Synopsis:
A hopeful orphan. An incredible wizard. One boy must do the impossible to change his life forever....
Ozel wonders if he'll ever escape his angry, fat caretaker. As the orphan hopes for a better future, a mysterious wizard gives him the gift of an apprenticeship and some unbelievable magic. But when Ozel discovers he's the lone heir to a massive fortune, he'll need more than a few spells to claim it.
After learning his portly caretaker plans to steal the money first, Ozel races through a forest of blacksmiths, witches, and even the undead to protect his birthright. If he survives the treacherous Tangul forest, the orphan and his wizard may just have to stop a twisted mage to go from zero to wealthy hero.
Apprentice Quest is a young adult fantasy novel full of action and humor. If you like powerful wizards, twists and turns, and coming-of-age tales, then you'll love Jim Hodgson's worthy successor to the magical genre.
Review Apprentice Quest 24/06/2020
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
We all know the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but on this occasion I was instantly drawn to this book by the wonderful cover art which personified adventure and childhood wonder and really did grab my attention.
The story surrounds young Ozel, an orphan living at a ‘foster home’ under the tyrannical rule of Bartu, a portly, violent man who uses the children he ‘cares for’ as child labour. One day Wagast the Wizard visits Bartu seeking a young man to act as an apprentice and chooses Ozel to accompany him.
Over the next few years we see how Ozel is given a home and treated with kindness and care while acting as gardener, cook and taught how to cast and channel magics. The aim is that, through his teachings, Ozel will, one day, becoming a fully fledged wizard himself but for now he helps around the house and with Wagasts ministrations of local folk, like the local blacksmith who's daughter is unwell and Wagast suggests a change of diet as a cure.
This changes one day when Wagast receives a pigeon from a fellow wizard Gurzes, who has heard that Ozel's parents identity have been discovered and an inheritance awaits him in the nearby city of Callan and so Wasgast suggests he go on an adventure to recover his identity and become a man.
What follows is a wonderfully enjoyable tale of Ozel's adventure which, while initially less than Gurzes had expected, expands into a most grand tale of wizard, maidens and the undead.
I really can't express how impressed I was with this story. The primary characters are all extremely likeable, while the supporting cast are equally as well rounded and interesting. Also, while we don't see an awful lot of the world in this tale, what is shown is very well written and believable.
This is all brought to life excellently by the narrator Robert Powell who gave every character a distinct voice, style and even affectation which really aided in making the whole adventure so very enjoyable.
A lot of sites seem to have this listed as a Teen or Young Adult book but I would warn that there is some explicit gore and language but at no point does the story turn dark or scary. It truly does succeed at marrying danger with comedic timing in a way rarely seen outside of the Discworld.
