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The Magic Thief (Magic Thief #1)

by Sarah Prineas (Goodreads Author), Antonio Javier Caparo (Illustrations)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 6,211 ratings · 671 reviews

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the prov...more

Hardcover, 422 pages

Published June 3rd 2008 by HarperCollins

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Community Reviews

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May 08, 2008 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kimberly by: Jason Paulios

Shelves: fantasy

Conn just wanted some money to pay for his meal when he picked a wizard, Nevery's, pocket. Taking Nevery's locus magicalicus (a stone that helps wizards to focus when using magic) should have caused Conn to die. But he didn't. Nevery finds this interesting, and takes Conn in as his apprentice (more of a servant, though.)
Life is still difficult for Conn even though he gets fed, has a roof over his head, and he even learns how to read. There is contempt for him since he is a known thief and lock...more

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 23, 2008 R.j. rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone who loves fantasy

This book made me absurdly and enormously happy.

The Magic Thief has a number of familiar fantasy motifs and character types. But in Sarah Prineas's hands a story that could have been predictable instead has a wonderful freshness and vitality about it. The invented world in which Conn moves has a Dickensian flair without being merely alt-Victoriana, and its magical system is both well imagined and intriguing.

The characters in The Magic Thief are realistically flawed and fallible, yet they never...more

10 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2012 Abby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit-2012

Plot Summary:
The city of Wellmet is losing its magic and no one can seem to figure out why. It is up to a previously exiled wizard named Nevery and a young thief named Connwaer, to save the town from its untimely demise. The story tells of Connwaer’s search for his locus magicalicus, or the stone that allows wizards to harness magic’s power and how he enters into apprenticeship with the older wizard. He also helps Nevery solve the mystery behind the lost magic.

Main Characters:
Connwaer: He is a...more Plot Summary:
The city of Wellmet is losing its magic and no one can seem to figure out why. It is up to a previously exiled wizard named Nevery and a young thief named Connwaer, to save the town from its untimely demise. The story tells of Connwaer’s search for his locus magicalicus, or the stone that allows wizards to harness magic’s power and how he enters into apprenticeship with the older wizard. He also helps Nevery solve the mystery behind the lost magic.

Main Characters:
Connwaer: He is a young boy that was raised on “the wrong side of town”, quite literally. His mom dies while he is still young and he fends for himself in the “twilight” neighborhood. He has a strong will and does not lie. He is also eager to learn, and will not be entered into servitude.

Nevery: Nevery is an old wizard, who 20 years prior, was exiled from Wellmet because he blew up his house and part of the palace. He is a bit of an ornery older man, who walks with a cane and believes that things are not always how they look.

Benet: Benet is the “hired muscle” for Nevery and Connwaer. Even though he is hired more as a body guard, we find out that he also has excellent cooking and knitting skills.

Key Issues:
Fantasy, Magic, Good vs. Evil, Changing your Destiny

Other Interesting information:
I love how throughout the book, whenever Connwaer felt like he was not going to be allowed to continue his apprenticeship, or if Nevery used corporal punishment among other things, he had such a strong will and pride about him that he would say things like, “I would not be a servant, that would never do,” or “I just would not allow it.” He was quite daring for the time period that this seems to be set in. The reason that I gave this book four out of five stars was that I really did the novel, it had an interesting, page turning plot line, and the characters were funny. The book was a little slow going on the plot, but I would definitely want this book in my classroom, and would recommend it to others.
(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 SilverRaindrops rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sorting-first-in-series, ya, reviewstatus-reviewed

Once in a while, I need a straight-forward fun book, that is interesting enough to keep you reading until the end, has engaging characters, and does not require too much of you. If it still manages to surprise you, than it sure is time well spent.

"The Magic Thief" (or "Stolen") fits that description well enough. Conn is an unusual, truth-telling thief, and Nevery a grumpy wizard with a warm heart. The supporting cast seem nice enough as well.

There's a slight problem with the structure of the b...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 10, 2008 Lucy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, middlegrade

Conn is a thief--a pickpocket, lockpick and gutterboy. Living in the Twilight, the seedy district of the magical city of Wellmet, there's not much else he could be. But when he picks the pocket of the wizard Nevery and comes out with Nevery's locus magicalicus, he's stolen more than he expected.

Nevery expects Conn to be dead--and fast--but when Conn doesn't die, Nevery decides to keep him around--just for a little while. Just until he figures out why not.

While Nevery may think that Conn is his s...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 07, 2008 A.J. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

Okay, I guess I'm the first to give this book a review after its official publication date (June 3 or thereabouts).

