Magician: Apprentice (Graphic Novel) by Raymond E Feist

Source: http://www.crydee.com/

Magician: Apprentice is a graphic novel adaptation of a fantasy novel of the same title.

Source: http://www.crydee.com/

Set in the fictional kingdom of Midkemia, this story tells of the adventures of two young kitchen boys, Pug and Tomas. One fateful day, Pug discovers an alien ship wrecked along the shore. Anticipating an invasion from this alien race, Pug and Tomas find themselves part of a convoy, travelling to the capital of Midkemia to warn the king. However, their party is attacked along the way and this is just the beginning of a long, eventful and swashbuckling adventure.

Amid the plethora of superhero stories, Magician: Apprentice offers something different to graphic novel fans. Being a graphic novel adaptation of a fantasy novel, Magician: Apprentice contains all the traditional elements of a high fantasy tale. Fast paced and action packed, readers will be taken on an adventurous journey that is sure to keep them hooked.

Although part of an epic fantasy saga, Magician: Apprentice does not have an overly complicated plot. Hence, it makes for an excellent read for young adults and even for readers in their early teens. The characters are varied, strong and well-developed and readers can very easily relate to them. Having two young teenage boys, Pug and Tomas, as protagonists, this graphic novel does feature several coming of age themes that are close to the heart of many teenagers. Most significantly, we see how Pug and Tomas try to find their place in society as they take up their respective apprenticeships (Tomas as a soldier and Pug as a magician).

Reading this story as a graphic novel is a great way to introduce the fantasy genre to reluctant readers. It is also a fantastic and lighthearted way to expose young teens to new ideas and concepts. As it is set in a primary world that does not exist in reality, readers can be encouraged to explore worldbuilding, thus fostering creativity. In addition, although Midkemia is ruled by a monarchy, this story contains many political intricacies which can spark an interest in politics in young readers.