Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen

Elandrian Press, 2018

ISBN-13: 978-1732457805

ISBN-10: 1732457808

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

“Magic is real, Thomas”.  Those were the last words Thomas Wildus’ father said to him.  Thomas is a geeky, mischievous, bullied, preteen, whose father disappeared several years ago.  He loves to read books about magic, but doesn’t realize that real magic is in his DNA.

Then, mysterious strangers seek to develop his magical potential by giving him the Book of Sorrows.  The Book, written thousands of years ago, describes the existence of good and evil, light and dark forces.  Thomas is whisked far away from southern California to a stone fortress, where he is given a crash course in skills like summoning and teleportation.  He is the last defense against a dark sorcerer who seeks the power to control the world’s destiny.  Thomas and his friends face off against the sorcerer and his henchmen in a cave in the Amazonian jungle.

The author’s third-person narrative is direct and clear.  He skillfully captures a preteen’s corny sense of humor, shyness, sympathy for the underdog, loyalty to friends and insatiable appetite for food.  The book is appropriate for young readers and older readers who remember what it was like to be a preteen.  It is the first of a series of books about Thomas Wildus. Readers who enjoyed the Harry Potter series will enjoy Thomas Wildus and the Book of Sorrows. Highly recommended

Contains: Not applicable

Reviewed by Robert D.  Yee