Angie Thomas has made magic again with her middle grade debut! Nic Blake is a fun heroine to root for and this book will be great for fans of Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers. It’s an entertaining story on its surface, but it’s also rooted in Black history and is very much in conversation with other fantasy series that center on Chosen One prophesies. Thank you NetGalley and Balzer + Bray for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Nic Blake knows she's a Remarkable, a black child with the Gift, but her father won't teach her how to use hers and they leave in the Unremarkable world (modern day Jackson, Mississippi) with Unremarkables (normal people) and Remarkable exiles. Her life takes an odd turn when she discovers she has a godfather (her favorite author), her father kidnapped her from her mother, Zoe, and her twin brother, Alex, and her real name is Alexis Nicole. Guardians (Remarkable police) show up to arrest her father for stealing a powerful Remarkable weapon, but Nic, though hurt, angry, and confused over what happened, doesn't believe her father took the weapon. With her twin brother and her best friend JP (an Unremarkable) she takes off to find the weapon to save her dad. The characters are unique with their own quirks and worries - Nic is jealous of her brother for having their mother, the Remarkable world and the friendship building with JP, JP is very Christian in his beliefs and has a power of his own they didn't know, and Alex despises their father, believing he stole the magic weapon because he took Nic and he had to deal with their mother's heartbreak as a child himself. They face many tasks together, learning from each other and having to depend on each other to find the truth. The "Chosen One" trope comes into play. An adventurous first book in a series. Give to readers of Wildseed Witch, The Marvellers, and Harry Potter.

I am in love with this book! Thomas killed it with her middle grade debut, balancing the right amount of action and adventure with the importance of family, blood or chosen, and showing readers the injustices Black children in America are facing every day. The magic was interesting and easy to understand and I enjoyed the characters Nic encountered along her journey.

I was immediately invested in the story and it was a fun ride all the way to the end. I hope there's a sequel in the works!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Balzer + Bray and NetGalley for the copy.

This was a fun middle grade fantasy. I enjoyed the story, and lived that the ending was unexpected, but the story never hit me in the feels, which makes me sad. I'm not sure where exactly the disconnect is, because I loved the history that was thrown in. But the characters didn't feel very developed, and the book was exposition heavy. I enjoyed the read, but don't feel like the story will stay with me like I expected it to.

This book is a dream of Angie Thomas's. She wanted to create a book that was for a younger her who LOVED fantasy. This book allows her to world build, and she hopes to bring her readers the same joy that she felt reading fantasy (https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/90215-pw-talks-with-angie-thomas.html), and I am happy to say, that she does just that (and more because she includes history, too)!

Although the world building is great and it is right up the alley for students who love middle grade contemporary fantasy adventures and the pacing is perfect, which keeps the reader reading, it was Nic Blake's voice that truly sold me. It is fantastic! She is sassy and strong and witty! She is someone you root for right away and also trust as a character, which is important in these types of fantasy novels.

I enjoyed the African American and Black history incorporated into the magic in The Remarkables. The lore was well researched and applied in a way that connected with the dark history of the United States (where the novel is based). The magical world also provided a good contrast to the Unremarkable world (aka regular humans).

Nic is also a fun perspective to read from. She’s a middle schooler with a fun sense of humor and a resourceful mind.

I was a little disappointed by the lack of emotional depth in Angie Thomas’ fantasy debut. I’ve read all her other work and each time was left for days just mulling over my thoughts and feelings after finishing. This novel didn’t have much of an impact at all on me. Some might argue it’s because the novel is for a younger audience. To that I would say, it’s just as important for children to understand deeper concepts. Adults shouldn’t be the only ones reading books that have emotional pay off or more depth. Kids don’t lack the ability to understand deeper topics.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Angie Thomas for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

This was such a fun middle grade fantasy! I was swept up into Nic's world. Nic's a Remarkable, and she's only ever wanted to be a Manifestor like her dad. What stinks is she turns 12 and her dad still won't teach her how to use the Gift.

Nic gets the chance to prove herself and her abilities when her dad is committed of a crime that she's sure he didn't commit. In a shocking turn of events, Nic and her friends go on an adventure to find a stolen magical tool that reminded me a little bit of Percy Jackson's adventures. It was a wild ride that kept me guessing until the end and then set up a cliffhanger for book #2!

