Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

"Ben may only be pretending to be the 'Chosen One'—but I’ve definitely chosen this one as my favorite new fantasy series.”

—Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Last Kids on Earth series

How far would you go to play the hero? One lonely seventh grader gets way more than he bargained for when he is swept into the fantasy quest of his gaming dreams in this magical illustrated series full of laughs, adventure, and twists.

Ben doesn’t feel chosen by anybody—not by his friends, who haven’t kept in touch since he moved after his parents’ divorce, or by his mom, who’s so busy he barely sees her. He spends all his time living in fantasy worlds and writing extensively planned adventure campaigns in his role-playing-game notebook. So when Niara, a character who could be right out of one of his favorite games, shows up and tells him he’s destined to save her realm (like, foretold-by-a-prophecy destined), Ben has two possible moves: tell her the truth or play along. He's tired of feeling left behind, so his choice is clear—game on. 

One interdimensional portal later, Ben is in full hero mode. At first, adventuring in Lux seems like a dream come true, but pretending to be the Chosen One—and lying to his new friends—isn't quite what he imagined it to be. And the more he learns about Lux and his quest, the more he realizes this is way beyond a game—and the rules seem to be changing as he goes. In fact, it might be time for him to write some new ones.

Series Overview: Book 2 is coming in Summer 2024!

About the Author

Andrew Auseon is an author of acclaimed novels for young people, including Funny Little Monkey, Jo-Jo and the Fiendish Lot, Alienated (with David O. Russell), and Freak Magnet, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. His books have been nominated for numerous awards, including the ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, the Cybils Awards for Young Adult Fiction, and state book awards.

In addition to his writing, Andrew is a producer and designer of video games. Andrew received an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College and a BA from Ohio University. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Sarah Zogby, and their two children. In his spare time, Andrew teaches Interactive Narrative and makes appearances at writing festivals, schools, and game industry events.

Author Residence: Washington, DC