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“What matters is not the length of the wand, but the magic in the stick” - Anonymous

what would have been a peaceful treaty signing ends in tragedy and Archana is on the brink of war. as Vigile Contege, Osric must do everything he can to avert further disaster and find out what or who was behind the heinous act.
authors Jack D. Albrecht Jr. and Ashley Delay deliver a fantasy adventure novel filled with mythical creatures, intrigue, deception and loads of magic.
there is so much to love about this magical tale. unicorns, wand-making praire dogs and dragons are just some among the many denizens that populate the world of Archana which Osric and his band of travelers meet along the way in their quest for answers.
the world- and wordbuilding are spellbinding. the characters are well-fleshed out including the non-human ones and the most endearing among them is Pebble, the youngest son of the famous wand-maker Gus. Gus himself is one character readers would both love to hate and hate to love for his intellectual airs and snobbish arrogance. later in the story, however, Gus humbles himself a few notches down when he acknowledges that even the greatest wand-maker who ever lived still has a lot to learn and then some.
Osric, the main protagonist, is our reluctant hero who discovers something about himself beyond his wildest imaginings. as the tale progresses, he matures and embraces who he is and what he is capable of.
another thing i love are the dialogs between Osric and Gus. they are well-written and their constant bickering add humor and spice throughout the book.
this novel would surely delight everyone who enjoys a wholesome read. it is suitable even for advanced middle grade readers.
i highly recommend this book and i look forward to Osric's next adventure in The High-Wizard's Hunt.