when the sequel comes out, I will probably read it; there's a lot here that I find interesting, namely the take on Arthurian lore. This is a fairly uneven debut to what COULD be a really cool series--if the story, and its heroine, can step out of the shadow of the Boy Who Lived and trust its own originality.
I guess at some point, every Magic School book is going to feel inspired by Harry Potter...but so much of this feels a little TOO obviously Harry Potter. This author has created a very detailed world, and I would really love to see what else is in it that ISN'T an obvious HP-ism.
Tess herself is not an especially active protagonist, and it would be nice to see her gain some agency in her next adventure. Her first encounter of the day is getting bullied by a trio of stereotypically rude pretty blonde girls, in a move that feels a little tired for 2021, and from there it's a lot of the adults guiding her life rather than make her own decisions. If it's going to be her book, I feel she deserves a little more of her own personality and power as a main character.
Again, when the sequel comes out, I will probably read it; there's a lot here that I find interesting, namely the take on Arthurian lore. This is a fairly uneven debut to what COULD be a really cool series--if the story, and its heroine, can step out of the shadow of the Boy Who Lived and trust its own originality.
Read
September 26, 2021Tess and her friends have been raised in a secret location, the Island of Avalon, while they wait for Revealing Day, when they will finally be told their last names and have a chance to meet the families they don't remember being taken from for their protection years ago. Tess has begun seeing visions and feeling a darkness swirling around her at odd times, though, that make her begin to suspect she is slated for darker things. When the school is attacked unexpectedly, though, Tess barely escapes and is taken in by a troll couple who protect her and try to help her fulfill her true destiny. While sections of this story are creative and engaging, I felt that there were areas that were weaker, particularly when it came to the descriptions of the setting. I felt like I was thrown into a story that I was supposed to make sense to me, but without the background knowledge of the world in which it took place so that it could flow. About halfway through, I felt like it starting coming together. I'm not sure that middle grade readers will stick with it that long, though, if they are confused by what is happening. Matthews has some clever ideas and characters, but the gaps in the story foundation might cause a lack of engagement for readers.
December 16, 2021
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
A fresh new, exciting look at the Arthurian legends and a great book to start older children and hound teens on their fantasy reading journey.
This story is about Tess who goes to a small school closed off from the outside of world by a barrier. She and her classmates are just getting ready for their revealing where there family house and parents are revealed to them. However, Tess is having strange dreams and strange things start to occur when she performs magic. On revealing day, Tess is announced as a pendragon (not spoiler, in the title) and disaster struck where she has to run away. This leads to an epic adventure, meeting very interesting characters who she has to decide whether they are friends or foe, battle dark magic and her evil ‘twin’ Le Fay. All in order to claim her rightful place in Avalon… the throne in New Camelot.
Intially I wasn’t sure if this was for me, but I quickly changed my mind. A unique look at the legend which is very well thought out, has interesting characters and an ending that will leave you desperately waiting for the sequel!
A fresh new, exciting look at the Arthurian legends and a great book to start older children and hound teens on their fantasy reading journey.
This story is about Tess who goes to a small school closed off from the outside of world by a barrier. She and her classmates are just getting ready for their revealing where there family house and parents are revealed to them. However, Tess is having strange dreams and strange things start to occur when she performs magic. On revealing day, Tess is announced as a pendragon (not spoiler, in the title) and disaster struck where she has to run away. This leads to an epic adventure, meeting very interesting characters who she has to decide whether they are friends or foe, battle dark magic and her evil ‘twin’ Le Fay. All in order to claim her rightful place in Avalon… the throne in New Camelot.
Intially I wasn’t sure if this was for me, but I quickly changed my mind. A unique look at the legend which is very well thought out, has interesting characters and an ending that will leave you desperately waiting for the sequel!
November 2, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! The writing style of this book kind of bored me a little. There’s just a lot of information and world building which was a bit difficult for me to follow, so I ended up mostly skimming the second half of the book. This book is basically a mix between Harry Potter and King Arthur. There were some lines in the book and situations, like the wand shop, that sounded so similar to the Harry Potter universe and that ended up distracting me a little because I kept finding little similarities here and there between the two stories. Overall I was just really overwhelmed and confused by what was happening in the story especially with what was happening in the different worlds like the King’s Underground and Avalon and the Old Realm. I think kids would enjoy this story though because of all the magical elements and fantasy. I think they would like the characters, especially Mr. and Mrs. Robinson and the talking lamp. I also really want to try a Pegasus roll too. The food in this book sounded yummy!
February 28, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed being engrossed in the magical world of Tess Pendragon and her friends. It helps if you have some knowledge of Arthurian legends before reading this book, but I can see this being a good introduction to those tales for middle grade readers.
I like the idea of two of Merlin's descendants, cousins in this case, and how they are interconnected but are on opposing sides--with one that has been pulled into the darkness while the other fights for the light.
During her quest, Tess encounters evidence of oppression and the political moves made by the darker forces to wrest control. She learns to believe in herself and to draw strength from within. She digs deep to find her connection to her family by blood and pulls strength from the friendships that bind together her found family.
I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
I like the idea of two of Merlin's descendants, cousins in this case, and how they are interconnected but are on opposing sides--with one that has been pulled into the darkness while the other fights for the light.
During her quest, Tess encounters evidence of oppression and the political moves made by the darker forces to wrest control. She learns to believe in herself and to draw strength from within. She digs deep to find her connection to her family by blood and pulls strength from the friendships that bind together her found family.
