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Summary
Summary
Discover the fantasy and wonder of The Magic Thief, the first book in Sarah Prineas's acclaimed middle grade fantasy series! Diana Wynne Jones, author of Howl's Moving Castle, said: "I couldn't put it down. Wonderful, exciting stuff."
In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who--or what--is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.
Summary
Discover the fantasy and wonder of The Magic Thief, the first book in Sarah Prineas's acclaimed middle grade fantasy series! Diana Wynne Jones, author of Howl's Moving Castle, said: "I couldn't put it down. Wonderful, exciting stuff."
In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who--or what--is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.
Author Notes
Sarah Prineas holds a PhD in English literature. She has taught honors seminars on fantasy and science fiction literature at the University of Iowa. She writes The Magic Thief series and fantasy short stories for adults.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Sarah Prineas holds a PhD in English literature. She has taught honors seminars on fantasy and science fiction literature at the University of Iowa. She writes The Magic Thief series and fantasy short stories for adults.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (10)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Thinking he is stealing from a wealthy old man, street urchin Conn steals Wizard Nevery's "locus magicalicus," a magic stone that, according to the rules of magic, should have killed the boy. When it doesn't, Nevery takes Conn with him and eventually agrees to make him his apprentice if he finds his own stone within 30 days. Conn studies magic and tries to find the stone, while Nevery searches for the cause of the ebbing of magic from the land of Wellmet that is weakening the city. The two quests converge when Conn must use and destroy his newly claimed locus stone to defeat the device the Underlord has created to imprison Wellmet's magic. Narrator Greg Steinbruner's British accent suits Sarah Prineas's fantasy (HarperCollins, 2008), and he gives consistent and appropriate voices to the various characters, though the voice of Conn seems strained and tight at first. While his pacing is somewhat halting at times, listeners will not notice it as they become involved in the story. This first title of a projected trilogy will be popular with fantasy fans.-Louise L. Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers clamoring for magical tales will enjoy Prineas's fast-paced first novel, the opener of a promising trilogy. Conn-waer, a preteen pickpocket, steals the locus magicalicus from the most revered and powerful wizard in the city of Wellmet. Recently returned from banishment, Nevery Flinglas is not angered by the boy's thievery, just surprised the stone's power didn't kill the orphan. Accordingly, Nevery takes him on as a potential apprentice and offers him refuge in his crumbling home. Soon, Conn must enroll in wizard school, find his own magical stone and help his master determine the cause of Wellmet's diminishing magic while avoiding some unsavory characters. Prineas depicts Conn, the narrator, as refreshingly candid and a quick study while revealing Nevery as insightful and unexpectedly caring. Interspersed throughout and printed to look like facsimiles, Nevery's journal entries and correspondence offer intriguing counterpoint to Conn's perspective; sketches of characters and places, incorporated on the first page of each chapter, also lighten the lengthy text. The magical fireworks do not explode until the end, leaving readers confident that Prineas will turn up the heat in the next installment. Ages 10-up. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) Precocious Conn becomes a wizard's apprentice when he pickpockets a locus magicalicus stone off of "bent, bearded, cloak-wearing old croakety croak" Nevery Flinglas and, to the wizard's astonishment, isn't killed. Despite Conn's mysterious affinity for magic, one thing stands in the way of his new status -- he doesn't possess a locus magicalicus of his own. Searching through the neighborhoods of Sunrise (affluent) and Twilight (a slum), Conn picks up information useful to his new master, who's trying to stem the catastrophic loss of magic from the city of Wellmet. An amiable tale akin to that of another well-known boy wizard, The Magic Thief sports a large font and generous leading; young readers will also find the familiar character types and straightforward plotting easy to grasp, while the evolving conflicts and distinctive setting draw them on.From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An uncommonly engaging young narrator kicks this debut fantasy ahead of the general run. Street-rat Connwaer's skill at picking locks and pockets comes back to bite him when he tries to steal the "locus magicalicus" talisman of gruff sorcerer Nevery Flinglas. Suddenly, Conn finds himself apprenticed to the magician, searching for a locus magicalicus of his own (all magicians have to have one), and deeply involved in discovering why all magic is rapidly draining out of the town of Wellmet. Canny, a quick study and endowed with a heroic appetite for biscuits, Conn works his way into the hearts of both his master and the mystery, meeting several memorable characters--notably Benet, a surly hired thug who can cook and knit as well as he can break heads--along the way to a literally explosive climax. All in all a sturdy start, illustrated with Caparo's realistic portraits at the chapter heads and reminiscent of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap tales (Queste, 2008, etc.) in style and setting. (map; glossary, runes and biscuit recipe not seen) (Fantasy. 10-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Young Conn opens the first volume of this new trilogy, noting A thief is a lot like a wizard. Conn is a thief but, through desire and inevitability, becomes a wizard by book's end. This evolution begins when Conn picks the pocket of the wizard Nevery, who is startled that the nicked magical stone didn't kill the boy. Nevery takes on Conn as a servant, but the boy's inquisitiveness and talents move him to apprentice status. Nevery has recently returned to Willmet to save the city-state, which is faltering as its magic seeps away. As Conn becomes more enmeshed in his new life, he navigates through the intricate dealings of both the wizarding world and the political machinations of the Underlord. The events are not as lively as in some middle-grade fantasies though Conn's turn as a cat is delightful, and his search for his own stone is very well played. What works wonderfully well here is the boy's irresistible voice, which is supplemented by the writings of Nevery in his journal, its creased and stained pages appearing as apart of the design. Readers will particularly enjoy the way Conn often knows just a little more than his master, and they'll look forward to seeing how much more he learns as the series progresses.