Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1)

De: Jack Simmonds

Narrado por: Joel Froomkin

Avis Blackthorn's family is the most evil family in all of the Seven Magical Kingdoms. The problem? Avis isn't evil. Not one bit. His magical wizarding family will do anything to make Avis's life a misery. Even the horses that pull the carriages don't like him. But he has a way out at last... Hailing Hall School for Wizards, a sanctuary, a place for good wizards, where he can make some nice, normal friends, learn magic and live a normal life, finally escaping the notoriety of the Blackthorn name... or so he thinks. That's where the real adventure - humorous, haunting and mysterious - begins. Come along with Avis as he tries desperately to prove he isn't evil like his family. And join tall, thin, bespectacled Robin and accident-prone Hunter, Avis's friends from the Outside - the same world as yours, in fact - as they discover Wizard's Spider Soap, the wizarding sport of Riptide and even the ghosts that do the laundry! Of course, in a magic school full of teenage wizards there will always be drama. But stranger things are brewing and Avis finds himself at the center of it after spotting Malakai - the most evil sorcerer around and his parents' employer - coming into the school in the dead of night. Avis wonders why, and why will no one believe him? The mysterious, beautiful Tina might know why. When Avis and Robin spot her creeping round in the dead of night, she tells them about the quest and a thrilling mystery unfolds. Yet, everything goes horribly wrong for Avis. After being accused of something terrible, he is ostracized from his friends and lives high up in the clock tower. Everyone thinks he's evil, just like his family... Avis must uncover the biggest of quests with the help of Tina and Robin and finally prove once and for all, that he is a good wizard....

©2015 Jack Simmonds (P)2015 Jack Simmonds

how they do not use wands and the teens are actually teenagers

looking for something like Harry potter with more jokes but more dash of spooky. this is perfect for readers not quit ready for Harry potter or messing the HP world. loved it from the characters actually acting like teens to the ghost living it up in the after life.

Loved it and didn't think I would!

If you could sum up Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) in three words, what would they be?

Hogwarts has competition :)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1)?

Here's the thing... I really thought this was just going to be an unoriginal rip-off of JK Rowling... but it wan't at all. Yes it's set in a school for Wizards - but I learned it's kind of like saying Dead Poet's Society and Goodbye Mr. Chips are the same because they are set in a boarding school. These characters are original and engaging and the story arc had me totally engaged. It's a great set up to a series that might just fill a magical void in my life since Potter finished.

Which character – as performed by Joel Froomkin – was your favorite?

I really liked Ernie the ghost - but Froomkin does a fabulous job voicing all of the characters. He's incredibly versatile and he truly performs the story, bringing all of the characters to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was pretty caught up in the climax of the story - and I was delighted to learn that book two is on it's way!

Any additional comments?

If you're a Potter fan I really encourage you to give these characters a try. I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy. I had great reservations - and I'm so happy that I've discovered Avis.

Great narration for a great new wizard.

Would you consider the audio edition of Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed the audio book... the narrator did a great job of creating a whole cast of characters and bringing out the whimsical quality of the writing. Definitely enhanced the story for me.

What other book might you compare Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) to and why?

Obviously the Harry Potter series... and that's not bad. It was really entertaining on it's own merit and this first book introduced a lot of engaging characters and relationships that I'm interesting to see develop. I bet there is something really surprising that is going on with Avis' Dad, but I'm not sure what it is.

What does Joel Froomkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Totally brings it to life with great versatility. Theatrical, fun and full of life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The climax of the book really surprised me - it's a nail biter. :)

A new British Boy Wizard with his own great story.

Where does Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I was very impressed. The narrator has great versatility and clearly loves playing all the different characters. He made the story totally come to life and I really enjoyed his performance.

What other book might you compare Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) to and why?

It would be impossible not to compare the series to Harry Potter... but it does a marvelous job of carving out it's own worthy niche in this genre. Avis is kind of a anti-Harry... He's kind of like the black sheep of the Malfoy family. The storyline is original and very well developed - and there is the groundwork for a very rich cast of characters. I'm looking forward to finding out a lot more about Avis' parents.

What does Joel Froomkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He doesn't just narrate - he brings the book to life and plays all of the characters with great specificity and a wonderful range of accents and color. It's a delightful performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Born to Be Bad... but failing at it.

Any additional comments?

If you enjoy books like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter - I really recommend you give this series a try. Simmonds is a strong writer and I am optomistic this series will continue to get even better and better.

Its no potter but its not crap eather

Have to say that the start was crap. But after an hour it already made me smile. It has the pontial to become a great series. Not as great as potter but i think Avis will also have its place on the genre.

High recomdation to all who are having the potter hangover

FANTASTIC!!

l just loved this book and you will too. l loved the book and the audio is fantasic, so much going on all the time. The author has other book you will want to check out. Suitable for 10 year olds and 70 year olds.
RECOMMENDED Narration was brilliant.

Wizards and Ghost and Evil

I enjoyed this book very much. I actually listened to the audio book and the narrator was great! I laugh quite a bit at the characters because the narrator's voices were exactly how I thought they should sound. Great read or listen.

Awesome Fantasy for all ages

What did you love best about Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1)?

There were several twists and turns in this story that I did not expect. I love a story that is unpredictable.

What does Joel Froomkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I have had to read the next books as they are not yet on audible. As I read I can hear the characters voices in my head. Makes the story more real to me.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This story made me want to go to the healers room and stay there. It made me wishful

Any additional comments?

The Author is amazing. He is very willing to discuss his books with his fans and share other authors he likes. We have emailed several times and I find him to be a dear. If you want a good story and to be able to have an honest conversation with the author this is the series for you.

Uninspired with a whining main character

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I did listen to the whole book, but I sometimes questioned whether it was worth it. The story had many thinly veiled parallels to Harry Potter - the unloved child going to wizard school, groups of students in forms, a 'sport' in which the forms compete and which the whole school comes to watch, a device for performing magic (though not wands), and a nasty professor who gives unfair homework to the hero. There were some creative ideas, though... enough to keep me listening.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The reader was good at evoking characters, but the whole story was told from the voice of a whiny adolescent. It was told as stream of consciousness and the whining became tiresome after a while. It might have worked better in text than audio. As an audio book, it would have been better to not hear the main character's voice so much.