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Mairelon #1-2
A Matter of Magic
When a stranger offers her a small fortune to break into a traveling magician’s wagon, Kim doesn’t hesitate. Having grown up a waif in the dirty streets of London, Kim isn’t above a bit of breaking-and-entering. A hard life and lean times have schooled her in one lesson: steal from them before they steal from you. But when the magician catches her in the act, Kim thinks she’s done for. Until he suggests she become his apprentice; then the real trouble begins.
Kim soon finds herself entangled with murderers, thieves, and cloak-and-dagger politics, all while trying to learn how to become both a proper lady and a magician in her own right. Magic and intrigue go hand in hand in Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward, two fast-paced novels filled with mystery and romance, set against the intricate backdrop of Regency England.
Kim soon finds herself entangled with murderers, thieves, and cloak-and-dagger politics, all while trying to learn how to become both a proper lady and a magician in her own right. Magic and intrigue go hand in hand in Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward, two fast-paced novels filled with mystery and romance, set against the intricate backdrop of Regency England.
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
About the author
Patricia C. Wrede
63 books3,917 followersPatricia Collins Wrede was born in Chicago, Illinois and is the eldest of five children. She started writing in seventh grade. She attended Carleton College in Minnesota, where she majored in Biology and managed to avoid taking any English courses at all. She began work on her first novel, Shadow Magic, just after graduating from college in 1974. She finished it five years later and started her second book at once, having become permanently hooked on writing by this time.
Patricia received her M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1977.
She worked for several years as a financial analyst and accountant, first with the Minnesota Hospital Association, then with B. Dalton Booksellers, and finally at the Dayton Hudson Corporation headquarters.
Patricia finished her first novel in late 1978. In January, 1980, Pamela Dean, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Steven Brust, Nate Bucklin, and Patricia Wrede -- all, at that point, hopeful but unpublished -- formed the writer's group that later became known as "The Scribblies." Several years later, they were joined by Kara Dalkey. In April of 1980, Patricia's first novel sold to Ace Books. It came out at last in 1982, which is the year she met Lillian Stewart Carl (who introduced her to Lois McMaster Bujold by mail).
In 1985, shortly before the publication of her fifth book, she left the world of the gainfully employed to try winging it on her own.
Her interests include sewing, embroidery, desultory attempts at gardening, chocolate, not mowing the lawn, High Tea, and, of course, reading.
She is a vegetarian, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her cat Karma. She has no children.
Patricia received her M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1977.
She worked for several years as a financial analyst and accountant, first with the Minnesota Hospital Association, then with B. Dalton Booksellers, and finally at the Dayton Hudson Corporation headquarters.
Patricia finished her first novel in late 1978. In January, 1980, Pamela Dean, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Steven Brust, Nate Bucklin, and Patricia Wrede -- all, at that point, hopeful but unpublished -- formed the writer's group that later became known as "The Scribblies." Several years later, they were joined by Kara Dalkey. In April of 1980, Patricia's first novel sold to Ace Books. It came out at last in 1982, which is the year she met Lillian Stewart Carl (who introduced her to Lois McMaster Bujold by mail).
In 1985, shortly before the publication of her fifth book, she left the world of the gainfully employed to try winging it on her own.
Her interests include sewing, embroidery, desultory attempts at gardening, chocolate, not mowing the lawn, High Tea, and, of course, reading.
She is a vegetarian, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her cat Karma. She has no children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 468 reviews
August 13, 2010
This book actually contains a duology - "Mairelon the Magician" and "The Magician's Ward".
The first in the set, 'Mairelon the Magician', is more about the mystery aspect and a bit of the social conventions of the time, but not much in the way of romance. It was interesting and a fun, though it was slow to start and, overall, just a touch above average.
My biggest complaint about this part was the number of people involved. The mystery surrounds the disappearance of a magical artifact. Our hero, Mairelon, is falsely accused of the theft, and hides from the law while trying to find the items and clear his name - pretty standard stuff.
But there are so many other people also trying to find it, and I quickly got confused as to who was who, and who was on which side.
I enjoyed the farce elements of the multiple burgarly attempt, and the ending, but, again, I only give this 3 1/2 stars, with 3 being average.
The second story in the set, 'The Magician's Ward', is much more heavy on the romance, but still involves a high dose of mystery and magic.
In the first story, our heroine, Kim, encounters Mairelon when she breaks into his wagon, and becomes part of his entourage. Even though we see everything through Kim's perspective, and we go through the Pygmalion routine as Mairelon tries to teach the street urchin how to be proper, it's very much Mairelon's story.
The second story is much more Kim's. It's 6 months after the first story, and Kim, having been taken in by Mairelon as his ward, has more struggles as she as to fit into society.
This story is very much the novel of manners, as we go through the various bits and bobs of being in Town during the Season. There are dinners and shows and coming-out-balls and all that.
The mystery takes a more secondary role, but it still very important to the overall story, which I appreciate. While I have always enjoyed a romance aspect to stories, I rarely like it when the romance is the story, so the way that it was woven into this story, as both prominent and yet almost secondary, was well done.
Overall, I enjoy the characters. I really like Kim and Mairelon, and even the menagerie of secondary characters, especially Hunch and Renee. The second story is much better paced, after having established the characters and whatnot in the first story, and more than pays you back for the sluggishness and confusion of the first story. I give this one 4 stars.
ETA: I'm very glad that I heard of and was interested in these books before I read Thirteenth Child. I enjoyed these books much better, but if I was judging the author just based on 'Thirteenth Child', I might not have picked up this set.
The first in the set, 'Mairelon the Magician', is more about the mystery aspect and a bit of the social conventions of the time, but not much in the way of romance. It was interesting and a fun, though it was slow to start and, overall, just a touch above average.
My biggest complaint about this part was the number of people involved. The mystery surrounds the disappearance of a magical artifact. Our hero, Mairelon, is falsely accused of the theft, and hides from the law while trying to find the items and clear his name - pretty standard stuff.
But there are so many other people also trying to find it, and I quickly got confused as to who was who, and who was on which side.
I enjoyed the farce elements of the multiple burgarly attempt, and the ending, but, again, I only give this 3 1/2 stars, with 3 being average.
The second story in the set, 'The Magician's Ward', is much more heavy on the romance, but still involves a high dose of mystery and magic.
In the first story, our heroine, Kim, encounters Mairelon when she breaks into his wagon, and becomes part of his entourage. Even though we see everything through Kim's perspective, and we go through the Pygmalion routine as Mairelon tries to teach the street urchin how to be proper, it's very much Mairelon's story.
