Magician's Ward

From the Publisher

"A sure bet for fans of Philip Pullman's Ruby in the Smoke series." -VOYA

'The plot thickens as an attempted burglary and even more dangerous misfortunes force Kim to call upon all her street smarts and magical education. No doubt the charm, humor, and intelligence of Wrede's writing will continue to enthrall."-Publishers Weekly

KLIATT

In this sequel to Wrede's Mairelon the Magician, Kim is now Mairelon's official ward and apprentice. The pair is currently in residence at his brother's home with an aunt, Mrs. Lowe, providing chaperonage, and Kim is chafing at Mrs. Lowe's idea of what constitutes suitable attire and behavior. But formality goes flying when some of the magic practitioners Kim knew in her old life vanish, and it becomes clear that the high-powered wizards of London are next. This is a delightful, fast-paced book with lots of good humor and a tightly knit plot that keeps the reader guessing. The characters are appealing and the relationships between Kim and the other characters are nicely drawn. Even Mrs. Lowe has some surprises in store. The book stands alone well and will appeal to a wide range of readers, from adventure addicts to mystery mavens to fantasy fans. KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 1997, Tor, Starscape, 310p., Scanlon

VOYA - Paula Lewis

In Mairelon the Magician (Tor, 1991), sixteen-year-old street thief Kim was caught while trying to obtain some information about Mairelon for a mysterious, but well-paying stranger. To her surprise, Mairelon invited Kim to join him in his secret mission to recover stolen magical artifacts. Magician's Ward picks up Kim and Mairelon's story approximately one year later, with Kim happily installed in Mairelon's London townhouse as his ward and magical apprentice. Happily that is, except for Mairelon's overbearing aunt who wants Kim introduced to Society and married off as soon as possible. As if that were not enough to worry about, Mairelon's library is burgled, several low-level wizards among Kim's former acquaintances in the less savory parts of London have disappeared, and Mairelon's powers are mysteriously stolen. It is up to Kim to put the pieces of the puzzle together and save Mairelon, in between visits to the opera, drives in Hyde Park with her suitors, and shopping trips to outfit her for the coming-out ball. This title is a little bit of everything: historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, and Regency romance. It could easily get out of control, but Wrede handles it all beautifully, with the well-developed characters moving smoothly through the intricate plot. Readers who enjoyed Mairelon the Magician will likely want to read about Kim and Mairelon's further adventures, though it is not necessary to have read the first book in order to follow this one. A sure bet for fans of Philip Pullman's Ruby in the Smoke trilogy. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

Children's Literature

Kim, a 16-year-old street urchin, is now an apprentice to the magician Maireton. She finds it difficult to become a proper lady under the instruction of his aunt. Life becomes easier with the arrival and support of his mother. Magic education is hard but good with Maireton's guidance and teaching. Life becomes exciting and wild with an attempted burglary and with the disappearance of several wizards. Kim and Maireton are on their trail through magic and through the back streets of Kim's former life. Teen and young adult readers will enjoy the excitement in unraveling the magic and mystery in this book. Girls will like the romance and the transformation of Kim into almost a lady. Readers will want to go on to other books in the series. 2003 (orig. 1997), Starscape/Tom Doherty Book,
— Naomi Butler

Locus

Charming, fun, and totally frivolous -- excellent escapist fare.

Kirkus Reviews

No, not a hospital drama about ailing wizards, but another yarn set in a fantasy Regency England featuring Richard Merrill, a.k.a. Mairelon the Magician, and his ward Kim, the former street thief. While Kim resists Richard's Aunt Agatha's determined attempts to introduce her to Polite Society (i.e., find her a husband), a gentleman burglar attempts to steal a book from the house library. Somehow connected to this, so Kim learns from an old thief colleague, are the efforts of a wicked moneylender to gather up street urchins who have magic talents, coupled with a mysterious, debilitating magical attack on Mairelon himself.

Something of an improvement over Mairelon the Magician (1991), but still leisurely, YA-ish, and lacking innovation.