If you enjoy middle-grade fiction or just love a good fantasy adventure, Tess Pendragon & The Wand of Avalon is a must-read. From the moment I picked it up, I was hooked. Tess is a brave and determined heroine who takes readers on an unforgettable journey through a world filled with magic, ancient secrets, and heartwarming friendships. The author’s world-building is rich and immersive, blending Arthurian legends and Celtic mythology into an exciting and fresh narrative.

The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists that kept me turning the pages. The themes of courage, friendship, and self-discovery are beautifully woven throughout the story. One of my favorite lines from the book, “There will always be something inside the cauldron, if only you have the courage to look,” captures the essence of Tess’s journey—sometimes, the greatest discoveries require bravery and an open heart.

I give this book a solid 8/10 and will definitely be recommending it to friends and family. Whether you're looking for a great read for a young reader or just want to enjoy a fun, magical adventure yourself, Tess Pendragon & The Wand of Avalon is a fantastic choice!

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book, in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book was really cute. I can definitely see my kids enjoying this book.

"Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon" by KR Matthews is a thrilling and enchanting young adult fantasy that takes readers on an epic quest through the magical realm of Avalon. In this action-packed adventure, Matthews introduces readers to Tess Pendragon, a brave and determined young heroine with a destiny that will change the fate of her world.

Set in a world where magic and mythology collide, "Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon" follows Tess as she embarks on a perilous journey to recover the legendary Wand of Avalon—a powerful artifact that holds the key to restoring balance to the kingdom. Along the way, she must confront dark forces, solve ancient riddles, and forge unlikely alliances in order to fulfill her destiny and save her people.

Matthews' writing is engaging and immersive, with vivid descriptions and vivid world-building that bring the fantastical realm of Avalon to life on the page. From the towering spires of the magical city of Avalon to the mysterious depths of the enchanted forest, each setting is rendered in exquisite detail, immersing readers in a world of wonder and adventure.

The characters in "Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon" are vibrant and multi-dimensional, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. Tess is a compelling protagonist, her courage and determination shining through as she grapples with the challenges of her quest and the weight of her responsibilities. The supporting cast of characters, including the wise wizard Merlin and the cunning sorceress Morgana, add depth and complexity to the story, driving the plot forward with their conflicting agendas and motivations.

At its core, "Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon" is a story about the power of friendship, courage, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Matthews explores themes of destiny, identity, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in, weaving a spellbinding tale of magic and adventure that will capture the hearts of readers young and old.

Overall, "Tess Pendragon and the Wand of Avalon" is an exciting and immersive fantasy novel that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. With its engaging characters, thrilling plot twists, and richly imagined world, it's no wonder this book earns a solid rating of 4 out of 5. Fans of fantasy adventures and epic quests are sure to be swept away by the magic of Tess Pendragon's world.

Tess Pendragon & The Wand of Avalon was a fun, middle grade novel, reminiscent of Harry Potter. Maybe a tad bit too much. Overall, I had fun reading it and would recommend it to fans of HP.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tess and all the students at her magic school have memories of their lives before they were taken but this will all change in three days on revealing day. This was a fun middlegrade with a great premise. I enjoyed Tess as a character, and the introduction at the school gave a good introduction to some of her friends and peers. It was refreshing in a middlegrade to see adults be a present and guiding influence in events. I liked the inclusion of Arthurian legend and wish more lore had been woven into the world building. The pacing was a bit off and at times seemed like we were just jumping from one event to the next.. I wish there had been more emphasis on Tess's friend group, and that more time had been spent developing the side characters. Overall though this was enjoyable and I can see a lot of potential for the series.

Anyone who's been reading my reviews for a while now knows that I'm a sucker for anything related to King Arthur and Merlin, like Merlin is one of my ultimate favourite shows and I immediately have to read anything related to them both. As such, I couldn't wait to read this and just from the synopsis alone it had big School For Good and Evil vibes which I did also enjoy, and with the TV show coming I can't wait to recommend this to kids looking for similar books!

