THE LEGEND OF GREG

In the debut volume of An Epic Series of Failures, 13-year-old Greg Belmont embarks on an adventure he never could have imagined.

When Greg’s father, who runs the Earthen Goods and Organic Harmony Shop, returns from a trip to Norway with a mysterious new tea, Greg sips some and has his first taste of magic. Turns out, he’s a Dwarf, and his best friend, Edwin, is an Elf—and when Greg’s father is kidnapped, ancient strife between Dwarves and Elves is resumed. In his first-person, dialogue-rich narrative, Rylander creates a world where humans unknowingly coexist with Dwarves, Elves, Mountain Trolls, Werewolves, and Goblins. Greg teams up with a band of new friends—including Ari, a “pretty Dwarven girl” with punk-styled purple hair—to battle the Elves and find his father. The fight signals the return of magic to the world, an event that may well end the Technological Age: no more internet, TVs, planes, and electricity, an idea sure to intrigue young readers. The tale, rich in Dwarven and Elven lore and ancient magic, is, at its heart, a tale of a young boy coming into his own. Physical descriptions are scanty, with the book assuming a white default.

A potent blend of magic, adventure, and humor.