The Legend of Black Jack

by A. R. Witham

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Pub Date May 17 2022 | Archive Date May 15 2022

Nepenthe House | Andrew Robert Witham

Middle Grade | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Teens & YA

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Description

Exciting fantasy adventure debut from Emmy-winner A. R. Witham.

Jack Swift can tell you every element on the periodic table, recite Treasure Island verbatim, and would remember in perfect detail every word you’d ever say to him. He has been alone for a long time, so he has buried himself in books, using them to plan his escape.

But no textbook could ever prepare him for the land of Keymark.

At 3:33 a.m. on his fourteenth birthday, Jack is kidnapped by a hideous monster to another sphere of existence. Now there are two moons in the sky, and he is surrounded by grotesque creatures and magical warriors training for battle. They want the impossible: Jack must use his abilities to save a life or be trapped in this bizarre world with no chance of rescue.

Jack doesn’t have secret magic, a great destiny, or any experience.

So why do they expect him to become a legend?

Exciting fantasy adventure debut from Emmy-winner A. R. Witham.

Jack Swift can tell you every element on the periodic table, recite Treasure Island verbatim, and would remember in perfect detail every...

A Note From the Publisher

Black Jack is a coming-of-age story silhouetted against an epic background. This story offers thrilling adventure for younger readers while exploring gratifying themes for older teens & adults.

Black Jack is a coming-of-age story silhouetted against an epic background. This story offers thrilling adventure for younger readers while exploring gratifying themes for older teens & adults.

Advance Praise

I thought the writing style was engaging and entertaining – so much so that I read the entire book in one sitting!! The descriptions were perfect, and I could vividly visualize myself in any given scene as I read them – the details were superb.

The humor in both the writing and the interactions between characters was great too, and I found myself laughing out loud numerous times. The action scenes were paced well, building tension, urgency, and fear together so that I had to keep reading. I just couldn't stop.

I thought that Jack’s doubts and fears were portrayed wonderfully, giving him a relatable and three-dimensional quality in a fantastical setting. In fact, all of the characters were so well done that it was hard to pick a favorite (although how anyone can go past Fuji is beyond me)

I pride myself at being able to see the plot twists coming, and for a while there I had a grip on most of them but Witham managed to create such a thrilling story that I was swept away and forgot all about a particular plotline and was surprised by it again at the end!

Emotional, action-packed, epic fantasy adventure – I Loved it!

-Bianca Callaghan (author, Wicked Darkness)