Stars: ***1/2
This review is a part of the Bran Hambric Book Blog Tour.
Summary:
Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old in a city where magic is banned, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind -- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.
Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot that started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete.
Here's the book trailer:
I decided I wanted to read this book because I like books about magic and it sounded interesting. I read the first chapter for free online and was hooked so I asked for a copy. I must say it wasn't as good as I was expecting. I think my problem with it was the names of some of the characters were just ridiculous (ie. Balder and Baldretta) and there is even a sentence that include "balder dashed".
Also the beginning of the book seems a lot like Harry Potter (the first one.) A magic boy lives with non magic folk, (in BH, they know of magic but it's illegal and don't speak of it while in HP they don't know of magic at all,) and is treated poorly. The people he is living with are not his blood relatives and he doesn't remember his mother. The boy doesn't know he's magical until he's older (age 14 in BH and 11 in HP.) Doesn't this all sound familiar? I'm not saying the ideas were copied. I don't know if Kaleb Nation has ever read or seen Harry Potter but it is similar. Shortly after Bran finds out he's magical though the book becomes very different from Harry Potter. As mentioned above, magic is illegal in the city of Dunce, no mages allowed.
I liked the second half of the book the best. After the first few chapters, before the second half of the book, I found it a bit slow going, with too much of annoying Sewey and his family and not enough Bran. It's nice to see a different take on a fantasy book for kids that includes magic though. In this one, magic is still all around but it can't be shown freely around either.
You can read the first FOUR chapters for FREE!
Kaleb Nation will be doing an in person tour around the USA starting Sept 19. See dates and places on his website.
The Bran Hambric Online Tour is taking place Aug 30-Sept 19 at the following locations:
Sunday, August 30th Jenn’s Bookshelf Homespun Light Monday, August 31st StevenTill.com Dolce Bellezza Bobbi’s Book Nook Tuesday, September 1st The Looking Glass Review Edward-Cullen.net Beth Fish Reads SMS Book Reviews James Holder’s YouTube Channel Wednesday, September 2nd Bookalicio.us Reading Rumpus Katie’s Literature Lounge Ultimate Bookhound Thursday, September 3rd Brimful Curiosities Charlotte’s Library Friday, September 4th BriMeetsBooks.com Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation Saturday, September 5th Library Lounge Lizard Sarah’s Random Musings Saulchichas GreenFyr.com Sunday, September 6th Cindy’s Love of Books Monday, September 7th Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf Grasping for the Wind Life After Twilight vlog channel Tuesday, September 8th Shooting Stars Magazine Mrs. Magoo ReadsLori Calabrese Writes Wednesday, September 9th The Brain Lair Dulemba.com The Children’s Book Review TV Watch Online Thursday, September 10th The Friendly Book Nook Book Journey Stephanie’s Written Word Home School Buzz Spidurmunkey.com Friday, September 11th The Inside Scoop With Chandelle Booking Mama Saturday, September 12th Zoe’s Book Reviews Lit for Kids Sunday, September 13th Never Jam Today A Bibliophile’s Reverie Monday, September 14th Café of Dreams Marta’s Meanderings Galleysmith.com A Book Blogger’s Diary The Reader’s Quill Tuesday, September 15th a book in hand MistiSchindele.com Not Just for Kids Wednesday, September 16th Write for a Reader CumpulsiveReader.com Thursday, September 17th Howling Good Books The Written World Friday, September 18th Always Riddikulus YA Books Central Saturday, September 19th Ms. Bookish Into the Wardrobe
