Review - Jinx by Sage Blackwood (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Fantasy
Size: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-0062129901
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone?
Source: ARC through Amazon Vine
Rating: 4/5 stars


I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program to review. This was a well done novel full of adventure and fantasy.

This is a story about a boy named Jinx whose step-father takes him into the Urwald woods to get rid of him. While in woods they happen upon a wizard named Simon who wants to buy Jinx from his stepfather. Jinx ends up living with Simon and slowly learning his many secrets.

This was a fun adventure fantasy read. Jinx is an excellent character with some hidden magical talents and a down to earth attitude. He is determined to be his own person.

Simon, the wizard Jinx is raised by, is an enigma. He treats Jinx better than Jinx’s stepparents did, but not great. Jinx doesn’t know if he is a good or bad wizard and is constantly trying to figure out the mystery behind Simon.

During his adventures Jinx is joined by a couple other characters; both have mysteries of their own.

I enjoyed the creepy and magical setting of the Urwald. It was very creative and very well done. The book had a fairy tale feel to it, complete with curses and witches.

The book was easy to read and well written. All of the mysteries woven throughout made the story very engaging. There are still some open questions at the end of this book, so I am going to assume that those questions will be addressed in a future book.

Overall an excellent debut novel that I think both kids and adults will enjoy. Well written and full of magic and adventure, this book is appropriate for middle grade and older readers. Younger readers might find some of the witches and evil wizards a bit too scary. I am eager to find out if some of the unresolved issues will be resolved in another book in the future.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- YA/MG Fantasy Reading Challenge
- 150+ Reading Challenge
- Debut Author Reading Challenge