The Wizards of Once (Wizards of Once #1)

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

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.)