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thepagelady's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! I had a hard time putting this one down! The magical world of Keymark and the battle scenes are amazing! The descriptions and the artwork make it easy to imagine you are right there in the mix! It's a unique action packed story filled with adventure, friendship, loyalty and so much more! Jack is a great main character he has his ups and downs and he doesn't have it easy so i makes him easy to like but you will also find yourself rooting for him. Even the other characters they each have their own personalities and stand out for their own reasons. If you like emotional action packed stories with fantastic characters and fantasy world filled with magic hope and wonder you are going to love this one! I can't wait to read it again with my son!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and A.R. Witham for sharing this absolutely amazing story with me!
Thank you R&R Book Tours and A.R. Witham for sharing this absolutely amazing story with me!
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Legend of Black Jack took me on an entertaining adventure. The title alone intrigued me and sort of gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. If I'm being honest, that's probably why I wanted to read it. Then I actually dove into the book and let's just say that I wasn't disappointed one bit.
The adventure definitely takes off pretty early on. I never found myself bored or the pace lagging one bit either. The characters were pretty likable throughout it as well. Especially when it came to Jack. Now he didn't have things completely easy because of what went down in the very beginning. But like all tragic beginnings, he goes off to find himself and an adventure.
Long story short, each chapter kept me on my toes. I also really enjoyed the little illustrations because they definitely helped show what things would look like in this world. Especially when you could describe something one way and my mind goes down a different path. They just helped clear what the real image was so I couldn't be easily confused by... well... myself.
In the end, I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. I'll definitely be on lookout for the next one A.R. writes!
The Legend of Black Jack took me on an entertaining adventure. The title alone intrigued me and sort of gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. If I'm being honest, that's probably why I wanted to read it. Then I actually dove into the book and let's just say that I wasn't disappointed one bit.
The adventure definitely takes off pretty early on. I never found myself bored or the pace lagging one bit either. The characters were pretty likable throughout it as well. Especially when it came to Jack. Now he didn't have things completely easy because of what went down in the very beginning. But like all tragic beginnings, he goes off to find himself and an adventure.
Long story short, each chapter kept me on my toes. I also really enjoyed the little illustrations because they definitely helped show what things would look like in this world. Especially when you could describe something one way and my mind goes down a different path. They just helped clear what the real image was so I couldn't be easily confused by... well... myself.
In the end, I honestly enjoyed everything about this book. I'll definitely be on lookout for the next one A.R. writes!
chloefrizzle's review
2.0
This book is blatantly sexist. I'm confused why it has so many positive reviews.
We have handfuls of male characters and *checks notes* two women. One is an obese abusive alcoholic. The other is our "little firecracker" (she's older than the protagonist) who shows up to take off her shirt, tease our protagonist, and give worldbuilding dumps.
Additionally, this book is constantly using default-male language. To describe groups of men and women, it usually just refers to the everyone as "men." Like, in the end of the book, all the men celebrate their victory. Also some women are there to give out random lusty kisses.
We have handfuls of male characters and *checks notes* two women. One is an obese abusive alcoholic. The other is our "little firecracker" (she's older than the protagonist) who shows up to take off her shirt, tease our protagonist, and give worldbuilding dumps.
Additionally, this book is constantly using default-male language. To describe groups of men and women, it usually just refers to the everyone as "men." Like, in the end of the book, all the men celebrate their victory. Also some women are there to give out random lusty kisses.
ianthereader0's review
5.0
This is everything that a book should be; full of heart, emotion, thrills, and wonder. Full review to come!
chloefrizzle's review against another edition
2.0
This book is blatantly sexist. I'm confused why it has so many positive reviews.
We have handfuls of male characters and *checks notes* two women. One is an obese abusive alcoholic. The other is our "little firecracker" (she's older than the protagonist) who shows up to take off her shirt, tease our protagonist, and give worldbuilding dumps.
Additionally, this book is constantly using default-male language. To describe groups of men and women, it usually just refers to the everyone as "men." Like, in the end of the book, all the men celebrate their victory. Also some women are there to give out random lusty kisses.
We have handfuls of male characters and *checks notes* two women. One is an obese abusive alcoholic. The other is our "little firecracker" (she's older than the protagonist) who shows up to take off her shirt, tease our protagonist, and give worldbuilding dumps.
Additionally, this book is constantly using default-male language. To describe groups of men and women, it usually just refers to the everyone as "men." Like, in the end of the book, all the men celebrate their victory. Also some women are there to give out random lusty kisses.
lb_ferguson's review against another edition
3.0
A boy loses everything to great tragedy. He gets sent to a foster home, though that situation is not for the best. His new foster mother is absolutely terrible, his new home is…not good. There are a ton of issues. He has all sorts of anxiety, which combines with his vivid imagination. He goes on a terrific adventure, becomes Black Jack, and meets a a lot of interesting characters.
The whole way through this book, I kept flip flopping between wanting to see jack get home and be safe. And wanting to just put the book down without finishing the story. For all the action in this book, and the suspense, I felt like it was just much to take. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading; yet, all I wanted to do was be done with it all. I did not want to see the ending. There are a few things about this story that was a little off putting for me. I know a lot comes from deep imagination, but some things just seem improbable, no matter how strong the imagination. Jack can do so much, but some of the stuff he does just doesn’t seem possible. But I guess that is the beauty of an imagination. It doesn’t always have to make sense and can be as magical as the mind can dream up.
