Level: Teen
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Tags: Magic, Medieval
Mature Content:

  - Moderate violence: kidnapping, death, physical fighting, allusions to abuse/slavery.

  - Mild allusions to romance.

Cinda Williams Chima debuts her writing skills and shows her love for adventure and magic in The Warrior Heir. Jack Swift thought he was a normal teenager with standard goals: make the soccer team, do well in school, take care of his mom, and avoid the bullies at school. But then he forgets to take his heart medication the day of soccer tryouts and his afternoon becomes much more magical than he ever expected. Jack uncovers a dark and complicated world, and as he learns about his ancestors and abilities, he soon realizes that power always comes with a price.

Review:

This imaginative take on magic combines sorcery and enchantment, and connects it in a very scientific way. Among the five classes of Weir – warrior, wizard, enchanter, sorcerer, and soothsayer – the warrior weirstone is the most dangerous to bear. Jack is one of the few left, the rest have been hunted and killed in the Tournament of Roses. Jack’s training soon takes over his life, and the threat of the tournament only grows as Jack becomes stronger.

There are some mature themes of slavery and abuse as the dynamic of wizards ruling over the other weirlinds reveals the true nature of the weir world. Jack’s Aunt Linda and Assistant Principal Hastings guide him through this new world, and his best friends, the trusting and reliable Will and the quirky tech genius Fitch, are soon pulled into the web.

Jack is a smart kid and he handles his entire perception changing with thoughtful introspection, even as his own body goes way past the point of puberty. He no longer knows who to trust, or trusts his own experiences with people he’s known his whole life. But he continues to protect his mother and friends, all the while hoping for simple teenage things, like the attention of the new athletic in school, Ellen Stephenson.

There are brief flashbacks to past events relating to Jack’s struggles, but a large chunk of the story is in a good old high school setting: where everyone is in danger but only a few know it. This is a story of learning who you are, connecting with your ancestors and family, and learning to fight for change. Jack is a good role model for anyone, especially fans of magical adventures.