The story is Catcher in the Rye infused with magic. Mike Wood knows he isn’t anything special, but after a fellow classmate shows him a book called The Calendar of Sleights, he is drawn in to a class war between two rival factions of magicians.

But this book is not for everyone. The blend of constant short sentences and long paragraphs leave the reader dropped in a unique style of prose. Unfortunately, it does not work for every reader.

It is fully the owner’s tale in his unique voice filled with authentic dark realism.

To this reader, I felt that it added something. The feeling of a slight disconnect worked well with the surreal story, which resulted in a complex and strange read, but refreshing nonetheless.

If you end up not wanting to continue, set the book down. Nothing can make you enjoy it if you cannot adapt to the quirky style. But it is worth looking in to.