Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon
ISBN: 0593482719
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Fiction
Goodreads

Ben is having a tough time after his parents’ divorce forces him to move away with his mother, making it difficult for him to stay in touch with his RPG friends.  To cope, he throws himself even harder into role-playing and constantly writes new ideas in his trusty notebook. Will his years of playing RPGs help him when he is suddenly whisked away to a magical realm where, as the Chosen One, he must save civilization?

Middle grade fantasy readers will enjoy this book. It’s very long, but the end pays off with some complex character development that had been missing throughout the first three quarters of the book. It might also be a good recommendation for readers who like books with a sense of humor. Not essential for a collection, but would make a good addition.

(One note: Spellbinders contains a lot of references to “disgorging”. Not a great choice for kids with emetophobia.)

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath