Scan barcode
bookshelfmonkey's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
amotisse's review against another edition
4.0
This series is epic in many ways from the depth and breadth of the worlds it contains to the length of each volume. Fascinating and richly recounted.
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
5.0
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me this book to review.
Tyen is a student of archaeology and magic, living in a world where all machines are powered by magic, he finds a book which used to be a person called Vella. Since Vella can read the minds of anyone she touches and has to tell the truth, she has been collecting information which some people would do anything to get their hands on her, Tyen must find a way to protect her. In another world where only priests are allowed to use magic, and everyone else who uses it is stealing from the Angels, Rielle has always been able to see the stain left behind when someone has used magic. But when she is attracted to a man her family does not approve of, she is worried that the corrupter’s interest in her will lead her astray and she will face the angel’s fury.
Thief’s Magic is Trudi Canavan new fantasy trilogy and I loved it as it has action, fascinating and different worlds, romance and magic. The pacing is a bit slow to start but it really picks up and I struggled to put it down. It is told from the POV of both Tyen and Rielle, and I love how different the use of magic and the worlds are, as in Rielle’s world magic is seen as something holy which only angels and priests can use, however, in Tyen’s, magic is seen as a commodity.
I liked Rielle as she was kind and always wanted to do what was right and good, however, I got annoyed that she never asked questions and always believed what she was told instead of thinking for herself. I really liked Tyen as he comes across as proper but will always do what he thinks of as right even when others are against him, and will try to help those in need. I liked Vella but I hope we get to know her better in the next book.
I can’t wait to see what happens next to Tyen and to Rielle, and see what other worlds there are out there. I would recommend Thief’s Magic to anyone who enjoys fantasy books, especially those by Trudi Canavan.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me this book to review.
Tyen is a student of archaeology and magic, living in a world where all machines are powered by magic, he finds a book which used to be a person called Vella. Since Vella can read the minds of anyone she touches and has to tell the truth, she has been collecting information which some people would do anything to get their hands on her, Tyen must find a way to protect her. In another world where only priests are allowed to use magic, and everyone else who uses it is stealing from the Angels, Rielle has always been able to see the stain left behind when someone has used magic. But when she is attracted to a man her family does not approve of, she is worried that the corrupter’s interest in her will lead her astray and she will face the angel’s fury.
Thief’s Magic is Trudi Canavan new fantasy trilogy and I loved it as it has action, fascinating and different worlds, romance and magic. The pacing is a bit slow to start but it really picks up and I struggled to put it down. It is told from the POV of both Tyen and Rielle, and I love how different the use of magic and the worlds are, as in Rielle’s world magic is seen as something holy which only angels and priests can use, however, in Tyen’s, magic is seen as a commodity.
I liked Rielle as she was kind and always wanted to do what was right and good, however, I got annoyed that she never asked questions and always believed what she was told instead of thinking for herself. I really liked Tyen as he comes across as proper but will always do what he thinks of as right even when others are against him, and will try to help those in need. I liked Vella but I hope we get to know her better in the next book.
I can’t wait to see what happens next to Tyen and to Rielle, and see what other worlds there are out there. I would recommend Thief’s Magic to anyone who enjoys fantasy books, especially those by Trudi Canavan.
sepptb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bailo2's review against another edition
4.0
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | STORE
“Citizens of Leratia be warned,” it read. “MAGIC IS RUNNING OUT! We are fast speeding towards a FUTURE without sorcery. Without HEALERS. Without a DEFENCE AGAINST INVADERS. Without MACHINES. The Society of Magical Preservation invites you to learn of this IMPENDING PERIL, and how it might be AVOIDED.”
I was skeptical and read tentatively at the beginning of Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan. I didn’t think I would like it all. It jumped in too fast for my liking. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the characters, and the dialogue may have caused me to wince a time or two. I said to myself, if it doesn’t get better by 25% then I’ll move on.
Once I settled in though, the book became better and better.
