I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jonathon Goode, Honorary Witch: The Crystals of Aztlan
by Michael Lingaard
on November 24, 2015
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 663
Format: Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Twelve thousand years ago, the fabled island of Aztlan, in a cataclysmic event, disappeared beneath the sea, taking with it all the island's mysteries, which were lost forever. Or were they?
Bloodlines lived on, passed on through Aztlan's survivors. These bloodlines included powerful priests and priestesses, who controlled almost mythical powers through the magic of Greater and Lesser crystals.
In modern day England, 16-year-old Jonathon Goode and his cousin, Elizabeth Waterhouse, are told by a fairground fortune teller that they will meet an elf in an emporium where magic is bought and sold. It comes to pass.
The elf gives Jonathon an Everywhere Key, opening a doorway to a realm between realities. Three Muses of magic in the realm are convinced that Elizabeth is the heir to an ancient bloodline of Priestesses, and believe she has the power to control a Lesser crystal.
They were wrong. Elizabeth does have a magic power, but it is the power of a biomorph. Elizabeth is a shape-shifter.
It is Jonathon who has the true power.
The Muses tell a tale of a crystal that is no longer lost and is being use for evil. They want Jonathon and Elizabeth to find it and return it to them. But the crystal is in another reality, one they can access through the Everywhere Key. They end up in the land of Thallos, where the survivors of Aztlan fled when their island home was submerged. But Thallos is also the home of Great Worms, dwarves, trolls, and magicians.
Jonathon Goode is one I will read again
Jonathon Goode, Honorary Witch: The Crystals of Aztlan by Michael Lingaard is an excellent book. Despite some things that were a bit weird, this book is definitely one that I can see myself rereading in the future.
What I Liked
What first caught me about this book is the wonderful plot. It made me think about Atlantis since Aztlan sounded a little bit like Atlantis from the plot. I am so grateful that I did read it as it is such a great book. I like how Mr. Lingaard created a bit of three worlds and together into this book. I especially like the way he had the magic aspect of the book.
Another great thing is how we followed more than one character throughout the book. I liked that it made sense to do that. I also like despite the differences between Earth and the other two worlds; the characters are all becoming friends with each other. The people from Earth try to help one of the worlds out even more than what they are supposed to do.
What I Didn’t Care For
There were some things I disliked about the book, and the biggest one happened to be no chapters in the book. So, for someone, like me, who likes to read to the next chapter, can’t exactly do that in this book. Instead, I read from one set of bold words to the next. There were also some words missing. But my brain was able to correct it and didn’t take me out of my story. That happens sometimes, and I hate it when a story does that to you.
History
Another thing I liked about the book is the references to some history thrown in. That history helped the protagonist a lot. The characters are so well-crafted that I am glad to have read this book and created a lot of new friends.
5 Stars Awesome
I am giving this book a five-star rating because it is that good. Though I am sure by now, my mom is tired of me talking about this book. I can’t help it! Jonathon Goode, Honorary Witch: The Crystals of Aztlan by Michael Lingaard is a book good enough for both young adults and adults alike. The ending also left it open for a sequel or for us to contemplate about Jonathon, Elizabeth, and everyone else’s lives now. I will say it is more of the second option.
Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by
Baroness’ Book Trove.
About Michael Lingaard
Taken from the author’s website:
English born, New Zealand raised and Australia domiciled is the short answer to where I come from. Travel does that, you skip the bits in between in case people think you’re going to bring out the photographs.
New Zealand was where I grew up and finished my education. Then it was into engineering and getting on with things. It was also where I first began to read sci-fi.
Years and much traveling later, I’m in Australia working as a senior construction estimator when I decided that I was going to write a sci-fi novel. So I designed my universe along with appropriate technology and characters and diligently scribbled everything down over many, many, many late nights. Then I carefully put my story away for a while until I’d finished rebuilding the house. Then along came the kids. And a different house…
… twenty years later I finally got down to serious writing. Three hundred thousand words; first part of a trilogy; great story; great technology. Sure fire winner, right? ( those out there sniggering… this was my first book and I knew nothing ) Three re-writes and many bruises later I realized I needed something different. The ego had gone and I could look at things objectively.
From my now-uncluttered mind up popped the concept of the Mirror Worlds and I went from there. It was fun to write. I wanted to make magic believable, as if it could really be explained. I hope I’ve succeeded.
We’ll see.
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