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-Thinking he is stealing from a wealthy old man, street urchin Conn steals Wizard Nevery's "locus magicalicus," a magic stone that, according to the rules of magic, should have killed the boy. When it doesn't, Nevery takes Conn with him and eventually agrees to make him his apprentice if he finds his own stone within 30 days. Conn studies magic and tries to find the stone, while Nevery searches for the cause of the ebbing of magic from the land of Wellmet that is weakening the city. The two quests converge when Conn must use and destroy his newly claimed locus stone to defeat the device the Underlord has created to imprison Wellmet's magic. Narrator Greg Steinbruner's British accent suits Sarah Prineas's fantasy (HarperCollins, 2008), and he gives consistent and appropriate voices to the various characters, though the voice of Conn seems strained and tight at first. While his pacing is somewhat halting at times, listeners will not notice it as they become involved in the story. This first title of a projected trilogy will be popular with fantasy fans.-Louise L. Sherman, formerly Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Readers clamoring for magical tales will enjoy Prineas's fast-paced first novel, the opener of a promising trilogy. Conn-waer, a preteen pickpocket, steals the locus magicalicus from the most revered and powerful wizard in the city of Wellmet. Recently returned from banishment, Nevery Flinglas is not angered by the boy's thievery, just surprised the stone's power didn't kill the orphan. Accordingly, Nevery takes him on as a potential apprentice and offers him refuge in his crumbling home. Soon, Conn must enroll in wizard school, find his own magical stone and help his master determine the cause of Wellmet's diminishing magic while avoiding some unsavory characters. Prineas depicts Conn, the narrator, as refreshingly candid and a quick study while revealing Nevery as insightful and unexpectedly caring. Interspersed throughout and printed to look like facsimiles, Nevery's journal entries and correspondence offer intriguing counterpoint to Conn's perspective; sketches of characters and places, incorporated on the first page of each chapter, also lighten the lengthy text. The magical fireworks do not explode until the end, leaving readers confident that Prineas will turn up the heat in the next installment. Ages 10-up. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) Precocious Conn becomes a wizard's apprentice when he pickpockets a locus magicalicus stone off of "bent, bearded, cloak-wearing old croakety croak" Nevery Flinglas and, to the wizard's astonishment, isn't killed. Despite Conn's mysterious affinity for magic, one thing stands in the way of his new status -- he doesn't possess a locus magicalicus of his own. Searching through the neighborhoods of Sunrise (affluent) and Twilight (a slum), Conn picks up information useful to his new master, who's trying to stem the catastrophic loss of magic from the city of Wellmet. An amiable tale akin to that of another well-known boy wizard, The Magic Thief sports a large font and generous leading; young readers will also find the familiar character types and straightforward plotting easy to grasp, while the evolving conflicts and distinctive setting draw them on.From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An uncommonly engaging young narrator kicks this debut fantasy ahead of the general run. Street-rat Connwaer's skill at picking locks and pockets comes back to bite him when he tries to steal the "locus magicalicus" talisman of gruff sorcerer Nevery Flinglas. Suddenly, Conn finds himself apprenticed to the magician, searching for a locus magicalicus of his own (all magicians have to have one), and deeply involved in discovering why all magic is rapidly draining out of the town of Wellmet. Canny, a quick study and endowed with a heroic appetite for biscuits, Conn works his way into the hearts of both his master and the mystery, meeting several memorable characters--notably Benet, a surly hired thug who can cook and knit as well as he can break heads--along the way to a literally explosive climax. All in all a sturdy start, illustrated with Caparo's realistic portraits at the chapter heads and reminiscent of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap tales (Queste, 2008, etc.) in style and setting. (map; glossary, runes and biscuit recipe not seen) (Fantasy. 10-13) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Young Conn opens the first volume of this new trilogy, noting A thief is a lot like a wizard. Conn is a thief but, through desire and inevitability, becomes a wizard by book's end. This evolution begins when Conn picks the pocket of the wizard Nevery, who is startled that the nicked magical stone didn't kill the boy. Nevery takes on Conn as a servant, but the boy's inquisitiveness and talents move him to apprentice status. Nevery has recently returned to Willmet to save the city-state, which is faltering as its magic seeps away. As Conn becomes more enmeshed in his new life, he navigates through the intricate dealings of both the wizarding world and the political machinations of the Underlord. The events are not as lively as in some middle-grade fantasies though Conn's turn as a cat is delightful, and his search for his own stone is very well played. What works wonderfully well here is the boy's irresistible voice, which is supplemented by the writings of Nevery in his journal, its creased and stained pages appearing as apart of the design. Readers will particularly enjoy the way Conn often knows just a little more than his master, and they'll look forward to seeing how much more he learns as the series progresses.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist