Customer Reviews

The Jumper Chronicles: The Quest for Merlin's Map

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Readers of Harry Potter will immediately notice the obvious parallels in this book: A young American boy named Charlie turns 12 and learns that he is from a long line of Druids dating back to Merlin himself. With this heritage can come various abilities or super-powers, and also much personal danger. Charlie is whisked away from Massachussetts to a school in a Scottish castle that reminds us of Hogwarts, where he discovers his own special ability. In addition, the Oracle at the school promises an additional ability to the student or students who can find the sword Excalibur, which is hidden somewhere on the school grounds. Thus begins a school contest that soon develops into a serious -- and dangerous -- quest to find the Sword before it falls into the hands of the evil Vanari, who want to use Merlin's secrets to rule the world. In the process, Charlie also finds out why his father disappeared when he was only two, and comes to terms with his feelings of abandonment.

What is original here - and different from the Potter books - is the idea that individuals in this Druidic line inherit various innate powers such as invisibility, time travel, teleportation, psychokinesis, mind control, etc. and that these cannot be learned. What you get is what you get, and you must learn to work with that. The ending does a very good job of setting up a team of young heros who can work well together and will be able to "jump" into various time periods as they search for the lost power-crystals that Merlin hid in various times and places. Hence the series title, "The Jumper Chronicles."

As a coming-of-age quest novel, this wasn't bad. I found myself engaged in the story and could identify with the characters, even though I'm not very familiar with the Norse mythology upon which it is based. (Did the Norse gods leave Earth to fight a galactic war and put the Druids in charge of protecting humanity while they were gone? Or did the author make all this up? I'm clueless. But I do know that having Moses be a descendant of Merlin REALLY stretched it for me, since, as far as I know, there is no geneologcal connection between Jews and Druids, unless you go back to Adam and Eve. But OK, I'll call it poetic license and figure that this story is happening in some parallel universe and not the one I know from Jewish history.)

Now for the nitpicks: As other reviewers here pointed out, this book badly needed a better proofreader. There are many places where the spell checker just was not good enough (such as "form" instead of "from," both of which are real words the checker would not catch). Plus there are a lot of punctuation errors, especially with quotation marks, where, if "he said" is inserted into the middle of a remark, there is no second opening quotation mark where the words from the same person continue. I do realize that a lot of small publishers rely on authors to do their own proofing nowadays. But this is all the more reason to have somebody else -- even the family's best speller will do -- read it through before it goes to press. And for heaven sakes, please JUSTIFY the text! The ragged edges in this book were ANNOYING and very unprofessional-looking!

Another thing that annoyed me was the author's constant use of school lectures to fill in the historical details. As Orson Scott Card pointed out in his book How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy, the absolute WORST way to get this kind of info across is to have some scientist or professor stand up there giving a lecture. Sure, you see this in old sci-fi movies, but there are much better ways in modern literature, such as finding an old manuscript, reading it for themselves in a book, questioning another character (which they did do to some extent with the werecat), letting the reader into somebody's thoughts, or even a vision or dream. But it is just too much coincidence to have every school lesson also be a major clue.

But in spite of all these nitpicks, I'm still giving it four stars, because I enjoyed the story. Hopefully, as Charlie and friends pursue more quests in the series, the writing will also improve.

The Jumper Cronicles book 1: The Quest For Merlin's Map by W.C. Peever is absouletly amazing, one of the best books of the year! You won't want to put it down! The characters are soooo real and realatable, especially Charlie, the awkward preteen boy. I really liked the character Charlie, because he was actually believable! This book has the perfect twist of fantasy, mythology, and normal people. You'll be gripping the edge of your seat while reading this book...you'll need to know what happens next and what does happen you'll never be expecting! This book is great for people who like Harry Potter and Pendragon, fantasy, or are just looking for a good read! This book is a must read! Pick it up today, you won't regret it!

I've seen this trend in countless undergraduate writing classes: a young writer thinks his story can't matter like those he's read elsewhere, so he robotically mimics others. The finished product may or may not entertain readers, but it certainly does not satisfy or nourish our needs. Some people may like this book, but it's a nine days' wonder which will likely have no visible impact.