The second story is much more Kim's. It's 6 months after the first story, and Kim, having been taken in by Mairelon as his ward, has more struggles as she as to fit into society.
This story is very much the novel of manners, as we go through the various bits and bobs of being in Town during the Season. There are dinners and shows and coming-out-balls and all that.
The mystery takes a more secondary role, but it still very important to the overall story, which I appreciate. While I have always enjoyed a romance aspect to stories, I rarely like it when the romance is the story, so the way that it was woven into this story, as both prominent and yet almost secondary, was well done.
Overall, I enjoy the characters. I really like Kim and Mairelon, and even the menagerie of secondary characters, especially Hunch and Renee. The second story is much better paced, after having established the characters and whatnot in the first story, and more than pays you back for the sluggishness and confusion of the first story. I give this one 4 stars.
ETA: I'm very glad that I heard of and was interested in these books before I read Thirteenth Child. I enjoyed these books much better, but if I was judging the author just based on 'Thirteenth Child', I might not have picked up this set.
January 15, 2015
This book tried to be one thing too many, and as a consequence, didn't excel at the things it should have been doing. The best parallel I can draw is to some of Georgette Heyer's less successful works -- which are, in my opinion, her most farcical. Heyer could be sophisticated, charming, and romantic -- as can Patricia Wrede; but when she tries to put a dozen characters into a situation with all sorts of absurd things happening and lines that try a little too hard to be hilarious, then the work often ends up falling flat.
The first novella of the two in the collection A Matter of Magic is called Mairelon the Magician. In it, we meet nobleman Richard Merrill, aka Mairelon, who is in hiding as a traveling magician because he was framed for a crime. He is seeking a magical artifact (in a Regency England which is essentially real Regency England, plus magic) and teams up with a young thief named Kim to find it. Early on, I was enthusiastic about this book, as we learned about Kim's resourcefulness and as she and Mairelon got to know each other. Then the cast began to expand... and kept expanding to the point where you'd have to try a LOT harder than I was interested in trying to keep all of these absurd supporting characters straight. There are wanna-be druids, wastrel young nobles, doltish young nobles, crime lords, thugs, insipid ingenues, scheming women, a woman of mystery, a surly servant, and a very nasty wizard. All of these people are thrown together in situations where the funny ones say funny things and the scary ones say scary things, and the doltish ones say doltish things... and it's just too much. In addition to being not as funny as it wants to be and hard to follow at times, the bigger fault in my opinion is that all this nonsense with a supporting cast of dozens detracts from the heart of the story -- Mairelon and Kim. They simply don't get enough focus and development with all that other stuff going on.
The second novella, The Magician's Ward, is much more successful as an easily enjoyable read. The funny bits are actually funnier because they're not tying so hard, and they're not too absurd to seem at all possible. The plot is still relatively convoluted for this genre, but I found it interesting and not too difficult to follow. The supporting cast is still relatively large, but several of them are well enough developed to feel like worthwhile additions to Kim and Mairelon's world. I would say the weak point in this novella is the romantic dimension -- Kim and Mairelon fall in love, of course, but it's quite secondary (or tertiary, even) to all of the mystery and magic. This isn't necessarily a flaw, but if you're expecting (or seeking) a Regency Romance, I would say the romance in this is so secondary that this book would barely qualify. In a similar vein, there is a subplot in which Kim has another suitor, and that story is also shortchanged in relation to others. You see her with the young man a couple of times, and he apparently really likes her, but I don't think there are more than 500 words devoted to their conversations in the entire book. Certainly not more than 1000. It's supposed to be significant that she opts not to marry him even though she isn't certain of Mairelon's feelings, and you're supposed to care that she lets him go with dignity and self-awareness... but Wrede hasn't built him up enough for it to seem like a really significant part of her story when that happens.
Overall, this is a mild recommendation from me if you like Regencies, magic, and a little bit of comedy of errors. If any of those things is NOT to your liking, this is not really a book for you, but if you think all of that sounds nice, you'll likely enjoy this book (these two novellas) on a quiet day.
The first novella of the two in the collection A Matter of Magic is called Mairelon the Magician. In it, we meet nobleman Richard Merrill, aka Mairelon, who is in hiding as a traveling magician because he was framed for a crime. He is seeking a magical artifact (in a Regency England which is essentially real Regency England, plus magic) and teams up with a young thief named Kim to find it. Early on, I was enthusiastic about this book, as we learned about Kim's resourcefulness and as she and Mairelon got to know each other. Then the cast began to expand... and kept expanding to the point where you'd have to try a LOT harder than I was interested in trying to keep all of these absurd supporting characters straight. There are wanna-be druids, wastrel young nobles, doltish young nobles, crime lords, thugs, insipid ingenues, scheming women, a woman of mystery, a surly servant, and a very nasty wizard. All of these people are thrown together in situations where the funny ones say funny things and the scary ones say scary things, and the doltish ones say doltish things... and it's just too much. In addition to being not as funny as it wants to be and hard to follow at times, the bigger fault in my opinion is that all this nonsense with a supporting cast of dozens detracts from the heart of the story -- Mairelon and Kim. They simply don't get enough focus and development with all that other stuff going on.
The second novella, The Magician's Ward, is much more successful as an easily enjoyable read. The funny bits are actually funnier because they're not tying so hard, and they're not too absurd to seem at all possible. The plot is still relatively convoluted for this genre, but I found it interesting and not too difficult to follow. The supporting cast is still relatively large, but several of them are well enough developed to feel like worthwhile additions to Kim and Mairelon's world. I would say the weak point in this novella is the romantic dimension -- Kim and Mairelon fall in love, of course, but it's quite secondary (or tertiary, even) to all of the mystery and magic. This isn't necessarily a flaw, but if you're expecting (or seeking) a Regency Romance, I would say the romance in this is so secondary that this book would barely qualify. In a similar vein, there is a subplot in which Kim has another suitor, and that story is also shortchanged in relation to others. You see her with the young man a couple of times, and he apparently really likes her, but I don't think there are more than 500 words devoted to their conversations in the entire book. Certainly not more than 1000. It's supposed to be significant that she opts not to marry him even though she isn't certain of Mairelon's feelings, and you're supposed to care that she lets him go with dignity and self-awareness... but Wrede hasn't built him up enough for it to seem like a really significant part of her story when that happens.
