School of Wizardry Circle of Magic Book 1

by James D. Macdonald and Debra Doyle

Book Overview

In this first book of a six-title fantasy series, readers will meet a young squire named Randal, who leaves the security of his life at home to become a student at the School of Wizardry. In his... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816769362
• ISBN13: 9780816769360
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Troll Communications
• Length: 139 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Harry Potter who

All six books is great reading. I found this out in the 8th grade Im now an adult. The circle of magic was published way befor Harry Potter. To sum it up for you,Randal is this kid who finds out from a wizard that he has what it takes to become one too,after passing a test he is invited to study at this cool school for wizards. Sound's like something youve read or seen befor well your wrong this is no Harry Potter this is better!! my advice READ THE BOOks. To the Authors this is one of the best books Ive ever read they should have made this a movie!

Charming

Wizardry of any kind is enjoying a boom at the moment, and this includes the reappearance of the "Circle of Magic" series. This is the first book of six, a nice little series that I'd love to see in omnibus edition. Randal is an ordinary squire in Doun until the day the wizard Madoc shows up. Without any clear reason why, Randal is attracted to the life of a wizard; a prophetic dream adds to this feeling. Madoc tries to warn him off, but Randal means it: He wants to be a wizard. Madoc finally takes him to the Schola, a wizards' school.But learning magic and wizardry are not as easy as Randal thought. "Potential" does not mean that he will pass, and wizards are forbidden to kill, lie, or use a weapon. Randal finds it unbearably difficult to do even the most basic magic. He throws himself into his studies... but just as everything seems to be turning for the better, he finds himself face-to-face with a hideous threat. Randal is the ideal hero for any kid who has struggled in school, not through lack of effort but from lack of understanding; he's smart, brave, gutsy, and sweet. He's supported by the enigmatic wanderer Madoc, his cheerful friend Nicholas, and the ragged musician Elys. The older wizards are well-portrayed, being stern but kindly, strict but not rigid; the Schola is likewise, a place of great learning and magic, but also incredibly difficult to get through. Writing is very good as well; Doyle/Macdonald don't talk down to their readers, or dumb things down with the assumption that the kiddies can't handle anything more complex. They also put forth the neglected idea that just because you do badly at studies doesn't mean you're stupid, and that such things can be overcome more often than not.Many authors can't pull off trying to tell a story in fragments of six, seven, eight small books. The end results are often poorly written and horribly characterized. Garth Nix can pull it off, and so can Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald. This book is both well-written and well-characterized, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

You HAVE to read these books!!!!!!

Everyone, I saw this online and HAD to write a review of this series...I am madly in love with this series, and have been ever since I was about 12 (i am 23 now). Debra Doyle & James D. McDonald are truly awesome writers, and they are always going to be my favorites!! Randal is everything that a main character should be, in that he is smart, headstrong, and has the valor of a knight. The series actually takes you through most of the life of Randal, and his journey to become a wizard. This series should appeal to old and young alike, and this is the only website (or place on earth) you can get it from, so buy it from here...because you won't find it ANYWHERE else!!! Ja ne, Zanikis :Þ

I want the Whole series. . .

In 6th grade I read my first of the Circle of Magic books, the School of Wizardry. It started me into realm of fire breathing dragons, arrogant wizards, and gallant knights. Here I was hiding the book under my notebook at school, because even then I felt embarrassed at the size and childness of the book. The books have the reading level set at the age of 9-12 and because of this many might look over them. Though these books inspired me as a youth to explore the wide variety of literature out there, I feel it can do the same for ANYONE. Debra Doyle has found a way to reach out to ALL audiences. The publicity was down, so thence the sales. But the books themselves are magnificent. As I have not so forcibly made my younger brother read them, he has become a fan at the age of 14. As he checked them out of my old Junior High, I got the chance to read them once more as a Senior in High School. Of course this time I didn't have to hide them, but flaunted them as the occasion permitted. Now this review is quickly becoming unhelpful, but the point I am trying to put across is that these books appeal to ALL ages. I love them. On my list are classics like The Hobbit, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court, and the Wheel Of Time series. But the circle of magic (though somewhat adolescent) stand out among the best. I can't think of another book I would rather have my children read in the future, and for anyone with the love of fantasy and imagination.

BETTER THAN SEEMINGLY POSSIBLE.

IF YOU'VE READ SOME OF THE STUPID THINGS SYNOPSIS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK'S SERIES, I ADVISE YOU NOT TO BELIEVE THEM.THIS BOOK IS CAPTIVATING.THE AUTHORS WERE SO GOOD AT WRITING THIS BOOK THAT IN THE FIRST FEW PAGES ONLY I FELT A DEEP-SEATED RESENTMENT TOWARDS ALL OF RANDAL'S FOSTER FAMILY.AND SYNOPSIS OBVIOUSLY DID NOT READ THIS BOOK VERY CAREFULLY.MOST OF THE BOOK IS ABOUT RANDAL AND HIS STRUGGLES WITH MAGE CRAFT, HIS FRIENDS, AND HIS ENEMIES.THE EVIL MAGE (WHO IS RANDAL'S CURRENT TEACHER,) ISN'T OBVIOUSLY EVIL UNTIL PAGE 116.THE EVIL WIZARD IS DEAD BY PAGE 123, AND THE BOOK ENDS, PAPERBACK VERSION, PAGE 139.124-139 IS RANDAL AGONIZING OVER KILLING AMAN WITH STEEL AND BEING THROWN OUT OF THE SCHOLA.