Cover Image: Max and the Spice Thieves

Max and the Spice Thieves

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Member Reviews

Max and the Spice Thieves was a fun and easy read. The beginning felt a little slow but got much better as the story progressed. Max was a great hero to root for and felt very believable. He had his moments where he could be incredibly brave but also had moments where he was a bit naive and made the wrong choice which made him feel real.

My favorite character in the book was probably Captain Cinn. He reminded me a bit of Captain Jack Sparrow which adds to his appeal.

While not everything gets wrapped up in this book, it isn’t an ending that leaves you frustrated since you do get a lot of answers. It is also an ending that gets you excited for the next chapter in Max’s story.

One problem that I noticed was that when it first talks about Max’s age it says he is twelve, and then a few pages later it says he is almost fourteen which left me very confused about his actual age.

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This book had a bit of everything from pirates to giant wales, mystery and adventure this book will have you wondering what will happen next the entire time. All of the characters are unique and there are not many times when you forget who someone is. Overall a great story that left plenty open for the next book in the series.

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When I was 5, I had my little address book where I’d written down all the people I needed to call in case of emergency. A couple of years later, I had to cook and shop for groceries on my own. At 10, I was obsessed with translating into Italian all the Latin sentences in The Name of the Rose, and I enjoyed doing my best friend’s trigonometry homework. If I try to recall memories of me as a teen, they just won’t come. I don’t think I ever acted like one. I might have never been able to be my own age back then, but I sure did love teen literature.

Even now that I’m a grownup –sort of–, I still have a soft spot for these kinds of stories, so when I was asked to read this novel, I was more than happy to accept.

So here I am, writing a review for Max and the Spice Thieves by John Peragine. I had high hopes for this book, and now that I’ve finished it I am sorry there is no Italian version I can read to my kids.

First of all, the cover is great. Look at it. Beautiful, huh?

As a teenager I spent several Summers on my father’s sailboat –I even have one tattooed on my ankle– and I tend to get overexcited when I see ships. Plus, I love how the elements of this cover, from the drawing to the font, to all the little details that come to be important throughout the novel, complement each other.

Can we also talk about the fact that the author dedicated his novel to his son? I don’t think there’s anything sweeter.

The premise is cool. Max’s father is missing and his mother tells him to get ready because they have to leave. My curiosity was piqued on the spot. I needed to follow this journey and see where Bettina was taking Max and, most importantly, why. It didn’t take long for Bettina to go missing too. Poor Max found himself all alone in a bad situation. The stakes were high, and I needed to know what was going to happen to this kid.

That’s where I met a character I fell in love with: Captain Cinn. I love his speech patterns, and I adore how obsessed he is with spices, because I’m the same. I could spend hours and hours talking about them. Since he is a pirate, I feel the need to point out there is a harbor like 10′ away from where I live. Just in case, you know.

Actually, most of the characters here are lovely and well crafted, from Piers to Anya, from Linzy to Prince Abad. I liked them all.

John Peragine‘s writing is on point and it never gets boring. Achieving such an elegant writing style is not for everybody, even more so because there’s a very fine line between elegance and purple prose. Not only he never crosses it, but I also find it refreshing that this elegance is being used in a book that’s meant for teens.


In fact, I may have let it slip in a tweet a couple of days ago that the book I was reading was practically perfect, and now I can say it was this one. Back then I had read up to 70%, and I couldn’t find major flaws.

Now that I’ve read it all, I only have a couple of issues with this story, which is way less than I expected given how much I enjoy to nitpick.

What? You want to know what bothered me? Great.

My pet peeve is that everybody seems to love Max. From Cinn to the Witch Queen, from Annalinda to Mesha, they tell Max how special he is or how great he is. Sure, his destiny is pretty special and I understand he needs to find strength to deal with it, but I found it hard to suspend my disbelief anyway: nobody can be liked by all the people they meet. Truth be told, I feel that he has to fail sometimes in order to learn. Failure is part of the hero’s journey, but there can’t be failure if you always have someone ready to help you and comfort you.

This point is especially true regarding Max’s immediate bonding with Annalinda. While I agree that it was perfectly natural for her to care for him because of her backstory, I would have preferred it if the affection was toned down a little bit. Mind that I’m only talking about the dialogues here, not the actions.

