The Inquisitor's Apprentice

From the Publisher

"Moriarty’s novel is chock-full of period detail (both in the author’s confident prose and Geyer’s occasional pen-and-ink illustrations), feisty character dynamics, and a solid sense of humor. It’s a fascinating example of alternate history that leaves the door open for future mysteries."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A marvelous, mystical romp that doesn’t ignore reality. A hint of a possible sequel whets readers’ appetite for more: Yes, please!"—Kirkus, starred review

"Moriarty's thoroughly imagined alternate history has a killer premise...The mystery unfolds at a heady clip." -Booklist

"Spoiler Alert: It’s awesome."—Fuse #8 Blog on School Library Journal

 "A wonderfully inventive and fascinating story of the clash of ancient magic and early-twentieth century technology.　A compelling book that I read in a single sitting and highly recommend."—Garth Nix, New York Times bestselling author of Sabriel and the Seventh Tower series "Fantastic . . . a great magic trick."—Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author of Little Brother "You’ll fall right into The Inquisitor’s Apprentice by Chris Moriarty."—Robin Hobb, international best-selling author of the Rain Wilds Chronicles "Cory Doctorow told me I would love this, and he was so right!"—Ellen Kushner

Elizabeth Bird

Moriarty…not only makes religion central to the story, but mixes it with magic. Generally speaking, children's book authors have three ways of treating religion in a fantasy novel. They can do without it entirely, they can include religion but not base it on real beliefs or, rarest of all, they can use real religions alongside fictional magic…Opting for the last, Moriarty successfully mixes Judaism with spells, throwing in allusions to race relations for spice. She also sucks you into the life of the city, making it viscerally real.
—The New York Times Book Review

Publishers Weekly

Adult SF writer Moriarty (Spin State) makes her children’s book debut with a fabulously imaginative historical fantasy. Set in an early 20th-century New York City where every ethnic group has its own magic—Jewish bakers sell “mother-in-latkes,” guaranteed to provide the perfect son-in-law—the story concerns 13-year-old Sacha Kessler, who discovers an ability to see magic and gets apprenticed to Maximillian Wolf, an Inquisitor specializing in solving magical crimes. Sacha is pleased to have a job, but his grandfather is an illegal Kabbalist and his Uncle Mordechai is a Trotskyite Anarcho-Wiccanist, so he has his secrets, too. Wolf, Sacha, and snooty Lily Astral (a fellow apprentice) are on the case when someone attempts to murder Thomas Edison using a dybbuk. Other figures, historical and not quite, become involved, including Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Houdini, and the wizard of Wall Street—James Pierpont Morgaunt. Moriarty’s novel is chock-full of period detail (both in the author’s confident prose and Geyer’s occasional pen-and-ink illustrations), feisty character dynamics, and a solid sense of humor. It’s a fascinating example of alternate history that leaves the door open for future mysteries. Ages 9–12. (Oct.)

Children's Literature - Lois Rubin Gross

It is possible for a book to try too hard to be unique. In this "alternate history," author Chris Moriarty errs far in that direction. Sacha Kessler, a Jewish teen from the Lower East Side of New York, is taken on as an apprentice by the New York Police Department. The division he works for is charged with controlling illegal magic. Apparently, the varied ethnic enclaves of New York are riddled with illicit magic. Lilly Astral, the privileged daughter of a wealthy family with veiled connections to Salem's famed witchcraft trials, is also starting an apprenticeship. The two young people are mentored by Maximillian Wolfe, a kind of Clark Kent mage—with his glasses on, he appears ordinary—who is trying to stop the anti-Semitic inventor, Thomas Edison, from stealing peoples' souls with his latest invention, the etherograph. This is just about as confusing as it sounds, especially when additional historical figures such as Houdini and Little Egypt are thrown into the mix. The "alternate" part of this fantasy is a sort of parallel universe of New York, much as Diagon Alley parallels London in the Harry Potter series. There, the comparison ends. Readers without at least a passing knowledge of the history of robber barons will miss puns (e.g., the dastardly industrialist Morgaunt for J.P. Morgan, Pentacle Industries for the Triangle Shirtwaist factory). Moreover, kaballah, an arcane Jewish mysticism practiced only by extremely religious Jewish men over the age of forty, is tossed around as if Madonna and Demi Moore had a hand in writing the book. The text is flavored with throwaway Yiddish phrases, but no glossary is provided and no contextual references support their usage. The words will be lost on current readers, most of whom probably only know Yiddish that has become part of the English lexicon. What's more, the use of pejorative terms for gentiles is as offensive as the use of the "n" word would be in a book featuring African American characters. Magic may be everywhere in Moriarty's New York, but this book is pedestrian and not worth purchasing. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross

VOYA - Suanne B. Roush

Just past his thirteenth birthday, Sacha Kessler has his life turned around when he realizes he can see magic. This brings him to the attention of the Inquisitorial Squad, a division of the NYPD charged with protecting citizens against magic. In this end of the 19th-century New York City, the Wizards of Wall Street are truly wizards who want to control, not only the money, but the magic as well. After taking the Inquisitorial Quotient (IQ) test, Sacha is apprenticed to the city's best Inquisitor, Maximillian Wolf. Also starting apprenticeship the same day as Sacha is Lilly Astral, the daughter of one of the city's richest men. The action in this title involves the multicultural aspects of the city, the rich and poor, and the various religious beliefs, especially Sacha's Jewish heritage and the Kabbalahistic tales of the dybbuk and its ability to take over a person's body and soul. The first in a series, The Inquisitor's Apprentice presents an alternative, historical New York, with historical figures such as Thomas Edison, Harry Houdini, and Teddy Roosevelt close to their true histories, and the "robber barons" transformed into wizards named Morgaunt and Astral. Although the action is consistent, the book will appeal more to strong readers due to the length. Many readers will have difficulty with the Yiddish terms and the Jewish religious culture that is at the center of the story, so it is doubtful the book will find wide readership unless the population has the necessary background to appreciate the subtleties of the novel. Reviewer: Suanne B. Roush

School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—This novel is based on an interesting premise, but its realization falls short of its potential. Sacha Kessler lives in an alternate history in which people are capable of magic, which is illegal, and policed by Inquisitors, whose mission is to stop it. He can see magic is being worked, earning him the position of assistant apprentice to the foremost Inquisitor in New York City, an unlikely position for a Jew. Shortly after he begins his prestigious class-defying job, he discovers a dybbuk, a creature from Jewish folklore, has been set loose and he must stop it from killing Thomas Edison. The Inquisitor's Apprentice has the innocent appeal of a "Hardy Boys" novel set in 19th-century New York (with magic). The simple black-and-white illustrations support the time frame. While the content and art will appeal to younger readers, the quality of writing, details, jokes, and class commentary targets the book at an older crowd. Unfortunately, instead of satiating both, it satisfies neither. A number of Yiddish words are difficult to understand in context, further deterring many readers. The plot moves slowly, but will keep kids hooked in the beginning. As the story progresses, however, it becomes more convoluted, culminating in a confusing and hurried ending. Several class issues are raised throughout the book and often associated with ethnicity. While this is appropriate for the time, it will leave many readers with an uncomfortable feeling.—Devin Burritt, Jackson Memorial Library, Tenants Harbor, ME

Kirkus Reviews

Thirteen-year-old Sacha lives in New York City's Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century. Or does he?

The sights and sounds and smells, social ills and rampant racism and anti-Semitism all seem to be as they really were. But hexers are all around, and the regulars at the Metropole Café are learned witches and wizards from the top European universities. Astral Place is named for an important family, and J.P. Morgaunt rules just about everything. Sacha can see magic even when it's hidden, so he is drafted into the Inquisitors, the arm of the police dedicated to eradicating magic, at least among the poor. What follows are wild adventures involving spells and dybbuks and deathly struggles between good and evil. Moriarty beckons readers into this alternate universe and makes even the most bizarre elements totally believable. Sacha, Lily and Inspector Wolf are all fully developed and multilayered characters, as are the many other distinctive personalities that appear in the tale. The author employs rich language and syntax that please the ear and touch the senses, making it all come alive, especially the very real magic of New York City itself.

A marvelous, mystical romp that doesn't ignore reality. A hint of a possible sequel whets readers' appetite for more: Yes, please! (author's note) (Fantasy. 12 & up)