Overall, this is a mild recommendation from me if you like Regencies, magic, and a little bit of comedy of errors. If any of those things is NOT to your liking, this is not really a book for you, but if you think all of that sounds nice, you'll likely enjoy this book (these two novellas) on a quiet day.
May 1, 2011
A simple job, that’s all it was supposed to be. Look around some cove’s wagon, and report back; an easy job for a street urchin and thief like Kim. But no one told her his magic was real. Caught by Mairelon, the performer, Kim quickly realizes that not only is he a true wizard, but a toff (a.k.a. a gentleman) as well, and on the run from, well, pretty much everybody. But he offers her a chance to get out of London, and Kim takes it, little knowing what adventures lie ahead.
Wrede does a wonderful job of merging the Regency romance/comedy with a world of magic; her tweaks to the period (The Royal Society of Wizards has buildings in the heart of London that forced Parliament to expand elsewhere) are unobtrusive and believable, and the whole thing is a hilarious romp that places it firmly on my favorite books list. When I first read this book, it made me love learning “thieves cant,” and the addition of magic creates a plausible excuse to break some of the strict rules of society, creating an opportunity to have especially strong female protagonists. A delicious book that’s as good as chocolate.
Wrede does a wonderful job of merging the Regency romance/comedy with a world of magic; her tweaks to the period (The Royal Society of Wizards has buildings in the heart of London that forced Parliament to expand elsewhere) are unobtrusive and believable, and the whole thing is a hilarious romp that places it firmly on my favorite books list. When I first read this book, it made me love learning “thieves cant,” and the addition of magic creates a plausible excuse to break some of the strict rules of society, creating an opportunity to have especially strong female protagonists. A delicious book that’s as good as chocolate.
February 6, 2017
A Matter of Magic is actually two books in one, Mairelon the Magician and The Magician's Ward. I was expecting more of a fantasy when I started this, but it is more of a historical mystery with small elements of historical fantasy and romance. The first book is a mystery surrounding a magical item and while it was a nice read it didn't really pull me in as much as it could have. I found the mystery rather dull and kept waiting for a lot more magic. There is no romance in the first story.
The second story is better. I liked the mystery in this one a lot more, but I felt the characters could have been written better. I was waiting for the romantic tension to start, like the characters glancing into each others eyes and looking away, or one of them noticing how nice the other looks, or a spark between them while they are dancing. Just something, but unfortunately we get none of that. Mairelon is about as romantic as a statue in my opinion, which is too bad because it would have really lent a great deal to the story. The result is that this book is mainly a magical mystery with no romance until almost the end. The ending was sweet and I did like Mairelon and I loved Kim. I just think it could have been better.
The second story is better. I liked the mystery in this one a lot more, but I felt the characters could have been written better. I was waiting for the romantic tension to start, like the characters glancing into each others eyes and looking away, or one of them noticing how nice the other looks, or a spark between them while they are dancing. Just something, but unfortunately we get none of that. Mairelon is about as romantic as a statue in my opinion, which is too bad because it would have really lent a great deal to the story. The result is that this book is mainly a magical mystery with no romance until almost the end. The ending was sweet and I did like Mairelon and I loved Kim. I just think it could have been better.
June 17, 2017
Didn't think this book was absolutely terrible, some parts were good but I felt it had so much detail that I was getting bored during chapters and wanted to just skip it. The romance in the book was not heaps as well and it was fine but it only started when it got to the endish of the book
April 23, 2020
la historia es bien rebuscada, al comienzo no se hace difícil, pero luego se vuelve pesada y latosa, me costo terminarla por lo absurdo que a veces eran los personajes.
se puede decir que es una historia corta, pero al final son dos libros en uno, y la verdad todo esto de la magia y la fuente y las bolas y todo el tema de cosas robadas y falsificadas llega a un punto que aburre.
así que no me gusto
se puede decir que es una historia corta, pero al final son dos libros en uno, y la verdad todo esto de la magia y la fuente y las bolas y todo el tema de cosas robadas y falsificadas llega a un punto que aburre.
así que no me gusto
November 20, 2010
I've been a fan of Wrede's books ever since I discovered her Enchanted Forest Series when I was fourteen. I also recently read her book, Sorcery & Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot which delighted me just as much as her other books. So when I heard about the publication of A Matter of Magic I immediately added it to my wishlist and waited impatiently until I finally got a hold of it. Unfortunately though, A Matter of Magic ended up being rather disappointing and not at all the kind of book I had come to expect from Wrede.
Part of what makes Wrede's books so charming and delightful are the wit and humor of her female protagonists. I loved Cecelia and Kate from Sorcery & Cecilia and Princess Cimorene from the Enchanted Forest remains one of my favorite book characters. In comparison, Kim was uninteresting and somewhat bland, lacking the verve and the mischievous likability of Wrede's other female protagonists.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the character of Mairelon who reminded me of Howl from Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle.
The story was OK, but didn't really rise above any of the other books with similar plots. It moved a bit slowly for my liking and the end was played out in an unoriginal and chaotic manner with all the characters gathered together as the mystery is revealed, along with everyone's roles in it.
The second book was a bit more interesting, this time taking place in Regency London. The plot was another one that I've read several times already, of an unsophisticated, low-class young woman being taught to become a lady, with some magic thrown in. But although I found it to be an improvement over Mairelon the Magician it still wasn't as good as Wrede's other books.
So would I recommend A Matter of Magic? Perhaps to someone new to fantasy who hasn't already read several similar books already. But I would probably also try to guide them towards Wrede's other books and suggest that they might want to try those instead. Those who are already fans of Patricia Wrede might want to read A Matter of Magic just because she wrote it, and to them I would just offer a warning that in my opinion it's not her best work.
Part of what makes Wrede's books so charming and delightful are the wit and humor of her female protagonists. I loved Cecelia and Kate from Sorcery & Cecilia and Princess Cimorene from the Enchanted Forest remains one of my favorite book characters. In comparison, Kim was uninteresting and somewhat bland, lacking the verve and the mischievous likability of Wrede's other female protagonists.
On the other hand, I did enjoy the character of Mairelon who reminded me of Howl from Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle.
The story was OK, but didn't really rise above any of the other books with similar plots. It moved a bit slowly for my liking and the end was played out in an unoriginal and chaotic manner with all the characters gathered together as the mystery is revealed, along with everyone's roles in it.
The second book was a bit more interesting, this time taking place in Regency London. The plot was another one that I've read several times already, of an unsophisticated, low-class young woman being taught to become a lady, with some magic thrown in. But although I found it to be an improvement over Mairelon the Magician it still wasn't as good as Wrede's other books.
