R. G. Thomas (1)

‘The Battle of Iron Gulch’ is the third book in this amazing fantasy series about the adventures of young wizard Thaddeus and his friends, out to save Thaddeus’s mother (currently in dragon form) from an evil witch. While the story starts with a much-needed reprovisioning break in the small town of Iron Gulch, situated at the foot of the mountain where they suspect Thaddeus’s mother has fled, it becomes apparent pretty quickly that all is not as it seems. Thaddeus, his gnome boyfriend, Teofil, and their travel companions soon have their hands more than full defending themselves not just against goblins, but also against a much more horrible and dangerous new enemy. This novel is as magical, action-packed, and suspenseful as the other stories in the series that, by the way, need to be read in order or you’ll miss too much of the back story.

Thaddeus has been through a lot since he discovered he is a wizard, a fact his father hid for years, trying to protect him from their enemies. He has begun to learn how to stand on his own, but his magical abilities are nowhere near adequate to be of help in their quest or when they need to defend themselves. His father begins to teach him, but Thaddeus, of course, is the one who needs to do the hard work. And considering whom and what they face, Thaddeus needs all the help and strength he can muster. I loved all the different explanations of what he needs to do and how he picks up abilities he never knew he had.

Aside from learning how to do magic and harness his own power, Thaddeus also has to get to discern friends from enemies. He has to deal with visions and the delay to saving his mother hits him pretty hard. Some of the decisions he has to make are tough, but as he makes each one, he also grows stronger. He needs every ounce of power for the final confrontation with the evil witch – and it was magnificently written, suspenseful, and scary all at once.

If you like stories about wizards coming into their own, if you enjoy mysteries, quests, and following a group of people on an adventure that might kill them all, and if you’re looking for an action-packed read full of danger, fights, and the blossoming of a loving relationship, then you will probably love this novel as much as I do. It ends with all the loose threads tied up - except one, which might just lead to another book – what, a reader can hope, right? - and I was both relieved and happy with how things turned out for Thaddeus and Teofil. What a ride!


NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mais)

There is something magical about looking at the world with a teenager’s eyes, at least for me. Maybe it is one of the reasons I like reading a well written YA book so much, especially when the setting is a fantasy or paranormal world. I can just tag along with the main character and see the world through their eyes. ‘The Midnight Gardener’ is a perfect example of this: Thaddeus is fifteen, has moved from place to place too often to want to remember, and now that he has arrived in Superstition, a small and slightly creepy town with a very fitting name, he is about to discover some unexpected truths about the world, his parents, and himself. I watched with bated breath as a whole new world unfolded before him, filled with not just the magic of a new friendship with Teofil, the boy next door, but also a lot of revelations about his past.

Thaddeus has not had a stable life. His father kept moving them from town to town as Thaddeus grew up, and Thaddeus has given up on ever having friends. This newest move to Superstition feels no different – until Thaddeus discovers the mysterious “midnight gardener” next door. His name is Teofil, he is about the same age as Thaddeus – and he is a garden gnome! This is only the tip of the iceberg though, and Thaddeus makes one discovery after another, not all of them as benign as Teofil’s true heritage. There are threats, monsters, family secrets, an ancient feud, and magic to discover. I can’t say much more without spoiling the story for you, but I can say that there is lots of action and some great moments in this novella.

If you like stories set in a magical world, if you enjoy finding out secrets of all kinds right along with the main character of an action-packed story, and if you’re looking for a read full of mystery, discoveries, and the beginning of a boy’s first love, then you will probably love this novella as much as I do. It ends on a cliff-hanger of breathtaking proportions, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!


NOTE: This book was provided by Harmony Ink Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mais)