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Magic Thief #4
Home
Never look back!
Conn has come a long way since the days when he was a thief and a wizard's apprentice. He and the dragon Pip have saved the city of Wellmet from doom more than once, and now his best friend, Duchess Rowan, wants to make him the ducal magister, the city's most important wizard. But the older wizards don't trust Conn - especially now that their locus magicalicus stones are disappearing! Once a thief, always a thief, they think.
To solve the mystery of the disappearing stones, Conn goes back to his beginnings - gutterboy, chimney sweep, mudlark, and, yes, thief. It's the only way he can clear his name and find the culprit. But turning back is not easy, and old enemies don't disappear. Can Conn pull himself out of the gutter one more time?
Sarah Prineas magically transports you to an extraordinary world where cities run on living magic and a young thief can become a powerful wizard.
Listening Length: 7 hours and 29 minutes
Conn has come a long way since the days when he was a thief and a wizard's apprentice. He and the dragon Pip have saved the city of Wellmet from doom more than once, and now his best friend, Duchess Rowan, wants to make him the ducal magister, the city's most important wizard. But the older wizards don't trust Conn - especially now that their locus magicalicus stones are disappearing! Once a thief, always a thief, they think.
To solve the mystery of the disappearing stones, Conn goes back to his beginnings - gutterboy, chimney sweep, mudlark, and, yes, thief. It's the only way he can clear his name and find the culprit. But turning back is not easy, and old enemies don't disappear. Can Conn pull himself out of the gutter one more time?
Sarah Prineas magically transports you to an extraordinary world where cities run on living magic and a young thief can become a powerful wizard.
Listening Length: 7 hours and 29 minutes
Audible Audio
First published September 16, 2014
106 people are currently reading
2256 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Prineas
45 books1,121 followersComing in April 2021 from Philomel, Trouble in the Stars! It's a middle grade science fiction adventure about a shapeshifter kid.
And Dragonfell is out in paperback in April 2020.
Happy reading!
My website: www.sarah-prineas.com
And Dragonfell is out in paperback in April 2020.
Happy reading!
My website: www.sarah-prineas.com
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October 24, 2013OKAY, RAISE 'EM HANDS UP IF YOU'RE EQUALLY AS EXCITED AS I AM FOR THIS BOOK. (Just imagine I have a GIF for a little cute girl in pig tails, enthusiastically thrusting her hand in the air and her eyes bugging out, then wrapping her pretty little small hands around her neck in a mock-strangle as she rocks around in her chair.)
Not to sound like an absolute, utter bi-atch, but it has been year and I AM SO EXCITED. Imagine me as a fat kid. This story is my cake. And my parents have sent me to "Workout Boot Camp" for an entire year, and I FINALLY AM BACK. I am dead serious. :)
(Though I will be re-reading the series as I have forgotten most of the plot.)
Not to sound like an absolute, utter bi-atch, but it has been year and I AM SO EXCITED. Imagine me as a fat kid. This story is my cake. And my parents have sent me to "Workout Boot Camp" for an entire year, and I FINALLY AM BACK. I am dead serious. :)
(Though I will be re-reading the series as I have forgotten most of the plot.)
May 22, 2015
FINALLY!!!!!!
.......................
I'd been waiting for this book for what felt like several lifetimes, but in actuality was only 5 years. Still, to a 12-year old bemoaning that Conn wasn't "Conn" and screeching about another book to a 17-year old staying up to finish this book when she should have been writing school assignments is pretty impressive.
It having been 5 years since I read the third book,
But once I got past the above factor, I fell right back into the story and the setting, squeeing in delight with every mention of Heartsease. One thing I love, and I think perhaps I only really noticed it with this book, is that I can so easily imagine Wellmet. It's actually one of the few series where I can envision nearly every location. Perhaps the locations don't have very imaginative names, but they serve their purpose.
I love these characters and their relationships so much. Everyone was wonderful and as I remembered, except I could have done with an 800-page book where everyone played a much bigger role. It also must be said that Nevery is a plush grumpy owl and Benet is a fierce teddy bear and they will forever be my absolute favorites. As far as romantic relationships go, I don't know if I could be more onboard with Benet and Kerrn (who I would love a short story about, Benet trying to teach Kerrn how to knit or bake and Kerrn just being frazzled and flustered and not getting it at all and then she doesn't burn a batch of biscuits or drop a stitch and gets super excited and...yeah, anyways) or Embre and Rowan (who would pretty much just stare at each other, alternating between flirting politically and blushing).
Reading it as a more experienced reader than I was with the first three, I was a bit more picky concerning the prose and wasn't a huge fan of the many compound word-phrases, such as dim-dark, swept-stepped, etc. (Those were actually some of my favorite ones, so I don't know why I'm quoting them...) Occasionally even the first person narration could be written a bit strangely, but not so much as to really annoy me.
I will say that even though I think I would still love these books if I read them for the first time now, as opposed to when I was 10-12 years old, but I don't think I would love them so much if they didn't hold a good amount of the nostalgia factor.
.......................
I'd been waiting for this book for what felt like several lifetimes, but in actuality was only 5 years. Still, to a 12-year old bemoaning that Conn wasn't "Conn" and screeching about another book to a 17-year old staying up to finish this book when she should have been writing school assignments is pretty impressive.
It having been 5 years since I read the third book,
But once I got past the above factor, I fell right back into the story and the setting, squeeing in delight with every mention of Heartsease. One thing I love, and I think perhaps I only really noticed it with this book, is that I can so easily imagine Wellmet. It's actually one of the few series where I can envision nearly every location. Perhaps the locations don't have very imaginative names, but they serve their purpose.
I love these characters and their relationships so much. Everyone was wonderful and as I remembered, except I could have done with an 800-page book where everyone played a much bigger role. It also must be said that Nevery is a plush grumpy owl and Benet is a fierce teddy bear and they will forever be my absolute favorites. As far as romantic relationships go, I don't know if I could be more onboard with Benet and Kerrn (who I would love a short story about, Benet trying to teach Kerrn how to knit or bake and Kerrn just being frazzled and flustered and not getting it at all and then she doesn't burn a batch of biscuits or drop a stitch and gets super excited and...yeah, anyways) or Embre and Rowan (who would pretty much just stare at each other, alternating between flirting politically and blushing).
Reading it as a more experienced reader than I was with the first three, I was a bit more picky concerning the prose and wasn't a huge fan of the many compound word-phrases, such as dim-dark, swept-stepped, etc. (Those were actually some of my favorite ones, so I don't know why I'm quoting them...) Occasionally even the first person narration could be written a bit strangely, but not so much as to really annoy me.
I will say that even though I think I would still love these books if I read them for the first time now, as opposed to when I was 10-12 years old, but I don't think I would love them so much if they didn't hold a good amount of the nostalgia factor.
August 3, 2014
In HOME, Conn is back in Wellmet and has a number of problems. He is a very powerful wizard but, being only about twelve years old and not very tolerant of what he sees as stupidity, most of the other wizards really, really dislike him.
His best friend Rowan is, at sixteen, the new Duchess of Wellmet and his cousin Embre is the Underlord who runs the Twilight part of the city. Rowan wants to "reward" Conn for his efforts to save and protect Wellmet by making him the Ducal Magister. Conn doesn't want the job and especially doesn't want to live in the Dawn Palace and be watched over.
Additionally, someone is stealing the locus stones of the other magisters and most believe that Conn is the one responsible. Conn knows that he didn't do it and sets the problem aside to deal with the problem he believes is more important. The two magics that now inhabit Wellmet aren't working together and it is throwing off all the spells cast by any magicians. If Conn can't get the magics to work together, they could destroy the city.