Books tend to have a looser structure and a lot less rules than screenplays. If there is one thing they have in common though is that inserting characters after the end of the second act is deemed risky. The third act is usually all about three things: a final confrontation, tying loose ends and an epilogue.

If I only take in consideration the number of pages in this novel, Max meets Annalinda and her husband around what I consider the all hope is lost moment to be: he is alone and scared, and doesn’t know what to do. Annalinda helps him in a way that allows him to reach a new potential, something that will be helpful to him when he arrives to the Ice Palace. This could have been the end of act two, the final injection of new information into the story, but it lead to a whole new opening instead. At this point, reading about new characters so close to the ending made me feel confused. I didn’t want to follow Max through another journey; I wanted him to find his family and I needed him to be reunited with the people he’d traveled with for the most part of the book. People that I had invested in emotionally for the previous three quarters of the story.

As it is, when they finally meet again it feels more like a deus ex machina than a real reunification, and this saddens me more than I can say, because I wanted to know how they’d found Max, how they’d known when to come to his rescue. I’ll be more than happy to wait for the sequel though, and I can’t wait to see what Max’s destiny will be and if Cinn will be the one to betray him.

I’ll stop now, I promise.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I get how other people might enjoy this book, but it just really wasn't my type of book. Something thing that I think could have been improved is the type of writing because it seemed as if it was an older or at least middle-aged man speaking, not a child. I think that overall, this was a decent book.

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An amazing story that keeps you hooked and wanting more. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot is well laid out, and there's enough mystery to keep you intrigued and wanting to know more. The characters are also well thought out and relatable. Overall I would 10/10 recommend this book.

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I had more fun reading this book, than i have in a long time. the characters were created and presented in such believable fashion. They fit into the story, and you expected much from them, and the author delivered. The world was creative and new to me, and that made it all the more fun. Thanks for helping this bad bad year end with a smile.

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Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this fun book!

I must say, this story was fun! Max is a special boy, born with powers he doesn't quite understand. When his mother goes missing, it up to Max and his new found friends (a Spice Pirate, a young queen, a thief, and a bear) to go find her. This is first time he has ever been on his own and if that wasn't scary enough, vengeful spirits called Djinn and zombie soldiers are out to kill him! As Max travels the high seas, magical frozen kingdoms, and other distant lands--samping food as he goes--he learns that there is more to him that meets the eye and the one person he assumed dead isn't quite gone....

This is worth a read and John Peragine sets it up for a sequel! I may not be in middle school anymore but i can't WAIT to pick up this book and his next to hear what happens to Max!

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I was drawn to this book by the cover and its blurb and I just had to read it.

I loved reading Max's book as I read and got to know Max and be taken along for the brilliant adventure!

The characters are amazing. The use of herbs as weapons is wonderfully brilliant! This was a fantastic read and I loved ever single second of it

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Max is thrust into an adventure after his mother is kidnapped, and he is forced into trusting a Spice Pirate for help in finding her. Along the way he meets new people from places far far away from the farm and Island he grew up.
"Max and the Spice Thieves" is an exciting read, perfect for the Middle Schooler, or a family read,(This adult loved it - I no longer have young ones). This story has magic, shape shifters, really nice Pirates, and evil Djinn zombie armies. I would say the violence level is tame when compared to say "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". I am looking forward to the next installment.

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Max and the Spice Thieves is one of those books that pulled me in immediately. Max is one of those characters that pushes his way into your heart, and you find yourself rooting for him every step of the way. He was very well written, and I think that young kids and teens will be able to relate to him. We all find ourselves feeling stronger when it comes to our family. We’d do anything for them, and Max is no different. It made him likable and his journey to growth was realistic and spectacular.

The other characters all bring something to the story. They aren’t there as extras and don’t feel useless. They all have their own stories, own journeys, and own goals. And they are too, in their way, relatable characters. I found myself wanting to know more about each and every one of them, particularly Captain Cinn. He’s such an enigmatic character and I want to know the story of his journeys across the three seas.

The antagonists feel like a real threat. I was on the edge of my seat more than once, unable to put the book down until I found out what would happen to these characters I feel so attached to. That, to me, is excellent storytelling. I have to applaud John Peragine for this one and I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel in the future.

The only thing I would look out for is a few typos, misplaced words, and the like. And I feel that we need to know more about Mesha, because she felt kind of bland compared to the others as she came in so late in the game.

All in all, a beautiful story.

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Overall, I enjoyed the creativity of the story, but I did find it hard to follow at times because the storyline itself was a bit scattered and convoluted. Both of Max's parents go missing at different times, so he sets out to find them. At some points in the story, he's searching for his mother. Then, he shifts direction to search for his father instead. So, it feels a bit scattered at times. And then when we get into the explanations of how certain people came to be born and the sacrifices of magical power and lifeforce it took for that to happen, it seemed a bit convoluted.

There was also a discrepancy early on that left me confused for a bit. Initially, the main character, Max, says he's twelve, but then a few pages later, he says he's fourteen. Given his reaction to two young women he meets later, his age makes a bit of a difference. But more importantly, it just made it hard for me to settle into what age group the book was intended for.

That said, the story as a whole kept my attention, although it was slow to get into, and the characters were intriguing. Each had a bit of a secret beyond who or what they initially seemed to be, so we're continually reminded not to judge a book by its cover. I also appreciated the loyalty and commitment demonstrated by many of the characters.

Most of the questions raised in the book are answered by the end (although not all), and new ones are posed toward the end, which leads us into the next book in the series. I look forward to reading what happens next!

Rating: 3.5 stars

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As an adult it's starting to become harder for me to enjoy certain middle grade books ; even though I still enjoy the genre immensely. Of course these books aren't written for me so it's understandable and my opinion really doesn't matter in long run for that reason alone. 

With that said there is just certain books that despite the age range that I absolutely love and some that might not appeal to me but that doesn't mean the kids won't enjoy them. This book unfortunately falls in the latter category.

It had all the things the demographic it's aimed for will enjoy like magic & adventure. It also had likeable characters and an interesting premise ; for me though it was missing that hook that got me invested and I just was never into the story enough to properly enjoy it.

Overall not a book for me but I do think others will enjoy it especially those belonging to the demographic it was written for.

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Max and the Spice Thieves
eARC NetGalley Review

The Three Seas is a world of princes, pirates, witches, and magic. The people here don't trade in gold or jewels. Oh no. Instead, they use spices. But only the richest of the rich get to actually use these spices to season their food, and only the people in the Underground use the magic-laden, more nefarious spices. So that's where the pirates come in, also known as the Spice Thieves. They pull a little Robin Hood action; take spices from the rich to give to the poor.
At the start of our story, Max Daybreaker is awoken by his mom and told that today they will be going on an adventure. But Max doesn't want to go anywhere. His dad has gone missing, and presumed dead. One of the only things Max has to remember him by is his favorite book, The Secrets of the Twilight Djinn. His mom doesn't take no for an answer, so they pack a few bags and begin their journey by sea to visit the island of Sanctus. Only, they never make it there.
As the title suggests, Max gets swept away with some Spice Thieves. His one and only goal is to save his mom, and (hopefully!) find his dad alive.

I enjoyed this book immensely! It pretty much had all the things I want in a middle-grade read: adventure, magic, fun side-kicks, and a likeable protagonist. I really think Max and the Spice Thieves had it all. This story was left on a cliff-hinger, which I definitely figured would happen about half way through the book, and I plan on finishing off this series once published.
Captain Cinn is probably my favorite character in the group. I mean, who doesn't like a pirate, right? But he was special because he was kind-hearted and endearing, dangerous, but also sweet.
The part about the Snow Bears... so cool!!

If you're like me, and you enjoy reading middle-grad books (a la Percy Jackson), and you like stories based on a magical adventure, then you have to read Max and the Spice Thieves.

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Max and the Spice Thieves is an entertaining adventure story. Recommended for young readers, upper elementary and middle grades.

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This one reminds me of a movie called Treasure Planet that came out awhile back. I would say it's that addicting of a story meets Harry Potter in terms of a great villain (Voldemort). If you are an adult, you will still secretly enjoy it I think like I did.

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Max finds himself lost at sea trying to find his mother who disappeared from the dock as he waited for her. Captain Cinn, a spice pirate aboard the Saucy Pig, takes Max on a journey across the high seas looking for his mother. Cinn knows some secretes about Max’s family, Max’s father’s death, and his mother’s disappearance. The best part of being on Captain Cinn’s ship is the food. Readers can almost smell and taste the delicious food being prepared. After meeting the Witch Queen, Max is sent on a mission that is supposed to bring balance to a world on the brink of war. Max needs the help of his friends to get there but on the journey he learns more about his family history and the power of his will to succeed.

