Monday, June 1, 2009

The Eternal Hourglass - Magickeepers #1

Magickeepers
(The Eternal Hourglass #1)

by Erica Kirov

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402215010
ISBN-13: 978-1402215018
What would you do for an hourglass that stopped time? Nick Rostov's father is the worst stage magician in Las Vegas. He can barely pull a rabbit out of a hat. So it is a strange morning indeed when Nick wakes up to find himself on the top floor of the Winter Palace Casino with a promise from the greatest magician in the world to teach him magic.

Raised by his father after the death of his mother, Nick Rostov is turning 13 years old. Born into a long line of magicians, Nick's mother had been the real deal, and although his father was able to get mediocre jobs, his magical talent could never compare. Nick always thought he would follow in the footsteps of his family, but he never dreamed he would be taken under the wing of the greatest magician Las Vegas had ever seen.

Stolen away from his father, the morning after Nick's 13th birthday, he awakens in a strange room and begins to learn the history of his family's lineage. Nick is one of the true Magickeepers, sworn to keep magic hidden when the powerful and corrupt Shadowkeepers.

Soon Nick is confronted by the Shadowkeepers, who try to bargain with Nick for the Magickeepers most prized possession - the Eternal Hourglass. The Hourglass is extremely powerful and has the ability to turn back time - in the hands of the Shadowkeepers, this could signal dangerous times for everyone.

A great new introduction into the young adult fantasy genre, The Eternal Hourglass weaves magic, fantasy and Russian history all into one neat little package. This is a great introduction to the Magickeepers series and I look forward to reading the next installment.

Erica Kirov is an American writer of Russian descent. Though she is not from a family of magicians, she is from a proud family of Russians, and she grew up hearing stories of their lives there.

Erica lives in Virginia with her husband, four children, three dogs, parrot, her son's snake (she really hates snakes), and a pet hedgehog. She is busy at work on the next Magickeepers novel. Visit her blog here.

1 comment:

DesLily said...

there seems to be quite a number of YA books concerning Time and Time Travel out right now.. I find that a bit strange to have so many.

I love the cover art.. it looks familiar, who is the artist?