Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass (Book 1)

The realm of magic is enticing and well highlighted in Kirov’s wacky, but charming novel. From magic shows to the origins of magic in Ancient Egypt, Kirov covers a lot of ground. The story is narrated by our unsuspecting hero, who is not afraid to voice his thoughts. Nick's reactions to his Russian heritage and towards magic are comical and entertaining. Because this is the first book in the series, it needs a strong foundation. It has a tantalizing, satisfactory ending, but the plot has a few hitches that give the reader a sense that something is awry.

First, everything is rushed. Many of the characters disappear as quickly as they pop up. Each one seizes a brief scene with Nick before being replaced by another character. Although the author incorporates the historical snippets really smoothly, the characters’ own backgrounds are regrettably missing. Last, some elements are inconsistent with other parts of the story or just seem unreasonable given that the story's setting/events parallel the real world. All in all, these are minor flaws.

I would recommend this book to upper-elementary and middle school students as yet another magic series to dive into. With the abundance of fantasy and magic series these days, Magickeepers: The Eternal Hourglass has dozens of books to contest with, but it is worth your time to read through.

I couldn't put this book down. There is lots of action that moves the story forward, but the most intriguing parts come through Nick's crystal ball. Together, they create a history of magic, which may be fictional, but it is incredibly well done. In the same vein, the author has very artfully woven in the mystique of Russia from its czarist days. Nick's reaction to being immersed in the family's Russian traditions is humorous. The preview for the next book involves a scene with Edgar Allen Poe, which suggests the author will continue to weave history, culture, and literature into her books.