While very similar to School For Good and Evil, I found that it was imaginative in the world that was created and it's absolutely brimming with magic and adventure. I could root for Tess and I can see her growing more as a character in future books within this series though she seemed a little bit weak in this first book.

My one main issue with this book was that I found it very hard to get into initially, I wasn't much of a fan of the 'Golden Trio' and the way they were portrayed although I immediately had a mighty need for them to get some comeuppance. I just found it hard to keep my attention on the book and keep picking it back up in the beginning and did almost contemplate DNF-ing, I only kept reading because of my love for Arthurian Legend and like I said, there are some great things about this book and I'd be interested to check out a sequel!

Digital copy provided by NetGalley for review

1.86 on CAWPILE

Unfortunately, I really did not like this book. In fact, the only thing I did like about this book was Mrs. Robinson, that's it. I got lost so many times while reading this and had to restart chapters or pages too many times to count because the book was all over the place, we would go from nothing happening to everything happening, with no middle ground to balance it out. I feel this book would have been better as two separate novels, with the first one being everything that happened leading up to reading day, just fleshed out better and more worldbuilding, because it felt like two completely different stories being mushed into one. I won't be reading the sequel because I honestly couldn't care less about this story

Content Warnings (view spoiler)

This was a really good book. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters in the book. I look forward to more from this author.

An enjoyable and unique retelling of Arthurian legend, two descendants, darkness and light. We enjoyed reading this book.

I read this book with my kids. We all enjoyed it, but got a little lost at times. They were invested and wanted to know what was going to happen to Tess. It was kind of like a girl Harry Potter, which my daughter, named Tes, loved. Overall, a fun book!

This was a retelling of the King Arthur legend. I could not really connect with Tess. There was a lack of character development. The story is fast-paced but felt rushed at times. Still, middle schoolers will love this novel. I recommend this for fans of T. A. Barron, Jane Yolen, and T. H. White!

It wasn’t my favorite to be honest. It felt a bit like a discount version of a Rick Riordan book. However, it wasn’t actively bad, just bland for my taste.

It was a very enjoyable and fast read. The characters, the magic and all the action were easy to follow, and I adored the theme and the historical plots. I would have liked the character of Tess Pendragon to be slightly different and to have more courage but in the end for the age range I think it is very appropriate the way the character was shaped. It is a bildungsroman that let us see how Tess and her friends manage to take responsibility and find their way toward adulthood.

La historia tiene mucha magia, aventuras, humor y hasta un asomo de un futuro romance tal vez. Las peleas no son tan épicas ni asombrosas y creo que es porque los protagonistas no tienen mas de 12 años, es lógico que no puedan pelear contra cosas más amenazantes. El libro cumple con entretener.

En lo personal no creo seguir leyendo la saga porque las fantasías con dragones, magia, destinos fijos, profecías, caballeros, justas, etc. no me van tanto. Pero nunca digas nunca.

Creo que hay detalles por mejorar, como por ejemplo que recién se vuelve más interesante la historia desde la mitad en adelante.

Reseña completa en goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4260707189

I saw the name Pendragon and got excited because I love Arthurian books! This was a really unique and cute take on the Merlin myth!

Since they were little, Tess and her fellow classmates have spent their lives in a cottage-cum-boarding school on the island of Avalon, protected by a seal. Looking forward to the revealing day when they would get their childhood memories back and return to their families.

But when Tess and his friend Tristan uncover a plan to break the seal, things take a turn for the worse. And suddenly, the day Tess had been waiting for becomes the worst day of their lives, ripping her away from her friends and everything she has ever known.

Thrown into the realm of the old, Tess must figure out her heritage, her strange magic and reclaim her throne before the dragon-scaled girl from her dreams destroys it all.

This book has an interesting premise. Two girls descendents of Merlin. One born to light. And another destined to bring back the darkness. Bound with an inescapable prophecy.

If it was expounded a little further, had a little more character development, I think it would easily have been a four star read.

The world building was fascinating and I especially loved the tid-bits of trivia thrown here and there.

