The Mad Apprentice: Volume II in The Forbidden Library
Written by Django Wexler
Narrated by Cassandra Morris
3.5/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
The dark and thrilling sequel to the book Kirkus called, "Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, and Inkheart all rolled into one."
When Alice's mysterious Uncle Geryon sends her to help capture a rogue apprentice--a boy who has the same ability Alice has to Read himself into stories--she knows to expect a wild and unpredictable trip. But even though Alice has visited the magical realms inside libraries before, this adventure is far more dangerous. Because Torment, the magic creature holding this library together, has gone mad.
But he might also have information about Alice's missing father.
Django Wexler
Django Wexler is a self-proclaimed computer/fantasy/sci-fi geek. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with degrees in creative writing and computer science, worked in artificial intelligence research and as a programmer/writer for Microsoft, and is now a full-time fantasy writer. Django is the author of The Shadow Campaigns, an epic fantasy series for adults published by Roc (an imprint of Penguin), and The Forbidden Library, a classic fantasy series for young readers published by Kathy Dawson Books (an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group).
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Reviews for The Mad Apprentice
85 ratings10 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The YA books I like best are those that you can't really tell are meant for kids (I put Harry Potter in this category). The Forbidden Library is a pleasant set up for on ongoing tale, but it definitely feels like its a kid's book. Perhaps the protagonist's motivations are too simplistic. In any event, I picked up this book because of the central role played by libraries and Readers (not ordinary readers, but special, magical Readers). This doesn't disappoint, so I'll dive right into book 2.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I thoroughly enjoyed this story. As a librarian I have a strong belief in the magic of reading and the ability of readers to immerse themselves in the books they are reading. In a world full of so many distractions we need to be reminded that books can transport us to other worlds.
Access to the book was via Netgalley, with many thanks. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Although it took a while to get into this book, once I did I found"The Forbidden Library" to be a great action fantasy. I loved the concept of the Readers and their ability to enter the books they read. With magical creatures and an undertone of hostility and cruelty, I throughly enjoyed Wexler's world building, and thought, Ashes, Alice's talking companion, was a wonderful character. His attitude was captured perfectly. It was obvious that the author is the owner of at least one cat.Although Alice was only a young protagonist, she was remarkably level-headed, resourceful and intelligent for such a tender age. I think tween girls will really like her and enjoy following her adventures as she tried to solve a range of mysteries that her uncle sets for her. I enjoyed this book enough to find the sequel, and I look forward to seeing what adventures Alice has to face next.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I know I said I wasn't going to write a full review until closer to the release date, but past experience has shown that I just cannot shut up when it comes to the books I love and I'm the worst when it comes to waiting. Anyway, I'll compromise by putting up an early version on my thoughts here for now, because there were just so many other things I'd wanted to say about this book.Anyway, I loved Django Wexler's adult epic fantasy The Thousand Names that came out earlier this year, but I had no idea he could write such an excellent children's novel as well. I was so ecstatic when I received this ARC. The author really shows his talent and versatility with this book, creating imaginative worlds filled with all kinds of interesting creatures, bringing them to life with such rich and detailed descriptions. Speaking of which, I also can't wait to see the final book with all the illustrations. They just seem like they'll be wonderful given the creativity and imagination found in here.The story itself is fantastic; as an avid bibliophile it's hard for me to resist anything to do with libraries or reading about books that take you away to wondrous places...and in this case, it's quite literal as Alice has a power that lets her enter into a book's world and the only way out again is if she defeats the creature imprisoned inside. People like Alice are called "Readers", and by defeating the creatures in these "prison books", they are able to bind them to their will and have access to their abilities. I thought this was such an amazing idea to explain how Readers derive their magical powers and spells, by actually calling upon the creatures they control to channel it for them.The plot also has enough mystery to keep you constantly guessing, and you can never be sure what everybody's motives are. I couldn't help but feel for Alice and her predicament of being suddenly thrust into this strange new environment where she can't trust anyone. Not that Alice is helpless or needs my sympathy; she's courageous and headstrong, a take-charge girl who won't accept setbacks lying down. It's like I can see her growing up to be the kind of strong female protagonist I admire in the epic fantasy novels I read.In some ways, The Forbidden Library is a lot more complex than I would have expected from a middle-grade book. At times it's cute (like Ashes the talking cat will be a joy to many, I think -- not just to cat-lovers!), at others it's quite dark. And sometimes it's both at the same time, as evidenced by the "swarmers", Alice's horde of bizarre bird-like creatures that have the physical appearance and consistency of a rubber ball on legs. I won't lie -- reading this made me want an army of swarmers of my own, them being a black mass of razor-sharp pecking beaks notwithstanding. I think this is one of those books that both kids and adults can enjoy; it certainly has that wide appeal.Now if only my toddler was older so I could have read this aloud to her (well, I did anyway, because it was just too fun not to, what with doing all the voices of the book's many eccentric and memorable characters! But I can't wait until my daughter can actually understand the story). I've been trying to read a lot more children's books/middle-grade books lately, and taking note of my favorite titles, just waiting for the day. The Forbidden Library is most definitely one of them!