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hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
Finalist for Cybils' Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy Award.
villianess's review against another edition
3.0
The discription of New York in the early 1800's full of magical immigrants, currupt police, and crocked politations seeking power wasn't a stretch for the author. I enjoyed the conviction of the young Jewish boy Sacha not only to his beliefs but to his family. As Sacha is found to be able to see witches the NYPD hires him to work with Inquisitor Wolf, a lanky detecive that has a few magic tricks of his own. Sacha meets other that are not like himself and learns to accept them as they are faults and all. As he learns from Wolf the ways of the Inquisitors office he learns that not everyone can be stopped from doing evil.
This book sets itself up nicely for following books.
This book sets itself up nicely for following books.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
2.0
This one didn't really do it for me although I sensed lots of potential. I found myself skimming and then getting briefly sucked in. Weird, since I loved the descriptions of old New York City and the machines.
The kids didn't gel and lots of the details seemed to be said, not felt. I wish the characters were better fleshed out, especially Inspector Wolf, since he seemed to have hidden depths. I can't wait for the second book to be fascinated by a character.
The kids didn't gel and lots of the details seemed to be said, not felt. I wish the characters were better fleshed out, especially Inspector Wolf, since he seemed to have hidden depths. I can't wait for the second book to be fascinated by a character.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I wanted to like this even more than I do, as I think it's a really fun premise--I love alternate history and of course fantasy--but I do have problems with protagonists who know exactly what they ought to do, don't do it, and then spend an entire book agonizing about it, and this is definitely one of those. I would sympathize with their quandary in real life, but that doesn't mean I want to read about it in my fiction!
brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted here.
The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty took be by complete surprise. I was expecting to enjoy it and was patiently waiting for my library to order copies. Then on a visit to our local bookstore, I saw it and bought it on impulse. This is a good thing because I didn't enjoy this book, I LOVED it. I recognize it is not a book everyone will like, but it worked for me on every level. As a reader I was engrossed and it kept me thinking. As a mom it is definitely a book I want to have on the shelf for my kids. As a teacher I could see so much potential in it for a great unit study. But it was the reader me who enjoyed it the most. And now I have a new literary crush as well.
Sacha Kessler is a Russian Jewish immigrant living on Hester Street in a magical New York in the late 19th century. Magic practiced by the masses is illegal and the Wall Street Wizards (Morgaunt, Vanderbilk, Astral) use it to stay rich at the expense of the people. Sacha's life is changed forever on the day he witnesses an act of magic and it is discovered he can see magic being performed. Suddenly he finds himself the apprentice of Inquisitor Maximillian Wolf, the most famous of the group of NYPD officers assigned to investigate magical crime. Along with his fellow apprentice, Lily Astral, Sacha is immediately thrown into an investigation centered around an assassination attempt on the famous Thomas Edison, and all the clues are leading very close to Hester Street and Sacha's own home.
I love the magical New York Moriarty created here. The concept of the magic of the city and the people were brilliant. Her world building is excellent. As an alternate history it relies a lot on the actual history of industrial New York but she has painted the world with enough detail that (I think) you can read it without needing to know that actual history. In many ways the world building reminded me a lot of Diana Wynne Jones and Megan Whalen Turner in that Moriarty in no way condescends to her readers. She throws them into the world as it is and expects them to have the intelligence to catch up. I can actually see the real history being more of a stumbling block for an adult reader than a child reader. Children who enjoy fantasy are used to being dropped into worlds where they are unfamiliar with many aspects and there are different words and languages being used. The NY Moriarty has created would be viewed by them as a just another of these worlds.
The plot is fast paced and intricate. It is a mystery above all else, but also the story of a boy trying to reconcile his place in the world. Through it themes of gender, race, culture, religion, and economics are explored. There is so much fodder for discussion here. I could see this book working well paired with Flesh and Blood so Cheap and a study of this actual time period. I really feel like Moriarty balanced the themes well here. There is a definite sense that the the Wall Street Wizards, Mordaunt in particular, are the bad guys. She also plays with stereotypes quite a bit as well, but the underlying message is the reality of the situation is far more complex. There are several threads in the story left dangling and the end is definitely a set up as this is the first in a five book series.