To begin I think a bit of background is in order, because the 3-star rating I gave is deceptively low. The rating only reflects the book and its success stacked against myself as a reader with particular tastes and preferences. This book is definitely for the kiddies. It isn't designed to thrust itself among the greatest epic fantasy stories ever told, and in the darkness category...more

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Aug 23, 2008 Shippseattle rated it 5 of 5 stars

So Much fun to read. Turns out this will be a trilogy. Looking forward to readding the next two

In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the ...more

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In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus m...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 06, 2009 Beth added it

Shelves: fantasy, mg

LOVED this one! I had actually held off in reading this one for awhile--the cover art made me think it was a little more childish than I usually read (though now I quite like it and see it's relevance in the book). Boy, was I wrong. Once I picked it up and started reading, the voice of the characters totally drug me into the story. I couldn't put it down, clear as clear. The plot twists and turns, and although I guessed the big twist at the end, I still loved the writing and the action kept me o...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Cornelia added it · review of another edition

Inhalt:

Conn hätte eigentlich tot umfallen müssen an dem Tag, als er Nevery bestiehlt und den Locus Magicalicus an sich nimmt – den Zauberstein, der Magie bindet und Sprüche wirksam macht. Aber merkwürdigerweise bleibt er unversehrt. Überrascht und fasziniert willigt Nevery ein, Conn als seinen Lehrling aufzunehmen. Unter der Bedingung, dass der Junge mit dem Antritt in der Akademie seinen eigenen Locus Magicalicus binnen eines Monats findet. Aber während Conn sich mit seinen Zauberlektionen abmü...more Inhalt:

Conn hätte eigentlich tot umfallen müssen an dem Tag, als er Nevery bestiehlt und den Locus Magicalicus an sich nimmt – den Zauberstein, der Magie bindet und Sprüche wirksam macht. Aber merkwürdigerweise bleibt er unversehrt. Überrascht und fasziniert willigt Nevery ein, Conn als seinen Lehrling aufzunehmen. Unter der Bedingung, dass der Junge mit dem Antritt in der Akademie seinen eigenen Locus Magicalicus binnen eines Monats findet. Aber während Conn sich mit seinen Zauberlektionen abmüht und zugleich Nevery hilft herauszufinden, wieso der magische Energielevel in der Stadt sinkt, rinnt ihm die Zeit, die ihm noch bleibt, um seinen magischen Stein zu finden, zwischen den Fingern.

Figuren:

Die Figurencharakterisierung zeichnet dieses Buch aus. Selbst wenn die Nebenfiguren alle einem gewissen Typus folgen, waren sie in ihrer Art gut umgesetzt. Sie hielten sich an ihre Eigenschaften, überraschten dennoch (besonders Benet). Äußerst sympathisch waren mir Conn und Nevery und ihre köstlichen Dialoge, bzw. zunächst ihre Wortkargheit, was nur noch unterstrich, wie sehr sich die Figuren aneinander im Verlauf der Geschichte annäherten. Conn wächst einem unweigerlich an Herz. Zu sehen, welchen Appetit er als ehemaliger Straßenjunge an den Tag legt, wie unverschämt er manchmal sich gegenüber Nevery verhält, und wie listig, aber auch wie unschuldig kindlich er sein kann – man merkt an meinen Sätzen, ich mag diese Figur.

Lob und Kritik:

Zunächst baute sich die Geschichte sehr langsam auf, dafür gab es seit Langem wieder eine temporeiche Mitte. Conns Suche nach dem Locus Magicalicus ist, obwohl der Junge eigentlich nur in Sackgassen rennt und nichts findet, wirklich fesselnd geschrieben. Und spätestens nach der Auflösung, wenn Con seinen Stein spürt und er praktisch nur noch danach greifen muss (und nach was er greifen muss!), hat man den Charakter ins Herz geschlossen. Der Autorin gelingt es, diesen schweren Diebstahl, den Conn (nicht absichtlich) begeht, so zu schreiben, dass man diesem Jungen als Leser nicht einmal böse sein kann – Man ist praktisch selbst überzeugt, dass er das Richtige getan hat.

Die Aufteilung der Stadt kommt gerade einem Erwachsenen zu Beginn etwas Klischeehaft vor (Twilight und Sunrise mit dem Palast der Morgenröte und der Abenddämmerung), aber der Detailreichtum, mit dem Geschäfte, Straßen, Brücken und die Leute der Akademie beschrieben werden, machen Wellmet schnell zu einem ganz besonderen Ort, und auch zu einem besonderen Lesevergnügen.

Leider riss das letzte Kapitel einem aus diesem Vergnügen heraus, da man deutlich merkte, dass dieses eingefügt wurde, um einen weiteren Band anzukündigen. Ich habe nichts dagegen, dass es Regeln in einer magischen Welt gibt, die die Hauptfigur durch eigenes Probieren oder besseres Wissen auf den Kopf stellt. Aber wenn ich mich recht entsinne, geht ein Magier eine Verbindung mit seinem Locus Magicalicus ein, die auch unter gewissen Umständen gefährlich werden kann (ohne zu viel zu verraten). Aber ich bin gespannt, wie die Autorin dies wohl im zweiten Band noch auflöst.

