Hugely ambitious and wildly successful.
Little boys often dream big. Some want to become an astronaut, a professional athlete, or even President. For Johan Finley, his boyhood dream has never wavered; he wants to be a hero to the people of Articus. Specifically, Johan has his heart set on passing the grueling final exam to become an official Center City Guardian. All his hard work and training would pay off if it weren’t for Johan constantly getting in his own way. Unable to reign in his reckless nature, he makes a couple of poor choices and costs himself his future. At least, that’s how it seems. When everything in his life looks hopeless, an unusual visitor offers Johan an extraordinary opportunity to train at the Basilica with a magician of the Order of Ysavar. Although magic is thought to be an outmoded practice, Johan is about to discover just how powerful this ancient magic is. An entire world of gnomes, elves, goblins and dragons exists, and Johan won’t be able to sit idly by without jumping into the fray. Whether he will become the hero he’s always wanted to be is entirely up to him, but a war between good and evil is brewing and the Order of Ysavar might be mankind’s only hope.
An allegorical adventure of epic proportions, The Magicians of Ysavar is an engrossing coming-of-age tale that contains some admirable messages. Themes of open-mindedness, teamwork, accepting others even when their ways may seem odd to us, and hope in the face of great disappointment rise from the pages without dulling a really impressive fantasy story. Feeling immediately relatable, the ensemble cast includes an affable companion, a wise mentor and a threatening villain. Hugely ambitious and wildly successful, Z.B. Lee has crafted a sturdy fantasy novel that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Character driven and action packed, The Magicians of Ysavar is an exciting journey you’ll be glad to immerse yourself in!