Sacha is an interesting hero and one that is easy to identify with. He is a very genuine 13, not really a child but not yet an adult. He feels a great responsibility to his family and loves them greatly but is ashamed of the conditions they live in. He is a Russian Jew and an American. I enjoyed the interactions he and Lily had in this book and how a tentative friendship begins to develop between them. I am looking forward to seeing how his character grows and unfolds in the future volumes. I am also very much looking forward to seeing more of all the supporting characters, particularly Inquisitor Wolf (my brand new literary crush). When Charlotte reviewed this she had this to say about him, "He reminded me a bit of Lord Peter Whimsey, crossed with Howl, with a dash of Eugenides, mainly because he is very, very good at not revealing all that is going on inside his brilliant mind." That description is so perfectly apt that I can do no better.
So The Inquisitor's Apprentice has made a last minute entry into consideration for my top reads of 2011. I am eagerly anticipating any news of the next volume in this story.
The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty took be by complete surprise. I was expecting to enjoy it and was patiently waiting for my library to order copies. Then on a visit to our local bookstore, I saw it and bought it on impulse. This is a good thing because I didn't enjoy this book, I LOVED it. I recognize it is not a book everyone will like, but it worked for me on every level. As a reader I was engrossed and it kept me thinking. As a mom it is definitely a book I want to have on the shelf for my kids. As a teacher I could see so much potential in it for a great unit study. But it was the reader me who enjoyed it the most. And now I have a new literary crush as well.
Sacha Kessler is a Russian Jewish immigrant living on Hester Street in a magical New York in the late 19th century. Magic practiced by the masses is illegal and the Wall Street Wizards (Morgaunt, Vanderbilk, Astral) use it to stay rich at the expense of the people. Sacha's life is changed forever on the day he witnesses an act of magic and it is discovered he can see magic being performed. Suddenly he finds himself the apprentice of Inquisitor Maximillian Wolf, the most famous of the group of NYPD officers assigned to investigate magical crime. Along with his fellow apprentice, Lily Astral, Sacha is immediately thrown into an investigation centered around an assassination attempt on the famous Thomas Edison, and all the clues are leading very close to Hester Street and Sacha's own home.
I love the magical New York Moriarty created here. The concept of the magic of the city and the people were brilliant. Her world building is excellent. As an alternate history it relies a lot on the actual history of industrial New York but she has painted the world with enough detail that (I think) you can read it without needing to know that actual history. In many ways the world building reminded me a lot of Diana Wynne Jones and Megan Whalen Turner in that Moriarty in no way condescends to her readers. She throws them into the world as it is and expects them to have the intelligence to catch up. I can actually see the real history being more of a stumbling block for an adult reader than a child reader. Children who enjoy fantasy are used to being dropped into worlds where they are unfamiliar with many aspects and there are different words and languages being used. The NY Moriarty has created would be viewed by them as a just another of these worlds.
The plot is fast paced and intricate. It is a mystery above all else, but also the story of a boy trying to reconcile his place in the world. Through it themes of gender, race, culture, religion, and economics are explored. There is so much fodder for discussion here. I could see this book working well paired with Flesh and Blood so Cheap and a study of this actual time period. I really feel like Moriarty balanced the themes well here. There is a definite sense that the the Wall Street Wizards, Mordaunt in particular, are the bad guys. She also plays with stereotypes quite a bit as well, but the underlying message is the reality of the situation is far more complex. There are several threads in the story left dangling and the end is definitely a set up as this is the first in a five book series.
Sacha is an interesting hero and one that is easy to identify with. He is a very genuine 13, not really a child but not yet an adult. He feels a great responsibility to his family and loves them greatly but is ashamed of the conditions they live in. He is a Russian Jew and an American. I enjoyed the interactions he and Lily had in this book and how a tentative friendship begins to develop between them. I am looking forward to seeing how his character grows and unfolds in the future volumes. I am also very much looking forward to seeing more of all the supporting characters, particularly Inquisitor Wolf (my brand new literary crush). When Charlotte reviewed this she had this to say about him, "He reminded me a bit of Lord Peter Whimsey, crossed with Howl, with a dash of Eugenides, mainly because he is very, very good at not revealing all that is going on inside his brilliant mind." That description is so perfectly apt that I can do no better.
