Max and the Spice Thieves is a middle-grade story about a young boy Max and how he gets involved in a fantasy adventure on a pirate ship called Saucy Pig. His company includes pirates, spies, and warriors. On this journey, he learns the truth about his parents and himself.

I felt that sometimes Max is a bit too mature for his age.  But this didn't spoil the story for me. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book a lot, even though it is for the younger audience. It kept me engaged, and I could clearly see this as a movie. I can't wait for part two of the series!

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.

Max Daybreaker doesn’t know it, but he’s about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. When his mother goes missing, he meets a Spice Pirate by the name of Captain Cinn, who helps him get started on the journey to find his mom. Through this journey, Max makes new friends, explores new places, and faces danger time and time again. As it turns out, finding his mom is not the only mission he needs to take on. Truly a whirlwind of a fantasy adventure.

This book is a great read for middle grades, but as an adult, I wasn’t enthralled with it. There is so much potential for worldbuilding in the setting Peragine creates, but it felt kind of rushed in this book… I’m sure it will be explored in even more detail as the series continues. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Crumblebee Books for a digital ARC.

I had to DNF this book at 83 pages. It really doesn't seem like the kind of story for me. I'm not engaged, I don't feel invested in what's going on in the book, and I'm having a hard time turning to the next page. I keep finding myself looking for excuses to get distracted so that I can do something else.

None of that is to say that this is a bad book. The concept here is really unique and I think a lot of people are going to really love this one. For what it's worth, I also didn't love the Percy Jackson series, but I think that if you read that series and loved it then Max and the Spice Thieves might be right up your alley.

Max and the Spice Thieves is a story about Max Daybreaker and his journey to find his parents. When Max’s mother goes missing, he encounters a Spice Pirate named Cinn who offers to embark on his travels with him. Along the way, he creates long-lasting friendships and discovers new things about himself. Although this is a middle-grade book, I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I love magic and fantasy, and I believe this book will be enjoyable for people of all ages.

This captivating tale follows Max and his crew as they battle many spells, face danger at every turn, narrowly escape death after altercations, ultimately discovering the magic he holds within. Max leads us on a quest to find his mother and uncover how his father disappeared, bringing along with him a collection of various mythical creatures who band together to fight evil beings and shape shifting demons. Max’s father is presumed dead, although he has a gut feeling his father is somewhere out there. His mother wants to cheer him up, so she plans an adventure to sail on a pirate ship, however, she is taken shortly before they are to depart. Max finds himself in the company of Spice Pirate Captain Cinn and they band together on an epic adventure sailing the seven seas aboard the Saucy Pig. They find themselves up against Prince Abad and are taken to the Jade Palace as captors. This is where they meet Linzy who ultimate helps them escape and unveils herself as the Witch Queen. Together they are faced with many other creatures and characters, some of which they accumulate into their band of misfits and the unfortunate souls are discarded. Max is eventually captured by the Snow Bear clan at the Ice Palace and he proves himself worthy of their protection by unveiling his own magical power. Throughout his journey, Max is learning more about his hidden powers within and how to ultimately use this powerful force to defeat the evil Djinn and rescue his parents. 

This is the first book of the series and is an adventurous tale from the start. Each new character Max encounters is a roadblock he needs to overcome in his pursuit of finding his mother, as task he never loses sight of! The author did a lovely job of showing how a strong family bond never disappears, even when faced with challenges and obstacles that prevent a close connection. I am not the targeted demographic for this book, so it did not grab me initially. I am not drawn to pirates, mythical creatures, etc. however, I did enjoy the adventure aspect of it.

When his mother goes missing, Max Daybreaker’s world is turned upside down. Luckily, a crew of Spice Pirates, led by the mysterious Captain Cinn, help Max on his dangerous mission across the three seas.

Along the way, an unlikely alliance aids in his search—a teenage warrior queen, a three-eyed seer, and an assassin spy.

