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5.0 out of 5 stars
Magic and mayhem, Nov 5 2002
Secrets run wild in this Regency Era fantasy flavored with elements of mystery and farce. An unusual combination to say the least, as is the pairing of Mairelon, the gentleman magician, with Kim, the master lockpicker. The hilarious, whirlwind plot revolves around the chasing and stealing of a set of magical silver objects, involving a disgruntled dwarf, a French ex-patriate, wannabe druids, a country house party, and the Bow Street Runners.Patricia Wrede departs from her fantastic Enchanted Forest Chronicles by setting this story in semi-real Regency England, but the quick wit and light touch are still here with the bonus of exceptional period detail. Kim's thieves' cant (slang) is interesting to decipher, contrasting nicely with Mairelon's toff's (aristocratic) education. They make for rather amusing conversation, as you can imagine. In the midst of all the comedy and adventure, there are glimpses of the great class divide and the dark underbelly of the London streets. A street thief didn't have a bright future, a girl's was much, much worse. Wrede does an excellent job of recreating London¡¯s seamier side without becoming morose or harsh. Kim is a wonderful heroine - tough, shrewd, wise, spirited, but tinged with a bit of sadness. Overall, the mood is bright and witty, the humor a little wry, a little goofy, and a little sweet. Particularly charming is the unpretentious Mairelon, who is very much an absent-minded-professor type. The supporting characters are zany and lively. The plot defies summary because it is complicated by many characters and places, but it's a surprisingly swift and smooth read - primarily due to Wrede's keen descriptive skills. It was such a page-turner, I went out and got the sequel, The Magician's Ward, the next day because I was afraid it would end all too soon. A satisfying, fun read, it will be over before you know it (or wish it to be).
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