Book Review: The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

12/14/2018

Ceony Twill is good at keeping secrets, but not-so-good at keeping out of trouble.

Ceony knows the secret of the Excisioners, dark magicians who bond to human flesh to control and terrorize their victims and enemies. However, as Emery Thane's apprentice and love interest, she knows there are some lines one does not cross no matter how beneficial it might appear.

On a quest to rid the world of an Excisioner-for-Hire, and avenge a fallen friend, she uses this newfound secret to bend the rules, skirt the law, and even flout the foundation of magical understanding.

What I liked:

The story moved quickly. Often I found myself frustrated at Ceony's disregard for rules and propriety, so I took that as a sign I'd become emotionally involved in the story. This third installment in the Paper Magician series is a wonderful wrap-up to our hero's story arc. The series is a perfect collection for young adults seeking to venture into magically alternate histories of jolly olde England.

What I didn't like:

I would have liked Ceony to have a comrade, as she had in the Glass Magician. Taking on so many dangers alone proved her mettle, but also showed her characters lack of self-awareness and growth considering doing things on her own had cost others in the previous books.

Overall, I gave The Master Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg a solid 4 stars for good, clean writing, wistful prose and a flair for sprinkling romance in the right places.