On turning twelve, Charlie Burrows and Bailey Relling receive their inheritance, a magic lineage stretching back to prehistory. They attend an enchanted academy on the far side of the globe, where they are the only hope to return balance to an unending magical war. When the academy turns out to be the site of the next big battle, only our adolescent heroes can save all existence. Sound familiar?

This book slavishly copies Harry Potter, not just point for point, but in places word for word. It doesn't try to conceal this mimicry. Author W.C. Peever either lacks courage to tell his own story, or lacks respect for his audience, thinking we won't notice that nothing original or surprising happens. If I gave you the first Harry Potter novel, you could plot this book on graph paper.

Our author brings in some real-world references, but he mangles them terribly. His attempts to create a hybrid myth of Druidic, Greek, Norse, and Hebrew traditions, show little concern for the cultures and histories of any tradition. Dates, facts, stories, and personalities sprawl all over the joint. Audiences who read fantasy generally also read myth, so his inconsistencies will not go unnoticed.

Also the book is physically tough to read. The hit-or-miss punctuation, unattributed dialog, approximate spelling, stilted English, and ragged margins drain readers' attention and willpower. Peever's mistakes are so basic that he clearly thinks Spell Check exempts him from proofreading. I can understand an author thinking that, but surely the editor or publisher should have caught these fundamental flaws.

Peever's heart is in the right place. He wants to tell a story to entertain and uplift his audience. But his brain doesn't come on the journey. I gave Percy Jackson five stars, and it's a Potter knock-off, but it's a good knock-off. Peever just goes through the motions, and the finished book lacks any spark. Save your scarce reading time for books that care as much as you do.

REVIEW "THE JUMPER CHRONICLES, THE SEARCH FOR MERLIN'S MAP"


W.C. Peever's new work, THE JUMPER CHRONICLES, THE SEARCH FOR MERLIN'S MAP, is an outstanding Young Adult novel. Peever skillfully blends a new hidden world into the current and historical world we know, as twelve-year-old Charlie Burrows seeks to discover his ability as a descendant of Merlin. THE JUMPER CHRONICLES is the first book of a series based on this new understanding of our world. Exciting action ensues as Charlie and his friends, Bailey, Mick, and Tilley seek to find Merlin's Map which is the key to locating all of the crystal to protect the Order and defeat the Vanari. An artful weaving of mythologies from Egyptian Kings to Britannic Druids, to the Norse King of Gods, Odin and many other legends, Peever masterfully crafts a tapestry that includes and explains many of the legends. It gives readers a perspective not heretofore offered, while the author even pauses to discuss good and evil as young Charlie tries to sort out absolutes.

As a stand alone novel it is well conceived and executed, and as the first in a new series it leaves the reader wanting more and soon! Bring it on, Mr. Peever!

Young Adult readers may be challenged by THE JUMPER CHRONICLES, THE SEARCH FOR MERLIN'S MAP, but no more so than by Percy Jackson or Harry Potter series. Make no mistake, however, W.C. Peever does not attempt to mimic these fine tales, rather he takes the fantasy genre to a new, higher level. Bravo!

A truly amazing read! I'd been following the progress on the authors website ever since I came across it in a chat room and was most certainty not disappointed! I read it on the beach (though in truth it was far to good for a beach read-it deserves more) and was in constant amazement at how quickly I became attached to each character. A roller-coaster ride of emotion, this book delves you deep into a world of magic and myth that leaves you wanting more the second you finish. I can not wait for the second installment! Recommended for anyone at a fourth grade reading level or higher.

Charlie Burrows' twelfth birthday brings a few surprises that concern both himself and his best friend, Bailey Relling.

First, they see a strange man watching them ice skate at the local pond. Then, when they get home, hoping to share a meal and some birthday cake, they overhear their mothers arguing with that same man. He introduces himself as Professor Henry Grayson, and he is the headmaster at a private school where he wants the children to attend. He tells them that their fathers worked for the British government, and he has been sent to take the children into protective custody due to the case that resulted in the disappearance of their fathers ten years earlier.

