This_Kid_Reviews_Books
Posted September 4, 2012
Thirteen-year old Gabriel Salvador knew if he had a dream where something happened to him, that thing would happen in real life. One night, Gabriel dreamed he was going to drown. He then knew he would die soon. Gabriel wakes up to find himself in a strange room and is told that his family and friends think he is dead because he drowned. He was saved from death by a Time Mage and the Mages made a copy of him to replace him in his other life, so he can’t go back no matter what. Mages are magicians or wizards that can use one of six different magics (fire, wind, heart-tree, time, earth and soul). Gabriel soon finds out he is also a Mage and he can control and travel though time. Gabriel learns that there are “Malignancy Mages” that use their magic for evil and they want to kidnap Gabriel and use his powers. Gabriel eventually learns that he is The Seventh True Mage, a person who can use all six magics. But Gabriel gets captured by an evil Mage and it looks like he can’t escape.
I really liked this story. I thought the Mages were cool and I liked learning about the different Mages. The action and the magic fights in the book were described really well and the time traveling and history (Gabriel traveled to different periods of time) were some of the really great parts of the book. I liked the story, but it isn’t for a kid my age. Although Mr. Breedon wrote the action and battle parts really well, the book didn’t have the humor mixed in to it like a lot of the action/fantasy books I read for kids my age. There was also a bunch of bad language that just didn’t need to be in there. I think the book would be good for older kids and adults who like fantasy and time travel. Gabriel was an awesome main character. He is the kind of kid-hero I do like to read about. I would like to see him in a middle-grade book!
G.L. Breedon's THE WIZARD OF TIME swirls magical realism throughout time and space.
The day Gabriel Salvador dies is the day he finds his place within the world. Gabriel is a Time Mage, but he's more special than any of them realize. He and his group of mages travel throughout time to stop the evil wizards who want to destroy the Primary Continuum. When he realizes he's a part of a prophecy, he must find balance between the light and dark, or lose himself for all time.
THE WIZARD OF TIME's greatest strength is in its characters. Each one is a three-dimensional individual living their lives in many shades of gray. I love the camaraderie between friends. Six magics are used that are familiar but Breedon takes them to a higher level. Although the beginning starts out a bit cliché, Breedon sucked me into Gabriel's world. The plot is sometimes a bit predictable but enjoyable. I love the history and cultures interspersed throughout. The Malignancy Mages are fantastically complicated villains. This novel explores the philosophical musings of light and dark, good and evil. The time travel scenes are awesome and well-thought out.
THE WIZARD OF TIME by G.L. Breedon is a wonderful fantasy novel geared towards young adults but a great read for all. I can't wait to read book two.
TahliaN
Posted August 12, 2011
The Wizard of Time is an excellent and fascinating young adult fantasy, and is an especially great read for anyone with an enquiring mind or anyone who wants something very different. G.L. Breedon has created a unique world of time travel and alternate universes using a combination of science, history and philosophy. I urge you all to support this Indie author. I love it when I find one I can rave about.
I loved the central character, thirteen year old Gabe, because he thought about things, asked questions and worked things out for himself. He also grieved for his lost family, acted without hesitation when he needed to and questioned peoples' motivations, which was extremely smart in the circumstances. Add to that humility and human vulnerability and you have a rich and inspiring character. The supporting characters were also very alive, as were their relationships with each other.
I especially liked how different the bad guys were to each other and how three dimensional they were. No cardboard cut outs here. Even though they were all on the same side, each one had their own ideas, desires and philosophy, some crude and obvious, others subtle and thought provoking.
The story moves along with never a dull moment and with unpredictable twists and turns. The detailed snippets of history that the author has chosen to incorporate give a richness and poignancy to the book, and the concept of a primary continuum of time with branches creating alternate realities has been extremely well thought out. I can't find any flaws in this book.
The story has no romance, just the potential for some in further stories, and is suitable for all ages from about 8 years up. But don't think of it as a young book, because the vision of time and the philosophical questions the story raises are very sophisticated. Adults will enjoy the concepts and younger children will enjoy the story, which is never dull. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for all fans of young adult fantasy. If you like Harry Potter, you should love this.
