Thanks to NetGalley and Blazer & Bray for the ARC! The opinions are my own.

Wow! Angie Thomas is flexing her writing muscle in Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy. I'm used to her young adult fare--which I love, but Nic Blake??? I love these new characters and the world she created.

Nic and her father are Remarkables--people with power--living amongst the Unremarkable--people like us. Nic wants more than anything to use her Remarkable power to its fullest, but her father is hesitant to teach her. As the plot unravels, Nic and her friends go on a quest to save her father who is blamed for a crime that Nic refuses to believe that he committed. (I'm not going to tell if he did or not.) On their Nic and friends encounter monsters, demons, and other characters--helpful and not helpful alike. Family secrets are brought to light. And Nic receives some of the answers she's searching for.

Full of adventure, intrigue, girl power, and relationship building, fans of books like the Percy Jackson series, Tristan Strong, and others will devour this book!

This book is perfect for fans of AMARI & THE NIGHT BROTHERS or the Rick Riordan presents series of books. Nic knows she's not like everybody else. She is a Remarkable but she wants to use her magic and her talents but her Dad keeps saying that she needs to be older to learn. On her 12th birthday, something happens that will change her life forever. Black history and folklore are woven together in this action-packed mystery with highly likable characters and enough plot twists to keep you guessing who's good and who's not so good. I can't wait to read the next one!

Great change of pace for Angie Thomas. The characters and story are rich and full of adventure. The action was very fast moving and held my attention throughout. I loved the creativity Thomas brought to her first middle grade book. I am definitely looking forward to the next thing from Nic Blake!

Firstly I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.

Now, to the important part.

IF Y’ALL DON’T GO OUT AND GET THIS BOOK AND READ IT!!!

This book is Black and beautiful. Nic, JP, Alex, her dad, the locations, the way people talk, y’all. I have never felt so seen, so represented, in my entire life. This is the book I wanted when I was a kid. This is the book I would have devoured and written fanfiction about.

This is the book.

Nic and her daddy and Manifestors. They have the Gift. It’s a sort of spiritual energy that lets people do all kinds of remarkable things. Like fly. Like shoot glowing ropes out of their hands. It’s fantastic.. There’s also mojos and jujus and magic. Magic is a corrupted form of the Gift.

The worldbuilding in this book is amazing. It wasn’t dumped on you, it was revealed well. Like the character was moving through the world with you and was pointing out things sometimes. It was beautiful.

When it comes to the characters they’re all so well fleshed out. They feel like real people. Like actual kids also.

When it comes to the prophecy and the chosen one, I loved how it was handled. Because the trauma of being a child followed and attacked, tortured by an adult and not knowing safety, was brought up and, finally! Because that’s awful! And it’s never addressed!

The whole chosen one thing is great with the way it’s handled and tied into the character’s personality. The kids were amazing. JP is a pastor’s sun and wears a bowtie. ‘Nuff said, I love him. He’s so sweet. Nic is a little reckless but has a big heart.

Look, I can’t say too much because I will spoil it. I will not shut up.

It’s a 5 out of 5 (five out of five) for me. Go buy it. Go buy it regardless of your age. Buy it for the kids in your life who need something better than what’s out there. Wanna put a smile on someone’s face? This is the book.

Angie Thomas does it again!! This is her middle grade and fantasy debut and it is incredible!
She wasn't kidding when this story was about Black Girl Magic-she really meant it. This story is full of friendship, family, action, and plenty of Black Girl Magic. I can't believe I have to wait over a year for the sequel but I know her family and friends are going to beside her!

I loved this book! You wouldn't even think it's a middle grade novel. I loved the history that was a part of the magic/story. I loved the 3 mains and their banter - Cocoa the hellhound was my fave lol. I can't wait for the next installment.

