The Accidental Apprentice Book Review

If you know me at all, you know I love reading. I’m always on the hunt for another great book, and middle grade fantasy is one of my go-to genres. When I heard about this book, The Accidental Apprentice described as How To Train Your Dragon meets Nevermoor, I knew I had to give it a read.

This post includes affiliate links. I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Accidental Apprentice Book Review

The Accidental Apprentice is the story of Barclay Thorne, a mushroom farmer’s apprentice. His parents were killed by a Beast and now he hates everything to do with them and their Lore Keepers. But the life he knew comes to an end when he accidentally bonds with a Beast. He flees from his village in the hopes of discovering a way to break that bond. He just might have found the answer: if he is first in a competition between Lore Keepers seeking apprenticeship, one of the masters will help him. The catch? The boy who hates their magical way of life must become the best.

Barclay was such a well done character. Best part of the book, hands down. I loved his work ethic, and I loved watching him grow. The world building was also really interesting. The side cast was well done, too. There was a nice twist at the end that I totally didn’t see coming, but it made perfect sense.

The only downside was a few things felt extremely familiar, making me ask if I haven’t seen this story before. That said, Barclay made up for it, putting a unique spin on some cliches.

All in all, I’d highly recommend this book to all middle grade readers who love a good fantasy. Perfect for fans of the Underland Chronicles, Iron Trial, and the Unwanteds. I’ll be wanting a nice paperback of this book on my own shelf, and my fingers are crossed for a sequel.