The Wizard of Dark Street

( 7 )

Overview

Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard’s apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle—the Wizard of Dark Street—that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.

Full of magic, odd ...

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The Wizard of Dark Street

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More About This Book

Overview

Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard’s apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle—the Wizard of Dark Street—that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.

Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end.

“Delightful cover art will attract Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman readers, who will enjoy the quirky characters and offbeat humor. Upbeat in tone, this delight is an excellent blend of fantasy and mystery with a variety of suspicious characters and enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing all the way to the end…”
- Booklist

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Starred Review.

Set in 1877, in a liminal world that divides and protects the Land of Faerie from the Land of Man (New York City), Odyssey's nimble debut novel introduces pragmatic 12-year-old Oona Crate, first in line to be her wizard uncle's apprentice. She is human, but has the gift of "natural magic." Due to Oona's accidental misuse of this gift, which resulted in her family's death, she has an aversion to all things magic, instead setting her sights on becoming a detective. Meanwhile, her desperate uncle advertises for an apprentice, which draws a motley crew, including a young witch and an enigmatic blind actor. Everyone becomes a suspect when lavish gowns are stolen from Madam Iree's shop, and Oona's uncle vanishes, following an assault with a magical object. Oona journeys into Dark Street's labyrinthine domains to solve the mystery, while struggling to reconcile her remorse and distrust of magic with her loyalty to her uncle. Odyssey's lyrical descriptions ("It was a place as ancient as the wind, where candlestick trees replaced light posts, and street clocks told jokes as well as time") and consummate world-building result in a wonderfully fresh fantasy-detective story. Ages 8-12.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Reviews

Oona would rather solve cases than cast spells, but her decision not to apprentice to her uncle, The Wizard of Dark Street, has disastrous consequences.

In 1877, 12-year-old Oona is a rare natural magician, but she has reasons beyond an interest in detection to shun her magical heritage—personal reasons. Although she lives with her magician uncle on Dark Street, last of the 13 roads between the worlds of Man and Faerie, Oona wants to follow in her dead father's gumshoe footsteps and solve crimes. When the ceremony to name a new apprentice to The Wizard ends abruptly with the disappearance of her uncle and prompts local crime boss Red Martin to attempt to take possession of Pendulum House, magical linchpin of Dark Street and traditional home of The Wizard, Oona and her talking raven Deacon are on the case. Odyssey's debut is a sad thicket of extraneous detail and repetitive exposition with a regrettably unexplored historical setting. Oona is engaging enough, but those around her don't rise to her level of characterization. The mystery offers some appeal, but the "magical" setting is a pale reflection of Diagon Alley.

The interesting and satisfying conclusion to the mystery just doesn't make the long rambling journey worth the trip. (Fantasy/mystery. 9-12)

School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—In 1877, Dark Street is a Diagon Alley. It sits between New York City and Faerie, open at midnight to New Yorkers and, after the Great Faerie War, firmly barred to Faerie by the Glass Gates. The vigilant Wizard of Dark Street tends its magical presence. By tradition, his niece, 12-year-old Oona Crate, is next in line to be his apprentice, but she has renounced her magical abilities because of an accident she once caused. Now she concentrates on detective work, which she must employ when her uncle vanishes right before naming his successor. Oona has a wide list of suspects to interrogate, including a witch, a blind man, a "Muggle" boy from New York, and obnoxious Isadora from across the street. Ably assisted by her talking raven and her Faerie servant, Oona sets out to prove that magic is no match for her powers of observation. This mystery has an intriguing cast of characters and classic detective elements. The concept of a magical street filled with quirky denizens will please readers, as will Oona's independent spirit. Boys and girls will appreciate the protagonist's magical Nancy Drew-type capers and her straightforward style. Less satisfying is her facile ability to forget that her magic once killed her family and to reclaim her magical heritage. Perhaps this disconnect as well as the lurking Faerie denizens will be dealt with in further volumes. Hand this one to readers who like their fantasy with a strong mystery thread.—Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781606841433
  • Publisher: EgmontUSA
  • Publication date: 7/26/2011
  • Pages: 352
  • Sales rank: 285,069
  • Age range: 8 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 890L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.60 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 1.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Shawn Thomas Odyssey is a professional music composer for film and TV, with works including HBO’s Deadwood and the video game release of Kung Fu Panda. He is married to a mysterious dancer whom he met while working at a haunted theater. Shawn lives in Nevada City, California, and you can visit him online at www.shawnthomasodyssey.com.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 7 )
Rating Distribution

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(4)

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Sort by: Showing all of 7 Customer Reviews

  • Posted July 8, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    A fun adventure that will appeal to wizard fans!

    While most kids would kill to be the next Harry, Hermione, or Ron, Oona gives up her apprenticeship with the Wizard of Dark Street to pursue her dream of becoming the next Sherlock. All she has to do is to help her Wizard uncle find a worthy replacement. Easy as cat's craddle until someone decides to do away with her uncle. Now Dark Street is without a Wizard - and Oona must figure out who was behind her uncle's death and how to save the Wizard's legacy from the greedy clutches of the Red Martin.

