The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

Book Jacket

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who—or what—is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.

Review

It's hard to make old ideas seem new, but Prineas makes magic and apprentices refreshing and completely enjoyable.  Conn is the quintessential honorable thief, who leaves his thieving behind once he steps into the world of magic (and who wouldn't?).  Nevery is the cantankerous wizard who treats Conn well, but not too well.  And Benet is the silent hulking servant/bodyguard who first knocks Conn upside the head, but ends up knitting him a sweater by the end.  Benet is my favorite.

I loved everything about this world, especially the city of Wellmet, with its seedy Twilight area, the islands of the wizards, and the upscale Sunrise section.  The idea that magic is a being, and not just a force, was very intriguing, and will be further developed in future books, I'm certain.

Conn's story flys by, and I'm definitely ready to see where his curiosity takes him in the next installment of the Magic Thief series.

Four out of five locus magicalicus (magicalici?)

Release Date: June 2008
Reading Level: Grade 3+
Where In Dunlap Public Library's Collection: CAUDILL


Don't believe me?  Check out these reviews of The Magic Thief:

Straight On The Books
Young Adult Book Reviews