Overwhelmed by the information and frightened by the idea of leaving their mothers, the children attempt to run away. To their surprise, Professor Grayson appears on the road in front of them. A bright light flashes, and the next thing they know, they have been transported to Thornfield Academy.

Charlie and Bailey adapt quickly to their new environment, meeting a new friend to make their duo a threesome, trying out for new sports (lacrosse), taking on new classes with quirky professors, and learning about the magical world in which they now belong.

The most shocking piece of information they learn is that Norse gods exist and they created nine worlds and that there are different dimensions. The gods, however, have been at war for eons and have closed themselves off from our world. This has not kept the battles between the Asgardians (the good gods) and the Vanari (the jealous lesser gods) from affecting Earth. The lives of Charlie's and Bailey's fathers are at sake as the children search for a magical object that could change the outcome of everything they know.

Readers who enjoy the Harry Potter, Charlie Bone, and Percy Jackson series' will also embrace this new group of youngsters. This combination of magic, Norse mythology, and Arthurian legend is a creative and fun addition to the fantasy genre. Finally, a touch of family, friendship, and conflict keep the characters real enough to allow readers to easily relate. I'm looking forward to a new installment in what is an exciting new series.

Reviewed by: Theresa L. Stowell

Quest for Merlin's Map was such a fun, magical read. I didn't except to be so swept up in the fantasy, adventure and lore than made up the story. It's a book that has very minor similarities to other books out there, but enough that it will draw fans of magic, and fantasy in.

Twelve year old Charlie Burrows has a gift that he inherited from the father he never knew, World Jumping. In finding his talent, Charlie is suddenly whisked away from his mother and home, and brought to a magic school in England where kids with special powers attend. Luckily Charlie has his best friend Bailey with them, as the two are about to learn about their father's past, a whole another magical world they never existed and about the powers that they have, and never knew existed until now.

Charlie is a brilliant witty character, and his best friend Bailey is one a character I also really like. She's this bigger than life character, who deep down has a fear for losing Charlie, as she too grew up without a father. Through Charlie and Bailey's dangerous adventures, they learn more about their fathers, their quest and the war that's taken place both in the new world that once laid just beyond their imaginations.

Along with Charlie and Bailey is a cast of great characters who's powers range from a World Jumper to, Shape Shifters, Guardians, Elementalists, Influencearians, Telecons and Seers. Lord Grayson and Joelle (the shape shifting were cat who lives in the library), are two more characters I really enjoyed getting to know. They added a rich history to the story and in getting to know little bits and pieces of their ancient characters. I got to know more of Charlie's destiny, while learning along side Charlie about the history of the new world he's now apart of.

I really liked the way W.C. Peever molded together a fun adventure full of paranormal characters, lore, magic, and a well known historical character like Merlin and gave it his own spin. The Quest for Merlin's Map is a unique and richly detailed story that both middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Charlie Burrows is a normal 12 year old boy with a normal 12 year old best friend named Bailey. The two of them have grown up together in the seaside town of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Both of them have no idea where their dads disappeared to when they were mere toddlers, but the arrival of a strange man shakes up their seemingly normal world as they're spirited to a far-away castle and a world they never knew existed.

Peever has done something that rivals the likes of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan. Charlie's story is vast in nature and magical in its telling. Not only does Charlie discover a world hidden within our world, but he also discovers how pivotal a role he could play.

The students at Thornfield Academy all have special abilities. These abilities can range from being a Guardian, to telekinesis, to the rare power of invisibility, and then to the even rarer ability to Jump from dimensions and maybe even time. I'll give you one guess at what Charlie's ability is. Yep, he's a Jumper, as was his long lost dad. This rare ability may herald the coming of a new age, and for Charlie, that means he will be highly sought after; for both good and evil.

The world that Peever has created is layered in Norse mythology, Arthurian legends, and some sci-fi alternate dimensions/parallel universes. He flawlessly weaves these elements into Charlie's life and makes it entirely compelling and unputdownable. Not only does the story boast of wonderfully vivid and fantastical elements, but the characters are well-developed with their own nuances and intricacies.

