Journeyman Wizard: A Magical Mystery by Mary Frances Zambreno

Jermyn Graves #2

by Mary Frances Zambreno

The young wizard, Jermyn Graves, with his skunk familiar, Delia, takes up studies with the strict, demanding Lady Jean at her country home, but her sudden death teaches Jermyn about more than magic. By the author of A Plague of Sorcerers.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Young Adult, Animals, High Fantasy

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

A lifelong resident of Oak Park, Illinois, Mary Frances Zambreno decided to become a writer at the age of twelve, when she first realized that writers were just people with a good supply of paper and a desire to tell stories. Along the way to becoming a writer, she earned a doctorate in medieval literature, learned to read six languages (including English), and discovered that she enjoyed teaching almost as much as she enjoyed writing. Currently, she teaches a wide variety of courses at Elmhurst College, in Elmhurst, Illinois.

She became one of the first Writers of the Future contest winners with her story, “A Way Out” (collected in Invisible Pleasures), and her subsequent short fiction quickly became a staple in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s and Jane Yolen’s anthologies. Her stories have appeared in numerous genre magazines and anthologies, but certainly not frequently enough to satisfy her many fans. She even wrote a review column for American Fantasy magazine. Her young adult fantasy novel, A Plague of Sorcerers, was named to the ALA’s list of Best Books for Young Adults in 1992; its sequel, Journeyman Wizard, was a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age in 1994. She has written two other YA fantasy adventures.

Reviews

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jermyn Graves is a spellmaker, a rare kind of wizard that can reshape old spells for new purposes, and even create new spells for other wizards to use. Or rather, he will be once he finishes his journeyman training with the only master spellmaker in the land. When Jermyn arrives at the isolated village of Land’s End, however, he finds that the winter cold is more than matched by a chilly reception from certain people.

Lady Jean Allons’ household has been struck by tragedy and family rancor, making for tricky navigation for the young wizard. When tragedy strikes again,Jermyn must use his training and the help of his skunk familiar Delia to solve the mystery before he himself is condemned to die.

This is the second in a young adult fantasy series about Jermyn, the first being A plague of Sorcerors. It’s a pleasant light read. While Jermyn is a talented wizard beyond his years, his inexperience shows, and he lets prejudice get the better of him when dealing with a local hedgewitch. Jermyn’s seventeen in the story, but there’s nothing that makes it unsuitable for younger teens.

The worst thing I can say about the book is that it’s a little forgettable–it wasn’t until halfway through that I realized I had read it before and thus already knew who the murderer was. Check your local library for this and the previous book if student wizards are your cup of tea.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this such a long time ago. I just enjoyed it. It wouldn't compare to great literature, but my five star rating comes from my frequent reminiscing about it.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It was fun even while the poor kid was learning what he had to know. Twists that I didn't see surprised me, and even when people die, they aren't truly gone.