An underdog hero who finds a place where he belongs, friends who would follow each other to the ends of the earth, an extensive, hidden magical world, and exciting adventures through spooky, mysterious forests—The Accidental Apprentice gathers all the beloved elements of classic middle grade fantasy novels, and conjures up a uniquely enchanting, immersive story set in a diverse, inclusive world. Amanda Foody’s debut middle grade fantasy novel is one I picked up with tons of expectations, and I’m so happy to say that I ended up loving it to bits! The Accidental Apprentice also has one of the best covers I have come across and it channels the vibe of the story perfectly.
11-year-old Barclay Thorne has never fit in in the town of Dullshire, try as he might. His parents passed away seven years ago, when the Legendary Beast of the Woods, Gravaldor, had attacked Dullshire. Ever since then, Barclay has been branded a troublemaker as he is prone to accidentally breaking the many, many rules the people of Dullshire so dutifully follow. As the town’s mushroom farmer’s apprentice, Barclay had vowed to work hard, and never ever go looking for adventure. But when he encounters a Beast in the forbidden Woods and ends up bonding with it involuntarily, his life changes completely.
Banished from his town, Barclay goes looking for the nearest town of Lore Keepers, determined to break his bond with his Beast. But as he befriends the fierce Lore Keeper Viola and comes to know his Beast well, Barclay must decide whether to heed the call of adventure, or return home to live the quiet, uneventful life he believes he is destined to lead.
The Accidental Apprentice reads like a classic fantasy novel, and sure, the plot is predictable at times, but instead of seeming boring or unoriginal, the story feels comfortably familiar, much like your favourite books or movies that never get old, no matter how many times you revisit them. Foody’s writing is bright and quirky and whimsical; she effortlessly pulls you into the lush, wondrous Wilderlands she has painted so vividly. We get to see only one of the six major regions of the Wilderlands in this book, and I can’t wait to see where the upcoming instalments in the Wilderlore series take us! The brisk pace of the story keeps you captivated right up to the end, and despite the predictability of the plot, it packs a few twists you’d never see coming, especially the one near the ending.
Foody excels at the characterisation as well. Barclay is remarkable and relatable as a protagonist. At the beginning of the book, we find him lost and vulnerable, away from the home he has always known and thrust into a magical world completely new and terrifying to him. But as the story proceeds, we see a Barclay who is also fierce, stubborn, and utterly loyal to his friends, and it’s impossible not to love him. The side characters are all equally well-rounded, with Viola and Tadg being my favourites. As for the Beasts, we get to see a wide variety of them in this book, including Barclay’s Lufthund and Viola’s dragon Mitzi, and it was a delight to meet every single one of them. Barclay’s relationship with his Lufthund slowly develops throughout the book, and the two of them will definitely melt your heart.
To sum it all up, The Accidental Apprentice is an absolutely beautiful, mesmerising story about wild, thrilling adventures and accepting yourself for who you are, and it will transport you right back to your childhood. If you love high fantasy and/or Pokémon, and are a fan of Toothless and Hiccup’s dynamic in How to Train Your Dragon (honestly, who isn’t), trust me, you want to pre-order The Accidental Apprentice right now.
The Accidental Apprentice is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 30th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A boy who accidentally bonds with a magical Beast must set off on an adventure in the mysterious Woods.
The last thing Barclay Thorne ever wanted was an adventure.
Thankfully, as an apprentice to the town’s mushroom farmer, Barclay need only work hard and follow the rules to one day become the head mushroom farmer himself. No danger required. But then Barclay accidentally breaks his town’s most sacred rule: never ever EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurk vicious magical Beasts.
To Barclay’s horror, he faces a fate far worse than being eaten: he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is run out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break this bond and return home, Barclay journeys to find the mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have also bonded with Beasts and share their powers.
But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing the legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home and rules he’s always known, or embrace the adventure awaiting him.