And, just because things can never be easy for Conn, an old enemy has returned who wants to defeat both the Duchess and the Underlord and take over the city himself. He doesn't realize that his plans could cause the destruction of the city he wants to rule.
A big part of this story has Conn deciding what he wants to be and do. He doesn't fit back into the gutterboy lifestyle and he certainly doesn't want the Ducal Magister lifestyle. Once he gets a minute without a crisis he is going to have to decide what he does want.
This is an excellent and entertaining addition to the Magic Thief series. Middle graders will love the action, the danger, the friendships, and the dragon. They will also enjoy getting to know Conn. The coded messages (key at the back of the book) will also intrigue readers.
This series is a "must buy" for both my elementary and my middle school media centers. I can't wait to share it with my students.
His best friend Rowan is, at sixteen, the new Duchess of Wellmet and his cousin Embre is the Underlord who runs the Twilight part of the city. Rowan wants to "reward" Conn for his efforts to save and protect Wellmet by making him the Ducal Magister. Conn doesn't want the job and especially doesn't want to live in the Dawn Palace and be watched over.
Additionally, someone is stealing the locus stones of the other magisters and most believe that Conn is the one responsible. Conn knows that he didn't do it and sets the problem aside to deal with the problem he believes is more important. The two magics that now inhabit Wellmet aren't working together and it is throwing off all the spells cast by any magicians. If Conn can't get the magics to work together, they could destroy the city.
And, just because things can never be easy for Conn, an old enemy has returned who wants to defeat both the Duchess and the Underlord and take over the city himself. He doesn't realize that his plans could cause the destruction of the city he wants to rule.
A big part of this story has Conn deciding what he wants to be and do. He doesn't fit back into the gutterboy lifestyle and he certainly doesn't want the Ducal Magister lifestyle. Once he gets a minute without a crisis he is going to have to decide what he does want.
This is an excellent and entertaining addition to the Magic Thief series. Middle graders will love the action, the danger, the friendships, and the dragon. They will also enjoy getting to know Conn. The coded messages (key at the back of the book) will also intrigue readers.
This series is a "must buy" for both my elementary and my middle school media centers. I can't wait to share it with my students.
July 4, 2016
The Magic Thief: Home proves yet another children’s book that’s simply wasted on children! Middle-grade readers can’t understand the
I’ll be honest: After The Magic Thief: Found, I couldn’t see where author Sarah Prineas could possibly take the story of a thieving gutterboy turned prescient wizard. That just shows my lack of imagination — and faith in a superior writer. I should have known better!
Lady Rowan, now the Duchess of Wellmet, elevates Connwaer — much to his distress — to Ducal Magister, a title heavy on excruciatingly boring meetings, pomp, scratching clothes, and responsibilities. At the same time, someone is somehow stealing the locus magicalicus stones of Wellmet’s wizards. Thanks to the backbiting wizard Nimble, suspicion has fallen on Conn and his dragon Pip. Hoping to clear his name — and, more importantly, solve the thefts and protect the magics of Wellmet and Arionvar — Conn goes undercover back to his old haunts, the Twilight. What he discovers causes Conn’s skin to prickle. Could the former Underlord of the Twilight, the ruthless Crow, be back from exile?
The Magic Thief: Home proves even more of a thrill ride than The Magic Thief: Home — which is saying a lot. Forgive the cliché, but I couldn’t put it down! If you’re new to the series, you won’t want to stand with The Magic Thief: Home; however, longtime fans of clever Conn and indispensable Nevery won’t want to miss a chance to reunite with old friends.
And Ms. Prineas, please, please tell us that there will be fifth tome in the series! We’re all hooked now!
I’ll be honest: After The Magic Thief: Found, I couldn’t see where author Sarah Prineas could possibly take the story of a thieving gutterboy turned prescient wizard. That just shows my lack of imagination — and faith in a superior writer. I should have known better!
Lady Rowan, now the Duchess of Wellmet, elevates Connwaer — much to his distress — to Ducal Magister, a title heavy on excruciatingly boring meetings, pomp, scratching clothes, and responsibilities. At the same time, someone is somehow stealing the locus magicalicus stones of Wellmet’s wizards. Thanks to the backbiting wizard Nimble, suspicion has fallen on Conn and his dragon Pip. Hoping to clear his name — and, more importantly, solve the thefts and protect the magics of Wellmet and Arionvar — Conn goes undercover back to his old haunts, the Twilight. What he discovers causes Conn’s skin to prickle. Could the former Underlord of the Twilight, the ruthless Crow, be back from exile?
The Magic Thief: Home proves even more of a thrill ride than The Magic Thief: Home — which is saying a lot. Forgive the cliché, but I couldn’t put it down! If you’re new to the series, you won’t want to stand with The Magic Thief: Home; however, longtime fans of clever Conn and indispensable Nevery won’t want to miss a chance to reunite with old friends.
And Ms. Prineas, please, please tell us that there will be fifth tome in the series! We’re all hooked now!
May 9, 2021
Aw... that ending. Sniffle. Just perfect. Highly recommend the series. It is good for the heart.
September 8, 2014
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
For fans of the Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas, the latest installment, The Magic Thief: Home, is a much anticipated and highly welcome addition. It also has the potential to draw in new fans as a new chapter in Conn's life and the city of Wellmet begins. Whether readers are old fans or newly experiencing the magic for the first time, every reader of this book is in for a fantastically twisty tale of magic, mayhem, discovery, and intrigue.
Conn is a bit out of sorts since finishing with the magics of Wellmet, returning home, and having his magicalicus swallowed by a small dragon he calls Pip. Who is he? Where does he belong? What is he meant to do now? The magics in Wellmet are similarly out of sorts, competing for the power of the town. Conn is the best one to deal with the magics as he understands them best, but when he is in such turmoil himself, embroiled in another spree of crime, mystery, and intrigue he has to solve, it is difficult to stay focused. I loved the way the magics reflect and contrast Conn's own character. He is wild, not meant to be locked down, and hates being manipulated, but at the same time wants a purpose and stability. He thrives on danger. Of course, everyone who loves Conn just wants to protect him. Ro and Nevery feel the best way to do this is to make him the ducal magister but Conn is having none of that. Conn's stubbornness is familiar to older reader's of the series, as is his friends' exasperation with him. It has a different feel in this book though and is not just he same old story as the original trilogy. They've all grown a lot and are facing a new reality. Conn is starting to realize he needs help from time to time and relying on others is okay. The others are starting to realize trying to manage Conn is a lost cause, and one by one they fall to trusting him to do what must be done and do it well.
One of the great strengths of this series is how it highlights character and relationships so well, but does it simply through showing them in the context of a fast moving, exciting, and twisty plot. It is so subtle and yet you can not read these without coming away feeling connected to all these characters and seeing their strong connections to each other. I love the friendship between Conn and Ro, and how it is just a friendship. (Please, please, let that continue to be the case. And there are hints that it will continue to be the case, thank goodness. I like the direction of those hints a lot.) I love it when books can show a good male/female friendship that is nothing more than that. (Yes, they do exist!)
The story finds Conn yet again trying to prove he is not the gutter-boy thief he once was, but it is interesting that there are actually very few people who assume he is. There are some, as there will probably always be, but for the most part, he is trusted by those around him. The story is from his point of view, yet it is clear that he is still reacting to how people used to see him automatically rather than how they are reacting to him now. Conn's talents and spotted past are essential to unwinding the knot of magic and criminal acts being visited on Wellmet. This leads to some dangerous situations and a couple moments of peril that had me visibly trying to restrain myself from reacting since I was reading the book in public. All my emotions were fully engaged and that made for some fraught moments for my poor heart.
