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kraley's review
4.0
Excellent fantasy writer. I love reading people who have actually read and loved fantasy literature BEFORE writing in that genre. The author is obviously well-read and sticks to the fantasy "script." This is a simply enjoyable read. Ages 9+ and would make a good read-aloud. Read the first book beforehand.
beth_s98's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I definitely enjoyed the first book of the series more, but I also really like how the world of magic was expanded in this novel.
sleepgoblin's review
4.0
I love how these are written. Description is scarce in a way that allows your brain to construct amazing details and feelings, instead of leaving you wondering what's there.
orcaseatingstrawberries's review
3.0
lost a star due to a basic error or two by the author - spoilerish . . . . some people are just dead because they get turned into stone but if the character is important enough, they aren't? and it's not explained why, necessarily, at at least not explained well enough? This was really really poor story telling and left a bad taste in my mouth. Or maybe it wasn't explained why everyone else was dead the instant they were turned stone, perhaps if they, too, had been saved within moments of minutes of being turned, they'd have been saved? But no explanation, so . . . .
This was really poorly done. There was also a bit of poor editing and/or another poor storytelling error. Other than these things the writing is stellar but . . . it makes me wonder if I should waste my time proceeding when I have so many other books to spend my time on.
This was really poorly done. There was also a bit of poor editing and/or another poor storytelling error. Other than these things the writing is stellar but . . . it makes me wonder if I should waste my time proceeding when I have so many other books to spend my time on.
jameyanne's review
4.0
This book got seriously dark, but I liked it. I’m really excited to see where it goes from here. The characters are a bit stiff, which keeps me from really getting into the book, like the first book, but there’s some cool stuff going on in this world.
amalies's review
5.0
I started this book at work this morning, and couldn't put it down after I got off work tonight. The problem with the book is that it doesn't finish. You have to read the 3rd book right away because only half the story is finished and there is so much more to learn about Conn and his stone magicalicus. I would definitely recommend this book to any late elementary/junior high child to read. The story revolving around Conn and his incessant need to know and learn could demonic toe inspire some child. Of course his failing fault is his inability to respect orders, and elders...but at that age a child could differentiate that from his eagerness to learn.
jscarpa14's review against another edition
4.0
Okay I have to again mention the narrator on this book before talking about the story. I own audiobooks for the purpose of helping me sleep because more often than not regardless of the story they put me to sleep instead of keeping me awake the way it would if I picked up the exact same story and read it myself. My mind is more engaged when reading and it doesn't help me sleep at all the way it does most people, for me it's usually the exact opposite, I can be exhausted, plan to read a few pages and then not put down the book until I reach the last page hours later and wide awake. I can count on one hand the number of audiobooks that have had the same affect on me as reading it myself, this is one of them. Conn's voice in narration is just compelling, sort of sly but with that natural innocence of the young. You can just hear that he's a bit of a rebel, a troublemaker without actually being bad just in the sound of his heavily accented voice. If this weren't compelling enough the voices of every other character is distinctive and it's honestly difficult to believe that one person is reading this alone. It's not like many audiobooks where when a female reads the men sound just at bit feminine or when a male reads it the females sound a little on the masculine side. In this book the girls sound like girls even though the narrator is not a girl himself and the grown men have deep, commanding voices while the boys have that hard to describe tone that boys have. While without a good story I couldn't have kept listening the fact that I did listen to instead of read this book should say a lot about the talent of it's narrator.
Now onto the book. Prineas doesn't disappoint in this second edition of The Magic Thief, the danger and the darkness of Conn's story has increased tenfold. What I didn't like though was that sort of family feel I loved about the first novel sort of disintegrated because of Conn's own actions and the destructive damage they caused that created a rift in his makeshift family. Conn just couldn't win in this novel, without a locus magicalicus Conn has to resort to other, more dangerous, methods of attempting to get the Magic of Wellmet to hear him. His conclusion that the magic is a sentient being has caused him to be banned from the school and shunned by most of the other wizards. No one, except those who were present, seems to believe what actually happened at the end of The Magic Thief and Conn, instead of being considered a hero, is instead treated like a leaper among the magical community. The Magic of Well Met is in more danger than ever before, under attack from Shadows that are attacking and killing the people of it's city. Conn has to face challenge after challenge after disappointment in order to save the Magic with which he has such a close bond.
Like I said this book is a whole lot darker than the first novel and at points somewhat dim and depressing. I did however enjoy getting to better know Rowan and Kerrn, though I'll admit both characters frustrated me at times because neither seemed to really understand Conn. While I enjoyed the snippets of Rowan's journal, I missed Nevery's and Bennett's regular presence in the book. And the Ending!!! I have to listen to the next book now, or maybe read it. I meant to go to bed four hours ago, but with an ending like that I need to know what happens next, right now.
If you can't tell from my review, Lost, the second book in the Magic Thief Series is not one to be missed.
Now onto the book. Prineas doesn't disappoint in this second edition of The Magic Thief, the danger and the darkness of Conn's story has increased tenfold. What I didn't like though was that sort of family feel I loved about the first novel sort of disintegrated because of Conn's own actions and the destructive damage they caused that created a rift in his makeshift family. Conn just couldn't win in this novel, without a locus magicalicus Conn has to resort to other, more dangerous, methods of attempting to get the Magic of Wellmet to hear him. His conclusion that the magic is a sentient being has caused him to be banned from the school and shunned by most of the other wizards. No one, except those who were present, seems to believe what actually happened at the end of The Magic Thief and Conn, instead of being considered a hero, is instead treated like a leaper among the magical community. The Magic of Well Met is in more danger than ever before, under attack from Shadows that are attacking and killing the people of it's city. Conn has to face challenge after challenge after disappointment in order to save the Magic with which he has such a close bond.
Like I said this book is a whole lot darker than the first novel and at points somewhat dim and depressing. I did however enjoy getting to better know Rowan and Kerrn, though I'll admit both characters frustrated me at times because neither seemed to really understand Conn. While I enjoyed the snippets of Rowan's journal, I missed Nevery's and Bennett's regular presence in the book. And the Ending!!! I have to listen to the next book now, or maybe read it. I meant to go to bed four hours ago, but with an ending like that I need to know what happens next, right now.
If you can't tell from my review, Lost, the second book in the Magic Thief Series is not one to be missed.