This post is sponsored by Samuel Warren Joseph & Phil Proctor. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
MY REVIEW
One word I’d use for this trilogy is inventive. The Magic Maze Trilogy—which includes Tyler and Tess in the Magic Maze, Madness in the Magic Maze, and Escape from the Magic Maze—is a rollicking fantasy adventure for readers ages 8–12.
The books follow the Porter twins, Tess and Tyler, whose sibling banter, smarts, and bravery pull them into a surreal world where every turn in the maze reveals new challenges. From enchanted forests and bizarre rebel armies to sinister villains like Queen Zebra, the stories brim with both suspense and humor.
The writing is clear, fast-paced, and laced with clever dialogue that keeps the action moving. What makes it especially fun is the way Tess and Tyler balance each other—her seriousness and his wit—so that kids can see themselves in both. The world-building is playful yet eerie, filled with quirky characters like Myron the Maze Master, who test and tease the twins at every step.
The illustrations and layout support the storytelling, making the trilogy accessible while still feeling epic. Altogether, this is the kind of series that keeps young readers hooked from the first page to the last portal. A perfect gift for fantasy-loving kids who crave adventure, riddles, and a touch of strangeness.
This trilogy doesn’t just tell a story—it dares you to step into the maze yourself. Once you start, there’s no turning back.
GIVEAWAY
As part of this virtual book tour, one lucky winner will receive a classroom set of The Magic Maze Trilogy in paperback!
The Magic Maze Trilogy: Book GiveawayABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Samuel Warren Joseph & Phil Proctor
Ages: 9-12 | 244 Pages
Publisher: Sam/Phil Books (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9927464-6-4
Publisher’s Book Summary: The Magic Maze Trilogy includes three books: Tyler and Tess in the Magic Maze; Madness in the Magic Maze; and Escape from the Magic Maze. It is about eleven-year old fraternal twins, Tyler and Tess Porter, who accidentally get sucked up into the bizarre world of the Magic Maze. Geared to appeal to children from seven to thirteen and older fantasy fans as well, the story propels the twins into an “Alice in Wonderland/Wizard of Oz” world. In order to return home, they must get through twelve separate parts of the maze. Each is its own world with strange rules, riddles and puzzles that the twins must solve using their wits, knowledge and athletic prowess. Tyler and Tess learn how much they mean to each other as they evade the evil QUEEN ZEBRA and her ZENTAURIAN GUARD of two-faced POLINERDS, and a duplicitous wizard, SIMON PERCIVAL. They form alliances with the rebel TRIDGETS (tiny trolls with Mohawk hairdos) led by the feisty BELKIN, and an assortment of other bizarre and funny characters. At the end, they must track down and put back together three parts of a MAGIC AMULET before they can be finally transported home, safe and sound.
PURCHASE LINK
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
About Samuel Warren Joseph
Samuel Warren Joseph’s credits include the movie Off Your Rocker, a comedy-drama about a revolution in an old folks’ home starring Milton Berle, Red Buttons, Dorothy Malone, and Lou Jacobi.
He has written animation episodes for such shows as Duck Tales, Dennis the Menace, Batman and Beast Wars.
Sam’s stage play, Window of Opportunity, a suspenseful dark comedy about corporate corruption, premiered at the Met Theatre in Los Angeles in the spring of 2006 to rave reviews. It has been turned into a feature film, which he wrote and directed, and was released in 2015. The film was produced and co-scored by John Densmore, the drummer of The Doors.
Sam wrote the book and co-wrote the songs for the stage musical Campaign, which premiered in October 2010 to excellent reviews.
His couple’s comedy, Two Times Two, also had its world premiere in 2010 in New Orleans to great reviews.
In 2016, his musical, Psychosexual: A Love Story, for which he wrote the book and lyrics, premiered at the Met Theatre in Los Angeles. The same year, his play, Moral Imperative, had its world premiere at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills.
With Phil Proctor, Sam co-wrote God Help Us!… a political comedy that toured the United States starring the late Ed Asner. Sam also co-wrote Ed’s autobiography, Son of a Junkman.
With Phil Proctor, Sam also co-wrote The Magic Maze Trilogy.
Sam has also been a special education teacher in inner city Los Angeles and currently is a community college Assistant Professor of English.
About Phil Proctor
Phil Proctor was born of Amish/Irish ancestry in Goshen, Indiana, and is a founding member of the thrice-Grammy-nominated Firesign Theatre (one of the “Thirty Greatest Acts of All Time”), whose archives were purchased by the Library of Congress. He’s appeared on and off-Broadway, toured the USSR with the Yale Russian Chorus, and also toured the US and Canada with the L.A. Guitar Quartet as Don Quixote.
He has appeared in scores of commercials, audiobooks, video games, radio and TV shows, and films, including Window of Opportunity, written and directed by his partner, Samuel Joseph. Phil received Theatre World, LA Weekly, LA Free Press and Drama Critics’ awards over his long career.
His voice credits include memorable characters in Academy Award-winning films for Pixar and Disney, the Drunken French Monkey in Dr. Dolittle, Dr. Vidic in Assassin’s Creed, Simon Stagg in Batman: Arkham Knight, and Howard in the multi-Emmy winning Rugrats, which has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He recently appeared in the world premiere of Dan Castellaneta’s For Piano and Harpo at the Gary Marshall Theatre, is a 20-year member of The Antaeus Theater company, and has written several new books, including his autobiography, Where’s My Fortune Cookie? co-authored by Brad Schreiber. With Samuel Joseph, he co-wrote a political comedy, God Help Us!, which toured the country starring the late Ed Asner to rave reviews.
To learn more about Phil, visit PlanetProctor.com.
To learn more about the series, visit MagicMaze.com.
TOUR SCHEDULE
| Friday, October 10, 2025The Children’s Book ReviewTour Kick-Off for The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Monday, October 13, 2025The Starlit PathBook Review and Reel for The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Tuesday, October 14, 2025Get Outside and ReadInstagram Post about The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Thursday, October 16, 2025One More Exclamation Book Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Friday, October 17, 2025avainbookland Instagram Post about The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Monday, October 20, 2025Froggy Read TeachInstagram Post about The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Tuesday, October 21, 2025icefairy’s Treasure ChestBook Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Thursday, October 23, 2025Country Mamas With KidsBook Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Friday, October 24, 2025Sybrina’s Book BlogGuest Article about The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Saturday, October 25, 2025My Reading GetawayBook Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Monday, October 27, 2025Me Two BooksAuthor Interview with Samuel Warren Joseph & Phil Proctor |
| Tuesday, October 28, 2025Deliciously SavvyBook Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Thursday, October 30, 2025Q&As with Deborah KalbAuthor Interview with Samuel Warren Joseph & Phil Proctor |
| Thursday, November 6, 2025Crafty Moms ShareBook Review of The Magic Maze Trilogy |
| Friday, November 7, 2025Confessions of a Book AddictBook Spotlight on The Magic Maze Trilogy |
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