Lately, my pleasure reading time has been somewhat sparse. So when I picked up The Magic Thief, by Sarah Prineas, the plan was to have it read by Thanksgiving. I read the first chapter and was hooked. My to-do list was no longer important. Chores, schoolwork, family (sorry guys); everything took a back seat to a fabulous tale!
The story takes place in Wellmet, a city-state that runs on a dwindling supply of magic. Conn, a lock-pick and thief who lives in the dangerous streets of Twilight, should have died when he picked a locus magicalicus stone from the pocket of the wizard, Nevery Flinglas. Surprised that Conn lived; Nevery takes him on at first as a servant, and then as a wizard’s apprentice - if Conn can find a locus magicalicus of his own. But between wizarding lessons held at the Academicos and helping Nevery solve the mystery of Wellmet’s disappearing magic, there isn’t much time to find his stone. Conn must convince Nevery that a fellow wizard is consorting with the city’s cruel Underlord before the magic completely fades away, and the city dies.
Sarah Prineas’ characters jumped off the page and into my heart. Conn is a quiet observer. He’s intelligent and honorable. His voice rings true, and I was sympathetic to him from the beginning. My favorite secondary character is Benet – a hired thug and bodyguard who likes to knit and cooks a good biscuit.
The Magic Thief is the first in a planned trilogy. I am already impatiently awaiting the second book!
Publisher: HarperCollins 6/2008
Nano update: 7704 words
5 comments:
Oh it sounds like a fun story - along the lines of the Harry Potter series.
I've heard a lot of good things about this book. It's heartening that this is the first of a series, too!
Great review, Nora. I've seen this book all over the place. I really should look into the age group for it to see if it's something my kids would like.
It's definitely MG. I'd say 10 and up. I put it on my library shelf at school yesterday. My 6th grade boys "rock, paper, scissored" to see who got to read it first!
Haven't read this one yet, but it looks interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Casey Sean Harmon
www.caseyseanharmon.com
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