Fans of this series definitely do not want to miss this latest installment. It very nicely lends itself to new readers too. The necessary events from the previous books are included in clever ways that new readers will know what is going on, and old readers won't be bored reading a lot of information they already know. (It's also a nice refresher for those who may have forgotten.) At the same time, this is a new phase in Conn's life and the story reflects that. It isn't a continuation of the old story so much as the beginning of the next part of Conn's story. I do think new readers of the series will find themselves unable to resist going back and reading the first three.
I read an e-galley provided by the publisher, Harper Children's, via Edelweiss. The Magic Thief: Home will be available September 16.
For fans of the Magic Thief series by Sarah Prineas, the latest installment, The Magic Thief: Home, is a much anticipated and highly welcome addition. It also has the potential to draw in new fans as a new chapter in Conn's life and the city of Wellmet begins. Whether readers are old fans or newly experiencing the magic for the first time, every reader of this book is in for a fantastically twisty tale of magic, mayhem, discovery, and intrigue.
Conn is a bit out of sorts since finishing with the magics of Wellmet, returning home, and having his magicalicus swallowed by a small dragon he calls Pip. Who is he? Where does he belong? What is he meant to do now? The magics in Wellmet are similarly out of sorts, competing for the power of the town. Conn is the best one to deal with the magics as he understands them best, but when he is in such turmoil himself, embroiled in another spree of crime, mystery, and intrigue he has to solve, it is difficult to stay focused. I loved the way the magics reflect and contrast Conn's own character. He is wild, not meant to be locked down, and hates being manipulated, but at the same time wants a purpose and stability. He thrives on danger. Of course, everyone who loves Conn just wants to protect him. Ro and Nevery feel the best way to do this is to make him the ducal magister but Conn is having none of that. Conn's stubbornness is familiar to older reader's of the series, as is his friends' exasperation with him. It has a different feel in this book though and is not just he same old story as the original trilogy. They've all grown a lot and are facing a new reality. Conn is starting to realize he needs help from time to time and relying on others is okay. The others are starting to realize trying to manage Conn is a lost cause, and one by one they fall to trusting him to do what must be done and do it well.
One of the great strengths of this series is how it highlights character and relationships so well, but does it simply through showing them in the context of a fast moving, exciting, and twisty plot. It is so subtle and yet you can not read these without coming away feeling connected to all these characters and seeing their strong connections to each other. I love the friendship between Conn and Ro, and how it is just a friendship. (Please, please, let that continue to be the case. And there are hints that it will continue to be the case, thank goodness. I like the direction of those hints a lot.) I love it when books can show a good male/female friendship that is nothing more than that. (Yes, they do exist!)
The story finds Conn yet again trying to prove he is not the gutter-boy thief he once was, but it is interesting that there are actually very few people who assume he is. There are some, as there will probably always be, but for the most part, he is trusted by those around him. The story is from his point of view, yet it is clear that he is still reacting to how people used to see him automatically rather than how they are reacting to him now. Conn's talents and spotted past are essential to unwinding the knot of magic and criminal acts being visited on Wellmet. This leads to some dangerous situations and a couple moments of peril that had me visibly trying to restrain myself from reacting since I was reading the book in public. All my emotions were fully engaged and that made for some fraught moments for my poor heart.
Fans of this series definitely do not want to miss this latest installment. It very nicely lends itself to new readers too. The necessary events from the previous books are included in clever ways that new readers will know what is going on, and old readers won't be bored reading a lot of information they already know. (It's also a nice refresher for those who may have forgotten.) At the same time, this is a new phase in Conn's life and the story reflects that. It isn't a continuation of the old story so much as the beginning of the next part of Conn's story. I do think new readers of the series will find themselves unable to resist going back and reading the first three.
I read an e-galley provided by the publisher, Harper Children's, via Edelweiss. The Magic Thief: Home will be available September 16.
September 10, 2016
Hail, Hail The Gang's All Here
When I pick up the fourth volume of a trilogy, (this series supposedly wrapped up with the third volume in 2010), I think of a performer waiting nervously in the wings after his act is done, waiting to see if the audience's applause is enthusiastic enough to justify an encore. With this series the audience was very enthusiastic and there was much disappointment that the Magic Thief trilogy had concluded. Well, Book 4 has finally been launched, and it was worth the wait.
Everyone is back and we pick up right where we left off. Conn and Nevery and Benet and Rowan and Embre and Captain Kerrn, and that bad baby dragon, Pip, are all here, and the book takes off in a rush. By the end of Book 3 Conn had brought a new younger magic to supplement the older but weakening magic that had always powered Wellmet. As Book 4 opens, the two magics are not working well together, ("...like two dragons, both trying to fit into one dragon's space,...), and magic is in considerable disarray. Rowan, the ruling Duchess, needs Conn to serve as ducal magister, (head wizard), and get a handle on the problem. Conn resists, and then when a locus magicalicus stone is stolen he is accused and his whole thief history comes back to the fore. Who is really stealing these magical objects, and why?
I had forgotten how much I liked these characters. Rowan is the most competent, vulnerable, resourceful heroine I've encountered since Hermione Granger and her struggle to be a good ruler at a tender age is touching and inspiring. Conn is, as usual, a bit more angsty than I'd like, but once we move beyond that he remains a solid bad-boy hero. Every other character steps up to the plate in a satisfying fashion, so it's all good.
As always Prineas has a good handle on her material, with a nice balance of magic, action, intrigue, Wellmet politics, humor and character development. On reflection, these books are actually pretty "sprawling" for middle grade fantasy adventure, but Prineas keeps everything sharp, clear and energetic, and completely accessible to a younger reader.
So, it took a while, (Prineas has published her "Winterling" books in the meantime), but all's well that ends well. This is a solid entry in the Magic Thief series.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
When I pick up the fourth volume of a trilogy, (this series supposedly wrapped up with the third volume in 2010), I think of a performer waiting nervously in the wings after his act is done, waiting to see if the audience's applause is enthusiastic enough to justify an encore. With this series the audience was very enthusiastic and there was much disappointment that the Magic Thief trilogy had concluded. Well, Book 4 has finally been launched, and it was worth the wait.
Everyone is back and we pick up right where we left off. Conn and Nevery and Benet and Rowan and Embre and Captain Kerrn, and that bad baby dragon, Pip, are all here, and the book takes off in a rush. By the end of Book 3 Conn had brought a new younger magic to supplement the older but weakening magic that had always powered Wellmet. As Book 4 opens, the two magics are not working well together, ("...like two dragons, both trying to fit into one dragon's space,...), and magic is in considerable disarray. Rowan, the ruling Duchess, needs Conn to serve as ducal magister, (head wizard), and get a handle on the problem. Conn resists, and then when a locus magicalicus stone is stolen he is accused and his whole thief history comes back to the fore. Who is really stealing these magical objects, and why?
I had forgotten how much I liked these characters. Rowan is the most competent, vulnerable, resourceful heroine I've encountered since Hermione Granger and her struggle to be a good ruler at a tender age is touching and inspiring. Conn is, as usual, a bit more angsty than I'd like, but once we move beyond that he remains a solid bad-boy hero. Every other character steps up to the plate in a satisfying fashion, so it's all good.
As always Prineas has a good handle on her material, with a nice balance of magic, action, intrigue, Wellmet politics, humor and character development. On reflection, these books are actually pretty "sprawling" for middle grade fantasy adventure, but Prineas keeps everything sharp, clear and energetic, and completely accessible to a younger reader.
So, it took a while, (Prineas has published her "Winterling" books in the meantime), but all's well that ends well. This is a solid entry in the Magic Thief series.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
November 18, 2015
just simply most, most lovely! all books should be this good!