Their journey takes them through treacherous lands while facing shapeshifting bears, an ancient witch, harpies, and the nightmarish Djinn, who will stop at nothing to enslave the world.

With every new challenge, Max unlocks the secrets of his unsettling past. Powers awaken within, forcing him to question everything he knows.

Is Max who he thinks he is? Only time and destiny will tell…

This book has became one of my favorite books of all times. In Max and the spice thieves you will be on a thrilling ride this book keeps you hooked till the very last word. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one. I will be telling anyone I know to pick this one up!

Max is a sheltered young boy who gets thrust into an adventure taking him throughout the land of the three seas in search of who has kidnapped his mother and discovering why he and his family are integral pieces in defeating the Djinn and it’s growing army.  In trying to find his mother and hopefully the truth about his father Max goes on many adventures, comes across many creatures and makes new friends.  Through this coming of age story Max stays true to his kind, loving nature and learns how to wield the power within himself which helps guide him through difficult and dangerous situations.  All throughout he discovers who he is, the power of bravery and what matters most of all – the love of family and friends.   This is a story full of pirates, beasts, magic, friendship and overall the power of love.  
I enjoyed the story of Max and the development of the core characters.  At times there were too many side stories or situations thrown in that clouded the overall story.  I was transported into the world of the three seas and there was great imagery with Cinn and the pirates and the magical world of the three seas, all bringing the story to life.   The story had some abrupt endings including the actual end of the book.  I was waiting for a climatic ending and found it to be too quickly finished.  It would be a great book for a MG reader with plenty of interesting creatures and exciting adventures.   This a great first installment to a book series that any fantasy loving middle grader could get swallowed up into.

Overall, I really loved this book. Reading as an adult, I was still thrown into the magic that is Max and the Spice Thieves. It reminded me of the magical world like that of the Harry Potter novels and caused me to reminisce about staying up all night to finish the newest novel in the series. I could see myself as a middle grade kid doing the same with this series! 

It has an overall theme of family, love, friendship and loyalty. When the main character, Max loses his parents, he embarks on an adventure of a lifetime to find them-full of magic, adventure and entertainment. I really loved how the author integrated the magical creatures in the different realms and how they were described to the reader. This action packed adventure will leave you wanting more.

Max and the Spice Thieves is the first installment of a fast paced adventure perfect for Middle Grade readers.  The hero of the story, Max, sets off on his first real adventure after a life of seclusion due to a medical condition, and finds much more than he was looking for as he meets friends, encounters dangers, and learns more about himself along the way.  It is easy to see how middle grade readers will identify not only with Max but with many of the cast of characters that are met along the way.  With universal themes throughout, this is a thrilling book with something for everyone to enjoy.  

Full of magic, mystery, an a world very much unlike our own, Max and the Spice Thieves has thrilling twists around every corner which makes the book hard to put down!  The mix of characters - including a pirate captain, a witch queen, an assassin spy, and shape shifting snow bears - are not only like-able, but such fun to be around.  

Though this is just the first installment of a series, it ends satisfyingly - with the reader looking for what's to come next!

A middle school book that tells the fantasy adventure of Max as he travels with Spice Pirates.  Adventures await ranging from shape-shifting Snow Bears, Witch Queens, magical wizards.  The reader travels across the seas to help Max find his parents.  Stay attentive as the language used by the author to describe places, people, actions and feelings is part of the story itself.  Captain Cinn is a master chef, perhaps a play on the word cinnamon; the family lives in Paradisi, certainly a paradise; Max is called Little Bear at the beginning of the tale reflective of his later shift to become a Snow Bear. These subtle clues compliment the story line.    And also there is a “tale” within the story that mirrors the travels of Max and his pirate and other magical companions.  
This is a complex tale filled with magic, dynamic characters and plot twists.  It ends with a set-up for another volume of adventure for Max which young readers will be eager to read.

