Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher (Simon & Schuster Canada) for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Foody (the author of the Ace of Shades trilogy and Daughter of the Burning City) is one of my favourite authors of all time. When I saw the first book in her new middle-grade series was available for request on Netgalley, I was so excited. I was ecstatic when I got approved.

Going into this book, I had high hopes for it to become a new favourite, and it did! The Accidental Apprentice follows Barclay, an apprentice to the town's mushroom farmer. All Barclay had to do was follow the rules to become the head mushroom farmer himself. But then Barclay breaks his town's most sacred rule: never EVER stray into the Woods, for within the Woods lurks vicious and dangerous magical Beasts.

To his horror, he unwittingly bonds with a Beast and is chased out of town by an angry mob. Determined to break the bond and return home, he journeys to a mysterious town of Lore Keepers, people who have bonded with Beasts and share their powers. But after making new friends, entering a dangerous apprenticeship exam, and even facing a legendary Beast of the Woods, Barclay must make a difficult choice: return to the home of rules he has always known, or embrace the new adventure with new friends awaiting him.

I loved this book! It is definitely a new favourite.

The pacing was amazing, I loved the writing style, and the characters were all so well rounded. Foody never fails to amaze me at how she writes characters so well in so little time.

Between the character development of Barclay, his new friendships, and the adventure this book holds itself, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this book!

If you are looking for a medium/fast-paced middle-grade read, this is for you! Don't let the middle-grade aspect of this book turn you away, you will not be disappointed!