With that said, it wasn’t a terrible book. Character development was very well thought out. The storytelling was interesting to say the least. It included a number of different illustrations, lyrical notes, literary elements, and descriptive imagery. The world building was almost artistically done. There just was so much about this book that made it an incredibly magical and imaginative journey to behold.
This is marked YA, but I thought that it felt more like a middle grade novel. Jack in the story is likable and somewhat relatable. Many people either like to slip away into their own imagination, or wish they they could slip away into their own little dreamland. Children of Jack’s age would enjoy following his adventures. They too may want to go on their own journey.
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The whole way through this book, I kept flip flopping between wanting to see jack get home and be safe. And wanting to just put the book down without finishing the story. For all the action in this book, and the suspense, I felt like it was just much to take. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading; yet, all I wanted to do was be done with it all. I did not want to see the ending. There are a few things about this story that was a little off putting for me. I know a lot comes from deep imagination, but some things just seem improbable, no matter how strong the imagination. Jack can do so much, but some of the stuff he does just doesn’t seem possible. But I guess that is the beauty of an imagination. It doesn’t always have to make sense and can be as magical as the mind can dream up.
With that said, it wasn’t a terrible book. Character development was very well thought out. The storytelling was interesting to say the least. It included a number of different illustrations, lyrical notes, literary elements, and descriptive imagery. The world building was almost artistically done. There just was so much about this book that made it an incredibly magical and imaginative journey to behold.
This is marked YA, but I thought that it felt more like a middle grade novel. Jack in the story is likable and somewhat relatable. Many people either like to slip away into their own imagination, or wish they they could slip away into their own little dreamland. Children of Jack’s age would enjoy following his adventures. They too may want to go on their own journey.
Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
craftymxlibrarian's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't even make it through chapter 1. It starts in the Prologue with racism against Native Americans, and continues through chapter 1 with the "bad people are fat" trope along with the "foster parent in it for the money and social workers don't care" trope. And as a Chicagoan who works in a South side public library, I was VERY turned off by the disparagement of the South side and portrayal of public libraries "smelling like urine."
fictionalfey's review against another edition
5.0
I received this as an ARC via Instagram / Netgalley.This is my honest review of the arc I received.
Spoiler Free-
The first few chapters were honestly very slow going for me, it felt reminiscent to a 90’s male protagonist film, where it fast forwards to their older self, who is jaded and somehow gets the girl. But oh my god. As soon as Jack was taken away, this book…just exploded into colour for me. I haven’t felt like this in a long time. The settings, were exquisitely WRITTEN. Like Matthew Mercer level descriptions, (If you haven’t heard Matthew Mercer describe a setting, you need to), the diversity in this book is spectacular. And I was just absolutely entranced! This may actually top Narnia for me. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!
Spoiler Free-
The first few chapters were honestly very slow going for me, it felt reminiscent to a 90’s male protagonist film, where it fast forwards to their older self, who is jaded and somehow gets the girl. But oh my god. As soon as Jack was taken away, this book…just exploded into colour for me. I haven’t felt like this in a long time. The settings, were exquisitely WRITTEN. Like Matthew Mercer level descriptions, (If you haven’t heard Matthew Mercer describe a setting, you need to), the diversity in this book is spectacular. And I was just absolutely entranced! This may actually top Narnia for me. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!
bookish_satty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This surprisingly ended up being an awesome reading experience for me after all!
When I first started the book I wasn't quite engaged with the characters or the plot itself for about 25% of the book so I set it aside for later and forgot about it. While trying to choose a YA book to read without the usual YA tropes for Reddit Fantasy Bingo Challenge 2023 I again came across this book especially on Booktube so I decided to give it a second chance and I'm really glad I did because this ended up being an exciting, suspenseful and intriguing reading journey for me.
I'm a big fan of coming of age stories and I loved Jack as the main protagonist as well as Valerian, Memphis and Pirate Rooker Flynn as main side characters. There are other side characters whom I adored as well but I won't mention them here because to be honest all the characters well well fleshed out and had individual personality. I liked the pace a lot especially after that first 25% of the book. The action scenes were well written and that ending made me tear up!
Overall a great book which I would definitely recommend to all.
When I first started the book I wasn't quite engaged with the characters or the plot itself for about 25% of the book so I set it aside for later and forgot about it. While trying to choose a YA book to read without the usual YA tropes for Reddit Fantasy Bingo Challenge 2023 I again came across this book especially on Booktube so I decided to give it a second chance and I'm really glad I did because this ended up being an exciting, suspenseful and intriguing reading journey for me.
I'm a big fan of coming of age stories and I loved Jack as the main protagonist as well as Valerian, Memphis and Pirate Rooker Flynn as main side characters. There are other side characters whom I adored as well but I won't mention them here because to be honest all the characters well well fleshed out and had individual personality. I liked the pace a lot especially after that first 25% of the book. The action scenes were well written and that ending made me tear up!
Overall a great book which I would definitely recommend to all.