- Chapter Books
- Ages 8–12
- Fantasy
Artezans: The Forgotten Magic
Book 1 in ArtezansView the full series
Twins in a powerful magical family come into their Artezan gifts just as the world's magic is fading, and when one is stolen away, the other must brave the Land of Dreams and Nightmares to get her back. An inventive, warm-hearted fantasy from the author of Strangeworlds.
- Best for8–12
- FormatChapter
- Length384 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr25 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Suspenseful
- Whimsical
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Edward Crane has always worried he might be the only member of his family without magic. Adopted into a long line of powerful Artezans, whose relatives can shape reality in extraordinary ways, Ed dreads turning eleven and discovering he has no gift, while his twin sister Elodie isn't worried at all. Then the magic comes: Ed can command dreams, and Elodie can hear the thoughts of every living thing around her. But their world is changing. The magic that Artezans depend on is quietly draining away, and the twins may hold the rare power to bring it back. When Elodie is snatched from him, Ed must confront his deepest fears in the eerie Land of Dreams and Nightmares to win her back. The opening book in L.D. Lapinski's fantasy trilogy is a witty, humane, richly imagined adventure, praised as an inventive world with characters to love. With a warmly drawn family, including Ed's two dads and a memorable cat, at its centre, it blends dream-logic wonder with real emotional stakes and just enough shiver to thrill readers ready for a bigger fantasy.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A meatier fantasy chapter book for confident 8-12s, and a good read-aloud from around 7 for those who enjoy dream-world adventure. It carries fantasy peril and some genuinely eerie nightmare imagery, so it best suits readers happy with a shiver rather than the most easily spooked.
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- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 7–10
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Low
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: scary imagery.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Fantasy lovers
- Magical families
- Dream worlds
- Twins
Avoid if
- Wants light read
- Scared of nightmares
Particularly good for children who are…
- Adoption or foster care
- Lgbtq parent family
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Being able to control dreams or hear every creature's thoughts is exactly the kind of magic you'd want, and Ed using his power to give a bully nightmares is deliciously satisfying. When his sister is stolen, the journey into the Land of Dreams and Nightmares is genuinely gripping.
- Magic powers
- Being special or chosen
- Secret world
- Going on a quest
Why parents love it
Lapinski writes with wit and warmth, and the Crane family, adoptive, two-dad, quietly diverse, feels real without ever being an 'issue'. The dream-world imagination is a treat, and the emotional stakes give plenty to talk about with a child who loves a bigger story.
- Great writing
- Conversation starter
In the series
Artezans.
3 books · open the series →
About the author
L.D. Lapinski.
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