I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Twins Tyler and Tess must navigate perilous worlds within 12 mazes and stop a wicked queen and a nefarious wizard before finding a way home in the novels “The Magic Maze Trilogy” by authors Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor.
The Synopsis
THE MAGIC MAZE TRILOGY is about eleven-year old fraternal twins, Tyler and Tess Porter, who accidentally get sucked up into the bizarre world of the Magic Maze. Geared to appeal to children from seven to thirteen and older fantasy fans as well, the story propels the twins into an “Alice in Wonderland/Wizard of Oz” world. In order to return home, they must get through twelve separate parts of the maze. Each is its own world with strange rules, riddles and puzzles that the twins must solve using their wits, knowledge and athletic prowess. Tyler and Tess learn how much they mean to each other as they evade the evil QUEEN ZEBRA and her ZENTAURIAN GUARD of two-faced POLINERDS, and a duplicitous wizard, SIMON PERCIVAL. They form alliances with the rebel TRIDGETS (tiny trolls with Mohawk hairdos) led by the feisty BELKIN, and an assortment of other bizarre and funny characters. At the end, they must track down and put back together three parts of a MAGIC AMULET before they can be finally transported home, safe and sound.
The Review
What a powerful and memorable trilogy of middle-grade, fantasy-driven novels. Each novel’s pacing was superb, instantly capturing the reader’s attention with magic and action while delivering relatable, engaging character development from the two protagonists. The world-building and mythology the authors brought to life in these books were a unique blend of magical realism and sword and sorcery style fantasy storytelling, complete with magical beings such as the Tridgets and an evil queen who pits a full-blown rebellion against her nefarious ways.
At the heart of this story is the bond and understanding each of the two protagonists holds for one another. The series starts with Tess and Tyler on opposite ends of the spectrum from one another. Yet as the series progresses, their shared bond and ability to see one another instill a sense of understanding and connection between the reader and the characters. The imagery and atmosphere of each book create a sense of wonder and awe that draws younger readers into the magic of that world, and the variety in the different mazes and worlds shows the creativity and depth of world-building that the authors brought to this series.
The Verdict
A story of magic, adventure, and family, authors Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor’s “The Magic Maze Trilogy” is a must-read children’s and middle grade fantasy read. The twists and turns this series takes, and the open-ended nature of the final chapter of this trilogy, will stay with readers. As someone with a close bond with his sister, I find this book an excellent way of bringing siblings together and showing the importance of that bond in a magical way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Authors
Samuel Warren Joseph – is a writer whose credits include DuckTales, Batman, Beast Wars, and the film Off Your Rocker. His plays and musicals, including Window of Opportunity, Campaign, and God Help Us!, have earned critical acclaim. He co-authored Ed Asner’s autobiography and teaches college English and Creative Writing.
Phil Proctor – is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre and a veteran actor with voice credits in Rugrats, Assassin’s Creed, Dr. Dolittle, and Pixar films. He has performed on stage, screen, and in video games, earning numerous theater awards. Phil co-wrote the political comedy God Help Us! and several books, including his autobiography Where’s My Fortune Cookie?
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