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Summary
Summary
In the first book of a new series by the bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon , the warring worlds of Wizards and Warriors collide in a thrilling and enchanting adventure.
Once there were Wizards, who were Magic, and Warriors, who were not. But Xar, son of the King of Wizards, can't cast a single spell. And Wish, daughter of the Warrior Queen, has a banned magical object of her own. When they collide in the wildwood, on the trail of a deadly witch, it's the start of a grand adventure that just might change the fabric of their worlds.
With Cressida Cowell's trademark wit, and the same stunning combination of action, adventure, heart, humor, and incredible artwork that made How to Train Your Dragon a beloved bestselling franchise, The Wizards of Once will transport and enchant readers.
Author Notes
Cressida Cowell was born on April 15, 1966 in London. She went to Oxford where she studied English, and at St Martin's and Brighton University where she learned illustration. Cressida also won the Nestle Children's book award. She is known for writing the Hiccup series of books. Some of her titles include: How to Train Your Dragon, How to Be a Pirate and How to Speak Dragonese. Her title How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel made The New York Times Best Seller List for 2013. In 2014, she made the list again with her title - How to Train Your Dragon: How to Betray a Dragon's Hero.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (6)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a whimsical fantasy set in a "British Isles so old it did not know it was the British Isles yet," Cowell (the How to Train Your Dragon books) launches a series featuring two feuding societies: the "Wizards, who were Magic" and the "Warriors, who were not." The Warriors are determined to stamp out all magical beings, forcing the Wizards into hiding along with giants, pixies, and other creatures. When 13-year-old Xar, a Wizard without magic, sets out to capture a dreaded Witch (long thought extinct) in order to steal its power, he instead encounters Wish, a Warrior Princess looking for an adventure of her own. Though supposedly enemies, the two become reluctant allies as their escapades bring them into conflict with an actual Witch, as well as their own families. The tongue-in-cheek voice combines with scribbly b&w interior illustrations, rampant use of capitalized words, and an omniscient (and occasionally unreliable) narrator to sustain a sense of wonder and mayhem from start to finish. Cowell skillfully mixes adventure with silliness in a satisfying story for younger fantasy fans. Ages 8-12. Agent: Caroline Walsh, David Higham Associates. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In this lighthearted fantasy series-opener set in a medieval-like world, the invading Warriors maintain a fierce feud with the indigenous Wizards; both are terrified of the villainous Witches. Two misfits--brash thirteen-year-old Wizard Xar and introspective, similarly aged Warrior Wish--reluctantly join forces to face those Witches, magic, and more. Snarky narration and the spirited commentary in Cowell's scratchy pen-and-ink drawings keep everything moving briskly along. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Long before our story starts, a great battle was fought between the Witches, who had bad magic, and the Warriors, who had no magic at all. The Warriors swore to destroy all magic, ignoring the fact that some, like the Wizards' magic, could be good. Now, the Witches have vanished and are presumed extinct by everyone but an incorrigible Wizard boy named Xar. At 13, Xar is a late bloomer his magic hasn't arrived, and he worries it won't so he sets off with his cohort of magical creatures, entering Warrior territory to hunt a Witch and steal her magic. Instead, he encounters Wish, the odd daughter of the formidable Warrior queen, accompanied only by her bodyguard and forbidden, enchanted pet spoon. The chance meeting catapults the two born enemies into a world of secrets and an adventure they never saw coming. A cheeky, unidentified narrator sets the tone, and Cowell's trademark chaotic black-and-white illustrations add to the whimsy. This playful, energetic romp is a treat for any reader. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This series starter is imbued with the same madcap spirit that made How to Train Your Dragon (2004) such a hit; if that's not enough, the six-figure marketing campaign will do the trick.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2017 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Readers of "How To Train Your Dragon" will be ecstatic to get their hands on this first volume in Cowell's new series. Thirteen-year-olds Xar (a wizard prince whose magic hasn't kicked in yet) and Wish (a warrior princess who is anything but warriorlike) meet in the wildwood as enemies. When they discover the return of witches, thought to be extinct, they must rise above the prejudices of their parents and work together to fight the bad magic. Cowell crafts two believable and lovable main characters, each with their own story arc, who change just enough in this installment so that readers will want to follow them in upcoming entries. Kids will snicker at the creative swearing ("By mistletoe and leafmould and the ginger sideburns of the Great Grim Ogre") and delight in fantastical details, such as traveling by door. The author's hallmark sketches are sprinkled throughout, and full-page illustrations every few pages of text will help younger readers make it through this hefty tome. While this is a less emotionally compelling and original tale than Cowell's previous work, the author's fans will be quite satisfied with this fast-paced novel. VERDICT A strong new series starter by a best-selling author; buy multiple copies wherever -possible.-Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Guardian Review
