Review of Tiya Thompson and the Lady of Magicks

[Annika porter]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tiya Thompson and the Lady of Magicks" by R.J.Campbell.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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R.J. Campbell’s teen fantasy novel, Tiya Thompson and the Lady of Magicks, was a fun read that I would have loved as a young reader. This ostensibly first book in Campbell’s series follows siblings Matilda and Jacob and their best friend Rayna (also known as Tiya) as they spend summer break together in England with the siblings’ grandmother. While in England, the children visit some ancient ruins and literally stumble and fall into a hidden chamber that leads to a giant archaeological discovery. As a result of this discovery, the group meets archaeologist Professor Birkhart, his student Zoë, and a mysterious but beautiful woman named Miss Mariam. The children are immediately captivated by Miss Mariam, as she seems to know everything about the history of the ancient Egyptian and Celtic artifacts found in the hidden chamber. When the major discovery of the chamber, an unopened sarcophagus, goes missing and its existence cannot be proved, both the archeologists and the children realize there may be more magic involved in this mystery than initially met the eye.

This book is a fun blend of realism with Egyptian and Celtic mythology. Reminiscent of both the Percy Jackson series and the 39 Clues series, this novel is such a fun way to get readers interested in history. Matilda, Tiya, and Jacob are all around 12 years old, making it a very relatable and engaging read for readers in elementary and middle school. Several hand-drawn pictures accompany parts of the story, which are a fun addition that helps keep the audience engaged. The young protagonists each have their own quirks and flaws, which I think helps young audiences find a character to relate to. For example, Tiya is navigating the grief of losing her mother while also finding strength and confidence within herself. Matilda is smart (albeit a bit bossy) and doesn’t always make the best choices when her curiosity gets the better of her. Meanwhile, Jacob is bold and acts before thinking, helping the group overcome challenges while also learning to listen to his friends and family. This diverse cast of characters makes the story engaging and real, and the author does a fantastic job of bringing these fun characters to life.

While this book seems clearly written with a young audience in mind, a few word choices don’t seem to align with the vocabulary associated with that age. I don’t think an author should ever talk down to a young audience. However, some of the words used, such as “quixotic,” seemed extremely advanced for a reader in the 8-15 age range. So, while I enjoyed this book, I might suggest some additional editing to make some of the language slightly more accessible to a younger audience. Additionally, in the editing realm, there seemed to be a lot of confusion in the book over where commas were and were not to be used. While I did not count comma usage as objective errors, I would love to see some consistency in the usage of commas. As the book stands now, several of the comma choices make the text confusing, and my focus was often pulled out of the story as I was distracted by the grammar. These are relatively small issues in my mind, so I only deducted one star because of them.

I love reading Egyptian mythology specifically, so I really enjoyed this book. The story was engaging and full of adventures that kept me turning the pages. The author does a spectacular job at creating a mystery woven through the mythology, allowing the book to maintain an atmosphere of anticipation throughout the whole book. The protagonists are earnest, allowing the reader to root for them even when they make mistakes. For all these strengths, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. While some slight editing changes would make this book even better, I would still recommend it to any middle schooler interested in mythology. I know I would have loved this book as a young reader, and I’m confident even stubborn readers would find something to love in this book.

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Tiya Thompson and the Lady of Magicks
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[Joao Victor 9]

In the end, Tiya Thompson and the Lady of Magicks is a fun and engaging read, especially for a younger audience. The mix of Egyptian and Celtic mythology with a mystery-driven plot makes the story captivating and full of adventure. The characters are well-developed, with unique traits that make it easy for readers to connect with them. The writing is accessible, though some more complex terms and punctuation issues can slightly interrupt the flow of the read. Despite that, the book delivers an exciting and educational narrative. I would definitely recommend it to students interested in mythology or anyone who enjoys a good adventure with a touch of magic. With a few minor edits, this book could be even better, but overall, it's a great pick for young readers.

[Enrique Jose]

Thank you for such a thoughtful and well-balanced review! I love how you highlighted the mix of mythology and adventure — it really sounds like a fun and meaningful story for young readers. Your comments on character development and the emotional depth, especially with Tiya’s journey, make me want to check this book out myself. I also appreciate your honest feedback about the vocabulary and punctuation — it’s always helpful for both readers and the author.

[NetMassimo]

I'm too old for this kind of novel but the mix of mythologies is intriguing and other elements such as the characters and the atmosphere of anticipations might make it engaging for young readers despite some use of words more suitable for older readers. Thank you for your great review!