The Accidental Apprentice (1) (Wilderlore)

I'm an adult that reads books before my nieces and nephews. "The Accidental Apprentice" is the first in a couple of years for me that I enjoyed. The author crafted a fun world while not losing the reader's attention. The story was fun and really excited to see what my nieces and nephews think of it.

We received this book as part of the Amazon choice selection. Book 1 was amazing! We cannot wait for book 2. My 10 year old couldn't put it down!

This book was fantastic. Harry Potter vibes come from our main character is an outcast and is unwanted in his village. In this story there are people that can bond, tame, and battle with animals that live in the tattoos on the skin. This book is perfect for any age.

This book is adorable and whimsical! Amanda’s world-building is, as always, exquisite and the characters are endearing. I’m well over the age limit for this book, but I found it un-put-downable! I just had to find out how Barclay and company fared! A must-read for this age group...as well as anyone who is a fan of fantasy!

5 STARS In Dullshire, adventures are against the rules, and Barclay Thorne tries so hard to follow the rules. He already sticks out like a sore thumb in town. An orphan after a Beast attacked Dullshire seven years ago, he’s had to work to secure any hope for a future. Thankfully, as apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, he’s got something going for him. Even if Barclay isn’t allowed to get dirt under his nails or run through the streets, he still has somewhere to sleep and warm meals to eat. Except Barclay accidentally bonds with a Beast, and life as he understands it falls away. Forced to come face to face with Lore and Lore Keepers, Barclay must navigate an entirely new life in order to reclaim his old one. But for all the danger both ahead and behind, there lies a choice: does he even want his old life anymore? Or is it time to break the rules, and go on an adventure? The Accidental Apprentice is a little bit of HTTYD, a little bit of Pokémon, and a whole lot of fun! From the start, I knew I was going to adore this book. It combines magical beasts with a new world to explore, along with a reluctant hero. Seriously, I’m not kidding when I compare it to How to Train Your Dragon and the Pokémon franchise. If you love one of those, or both, or you know a kid who does, then this book is going to be a smash hit for you! There’s something so whimsical and charming about Barclay Thorne and his new friend, Viola Dumont. Together, they sometimes pick at each other, but they also make an outstanding team in the face of bullies, Beasts, and a danger that threatens the balance of all the Lore in the Woods. Plus, they’re kids! At eleven years old, they’re fresh and bright and ready for adventure (even if they don’t think they are). They’re also maybe a little too trusting and impulsive, but it’s sweet and endearing, and absolutely perfect for a middle grade book. Really, the amount of charm in this book is outrageous, and I can’t recommend it enough based on that alone. It will steal your heart, and you won’t even want to ask for it back! But if you need more detail, know this: the Beasts are amazing. Yes, Barclay Thorne is a great MG protagonist! But I have to shoutout all the work Amanda Foody has done with the Beasts. My ARC included a little glossary of Beasts at the end, which included some fun facts about Beasts we didn’t interact with very much on the page. Hopefully, the final copy will include some art as well, because I’d love to see these Beasts imagined in a visual format. There are multiple classes of Beasts, though, rated based on their magical capabilities and danger levels. Ranging from common and relatively harmless to outright legendary and only bonded with in tall tales, they form an important cornerstone to the lives of Lore Keepers, even dictating h...