Reticulum

by Marta Salek

Matthew's life has one focus: magic. Pleasure, for him, is achieving the unachievable, learning that which has never been understood before. The Reticulum is a dream come true—a magic that promises him everything. With it whispering in his mind, what other companion does he need?

Andrea is determined to take on the world and her talent is such that she might just succeed. But an apprenticeship with an unscrupulous wizard shatters her self-confidence, leaving her friendless and alone.

When the two meet, they learn that isolation is not inevitable, after all. That being able to break the laws of the universe means little if there's no one to break them for. That when you allow yourself to need, and trust, and love, you can take on anything.

Genres: Fantasy

356 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2014

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only Goodreads gave half stars, because this would be 4.5. This was a really good book from a debut author. I loved the intricacies of not just one type of magic, but three! It starts off in a school environment, which for these sorts of stories always wins some approval from me (probably since I'm reminded of Harry Potter), but it's so much more than a wizarding school novel. It goes far beyond into adulthood, and some dark themes. The magic really is a highlight, it's described and explained very well. And for the most part, I didn't feel lost of confused (no more than I have in most books). There were a few parts which I didn't like as much as others, but because of the scope of the story, we didn't stay too long in one of those parts. I think it's well worth a read, and it will be interesting to what Salek comes up with in the future.

[Jason Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a real treat.

Salek's sparsely beautiful prose perfectly captures the lives of the Matthew and Andrea, the book's two troubled young protagonists, as they find ways to cope with the emotional damage inflicted upon them by an education system that is not designed for people like them.

Salek weaves this story around an intricate and original magic system and she's just as adept at describing the abstract mechanics that govern the supernatural as she as with schoolyard scuffles and abusive workplaces.

The stakes in Reticulum are as high those of any epic fantasy; they're just realized on an intimate level rather than as an epic battle between cliched forces of light and dark.

This book is original, haunting, and brilliant... and the magic? The magic's a bitch.

Read this if you'd like to see the fantasy genre taken to places you've never seen before.