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Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Paper Magician (The Paper Magician Trilogy, #1) in Books

Dec 7, 2018

This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Paper Magician is the first in a trilogy of fantasy books by Charlie N. Holmberg. Set in London in the early 1900s it explores the idea of magic in a unique and original way. The protagonist, Ceony Twill, is only nineteen and has recently graduated from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined. For the next few years of her life she is to be apprenticed to a magician who will teach her to use the magic of their chosen material. To Ceony’s disgust she is paired with Magician Emery Thane, a Folder. She is going to spend the rest her life bonded to an extremely boring object: paper.

Ceony and the reader soon discover that there is a particular art to folding paper correctly in order to produce something (e.g. a paper bird) that lives and breathes. But there is something peculiar about Mg. Thane and he ends up in a life and death situation that only Ceony can save him from.

The originality of the plot made this book fascinating to read. A large variety of magical abilities have been explored throughout novels over the years but until now I have not read one that focuses on the material paper. The author has taken something that exists in the known world – origami – and given it a whole new purpose.

Both Ceony and Mg. Thane are likable characters that have a variety of character traits that appeal to a range of different personalities. There were times when their behaviour and speech felt too contemporary for the historical setting resulting in the time period being completely irrelevant to the narrative. Despite this the general storyline was still exciting.

Fantasy novels naturally involve ideas a little beyond the average person’s comprehension, however the middle of The Paper Magician became so far fetched that it was a little confusing for a while.

Overall, The Paper Magician is a fast paced, easy to read book suitable for young adults and fans of fantasy and magic. The story continues in The Glass Magician and the third and finally book can be expected in 2015.