September 3, 2021
In the final installation of this series we follow Conn as he tries to find his purpose. Of course he finds himself in a lot of trouble along the way. The story comes full circle when a new threat to the city is found, is it a new adversary or an old foe? You definitely need to read to find out!
My son and I really loved this series and were sad to reach the end, but the ending is satisfying and just felt right for this series. We loved the characters, Conn especially is so endearing. We loved trying to guess where the story was going, sometimes we were right but most often we had no idea where the twists and turns were taking us. I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves YA fantasy.
My son and I really loved this series and were sad to reach the end, but the ending is satisfying and just felt right for this series. We loved the characters, Conn especially is so endearing. We loved trying to guess where the story was going, sometimes we were right but most often we had no idea where the twists and turns were taking us. I highly recommend this series for anyone who loves YA fantasy.
May 23, 2021
A good way to end the series.
Quite an interesting read from start to finish and a clean worthwhile experience.
Conn is a very interesting character and, although some parts took me by surprise, it's a heart warming ending.
Nimble and Crowe had it coming and I'm still trying to figure Kernn out!
Nevertheless, a pack of books I strongly recommend.
Thank you Sarah Prineas for giving us such a pleasant story.
Quite an interesting read from start to finish and a clean worthwhile experience.
Conn is a very interesting character and, although some parts took me by surprise, it's a heart warming ending.
Nimble and Crowe had it coming and I'm still trying to figure Kernn out!
Nevertheless, a pack of books I strongly recommend.
Thank you Sarah Prineas for giving us such a pleasant story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2021
I loved this series growing up as a kid as my dad used to read it to me every night before bed and this was the only book I’d never read.
I found it much more enjoyable than the third book and I’m incredibly sad that there are no new books for me to read.
That being said it was an incredible read and a great send off for the characters! I loved every moment of it and will definitely read it again and hopefully get a chance to read it to my kids if I ever have any.
I found it much more enjoyable than the third book and I’m incredibly sad that there are no new books for me to read.
That being said it was an incredible read and a great send off for the characters! I loved every moment of it and will definitely read it again and hopefully get a chance to read it to my kids if I ever have any.
September 4, 2018
Dragons everywhere
September 3, 2018
Sorry to see this series come to a close. I really enjoyed the adventures of Conn, gutterboy turned wizard and protector of his city.
September 28, 2014
This is the fourth book in the Magic Thief series. This has been a wonderful middle grade fantasy series that is great for all ages. This book was just as wonderful as the previous books in the series. My whole family enjoyed it a lot.
My whole family listened to this together on audiobook on a road trip back from Yellowstone. This whole series has been incredibly well done on audiobook. The narrator does Conn’s voice spot on and is excellent at all the other character voices as well. I highly recommend listening to this on audiobook if you listen to audiobooks.
Duchess Rowan wants to promote Conn to ducal magister, however Conn objects. Conn feels that he has other problems to deal with and that sitting in meetings all day won’t help. The two magics that were joined in the last book Magic Thief: Found, are fighting each other and wrecking havoc in the city. To makes things even worse magicians’ locus stones are being stolen and Conn (as the only known person who can touch another magician’s locus stone and survive) is being blamed for the thefts.
In a desperate attempt to both fix the magic in the city and uncover the locus stone thief Conn ventures back to his thieving roots in the Twilight where his story started.
As with all of the other books in this series this was a wonderfully fun and magical read. It is even more fun because of the inclusion of Pip, Conn’s little dragon companion/locus stone.
Conn grows a lot in this book. Rowan is trying to make him ducal magister and give him a lot of responsibility, she believes in him and appreciates his help. Conn knows that he won’t be good at the type of position but is struggling to figure what he wants to do to help support the city of Wellmet.
Conn spends a lot of time figuring who he is and who he wants to be; is he a thief, a wizard or something else completely? He spends a lot of time in the Twilight as a thief again in this book and discovers that he just doesn’t make a good thief anymore...he is just more than that now. Conn is also learning that accepting help from others and working with others isn’t always a bad thing.
The plot is very well done too. Honestly everything is really well tied up in this book. I couldn’t find information on whether or not there would be another book in this series but I really really hope there is. I would love to see how some of the decisions Conn makes at the end of the book play out.
Overall a spectacular middle grade fantasy. This whole series has been so much fun to read; full of magic and adventure. It’s a great read for all ages, I enjoy these books just as much as my seven year old son does. I sincerely hope there are more books in this series!
October 30, 2015
My favorite part of Home didn’t actually take place in the book, but in the little notes at the end. Conn’s treatise on dragons and then his notes to Rowan about the menu had me cracking up. Conn is such a fun protagonist and the notes in the back and the ones scattered throughout the book really do a lot to enhance his personality even more (and those of the characters he interacts with).
I also love Nevery and Conn’s relationship and its development over the four books. By the time you get to this one, Nevery’s “I love you like a son” (not his exact words, but it’s what he meant) moment is so fulfilling and heartwarming, especially after the events in Found. I love moments like that as you might know if you read my review of Jinx, which has a similar trope.
Although I thought the return of one of the first book’s villains was odd and felt a teensy bit recycled, I did enjoy the way it bookended the series and made it come full circle. I especially enjoyed Conn’s development in Home as he discovers his place in society and finds his, well, home.
I still think this series has a few flaws (such as the way the city and the world feel empty except for the named characters, the clumsy names like “Academicos” and “locus magicalicus,” the sudden appearance of Benet/Kerrn and Embre/Rowan, and the flatness of secondary characters like Rowan), but I fully admit that I can’t expect middle grave novels to do what I expect young adult novels to do, so as a middle grade series, The Magic Thief is top-notch.
Overall, The Magic Thief: Home is a fulfilling end to the Magic Thief series, with the same fun and the same sophistication (in most respects) that drew me in when I read the first book, and the added bonus of culmination of character development and relationships. I personally have a few minor issues with the series as a whole, but overall these are all delightful books, and this one especially had me rolling with laughter at the end.
I also love Nevery and Conn’s relationship and its development over the four books. By the time you get to this one, Nevery’s “I love you like a son” (not his exact words, but it’s what he meant) moment is so fulfilling and heartwarming, especially after the events in Found. I love moments like that as you might know if you read my review of Jinx, which has a similar trope.
Although I thought the return of one of the first book’s villains was odd and felt a teensy bit recycled, I did enjoy the way it bookended the series and made it come full circle. I especially enjoyed Conn’s development in Home as he discovers his place in society and finds his, well, home.
I still think this series has a few flaws (such as the way the city and the world feel empty except for the named characters, the clumsy names like “Academicos” and “locus magicalicus,” the sudden appearance of Benet/Kerrn and Embre/Rowan, and the flatness of secondary characters like Rowan), but I fully admit that I can’t expect middle grave novels to do what I expect young adult novels to do, so as a middle grade series, The Magic Thief is top-notch.
Overall, The Magic Thief: Home is a fulfilling end to the Magic Thief series, with the same fun and the same sophistication (in most respects) that drew me in when I read the first book, and the added bonus of culmination of character development and relationships. I personally have a few minor issues with the series as a whole, but overall these are all delightful books, and this one especially had me rolling with laughter at the end.
December 29, 2014
I thought that this series was going to be a trilogy, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw there was a new book out. (Funny how that works. If it's meant to be a trilogy and it was only so-so, I feel annoyed if a new book comes out. If I liked it, though, I'm cool with it.)
Anyway -
The first half of the book annoyed me because after everything Conn had done, everyone was still treating him like a criminal or a child. I mean, Rowan goes and names him Ducal Magister, but then doesn't want to let him do anything that might be risky or dangerous. *eyeroll* Ember, at least, has some sense in him.
