Do You Believe in Miracles?

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the Virtual Voice narration at first. There’s a sterile precision to it that initially feels at odds with a story so packed with personality. But here’s the thing: it *works*. The slightly robotic delivery ends up highlighting the book’s dry humor, like a deadpan comedian setting up a punchline. By the time our hapless hero—let’s call him a cross between Percy Jackson and a guy who just spilled coffee on his last clean shirt—stumbles into his third disastrous magical mishap, the narration’s detachment makes the chaos funnier. That said, if you’re someone who lives for the emotional nuance of a skilled voice actor, this might feel like a missed opportunity. The story itself is a masterclass in subverting expectations without being cynical. Melvin’s magic system is one of the more inventive I’ve encountered: spells fueled by belief mean our hero’s powers fluctuate based on his (often shaky) confidence, leading to some hilariously disastrous outcomes. The pacing is relentless—almost too much so in the middle act, where a few too many “and then it got worse” moments start to blur together. But the payoff is worth it, especially in the final confrontation, which avoids the usual climactic battle in favor of something far more clever and thematically satisfying. My only real critique? The side characters sometimes feel underdeveloped, their quirks standing in for deeper arcs. Still, for a YA fantasy that’s equal parts heartfelt and sarcastic, this is a standout. Just maybe don’t listen to it on 1.5x speed—the Virtual Voice already sounds like it’s racing to the finish line.