Imagine a place where you can do pretty much anything by simply casting a spell - cool, huh? Well, that is how it appears at first, but not all that glitters is gold. Hundreds of years ago, after the use of magic was abused for selfish gain, evil of unimaginable proportions descended onto both worlds of Androva and Terra. After finally defeating the evil, the two worlds came up with a joint plan to ensure that future generations never have to face the same situation. A treaty was signed with stipulations and guidelines to be strictly adhered to until the end of eternity. If the terms of the treaty were ever violated, the consequences would be dire. The treaty has held for decades, but now the safety of both worlds hangs in the balance after the action of three wayward teenagers breaks the sacred rules that have kept darkness contained.

Stealing Magic: The Legacy of Androva Book 1 by Alex C Vick is a middle-grade fantasy tale with a unique plot and amazing characters. The story explores a battle between darkness and evil in an environment where magic is the ultimate currency. The story delivers many great lessons for the reader, foremost of which include: Trusting the wisdom of elders and respecting their rules even when you do not understand the reasons behind the rules, never to judge someone by their outside appearance, or underestimate your enemy based simply on how they look, and that sometimes help comes from the most unexpected places.

Stealing Magic (The Legacy of Androva Book 1) by Alex C Vick tells the story of a young girl named Shannon who mistakenly sees a boy behaving strangely and discovers he is harvesting magic. She discovers with Jax’s help that she also has magic and begins to experiment with her new-found power. However, there is a crisis brewing in Androva, where Jax comes from. There is not enough magic and Jax is asked by the Council to treble his efforts in harvesting the magic. He and his friend, Darius, with the help of Shannon, determine to unravel the mystery of the missing magic. In their quest, they find that all is not as it seems and everyone is in peril.

The author, Alex C Vick, has created a world of intrigue in Androva and its inhabitants, in contrast to Shannon’s very ordinary world. Until she discovers that she also has magic. The story unfolds gradually, giving the young reader time to absorb all the information about Jax and his world, and the reason he and others like him must harvest magic. Shannon is a likeable character. Jax is mischievous and courts disaster at every turn, but somehow manages to survive. The story is exciting and keeps the reader wondering what will happen next. The writing is smooth and flowing and very visual. With a great concept in beings from another world harvesting magic, the story is bound to appeal to the target age. An exciting first book in the Androva series.