Learning responsibility isn’t always fun but it has a few perks now and then.  Gordy is 12 and the main narrator of this tale that takes him, his friends, and his family on several entertaining adventures.  Gordy is also realizing that actions have consequences–some good, some bad–depending on what the motive behind the action is.  His friends Max and Adilene are at his side and show their friendship in many tangible and sometimes comical ways.  Having the ability to mix potions and make magic is a gift that Gordy doesn’t take lightly.  He loves it and takes great pleasure in being creative.  His potion making skills are thoroughly tested by his 12-year-old imagination by “thinking outside the box.”  In an epic battle between good and evil, he gets to test a few of his potions and help fight for the what he loves.

The characters are everyday people you’d expect to find at school or as the neighbors next door.  Well, maybe there are a few exceptions.  Some of them definitely fit the stereotype that should have pointy hats and a wand in their hand.  With a boy and a girl in the top three characters of this story, this book could easily be enjoyed by any reader.  The author, Frank L. Cole, has written a story with the potential to go far.  From the first page to the last, his style of writing is relaxed and that makes it easy to keep turning the page to see what adventure happens next.  As one might expect, this being book one, everything is introduced and explained but in a way that flows well with the story.  The good news is that book two is done and ready to be released.  I look forward to reading book two!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  Man shoots at a teenaged boy, no harm; a mummy, mild descriptions throughout book but not gory; a man is missing most of his fingers, not gory; stories of a man who can use the dead and their bones for his purposes; man brings dead animal back to life; boy is pricked by a sharp object, mention of blood but not gory; boy lies to his Dad; boy knocks his Dad out with a potion; two once-dead creatures battle each other, not gory but descriptions can be a little gross and stinky; bad people attack family’s house, descriptions of some violence but minimal harm to people, some people tied up, house destroyed; rats crawl all over a woman but they don’t bite her; boy grows a 3rd arm; girl and her family are abducted from their home.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

Magic, sneaky kids, caustic & explosive substances, banishment, family issues, secretive nature of the potion community, dead creatures re-animated, destruction of home.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Magical potions.