Angie Thomas weaves an extraordinary tale of magic and power in the story of 12 yr old Nic Blake. Unlike many protagonists in stories like these, Nic knows she’s a “remarkable” and has a connection with others of her ilk even though she doesn’t yet know how to use her own abilities. After she innocently makes a connection with her father’s past, he finds himself in great danger and it’s up to Nic and her friends to save him. (Oh boy, I’m really trying not to do spoilers here and after you read the book you’ll see what an UNDERSTATEMENT this all is!)
Anyway, throughout their journey they encounter creatures from African and African American folklore, an ACTUAL Underground Railroad (as in subterranean choo-choo), ghosts and haints, the daughter of the devil himself, and even an adorable hellhound puppy! I found myself casting the film as I went through each chapter. The action leaps from the page and practically begs to be seen on screen. I hope movie producers are watching because this will be the blockbuster hit of the year if they put it to film.
While this story is full of action and even comedy, readers will nod along to somber mentions of atrocities past and oh so present as Nic tries to come to terms with the difference between the experience of Black people in the “unremarkable” world versus the lands of the Remarkables. Even with those serious moments, this book reads as a celebration of Black culture. In a genre that is full of pale, blonde wizards and fair skinned maidens I am delighted with the change! I can only imagine how this “mirror” story and others that will surely follow will open this genre to many kids who’ve never seen themselves as being this remarkable!
I can’t wait to put this on my classroom shelves! Highly recommend for remarkable readers aged 9–14!

Thank you to Angie Thomas, HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy" for an honest review.

I absolutely ran to scoop this up when it dropped that Angie Thomas was going to roll out a debut for middle-grade readers. I'm so, so, so, glad I did. While I know that I love her realistic fiction works aimed at older audiences, I found myself unabashedly adoring the whole of this new-genre fantasy world and our brand-new Miss Nic, her silly but smart father, her best friend/sidekick friends.

I love it and will be getting copies for my nieces & nephews!

Angie Thomas is an auto read author for me so when I heard she was working on a middle grade book I was so excited! Especially a middle grade fantasy! If you are a fan of books like Tristan Strong and Amari and the Night Brothers you'll love this one. The magic is full of African folklore and you will fall in love with all the characters instantly.

** spoiler alert ** I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley.

This book grasped me from the beginning. The world building was good. I LOVED that Jackson, MS was a big location *biased*. Bigger issues were discussed but I think they were handled in a way that MG readers can comprehend. The three main characters were diverse & offered something different to the story. I love reading about books within a book. Definitely buying a physical copy, buying for my nieces, & recommending to others!!!! <3

Meet Nic Blake-she and her very loving but goofy dad live in Jackson, Mississippi. They've moved a lot and Nic is really loving the community of Jackson, especially that she has a best friend. Nic's dad is part of a magical community called the Remarkables, except things are not quite what they seem. There are so many plot twists in this story and it moves so fast-I think the kids are going to love this one!

I have a middle grade age kiddo and we read similar books. There were some good things in this book but it was really exposition heavy. These characters were very one dimensional and in comparison to similar books, they are forgettable.

I will read anything Angie Thomas choses to write. Admittedly, I was a tad apprehensive to see her going from realistic fiction like the Hate U Give and On the Come Up to a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson style fantasy. I shouldn't have been concerned, this book is fabulous!
This is 100% for fans of Tristan Strong, Amari and the Night Brothers, and Percy Jackson. The magical world is unique and full of African American folklore and legend. While it could be tightened up in a few places, generally I think readers will be happy to push through slower sections because the overall effect is so satisfying. I appreciated that Thomas skill at writing believable characters dealing with truly had things wasn't lost in this fantasy world. Issues of race and representation were still relevant to the story and beautifully handled by Thomas, as always.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a fun, middle grade fantasy book but I expected a little more from the story because I’ve loved Angie Thomas’ previous books so much. While I did love the African-American history placed throughout this book, I did find that it slowed down the pacing of the story for a middle grade book. I thought that I would absolutely fall in love with these characters and the only character that I enjoyed was JP. There’s definitely potential for Nic’s character to grow in the second book, though I’m not sure I will continue on with the series.

A fun, magical middle grade adventure!

Overall, Nic Blake and the Remarkables is a fun read that will entertain plenty of readers. However, I didn't quite fall in love with the voice of Nic and the way the history was included in such large chunks. The amount of exposition took me out of the flow of the story a lot of the times. And while I loved that the magic and world had its foundation in African American history, I think the way it was introduced a lot of the times felt too much.

