This is a find from a Friends of the Plymouth (Minnesota) Library book sale. It was a good find. This is a comic made by a Korean author ("Manhwa", which is distinct from the Japanese "Manga", perhaps to the same extent that they are both different from American "comicbook"). Anyway, this is the volume that won this author a best-new-author type of contest.
Jay and Aru are apprentice wizards from "The Magic World", and to graduate from their magic school, they have to travel to the Human World and basically demonstrate their skill by making themselves useful to some specific human. To start with, they have to convince the skeptical Cho-Ah to give them the time of day, because she has more important things to do than listen to some crazy boys talk about magic and other worlds.
It's a little odd, because the plot I just described doesn't start until chapter 3. Yeah, the first two chapters are A Minor Kidroduction to establish first Cho-Ah and then the magical pair, Jay and Aru. It's further odd because the volume starts with a minor In Media Res. But hey! It only appears odd in comparison to the book-back blurb. It makes perfect sense on its own.
It is cute. It is fun. It starts a good story. Indeed, this volume is more prologue for the main story, and yet is still its own complete story. We see the main trio start their budding friendship and get a taste of all the fun magical shenanigans to come.
Trickster Eric Novels gives Magical JxR a B+
Brian Wilkerson is an independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor's degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
