Fourteen-year-old Ozzy lives near Portland, Oregon, and is desperate for help. His scientist parents have been kidnapped after discovering a formula that enables mind control. Their work was so top secret Ozzy is afraid to go to the police, but without help, he fears he'll never find his parents. Then he stumbles across a classified ad in the local newspaper that says "Wizard for Hire. Call 555-SPEL." Ozzy has read about wizards in books like Harry Potter, but wizards couldn't actually exist today, could they? After Ozzy meets the wizard Labyrinth — aka Rin — he's even more skeptical.

Sure, Rin dresses like a wizard, but the short robe and high-top tennis shoes seem unorthodox, as does Rin's habit of writing notes on his shoes and eating breakfast for every meal. Plus, Rin doesn't even cast any magic spells, which means that the unexplained coincidences that start happening around Ozzy are just that — coincidences.

With the help of a robotic-talking raven invented by Ozzy's father, a kind and curious girl at school who decides to help Ozzy, and, of course, a self-proclaimed wizard who may or may not have a magical wand, Ozzy begins an unforgettable quest that will lead him closer to the answers he desperately seeks about his missing parents. 


Whimsical and a little darker than I'd originally imagined, Wizard for Hire is exactly the type of middle grade novel you should be reading. It is one of those books that serves as a reminder--you feel like a kid again as you read it; when you finish, you think, 'Man, I wish this had been around when I was a kid.'

Which is exactly what makes the experience of reading it. In fact, there was a moment mid-book where I just completely space out on my place and my age. It was magical.

Have you ever read a book that just blew all expectations out of the water? Wizard for Hire is one of the best. I went into it thinking it'd be quirky and magical; diving into what the real cost is for magic and the lives led in the pages, but it was so much more than that. Its cleverness is etched in every plot and every character--its soul is prominent from the start.

Obert Skye crafts an incredibly high paced adventure that will surely capture anyone's attention, no matter their age. Wizard for Hire is full of wit and mystery, and magic for days. As this first chapter, installment, wraps up, it leaves the reader craving more from Skye and we're fortunate enough to be on the fast track for book two.

If you love books full of magic and mystery, you're going to love Wizard for Hire. It is probable you will find parallels in the novel to other middle grade books, but those are only scratching the surface of what the book really is. Which is breathtaking.

I promise you won't forget these characters. And frankly? Obert Skye has me hooked for the long haul. I am so excited to see where we go from here.