So would I recommend A Matter of Magic? Perhaps to someone new to fantasy who hasn't already read several similar books already. But I would probably also try to guide them towards Wrede's other books and suggest that they might want to try those instead. Those who are already fans of Patricia Wrede might want to read A Matter of Magic just because she wrote it, and to them I would just offer a warning that in my opinion it's not her best work.
February 16, 2011
While there was nothing actively disappointing to it, the sad fact was that I found not a lot to this book that really excited me, either. The end of the first book was a confusing name salad, with a big load of exposition at the end seriously dragging down the tension of the scene, and the romance of the second book was a bit told-not-shown for my tastes -- a bit too Regency Romance in the bad way. And that's speaking as one who rather enjoys historical fantasy, and the Regency period in particular.
One of the troubles I had with it was that until better than halfway through the first book, I couldn't entirely tell that it WAS a Regency story, and not a Victorian one. Understandably, the plight of a London Street Urchin didn't change awfully between one century and the next, but the author might have done a little more work to make her setting plain rather than recounting the whole of the Dictionary of Thieves' Cant she clearly inhaled during the research process.
All that said, it wasn't bad at all; I don't feel cheated for having picked it up, paid for it, and read it, and while I might not read it again, I'll probably find someone who'll like it well enough on my holiday list.
One of the troubles I had with it was that until better than halfway through the first book, I couldn't entirely tell that it WAS a Regency story, and not a Victorian one. Understandably, the plight of a London Street Urchin didn't change awfully between one century and the next, but the author might have done a little more work to make her setting plain rather than recounting the whole of the Dictionary of Thieves' Cant she clearly inhaled during the research process.
All that said, it wasn't bad at all; I don't feel cheated for having picked it up, paid for it, and read it, and while I might not read it again, I'll probably find someone who'll like it well enough on my holiday list.
March 2, 2011
Reissue of Magic & Malice (Mairelon the Magician / The Magician's Ward)
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
June 15, 2019
There are no words for how much I adore this book.
April 19, 2016
So this book is actually two relatively short stories, bound into a single volume. The first one was........not great. It was ridiculously slow, there were about a million named characters all of whom seemed to be fighting over one stupid silver plate, and the back cover reviews kept being all "Regency romance!" and I was just sitting there all "...........okay, a) I'm insanely bored, and b) there is literally no romance in this at all. Ever. Why are you describing it as a romance??".
So the first book was pretty average as far as I was concerned, and it wasn't helped by the fact that Kim could have been anywhere between 8 and 18.
The second book was a vast improvement. There was plenty of action, we got to know a hell of a lot more about the magic system, and I actually chuckled a few times. But then there was a shoehorned romance that went from 0 to "we're getting married" in like a chapter. And on top of that, I STILL had no idea how old Kim was supposed to be, and yet she's being shoved at every eligible bachelor under 30. Which, no thank you.
Anyway, the first story was 2.5 stars. The second was 3.5 stars. Which balances out to a healthy dose of mediocrity.
So the first book was pretty average as far as I was concerned, and it wasn't helped by the fact that Kim could have been anywhere between 8 and 18.
The second book was a vast improvement. There was plenty of action, we got to know a hell of a lot more about the magic system, and I actually chuckled a few times. But then there was a shoehorned romance that went from 0 to "we're getting married" in like a chapter. And on top of that, I STILL had no idea how old Kim was supposed to be, and yet she's being shoved at every eligible bachelor under 30. Which, no thank you.
Anyway, the first story was 2.5 stars. The second was 3.5 stars. Which balances out to a healthy dose of mediocrity.
January 29, 2019
Mairelon The Magician - 2.5 stars
The Magicians Ward - 3.5 stars
The Magicians Ward - 3.5 stars
December 12, 2015
Well I did tell you I’d be back. It says a lot that I fully intended to do other things tonight and the book sucked me back in so thoroughly that I did not do those things.
“A Matter of Magic” is a squashing-together of two of Wrede’s books, “Mairelon the Magician” and “The Magician’s Ward.” It has the added benefit of having beautiful cover art. (See it? See the pretty, pretty cover art?)
In “Mairelon” we meet Kim, a thief who takes a job breaking into a street magician’s wagon on behalf of a mysterious man. The man says he just wants her to see if the magician has a silver bowl in his possession. Said magician, Mairelon, catches Kim when she touches the bag the bowl is wrapped in and it throws her into the wagon’s wall, knocking her unconscious. The bowl, as it happens, is part of a set, along with a platter and two balls, which can work a powerful spell, and Mairelon, the absent-minded young wizard, has been framed for the theft of the platter. Mairelon decides to bring Kim along with him on his search for the platter, to the chagrin of his grouchy companion, Hunch. Kim, tired of living on the street, being constantly hungry, wet, and cold, and hiding the fact that she’s a girl so that she won’t be forced into a brothel, agrees to go with them. On top of encountering many dangerous characters, all after the platter for their own various and dishonorable reasons, Mairelon discovers that Kim has the rare ability to feel magic, and he begins to train her as his apprentice. As in all good YA novels, there is danger, excitement, and a mounting sense that you are juuuust about to figure out what’s been going on since page four.
“The Magician’s Ward” takes off where “Mairelon” left off: that is to say, having solved the mystery of the theft, Kim is now focused on learning magic. Mairelon (or Richard Merrill as he is known in polite society) becomes her guardian, and they are now living in London, where the Season is about to begin. Under the guidance of Mairelon and his mother, Lady Wendall, Kim enters into society with new gowns, dances, dinners, visitations, rides in the park, interested young men, and a debut ball. Of course, it can’t be that easy. (You knew it wouldn’t be. You’re too clever to be thrown, aren’t you?) A rather inept thief attempts to steal a book from the Merrill family’s library, setting off a chain of magical catastrophes. Once again, Mairelon and Kim are mystery-solving, with heavy doses of magical training and dancing thrown in for good measure.
As with many of Wrede’s novels, the reader follows along as the young hero and heroine attempt to unravel the plots of the unscrupulous antagonists, the plots usually being focused on some kind of magical, and therefore dangerous in the wrong hands, object. (See also: “Sorcery and Cecilia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot” and the whole of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.)
I stayed up very, very late last night finishing Mairelon and starting Ward. It was an excellent read, and I found the plot to be very satisfying and intriguing. If you are a fan of who-done-it books, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this. Being an extraordinarily unobservant person, I followed along without ever stopping to seriously question the who or where until they were actually presented to me near the end. (This is NOT the fault of the book: it is a character flaw, but I own up to it, so there you go.)
