It is finally time: Nic Blake is twelve years old, and her father promised he'd be teaching her to use her gift then. The day starts promising with a hellhound puppy who'll join the family.

If you want a fun adventure full of magic and self-discovery, but also with some important topics being touched on, then I think you might really enjoy this one. I'm excited to see where Thomas takes this story! The characters in Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy are well-developed and interesting. Nic is a likable and relatable protagonist who readers will root for. His journey of self-discovery and growth is inspiring and heartwarming. I didn't know what to expect when I started this new MGLit title by the incredible author that is Angie Thomas, but I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it!!

In “The Manifestor Prophecy,” Nic’s origin story, Thomas uses her narrative mojo to connect with adolescents. As the trilogy progresses, it’s sure to light the way toward the multifaceted worlds of adult speculative fiction — from Octavia Butler to Neil Gaiman to N.K. Jemisin — that await this next generation of fantasy readers. The epic ending is not to be spoilt. However, Angie Thomas has set-up what is going to be a incredible trilogy with an outcome that is impossible to predict. Turning the 'chosen one' scenario on its head, I cannot wait to see what happens next in this world and what lies in store for Nic Blake and her friends and family. This chance meeting leads to a birthday present from Tyran which leads to a whole other life of which Nic knew nothing. It leads her and JP and another Manifestor boy into an adventure straight out of TJ Retro's books.

But today is also the day she get to go with JP (her best friend and neighbour) to meet TJ Retro their favourite author,. He writes stories about three children who live in a magical world, and fight evil. Only something happens when she holds Ms Lena's hands and her Dad gets freaked out and says she can't go. After a fight Dad goes to get pizza, and Nic sneaks out. She and JP see the author as he arrives, he has an aura - he's a Manifestor too! Dad arrives at the bookshop, he's not happy! It's then that TJ Retro greets her father, turns out they were best friends as children and TJ Retro (or Tyran J Porter) is her Godfather. However, Dad doesn't seem all that happy to see him. Also, I do recommend listening to the audiobook whilst reading as well. The audiobook was so well-done (like all Angie Thomas’s books) and it gives the story more depth. Nic Blake and the Remarkables is the first children’s fantasy book from renowned YA author Angie Thomas. The book is aimed at middle-grade readers and follows Nic, her best friend JP, and Alex (no spoilers here for who he is) as they set out to help Nic’s dad and two others who have been captured by Lore – the Remarkable’s police force, by finding a precious and powerful item and return it to the Lore to prove Nic’s dad is innocent of stealing it.I highly recommend this one, especially for classroom libraries and anyone who loves stories that include: The story is adventurous and the plot is easy to follow as most things occur in the Unremarkable’s world. The world-building was a bit of a let down though as I wanted to know so much more, however, with this being the first in a planned series hopefully those answers will come in further books. Maar nadat ze twaalf jaar geworden is, verandert álles. Ineens moet ze op zoek naar de verdwenen Msaidizi, al heeft ze geen idee wat ze zich daarbij moet voorstellen. Gelukkig hoeft ze deze zoektocht niet alleen te volbrengen en krijgt ze hulp uit onverwachte hoek.

As a white person who is not that informed about US history, I learned details I didn't know about, which is always welcome. Nic’s world turns upside down at a Stevie James book signing when the series’ author, TJ Retro, reveals to her that the books are actually based on his childhood, with two characters inspired by Nic’s parents. The revelation sets off a chain of events that leads to Calvin making a number of his own confessions, including that he’s actually been on the run for the past decade. Nic, JP and a newly revealed relative are thrown into a quest for an immensely powerful weapon called the Msaidizi that offers the only way to clear Calvin’s name. With her dad being accused of a crime she can't believe he committed, Nic is plunged into a terrifying and dangerous quest. To prove her dad's innocence she must hunt for a magical tool she's never heard of in a remarkable world she knows very little about. But with some very dodgy characters on her tail, does she have any chance of finding it in time? And what is Nic's role destined to be in this remarkable world? I read this book as an audiobook from the library, but I also have an ARC from the publisher (full disclosure), which didn't affect my review in any way.For a short read, the plot has been thought out well. I love that the adventures were written in a manner that made the story has its own colour and personality. The main characters were fun and loveable. I loved the dynamic between the three by the end of the book. And I loved the family aspects especially. It was just very sweet and wholesome at times. The first book in a trilogy, “The Manifestor Prophecy” begins on Nic’s 12th birthday, the year her father has promised to teach her how to use “the Gift.” She receives a hellhound pup instead.

I feel that for her fantasy debut, it wasn’t all too bad. There are some parts of the book where I felt the transition were a bit off and it was a tad chaotic at some parts but overall, it wasn’t a bad read and here are the some highlights why I liked the story. So, it’s perfectly normal for her to receive a hellhound for her twelfth birthday; what’s less normal is for her to discover that there is a deadly prophecy surrounding her birth," the synopsis reads. "Now, Nic must find the missing artefact that will reveal the truth about her past—and save her dad, who has been arrested for stealing it. All in a day’s work for a young Remarkable."mention of slavery, racism, mention of cancer, grief, mention of child death, kidnapping, mention of memory loss Nichole lives in the Unremarkable world, the Muggle world for Potter fans. Her father hasn't yet taught her how to use her Gift, but she's aware of the Remarkable world, creatures, traditions and is desperate to start using her powers. But even on her 12th birthday, her single dad is refusing. Well, at least she got given a Hellhound! The story is well-paced and keeps readers engaged throughout the book. The author does an excellent job of building tension and creating a sense of urgency that propels the story forward. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The book was adapted into a movie, starring Amandla Stenberg and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie of Thomas’ second novel, On The Come Up, is set to première on Paramount+ this autumn, directed by Sanaa Lathan and starring Jamila C Gray. It's not easy being a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world. Some things are cool - like getting a pet hellhound for your twelfth birthday. Others, not so much - like not being trusted to learn magic because you might use it to take revenge on an annoying neighbour.