Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Winning combination of action and humor in fun fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In THE WIZARDS OF ONCE, Prince Xar and Princess Wish are from warring tribes. Xar's a Wizard and Wish is a Warrior. The Wizards hate the Warriors, who are invaders, while the Warriors fear and try to extinguish the Wizards' Magic. When the two young protagonists sneak out of their respective royal residences and meet, their fates become intertwined. Though they remain wary of each other, they slowly find ways to work together to combat a common enemy: Witches! But aren't all Witches long dead? And if they're not, how will the tribes fight them? Will Xar grow into his magic powers? And will Wish's bravery earn her the respect of the demanding queen, her mother?
Is It Any Good?
Fans of fantasy will gobble up this series opener, with its crowd-pleasing formula mixing action and humor. In The Wizards of Once, author Cressida Cowell once again shows she knows how to entertain. She has lots of fun with the narration, salting the story with cheeky asides and offering teasing hints about the narrator's true identity. Some of the character names have an improvisatory feel -- there are sprites named Squeezjoos, Hinkypunk, and Mustardthought -- adding to the book's giggly charm. One late chapter is humorously titled "Oh Dear…The Story Turns in an Unexpected Direction." Her art, too, is funny -- including pages from a book of spells and scribbled-in text that comments wryly on the action.
Though the book is fantasy, it has a distinctly contemporary feel. Sure, the kids have friends who are sprites and giants, but readers will relate to these recognizably human misfits. In a sly nod to puberty, Xar is worried that although he's turned 13, his magic hasn't come in. The kids have to deal with parents who are deeply disappointed, as well as a raft of annoying, constricting rules. But when the first section of the book is entitled "Disobedience," you know rules are off and fun reigns.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the family relationships in The Wizards of Once. How do Xar and Wish feel about their dad and mom? Do your parents ever expect you to be or do something you're not able to?
What parts of the book feel like classic fantasy to you? What parts feel modern and slangy?
Who do you think is narrating the story? Why do you think the author gives us hints about the narrator's identity but never actually reveals it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Cressida Cowell
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : October 3, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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