Magic in the world of Wellmet
R. KRITHIKA
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Conn meets Nevery, an exiled magician, and the adventure begins.
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A young boy who picks pockets, an exiled magician and a falling level of magic in Wellmet combine to form an exciting read in The Magic Thief. Conn’s life becomes inextricably linked with the city’s fate when he tries to steal Nevery’s locus magicalicus: the stone that allows magicians to focus their magic. Intrigued by the fact that the boy survived his encounter with the locus stone, Nevery takes Conn on as his servant first and later
apprentice.
Now Conn has to find his own locus stone and also help Nevery figure out why the magic in the city is failing. And that means learning to read; so he’s packed off to the Academicos. Conn’s also troubled by the one secret he’s hiding from Nevery: his link with the Underworld and the sinister Crowe.
Nevery, on the other hand, has troubles of his own. He’s recalled from exile only because the other magicians don’t seem to be able to cope with the current crisis. One false step and off he goes again. Nevery’s also wondering about his apprentice and his affinity to magic.
The book is largely told from Conn’s point of view though you do get an inkling of Nevery’s thoughts from random pages of his diary scattered after each chapter. And it makes for a hugely enjoyable read. The part where Conn finds his locus — turns out to be the most precious jewel in the collection of Wellmet’s Duchess — keeps you on the edge of your seat as does the finale.
This is the first part of a trilogy so there’s more fun to be had. For those who want more info into the magical world of Wellmet check out www.magicthief.co.uk
THE MAGIC THIEF by Sarah Prineas,
Penguin India, Rs. 299 .
An excerpt:
On my first apprentice morning, the wizard Nevery woke me up. He stood all-tall, wearing his grey wizard robe, and nudged me again with his foot.
“Get up, boy.” He pointed with his cane at a basin of water on the table. “Wash yourself and join me in the chophouse for breakfast.”
Breakfast!
As he left the room, I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and rolled myself out of the blanket.
Wash up, the wizard had said. I went to the table, to the basin of water. Stuck my finger in. Brrr. Cold as cobbles.
I went downstairs for breakfast and found the wizard at the same table we shared the night before. Nevery sat with his knob-headed cane propped against the wall, beside his chair, drinking tea. His cloak, I noticed, had a patch on the sleeve with a picture of an hourglass with wings on it, stithced in dark blue thread.
“Did you wash?” Nevery asked.
I shrugged, looking past him at the table. There were hot biscuits and bacon and porridge and tea. I started for my seat but was stopped when he grabbed me…
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