Book Review: The Rookie Spellslinger

Reviewed by Chelsey Tucker

An enchanting heroic adventure that tests loyalty, honor, and friendship

Alex is an apprentice at Master Sly’s Ghoul, Rodent, and Venomous Eggplant research facility. She’s a half-human half-werecat with an inclination toward monsters. They even call her Monster Girl there. To make the task of getting a new nickname difficult, Alex has Greeneyes as a pet—a flying fuzzy poof ball that she can communicate with telepathically.

“Why can’t I be known as a puzzle solver? What could I do to earn that kind of reputation?” 

It turns out the Wizardry Guild has a dangerous centuries-old puzzle to be solved. Opening the Corsair’s Doors had been attempted by hundreds of students and faculty, but when Alex tries to change her internship to focus on finding a backdoor, it suddenly becomes a competition.

She contacts the spirit of Corsair directly in search of answers, and he reveals a stunning secret that requires him to train a new rookie to assist him. In life, Corsair was not described as a generous or nice man, even though he is the founder of the school. When Alex finds herself in a hastily agreed-upon blood covenant with Corsair, she begins to worry about her safety and whether or not he is just using her. 

Corsair is an ambiguous character who uses Alex but also teaches her valuable lessons and rules that she has to then navigate. As Alex learns from and is guided by Corsair into dangerous waters, Greeneyes and her dwarf friend Zani are there to help and protect her. 

“Corsair’s Eight Rules weren’t about honor, or friendship, or even about making a smart decision. But the werecat code most certainly was.” 

The Rookie Spellslinger depicts loyalty and true friendship beautifully while exploring how to keep your integrity when dealing with morally gray people. 

Patrecia Harrington-Duff does a fantastic job adding a level of frustration for Alex. When a story has villains or people of authority who are power-hungry and lack listening skills, it really does elicit readerly anger and frustration. It is easy to become emotionally invested in Alex’s situation because of the insufferable people she has to deal with like Lord Mayor and his minion Wizard Barnaby. 

After 300 pages fly by, you’ll still find it hard to part with Alex and Zani and their adventures. The Rookie Spellslinger is an entertaining YA fantasy—a definite must-read for those looking for a magical hero’s journey.

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