The Magic Thief

May 4, 2009
In this thrilling sequel to The Magic Thief, Conn, "a gutterboy from the streets of Twilight," continues to seek solutions and instead finds trouble. Still the unconventional apprentice of Nevery Flinglas, Magister of Wellmet, Conn, having lost his "locus magicalicus" (the stone that allows him to commune with the magic), is forced to improvise when his hometown is threatened by the sorcerer-king Aspeling. To further complicate matters, Conn gets exiled from Wellmet for using pyrotechnics, the Dutchess's daughter is in danger and Conn's "embero" spell turns him into bird instead of a cat. Conn has a heart of gold, but struggles with his past reputation as a thief, and his reluctance to work with a partner holds him back ("I wasn't sure, exactly, what diplomacy was"). Like its predecessor, this story is interspersed with letters and journal entries, as well as skillful etchings, giving readers an intimacy with the characters. Eloquent and suspenseful, this follow-up doesn't disappoint. Ages 10-up.

June 16, 2008
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 1, 2008
Gr 3-6-Conn, a pickpocket on the streets of Twilight, one day picks the pocket of a powerful wizard and steals his locus magicalicus, the center of his power. It should kill Conn, but it doesn't. Nevery, the wizard, has just returned after a 22-year exile, to try to save the town from the leaching of its magic, upon which so much, including its economy, depends. Curious about the boy, Nevery takes him on as an assistant and then an apprentice. Although it is the wizard's job to stem the tide of the disappearing magic, he seems unable to do so. Conn believes he knows the answer, but his enemies are closing in. Prineas has created an appealing cast of characters, which she carefully reveals through their actions. The story is told primarily by Conn, and is interspersed with cryptic journal entries by Nevery, which offer a tantalizing counterpoint to the protagonist's viewpoint. Their voices are consistent and well handled. Exciting without being frantic, the narrative wastes no time getting to the heart of the story. This novel would work well as a read-aloud, as it has a conversational rhythm that moves the plot along. The book is long, but the large print and appealing drawings will encourage younger readers. Fantasy and adventure lovers alike will groan when they get to the tantalizingly mischievous ending, and are likely to hound you until the sequel arrives."Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
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.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2009
Precocious pickpocket Conn becomes an apprentice to Nevery Flinglas, a wizard trying to stem the loss of magic from the city. Readers will find the familiar character types and straightforward plotting of this amiable tale (akin to that of another well-known boy wizard) easy to grasp, while the evolving conflicts and distinctive setting will draw them on.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)