Nic Blake and the Remarkables is a refreshing new middle grade fantasy. Angie Thomas creates a wonderful magical world that has believable ties to African American history. Nic Blake and her family are authentic and very realistic. The action was fast paced and the story had many plot twists that I didn't see coming. The ending lets the reader know that Nic's adventure is only just beginning. This is the first in what I hope will be a long series.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are likeable and relatable, the story is fast paced, there is a lot of adventure, and the folklore that is woven into the story is well done. My middle school students were so excited for this book to come out, and I know they will love it. I love a good fantasy adventure, and this book is just that. There are also hints of character lessons woven in that are not too in-your-face, which I like. I really recommend this book!

I wasn’t initially sure how this new fantasy series was going to land for me. I was getting major HP vibes but this is something new and altogether fresh. I’m looking forward to more in this series and highly recommend!

This cute middle grade novel with Black Girl Magic and some good twists is a good inclusive alternative to Harry Potter. Hand this one to kids who loved The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton- they feel like sibling books.

It's a delight to see Angie Thomas turn her well-honed and disciplined storytelling abilities to a middle grade fantasy. In "Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy," Thomas weaves a tight and engaging coming-of-age (and coming-of-power) story of 12-year-old Nic, who learns that there's much more to the magical world of the Manifestors then having a hellhound for a pet. Young fantasy fans will love this world full of Azizas, Merfolk, and Miss Peachy's Marvelous Mojo and Juju Bags. Thomas' fans will be glad to see themes of privilege and discrimination addressed, akin to her other titles. Readers of all ages will enjoy this first title in the series and will no doubt anxiously await the second installment.

This is such a cute one! I think anyone who is intimidated by Legendborn but still wants that fantasy vibe, should read this one. As should anyone who is already a fan of Amari and the Night Brothers. Angie Thomas is such a gifted writer, this is proof she can write any genre and it will be great!

*4.75 Stars*

Nic Blake has been moving around her entire life, and she doesn't know why. Her dad is a Manifestor so she's supposed to be one too but he won't train her even though he promised he would! It's getting frustrating and then, her whole world explodes with realizations and her parents being taken into custody. Now, she's on the run and has to find a magical artefact to save them all.

I really loved this books. I loved the characters, Nic was great and I also loved her best friend and brother. It really was captivating from beginning to end, I didn't see the twists coming and the plot was just so enthralling. I also loved the magic system, the world and the settings. I simply had a great time. Definitely a middle grade for all ages and I cannot wait for the next books!

I read this aloud to my daughters and all of us LOVED it. Angie Thomas has a way of writing characters that are so human and you just want them to win! Nic is a great heroine because there’s nothing spectacular about her (other than her powers, obviously). She’s a kid who wants to hang out with her friends and reads nerdy books and wants a puppy! Her parents are both motivated by love for their kids, but do things that appear selfish every so often.

The world building, the magic system, the different types of magical beings.. all of them were just a lot of FUN to learn about.

JP quickly became our favorite character because he is this reluctant hero without being a Ron in Harry Potter type of character who doesn’t really contribute. JP provides comic relief, but he also provides so much more and his specific skill set is essential to the mission too!

We enjoyed this book thoroughly and can’t wait to keep following these characters wherever Angie takes them next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas. Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins Children’s, 2023. 9780063225138. Thank you Balzer + Bray for providing a copy through NetGalley.

Rating: (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 (+)
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

What did you like about the book?

Nic Blake doesn’t mind moving between cities with her dad. That’s because she is a Remarkable, a person blessed with the Gift from an ancient line of African tribes. Her dad is a powerful Remarkable, one of the best Manifestors there is, so he must travel to help solve magical problems across America, so he says. Sure, Nic doesn’t have a ton of friends, but at least she gets a hellhound for her twelfth birthday! That makes the lack of the Gift and lack of a real family worth it, right?
After her father refuses to teach her the Gift for the twelfth time, Nic has had enough listening to him. With her only friend, JP, she sneaks to a book signing, hosted by her favorite author, TJ Retro, to celebrate her birthday. The two friends discover that TJ is really Uncle Ty, a good friend of Nic’s father, who holds answers to her family’s history, such as why they don’t live in Remarkable cities, or why Nic’s mother abandoned her. With all the adults having tight-sealed lips, Nic tries to get to the bottom of things herself, only to set off a chain of events that lead to her father’s arrest. He is charged with stealing the Msaidizi, a powerful artifact that could doom the world. But Nic knows he is innocent. So, with the help of JP and a long-lost friend, Nic sets off to find the Msaidizi, to prove her father was wrongly accused, and to prove to the Remarkable world that she belongs as well.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is a rich fantasy novel of loyalty, hilarity, and the complications of finding your family. The world of the Remarkables is steeped in African American folklore and history, with wonderful and scary creatures jumping out of the page, and famous landmarks reinvented for a unique setting. Nic stays true to herself throughout the story, portraying an intuitive, creative, and headstrong protagonist who will do anything to protect her father. JP is one of the most loyal friends in fiction: Despite being an Unremarkable, he refuses to leave Nic’s side through all the danger and never doubts her for a second. Many family issues take the lead in this story - found family, trust and keeping secrets, sibling bounds, and learning to accept new family - and Thomas writes Nic’s perspective in an accurate and provocative style. Angie Thomas’s first middle grade and fantasy book is a remarkable (pun intended) success and stands to the power of fighting for your family.

Anything you didn’t like about it? Nothing!

To whom would you recommend this book? Kids who like mythology-adventure books (like the Percy Jackson series), and books based on African American folklore. Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown, The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton, Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo, and Nevermoor by Jessica Townshed (even though it’s not mythology-based) are all wonderful read-alikes.

