Thank you for the opportunities to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

This book was absolutely amazing! It was unique and still very relatable. The writing style is so unique and I loved every word! Very adventurous and funny!

*I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This book is full of fun and rambunctious characters that every middle schooler should enjoy this read! Full of magic and destiny, young Simon comes to the realization that his life is not what it seems. Just as the exact time of his birth approaches, he ends up being transported to another world where other teens from other planets have also been sent in order to practice and control their special magical abilities. At first, SImon felt like he did not belong but he quickly becomes wrapped up in the different adventures or misadventures and make a name for himself as others realize he might be the Chosen One. If you have problems getting your middle schooler to become engaged in books, then this series is definitely a start.

Well written, vastly entertaining, and *quite* aware of its Harry Potter and Percy Jackson influences, thank you very much! This book was wonderful. Funny, dark, and inventive. Simon is an unexpectedly snarky and self-involved Chosen One, and the other characters he meets along the way to his supposed destiny are great too.

I am hoping for a sequel for sure.

The only thing that didn't really work for me was Bailey's tendency to use footnotes in an overly didactic way. Most of them were unnecessary, and almost all of them distracted from the narrative rather than adding to it.

Reminding me a little of Harry Potter and Phantom Tollbooth, Simon is a young boy with a mighty secret. A dusty old coat and a ecenter duster old tutor have shown him powers and a world beyond his mortal reality. Adventure ensues as well as some twists and turns.

I personally loved this book. I am glad I was given a chance to review it and am definitely hoping there is a second.

A really interesting premise and I loved the main character.

This is a really enjoyable read for all ages.
Although in places it did remind me of Harry Potter there are enough differences to make this a must read.

The book is written in the first-person and the author makes a point of emphasizing this. It is unusual in that he is writing as the author and so the book is reflective. It is rather episodic and tends to move from location to location without much preamble so the reader never really gets familiar with any one location. Characters are similarly quite transient although there is a core group, much like many other such reads.

A truly fun and entertaining middle-grade read!
I can never get my hands on enough middle-grade books - most of the time they prove to be better, and more interesting that YA for me. There is always excitement and magic, and that's really the world I look for when reading. This book was no different, and reminded me of Harry Potter in a way. I can't wait to read more from this author!

A fun and entertaining middle grade read. I can see a lot of young readers enjoying this. Also, I love that cover.

Simon Fayter and the Doors of Bone follows a young man, who after years being tutored by a rich man (really a magical protector, not a spoiler don’t worry), is sent into a magical school on a faraway planet where lots of people from different universes who can do magic come. He is the first of his type and a kind of Chosen One in this world. An adventure elsewhere in the universe ensues because of his cockiness. This book, especially at the beginning, reminded a lot of Harry Potter; the writing style, however, is similar to that of Brandon Sanderson in Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. At the beginning of each chapter, there were quotes, usually from historic leaders whose lives were somewhat explained in the footnotes, which I really liked because it seemed like an easy way to get kids interested in some not basic history (basic being like that JFK was shot because that’s been overdone). The footnotes were also great comedic tools that created good digressions that weren’t necessarily easy to place in the book. The only footnotes that bugged me were the ones defining words, as they felt slightly patronising. The writing style in this book was enjoyable and engaging, with action that was neither overwrought nor hurried, striking a good balance. I think the writing also captured some normal teenage emotions, like Drake’s embarrassment because he has yet to go through puberty, emotion that isn’t specifically described but an obvious conclusion from the writing. I think the writer also did a great job creating the world because the Harry Potter vibes quickly dissipated with the book making its own niche. I hope to find out more in the next books, such as why Earth has a secrecy policy and who knows about wizards. I especially liked the rituals students go through to go to the school, such as making a code and getting their supplies (example: shoes). Though they were specific to each student, they still felt general enough that I could relate to those feelings. The actual ending of this book, meaning last scene, not the end of the adventure, was a bit of a shocker, definitely peaking my interest for the next book. I hope the author continues with this high caliber of book, especially as he assured us that there would be a satisfying ending, something to which I will happily hold him accountable because this book was fantastic, so the rest of the series should not be screwed up.
A digital copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Awesome book! It's like a mix of Harry Potter & Percy Jackson - a young egotistic kid who finds himself in a magic world where he has special abilities and great friends...

Not only is it fantasy, there's a lot of comedy in here as well. And the magic and plot are unique.

