Book Review: The War of the Maps
Author: Jonathan Auxier
Pages: 448
Buy on Bookshop.org
Book Description:
Since time before time, two opposing forces have been locked in an endless It is the war between magic and reason—between what if and what is. And the victor will not just shape the future but the very nature of reality.
Peter Nimble and Sophie Quire have spent the last four years fighting to protect a world of magic from the insidious, unstoppable forces of “progress.” But, every day, the wonders that once surrounded them are vanishing. Lurking behind this transformation is a mysterious group called The League of Maps that seems to hold the answers.
As Peter and Sophie fight to untangle this mystery, they find themselves thrown into opposing sides of a vast war that stretches from the very beginning of humanity and into our present age.
Review:
This is the third (and final?) book in the Peter Nimble books (now called ‘The Vanished Kingdom’). We read all three books as family read-alouds, and while this book was full of adventure and danger and thrills, it did not reach the level of the other two in our opinions.
There were many parts I found interesting, such as the struggle between magic and reason. How the world changes and becomes a different place, which isn’t necessarily better or worse. How forcing change in either direction brings evil and harm… so far, so good. But I found the ending disappointing.
I was expecting my reading of the characters to line up with my own faith, and in the end, it didn’t. I started reading Jonathan Auxier’s books because of recommendations from a Christian homeschooling resource, and so I thought that they were similar to the Chronicles of Narnia, in fantasy and morality. In many ways these books are, but I found in the conclusion a disappointing reflection of modern thought, where evil is only evil because good asked too much of it. Also, I hated that the Godlike-figure disappears, because his time is finished, along with all other magical beings. Meaning what, for us readers? That our faith in God is a fantasy as well?
Sadly, a poor ending to an adventurous tale that we otherwise found fun and interesting, where self-sacrifice, hard work, and love are highly valued.