Review Date: April 30, 2023

Ok, so the premise of this book is basically:
What if Rick Riordan was your godfather? Which is something that you only find out a book signing, where it is more or less also revealed that the events of PJO are true and Grover and Annabeth are your parents AND OH YEAH you have to go on a quest to find a thing to save them.

So yeah, that's the premise in a nutshell, and it's well-executed. The characterizations are great, the pacing is fast, and the references to Black American and African mythology are interesting and incorporated into the story seamlessly.

But, I don't know, I was disappointed. This really could've been like, another book on Rick Riordan's imprint (it's not too dissimilar from Tristan Strong tbh). Which isn't a bad thing, I just expect more from Angie Thomas (unfair, I know, but here we are). I kind of wish she had written a contemporary more in the style of Clean Getaway or Ghost.

So yeah, it was fine and I liked it and I'll recommend it, I just wish that Thomas had applied her singular talents elsewhere. For fans of Percy Jackson, Aru Shah and Tristan Strong. 3 stars.

This story BLEW ME AWAY! Truly, one of the better middle grade books I've read in the past year. From the intentional points of African history and education to the creative use of folklore, it was a rich story packed with unexpected twists and turns that keep those pages flipping! I loved the dynamic between Nic and her "found family" throughout the book as she begins to uncover more and more of her own story and purpose in the world. The banter was spot on and the wit in this book really hit on a cinematic level. (Please make this a movie!!!) This story was such a celebration of found family and owning your own story. It was adventurous, funny, and full of beautiful moments for any age. 5 stars!

3.5

I really loved the representation and the uniqueness of the magic in this middle grade fantasy, but it didn't wow me and I feel like I really won't think about this book much later on. However, I would recommend this to a middle grade audience, especially those who love Percy Jackson or Aru Shah.

Already purchased for my library.
Nic and her dad are an interesting family.
Fun premise!
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Loved Thomas's middle grade debut! It was fast paced and so fun, yet also had depth. This is going to be a great series!

A really fun Book #1 for a new MG series that is full of magic, a creative plot, well developed characters with great voice, and an ending that makes you excited for the next book in the series. This is a great addition to the MG fantasy genre.

Not surprising, this was another hit by Angie Thomas, and perfect to read w my middle schooler. I hope she also writes upper middle/lower YA, there is a gap in that market and I know Angie could help meet that need.

Angie Thomas's middle grade debut is just as stunning as her bestselling YA novels.
Nic Blake knows that being a Remarkable in an Unremarkable world isn't always easy. Every time an Unremarkable sees her dad use the Gift, they have to move. She's never been to a Remarkable city, and her dad won't even teach her to use the Gift yet. But Nic's twelfth birthday brings a lot of change to her life. Some of this change is good, like her new hellhound puppy. But other change brings trouble-- big trouble. When her dad is imprisoned by Remarkables for a crime she doesn't believe he committed, it's up to her to save him.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is the first book in Angie Thomas's new middle grade fantasy trilogy, and it does not disappoint.
From page one, Nic's voice pulls the reader right in and doesn't let go. Thomas is a master of tension, keeping me on the edge of my seat and formulating theories the whole time. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about it. Could it be this or that or ooh, what about... I couldn't put this book down, and finished it in a matter of days.
Thomas is a master of tension. As soon as the characters and world are established, everything is thrown into chaos. That early groundwork really sets the stage for the rest of the novel. The characters feel real and relatable, making the reader-- and me-- fully invested in the story.
The characters are so well developed that in quick, banter-filled scenes, dialogue tags are more sparse and they aren't needed. Each character's voice is well honed, so that when they are speaking they're easily identifiable.
The way history and folklore are interwoven into the plot is incredible. Add in the cinematic descriptions and detailed world building, and I just know this is going to get picked up as a TV or film series. The Unremarkable and Remarkable histories are equally important to the plot, both upping the mystery and letting armchair detectives try and deduce where its going (justifying my endless theorizing!).
Thomas is known for not holding back (thank goodness) and Nic Blake is no exception. This fantasy novel incorporates real issues, from family dynamics to racism to really showing how dangerous it is when allegedly good people do nothing when they witness harm being done. But the serious moments and high stakes are offset by plenty of comedy, keeping the tone balanced. There is such humor and joy found throughout this book. Nic Blake really learns who she is in this novel, and she is bright, funny, and capable. She's the hero we've been waiting for.
This series is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Upside Down Magic.
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is out now.
Thank you to author Angie Thomas, NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for a digital ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.

Angie Thomas has always such a way with words that has captivated and immersed me in the stories I am reading so when I saw that a magical Middle Grade story was coming, I could not wait! With Nic Blake's 12th birthday coming, she anticipates getting the final steps in learning her gift. This story is full of action, adventure and a little bit of mystery! The African folklore and culture woven in to each page added to the dynamics of the story, along with the geography. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Angie Thomas; therefore, I support everything she does. While the book is for Middle Grade students, I decided to read it to determine if I would add it to my classroom library. I enjoyed reading about Jackson in a different way. I live in Fondren so hearing about my neighborhood and the special way she represented potholes had me laughing! It is good reading about a group of heroes who look like my students! I will definitely be adding the book to my shelf so that my students can experience the greatness of Angie Thomas!

Loved getting to know this world and these characters that are going to appeal to so many readers. I have so many students who want only fantasy recommendations, and now I know exactly which book my next recommendation to them will be! Nic Blake and the Remarkables is sure to be a new fantasy fav for middle grade students (and I bet their teachers as well).