A Matter of Magic

A Matter of Magic 

by Patricia C. Wrede

New York: Orb, 2010. 448 pgs, YA Fiction

This book is a combination of two stories, set in Regency England. When a stranger offers Kim money to break into a traveling magician’s wagon, she doesn’t ask any questions. But then she gets caught and discovers the magic is not just a sleight of hand. To make things worse he wants her to come a long on his journey and be his apprentice. Kim gets caught up in the world of wizardry and learns more than she ever thought she would.

This is one of my favorite stories. Kim is a very relatable character who grows throughout the course of the two books in this series. Some of my favorite scenes in the book are when she reverts to her street cant while navigating through proper society. I love the side characters in this story just as much as I love the main characters because of the diversity of their personalities. Mrs. Lowe whom you meet in the second book is beautifully annoying, while Renee D’Auber is elegant and forward thinking. I also like the author’s take on magic in this particular series. It is fascinating how they use other languages to stabilize the spells they cast throughout the books.

MH