As an adult it's starting to become harder for me to enjoy certain middle grade books ; even though I still enjoy the genre immensely. Of course these books aren't written for me so it's understandable and my opinion really doesn't matter in long run for that reason alone. 

With that said there is just certain books that despite the age range that I absolutely love and some that might not appeal to me but that doesn't mean the kids won't enjoy them. This book unfortunately falls in the latter category.

It had all the things the demographic it's aimed for will enjoy like magic & adventure. It also had likeable characters and an interesting premise ; for me though it was missing that hook that got me invested and I just was never into the story enough to properly enjoy it.

Overall not a book for me but I do think others will enjoy it especially those belonging to the demographic it was written for.

Max and the Spice Thieves
eARC NetGalley Review

The Three Seas is a world of princes, pirates, witches, and magic. The people here don't trade in gold or jewels. Oh no. Instead, they use spices. But only the richest of the rich get to actually use these spices to season their food, and only the people in the Underground use the magic-laden, more nefarious spices. So that's where the pirates come in, also known as the Spice Thieves. They pull a little Robin Hood action; take spices from the rich to give to the poor.
At the start of our story, Max Daybreaker is awoken by his mom and told that today they will be going on an adventure. But Max doesn't want to go anywhere. His dad has gone missing, and presumed dead. One of the only things Max has to remember him by is his favorite book, The Secrets of the Twilight Djinn. His mom doesn't take no for an answer, so they pack a few bags and begin their journey by sea to visit the island of Sanctus. Only, they never make it there.
As the title suggests, Max gets swept away with some Spice Thieves. His one and only goal is to save his mom, and (hopefully!) find his dad alive.

I enjoyed this book immensely! It pretty much had all the things I want in a middle-grade read: adventure, magic, fun side-kicks, and a likeable protagonist. I really think Max and the Spice Thieves had it all. This story was left on a cliff-hinger, which I definitely figured would happen about half way through the book, and I plan on finishing off this series once published.
Captain Cinn is probably my favorite character in the group. I mean, who doesn't like a pirate, right? But he was special because he was kind-hearted and endearing, dangerous, but also sweet.
The part about the Snow Bears... so cool!!

If you're like me, and you enjoy reading middle-grad books (a la Percy Jackson), and you like stories based on a magical adventure, then you have to read Max and the Spice Thieves.

Max and the Spice Thieves is an entertaining adventure story. Recommended for young readers, upper elementary and middle grades.

This one reminds me of a movie called Treasure Planet that came out awhile back. I would say it's that addicting of a story meets Harry Potter in terms of a great villain (Voldemort). If you are an adult, you will still secretly enjoy it I think like I did.

Max finds himself lost at sea trying to find his mother who disappeared from the dock as he waited for her. Captain Cinn, a spice pirate aboard the Saucy Pig, takes Max on a journey across the high seas looking for his mother. Cinn knows some secretes about Max’s family, Max’s father’s death, and his mother’s disappearance. The best part of being on Captain Cinn’s ship is the food. Readers can almost smell and taste the delicious food being prepared. After meeting the Witch Queen, Max is sent on a mission that is supposed to bring balance to a world on the brink of war. Max needs the help of his friends to get there but on the journey he learns more about his family history and the power of his will to succeed.

The plot is quite complex as Max learns more about the world by meeting a wide range of characters. Each time the Saucy Pig find a new port, the cast grows and it is a little challenging to keep up. Some of the characters aren’t as memorable as others. The magical adventures includes beasts, monsters, harpies, and more. The world is well described for its vastness and diversity. It will be easy for readers to hold an image in their mind. Younger readers will enjoy the traps, mishaps, and peril; however, some might feel overwhelmed by the fast-paced plot, complicated world building, and large number of characters. It takes a little while to get to the main conflict and the ending intentionally sets up a second book. At the end, the reader will feel some closure and happiness but also know there will be continued tension.

Thanks #netgalley for the ARC!

DNF at 40%

This book had potential to be really good. Considering I'm not in the age range of this book (though I still love middle grade), it wasn't interesting enough for me. I wasn't invested in the characters enough, and often found myself drifting off mentally because of this.

That being said, I enjoyed the aspect of the food and spices. It made my mouth water multiple times. I enjoyed learning more about Max and what exactly was happening in his life. He was probably one of my favourite characters in the book.
I think this would be an enjoyable read for a lot of people, especially in the demographic this was written for.

Regardless, there could have been more to hook the reader, and make me want to continue reading, but I'd say give it a try anyways and test it out yourself.

An action-packed adventure that will delight Middle Grade readers. Max is on an epic journey to save his family with the help of some quirky characters, human and otherwise….. The author’s mechanism for constructing magical powers is very well done, and adds to the attraction of young Max, as well as to his credibility. My only very slight disappointment was a bit of a ‘rabbit out of the hat’ climax with an unexpected character popping out of nowhere, but otherwise a great page turner. The seeds are planted for an exciting sequel.

I LOVED this book! I could see it in my mind's eye as clearly as if I was watching a Hollywood blockbuster. It had some fantastical elements but they weren't overdone; it operated well within its own 'universe' of how things work. Definitely a book I will recommend to others and one I can't wait to read the next installment of. Having said that, it isn't a typical cliffhanger where one is frustrated with the author. This one does wrap up nicely for the adventure it starts. Do I care how the rest of the story will play out? Yes, absolutely!! But do I feel I was left high and dry waiting for an indeterminate amount of time before the next installment will arrive? no. Well done, John. And thank you for writing something worth reading.

Fantastic adventure with a great group of fun characters! Max is on quite an adventure with some amazing new friends... or are they??

I really enjoyed this story. It had all the makings of a great fantasy: adventure, pirates, shape-shifters and friendship. I was pleasantly surprised with how into I was. I found it difficult to put down. I needed to find out if Max found his mom, and what was going on with him. It was such a great read, and I can't wait to see what is in store for Max and friends in the next installment.

Max and the Spice Thieves is an action-packed middle grade fantasy book with plenty of adventure, mystery and magic! Set in a rich fantasy world with a large cast of interesting and engaging characters, this first book in the series is sure to be a hit with middle grade fantasy readers.