The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
Reviewed by: Jonathan Richardson, Reference Assistant
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Children, Adults
What is the book about?: An ancient land was once ruled by Wizards and other magical creatures, until the conquering Warriors came with their invincible Iron and sought to destroy all magic. Xar (the son of the King of the Wizards) does not yet have the ability to cast magic, so he sets out into the forest to catch an evil Witch and steal its power. Wish (the daughter of the Queen of the Warriors) struggles to adhere to the Warrior Codes, particularly the one forbidding anyone to keep magical objects. As if by fate, the paths of Xar and Wish cross, and they are forced not only to overcome their animosity towards each other, but also to confront a dangerous, ancient force that threatens both their peoples.
My Review: Since this book is more like a grand bedtime story, I chose to embrace my inner child and listen to the audiobook version read by David Tennant. Tennant reads each of the characters in a unique voice, delivering their lines with a frantic or calm demeanor, as appropriate to the individual or the particular scene. Paired with special effects and background music, the voice-acting really helps to immerse the listener into the story. The story itself is interesting; overall a bit predictable, but there are some good plot twists you might not expect. The narration flows rather nicely, and there is a good amount of detail in the descriptions of places and actions to help bring the world to life. Cowell does a good job of mixing in humor for both children and adults, as well as providing enough dark tones to add suspense without becoming gruesome. This audiobook would make a great accompaniment to reading the printed book with kids, or on its own to listen to during a weekend trip.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Spirited, Mysterious, Whimsical
Give This a Try if You Like… How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, The Witches / James and the Giant Peach / Matilda by Roald Dahl
Rating: 4.5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!