The Heir Chronicles

Synopsis

The series begins with Jack, a teenager growing up in the small Ohio town of Trinity. His life seems largely uneventful until the day he neglects to take his daily medication. Jack is surprised to find that there are several benefits to not taking his medication (to be later known as Weirsbane), such as super strength and confidence. He decides to take advantage of this and try out for the soccer team, but almost kills a peer in the process. It's at that point that Jack finds that he's part of a secret magic society and that he's considered to be part of the race of Weirlinds, the warrior clan of the magical world. He then gets drawn into an intricate and complex society ruled over by two houses, the Red Rose and the White Rose, that are constantly at odds with one another. Because of his Warrior status, Jack is wanted by both sides and encounters all sorts of problems involving capture by one of the Roses for entry in the Game, a contest with two warriors representing each Rose fighting to the death. Jack's assistant principal (who happens to be a wizard), Leander Hastings, trains Jack and wants him to join another group that he would enter. Jack's aunt Linda (an enchanter) doesn't want him to be in the Games at all and tries to protect him. Jack, while all of this is going on, is distracted by Ellen, a girl he is attracted to.

Characters

Jack Swift: Born a Wizard, received a Warrior stone transplant. He fought in the Tournament at Raven's Ghyll. Ellen: Warrior, fought in Tournament in the Raven's Ghyll Linda Downey: Enchanter, guardian and aunt of Jack Swift

Reception

Critical reception for The Heir Chronicles has been mostly positive, and books in the series have received praise from the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and School Librarian. Reception for The Enchanter Heir has been mixed, as The Horn Book Guide wrote "Tangled conflict lines, secret identities, besieged protagonists, and nonstop action make this a thrilling and thought-provoking Heir Chronicles volume, despite dropped plot threads and a truncated resolution." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books was also mixed on The Enchanter Heir, criticizing the book's romance between Jonah and Emma and stated that while this "may not bother readers previously blinded by sparkly vampires, but as those readers are less likely to commit to series as complex as this one, expect some mild disappointment along with howling clamors for the next book." The Plain Dealer was more positive in their review for The Enchanter Heir and rated it a "B".