I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
September 10, 2022
Digital copy provided by NetGalley for review
1.86 on CAWPILE
Unfortunately, I really did not like this book. In fact, the only thing I did like about this book was Mrs. Robinson, that's it. I got lost so many times while reading this and had to restart chapters or pages too many times to count because the book was all over the place, we would go from nothing happening to everything happening, with no middle ground to balance it out. I feel this book would have been better as two separate novels, with the first one being everything that happened leading up to reading day, just fleshed out better and more worldbuilding, because it felt like two completely different stories being mushed into one. I won't be reading the sequel because I honestly couldn't care less about this story
Content Warnings
1.86 on CAWPILE
Unfortunately, I really did not like this book. In fact, the only thing I did like about this book was Mrs. Robinson, that's it. I got lost so many times while reading this and had to restart chapters or pages too many times to count because the book was all over the place, we would go from nothing happening to everything happening, with no middle ground to balance it out. I feel this book would have been better as two separate novels, with the first one being everything that happened leading up to reading day, just fleshed out better and more worldbuilding, because it felt like two completely different stories being mushed into one. I won't be reading the sequel because I honestly couldn't care less about this story
Content Warnings
October 20, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an EARC of this novel. The free copy did not influence my review.
Tess has lived in a hidden cottage all of her life. She has been taking lessons with her classmates about magic, history, and what they are supposed to do after they go out into the world for the first time. When evil people invade her home, she barely escapes and goes on a journey filled with magic, mystery, and trolls.
This was a good book. I do think that fans of The School for Good and Evil and Harry Potter would enjoy this one. It was very fast paced and entertaining. I do wish that there was a little bit more backstory on all of the characters, but younger readers would not care about this. Overall, an entertaining novel that young readers would enjoy.
Ages 9+
Tess has lived in a hidden cottage all of her life. She has been taking lessons with her classmates about magic, history, and what they are supposed to do after they go out into the world for the first time. When evil people invade her home, she barely escapes and goes on a journey filled with magic, mystery, and trolls.
This was a good book. I do think that fans of The School for Good and Evil and Harry Potter would enjoy this one. It was very fast paced and entertaining. I do wish that there was a little bit more backstory on all of the characters, but younger readers would not care about this. Overall, an entertaining novel that young readers would enjoy.
Ages 9+
October 12, 2021
Love Love Love this book! And more to the point so did my grandaughter. I like to buy books that we can read together and this one is perfect. It’s a story of a different world, one filled with magic and mystery but it also touches on some themes universal to all young people growing up eg bullying, a fear of not fitting in, friendships gained and lost, and a sense of something bigger than self. But that said its not a book of morals and teachings, absolutely not. It’s a great story and the characters are superb. My grandaughter is already asking when the next book will be published.
October 6, 2021
The previous reviews pretty much summed up my overall feeling about this book. It meant well and no one would blame the author for trying to ride the successful wave launched by J. K. Rowling. But sadly this novel was too much of a mixture of already existing material to stand out on its own and feel new. I just couldn't click with the universe and was rather annoyed by the choice of character names, a lineup of names reminiscent of a Disney sitcom. Anyway, I gave it a go but it wasn't for me.
September 21, 2021
The story has lots of promise. Characters and background just needs to have more definition. Hoping the next one solves some of the issues. But a good start! Thanks #netgalley and #GreaterPathLLC for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
October 21, 2021
This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. The characters were relatable and I think the kids will like to go on this adventure.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC!
October 17, 2021
Fun YA read following a teen witch in a fantasy world as she finds out who she is. Great for fans of Harry Potter and Sabrina.
November 21, 2021
I love any book to do with Merlin and this was so good!
I loved the magic, characters and world. This was a lot of fun.
I loved the magic, characters and world. This was a lot of fun.
March 19, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tess and all the students at her magic school have memories of their lives before they were taken but this will all change in three days on revealing day. This was a fun middlegrade with a great premise. I enjoyed Tess as a character, and the introduction at the school gave a good introduction to some of her friends and peers. It was refreshing in a middlegrade to see adults be a present and guiding influence in events. I liked the inclusion of Arthurian legend and wish more lore had been woven into the world building. The pacing was a bit off and at times seemed like we were just jumping from one event to the next.. I wish there had been more emphasis on Tess's friend group, and that more time had been spent developing the side characters. Overall though this was enjoyable and I can see a lot of potential for the series.
Tess and all the students at her magic school have memories of their lives before they were taken but this will all change in three days on revealing day. This was a fun middlegrade with a great premise. I enjoyed Tess as a character, and the introduction at the school gave a good introduction to some of her friends and peers. It was refreshing in a middlegrade to see adults be a present and guiding influence in events. I liked the inclusion of Arthurian legend and wish more lore had been woven into the world building. The pacing was a bit off and at times seemed like we were just jumping from one event to the next.. I wish there had been more emphasis on Tess's friend group, and that more time had been spent developing the side characters. Overall though this was enjoyable and I can see a lot of potential for the series.
April 5, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for allowing me an arc of this book. Apologies for finishing and reviewing this book late.
I will be honest, with the story, more often than not, you were being transported from one scene to another without the sort of build up... or preparation..
First, when Tess said in 3 days time, they will leave the cottage, but Mr. Picklestein said Revealing Day is in 4 days. Sadly in the middle of reading this, I was suddenly in a slump.. then when I continued its still dragging BUT became interesting once the Scales entered Avalon.. and then the real adventure begins! This is a story about magic, family, friendship and more adventures! I am now waiting for the next book.
I will be honest, with the story, more often than not, you were being transported from one scene to another without the sort of build up... or preparation..
First, when Tess said in 3 days time, they will leave the cottage, but Mr. Picklestein said Revealing Day is in 4 days. Sadly in the middle of reading this, I was suddenly in a slump.. then when I continued its still dragging BUT became interesting once the Scales entered Avalon.. and then the real adventure begins! This is a story about magic, family, friendship and more adventures! I am now waiting for the next book.
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