Magician's Ward (1997)

Liked this one better than the first book. It is notable for having a very cool magic system that actually explains why spells have to be in foreign or dead languages. ( )

Now Mairelon's ward, Kim must learn to deal with London Society, while also handling the unusual events occurring around her.

The Magician's Ward is a fun book full of powerful female characters, including Mairelon's overly-strict aunt and his charming and brilliant mother, their friend Renee, and other Society ladies. It's interesting to see London Society through all of those perspectives, especially Kim's, while at the same time they are trying to deal with a burglary, a mysterious wizard, and other problems that arise. ( )

Fun. While still being clearly Kim's and Mairelon's story, it's also a near-standard Regency romance. The young lady who does not fit the standard Society mold, who none-the-less becomes a success - and rejects a rich marriage for more important things... And then the magic and the adventures entwined with the romance. The scare Mairelon gets, that only gets worse right up to the climax; Aunt Leticia, showing unexpected depths only in the crisis; the people from her former life that Kim encounters and deals with... It's a great story, with a happy ending and a lovely (funny) last scene. I do wish she'd written more - I'd love to see what Kim gets up to as a full wizard. But these two stories are great as is. ( )

Unusual YA historical fantasy.
Set in a universe similar to Sorcery and Cecelia, where magic is an integral part of society, which is researched and used alongside other worthwhile occupations by the ton. The story is much more simple, with less historical detail, less whimsy.
The plot is more entertaining than realistic. A collection of strange events and equally strange characters, whose interactions are humorously disconnected. ( )

Summary: Now that Mairelon has taken Kim on as his apprentice, the determination and quick intelligence that she developed as a common pickpocket and street thief are proving surprisingly useful in the study of magic. However, nothing could have prepared her for the terrors she will have to face as a young lady about to come out into polite society. Now Kim must not only learn the laws of magic and the equally unforgiving rules of society, she must also deal with an attempted burglary of Mairelon's library, which is only the tip of an international plot decades in the making.

Review: Wrede's done it again: blended genres effortlessly, telling a interesting story with strong characters, a flair for snappy dialogue, and more than enough humor to round things out. It's not quite of a piece with Mairelon the Magician - while the first book felt primarily like a farce, Magician's Ward feels more like a comedy of manners - but it's equally enjoyable. In fact, I think it's actually better: the plot is less convoluted and flows more smoothly, and the supporting cast is smaller and more easy to keep straight. I also liked the touch of Regency Romance (which would admittedly have been out of place in the first book), and the addition of Mairelon's mother, who is a proper (if somewhat quirky) Lady *and* a practicing magician, is absolutely brilliant. I tore through this book in a single evening, and now definitely need to find my own copy, because I can easily see this joining Wrede's other books as a perennial comfort read. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: This book could probably be read and understood independently of Mairelon the Magician, but they're both so much fun that I can't see why you'd want to. Fans of Wrede's Sorcery & Cecelia will like this for sure, as will anyone who likes historical fantasy, Regency romance with a little magic thrown in (a la Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, but less magic-y and much lighter), or who is just looking for a fun, funny, and engaging read. ( )