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler reveals a world within books.Alice finds a fairy threatening her father; the next morning, her father says he must go on a long trip. His ship goes down and all people are presumed dead. A supposed uncle takes Alice to his fortress of a house and library. The house and library are magical. Food appears and disappears, the house is immaculately clean, yet there are only two servants:" Emma, who does exactly as told but appears to be an empty vessel and Mr. Black who is downright rude and mean and is dealing under-handedly with the same fairy Alice saw in her house. There are talking cats, a boy the cats are hiding, and books everywhere with magic hiding within.Alice discovers that she is a Reader, meaning she can go inside books. This ability may sound exciting; but, if the book is a prison book, you can't get out without killing what is imprisoned. Books can be dangerous places. As Alice tries to find the fairy to discover if her father is really dead and why he was even threatening her father, she must learn to use the powers of a Reader to survive while also trying to figure out who to trust.This novel is very cute and has an interesting premise. Alice is quite clever and as you read, you can determine if you would have lived through these adventures. There will be a subsequent book, as this novel ended but nothing has been resolved or solved.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read Wexler's previous book (The Thousand Names), and liked it well enough that I picked this up even though I saw that it was aimed at a younger audience. I didn't expect to like it *quite* as much, due to that fact.
I needn't have worried. I loved this book. It may seem like an exaggeration, but with 'The Forbidden Library' Wexler slips under Diana Wynne Jones' mantle - and is fully worthy of it. (Now, if only Miyazaki would option this story, as he did Wynne Jones' 'Howl's Moving Castle,' and animate the Swarm. The ultimate cuteness would be complete!)
Just on the face of it, I have to admit, it would be difficult to see how I could dislike this book. It's got all the good stuff - I could not conceivably say no to a secret library full of eerie dangers, books that are portals to other worlds, and magical cats (with attitude). Plus it's got an ingenious heroine, a roguishly handsome wizards' apprentice, nasty fairies, and a dragon. Not enough? There's more too...
And there is clearly going to be even more, because although there are plenty of adventures here, the main mystery remains unsolved, pending publication of a sequel... which I'll be reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I wanted so much to love it, but it never quite clicked for me.
Library copy - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Forbidden Library is Django Wexler's first book for children and he doesn't disappoint. Alice lives a satisfying and run of the mill life until one evening she wakes up and finds her father speaking with a faerie in the kitchen. The next day her father leaves for a trip and Alice never sees him again. She is taken in by an uncle that she didn't realize existed and introduced to a fantastical and at times dangerous world. When Alice discovers she is a Reader, a person who can interact with the characters and surroundings in a book, the adventure begins. I enjoyed this book although the pacing at the beginning was a bit slow once Alice moves into her new home the plot takes off. The author does a great job with his world building and of conveying just how horrifying and dismal Alice's life has become. This book is the first in a series and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Everyone seems to be writing for this hot niche nowadays. This one runs in the middle of the pack, maybe slightly forward of center. Strengths: a fairly straightforward plot, a protagonist that evaluates her actions according to a moral standard, and her creative use of the one creature power she has acquired. Weaknesses: Every other character's motivation is veiled until the final pages, and the author has failed to make me care about the outcome.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5WARNING! This review may or may not contain spoilers! When you start reading a story about a girl named Alice who ends up eavesdropping, hears her father having a discussion with a fairy and later runs into a talking cat, you don’t really have any other option than thinking about you-know-who… Right?Excitement level: up!We also know what happens when you put the cat with the milk. This is what happens to Alice. She’s living at her uncle Jerry’s, she can’t enter the library alone. Of course she does! With a little help of Ashen - the cat I mentioned before, she gets in… and that’s when things go ‘wrong’.The adventure which follows, reminded me SO MUCH of Daenerys Targaryen in the House of the Undying (A Clash of Kings)!! Needless to say, The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat!! Excitement level: UP!!!And yes, at this point I was thinking in figures of a 5-star rating.We got to know what Alice’s gift is and well… the soup isn't always eaten as hot as it is served, so by the time she gets her next task, my excitement had cooled down quite a bit. Still, we get a nice portion of action whilst waiting for another climax which, sadly, never came…