Review: The Garden Gnome (Theory of Magic Book 1) by Jeff McIntyre
The Garden Gnome (Theory of Magic Book 1)
By Jeff McIntyre
Publisher: Loki Press
Genres: Sci-fi & Fantasy, General Fiction (Adult), Mysteries & Thrillers
Publication Date: 20/10/2022
Pages: 407
Synopsis from GoodReads
Where did magic go?
Our world is defined by science, but history tells us that the world was once a much more magical place. Every culture has tales of when the gods walked among us, when strange magical creatures dwelt in the dark, and when users of magic were respected and feared.
We tell ourselves that these stories are myth and superstition. But what if they aren’t?
What if magic were to return? And what does it have to do with a ten-year-old boy and his imaginary friend?
Daniel and Sophia Fitzroy are worried that their son Tony is being bullied in his new school and is struggling to cope.
Leo Schafer is reporting on a new and powerful particle accelerator experiment and the protestors who want it stopped.
FBI Special Agent Debra Kazdin is investigating the protests and trying to keep things from escalating.
Brian Cooke is being inducted into a secret society that knows the truth about magic and will stop at nothing to keep it from returning.
They will be drawn together in an extraordinary confrontation that will change the world forever.
Watch out for book 2 - The M Word - due out by the end of 2024.
Advance Praise
Altogether, The Garden Gnome is a delightful surprise, a Crichtonesque thriller that blends contemporary fantasy with science fiction, Arthurian legend, and Ian Fleming levels of intrigue. - Dr. John Mauro
The cover (and name) The Garden Gnome suggests a whimsical tale of low fantasy with a benevolent small gnome emerging from a backyard garden. But most of this book felt like a sci-fi thriller from Blake Crouch's back catalog. - Joshua Thompson (Red Fury Books)
Review
This book centres around a couple who are worried about their son, who is being bullied at school and they feel he is acting out with an imaginary friend, Bob.
Their friend Leo is a journalist investigating a particle accelerator and the protest group that are getting very threatening towards the science park staff. Things aren’t adding up so he teams up with FBI Special Agent Debra Kazdin to share their field notes.
Sophia confides in her boss about her home situation. She offers a weekend break on her private island and when they get back they are introduced to Bob, the garden gnome, a world of magic being awakened and find out that their son is being hunted by a group of knights who believe the Arthurian legends are true.
I picked this ARC based on the title and cover. I thought it would be a cutesy tale like David the Gnome. What I actually got was so much more! This book is crazy! It is fast paced and you soon become gripped by the stories being told of Merlin and magical creatures throughout the ages. The FBI/Special Agent/Black Ops side of things is straight from a spy novel.I love how these genres collide. The book ends on a massive cliff hanger. From the press pack that came with the ARC it suggests the second book comes out at the end of 2024 but I couldn’t find any information. I will definitely keep an eye out for book 2. This is a world I want to explore more of.
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing on behalf of Loki Press for letting me review this ARC.