The Black Mage: Review

A teenage boy, Tom Token is invited to join St. Ivory Academy. Everyone thinks it's a initiative to inclusiveness..but is that actually the reason? The black Mage is a graphic novel. I have read it's ARC which I acquired from Netgalley.

I really don't know what I should say about this book. I am not good at reviewing graphic novels, in fact I am the worst in reviewing them.

Some concepts were ravishing, again some were confusing(At least for me, they were).

Tom Turner, a black boy is invited to St. Ivory Academy, which is a historically white wizarding school(Yes, it only teaches wizarding to whities). But everyone thinks that this attempt is towards inclusivity, but is that actually the case? But Tom soon starts to unfold some mysteries along with his friend Lindsay and some other ghost which leads them back to the American Civil War of 1852. Would this cost Tom his very soul?

Rating:

3/5

According to me, racism and magic were perfectly mixed with one another. Why can't a black boy be a wizard? Just because he's black?(Ugh, foul logic!) But I think there was no need to bring American civil war in the middle of this. I mean history, fantasy and racism doesn't blend well. At a point, I felt that the author was rushing to put an end to the book, no matter however the end seemed to be.

It wasn't a delightful read but the it actually deserves the rating. I guess the author mainly tried to focus on racism more than anything else. So, there was a lost of track. This is for the first time I am seeing a fantasy book with a concept like racism. Friendship between Lindsay and Tom was awesome. Lindsay's friendship was honest and sacrificing. She didn't value racism over real friendship. She wasn't even afraid to give up on her life. So, basically the book was knowledgeable in some ways.

According to the description I read about it in the Netgalley it says-

Harry Potter meets Final Fantasy in this subversive original graphic novel where race, history and magic collide. 

I noticed a lot influence of Harry Potter in the book, in it's graphics and teachers. I loved the graphics of the St. Ivory Academy, it really gave me that Harry Potter feeling. But I really have no idea about Final Fantasy so no comments about this.

Tom Turner, the main protagonist of the book is surely not my favorite character at all. Not because he is black(I am not a racist). But because his behavior sucks. Yeah, Lindsay is cute(I like her). Bryce and Alexis played their role as negative characters well. Headmaster's son Bryce and his girlfriend, Alexis bullied Tom Turner just like it happens in real life. The Headmaster Lynch has been a mystery to me. I actually couldn't relate to his behavior at a lot of times throughout the read.

I specially loved the invitation of Headmaster Lynch to Tom Turner to St, Ivory Academy. It also gave me the Harry Potter vibes.

A part of the invitation is:

As the country's highest ranking magical institution, St. Ivory is committed to giving you the very best education in all things pertaining the arcane arts.

Sounds too Dumbledore, right?

So a lot of things in the book were catchy. But I would still say, it really needs some improvement.

Have you read this book? Let me know, please.