And although some parts felt more rushed than the others, I still pleasantly enjoyed reading it. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys middle grade and stories based on Arthurian legend.

This children’s retelling of King Arthur begins a few days before Revealing Day, when the eleven-year-old protagonist, Tess, and her classmates will learn their true identities and take their place in the world as sorcerers. The countdown is great for suspense, but the whole ‘magic school’ arc felt very rushed—the race to stop Britney could have been an entire book on its own and neither the school structure nor the children’s relationships are properly introduced. I also felt there were too many characters, and the author didn’t give us a chance to truly connect with any of them. Apart from some mysterious scenes, we don't even know Jaida, supposedly the real antagonist.

The world-building, even though it could have been better developed, is quirky and fun, especially the food (I loved all the descriptions, it sounded yummy!). I also loved to read about a lot of different creatures, like gargoyles and trolls; and how, between a lot of fantastical elements, the author still addresses contemporary issues like class disparity, identity search, and belonging.

I don’t have deep knowledge about Arthurian legends and I think I could have enjoyed it more if I did. Despite that, the story itself might be a pleasant introduction to those tales for middle-grade readers. Even though I feel some things could have been better explained, it might be a way to instil curiosity in the younger ones and make them want to find out more about it. In the end, I still think the world the author wanted to create has a lot of potential, especially because the whole girls with entwined destiny's plot, and I’m sure some younger readers will have a blast with it. I just wish it could have been better executed.

I have to thank NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. The final version was published on September 14, 2021.

Thank you to NetGalley and Greater Path LLC for a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed being engrossed in the magical world of Tess Pendragon and her friends. It helps if you have some knowledge of Arthurian legends before reading this book, but I can see this being a good introduction to those tales for middle grade readers.

I like the idea of two of Merlin's descendants, cousins in this case, and how they are interconnected but are on opposing sides--with one that has been pulled into the darkness while the other fights for the light.

During her quest, Tess encounters evidence of oppression and the political moves made by the darker forces to wrest control. She learns to believe in herself and to draw strength from within. She digs deep to find her connection to her family by blood and pulls strength from the friendships that bind together her found family.

I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

This book was well written and I think it's great for younger readers. I am interested to see what's next.

[eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]

I had high hopes for this book as I love middle-grade mythological retellings, but it just fell a bit short.

The story begins a few days before Revealing Day when the protagonist, Tess, and her classmates will learn their true identities and take their place in the world. This begins a countdown, which is great for developing suspense. Tess learns that the class bully, Brittney, plans to shatter the barrier and go into the outside world for herself. Brittney seems a bit comically evil; there isn't much reason for her to be so uppity, or for her to want to break the barrier. A better example of the bully archetype is Clarisse from the Percy Jackson series--she's the daughter of Ares, a war god, so it would make sense that she's naturally aggressive. Brittney is just a mean girl who is a part of this big scheme for no apparent reason. She's mean simply for the sake of being an antagonist, rather than any reason grounded in her character or the setting.

This whole "magic school" arc feels very rushed. The race to stop Brittney and fail could have been an entire book on its own. An alternative idea would be to begin the novel on Revealing Day itself and start with a bang. As it stands, it's a very weak introduction. The stakes aren't high enough 1/3 of the way into the novel for it to really have an impact.

My second qualm with this novel was how anachronistic it felt. It technically takes place in modern day, but I felt as if I was reading something medieval. Even when Tess enters the Old World (the real world), it still feels as if it takes place in the 19th century at the latest.

The novel feels as if it should be stand-alone. There isn't enough intrigue set up for a sequel. Her parents are missing, and Jaida is on the loose, but after I finished I had to wonder "Why should I care?" The Big Bads were defeated, she's come into her power, and everyone is happy the princess has returned. Again, stakes are an issue--they aren't high enough to give reason to care about her parents or Jadia.

It feels as if the target audience is 8-11, so perhaps they won't care as much. I just feel there are much stronger comp titles that would make more interesting reads. Overall it's just okay.