Nic Blake is a little disappointed on her twelfth birthday that her Manifestor Dad decides to put off teacher her magic until she turns 13. He does get her a cute little hellhound and two birthday cakes, but it doesn't quite satisfy her birthday dreams for more family to love. At least she finally has a steady best friend in her neighbor JP, who shares her love of fantasy fiction for kids- just like this book!
I won't share too many details, but boy does the story take off in excitement quickly, and its a shame Nic didn't get trained earlier in magic! The story incorporates lots of classic African American history and tall tales, from "The People Could Fly" to John Henry, Harriet Tubman, Emmett Till, and other heroes. The details about those historic heroes don't give many details if you don't already know the stories, but are rewarding if you have already learned them.

I have been a fan of Angie Thomas’s books since I read “The Hate You Give.” I was so excited when I saw this Children’s Book. This book was AMAZING! I love the suspense and mystery of this book from start to finish. This is truly a page turner and it was hard for me to put it down! I also love how events in history was tied into this story!

Plot:
The plot of Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy follows the story of Nic Blake, a young boy who discovers that he has magical powers and is destined to become a powerful wizard. Nic is a relatable and endearing protagonist who finds himself at the center of a prophecy that could save the world from evil forces.

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.

Characters:
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.

The supporting cast of characters is also well-written and adds depth to the story. Each character has their unique personality and backstory, which makes them more than just one-dimensional side characters.

Writing Style:
Ryan E. Palmer's writing style in Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is engaging and immersive. The author has a knack for world-building and creates a magical world that is both familiar and unique. The descriptions are vivid, and the action scenes are well-written and easy to visualize.

The dialogue is also well-done and helps to bring the characters to life. The author has a talent for writing believable and relatable dialogue that adds depth to the story.

Conclusion:
Overall, Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is an exciting and engaging young adult fantasy novel that will appeal to readers of all ages. The plot is well-crafted, and the characters are relatable and likable. The writing style is immersive, and the world-building is impressive. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy adventure.

This is a bit of a shift for Thomas, and while I didn't enjoy it as much as the YA books, I think it will hit the mark for many middle grade readers.

At the core, it's a fast-paced story filled with family secrets, magic, and monsters. I like how Thomas weaves in African American history and folklore to build the story. Characters were well developed, and there's a nice mix of Nic's squad, as well as a nice mix of humorous and serious moments. Some plot points did seem a bit too convenient and parts dragged a bit, but it was an enjoyable read overall.

Wow - Angie Thomas has done it again! What an absolutely incredible middle grade novel that I feel is going to be a series. I love how she tied in real life social justice issues and events that have deeply affected the Black community and the country in general in the past few years. Nic is such a strong central character that you can't help rooting for her. I love how she tied in African folklore as well along with historical events relating back to enslaved people. A rich fantasy world and story that like her other books, tackles much deeper topics but in an age appropriate manner. A must read for all middle grade students. So many rich teaching points that can be used in a novel study in the classroom as well.

If you ever wondered how Angie Thomas’s version of HP would read, grab this!

Fantasy, magical realism, secret power written by Angie Thomas? Yes!!!

Nic has been dying to have her father teach her how to use her gift of manifesting. He keeps putting her off! She wants to know how to control her powers! Then she sneaks out to a book signing only to uncover more mysteries that her father is protecting her from knowing. She finds out her favorite author and his books are somehow important to her past and future!

Nic has just turned 12 and instead of teaching her how to be a Manifestor (again), her Dad has instead given her a pet hellhound. Not that she doesn't love her new hellhound, but all she wants to do is learn how to be a Manifestor like her Dad. Instead she has a few strange encounters that lead her to believe there is something wrong with her. Then the unimaginable happens and Nic and her best friend JP are avoiding the magical authorities and trying to discover the truth before time runs out. Thomas' first middle grade novel is a fantastical magical journey full of memorable characters, Highly recommended

Angie Thomas is well on her way to becoming the best writer of her generation. Not many authors can swap genres, but here Thomas more than succeeds in moving from realistic contemporary fiction to building a brand new world full of magic and unimaginable power.

