“Remember that you are much different now than you were an hour ago, Ceony. Before you merely read about magic; now you have it.”
Chapter 2, page 27, (Mg. Thane)
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg surprised me. This book has a unique magic system that I found intriguing as well as entertaining. I’ve not read another like The Paper Magician and it kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s book one of a trilogy and now I find myself wishing I had bought all three at the same time.
Author Holmberg introduces readers to Ceony, a young magician embarking on her apprenticeship with Magician Thane. Ceony has selected to enter her post-graduate studies as an apprentice for paper magic. Quite the disappointment to Ceony who had desired something a bit more exciting. Things start out a bit rocky for her as Mg. Thane seems eccentric and not at all what Ceony expected in a Master. However, after a short time, she begins to settle into her new role even when Mg. Thane leaves her on her own for a few days.
Just when Ceony has begun to feel like maybe bonding with paper magic wasn’t the worst thing, her world and life are threatened. A mysterious woman shows up at the Thane home and assaults Mg. Thane, ripping his heart from his chest and stealing away with it. Ceony has to use all her newly developing skills as a paper magician as well as her intellect and bravery to find the woman holding Mg. Thane’s heart and stop her.
Charlie N. Holmberg doesn’t just give us another story with magic and a young apprentice. The Paper Magician is dark, imaginative, and beautifully written. It takes the reader on an intimate journey into one man’s actual heart. Ceony magically enters Mg. Thane’s heart and it’s not a place for the squeamish.
There are lighter moments as well and Fennel the paper dog was a favorite. I didn’t immediately like the character of Ceony, but I grew to admire her and appreciate her as the story unfolded. I am looking forward to reading more about her and this world that Holmberg has created.
I highly recommend The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg. The next book in the series is The Glass Magician, followed by The Master Magician. You can check out blurbs for all three books here, on the website of Charlie N. Holmberg.