Jinx's Magic is the second book in Sage Blackwood's highly acclaimed fantasy-adventure series, Jinx. This humorous and smart tween trilogy set in a magical forest is perfect for fans of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap, Michael Buckley's the Sisters Grimm, and Brandon Mull's Fablehaven. "Readers will thrill to journey with Jinx" ( Jinx , School Library Journal , starred review), a daring young wizard's apprentice, as he travels from his home in the Urwald to an unfamiliar desert land in search of ancient magic. He needs that magic badly—there are forces threatening the Urwald from all sides. The more he learns, however, the clearer it becomes that this quest will require more than the magic of a solitary wizard's apprentice, and soon he'll have to call upon all of the Urwald—witches, werewolves, wizards, and trees—for help. Gr 4-8-The middle book of a trilogy must be the hardest to write: the thrill of the first book's creation of setting and characters is over and the satisfaction of tying every loose end together is yet to come. In this sequel to Jinx (HarperCollins, 2013), Blackwood succeeds in keeping readers' interests piqued without completely frustrating them. Jinx travels beyond the borders of his beloved Urwald and learns that it must be saved from the greedy depredations of invading foreigners from Keyland. He insinuates himself into the school at the Temple in Samara so he can explore the history of magic. As Blackwood extends Jinx's experiences to other lands, she adds layers of complexity that hint at future developments. Jinx's magical powers are strengthening, but he doesn't fully understand their source or their extent. He's still finding out how to use his gifts. The result of these uncertainties is that readers are left feeling as unsettled and unbalanced as he is. The next installment can't come along soon enough.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NYα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. *Starred Review* Blackwood’s now nearly 13-year-old wizard apprentice demonstrates both the pluck and smarts to cope with a series of misadventures as he sets about to save Simon, his master, from the evil Bonemaster. To locate an important and powerful book of lost magic wisdom and rescue Simon’s missing wife, who has the power to save him, Jinx treks through the magical woodlands, studded with trolls, werewolves, and other menacing creatures, to enroll as a would-be scholar in the hostile country of Samara. Meanwhile, land-grabbing Keyland lumberjacks threaten the trees of the Urwald, who Jinx alone can hear, and his allegiances with his friends Reven and Elfwyn are tested when they are at odds with the desires of the Urwald. Blackwood’s invented languages are seamlessly believable, and the compelling moral questions facing Jinx—how far is he willing to go to rescue the people important to him?—will snag readers.Unlike many second volumes in fantasy series, this one delivers all the grace and spark of Jinx (2013) while still allowing the characters to gain depth and complexity and expanding on the already richly dynamic world. This series deserves a permanent place in the children’s fantasy pantheon, with Narnia and Earthsea. Grades 4-8. --Francisca Goldsmith “Complex characters, compelling fun, a marvelously dastardly villain, all steeped in a tasty stew of mystery and magic. What more could a reader ask for?” - Bruce Coville “JINX is filled with real magic, not just the magic young Jinx learns, but the magic of a great book: memorable, engaging characters,humor that’s actually funny, an original, fantastic world, and real human feelings. I can’t wait for the next one.” - John Stephen, NYT bestselling author of THE EMERALD ATLAS PRAISE FOR JINX: “In this expertly paced, beautifully written fantasy, Blackwood elevates familiar fantasy elements with exquisitely credible characters who inhabit a world filled with well-drawn magic and whimsy.” - Booklist (starred review) “[Blackwood] puts her central three [characters] through a string of suspenseful, scary situations before delivering a properly balanced closing set of resolutions, revelations and road signs to future episodes.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Blackwood fills her tale with drama and delightfully funny dialogue.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Readers will thrill to journey with Jinx.” - School Library Journal (starred review) “JINX is a truly wonderful book full of magic, adventure, peril, magical forests, wizards up to no good, and a clever boy hero who will make you cheer while wanting to tear your hair out. I fell in love with this book, and then it broke my heart and stomped all over the pieces-but by the end my heart was whole again, and I was longing to read the sequel. JINX is a joy and a delight. It’s my very favorite book of the year.” - Sarah Prineas, author of THE MAGIC THIEF “Flowing dialogue, easy interactions between the charac