Wrede does one of my favorite things, which is to write fiesty, capable girl characters. Her characters don’t wait in the corner while there’s sleuthing to be done; they boldly march into danger and whap anyone dumb enough to get in their way. I like that. It’s decisive. 3.5 stars, Ms. Wrede, for two jobs well done!
“A Matter of Magic” is a squashing-together of two of Wrede’s books, “Mairelon the Magician” and “The Magician’s Ward.” It has the added benefit of having beautiful cover art. (See it? See the pretty, pretty cover art?)
In “Mairelon” we meet Kim, a thief who takes a job breaking into a street magician’s wagon on behalf of a mysterious man. The man says he just wants her to see if the magician has a silver bowl in his possession. Said magician, Mairelon, catches Kim when she touches the bag the bowl is wrapped in and it throws her into the wagon’s wall, knocking her unconscious. The bowl, as it happens, is part of a set, along with a platter and two balls, which can work a powerful spell, and Mairelon, the absent-minded young wizard, has been framed for the theft of the platter. Mairelon decides to bring Kim along with him on his search for the platter, to the chagrin of his grouchy companion, Hunch. Kim, tired of living on the street, being constantly hungry, wet, and cold, and hiding the fact that she’s a girl so that she won’t be forced into a brothel, agrees to go with them. On top of encountering many dangerous characters, all after the platter for their own various and dishonorable reasons, Mairelon discovers that Kim has the rare ability to feel magic, and he begins to train her as his apprentice. As in all good YA novels, there is danger, excitement, and a mounting sense that you are juuuust about to figure out what’s been going on since page four.
“The Magician’s Ward” takes off where “Mairelon” left off: that is to say, having solved the mystery of the theft, Kim is now focused on learning magic. Mairelon (or Richard Merrill as he is known in polite society) becomes her guardian, and they are now living in London, where the Season is about to begin. Under the guidance of Mairelon and his mother, Lady Wendall, Kim enters into society with new gowns, dances, dinners, visitations, rides in the park, interested young men, and a debut ball. Of course, it can’t be that easy. (You knew it wouldn’t be. You’re too clever to be thrown, aren’t you?) A rather inept thief attempts to steal a book from the Merrill family’s library, setting off a chain of magical catastrophes. Once again, Mairelon and Kim are mystery-solving, with heavy doses of magical training and dancing thrown in for good measure.
As with many of Wrede’s novels, the reader follows along as the young hero and heroine attempt to unravel the plots of the unscrupulous antagonists, the plots usually being focused on some kind of magical, and therefore dangerous in the wrong hands, object. (See also: “Sorcery and Cecilia or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot” and the whole of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.)
I stayed up very, very late last night finishing Mairelon and starting Ward. It was an excellent read, and I found the plot to be very satisfying and intriguing. If you are a fan of who-done-it books, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this. Being an extraordinarily unobservant person, I followed along without ever stopping to seriously question the who or where until they were actually presented to me near the end. (This is NOT the fault of the book: it is a character flaw, but I own up to it, so there you go.)
Wrede does one of my favorite things, which is to write fiesty, capable girl characters. Her characters don’t wait in the corner while there’s sleuthing to be done; they boldly march into danger and whap anyone dumb enough to get in their way. I like that. It’s decisive. 3.5 stars, Ms. Wrede, for two jobs well done!
August 14, 2010
A Matter of Magic is actually an omnibus re-release of two books: Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward. I’m only a third of the way into The Magician’s Ward, but I quite enjoyed Mairelon the Magician. It’s a YA alternate-history fantasy set in Regency England. In this case, magic is a huge part of the culture of England, and magician’s not a secret at all but living as part of society. In fact, if you’re a magician, you can be part of Society (capital S) even if you’ve come from the gutters.
Mairelon the Magician is a book that doesn’t take itself, or the story, seriously. There are a number of secondary characters to keep track of, but they add to the book’s plot/conflict. The conflict and plot themselves are not complicated, but they’re well-paced, with no extra “filler” and nothing to slow it down, which kept me turning the pages. And though the story doesn’t take itself seriously, and it is a magic-filled fantasy, it makes itself entirely believable, as if this alternate history just could have happened.
I enjoyed both the primary characters (Kim and Mairelon) as well as the robust cast of secondary characters, and I was glad to have the second book to start reading immediately. It’s by no means the best fantasy or alternate history I’ve ever read, but it’s good entertainment, well-paced and fun. And I haven’t felt the urge to skim, haven’t been bored or felt dissatisfied. Since I’ve been in a reading slump, I call that a win!
Originally posted here: http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/...
I finished up A Matter of Magic by Patricia Wrede, which I mentioned here last week. In this case, finishing up means reading book 2, since it was actually a two-book omnibus. I enjoyed book one but I liked book two even more. Though the storylines are all nicely tied up, I liked the characters so much I looked to see if the author had ever written more books in that world, but sadly she had not. Recommended.
http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/...
Mairelon the Magician is a book that doesn’t take itself, or the story, seriously. There are a number of secondary characters to keep track of, but they add to the book’s plot/conflict. The conflict and plot themselves are not complicated, but they’re well-paced, with no extra “filler” and nothing to slow it down, which kept me turning the pages. And though the story doesn’t take itself seriously, and it is a magic-filled fantasy, it makes itself entirely believable, as if this alternate history just could have happened.
I enjoyed both the primary characters (Kim and Mairelon) as well as the robust cast of secondary characters, and I was glad to have the second book to start reading immediately. It’s by no means the best fantasy or alternate history I’ve ever read, but it’s good entertainment, well-paced and fun. And I haven’t felt the urge to skim, haven’t been bored or felt dissatisfied. Since I’ve been in a reading slump, I call that a win!
Originally posted here: http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/...
I finished up A Matter of Magic by Patricia Wrede, which I mentioned here last week. In this case, finishing up means reading book 2, since it was actually a two-book omnibus. I enjoyed book one but I liked book two even more. Though the storylines are all nicely tied up, I liked the characters so much I looked to see if the author had ever written more books in that world, but sadly she had not. Recommended.
http://nicemommy-evileditor.com/blog/...
December 10, 2012
This book was first recommended to me on Amazon a couple years ago, and I've been excited to read it ever since. However, on the whole I just thought it was okay.
Just to explain, A Matter of Magic is two seperate novels (Mairlon the Magician and The Magician's Ward) published together in one volume, which I think is smart.