First sentence: “Max,” Mom said, gently stroking my arm. “Come on, Little Bear, it’s time to get up.” I cracked one eye open—it was still dark. I sighed loud and long. “It’s too early. The sun isn’t even up. Besides, what’s the point?”

Premise/plot: Max and the Spice Thieves is a middle grade fantasy novel by John Peragine. Max, our unlikely hero, stars in this coming-of-age fantasy novel. His father is missing, believed, dead; his mother is missing, possibly dead. All he knows has been turned upside down and shaken. He's keeping company with Captain Cinn, a spice pirate (not to be confused with a space pirate) and his crew...but not for long. Because Cinn is a wanted man. What he didn't expect is that he's WANTED to. But why? Who were his parents? Who is he? How much has been kept secret from him? 

Max and the Spice Thieves has plenty of action, magic, and, well, fantasy. It stars plenty of supernatural beings. It might have more than its fair share of coincidences. 

My thoughts: This one gets a definite three stars for me. It requires a certain suspension of disbelief. (Which isn't all that unusual for a fantasy novel--children's or adult). 

Essentially what you see is what you get. Expect a children's fantasy novel starring a child who meets an assorted and varied cast of helpmates who set out on a mission/quest together. The mission/quest is challenging, as all quests are in fantasy, but the fate of the world depends on it. Fortunately the hero is stronger and smarter and braver than he knows. 

If that kind of formula works for you--as an adult or as a child--this book may prove satisfying. I do think children have probably read less fantasy than adults so perhaps they never come across books that feel formulaic? Or maybe the secret is that they just don't care or even love that about a book? 

I think we all as individual readers have our own favorite formulas that we just love and adore and can't get enough of.

This book is a super fun adventure story that consists of pirates, witches, princes and a 12 year old boy.  There is so much "good stuff" happening in this book.  It is a bit complicated with everything that is thrown at you at once but I am sure that it has the makings to become a much loved middle grade series.

When Max Daybreaker’s mother disappears, he joins a band of Spice Pirates to try to find her. During his adventures, he encounters many fantastical beings and worlds he believed were only a part of a storybook given to him by his missing father. Max’s journey through different lands takes him from the high seas to desert kingdoms, to arctic lands with ice palaces and shape shifting polar bears. All the while, Max is discovering more about his own mysterious powers. 
Middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy adventures will enjoy this book.

A fun adventure story for all ages, and perfect for a family read.

After Max’s mom goes missing, and with his father already presumed dead at sea, Max teams up with an unusual band of new friends to search for his parents. Together, spice pirates, a warrior queen, a runaway, a seer, and an assassin thief, along with Max who is discovering hidden powers within himself, face many dangers along the way including the prince and his army, the Spice Guild’s captain, an old and powerful witch, harpies, snow bears, and the evil djinn that have recently been released back unto the world. 

This first book of the new Twilight Djinn series is action packed and held my attention from the very beginning. The novel is filled with exciting and lovable characters like the kind hearted Captain Cinn, who was probably one of my favorite characters in this book. One of the best  things about this book, though, was its beautiful sense of family. The author did an excellent job at showing the strong family bond, love, and closeness between Max and his parents. 

Although part of a series, the book could be read as a standalone. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Max and the Spice Thieves is wonderful! Even the most reluctant middle grade readers will be drawn into the story and want to keep turning the pages. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

It was a really cute read. It was written for a younger audience than what I am used to. I did still enjoy the story. I wasn’t a huge fan of it being the first in a series. I wish I would have known that going into it-especially considering I am going to have to wait for the next book to be released to find out what happens! Max is such a love-able character with a wide array of instant friends! I did find it really refreshing that Max was portrayed as an emotional character. It talked about him crying more than once in the novel- I think it is a good example to the targeted age range that emotions are meant to be embrace. I wish there were more books about this. I think the whole concept is a really creative idea. I would recommend it to my nephews or anyone who wants to sail the sea with pirates and use your power to save the realm.