So The Inquisitor's Apprentice has made a last minute entry into consideration for my top reads of 2011. I am eagerly anticipating any news of the next volume in this story.
booksnorkel's review against another edition
4.0
This book had an extremely interesting premise. Take New York durning the time of the great inventors and money Barron's. Thomas Edison, JP Morgan add in the life of poor Jewish immigrants from Russia. Take all of that along with the open hostility for people who aren't f the same nationality or the same economic class and add magic. This seems like a lot, and it is but fans of historical fiction and historical revision will catch up fast. The story gives you enough time to digest and understand all of this and presents it in a way that seventh- tenth graders will understand and appreciate. The vocabulary is there and you have to love an over the top Jewish mother. A great read for a book club with middle school/ high schoolers led by either a teacher or parent. It's one of those books that are brought to a new level if you are able to discuss it with others.
A poor young Jewish boy accidentally let's everyone know he can see magic. He is tested and will be joining the police as an inquisitor. The inquisitors are in charge of magical crime and seek out those who would use magic to harm others. His apprenticeship is nothing like he imagines. First there is a girl who is also an apprentice. And she's rich. Second there's inquisitor Wolf who is nothing like how the books portray police officers. And last but not least there's JP Morgaunt ( haha) who can play your soul on a record. Convinced an assassin is out to kill Thomas Edison for the soul machine.
Going through New York in this time and place is magical and fun. Some people might struggle with how much world building is in this book. Which is why I rated this for a much higher reading group than this is actually marketed towards. Also there is a staggering amount of history and higher concepts that would benefit from discussion.
I would not buy this but I am happy that I read it. I will be reading more in this series because I want to see where it leads, but again I wouldn't buy it.
A poor young Jewish boy accidentally let's everyone know he can see magic. He is tested and will be joining the police as an inquisitor. The inquisitors are in charge of magical crime and seek out those who would use magic to harm others. His apprenticeship is nothing like he imagines. First there is a girl who is also an apprentice. And she's rich. Second there's inquisitor Wolf who is nothing like how the books portray police officers. And last but not least there's JP Morgaunt ( haha) who can play your soul on a record. Convinced an assassin is out to kill Thomas Edison for the soul machine.
Going through New York in this time and place is magical and fun. Some people might struggle with how much world building is in this book. Which is why I rated this for a much higher reading group than this is actually marketed towards. Also there is a staggering amount of history and higher concepts that would benefit from discussion.
I would not buy this but I am happy that I read it. I will be reading more in this series because I want to see where it leads, but again I wouldn't buy it.
hgranger's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book because it seemed like such an intriguing premise and cast of characters but Sasha ruined the entire experience for me. I dislike reading books where the protagonist is unlikeable and constantly makes the wrong choice and that’s what Sasha did throughout the entire story. He’s a coward for selfish reasons, and he’s a jerk to the people he should be kind to. So disappointing.
erin_oriordan_is_reading_again's review against another edition
5.0
It's sort of like [b:The Prestige|239239|The Prestige|Christopher Priest|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316130498s/239239.jpg|1688160] mixed with [b:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone|3|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)|J.K. Rowling|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VC8RPZA2L._SL75_.jpg|4640799] mixed with the Disney musical 'Newsies,' but with more Jewish characters. Its protagonist is 13-year-old Sacha Kessler, who lives in the tenements, circa 1900, with his parents, his rabbi grandfather, his uncle and his sister Bekah. Magic is technically illegal in America, but still widely practiced, and one day Sacha learns he can see magic. This rare talent leads to his new job as an inquisitor's apprentice, learning the trade of detecting magical crimes. As an apprentice to Inquisitor Wolf, the most highly respected man in New York's magical law enforcement community, Sacha meets his fellow apprentice, Lily Astral, a society girl who prefers Yankees games to high tea. Wolf, Sacha and Lily are soon thrown into a high-profile crime: shortly after publicly accusing Harry Houdini of using real magic in his stage act, Thomas Edison is the victim of an attempted murder. This amusing alternate-history murder mystery with its likable pair of protagonists and wonderful old-fashioned setting is crying out for a sequel. Fortunately, according to Chris Moriarty's InquistorsApprentice.com website, it's only the first in a series of five.
ginnikin's review against another edition
2.0
Could've done without the g*psies, although they weren't portrayed terribly, but yeah. Interesting world, but I wasn't so fussed on the story told.
gcullman's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty great alternate reality NYC with a menschy lower-east side jewish protagonist and a super villain called JP Morgaunt... yep.