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pallavi_sharma87's review against another edition
4.0
Second book of The magic thief series,Conn is now officially wizards apprentice. He experiments with magic and magic talks to him in mysterious ways. This time its not a magic thief but something evil that is going to hit the city. Only Conn understands it and tries to bring it to the notice of other wizards but with the least success. He finds his own ways to keep the city safe and also its magic...
aarain's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rjandersonwriter's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book LIKE PIE. Which is pretty much how I felt about the first book in the series as well, but it was just so delicious to read more about Conn and Nevery and Rowan and others I'd come to love from Book 1 -- plus some new characters (or newly developed ones, like Argent) who are interesting in their own right.
The pace of the story clips along as briskly as ever (and there's plenty going on), but never too fast that there's no time to develop the characters. Conn goes through a lot in this book, emotionally as well as physically, and his internal struggle is so (typically for Conn) understated yet so well done I nearly cried. He's such an amazing character -- almost completely Withheld from the outside, with obvious faults of secrecy, arrogance and stiff-necked pride, but the first-person narration keeps you from misunderstanding his motives, and it's practically impossible not to love the kid. (Though not a kid for long -- he's growing up! But not so fast that my eight-year-old son couldn't identify with him, which is a good balance, I think.)
There are still some aspects of the story's logic I'm not clear on, but I'm pretty sure those will clear up with a re-reading (particularly once I get my hands on the finished copy, which I understand has some significant changes from the ARC that I read). Anyway, I can see no reason that readers of the original MAGIC THIEF won't enjoy this one every bit as much -- or, as my son did, even more.
The pace of the story clips along as briskly as ever (and there's plenty going on), but never too fast that there's no time to develop the characters. Conn goes through a lot in this book, emotionally as well as physically, and his internal struggle is so (typically for Conn) understated yet so well done I nearly cried. He's such an amazing character -- almost completely Withheld from the outside, with obvious faults of secrecy, arrogance and stiff-necked pride, but the first-person narration keeps you from misunderstanding his motives, and it's practically impossible not to love the kid. (Though not a kid for long -- he's growing up! But not so fast that my eight-year-old son couldn't identify with him, which is a good balance, I think.)
There are still some aspects of the story's logic I'm not clear on, but I'm pretty sure those will clear up with a re-reading (particularly once I get my hands on the finished copy, which I understand has some significant changes from the ARC that I read). Anyway, I can see no reason that readers of the original MAGIC THIEF won't enjoy this one every bit as much -- or, as my son did, even more.
whimsicallymeghan's review against another edition
3.0
The second novel in the Magic Thief series. Conn has somehow managed to survive without his locus magicalicus. Now he must go out there and try and find a new one so he can be a real wizard. He get’s exiled from Wellnet, his home, due to an incident with Benet, so he leaves with a good friend, Rowan, to get rid of the Shadows, these evil creatures. He finds this magic, Arhionvar and it’s used by Jaggus to create the Shadows. Conn feels it is up to him to destroy the sorcerer-king, Jaggus. The novel was exciting, and fun to read. There wasn’t a moment for pause; every page was filled with a new adventure, or a new mystery. Like in the previous novel the author gave us insights into what the other characters are thinking through end of the chapter notes, or letters. In this novel we get inside Rowan’s head and it’s very helpful for the exposition of the plot. The characters are developing throughout the series, you can see them changing and becoming essentially better people. Overall, this novel had way more action compared to the first, making it just that much better.
insipidurbanism's review against another edition
4.0
A good sequel, but I was apparently expecting something else and setting myself up 4 a slight disappointment. I did, however, celebrate the return of the secret runeic notes on the bottom of certain pages and Benet's recipes. I love deciphering the codes and rarely ever use the key anymore, and I fully intend on cooking frogs 4 conn's frog pot pie recipe.
writervid's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
-Just wasn't as compelling as the first one?
-I like the continuous world building that's going on and how it's constantly added onto
-From a technical level a lot of this is very good
-The Break into Two was too dramatic
-Also, LOVE ROWAN
-This just didn't have the emotional pull and drive that the first one did? The stakes feel less high
-Just wasn't as compelling as the first one?
-I like the continuous world building that's going on and how it's constantly added onto
-From a technical level a lot of this is very good
-The Break into Two was too dramatic
-Also, LOVE ROWAN
-This just didn't have the emotional pull and drive that the first one did? The stakes feel less high
iceangel9's review against another edition
3.0
The second book in The Magic Thief series. Conn has lost his locus stone and will do anything to find another one. He discovers that through the use of pyrotechnic spells he can communicate with the Magic of Wellmet. But all is not well, shadows are creeping into Wellmet and people are being turned to stone. Join Conn as he sets out to find a new stone or a way to save the Magic yet again. A charming and fun filled book.
sandyd's review against another edition
4.0
I think Prineas should have changed the name a bit more for the title, but I liked this a lot - perhaps even more than the first book in the trilogy. Conn (the magic thief/wizard apprentice) grows a bit, gets in trouble, and travels to an exotic city. It's simpler than the Harry Potter stories, but has a lot of the same appeal for kids, I think, and would be suitable for kids that are younger than 10. I like the letters (and secret runic messages) in both this and the previous book. I would have loved it as a kid, my friends & I developed a similar rune-code.