Charlie and Bailey make quite the best friend duo, in that they complement in each other in every which way. They are fiercely loyal to one another and love with a passion. Where Charlie is a more shy boy, Bailey is a brash, in your face kind of girl. She's one tough cookie and, as it turns out, that is exactly what Charlie needs in his best friend. Thornfield opens up the possibility of new friendships and along comes Mick, a gruff older boy with a tendency to care for the underdog. His new role as Guardian means more to him than just keeping Charlie safe - he makes friends for life. Then there's Tillie...

The gorgeous girl that Charlie begins eyeing sort of throws a wrench into the workings of this newfound group of friends and I'll admit that Tillie's relationship with an older boy really bothered me. She's twelve and this boy is a seventh year, making him 17ish? But I really did enjoy the tension she brings to the group and how, even though she could easily be viewed as competition to Bailey, that avenue is never explored. Bailey is Charlie's best friends, no questions asked.

The Jumper Chronicles: Quest for Merlin's Map is well-written, entertaining and thriving with fantastical elements, Arthurian legends, and several history lessons hidden amongst the adventure. Any fan of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or fantasy novels in general will be absolutely absorbed in Charlie's tale. I was and I'm more than excited to see where Charlie's adventures will lead to next.

Opening line: The wind howled outside the small, colonial-blue, seacoast home of Daniel Burrows, as February bared its teeth in the small New England town of Marblehead. ~ pg. 5

Favorite lines: "Time was never meant to be tampered with. Left alone, it should go on forever. But with many different realities all using the same fabric of time..." ~ pg. 81

I was blown away by Quest for Merlin's Map. I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but it definitely wasn't the perfect blend of boarding school, mythology and Arthurian legend that I was given.

Any young adult book that includes a boarding school for magically inclined students will forever be compared to Harry Potter. While Quest for Merlin's Map brings to mind the Harry Potter series as well as the Percy Jackson series, the similarities are all positive. This first book in The Jumper Chronicles is every bit as enchanting, entertaining and well written as those big name books.

Charlie Burrows is a World Jumper. He can travel into different dimensions, which is a very rare and coveted ability. This ability makes him a target for all those who wish to control his power. That's an awful lot for a 12 year old to deal with, especially since he just learned that abilities like these exist at all.

Quest for Merlin's Map is richly detailed, providing just enough history to understand the meaning behind certain events, but without revealing more than is needed. This is a complete novel, with an epilogue promising much more trouble for Charlie. I'm definitely excited for more adventures from The Jumper Chronicles.

As a reader and reviewer, I do like to check out what others have to say about the book we have read. Now, while there may be a few grammatical errors in 'The Jumper Chronicles', I personally will not hold that as a huge strike against the content of the book. No one person is perfect and that goes for technology as well, but I do expect a story to flow in a way that will hold my interest. The 'Jumper Chronicles' did indeed; hold my interest and it was a fast read. Granted, I am in my thirties and I am a mother, but this is a book I would love to read with my six-year old son soon. There is some action, but not as much violence that I would be overly concerned with for this young adult science fiction/ fantasy tale. Now, many of us admirers of Science Fiction /Fantasy typically enjoy the lore of mythology. I have seen many authors use lore, myths and the Gods to create their own worlds for the basis of their tale. I for one do not have an issue with it as there are many deities in mythology and in current religions to inspire and create with. I also appreciate it when the author makes it clear up front that those are the intentions as it was done in this novel.

There are some similarities with the Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7) series that many will notice, especially the `die-hards' of the series like me. During the explanations of the space time parallels, I had visions of 'The Doctor' (character) from Doctor Who: The Complete Second Series. While there are those feelings of familiarity, with the `three best friends' and `headmaster' of a `special school'; for me, that was the extent of it. There was also a brief The Sword in the Stone (Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection) [VHS] reference for a moment; however the story shifted gears, going with a different approach with the Merlin story.

I think many young adult readers can identify with the storyline in one way or another. Fantasies aside all of us do face some type of adversity in our life, and I feel that some of those were captured in this novel. I am not sure how fast this story would be wrapped up, as it has many options to explore in what was presented, but I would enjoy going along for the ride to discover what happens.