Of course, Conn, for his part, also has trouble trusting others and/or letting them know what he's doing. I mean, he could've used the guard instead of running away from them all the time. (The other wizards, aside from Nevery, continue to be entirely useless. )
But about halfway through everyone finally gets a grip, and decides to let Conn get on with figuring out who's stealing the locus stones, settling the magics (which seemed rather easy to do, really), and stop the bad guys from taking over the city.
Of course, Conn also learns that maybe he can't, or doesn't need to, do everything by himself, either.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It reads much like the others - which is a plus and a minus, because it seems any growth in the books sort of gets reset, and I'm hoping that if there's another book that we continue to move forward instead of constantly starting backwards.
But I continue to enjoy this haphazard cast of characters, and I really loved Pip in this one. I just wish we saw more of Benet. ;)
Anyway -
The first half of the book annoyed me because after everything Conn had done, everyone was still treating him like a criminal or a child. I mean, Rowan goes and names him Ducal Magister, but then doesn't want to let him do anything that might be risky or dangerous. *eyeroll* Ember, at least, has some sense in him.
Of course, Conn, for his part, also has trouble trusting others and/or letting them know what he's doing. I mean, he could've used the guard instead of running away from them all the time. (The other wizards, aside from Nevery, continue to be entirely useless. )
But about halfway through everyone finally gets a grip, and decides to let Conn get on with figuring out who's stealing the locus stones, settling the magics (which seemed rather easy to do, really), and stop the bad guys from taking over the city.
Of course, Conn also learns that maybe he can't, or doesn't need to, do everything by himself, either.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It reads much like the others - which is a plus and a minus, because it seems any growth in the books sort of gets reset, and I'm hoping that if there's another book that we continue to move forward instead of constantly starting backwards.
But I continue to enjoy this haphazard cast of characters, and I really loved Pip in this one. I just wish we saw more of Benet. ;)
February 25, 2015
If you liked the trilogy then you will enjoy this book that revisits familiar villains and characters. Wizards magical stones are being stolen and Conn is being blamed for them. Of course, his dragon doesn't help literally dropping a stone into his hands during a wizards' meeting. The city is being run by teenagers, the Duchess Rowan and Underlord Embre, both friends of Conn. When Rowan forces Conn to be the High Wizard of the city, he rebels wanting his freedom. The author pokes fun at meetings while showing a teen that doesn't want to be tied down by responsibilities. Part of the character arc is Conn coming of age and learning to trust others. Growing up an orphan, his survival instincts make him unwilling to ask for help when he needs it and trust others. When he decides to hunt for the stolen wizard stones he uncovers a plot that lands him in a heap of trouble and makes him realize he must stop running away from those who care about him and responsibilities.
While I like Conn and the humor he brings to situations, I found the plot more predictable than the other books. There is a bit of repetition as Nevery and Rowan try to force Conn into the Ducal Magister position that he desperately doesn't want to fill. Crowe is back as a villain and his sidekick is obvious from the start. I found the use of letter-writing to give other characters point-of-view as a slow-down to the action. The characters tell what they are doing and it isn't shown making for a less than interesting progression of the plot. I didn't mind it in the trilogy and perhaps I have grown too familiar with the characters. Or maybe the lack of new characters kept me from just enjoying this on a surface level. A light, fun read.
While I like Conn and the humor he brings to situations, I found the plot more predictable than the other books. There is a bit of repetition as Nevery and Rowan try to force Conn into the Ducal Magister position that he desperately doesn't want to fill. Crowe is back as a villain and his sidekick is obvious from the start. I found the use of letter-writing to give other characters point-of-view as a slow-down to the action. The characters tell what they are doing and it isn't shown making for a less than interesting progression of the plot. I didn't mind it in the trilogy and perhaps I have grown too familiar with the characters. Or maybe the lack of new characters kept me from just enjoying this on a surface level. A light, fun read.
December 26, 2014
The Magic Thief: Home
by Sarah Prineas
Magic is a living being-- it fights, it settles, and it can be harmed. After taking in the magic of a different city, the magic in Connwaer's hometown is in a mess, trying to figure out where they belong. Through this, the spells cast through a wizards' locus magicalius, the gateway to magic so to speak, are going haywire. On top of that, now these locus stones have started disappearing, leading to a plan much more sinister than first conceived. Now, it is up to Connwaer and his allies to figure out what exactly is going on before the magic destroys both itself and life as they knew it...
I think this book is a very balanced mix of adventure, humor, and mystery. There are a whole lot of bits of foreshadowing and red herrings that lead up to an all around awesome conclusion.I think this book really demonstrates how some things can't be done alone, and that everybody needs someone to lean on. This is shown multiple times throughout the book where Connwaer is caught in different situations and his friends, some old and some new, come to help him out. I think it also shows how one person can really make a difference. If it had not been for Connwaer, the city that he lived in would surely have perished, the magic would've destroyed itself and the city wouldn't have been able to run anymore.
I recommend this book to people who like fantasy, preferably at the age of 10-15. This book is written in such a way that it reads very simply but the plot is intricately complex. Also, there are elements in this book that I think people who enjoy fantasy books would appreciate the most.
by Sarah Prineas
Magic is a living being-- it fights, it settles, and it can be harmed. After taking in the magic of a different city, the magic in Connwaer's hometown is in a mess, trying to figure out where they belong. Through this, the spells cast through a wizards' locus magicalius, the gateway to magic so to speak, are going haywire. On top of that, now these locus stones have started disappearing, leading to a plan much more sinister than first conceived. Now, it is up to Connwaer and his allies to figure out what exactly is going on before the magic destroys both itself and life as they knew it...
I think this book is a very balanced mix of adventure, humor, and mystery. There are a whole lot of bits of foreshadowing and red herrings that lead up to an all around awesome conclusion.I think this book really demonstrates how some things can't be done alone, and that everybody needs someone to lean on. This is shown multiple times throughout the book where Connwaer is caught in different situations and his friends, some old and some new, come to help him out. I think it also shows how one person can really make a difference. If it had not been for Connwaer, the city that he lived in would surely have perished, the magic would've destroyed itself and the city wouldn't have been able to run anymore.
I recommend this book to people who like fantasy, preferably at the age of 10-15. This book is written in such a way that it reads very simply but the plot is intricately complex. Also, there are elements in this book that I think people who enjoy fantasy books would appreciate the most.
March 29, 2016
Reader thoughts: So fun! This had rising danger from friends and foes alike as Conn is threatened, beaten, and arrested. While more people trust him than before, now Conn has to learn to trust others and learn to ask for help when he can't do it alone. And, boy, he can't solve this one by himself!
We have the two magics, Wellmet and Arhionvar, fighting with each other. We also have unrest in Twilight and Sunrise both. We have locus magicalicii going missing. We have people trying to put Conn in a box, literally and figuratively; is he a thief? A gutterboy? A ducal magister? He decides to find out his own way, and he never heeds the caution of, "Be careful!" How can he be careful when his city and his magics are in danger?
I loved it, but I am a sucker for the self-sacrificing MCs who throw themselves into danger for the good of everyone else. (See The False Prince or The Way of Kings for some of the best MCs.)
Writer thoughts: I just love Conn's voice in Prineas's books. I also love that the little snippets from Nevery, Embre, Benet, and the Duchess are in unique voices as well. Conn uses words like skiff and phrases like quick as sticks which brings out his personality so clearly. It can be hard for readers to understand an MC who doesn't talk much, but Conn has enough voice and inner dialogue to make up for his lack of speaking aloud.
We have the two magics, Wellmet and Arhionvar, fighting with each other. We also have unrest in Twilight and Sunrise both. We have locus magicalicii going missing. We have people trying to put Conn in a box, literally and figuratively; is he a thief? A gutterboy? A ducal magister? He decides to find out his own way, and he never heeds the caution of, "Be careful!" How can he be careful when his city and his magics are in danger?
