What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

This was a book I read in the late 2000s, but could have been published a bit earlier. I believe it was a trilogy, short soft cover books. One of the covers had the main character casting illusion magic with glowing orbs. The magic system was very interesting but simple, and it took a lot of effort and skill to maintain a lot of magic/illusions at once. The main character was male, either an older kid or a teenager. I think there was a performance in a theater in one of the books.

It's all I can remember, I think was just such an obscure fantasy book. Reminds me of Tamora Pierce Circle series or like Deltora Quest, but it isn't those books.

The Wizard of Earthsea books?

Link for Rose's suggestion - first book: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.

"Earthsea Cycle" series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/4090...

Some aspects of your description are reminiscent of Lyndon Hardy's Magic by the numbers series, starting with Master of the Five Magics, where the protagonist ends up learning all the different types of magic. In the second book, Secret of the Sixth Magic, the protagonist arranges a theatre production of illusions after that magic has ceased to work.

Cover image of first book:

Boris, are you still looking for this book - or did you find it?

Robert wrote: "Some aspects of your description are reminiscent of Lyndon Hardy's Magic by the numbers series, starting with Master of the Five Magics, where the protagonist ends u..."

Kris wrote: "Link for Rose's suggestion - first book: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.

"Earthsea Cycle" series - https://www.goodreads.com/series/4090..."

I also think it sounds like these books.