Nic Blake and her family are some of most engaging characters I’ve read in a while. Their remarkable abilities, drawn out of African folklore, family, and friendship are fascinating and fearful. Nic is the star here. A powerful but still vulnerable female lead in a new middle grade action-fantasy series is GOLD! She’s sassy, smart, and resilient and above all a loyal friend. Every main character is well-developed and the secondary characters show great promise.

This joins The Marvellers and Amari books for kids and, for older readers, the Akata series and the Murder & Magic series by Nicole Glover in the new and exciting trend of books featuring African magic and power. This one will be the book of the summer.

Nic Blake knows she is a Remarkable. Her father is a Manifestor, but says she's not ready to learn yet, even on her twelfth birthday. But hey, at least she gets a hellhound as a pet! What Nic knows is that her mother left her, and she and her father have to move to a new city every time an Unremarkable might suspect her father's power.

But what if everything she's learned has been a lie? Who can she trust to find the truth?

This new middle-grade fantasy based in African-American history and folklore is a great start to a new series. Fast-paced, humorous, and surprising, this will keep readers wanting more.

Nic Blake is a remarkable (magical being) living in an unremarkable (non-magical) world. She's been begging her dad to teach her, her magical gift of manifesting for years, but he keeps putting it off. When things, go awry on her 12th birthday, she ends up going on a magical adventure along with two friends and her pet hell-hound.

Going into this, I honestly had no idea what it was about or what to expect, but as a fan of Angie Thomas, I had high expectations and this book certainly delivered. It's the perfect middle-grade adventure with the perfect balance of magic as well as taking into account real historical and current events. The characters had a lot of heart as well as many layers to them, which you don't always get in middle grade. Its perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series or Amari and the Night Brothers.

I, as an adult, very much enjoyed this and am excited that I can share it with my kids as well. I can't wait to see where this story goes. Thank you so much to NetGalley for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another middle grade fantasy series perfect for lovers of Percy Jackson or Rick Riordan Presents, this time with Black American folklore mixed with some technology. Angie Thomas did amazing with her first middle grade.

CW: kidnapping, fire. Mentions of death of a sibling, death of a child, slavery, lynching, childhood cancer

I loved this book! Nic Blake and the Remarkables is an action packet ya novel. It tells a story and out Nic, a remarkable (has magic), living amongst unremarkables (non magic) until a turn of events turns her world upside down.. This is a great middle school novel. I love how there were tidbits about black historical figures throughout the book. If you enjoyed Amari and the Nightbrothers I think you’ll love this one. If you haven’t then I suggest you check out both because they’re pretty awesome.

When I saw that the fabulous Angie Thomas was publishing a middle grade fantasy novel and it was available on NetGalley, I couldn’t request it fast enough! When I got approved, I literally jumped for joy. I just knew it was going to be amazing, and I wasn’t disappointed. The way that Angie Thomas wove a story full of history, mythology, and current events was magical (no pun intended). This will be perfect for fans of the Tristan Strong series and Amari & the Night Brothers. I will absolutely be adding this to my school library’s collection as soon as it is available! 4.5⭐️

Angie Thomas writing a middle grade fantasy series was not on my Literary Bingo card for 2023, but here we are.

There are some good things here, for sure. Thomas has a created a magical world full of adventure and humor and brilliant dialogue--both Nic's inner dialogue and the dialogue between characters is on point. I also love how Thomas has woven African American history (particularly the Underground Railroad) throughout the story and tied it to the magical elements.

But...maybe I've just read to many magical kid books? You know the one...tween suddenly discovers his/her magic, must find something super magical and important, grabs two friends and goes off on an adult-free adventure where they may-or-may-not die?

I understand that there are truly no "original" ideas in literature anymore, but this genre just feels saturated. Especially when the twist regarding Nic at the end made it feel a lot like The Iron Trial and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Despite that, I still think it's an overall fun little read and a good diverse addition to middle grade fantasy.