The guy gets his finger cut off. ( )

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Conn was just hoping for a few coins to buy food when he picked the pocket of the wizard who passed his alleyway. What he gets is an adventure far bigger than he could have imagined. The wizard, Nevery, takes an interest in Conn, and takes him in as a servant and then an apprentice. With regular meals, blankets to sleep under, and enough magical objects and lessons to keep Conn's eager mind occupied, the once-homeless boy couldn't be happier.

Unfortunately for Conn, nothing is as simple as it seems. Before he can truly become an apprentice, he must find his locus magicalicus (the stone which will focus his magical power) in a most unlikely place, convince Nevery that one of his fellow wizards is consorting with the city's cruel Underlord, and figure out why the city's magic is fading away--and how to save it--before the city dies from the lack of it. It's a terribly large task for a boy who has only just started learning his letters, but Conn is nothing if not resourceful.

THE MAGIC THIEF will pull readers in so completely that they'll have trouble setting the book aside. The details of the Victorian-esque world are so vividly drawn that readers will feel the chill of the icy winds and taste the buttery goodness of Conn's favorite biscuits. What makes the book particularly special is Conn himself. His voice is lively, with exactly the sort of street-smart practicality and frankness you'd expect from a boy who has spent most of his life on the streets. Despite his criminal background, Conn is good-hearted, and simply longs for a place where he can make something of himself.

Readers will sympathize with his struggle to prove himself to Nevery and the city's authorities, and appreciate his clear-headed thinking amid all the secrecy and scheming of the adults around him. The novel's conclusion is quite satisfying, while leaving lots open for the second book in the trilogy, which many will be clamoring to get as soon as they have finished this one. An all-round enjoyable read that easily stands out from the many fantasy novels on the shelves. ( )

It’s a really easy read with some good thought behind it. It was more than I expected. I thought it was really clever to make wizards have stones (which was their source of power) rather than wands or staffs as in other books. It surprised me – I thought it would be very immature but some serious thinking obviously went into this. Very different from many other magic books which is good. It stood out in my mind. I’d like to know more about how some of the magic works at time though. It seemed a little bit hurried during some of the descriptions. AHS/EK

Fast and fun read, with appealing characters (especially Conn, the narrator) and a nicely-paced story. ( )

Conn picks a wizard's pocket and steals his magical focus. It should kill him; when he survives, the wizard is intrigued and makes Conn his servant. But Conn thinks he's an apprentice and concentrates on learning magic. Meanwhile, the magic levels in town are decreasing to dangerously low levels. Natural variation or evil plot?

This is fairly generic fantasy, but there are some nice touches and good characterizations. ( )