While the story itself was just fine, I didn't find myself engaged in it as much as I'd like, especially Mairlon the Magician. I didn't connect as well with the characters as I'd hoped. Kim is a pretty strong main character, but since I've ben simultaneously listening to the Bloody Jack books, I kept comparing her to Jacky Faber, who has a similar background. It just didn't work out well.
The Magician's Ward was more exciting with Kim's entrance into London Society. A mystery is going on with someone trying desperately to steal something from Mairlon's family home, and they have to solve it. I burned my way right through that book. The action was more constant, and I felt the story flowed better.
Just to explain, A Matter of Magic is two seperate novels (Mairlon the Magician and The Magician's Ward) published together in one volume, which I think is smart.
While the story itself was just fine, I didn't find myself engaged in it as much as I'd like, especially Mairlon the Magician. I didn't connect as well with the characters as I'd hoped. Kim is a pretty strong main character, but since I've ben simultaneously listening to the Bloody Jack books, I kept comparing her to Jacky Faber, who has a similar background. It just didn't work out well.
The Magician's Ward was more exciting with Kim's entrance into London Society. A mystery is going on with someone trying desperately to steal something from Mairlon's family home, and they have to solve it. I burned my way right through that book. The action was more constant, and I felt the story flowed better.
September 10, 2010
if you extracted the better elements from the terrible psuedo-genre known as regency romance, ladled on some tamora pierce, and sprinkled the scarlet pimpernell on top-- these two novellas are the probable result.
the plot was fun, original, and certainly better than average. it skims over true development of the characters, who are likable and unique but could use deeper exploration. the prose was too wordy, too convoluted, and a little too self-absorbed for my taste.
i liked the second book better than the first, but both were enjoyable for a vacation read.
the plot was fun, original, and certainly better than average. it skims over true development of the characters, who are likable and unique but could use deeper exploration. the prose was too wordy, too convoluted, and a little too self-absorbed for my taste.
i liked the second book better than the first, but both were enjoyable for a vacation read.
January 2, 2014
Hmmmm....I give this 2.5 because while it was fairly entertaining there were some probs.
First off, hate to say it but what started out as a fun adventure turned quickly redundant and trying. The characters sashayed from place to place attempting to investigate/solve a crime. The story itself reminded me vaguely of the Sherlock Holmes movies, because there was all these quick talking British people explaining everything they found out the entire way through.
And it might have worked if they'd cut out a good 40 percent of that.
First off, hate to say it but what started out as a fun adventure turned quickly redundant and trying. The characters sashayed from place to place attempting to investigate/solve a crime. The story itself reminded me vaguely of the Sherlock Holmes movies, because there was all these quick talking British people explaining everything they found out the entire way through.
And it might have worked if they'd cut out a good 40 percent of that.
February 25, 2016
I really liked the first 1/4... But then there were too many characters to keep track of and the story didn't click with me. *shrug*
March 21, 2022
Regency romance + magic/fantasy + mystery + strong female lead + PG Wodehouse style send ups + great writing + surprising sidekicks = all my favorite things.
This was two books in one. In the first installment, Mairelon the Magician, we meet Kim, a street urchin making ends meet by thieving. She's disguised as a boy and keeps her secret hidden well to keep her safe. She gets a too good to be true assignment from a "toff" one night - break into a traveling magician's wagon and determine if he has a silver bowl with unique etchings. She does the first bit seamlessly, and is in the midst of confirming she has the right silver bowl when she's busted by the performer, who turns out to be a real magician. Mairelon decides to take Kim under his wing as an apprentice rather than hand her over to the authorities. What ensues is a chase across the English countryside to clear Mairelon's name and track down the rest of the enchanted silver set. And of course the story has a strong "My Fair Lady" flavor, as Mairelon gives Kim lessons on vocabulary, pronunciation, magic lessons, reading, etc. The first one quickly becomes crowded with characters, largely men who are members of a Druid clan trying to lay claim on the silver platter to use it as part of their not so religious but certainly rowdy ceremonies and revelries.
It was a bit confusing at times - a cast of characters at the intro would have been so helpful. The antics got far more entertaining with the entrance of three other female leads with strong opinions and motives of their own. The grand reveal at the end was beyond comical and very entertaining and satisfying.
The second novel really contains the romance, along with another mystery or two, and it's all balanced very well. I enjoyed the first novel for it's Wodehouse humor, the second for it's Georgette Heyer romance notes. Of course Wrede builds a good foundation for the romance in her first novel. In the second, the Magician's Ward, we get to see Kim suffer through a shopping and dress fitting excursion, her debut into "Society," and her growing talents as she studies magic with Mairelon.
Both novels were utterly delightful!
This was two books in one. In the first installment, Mairelon the Magician, we meet Kim, a street urchin making ends meet by thieving. She's disguised as a boy and keeps her secret hidden well to keep her safe. She gets a too good to be true assignment from a "toff" one night - break into a traveling magician's wagon and determine if he has a silver bowl with unique etchings. She does the first bit seamlessly, and is in the midst of confirming she has the right silver bowl when she's busted by the performer, who turns out to be a real magician. Mairelon decides to take Kim under his wing as an apprentice rather than hand her over to the authorities. What ensues is a chase across the English countryside to clear Mairelon's name and track down the rest of the enchanted silver set. And of course the story has a strong "My Fair Lady" flavor, as Mairelon gives Kim lessons on vocabulary, pronunciation, magic lessons, reading, etc. The first one quickly becomes crowded with characters, largely men who are members of a Druid clan trying to lay claim on the silver platter to use it as part of their not so religious but certainly rowdy ceremonies and revelries.
It was a bit confusing at times - a cast of characters at the intro would have been so helpful. The antics got far more entertaining with the entrance of three other female leads with strong opinions and motives of their own. The grand reveal at the end was beyond comical and very entertaining and satisfying.
The second novel really contains the romance, along with another mystery or two, and it's all balanced very well. I enjoyed the first novel for it's Wodehouse humor, the second for it's Georgette Heyer romance notes. Of course Wrede builds a good foundation for the romance in her first novel. In the second, the Magician's Ward, we get to see Kim suffer through a shopping and dress fitting excursion, her debut into "Society," and her growing talents as she studies magic with Mairelon.
Both novels were utterly delightful!
October 15, 2017
I have read and enjoyed a lot of Wrede books but this just wasn’t one of them. I struggled with this book right from the first chapter. I just could not stay engaged in the story and really had to focus to pay attention and follow what was happening. I read to around page 150 and then stopped because I realized I was finding excuses to not sit down and read this book.