Thief’s Magic is more of two books in one, swapping back and forth between the stories of Tyen and Rielle. Tyen is an archeology student and sorcerer in training at the Academy in a steampunk-esque world. Leratia runs on machines powered by magic, which is unexplainably depleting. Tyen finds a magical book of immense power, which may have the knowledge to save his world. However, his discovery of the book puts him in danger, and he quickly becomes a fugitive. Rielle, on the other hand, comes from Fyre, a world rich in magic that seems to be comparable to the Middle East. Magic is only wielded by priests, and those who learn magic outside of the priests is tainted and shameful. Rielle can seem the remnants of magic and therefore has the ability to learn it herself, but dares not at it is strictly forbidden and she has better things to do, like please her parents by finding a suitable match.
These worlds were fascinating and rich in detail. Both are similar in that females are largely oppressed. The book barely passes the Bechdel test, which would usually bother me, but it was clearly intentional. Other than the death of feminism, Leratia and Fyre are unalike. I would consider this book to be high fantasy and nicely fleshed out but without being a million pages long. Canavan creates clear societies, cultures, rules, and mythologies for each of these places. It was the best world building I’ve read recently, and I enjoyed how the settings informed the characters’ choices. I also found the corresponding magic systems to be unique.
The writing also evened out and moved at a nice clip after the first couple of chapters.
Tyen and Rielle have separate story arcs that do not seem to connect at all. Both go under major character arcs however. There is one glaring similarity in their journeys however. Both eventually question the integrity of the powers that be (for Tyen that’s the Academy, and for Rielle, the priests) leading them to become more self-assured and make individualistic choices. This change in character largely propels both of their stories forward.
I only have one issue with the book now that I’ve finished it but it contains a spoiler so read at your own risk. Because Tyen and Rielle’s stories never end up intersecting, the book feels more like a prequel than the first book in a series. The ending is not tidy, but not exactly propelling for a sequel. I think a stronger ending would’ve been for them to finally cross paths. If the authoress was going to leave a cliffhanger, then why not end on a higher note?
All in all though, this was a strong and fascinating start, and I will definitely read the next book. If you enjoy fantasy and reading, then give this a try.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
“Citizens of Leratia be warned,” it read. “MAGIC IS RUNNING OUT! We are fast speeding towards a FUTURE without sorcery. Without HEALERS. Without a DEFENCE AGAINST INVADERS. Without MACHINES. The Society of Magical Preservation invites you to learn of this IMPENDING PERIL, and how it might be AVOIDED.”
I was skeptical and read tentatively at the beginning of Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan. I didn’t think I would like it all. It jumped in too fast for my liking. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the characters, and the dialogue may have caused me to wince a time or two. I said to myself, if it doesn’t get better by 25% then I’ll move on.
Once I settled in though, the book became better and better.
Thief’s Magic is more of two books in one, swapping back and forth between the stories of Tyen and Rielle. Tyen is an archeology student and sorcerer in training at the Academy in a steampunk-esque world. Leratia runs on machines powered by magic, which is unexplainably depleting. Tyen finds a magical book of immense power, which may have the knowledge to save his world. However, his discovery of the book puts him in danger, and he quickly becomes a fugitive. Rielle, on the other hand, comes from Fyre, a world rich in magic that seems to be comparable to the Middle East. Magic is only wielded by priests, and those who learn magic outside of the priests is tainted and shameful. Rielle can seem the remnants of magic and therefore has the ability to learn it herself, but dares not at it is strictly forbidden and she has better things to do, like please her parents by finding a suitable match.
These worlds were fascinating and rich in detail. Both are similar in that females are largely oppressed. The book barely passes the Bechdel test, which would usually bother me, but it was clearly intentional. Other than the death of feminism, Leratia and Fyre are unalike. I would consider this book to be high fantasy and nicely fleshed out but without being a million pages long. Canavan creates clear societies, cultures, rules, and mythologies for each of these places. It was the best world building I’ve read recently, and I enjoyed how the settings informed the characters’ choices. I also found the corresponding magic systems to be unique.