I like the combination of Simon's big ego with his obvious lack of knowledge. This is a YA book for younger readers, so it's one of those books where the characters stumble around making a mess of things, but somehow everything turns out alright. Despite that, I still enjoyed reading it. I definitely recommend it for ages 10 & up.

Simon Faytor was a fun read, great for middle age readers who like fantasy/magic books. I found it compared best with the How to Train Your Dragon Series in terms of the writing style. It is written in first person point of view, with Simon telling us a story about what happened after the fact. I loved the use of footnotes to add humor, but also to add information by defining words the audience might not know (as well as make some up).

This is the first book in the series, but it reads well by itself with the completion of one full adventure. I will be happily waiting for book 2.

The book is written in the first-person and the author makes a point of emphasising this. It is unusual in that he is writing as the author and so the book is reflective. It is rather episodic and tends to move from location to location without much preamble so the reader never really gets familiar with any one location. Characters are similarly quite transient although there is a core group, much like many other such reads.

The book is strewn with footnotes which vary in content from definitions to asides to educational content. It is here that an e-reader is beneficial as it is less of a distraction to the scanning process. A lot of the wit is contained here so is seen as recommended reading.

The style and content is appropriate for middle school years and the language used is approachable and easy to read.

Given that it is a 'reflective' story it is strange that it feels so fragmentary, perhaps it is the rapid changes of locale but it is an enjoyable read and I would be interested in reading the sequels

A Most Excellent Young Wizard Adventure

The first chapter of this book was terrific. The next chapter was tedious and off-putting. But fear not, there was a method to the author's madness, and the book quickly settled down, (or picked up), and just kept getting better and better.

That first chapter is a prologue of sorts and introduces us to the two magical beings who have the duty of protecting Simon, our hero, until he "comes of age". It is atmospheric, loaded with portent, devilishly clever, and spiced with a generous does of deadpan humor and wit. As I say, terrific. In the second chapter we meet Simon, now a day short of his thirteenth birthday. He is the first person narrator, and of course the hero, of the rest of the book. He is so smarmy, full of himself, over-the-top, and self-impressed by his wit and smarts and general wonderfulness that the prospect of reading an entire book narrated by him was exceedingly unattractive. But wait, I thought, no one could have written that first chapter with the intention of then writing a book as unappealing as that second chapter. And of course, that's right.

In short order Simon is whisked away to Skelligard, a wizarding academy. Everyone else there knows about wizards and wizarding and magic and the history of the magical world, but Simon is totally and completely in the dark because only on Earth, (to the dismay and disgust of every other sentient being), is magic and wizarding kept a secret. So, Simon starts out as the dumbest, least aware, most confused, and most backward student at Skelligard. Aha!, our Simon has to step back and reevaluate himself and his situation in order to grow up, and that's what happens for the rest of the book. "Be true to yourself, but honorably, selflessly, and with humility" might as well be the watermark that shines through on every page.

But this is not a dry morality tale. It is a ripping magical fantasy. Simon starts with two classmate pals, who are smart, funny, different from him, and not the least bit inclined to defer to him or his attitude. We meet a wide array of teachers and supporting creatures who occupy a fascinating magical world. Really interesting things happen, and the twists and turns make Hogwarts look like a kindergarten. It turns out that of all Simon's wizarding skills and talents are exceptionally rare, which makes him unpredictable, a bit of a magical unexploded bomb, and arguably the "chosen one", which Simon both loves and hates. Lots of school daze action follows, then a huge ripping adventure, then more big plot advancements and friendship bonding and so on. It's all fabulous and implausible, but I like a middle grade fantasy quest book that goes big, not one that reads like a manual for your new magical camera.

And, finally, it is very funny. Every character gets a few sly lines. There are lots of funny set pieces. (One of Simon's new pals is a minotaur who hasn't hit minotaur puberty, and that's played for laughs but also some touching moments.) Once Simon settles down, he is witty and engaging instead of exaggerated and acting out for attention. There is a lot of deadpan humor and wry funny business around the edges, and the slacker too-cool-for-school mentor that Simon is assigned to steals every scene.

So, this book is fast paced, cleverly constructed, well written, funny and filled with action and surprises. It also ends up with a warmth and an embrace of chivalry and sacrifice that sneaks up on the reader, but is always in the background informing the action. This ended up being a delightful entertainment with some substance, and a fine middle grade read.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Excellent adventure. I am looking forward to the next four books.