I loved it, but I am a sucker for the self-sacrificing MCs who throw themselves into danger for the good of everyone else. (See The False Prince or The Way of Kings for some of the best MCs.)
Writer thoughts: I just love Conn's voice in Prineas's books. I also love that the little snippets from Nevery, Embre, Benet, and the Duchess are in unique voices as well. Conn uses words like skiff and phrases like quick as sticks which brings out his personality so clearly. It can be hard for readers to understand an MC who doesn't talk much, but Conn has enough voice and inner dialogue to make up for his lack of speaking aloud.
July 1, 2015
This book was really awesome. In some book series, some books are really good and other ones are crap. But so far through out this series, the books are all similarly well written and captivating (if not more so than the last).
Conn (ex gutter-boy/thief/wizard) is given the unwanted job of being a Magister of Wellmet. However, Conn and his dragon Pip soon find themselves in trouble (again) and are accused of stealing other Magister's locus stones. Conn, after not much consideration, decides to jump head first into trouble and becomes a gutter-boy once more to figure out who is stealing the locus stones and why. Unbeknownst to him, the trouble lies on the shoulders of an evil not so new to him.
What I liked about this book was
November 18, 2014
12-year old wizard Conn is appointed Ducal Magister by his best friend Rowan, the Duchess of Wellmet, angering older wizards, especially given Conn's humble roots as a street urchin and thief. Meanwhile, someone is stealing the locus stones of the other wizards and most believe that Conn is responsible. Conn flees the safety of the palace to clear his name and find the guilty party; however, just as he starts making progress, masquerading as a chimney sweep, he is captured and imprisoned. His nemesis is working to frame Conn for the planned havoc, and wrest control of Wellmet from Rowan and Underlord Embrey. Conn is forced to concede he needs help, reaching out to those who care most for him, including Nevery and Benet.
February 8, 2015
This fourth book in Sarah Prineas' Magic Thief series is fun and satisfying. I didn't expect her to write a fourth book, since it's been a few years since the first three. I thought it was a trilogy and that she'd moved on to other projects. But I'm glad she did choose to return to the Magic Thief world. I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The chimney swifts were a fun, dickensian addition. Also the twist with the magisters' locus stones is interesting. I wonder if she'll write more or she really is done now? I'm also fond of Sarah Prineas because she is an Iowa author who lives just down the highway from me. :)
April 17, 2016
It's been many years since I read 'The Magic Thief' and now I have finally finished reading this series. Prineas' way of writing is wonderful, it's funny and exciting and her books always leave me with happy emotions. You couldn't ask more from a book.
March 21, 2015
The last book of the series. A good ending to a good series. I am having difficulty saying goodbye to this series.
December 11, 2016
A very nice story, I feel like it was all brought together nicely
July 16, 2019
It was an exciting book full of suspense on every page so i felt i couldn't put the book down. it also had lots of magic so if you like magic this is a book for you.
November 7, 2015
Oh lordy, how long have I been waiting for this book? I can't remember but the instant it landed in my hands, I fell on it like hungry Conn faced with Benet's biscuits and gobbled it up in one sitting, staying up until five in the morning.
(And I love it so much I made a Quizup Topic for the series!>>> http://quizup.com/topics/_2f980e2a-0b...)
I really can't put it down! I'll say it right here that this installment is even better than the first three books! The action starts quite earlier, and lasts for almost half the book, I think. Whereas in the first three books, the first half is usually spent traveling, the climax comes late on and the fight with the baddies usually ends simply in a few chapters.
Not this time, though. "Home" has our Conn using (no, not the lothfalas) numerous fun spells, fleeing off and on numerous times, and literally taking a trip of Wellmet! Outsmarted then finding a way out, only to land into another trap, then even more trouble. The villain (who I have to restrain myself from saying who he/she is for fear of spoiling the fun!) is just so, so clever. Not to mention incredibly ruthless, to make that cleverness useful. No wonder this is the first time we get to see Conn genuinely scared by something!//heart lurching sound effect here//
In this book, we get to see many more new spells at work! And explosives! Also, the manipulation and use of magic explored in this book is very interesting. I feel like I’ve received a whole new outlook on the magic in Conn's world. For example, we are introduced to a new, very clever way to neutralize magic. For the first three books we are used to the notion that Wellmet's magic is a perpetual presence surrounding Conn wherever he goes. Well, not this time.
In my opinion, a villain much more evil and conniving than the first three books, coupled with a way of cutting off magic, serves incredibly well to force Conn into the important character development this book focuses on: relying on others.
Conn has always thought mainly about the magic protecting him, and thinking that way, he assumes he is always fine by himself; he is never truly 'alone'. However, cut off from the magic, stranded with no way out, fighting a nightmare from his past, Conn understands for the first time that he needs to call for help sometimes, and that it's fine to do so. Ms. Prineas delivers this so subtly using solely the plot, and I really like it!
Another thing that sets this book apart from its predecessors is perhaps the atmosphere. Though things get worse and more desperate by the chapter, this book feels 'warm' to me. The first three books have an air of loneliness and grayness about it I can't really explain.
Perhaps it is because Nevery, Rowan and the other characters have experienced losing Conn and then finding him again, and this has taken their feelings for him to another step. I can feel they are warmer and more trusting, and protective of him. No matter what happens in the plot, this feeling that his friends will always believe in him give this book a warm atmosphere. One thing I can see clearly is that Nevery calls Conn by his name much more often. (He did that only once in Stolen. I remember very well because when he did, I nearly cried!). This gives off a sense of closeness.
That aside, this book makes me incredibly happy with just a simple, unexpected revelation at the very end. I knew Nevery grows to care and worry for Conn a lot, to a certain level, like teacher to pupil; I never knew their relationship would develop into this much! I nearly screamed! (I would have, if it wasn’t the middle of the night and I was in a dorm!) I was just as shocked and moved as Conn when he hears it. You have to go read for yourself. I’ve re-read that part for a gazillion times now!
The ending is also very satisfying to the point that it makes me sad, because I realize the series could just end here! It’s complete! By the end, Conn has finally found his answers for the questions bugging him throughout the series, received what he needed most in the world, and found his true home.
The extras are also very funny. I never thought the Disquisition on the Draconic Nature of Magic would make me roll around with laughter. AND that the Dawn Palace folks have such a terrifying palate. Enough to terrify even Conn. Now that’s something. (And Conn hates raisins! I never knew (he could hate a kind of food)! Oh, ain’t that so cute!)
However, there are many quite unrelated things I really wish to know, just for curiosity’s (nosiness) sake. For example, Nevery’s deceased family and his past. What were his parents like? Who was the shy blonde girl in the blue crystal? His sister? Daughter? (Has Nevery ever married? Ha ha) What happened to his relatives? Why is Nevery left alone?
And then there’s the question about Conn’s father. Who is he and what happened to him? How does Conn feel about his mother, Black Maggie? How old is Conn, exactly? (I know he doesn’t know his own age and the character page says the same, but, backstage? Please?)
What about Nevery’s age? I’ve been worried for a long time, that since Conn is still very young, and Nevery is quite old, if wizards in this world have a normal lifespan, then Nevery wouldn’t be around for Conn for long, would he?
OH, NO! (//Uncontrollable wailing and clutching of head)
Magpie and Crow(e) are birds that exist in real life, while connwaers, embre-wings and chimney swifts are made up? I’ve tried googling connwaer, yes I have. Ha ha.
And how do we pronounce Conn’s and Nevery’s names? (I just realized a few months ago that I might be mispronouncing them after I have known them for, what, seven years?) I always pronounce them as con-wear and nev-ry, but when Den misremembered Nevery’s name, it suggested that his name is pronounced clearly, syllable by syllable: nev-er-y.
