This book was AMAZING! I wish I had middle grade books like this growing up. The author created a world that was magical, yet realistic. I absolutely loved the characters and the lessons taught in this story. I also loved how Angie Thomas was able to weave together a story so rich in history, yet so much fun to read. Please do yourself or a middle schooler in your life and read or get them this book! It’s magically amazing.

The Manifestor Prophecy is an action-packed adventure that checks all of the magical fantasy boxes. Brave heroine, check. Awkward but sweet sidekick, check. Mysterious past and great powers, check. It does so in a rich world steeped in African-American culture and lots of black girl magic. It has both heart and humor and will be loved by students who enjoyed Amari and the Night Brothers and Harry Potter.

This is the fantasy book that has been missing from every middle grade collection, and needs to be in the hands of every young reader. Angie Thomas understands what a middle grader reader needs in a book, and blends the quirky characters and light moments with such deep lessons on a fantastical view of the Underground Railroad and the history of the South. In a genre that can seem so unattainable to some young readers, Angie makes this approachable and a fun read. A lot of the fantasy world building is told throughout the story, leaving us with a pretty clear picture of her vision, and allowing new fantasy readers to be able to keep interest. I think this is a great book for all middle grade readers, but especially those who are just diving into fantasy as a genre.

I spoke about this book on a bookhaul video on instagram and raved about it. I loved the world and characters that Angie created for this book and how rooted in Black culture & folklore it is. I'm really excited about the second book and really seeing where Angie takes this entire series!

This was eeeeeeverything, and I wish I had had this when I was a kid. Wonderful! I so enjoyed talking with Angie when I moderated her session at the LA Times Festival of Books.

This book is absolute perfection. Thomas creates a fully fleshed world of "magic" (read the book to find out why I put "magic" in quotes) with realistic, lovable characters in a world that weaves history and African American and African mythology so well. The writing is stellar too! Thomas has so many amazing turns of phrases. I don't have words to adequately describe this book.

I wasn't sure about Angie Thomas's first middle grade, but she did a fantastic job. She's said before that she's a big fan of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and it shows in this book (definitely a positive for me, and I love that Rick Riordan blurbed for the book). Fun and adventurous with high stakes and a great trio, I'm absolutely looking forward to the next book!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Finally read this one!! What a delight! This is a great middle grade fantasy! Angie Thomas did a fantastic job switching genres IMO. Nic Blake is a little sad and a little insecure and yet she finds herself having the save the day. It’s pretty formulaic but has some awesome twists and was action packed. Some things felt rushed for me but I really enjoyed it. Honestly enjoyed listening to the entire thing! Can’t wait for the next book. 4.5 stars.

5/5 Stars

A Fantastic new book by Angie Thomas. She did a fantastic job creating an entertaining and exciting new world full of magic and adventure. I loved the way she intertwined History with the magical. As with her other books, she also does a great job bringing in black history and that racial issues are still relevant. In my opinion, it was done very well, especially knowing this is for a younger audience. I am delighted and waiting very impatiently for more books from Angie Thomas. 10/10 would recommend

This is such a fun ride of a book? Nic Blake is a lovable character as she tries to navigate the mystery of her new discovered powers. Family and friend drama ensues on an adventurous quest to clear her dad's name. I loved the bits of African American mythology thrown in and the world building is on point. I would highly recommend for middle grade collections.

This was so much fun!! A whole new magical world was created by Angie Thomas and I want to be in it! People are either Remarkable or Unremarkable and Unremarkables don't know about Remarkables. There's a whole city hidden from Unremarkables and a real underground railroad and Bertha the train (I think that was her name)! Nic thinks she's going to start learning magic when she turns twelve but all she gets is an adorable hellhound for a pet. And maybe some newly discovered family members and some high stakes adventure! A bit of a cliffhanger at the end, we need the second book!

3.5/5

I have to admit, I was pretty nervous to start this book. I have loved all of Angie Thomas's YA novels but this is a big genre switch and I wasn't sure how it would go. Overall I think this was pretty successful. To start, I think Nic is a great main character. She's spunky, headstrong and smart. I also really enjoyed the way the story weaved American history into the fantasy aspect of the book and I think young readers will really connect to that. What I didn't love was the lack of depth to the side characters. They felt very flat and seemed to only fill a role instead of enhance the story. This story isn't necessarily new or earth shattering so I was hoping for the character work to take center stage and it just really didn't. That's not to say this is a bad book by any means, I definitely enjoyed it and will likely continue with the series. I can also recognize I am not at all the target audience and I think younger readers will enjoy this more than I did.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is Angie Thomas’s middle grade debut. This fantasy packs humor, adventure, suspense, and African American history and mythology to create an engaging story for young readers.

The main character, Nic, is a likable character and there are plenty of other characters (both major and minor) that readers will enjoy. Nic experiences several adventures in her attempts to solve multiple conflicts. I found myself surprised by some of the turns the story took and I anticipate that this will thrill young readers and keep them turning the page.

I would recommend this book to fans of middle grade fantasy, especially those looking for series to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!!!

I think I will love everything Angie Thomas writes. The representation is incredible for a middle grade novel, not glazing over the real life stuggles of being a black girl. The magic world is super interesting as well, and perfectly integrated into the story so I'm never left confused and I know exactly what is going on. This is everything that I love in a middle grade novel. Only deducted a half star because I didn't absolutely LOVE it. But because of how much I loved the main character, I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables is a refreshing new middle grade fantasy. Angie Thomas creates a wonderful magical world that has believable ties to African American history. Nic Blake and her family are authentic and very realistic. The action was fast paced and the story had many plot twists that I didn't see coming. The ending lets the reader know that Nic's adventure is only just beginning. This is the first in what I hope will be a long series.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are likeable and relatable, the story is fast paced, there is a lot of adventure, and the folklore that is woven into the story is well done. My middle school students were so excited for this book to come out, and I know they will love it. I love a good fantasy adventure, and this book is just that. There are also hints of character lessons woven in that are not too in-your-face, which I like. I really recommend this book!

I wasn’t initially sure how this new fantasy series was going to land for me. I was getting major HP vibes but this is something new and altogether fresh. I’m looking forward to more in this series and highly recommend!

This cute middle grade novel with Black Girl Magic and some good twists is a good inclusive alternative to Harry Potter. Hand this one to kids who loved The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton- they feel like sibling books.

It's a delight to see Angie Thomas turn her well-honed and disciplined storytelling abilities to a middle grade fantasy. In "Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy," Thomas weaves a tight and engaging coming-of-age (and coming-of-power) story of 12-year-old Nic, who learns that there's much more to the magical world of the Manifestors then having a hellhound for a pet. Young fantasy fans will love this world full of Azizas, Merfolk, and Miss Peachy's Marvelous Mojo and Juju Bags. Thomas' fans will be glad to see themes of privilege and discrimination addressed, akin to her other titles. Readers of all ages will enjoy this first title in the series and will no doubt anxiously await the second installment.

This is such a cute one! I think anyone who is intimidated by Legendborn but still wants that fantasy vibe, should read this one. As should anyone who is already a fan of Amari and the Night Brothers. Angie Thomas is such a gifted writer, this is proof she can write any genre and it will be great!