I think part of my issue with this book was the main heroine. Kim is supposed to be sixteen years old; but she sounds and acts much younger. For having grown up on the streets of London she seems very naive and trusting. I kept thinking I was reading about a 10 or 11 year old and having to remind myself that she was older.
Additionally not a lot happens in the first 150 pages. Kim ends up leaving to journey with the Magician. On the journey she’s exposed to a ton of names (that are hard to keep track of) and bits of intrigue (that were revealed in a painfully slow manner). There’s a lot of Kim listening at doors and acquiring bits and pieces of info about things that I, as the reader, didn’t really care about.
I finally found myself finding a million things to do instead of read this book. It was just soooo boring to me and hard to read. I do think there are some good characters and world-building here. Those who like a slower paced fantasy chock full of intrigue might really enjoy this...it just wasn’t for me.
Overall this was an okay book but I struggled with it. In the end I decided to stop reading it because I just didn’t care about the characters or what was happening. I had a hard time focusing and engaging with the story.
June 16, 2024
This is a two-part omnibus story which i read in one volume but separately. The first volume i experienced as a readaloud with friends, which was great fun. The second volume i read on my own. Both were enjoyable. In some ways i liked the second volume more; the characters are already established (except for a few new introductions) and the stakes of the magical intrigue higher. It is also more complicated on a couple levels, one of which is the main character’s introduction into Society and the element of romance that inevitably demands. i am not 100% thrilled with how this resolved. It was (narratively) conventionally correct, but Kim is still so obviously nearly a child, having passed for a boy only a year prior and not yet fully awakened to her own developing feelings, that an age gap is not what i’d prefer for her. But the characters and intrigue are quite satisfying. This isn’t my favorite Wrede but it is enjoyable.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
May 10, 2023I enjoyed the author's Sorcery & Cecelia. It was charming and funny. So I have big hopes for this one too. Unfortunately, it seems to be a different kind of novel. And sadly, not my kind. At least, how it looked like. The mix of magic in Victorian England, a mystery, and a bit of a romance - should work for me. Yet, I couldn't get involved.
August 8, 2017
Another marvelous set of characters from Wrede! Making magic commonplace in Regency England comes naturally for her. And although the story itself did not present surprisingly, the genre never tires of spunky, independent and feminine heroines. Kim and Mairelon are worth rooting for, as is the intertwining of wizardry and waltzes in the ever-judgemental ballrooms of the ton. Thouroughly enjoyable read.
February 25, 2019
This is an amazing series. I love the characters and it has a good plot. The only issue is that in the first book I couldn't understand everything that Kim says. I mean, she was raised in the streets in the bad part of London, and as such she has an accent and talks like a street thief, but I still don't know what she is talking about an eighth of the time. These books are great and I have read them about five times and recommend them really highly.
April 1, 2024
Still love this book 10 years after I first read it
September 21, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I especially found the end of it hard to put down. I was disappointed that there are no more books featuring these two characters, as I would happily read more.
Read
January 9, 2021I need to re-read this. I remember liking it?
August 2, 2012
You know what they always say: don't judge a book by its cover. But in this case, they were wrong! This book's absolutely gorgeous cover promises all the best of Patricia C. Wrede's considerable talent at writing lively, intelligent and thoroughly charming magical tales for all ages - and it does not disappoint.
I had not realized how much I had missed reading Patricia Wrede's unique brand of fantasy adventure fiction until I found A Matter of Magic by chance. Here, it's combined with a wonderful Regency England setting (pretty much ticking all the boxes for me). The first book, Mairelon the Magician, reminds me of the Enchanted Forest chronicles with a terrific little mystery and adventurous romp across the countryside as Mairelon, Kim and Hunch attempts to dodge their pursuers and find the Saltash Set at the same time. The second book, The Magician's Ward, is much stronger on the Regency romance aspects, although Wrede keeps the romance very subtle. I think I preferred the adventure of the first one slightly, but watching Kim navigate her way amongst the members of the ton is also a lot of fun.
I really do like Kim; she's eminently sensible and practical, intelligent and with a firm moral compass despite her background as a street thief. The relationship between her and Mairelon grows a lot throughout the two novels, but they retain their awesome dynamic throughout - Kim keeping Mairelon out of trouble with considerable eye-rolling and exasperation, while Mairelon's absentminded good-nature is both endearing and amusing. The ending is jolly satisfying, too, particularly for Mairelon/Kim fans. Kim thankfully remains characteristically grounded throughout the second book despite her changed circumstances and the flurry of ball gowns, marquises and related shenanigans.
The magic is also a lot of fun! There's something I really love about the magic aspect in Patricia Wrede's books - they're so very traditional, but that's the whole charm. They make sense, are vividly crafted and perfectly woven into the plot without being shoved in readers' faces. I know that people always talk about "new magic systems" and so on, but one doesn't always have to reinvent the wheel. Talented writers have a way of taking what's considered done and dusted and turning it into something fresh, which is what Wrede has done here.
A Matter of Magic brings back many fond memories of my younger years spent rereading the Enchanted Forest chronicles. That said, this is a book (or books, I suppose) that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages and interests; this will satisfy fans of fantasy, historical fiction, a good mystery and a spot of romance.
I had not realized how much I had missed reading Patricia Wrede's unique brand of fantasy adventure fiction until I found A Matter of Magic by chance. Here, it's combined with a wonderful Regency England setting (pretty much ticking all the boxes for me). The first book, Mairelon the Magician, reminds me of the Enchanted Forest chronicles with a terrific little mystery and adventurous romp across the countryside as Mairelon, Kim and Hunch attempts to dodge their pursuers and find the Saltash Set at the same time. The second book, The Magician's Ward, is much stronger on the Regency romance aspects, although Wrede keeps the romance very subtle. I think I preferred the adventure of the first one slightly, but watching Kim navigate her way amongst the members of the ton is also a lot of fun.
I really do like Kim; she's eminently sensible and practical, intelligent and with a firm moral compass despite her background as a street thief. The relationship between her and Mairelon grows a lot throughout the two novels, but they retain their awesome dynamic throughout - Kim keeping Mairelon out of trouble with considerable eye-rolling and exasperation, while Mairelon's absentminded good-nature is both endearing and amusing. The ending is jolly satisfying, too, particularly for Mairelon/Kim fans. Kim thankfully remains characteristically grounded throughout the second book despite her changed circumstances and the flurry of ball gowns, marquises and related shenanigans.