What exactly is a true name? How can we tell a true name from an ordinary name? How do parents give true names to their kids? What kind of person must have a true name? True names are meaningful to the magic, yet Conn’s family has a true naming-system, even when they’re ordinary people (well, except for Conn). (About this true name thing, I am really, really interested!)
The magics are very powerful, and they can do almost literally anything the wizards ask them to (I was awed by the way the magics reversed time to bring back Heartsease, and I just love the eyes-and-ears spell, really nice substitute for the journal entries, though I feel some of the journal entries in this book is a little silly and quite unnecessary, like comic relief, to be frank, lots of flirting XD).
They can also take people away, so why didn’t the Wellmet magic just disappear Pettivox and Crowe waaaay back in the first book when they’re still starting on the device? Was it because it’s focused on Arhionvar and didn’t notice itself being dragged into captivity little by little until it’s nearly too late? The magic needed Conn to act on its behalf, because it’s too big to see what’s going on with the puny little humans to know what to do?
Oh, and what would Conn do if Pip grow older and a lot larger? And if Pip does get larger, it can cough out Conn’s locus stone, right?
The spellwords in this story are so, so hard! I’d have a hard time of it if I were a wizard in Wellmet! (They’re great tongue-twisters, though, ha ha) Is Conn’s eidetic memory (I assume he has it, since he can remember what he read or heard precisely and never forgets) a gift from his bond with the magic, or is he a natural genius born with it?
How does wizardry run in Conn’s world? Anyone can become a wizard, or does it run in the family? Nevery’s whole family were wizards, while Conn became a wizard because he was chosen by the magic to help it. Or was it like what Conn was discussing with Nevery at the end of Lost and Found? That since wizards are no different from ordinary people, everyone might be a wizard, but they just never find a locus stone?
By the way, I would LOVE to see Nevery when he was young! (I bet he was just like Conn when he blew up Heartsease!) And Conn when he becomes an old man himself! (After reading A Proper Wizard, it came to me how funny it would be when Conn becomes one of the croakety-croak graybeards himself)
I really just can’t let these characters go! I just want to keep on reading about them and their world. So many discoveries have yet to be made about the nature of magic!
P.S. Ms. Prineas, above all, please write us a fifth book soon or we'll all die of craving!
(And I love it so much I made a Quizup Topic for the series!>>> http://quizup.com/topics/_2f980e2a-0b...)
I really can't put it down! I'll say it right here that this installment is even better than the first three books! The action starts quite earlier, and lasts for almost half the book, I think. Whereas in the first three books, the first half is usually spent traveling, the climax comes late on and the fight with the baddies usually ends simply in a few chapters.
Not this time, though. "Home" has our Conn using (no, not the lothfalas) numerous fun spells, fleeing off and on numerous times, and literally taking a trip of Wellmet! Outsmarted then finding a way out, only to land into another trap, then even more trouble. The villain (who I have to restrain myself from saying who he/she is for fear of spoiling the fun!) is just so, so clever. Not to mention incredibly ruthless, to make that cleverness useful. No wonder this is the first time we get to see Conn genuinely scared by something!//heart lurching sound effect here//
In this book, we get to see many more new spells at work! And explosives! Also, the manipulation and use of magic explored in this book is very interesting. I feel like I’ve received a whole new outlook on the magic in Conn's world. For example, we are introduced to a new, very clever way to neutralize magic. For the first three books we are used to the notion that Wellmet's magic is a perpetual presence surrounding Conn wherever he goes. Well, not this time.
In my opinion, a villain much more evil and conniving than the first three books, coupled with a way of cutting off magic, serves incredibly well to force Conn into the important character development this book focuses on: relying on others.
Conn has always thought mainly about the magic protecting him, and thinking that way, he assumes he is always fine by himself; he is never truly 'alone'. However, cut off from the magic, stranded with no way out, fighting a nightmare from his past, Conn understands for the first time that he needs to call for help sometimes, and that it's fine to do so. Ms. Prineas delivers this so subtly using solely the plot, and I really like it!
Another thing that sets this book apart from its predecessors is perhaps the atmosphere. Though things get worse and more desperate by the chapter, this book feels 'warm' to me. The first three books have an air of loneliness and grayness about it I can't really explain.
Perhaps it is because Nevery, Rowan and the other characters have experienced losing Conn and then finding him again, and this has taken their feelings for him to another step. I can feel they are warmer and more trusting, and protective of him. No matter what happens in the plot, this feeling that his friends will always believe in him give this book a warm atmosphere. One thing I can see clearly is that Nevery calls Conn by his name much more often. (He did that only once in Stolen. I remember very well because when he did, I nearly cried!). This gives off a sense of closeness.
That aside, this book makes me incredibly happy with just a simple, unexpected revelation at the very end. I knew Nevery grows to care and worry for Conn a lot, to a certain level, like teacher to pupil; I never knew their relationship would develop into this much! I nearly screamed! (I would have, if it wasn’t the middle of the night and I was in a dorm!) I was just as shocked and moved as Conn when he hears it. You have to go read for yourself. I’ve re-read that part for a gazillion times now!
The ending is also very satisfying to the point that it makes me sad, because I realize the series could just end here! It’s complete! By the end, Conn has finally found his answers for the questions bugging him throughout the series, received what he needed most in the world, and found his true home.
The extras are also very funny. I never thought the Disquisition on the Draconic Nature of Magic would make me roll around with laughter. AND that the Dawn Palace folks have such a terrifying palate. Enough to terrify even Conn. Now that’s something. (And Conn hates raisins! I never knew (he could hate a kind of food)! Oh, ain’t that so cute!)
However, there are many quite unrelated things I really wish to know, just for curiosity’s (nosiness) sake. For example, Nevery’s deceased family and his past. What were his parents like? Who was the shy blonde girl in the blue crystal? His sister? Daughter? (Has Nevery ever married? Ha ha) What happened to his relatives? Why is Nevery left alone?
And then there’s the question about Conn’s father. Who is he and what happened to him? How does Conn feel about his mother, Black Maggie? How old is Conn, exactly? (I know he doesn’t know his own age and the character page says the same, but, backstage? Please?)
What about Nevery’s age? I’ve been worried for a long time, that since Conn is still very young, and Nevery is quite old, if wizards in this world have a normal lifespan, then Nevery wouldn’t be around for Conn for long, would he?
OH, NO! (//Uncontrollable wailing and clutching of head)
Magpie and Crow(e) are birds that exist in real life, while connwaers, embre-wings and chimney swifts are made up? I’ve tried googling connwaer, yes I have. Ha ha.
And how do we pronounce Conn’s and Nevery’s names? (I just realized a few months ago that I might be mispronouncing them after I have known them for, what, seven years?) I always pronounce them as con-wear and nev-ry, but when Den misremembered Nevery’s name, it suggested that his name is pronounced clearly, syllable by syllable: nev-er-y.
What exactly is a true name? How can we tell a true name from an ordinary name? How do parents give true names to their kids? What kind of person must have a true name? True names are meaningful to the magic, yet Conn’s family has a true naming-system, even when they’re ordinary people (well, except for Conn). (About this true name thing, I am really, really interested!)
The magics are very powerful, and they can do almost literally anything the wizards ask them to (I was awed by the way the magics reversed time to bring back Heartsease, and I just love the eyes-and-ears spell, really nice substitute for the journal entries, though I feel some of the journal entries in this book is a little silly and quite unnecessary, like comic relief, to be frank, lots of flirting XD).
