One day, Max McDaniels and his Dad visit the art museum to honor Max’s mom who disappeared two years ago. Max wanders off for a moment and sees a strange room. When he goes inside, he is transfixed by a tapestry on the wall that seems to change and move as he looks at it. He thinks he is only inside for a few minutes, but his Dad is furious because he was actually gone for hours. On the way home Max receives a letter that informs him he is a Potential and will be tested tomorrow. But before he can be tested, Max is attacked by something evil. Soon Max is involved in magic and mayhem that he never knew existed. He is offered a place at Rowan Academy where he will learn how to use his powers to eventually help in the fight to defeat evil. Max loves his classes and his roommates, but all if not perfect at Rowan Academy and soon Max will be facing a greater evil than has been seen in centuries. Will he prove up to the task?
This is a great children’s fantasy book. It is reminiscent of Harry Potter without feeling like they are trying to duplicate it. Rowan Academy is given vivid details as are the classes to help make it come alive for the reader. The story is rather vague in this first book, but I think we will learn more about Max and his family in later books. The mythology angle is one that I love and Celtic mythology is fascinating so that was a great addition to the book. The only thing I have to complain about is that now having read and loved the first one I know I will have to wait about a year for the next one. I sometimes feel like I should just wait until an entire series is out to read it, but c’est la vie!