The magic is also a lot of fun! There's something I really love about the magic aspect in Patricia Wrede's books - they're so very traditional, but that's the whole charm. They make sense, are vividly crafted and perfectly woven into the plot without being shoved in readers' faces. I know that people always talk about "new magic systems" and so on, but one doesn't always have to reinvent the wheel. Talented writers have a way of taking what's considered done and dusted and turning it into something fresh, which is what Wrede has done here.
A Matter of Magic brings back many fond memories of my younger years spent rereading the Enchanted Forest chronicles. That said, this is a book (or books, I suppose) that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages and interests; this will satisfy fans of fantasy, historical fiction, a good mystery and a spot of romance.
October 21, 2012
This was one quirky novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The world of this novel is an alternate-type England where it's quite acceptable for people to be wizards, or "frogmakers" as street thief and wizard-in-training, Kim, calls them.
The story in book #1 was slow to start for me. I didn't really understand where it was going, and I definitely wasn't expecting Wrede's use of farce. I've read her Enchanted Forest books, which I remember being quirky & funny, but some of these situations were so over the top that I couldn't help bu chuckle. There were A LOT of characters involved in the first book, and sometimes it could be a little confusing. I'm really good at keeping track of people though, so it really didn't bother me, especially once I got the hang of who was who. I loved the dose of "thieve's cant," the dialect, for lack of a better word, that Kim speaks before she meets Mairelon, the magician. All of the trouble ends up being over a set of enchanted dishes that the gentry falsely believe the Mairelon stole, and this is where the farce/comedic element really shows--multiple burglary attempts, appearance of everyone involved, and highly improbably in real life.
Book #2 was better rounded out & flowed better, in my opinion. It also had less characters to keep track of, which was a relief after the first book. This story sill centered around a mystery, but there was also a bit of romance involved, and the typical London Season and the manners and social niceties that follow (the opera, a ball, teas, etc.) I typically love Regency pieces, so this was right up my ally. As Kim is now a member of "polite" society, she has shed her thieving dialect, but pulls it out as a weapon of shock, which gave rise to one of my favorite scenes in the book. Though she knows how to behave, Kim stayed true to her character, which I appreciated. Again, the farce elements were very well-done and even felt more believable than in Book 1. And it ended how I predicted (and hoped) it would, so I was happy.
I had to change my rating because I probably would give Book 1 by itself three stars, and Book 2 a 4.5. I thought 4 stars was a happy medium.
Recommended for fans of quirky, farce-like situations and Regency-set stories.
The story in book #1 was slow to start for me. I didn't really understand where it was going, and I definitely wasn't expecting Wrede's use of farce. I've read her Enchanted Forest books, which I remember being quirky & funny, but some of these situations were so over the top that I couldn't help bu chuckle. There were A LOT of characters involved in the first book, and sometimes it could be a little confusing. I'm really good at keeping track of people though, so it really didn't bother me, especially once I got the hang of who was who. I loved the dose of "thieve's cant," the dialect, for lack of a better word, that Kim speaks before she meets Mairelon, the magician. All of the trouble ends up being over a set of enchanted dishes that the gentry falsely believe the Mairelon stole, and this is where the farce/comedic element really shows--multiple burglary attempts, appearance of everyone involved, and highly improbably in real life.
Book #2 was better rounded out & flowed better, in my opinion. It also had less characters to keep track of, which was a relief after the first book. This story sill centered around a mystery, but there was also a bit of romance involved, and the typical London Season and the manners and social niceties that follow (the opera, a ball, teas, etc.) I typically love Regency pieces, so this was right up my ally. As Kim is now a member of "polite" society, she has shed her thieving dialect, but pulls it out as a weapon of shock, which gave rise to one of my favorite scenes in the book. Though she knows how to behave, Kim stayed true to her character, which I appreciated. Again, the farce elements were very well-done and even felt more believable than in Book 1. And it ended how I predicted (and hoped) it would, so I was happy.
I had to change my rating because I probably would give Book 1 by itself three stars, and Book 2 a 4.5. I thought 4 stars was a happy medium.
Recommended for fans of quirky, farce-like situations and Regency-set stories.
July 27, 2010
A Matter of Magic was a nice, quick read that fulfilled my desire for both fantasy and historical fiction. Originally published as two separate books, Mairelon the Magician (published in 1991) and The Magician’s Ward (published in 1997), A Matter of Magic gives you both for the price of one.
The stories in both books are not directly related, but it makes sense to offer the reader’s the full tale of Kim and Mairelon in one book. The first part of the book, originally Mairelon the Magician, I found entertaining, but at times confusing. There were a lot of secondary characters and everyone was after the same thing, some set of magic trinkets, that I kept easily getting confused and could not keep straight what character was what and who was good in bad. As the book progressed it got clearer but I was still confused until after the climax, where what everyone has been searching for is found. Then everything became clearer.
I enjoyed the second installment, originally The Magician’s Ward, a lot more then the first part. I was able to read through the second half much faster and make a lot more sense of the story. I loved seeing Kim progress from a street rat living as a thief into a respectable lady. The plot was not as complicated as the first half of the book making it a lot easier to understand. My only issue with this story line was the romance seemed to jump a little to quickly off the page. I saw it coming but would have liked to see it developed a bit more before the “bam! I’m in love.”
Overall, this book was a nice, quick read that I brought on a whim for Nook. I enjoyed it and did fulfill my desire to read historical and fantasy fiction at the same time.
The stories in both books are not directly related, but it makes sense to offer the reader’s the full tale of Kim and Mairelon in one book. The first part of the book, originally Mairelon the Magician, I found entertaining, but at times confusing. There were a lot of secondary characters and everyone was after the same thing, some set of magic trinkets, that I kept easily getting confused and could not keep straight what character was what and who was good in bad. As the book progressed it got clearer but I was still confused until after the climax, where what everyone has been searching for is found. Then everything became clearer.
I enjoyed the second installment, originally The Magician’s Ward, a lot more then the first part. I was able to read through the second half much faster and make a lot more sense of the story. I loved seeing Kim progress from a street rat living as a thief into a respectable lady. The plot was not as complicated as the first half of the book making it a lot easier to understand. My only issue with this story line was the romance seemed to jump a little to quickly off the page. I saw it coming but would have liked to see it developed a bit more before the “bam! I’m in love.”
Overall, this book was a nice, quick read that I brought on a whim for Nook. I enjoyed it and did fulfill my desire to read historical and fantasy fiction at the same time.
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