Young Max Daybreaker, bored with his humdrum life, dreamt of adventures in far-off ports spurred on by the last book he received from his father two years prior, The Secrets of the Twilight Djinn. His dad had been missing since he left for his latest voyage. Max read and re-read that book, convinced that his father was still alive, and he longed for the impossible – the day he could be a man and go searching for his dad. When Max’s mom wakes him one morning, surprising him with preparations for a journey they will undertake, he thinks she’s finally given in and is willing to travel with Max to find his dad. Though Max is unsure of her reasons or exact plans, she reminds him that his father is gone, but assures him they will be traveling, instead, on a pirate ship to an island where they will be safe – a place called Sanctus.  

Before they even make it to the pirate ship, Max becomes separated from his mom, and has to be rescued from a couple of thieves by none other than spice thief, Captain Cinn of the Saucy Pig – the pirate ship they were supposed to travel to Sanctus on. Now, with both parents missing, Max has no choice but to accept the help of this spice pirate to discover what happened to his mom, and to find his dad who has been lost at sea and is presumed dead. Along the way they encounter mysterious creatures, unexpected allies, and gourmet meals prepared by the captain himself using a variety of exotic spices. 

This action-packed fantasy adventure will keep preteens and middle grade students on the edge of their seats, fully engaged in the story from beginning to end. Just when the reader thinks that the tension is winding down, another unexpected turn takes the reader in a new direction. Instead of finding answers, Max stumbles upon more questions, each more puzzling than the last. The reader follows Max through each adventure, learning more about the Spice Islands, his parents, and an unknown force that Max never knew existed. While running from the Spice Guild, Max and the pirates of The Saucy Pig, along with other new-found allies, will encounter three-eyed seers, mysterious aquatic creatures, a witch queen, a zombie army and snow bears who can shapeshift into human beings. He quickly recalls all of these fantastical beings from his book, The Secrets of the Twilight Djinn, which becomes more of a guide to survive and maneuver through the many twists and turns of his adventure. 

Will Max find his mom in time to save her from the Twilight Army? What is this Midnight Jewel that everyone seems to be after? Is Max’s dad really alive out there somewhere in the Three Seas or on one of the fifty Spice Islands, as he hopes? Are Max’s new-found allies truly friends or are they foes setting him up to fail? 

Peragine does an excellent job creating this fantasy world with all of its sights and sounds and smells. I highly recommend Max and the Spice Thieves for the young and the young at heart. Available April 2021 - Preorder your copy today!
__________________
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Max and the Spice Thieves by John Peragine
Young Adult Fiction | Action & Adventure | Pirates
274 pages 
Crumblebee Books 
L’Oste Vineyard Press

I enjoyed reading Max and the Spice thieves. It was very engaging. The characters were well developed and the scenes kept you glued to your seat as you read them. I loved the mix of magic and pirates as Max learns how special he is as he travels the seas in search of his mother. The imagery that is conjured by reading the words in the story is magnificent and the intensity of the story keeps the reader engaged.  A great clean, fun and exiting story. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

This book was very entertaining and original. Who knew that spices could be used as weapons?! From page one this book takes you on an adventure. The plot twists kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. The backstories were well developed for most of the characters too. I did struggle at spots to understand who was who with some of the lesser characters. Lots of names that were fitting for pirates, but difficult to keep straight.  I can't wait to read the next one to see what happens.

Overall it was a very interesting book and if readers like fantasy and magic this is sure to keep their attention. At times it was hard to read the “pirate lingo” with words such as “Ye, yer or “kin”, because it is not popular in the basic English language. Lots of twists and turns that I, as the reader did not see coming that kept me entertained. Though, there were so many twists and so many backstories from the characters that at times I did get confused. However, when the reader is done reading this book, they are left on a cliffhanger. If you want a story to wrap up and not wait for the second book to come out this book is not for you. I did not like how I was not fulfilled at the end because the characters were not finished on their journey and now I have to wait for the second book to come out.