ALA Booklist (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Mlawski combines the history of 1492 with a fantasy about Storytellers and witches in this debut novel. Fourteen-year-old Baltasar's background is complicated. He has both Moorish and Jewish blood but is now Marrano; his long-gone father, al-Katib, is heroic to some, a horror to others; and Baltasar learns he is a Storyteller who can conjure up mythic characters. When Baltasar is caught by the witch hunters of the Spanish Inquisition, he flees aboard one of Christopher Columbus' ships and heads for the New World, where unimaginable adventures await. The story is at its best when focusing on its array of intriguing characters: Jinni, the almost genie; Catalina, a girl with powers of her own; the Taíno shamans and rulers; and Baltasar himself, whose boyish charm is perpetually winning. But there is so much nonstop action, the characters and their connections to each other sometimes get lost. Fantasy lovers will relish the wide array of supernatural goings-on, and history buffs will enjoy reading the author's notes, which explain where Mlawski has stuck to the script and where she takes wing.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Loosely anchored to its historical setting, this tale follows Baltasar as he comes to terms with his complex religious and ethnic ancestry, learns to conjure, searches for his father, and accompanies Columbus to the Americas, all while fleeing the Inquisition. Although Mlawski's attempt to demonstrate the era's cultural complexity is admirable, too many elements compete for prominence in this multicultural fantasy.

Kirkus Reviews

An engaging, magical adventure set against the historical backdrop of Columbus' westward voyage. Young Baltasar, a converso (a Spanish Jew converted to Catholicism), relies on his wits to distract the village bully by telling an amusing tale. Soon after, Bal discovers his storytelling has magical properties when he summons a monster to ward off the Malleus Maleficarum, witch-hunting Inquisitors after Bal's father. Intent on escaping and finding the father he thought dead, Bal is hired as translator on none other than the Santa Maria, captained by Columbus himself. The voyage takes Bal on the uncharted seas of Columbus' famous voyage and into adventures that include sea beasts and secrets from Bal's own past. Though keeping track of all the Spanish-named seamen can be a challenge, Mlawski's central characters--Jinniyah, a genie Bal summons, and Catalina, a fellow storyteller, in addition to Bal himself--are imaginative and well-developed, and her swashbuckling pace and intriguing plotting keep readers at seat's edge. This story is told entirely from Bal's perspective, but by placing him on the Santa Maria and inside the Caribbean villages the expedition visits, Mlawski invites young readers to see the familiar Columbus story from another perspective--and to consider the power of stories to shape perception in everyday life. Backmatter includes a helpful author's note and pronunciation guide. Though set in the 1490s, this provocative blend of fantasy and history offers loads of contemporary appeal. (Historical fantasy. 11-15)

School Library Journal (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Gr 9 Up-Mlawski is creative and daring in her YA debut, blending genres to craft an informative and literary historical fantasy. Raised in 15th-century Spain by his aunt and uncle, Baltasar has no knowledge of his parents' legend. His favorite tales glorify his hero, Amir al-Katib, the renowned Moorish sorcerer and soldier who fought for the freedom of Christian Europe. To Baltasar Infante, stories are both enchanting and extremely useful; they educate, captivate, and enable him to escape from almost any situation. When tragedy strikes in the form of his aunt and uncle's deaths and kidnapping by the Malleus Malificarum, his true identity is revealed, and he is forced to flee Spain. Following the advice of an old prophet, he joins the Nina, Pinta , and Santa Maria westward into the unknown in pursuit of a great evil that will destroy the world. Baltasar is a combination of classic, bumbling coming-of-age protagonist and hero motif, making his character relatable and likable. The novel's storyteller concept is fresh and innovative, making this a lively read for fantasy buffs. Jamie-Lee Schombs, Loyola School, New York City