Simon Fayter and the Doors of Bone

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Pub Date 21 Jun 2017 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2017

Description

"I stepped onto the scale and the needle swung slowly to the right, stopping dead center under the word 'Fayter.' The room went quiet as a tomb..."

Simon Fayter has no idea that the quirky old tutor his mom works for is hiding an ancient secret, but the truth comes out when dark forces attack and he helps Simon escape into a magical destiny. When Simon inherits a dusty coat, a slew of strange powers, and an age-old mystery, he learns that the strange "lucky streak" he was born with is actually something much more complicated. And more dangerous...

"I stepped onto the scale and the needle swung slowly to the right, stopping dead center under the word 'Fayter.' The room went quiet as a tomb..."

Simon Fayter has no idea that the quirky old tutor...


A Note From the Publisher

This book contains over 150 footnotes. While not required reading, they lend a great deal of humor to the story and should not be skipped.

This book contains over 150 footnotes. While not required reading, they lend a great deal of humor to the story and should not be skipped.


Advance Praise

Author Austin J. Bailey has entertained over 100,000 readers with his bestselling Magemother series, and his latest work is better than ever. Featuring an endearingly overconfident and hilarious boy genius, Doors of Bone is the first in a planned series of five middle-grade fantasy novels for kids of all ages. Complete with a magical Porta-Potty, 157 footnotes, and a button that makes sheep fall from the sky, this is a book that you won't want to put down. 

Author Austin J. Bailey has entertained over 100,000 readers with his bestselling Magemother series, and his latest work is better than ever. Featuring an endearingly overconfident and hilarious boy...


Marketing Plan

Author appreciates reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Author appreciates reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781973750895
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 20 members


Featured Reviews

I was so blown away by this book! I have long been searching for that elusive story that would make me feel so amazed and engrossed as I did when I read the Percy Jackson series and lo and behold I came across this story!

This is a perfect book for middle graders and bedtime stories as children get to travel to a fantastical land with unique creatures. It’s like Hitchhikers Guide to to the Galaxy meets Harry Potter. Children learn new things that are quite accurate and they learn moral principles as the main character experiences each new adventure that he finds himself in.

Adults will enjoy this book as well for the humor and world building. They get to experience being a child again as they experience through the eyes of Simon what it was like being thirteen and young and unsullied by reality.

If you are a fan of Rick Riordan or JK Rowling, you should definitely read this book and be surprised at another world to discover!

I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

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A Most Excellent Young Wizard Adventure

The first chapter of this book was terrific. The next chapter was tedious and off-putting. But fear not, there was a method to the author's madness, and the book quickly settled down, (or picked up), and just kept getting better and better.

That first chapter is a prologue of sorts and introduces us to the two magical beings who have the duty of protecting Simon, our hero, until he "comes of age". It is atmospheric, loaded with portent, devilishly clever, and spiced with a generous does of deadpan humor and wit. As I say, terrific. In the second chapter we meet Simon, now a day short of his thirteenth birthday. He is the first person narrator, and of course the hero, of the rest of the book. He is so smarmy, full of himself, over-the-top, and self-impressed by his wit and smarts and general wonderfulness that the prospect of reading an entire book narrated by him was exceedingly unattractive. But wait, I thought, no one could have written that first chapter with the intention of then writing a book as unappealing as that second chapter. And of course, that's right.

In short order Simon is whisked away to Skelligard, a wizarding academy. Everyone else there knows about wizards and wizarding and magic and the history of the magical world, but Simon is totally and completely in the dark because only on Earth, (to the dismay and disgust of every other sentient being), is magic and wizarding kept a secret. So, Simon starts out as the dumbest, least aware, most confused, and most backward student at Skelligard. Aha!, our Simon has to step back and reevaluate himself and his situation in order to grow up, and that's what happens for the rest of the book. "Be true to yourself, but honorably, selflessly, and with humility" might as well be the watermark that shines through on every page.

But this is not a dry morality tale. It is a ripping magical fantasy. Simon starts with two classmate pals, who are smart, funny, different from him, and not the least bit inclined to defer to him or his attitude. We meet a wide array of teachers and supporting creatures who occupy a fascinating magical world. Really interesting things happen, and the twists and turns make Hogwarts look like a kindergarten. It turns out that of all Simon's wizarding skills and talents are exceptionally rare, which makes him unpredictable, a bit of a magical unexploded bomb, and arguably the "chosen one", which Simon both loves and hates. Lots of school daze action follows, then a huge ripping adventure, then more big plot advancements and friendship bonding and so on. It's all fabulous and implausible, but I like a middle grade fantasy quest book that goes big, not one that reads like a manual for your new magical camera.

And, finally, it is very funny. Every character gets a few sly lines. There are lots of funny set pieces. (One of Simon's new pals is a minotaur who hasn't hit minotaur puberty, and that's played for laughs but also some touching moments.) Once Simon settles down, he is witty and engaging instead of exaggerated and acting out for attention. There is a lot of deadpan humor and wry funny business around the edges, and the slacker too-cool-for-school mentor that Simon is assigned to steals every scene.

So, this book is fast paced, cleverly constructed, well written, funny and filled with action and surprises. It also ends up with a warmth and an embrace of chivalry and sacrifice that sneaks up on the reader, but is always in the background informing the action. This ended up being a delightful entertainment with some substance, and a fine middle grade read.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

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The book is written in the first-person and the author makes a point of emphasising this. It is unusual in that he is writing as the author and so the book is reflective. It is rather episodic and tends to move from location to location without much preamble so the reader never really gets familiar with any one location. Characters are similarly quite transient although there is a core group, much like many other such reads.

The book is strewn with footnotes which vary in content from definitions to asides to educational content. It is here that an e-reader is beneficial as it is less of a distraction to the scanning process. A lot of the wit is contained here so is seen as recommended reading.

The style and content is appropriate for middle school years and the language used is approachable and easy to read.

Given that it is a 'reflective' story it is strange that it feels so fragmentary, perhaps it is the rapid changes of locale but it is an enjoyable read and I would be interested in reading the sequels

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Excellent adventure. I am looking forward to the next four books.

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