    I had some reservations when I began The Wizard Of Dark Street, but for some inexplicable reason (of a magical nature, I'm sure), I forgot all about them and simply enjoyed this MG read that can very easily be devoured by fans of Harry Potter. A mysterious neighborhood in New York that appears to a normal passerby in the dead of night? A girl immersed in all things magical, but wishes to renounce that to be a sleuth? It may sound a little elementary, dear Readers, but The Wizard Of Dark Street will entice you to give it a whirl and keep you in its charming thrall until the very last page!

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 9, 2011

    Fantastic read!

    Within the space between two worlds exists the last of the 13 faire roads called Dark Street. Situated on the North end of the street are the Iron Gates. These gates connect Dark Street to New York City at precisely 12am every night. At the South end of the street are the odious Glass Gates. These gates lead to the world of the fairies and were sealed 500 years ago by the great magicians at the end of the Faire Wars. Dead center of Dark Street is the Pendulum House which is home to the Wizard. "The first lesson that any new apprentice learned was that, should the Glass Gates ever fall, it was the current Wizard's responsibility to access the magic stored in the walls of Pendulum House in order to protect the World of Man." Between the gates and surrounding the wizard, an entire community arose, complete with museums, theaters, dress shops, and casinos.

    It was into this world that the Wizard's apprentice and niece was born and it was in this world that she wished to resign her apprenticeship and, instead, become a criminal investigator like her departed father. Oona Crate, a natural magician, despised her magical abilities and wished to peruse a life of logic and science. Orphaned at a young age, 12 year old Oona formally sets her apprenticeship aside only to be caught up in an intrigue involving her uncle's apparent murder and a crime wave that threatens the very stability of Dark Street.

    The Wizard of Dark Street is a brilliant mix of fantasy, adventure, and mystery for the young reader (and the adult reader!). Shawn Thomas Odyssey does a fantastic job of creating a captivating mystical world where magic lives right alongside the mundane. Odyssey combines the best of Rowling and Christie to create a new genre: Fantastical Mystery.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 3, 2013

    A quick fun read, for all ages has a nice little mystery that wr

    A quick fun read, for all ages has a nice little mystery that wraps itself up. I would recommend it for all ages. Good clean fun.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 29, 2012

    Asome

    I love it

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted August 31, 2011

    What a fun read!

    My favorite books are the ones that make me feel as though I have been literally transported to another world. The Wizard of Dark Street does just that. And what a world that is, filled with intrigue, adventure, humor, and, of course, magic. The characters are wonderfully entertaining and so much fun to share adventures with. (My favorite is Samuligan, the Wizard's faerie servant, once a great General in the Faerie Queen's army.) This is a fun, fun read, one I can easily see continuing as a series. If you're looking for a new adventure to share with your children similar to Harry Potter, or if you just looking to transport the child inside of you to a wonderful adventure, I highly recommend The Wizard of Dark Street.

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  • Posted August 22, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Very fun story!

    The Wizard of Dark Street
    Shawn Thomas Odyssey
    345 pages
    MG fantasy
    Available July 26, 2011
    Review copy from publisher

    From Egmont:

    Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard's apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

    Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle-the Wizard of Dark Street-that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.

    Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Streetwill have you guessing until the very end.

    This was a very fun read for me. I loved the fact that Dark Street spun around during the day. I pictured it as sitting on something sort of like a giant cog. The gate at the entrance always led into Dark Street, but because it turned on a very specific time table, the gate didn't always lead out to the same place. I was also intrigued with the Pendulum House where she lived. It was called Pendulum House because there was a giant pendulum swinging through the sitting room--the pendulum kept Dark Street on track and spinning.

    Oona was a fun character to read. I really enjoyed her personality and the way she bantered with her enchanted raven, Deacon. Her reasons for not wanting to take on the mantle of the Wizard of Dark Street was very real and believable. And I like that it wasn't easy for her to overcome this reason. I also enjoyed the fact that she wanted to be a detective, and that she fought to have the chance to be what she wanted when she grew up.

    I think the world building was very well done. There were a hundred small details that kept my sense of wonder whirling. From the tattoos some of the students wore to mark their rank to throwing letters in the fire working as mail delivery, it really felt like there was a real world existing beyond the story.

    The mystery of what really happened to her uncle kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed all the misdirections and red herrings, and how it all tied together in the end without feeling contrived.

    Samuligan was another really interesting character. I was intrigued by his past and the complexity of his character. What made this even more impressive was how little was actually said about him. I would love to learn more about the war between the fairies and everyone else that ended with the gate to fairyland being closed as permanently as possible. On the whole, the characters all felt very well fleshed out to me.

    I really enjoyed this book now, and would have loved it as a child.

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  • Posted July 27, 2011

    "Dark Street" book a winner for pre-teens

    This book (a first for this writer) really did hold my interest and should do well among younger readers. His main character is engaging: for intelligence, wit, humor, creativity. Odyssey has a very graphic style of writing, including vivid small details and compelling metaphorical comparisons.

    I think that younger readers (in the 8-12 age range) will go wild over this book, and I can see it being made into a popular animated movie. I am well over age 50 and really enjoyed the plot and suspense. This book is much more about solving mysteries than making magic: curiosity, knowledge and skill win out in the end.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
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