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sgkelsey 's review for:
The Paper Magician
by Charlie N. Holmberg
This one reminds me a lot of The Night Circus. It has a similar vibe. It's also similar to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell in setting, an alternative history in late 1800's England involving magic. I appreciate the author's establishment of the 'rules' of magic, as it's nice to have a bit of limitation in a protagonist. The best magic battles always involve outsmarting the foe, not just having the most unlimited power. I also appreciate having a character who is far from perfect. She has dimension, and that makes her human and likeable.
What I missed in this book was more about the paper magic. It's such a great premise that I wanted more exploration of that element of the fantasy, and less about the protagonist's particular objective. Sometimes I just want to pause the action in a story and root around in the setting.
I feel like this has the makings of a broader richer series, maybe with some partner authors. There is a world here that might be explored.
What I missed in this book was more about the paper magic. It's such a great premise that I wanted more exploration of that element of the fantasy, and less about the protagonist's particular objective. Sometimes I just want to pause the action in a story and root around in the setting.
I feel like this has the makings of a broader richer series, maybe with some partner authors. There is a world here that might be explored.