Blurb; Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal?
Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet. A briefcase meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari is certain the answer to finding out what happened to him lies somewhere inside, if only she can get her head around the idea of mermaids, dwarves, yetis and magicians all being real things, something she has to instantly confront when she is given a weredragon as a roommate.
Amari must compete against some of the nation’s wealthiest kids—who’ve known about the supernatural world their whole lives and are able to easily answer questions like which two Great Beasts reside in the Atlantic Ocean and how old is Merlin? Just getting around the Bureau is a lesson alone for Amari with signs like ‘Department of Hidden Places this way, or is it?’ If that all wasn’t enough, every Bureau trainee has a talent enhanced to supernatural levels to help them do their jobs – but Amari is given an illegal ability. As if she needed something else to make her stand out.
With an evil magican threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.
My Review; I was gifted this book for free as part of the Amazon Vine reviewers team. This does not influence my review in any way. I got this because it looked interesting and an easy read. I was right. This book will have your imagination on fire. Magic. Fantasy. The unimaginable. Talking elevators/lifts who are also named. It’s a whole new world to get lost into and I already cannot wait for book two to come out. I loved it all!
The main character Amari is on the hunt to find out what really happened to her older brother but first she must go through some training. She is one determined and strong kid with an alley by her side the whole time. But who can she trust? Does she know her enemy? Can she save and find her brother before it’s too late? She knows she isn’t wanted within the establishment but that doesn’t make her give up just more determined. Absolutely loved her such a powerful character.
Loved it all. The setting. The plot. The outcome. Brilliant. I was lost into this world and wish I didn’t have to leave it. I know it’s a children’s/YA book but you’re never too old for that magic in my eyes. A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. I also just adore the cover too. Magical.
Between The Pages Book Club 