The writing also evened out and moved at a nice clip after the first couple of chapters.
Tyen and Rielle have separate story arcs that do not seem to connect at all. Both go under major character arcs however. There is one glaring similarity in their journeys however. Both eventually question the integrity of the powers that be (for Tyen that’s the Academy, and for Rielle, the priests) leading them to become more self-assured and make individualistic choices. This change in character largely propels both of their stories forward.
I only have one issue with the book now that I’ve finished it but it contains a spoiler so read at your own risk. Because Tyen and Rielle’s stories never end up intersecting, the book feels more like a prequel than the first book in a series. The ending is not tidy, but not exactly propelling for a sequel. I think a stronger ending would’ve been for them to finally cross paths. If the authoress was going to leave a cliffhanger, then why not end on a higher note?
All in all though, this was a strong and fascinating start, and I will definitely read the next book. If you enjoy fantasy and reading, then give this a try.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
zaczytaga's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
Och, jak długo ta książka czekała na mojej półce! Cieszę się, że w końcu dałam jej szansę.
Już sam opis mnie zaintrygował i bardzo zachęcił do lektury. Trudi Canavan stworzyła naprawdę ciekawy, oryginalny świat (a właściwie światy). Akcja wydawała mi się bardzo dobrze wyważona. Nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, ale nie czułam też przesytu, nie była ani zbyt powolna, ani zbyt szybka. Przywiązałam się do bohaterów. Obie perspektywy angażowały mnie w tym samym stopniu, praktycznie się nie nudziłam. Świetna, porządna fantastyka. Aż miło mi się robi na myśl, że jeszcze tyle przede mną. Już się zabieram za kolejną część.
Och, jak długo ta książka czekała na mojej półce! Cieszę się, że w końcu dałam jej szansę.
Już sam opis mnie zaintrygował i bardzo zachęcił do lektury. Trudi Canavan stworzyła naprawdę ciekawy, oryginalny świat (a właściwie światy). Akcja wydawała mi się bardzo dobrze wyważona. Nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, ale nie czułam też przesytu, nie była ani zbyt powolna, ani zbyt szybka. Przywiązałam się do bohaterów. Obie perspektywy angażowały mnie w tym samym stopniu, praktycznie się nie nudziłam. Świetna, porządna fantastyka. Aż miło mi się robi na myśl, że jeszcze tyle przede mną. Już się zabieram za kolejną część.
phaeri's review against another edition
4.0
easy read and good start :) looking forward to the next book!
theaurochs's review against another edition
2.0
"'How do you kill a vampire?'
'Dunno, stake through the heart? Garlic? Expose them to sunlight?'
'Nope. You kill a vampire however you like, because vampires aren't real.'"
This is a piece of literary criticism that has really stuck with me ever since I first heard it, and can be applied liberally to the majority of fantasy works. In this instance I'd like to use it against the intense sexism present in both of the fictional worlds detailed in this novel. What purpose is it intended to serve? I can't be incensed against these cultures because the author has crafted them herself- they are far removed from our real world and could easily have been written without the sexism because; vampires aren't real. Certain pains are taken to show that Tyen (one of the two protagonists) is not quite as bad as everyone else, but this does little to endear me to him. The other protagonist Rielle is slighted by so many other things, that the sexism in her culture would be completely unnecessary to reinforce that, one of the major reasons she is ostracised is because she, and her family, smell. I wish I was making it up.
Both subplots (which do not, in this first novel, interact whatsoever) spend a reasonable amount of time in central city locations, but despite this never really flesh out these cities particularly well. This may be because sooner or later we get the call to adventure (forced, in both instances) and leave these cities behind.
Don't really want to spend too long reviewing this, there's really not a lot to it. There's a lot of fantasy cliches, and it was very light reading. Definitely could use stronger characterisation, particularly side characters- none of them are memorable, not a one. And I put the book down only a few hours ago.
