I may be a bit biased about this book! It sat crammed into a niche on my son’s shelf for several months. Since he prefers reading nonfiction, it merely collected dust. Until I found it on Audible because that’s the only time he will consume fictional stories. I absolutely geeked out realizing it is narrated by David Tennant, Dr. Who himself. His narration is phenomenal. His voice range for characters and the life he gives them is brilliant. But this isn’t about the many talents of Tennant.
My son and I love The Wizards of Once so much that we started reading the physical book also. Both the hardback and paperback are gorgeous, and all the artwork is done by the author herself. It’s so simple and sarcastically funny yet delightful at the same time. Even the telling of the story is blended into the artwork.
The characters, especially the supporting characters, are extraordinarily imaginative with their funny names, quirks and flaws, and merits. Tennant truly brings them to life. The way they speak and act keeps my son laughing every time we read or listen.
The main characters, Xar a boy wizard, and Wish a warrior princess couldn’t be more opposite from each other. Where Xar is a bit selfish and arrogant, Wish is kindhearted and understanding. With each side at odds and taught to hate each other, the two becoming friends is farfetched. But when they find themselves in the Wildwood, running from an evil witch, chaos ensues. In this chaos, the two must find a way to work together.
No matter your age, this book is highly entertaining and I would suggest that anyone give it a read or a listen or better yet, both.
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.