The plot and magical world itself, though, was exciting and unique! I loved all of the different Remarkables introduced and the different folklore come to life. It's a rich imagining that I think middle grade readers will enjoy if they can get through some of the more dragging details that slow the pace down.

There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and I love that Thomas isn't afraid to make your feelings towards a character change.

Definitely give this one a chance for a magical adventure through the south!

When I saw that Angie Thomas, of The Hate U Give fame, was publishing a middle grade fantasy, I knew immediately that I wanted to read it. Fortunately for me, the Netgalley Gods agreed, and sent me an early copy!

In this series opener, Thomas is building a world similar to ours, but interlaced with a new, unique brand of magic. Remarkables, all of whom are ancestors of formerly enslaved Black Americans, are those with special gifts of varying qualities. While most Remarkables live in hidden Remarkable cities, Nic and her father live in the Unremarkable world, hiding in plain sight. Except that Nic isn’t able to use her gift yet, and even though her father promised to teach her on her 12th birthday, he’s now pushing it off once again.

But when Nic and her (unremarkable) best friend JP go to a book signing for the newest in the series of their favorite fantasy adventure author, things quickly get rolling when the author turns out to know Nic’s father. So well, in fact, that the three characters in his series are actually based on himself and Nic’s two parents and a prophecy that Nic’s dad has kept very secret from Nic.

I loved the characters in this story, especially JP and (eventually) the third part of their trio, Alex. As displayed in her first several novels, Thomas excels at dialogue, and that continues to be the case here. You fall in love with the characters through what they say to each other. I also loved the layering we see in the fictional book series mirroring the older generation, which is then again reflected in Nic’s generation with her, JP, and Alex. Thomas also plays with a lot of familiar fantasy tropes while incorporating a lot of her own very unique magical system, one steeped African American traditions, history, and folklore.

I feel like middle grade fantasies tend to follow one of two formats, either a magical school or a cross-country quest. This definitely falls into the latter category, and I think I tend to prefer the former, but that’s just personal preference. I did think the beginning could have used a little more work. Or perhaps, less work? Nic spends a lot of time explaining her family history, the magical world they inhabit, how it all works, and I think fantasy stories (and all stories really) are more gripping when we are dropped into the action and the backstory is revealed along the way, rather than just laid out up front.

I’m very intrigued to see where this projected trilogy will go! The ending left us with quite the cliffhanger!

Angie Thomas proves she can do no wrong when it comes to compelling stories! Nic Blake is a fun, adventure fueled ride that left me ready for book 2 immediately! It melds high-stakes adventure, Southern black folklore, and characters that you immediately want to befriend to create a wonderful new addition to any library collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Angie Thomas is always a must-read for me, so I was super excited to receive her middle grade (and fantasy) debut as an ARC. I absolutely devoured this after I got into it, and I loved the twists and turns combined with magic (but not normal magic) and Black history and families and a diabolical plot and issues with being labeled the chosen one and you know, other normal stuff 12 year olds go through like figuring out who they are.

Nic (cough cough, named for nic stone??) discovers her Dad was hiding a rather large secret from her during their years together where he trains her in the history of their world -- Manifestors (magical beings) and hellhoudns and aziza and rougarous and all the other things and many black folktales while also telling the history of her ancestors. BUT her dad also hides a pretty big secret from her that she ends up having to reconcile with to also save him from a crime he didn't commit.

There were also MANY funny parts in this story. I overall enjoyed it. While I know this sets up more books in a series, I wish there would've been more on how the magic worked and more of that world building besides some brief history on how it came to be.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/Blazer + Bray for the digital ARC!

This was a fun book to read. The style is similar to Percy Jackson/Harry Potter, which I loved. The plot moved along pretty quickly and I really liked learning about Black history and culture. There were also several twists and turns that were unexpected and the interactions between Nic and her friends and family were great and very believable.

The characters were fun and there were different types of magic and abilities shown throughout the book. I really liked Nic as the main character and thought she was a great protagonist, with an adorable hellhound puppy as a sidekick. There are a number of interesting side characters, including several magical creatures like demons, vampires, and a vegan Rougaru. JP, who is Nic's best friend, was probably my favorite side character.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy fun middle grade adventure stories with great characters and lots of magic.