Description
Can Miles and the group of magical misfits win the Battle Games and finally show the show the world who they really are?
Miles Thorne is petrified on his first day at Ravenfell school. He was kicked out of his last school, the prestigious Nox Wizarding Academy, because he's a wizard with almost no magic.
But Eric, a monster, quickly befriends him, introducing him to Freya, a fairy with breathtaking magical skills, and Colter, a werewolf. To protect Miles from school bullies, Eric decides that the four of them should enter the Battle Games, a highly dangerous contest only for the strongest of magic users. Miles objects, but Eric is sure he has magic in him somewhere.
But when Miles's magic starts to develop, it's different from anyone else's. Why is his grandfather so worried about Miles using his newfound skills in the Battle Games? What secret is his family hiding?
If Miles is going to help his friends survive against the magical beasts and powerful teams in the battles, he will need to uncover his family's secret and discover the truth of who he really is.
Miles Thorne and the Forbidden Magic is about the importance of family, the power of friendship and finding the courage to accept yourself no matter what anyone else thinks.
Review
Miles Thorne displays no magic at all and, considering the power of his war hero grandfather, this is unusual. His grandfather gained fame in the war against the Grimlings, and Miles’ father is always away fighting battles that others refuse.
So when Miles gets expelled from his latest wizarding academy, he has nowhere to go but to his aloof grandfather. He enrols Miles at Ravenhall School, where he quickly befriends a monster, fairy, and a werewolf.
It is forbidden to harm contestants in the Battle Games, and so his friends form a team to enter these dangerous games and keep the other wizards from harming Miles. When Miles uncovers a unique and powerful hidden talent during the games, he is afraid to expose it. But his talent could make all the difference. Could they even win?
This is a great Australian fantasy novel that is filled with wizards, magical beasts and monsters. It explores themes of friendship and teamwork, resilience, family traits and accepting your differences, and packed with action, making it a perfect read for younger secondary students, and suitable for those aged from 11 to 14 years.
Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on our website for this title.