Despite all that, I didn't dislike it. I picked this up looking for a simple fantasy romp, and it delivers fairly well on that. Unfortunately not close to the standard of her Black Mage trilogy.
'Dunno, stake through the heart? Garlic? Expose them to sunlight?'
'Nope. You kill a vampire however you like, because vampires aren't real.'"
This is a piece of literary criticism that has really stuck with me ever since I first heard it, and can be applied liberally to the majority of fantasy works. In this instance I'd like to use it against the intense sexism present in both of the fictional worlds detailed in this novel. What purpose is it intended to serve? I can't be incensed against these cultures because the author has crafted them herself- they are far removed from our real world and could easily have been written without the sexism because; vampires aren't real. Certain pains are taken to show that Tyen (one of the two protagonists) is not quite as bad as everyone else, but this does little to endear me to him. The other protagonist Rielle is slighted by so many other things, that the sexism in her culture would be completely unnecessary to reinforce that, one of the major reasons she is ostracised is because she, and her family, smell. I wish I was making it up.
Both subplots (which do not, in this first novel, interact whatsoever) spend a reasonable amount of time in central city locations, but despite this never really flesh out these cities particularly well. This may be because sooner or later we get the call to adventure (forced, in both instances) and leave these cities behind.
Don't really want to spend too long reviewing this, there's really not a lot to it. There's a lot of fantasy cliches, and it was very light reading. Definitely could use stronger characterisation, particularly side characters- none of them are memorable, not a one. And I put the book down only a few hours ago.
Despite all that, I didn't dislike it. I picked this up looking for a simple fantasy romp, and it delivers fairly well on that. Unfortunately not close to the standard of her Black Mage trilogy.
livarleth's review against another edition
5.0
It had a bit of a slow start but you quickly get invested in the characters and their worlds. Obviously the first in a series but not at all weak.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
It was different, but then fantasy mixed with industrialism always is. Flying cars + magic, makes it different.
The book has 2 POVS, 2 worlds. First there is Tyen, a student of magic and sometimes archaeologist (well grave robber). Here they use magic for a lot as technology has made it into the world, but not by its own means, but by magic. Tyen was somewhat grey at times, he was a follower, but he finds his way. And grows a bit of backbone.
The other world was actually more interesting. Here priests rule and if you use magic you are brought somewhere else and probably killed. In This world we have Rielle, whose family is trying to better their status. I must confess that she was grey at times too. She was a follower, but like Tyen she finds her own way too. With quite a bang, for her at least.
That world grew even more interesting at the end when I learned some hidden truths. While Tyen's world was a bit too modern, not in a bad way, but they were all yes magic, but haha, oh silly magic, we use you. They did not think of their actions.
I guess these two will eventually meet, as there are more than one dimension or whatever and it's possible to travel. If you have lots of magic that is, and knows how too. Other than that I do not really know what will happen.
At the end, well it was good, still it also felt like it lacked something, but it was good enough
The book has 2 POVS, 2 worlds. First there is Tyen, a student of magic and sometimes archaeologist (well grave robber). Here they use magic for a lot as technology has made it into the world, but not by its own means, but by magic. Tyen was somewhat grey at times, he was a follower, but he finds his way. And grows a bit of backbone.
The other world was actually more interesting. Here priests rule and if you use magic you are brought somewhere else and probably killed. In This world we have Rielle, whose family is trying to better their status. I must confess that she was grey at times too. She was a follower, but like Tyen she finds her own way too. With quite a bang, for her at least.
That world grew even more interesting at the end when I learned some hidden truths. While Tyen's world was a bit too modern, not in a bad way, but they were all yes magic, but haha, oh silly magic, we use you. They did not think of their actions.
I guess these two will eventually meet, as there are more than one dimension or whatever and it's possible to travel. If you have lots of magic that is, and knows how too. Other than that I do not really know what will happen.
At the end, well it was good, still it also felt like it lacked something, but it was good enough