A magical excursion into a land of mysterious forests, witches and warriors by the author of How to Train Your Dragon A hugely successful series is a hard act to follow. Those of us who loved Cressida Cowell's brilliant How to Train Your Dragon books about Hiccup, his dragon Toothless and the Viking world they live in might have felt a little concerned when they came to an end in 2015. What would she do next? I am pleased to report that The Wizards of Once -- the first book in a new middle grade series -- is terrific. It introduces us to a new fantasy world, though its roots again lie deep in a familiar mulch of history and legend. Not the Norse myths this time, but a fantasia of ancient Britain, a land of dark, mysterious forests and powerful magic. The backstory is very simple, involving three groups of beings of both sexes, the witches (magical but evil), the wizards (magical but good) and the warriors (not magical at all). The warriors were invaders from beyond the sea, took a strong dislike to the witches, and wiped them out -- or so they thought. And as they believed all magic was bad, they soon set about trying to get rid of the wizards as well. Things are at a stalemate when the story opens. The warriors are still determined to destroy the wizards and their magic, and the wizards are equally determined to fight back. Two young characters are plunged into this toxic mix: a wizard boy called Xar, who has as yet no magic powers, and a warrior girl called Wish, who owns a banned magical object she must keep hidden at all costs. There are rumours that some witches still survive, and Xar sets out to capture one as part of a campaign to prove himself to his disapproving father, the scary Encanzo the Enchanter. Wish has parent problems too. Her mum, Sychorax, is queen of the warrior tribe: tall, icy and deeply disappointed in her daughter. Xar and Wish meet and find themselves in an adventure that quickly spirals out of control. What follows is a rollercoaster of suspense and surprise as they get themselves in and out of trouble. They are very different but complement each other perfectly -- Xar boastful and impetuous, but with a heart of gold, Wish more thoughtful and serious, and possessed of a strong moral sense. Both are bold, brave, believable young characters children will identify with. The book has all the familiar Cowell trademarks. The story never flags, even at moments of calm and reflection, and the writing has humour, grit and depth. She provides her own illustrations, and their scratchy style and scribbled annotations strike the right note. It all adds up to a beautifully designed hardback volume. Several characters have names adapted or taken from The Tempest -- as well as Sychorax, there's a sprite called Ariel and a bird called Caliburn (left) -- so I sense a late-Shakespearean theme of magical reconciliation being shaped for the rest of the series. But it's clear that Xar and Wish have unwittingly unleashed real evil, so there will be plenty more alarums and excursions to come. - Tony Bradman.
Kirkus Review
A King Enchanter's 13-year-old son and a Warrior Princess wind up together on a humorous journey of self-discovery. Set in a realm where wizards and warriors are at war with one another, this novel is a rollicking adventure tale and coming-of-age story rolled into one enjoyable package. Though from two different worlds, Prince Xar and Princess Wish are united by their mutual misfit status within their respective communities. For Xar, the fact that he cannot perform magic makes him the target of ridicule from his cruel brother and a disappointment to his powerful father, while Wish's inability to conform to the codes of her warrior clan renders her a friendless oddity. A chance meeting in the woods separating their kingdoms brings the teens together on a journey that teaches them the importance of learning to think for themselves. Cowell's latest work offers a fully realized fantasy world abounding with witches, sprites, killer plants, and talking ravens. Her scrappy teenage protagonists are wonderfully flawed and almost scarily realistic in their bravery, selfishness, and desire to please their parents yet not surrender their individuality. The omniscient narrator's voice is pitch-perfect, sounding appropriately young without ever talking down to the target audience. Readers will fall in love with the imaginative worldbuilding and humorous dialogue and asides. Cowell's scratchy, smudgy drawings, many full-page, liberally illustrate the text, depicting both Xar and Wish with pale skin. A delightful magical romp. (Fantasy. 9-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.