They can also take people away, so why didn’t the Wellmet magic just disappear Pettivox and Crowe waaaay back in the first book when they’re still starting on the device? Was it because it’s focused on Arhionvar and didn’t notice itself being dragged into captivity little by little until it’s nearly too late? The magic needed Conn to act on its behalf, because it’s too big to see what’s going on with the puny little humans to know what to do?
Oh, and what would Conn do if Pip grow older and a lot larger? And if Pip does get larger, it can cough out Conn’s locus stone, right?
The spellwords in this story are so, so hard! I’d have a hard time of it if I were a wizard in Wellmet! (They’re great tongue-twisters, though, ha ha) Is Conn’s eidetic memory (I assume he has it, since he can remember what he read or heard precisely and never forgets) a gift from his bond with the magic, or is he a natural genius born with it?
How does wizardry run in Conn’s world? Anyone can become a wizard, or does it run in the family? Nevery’s whole family were wizards, while Conn became a wizard because he was chosen by the magic to help it. Or was it like what Conn was discussing with Nevery at the end of Lost and Found? That since wizards are no different from ordinary people, everyone might be a wizard, but they just never find a locus stone?
By the way, I would LOVE to see Nevery when he was young! (I bet he was just like Conn when he blew up Heartsease!) And Conn when he becomes an old man himself! (After reading A Proper Wizard, it came to me how funny it would be when Conn becomes one of the croakety-croak graybeards himself)
I really just can’t let these characters go! I just want to keep on reading about them and their world. So many discoveries have yet to be made about the nature of magic!
P.S. Ms. Prineas, above all, please write us a fifth book soon or we'll all die of craving!
October 7, 2021
Despite having saved the city of Wellmet multiple times, young wizard Connwaer still hasn't figured out where he belongs. Starting when he picked the pocket of the learned wizard Nevery, he has transformed from a thief and gutterboy to perhaps the most important wizard in town. Nevertheless, not everybody is ready to give him credit for pulling himself out of the gutter. Conn understands, and can sort of communicate with, the two magical beings – something like dragons that have grown past the limits of their physical form – that provide power for all the magic done in town. But the two magics aren't settling down properly, and magic isn't working properly. But some of the local magisters – members of the council of wizards – still don't believe any of this stuff about magics being alive. And now someone is stealing the other wizards' locus stones, which they're all quite ready to pin on him. Worse, whoever it is may also be the reason the magics haven't settled, and if they keep up whatever they're doing, they could destroy the whole city – not that anyone believes Conn when he says so.
Most confusing of all, Conn's best friend is now the duchess, and she wants Conn to be her ducal magister. But that means forcing him into a position where he's sure he doesn't belong, and taking him away from a home where he fits, with Nevery and his servant Benet. With the magisters suspecting him of anything and everything, Rowan counting on him to help her balance the city's power, palace guards chasing him on the Sunrise side of the river and his cousin Ember keeping tabs on him in the Twilight, Conn feels boxed in right when he needs room to look around, figure out how to calm the magics and solve the mystery of the stolen stones. But despite scoring promising leads by talking with mudlarks and the chimney sweeps, the he doesn't discover true shape of what's going on until it might be too late to save the city.
Conn has been a wonderful hero to follow, and his adventures take place in a delightful, well-drawn fantasy worldscape. From his heartwarming and quirky relationships – including a tiny dragon he calls Pip – to the convincingly odd names of spells in the ancient dragon language, his creator shows tremendous imagination at a fine level of detail as well as world-building on a continental scale. At a range of either one book or a series of four, she also demonstrates the ability to turn a well-shaped story. Heck, she even (finally) persuaded me to learn the magisters' runes so I could decode the secret messages sprinkled throughout this book, a step I'm usually content to forgo. So, although this book brings many plot lines to a critical resolution, the only thing I would regret is not getting another chance to visit Conn's world.
This is the fourth book in the "Magic Thief" quartet, following The Magic Thief, Lost and Found. Sarah Prineas is also the author of several other YA fantasy and sci-fi titles, including Trouble in the Stars, Winterling, The Scroll of the King and more.
Most confusing of all, Conn's best friend is now the duchess, and she wants Conn to be her ducal magister. But that means forcing him into a position where he's sure he doesn't belong, and taking him away from a home where he fits, with Nevery and his servant Benet. With the magisters suspecting him of anything and everything, Rowan counting on him to help her balance the city's power, palace guards chasing him on the Sunrise side of the river and his cousin Ember keeping tabs on him in the Twilight, Conn feels boxed in right when he needs room to look around, figure out how to calm the magics and solve the mystery of the stolen stones. But despite scoring promising leads by talking with mudlarks and the chimney sweeps, the he doesn't discover true shape of what's going on until it might be too late to save the city.
Conn has been a wonderful hero to follow, and his adventures take place in a delightful, well-drawn fantasy worldscape. From his heartwarming and quirky relationships – including a tiny dragon he calls Pip – to the convincingly odd names of spells in the ancient dragon language, his creator shows tremendous imagination at a fine level of detail as well as world-building on a continental scale. At a range of either one book or a series of four, she also demonstrates the ability to turn a well-shaped story. Heck, she even (finally) persuaded me to learn the magisters' runes so I could decode the secret messages sprinkled throughout this book, a step I'm usually content to forgo. So, although this book brings many plot lines to a critical resolution, the only thing I would regret is not getting another chance to visit Conn's world.
This is the fourth book in the "Magic Thief" quartet, following The Magic Thief, Lost and Found. Sarah Prineas is also the author of several other YA fantasy and sci-fi titles, including Trouble in the Stars, Winterling, The Scroll of the King and more.
May 19, 2017
When I started this book I thought, man, the end of the third book was a great end to a trilogy. It didn't need more story. Then I looked up the publication date of this book and realized it was many years after the trilogy was written...almost like a need to come back and write a new book to finish the story the way the author wanted, not us leaving it to our imagination. It certainly didn't fall short as far as a good plot, great interaction to the characters, and an excellent ending where Conn finally figures out his role in is world of Welmet. I did enjoy that Conn is faced with how to deal with a problem he create with joining the two different magics in the cities. I also liked how the author developed his character to help him gain maturity in his personality and ability to work with others. Coming from a gutter boy who had to make it on his own for his own, I understand how it wood take him three books to start to understand how to rely on and ask for help from others. It is hard to count on someone after years of not being able to count on anyone. I loved the titles of these books. One word that describes the entire book and its purpose. Home. Yes he finds where that is and everyone around him learns how to accept that too.
March 12, 2023
(3.8 ⭐️) I’m surprised by how good this book is tbh. Prineas obviously improved since the first 3- this book has genuine tension and a lot of character introspection from Conn that I enjoyed a lot. Also the expansion of the different groups in the Twilight was very good.
I don’t really understand the sudden insertion of romantic relationships but it doesn’t mess with the plot too much. Embre and Ro are cute, especially in their letters to each other but Bennett and Kern just don’t make sense to me. Embre as a character is also great, I’m happy to see a disabled character have so much autonomy and authority.
Overall the series lacks characters of color completely, which is annoying. And also as I just checked the author’s profile I saw she has a series called “Spirit Animals”, which is weird if she isn’t native 😬
My rankings of the series:
1. Home
2. The Magic Thief
3. Found
4. Lost
I don’t really understand the sudden insertion of romantic relationships but it doesn’t mess with the plot too much. Embre and Ro are cute, especially in their letters to each other but Bennett and Kern just don’t make sense to me. Embre as a character is also great, I’m happy to see a disabled character have so much autonomy and authority.
Overall the series lacks characters of color completely, which is annoying. And also as I just checked the author’s profile I saw she has a series called “Spirit Animals”, which is weird if she isn’t native 😬
My rankings of the series:
1. Home
2. The Magic Thief
3. Found
4. Lost
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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