The Hunt for the Hollower

by Callie C. Miller Narrated by Zura Johnson

Overview

In this riff on Arthurian legend, a wizardess who is still mastering her powers goes on an epic quest to save her brother from an evil wizard in this magical adventure perfect for fans of Adam Gidwitz and Amanda Foody!



The great wizard Merlyn prophesized that his seventh descendant would do wonderful, miraculous things-baffling everyone when his great-great-many-times-great grandchild turns out to be twins. Soon enough, however, it becomes clear which sibling is the Septimum Genus: Percy is a natural with magic. Merlynda (to put it simply) is not.



But Merlynda doesn't mind. Percy has always been by her side to cheer her up (and clean up) after her magical bungles-until the twins attempt a forbidden spell to help her control her magic, and Percy vanishes through a portal and straight into the clutches of the magic-stealing, mythical Hollower.



Aided by her best friend (who longs to be a knight), a wandering musician (who is fleeing from his past), and her brand-new, fierce familiar (who yearns for a taste of funnel cake), Merlynda sets off on a quest to rescue her brother. But to defeat this ancient evil, she must discover and embrace her true powers-or else lose her brother for good.

Editorial Reviews

Adam Rex

Sweet and fun and sizzling with magic.

Kathi Appelt

This is a tale, not only of magic, but of what is possible, of the ability to change and grow, of the realization of one’s own powers. This is storytelling at its utter best.

Kirkus Reviews

2023-04-12
Eleven-year-old twins Merlynda and Percy are descendants of the wizard Merlyn, who prophesied that a member of their generation would be destined for greatness.

Merlynda’s often explosive magical mishaps are legendary, so everyone assumes the Septimum Genus—the most powerful magician in their generation, the seventh since Merlyn—will be gifted Percy. But Merlynda receives her familiar first, and he says that she is the Septimum Genus. In another shocking twist, Percy suddenly disappears into a portal, but not before passing his sister a parchment bearing the name the Hollower. Merlynda and Iggy, her wormlike wyvern familiar, set out to save Percy, accompanied by Neci, the twins’ friend, a girl who desperately wants to be a knight. The rescue is their main focus, but as with any good legend, they tackle side quests and gain companions, including Batu, a boy minstrel with noteworthy fighting skills. It’s all very colorful, amusing, and action-packed and complemented by atmospheric spot art. Occasional notes from the narrator are interspersed when background information is needed. As they travel, the questers gain allies and enemies who fiercely clash when they finally confront another towering figure from Arthurian lore and attempt to secure Percy’s freedom. The youngsters’ adventures change them; they, Percy especially, must confront truths about themselves, even when that is uncomfortable, and develop strength of character. The twins read White; Neci is cued Black, and Batu has black hair and tawny skin.

A rousing romp with deep themes. (Adventure. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159452368
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	10/10/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Read an Excerpt

A Word from Our Narrator

A WORD FROM OUR NARRATOR
Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a wizard named Merlyn. This name might sound familiar, but this Merlyn is not your Merlyn, just as this world is not your world. This story takes place in a magical land, full of fairies, and underwater cities, and a lamentable absence of funnel cake.

Though this story takes place in this magical land, it doesn’t belong to it. Stories, you see, aren’t confined to a single space or time, as most things are.

Now then.

This story isn’t about Merlyn, but it begins with him.

Merlyn, the trusted royal advisor. Merlyn, the greatest wizard in history. Merlyn, who popped out of a magical portal after defeating the villainous sorceress Morgan le Fey and was met by a throng of anxious citizens desperate to know if evil had been vanquished.

“Of course she’s been vanquished,” Merlyn snapped, his staff still smoking from the battle. Once this was tidied up, he’d have to report to the queen, who’d been cursed into a sheep by Morgan.

“Three cheers for the most powerful wizard of all time!”

“Ha!” Merlyn scoffed. He waved his hand over the smoking end of his staff, and it burst into flames. He shook it irritably to put it out. “Wait until you see my great-great-great-great-great-grandchild!”

In the back of the crowd, a boy with a falcon perched on his shoulder scowled.

The portal Merlyn had appeared from was already gone. The wizard stood alone—except for the crowd—in the midst of a circle of enormous stone pillars, each of them easily five times the height of a grown man.

“Why?” a centaur shouted.

“What will they do?” an old man called out.

Merlyn slammed his staff into the ground. A jet of water shot up from it, finally extinguishing the smoldering bits with a hiss. “You’ll have to wait and find out! It’s dangerous to know the future.”

Merlyn’s owl familiar swooped down and perched on his staff. “Don’t be rude,” the owl scolded.

No one likes being left in the dark, especially a crowd of people who had nearly been destroyed by the embodiment of evil, but Merlyn had an advantage when it came to knowing things. He had the gift of foresight. He was able to look ahead and see things that hadn’t happened yet, but probably would. The future wasn’t always clear, but it was exceptionally less foggy when he checked in on it than when you or I try.

In any case, it was too late. Word had already swept through the crowd that Merlyn’s seventh descendant would do great things. Wonderful things. Miraculous things.

This story is about Merlyn’s seventh descendants. Let’s meet them, shall we?

They’re about to dabble in mischief that’s going to take a turn for the worse.

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