The plot is quite complex as Max learns more about the world by meeting a wide range of characters. Each time the Saucy Pig find a new port, the cast grows and it is a little challenging to keep up. Some of the characters aren’t as memorable as others. The magical adventures includes beasts, monsters, harpies, and more. The world is well described for its vastness and diversity. It will be easy for readers to hold an image in their mind. Younger readers will enjoy the traps, mishaps, and peril; however, some might feel overwhelmed by the fast-paced plot, complicated world building, and large number of characters. It takes a little while to get to the main conflict and the ending intentionally sets up a second book. At the end, the reader will feel some closure and happiness but also know there will be continued tension.

Thanks #netgalley for the ARC!

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DNF at 40%

This book had potential to be really good. Considering I'm not in the age range of this book (though I still love middle grade), it wasn't interesting enough for me. I wasn't invested in the characters enough, and often found myself drifting off mentally because of this.

That being said, I enjoyed the aspect of the food and spices. It made my mouth water multiple times. I enjoyed learning more about Max and what exactly was happening in his life. He was probably one of my favourite characters in the book.
I think this would be an enjoyable read for a lot of people, especially in the demographic this was written for.

Regardless, there could have been more to hook the reader, and make me want to continue reading, but I'd say give it a try anyways and test it out yourself.

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Max and the Spice Thieves is a magical adventure sure to appease those who thirst for a fast-paced story set on the high seas. Young Max yearns for his father, who he refuses to believe has died as everyone else believes. His mother takes him to see a sinister pirate only to disappear, leaving Max to search for secrets of his past and a path to reunite with his mother.
Facing challenges against various foes, Max navigates new territories and conquers his fears. In the process, he finds inner strength and superpowers that aid his new band of friends to defeat the dark forces threatening their area. Max must also overcome his severe physical ailment, which keeps him from the cold. This becomes a problem when their trail leads to a land of ice and snow filled with mystical and fierce snow bears.
This story is an entertaining jaunt and hard to put down. Max and the Spice Thieves has vibrant characters that delight and thrill at every juncture. Max ends up in a ragtag band of misfits, each with a mystery and goal of their own. Can Max determine who can help him figure out the codes left to him by his father in time to save their world from an undefeatable army? Can he find his mother before anything harms her? Join Max as he learns that some pirates would rather sauté than swab the deck and staying true to oneself can help one accomplish monumental tasks.
I received Max and the Spice Thieves in exchange for an honest review and am pleased to share this fun young adult book perfect for tweens to adults young at heart.

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I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this fantastic journey from author, John Peragine for an honest review. Max and the Spice Thieves, a tale of a boy trying to save his family, is an engaging story—difficult to put down. I could clearly see the mind movie as I read which is what I look for in a story. I can’t wait to read future installments in Max’s journey. I recommend Max and the Spice Thieves for Middle School and beyond.

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A Spectacular Journey of Fantastical Proportion: A review by Angela Amberden
Max and the Spice Thieves was given to me by its exceptionally talented author, John Peragine in the hopes that I would give it an honest review. As I am unable to do anything else, I hope that other’s find it useful and heed my warning. Do not pick up this hefty tomb unless you have some free time because you are not going to want to put it down! From it’s first pages you are drafted into Max’s exciting journey and promised an adventure in no uncertain terms. Strap in!
While the promise of wild ride is evident, what develops along the way is a deep connection and affection for Max and his family. The main characters, as well those in supporting roles are beautifully written and multifaceted. You care about the peril they find themselves in and root for their triumphs.
As a mother of a young but avid reader I was excited to share this novel with my son and thoroughly enjoyed seeing his face light up with camaraderie, seeing Max’s escapade’s through his eyes. A perfect balance of danger and excitement, without pandering to its younger readers, I would recommend Spice Thieves to readers nine and above.
The heart that this story was written with is evident in the relationships that Max has and makes with others in the story. It is those connections that carry the reader along, the quest richer and more exciting because of them, instead of distracting. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a heart for adventure, you will be greatly rewarded, but the soul of this story will stay with you long after the last page.

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