Zusammenfassend:

Die Geschichte über den kleinen Zauberlehrling Conn ist eine eigenwillige, doch wundervolle und dazu ein herausragendes Debüt der Autorin. Besonders gefallen haben mir auch die beigefügten Zeichnungen und das Rezept für die Brötchen, die Conn so gerne und ständig futtert. Ich habe es sogar ausprobiert – es schmeckte himmlisch. Das machte den ersten Band Reihe zu einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis.

Daher vergebe ich 4 von 5 Sternen für Sarah Phineas’ magisches Debüt.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Ginger rated it 5 of 5 stars

I’m always looking for books that my son can sink his 12 year old teeth into but I found my own choppers greedily eating up every page of this book and then I immediately plowed through the next two in the series. Isn’t it great when you can share books like this with your children? It creates a bond unlike parent – more like friends. With children on the cusp of teenage-horror-hormones anytime I can foster a friendship with my children I’m game! But I digress...this is Sarah Prineas’s first pub...more I’m always looking for books that my son can sink his 12 year old teeth into but I found my own choppers greedily eating up every page of this book and then I immediately plowed through the next two in the series. Isn’t it great when you can share books like this with your children? It creates a bond unlike parent – more like friends. With children on the cusp of teenage-horror-hormones anytime I can foster a friendship with my children I’m game! But I digress...this is Sarah Prineas’s first published book – and series and I can only say, KEEP WRITING WOMAN!

This book is a prime example of why I love books over movies – you get to sit in the midst of a character’s grey matter and view the world through their eyes and live their adventures. And Conn is a great character to live inside of. Due to his life on the streets he has a maturity that surpasses his youthful age, he is super cautious about what he says about himself and from obscurity he’s been singled out by the magic as being special – yet despite the obvious connection, Conn is overlooked by most because of his age and appearance. What youth doesn’t feel invisible at times in an adult-run world?

But though Conn is looked down upon, is an enemy of the guards of the city, is wanted by the crime Underlord of the city, dang it, the kid is special and the magic has chosen him for a special destiny despite them all.

Great, great storytelling. Great character-driven plot lines and the fantastical city with its mix of magic and politics is kept uncluttered enough to not become laboriously complex or educational. I loved this story, my son loved this story and I made my library buy the set. Viva la Magic Thief!

As an extra to this review, I sent a note to author, Sarah Prineas that I had reviewed her books on my blog www.missgeviousreads.com and put an article in our local Springwater News (and totally loved this series). This was her reply:

Hi Ginger--

Thanks so much for your email!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book and gave it such a lovely review in both places. Readers like you are the ones who make it all worth it. What a great blog, too.

Cheers! SarahP(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Matra2710 rated it 2 of 5 stars

Do sięgnięcia po tą pozycje skłonił mnie opis i okładka. I żałuję, że nie zostawiłam jej na swoim miejscu w bibliotece.

Pani Prineas powinna pisać książki dla mniejszych dzieci, bo takie powieści jej nie wychodzą. Pomimo tego iż opis jest w miarę ciekawy, to to co znajdziemy w środku nie powala na kolana, w ogóle nie jest interesujące. Temat pozycji jest dość oryginalny, ale autorka w ogóle tego nie wykorzystała. Lubię tematy o czarodziejach, magii itp. ale ta książka jest totalną porażką. Z pew...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Jojo rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great book written for all ages! It's about a thief named Conn and his life after meeting the wizard Nevery. The story is told in Conn's point of view and also in Nevery's short journal entries.

I really enjoyed how concise and deceptively simple the book is. Prineas wastes no space with needless fluff or too many adjectives. The characters are distinct and interesting. As the story progresses, you can tell that although Conn is a lowly thief, he has his own wisdom and set of skills (which is a...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Matthew H H rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: Magic Thief
Author: Sarah Prineas
Pg: 411
Date Read: September
Genre: Fantasy

Magic Thief is about a boy named conn and how he goes from a thief to an apprentice of Nevery the Sorcerer. Conn was trying to steal Nevery's Locus Magicalicus the day they met. When Conn touched the Locus Magicalicus he should have died, but he didn't an Nevrey was curious so he took Conn as his apprentice. Conn was put into a scholl but he didn't know much so he didn't go. Conn learns that the magic level is lower...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Text Addict rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya-teen

What an utterly charming little book! Prineas's prose sparkles, the characters are vivid and distinctive, and the plot zooms along.

Yes, it may seem like a bit much that Conn is so unspeakably smart and talented (despite his privilege-free life up to the start of the book), but I don't demand that *all* heroes have to struggle mightily to learn magic (not to mention reading). Conn's endearing, cocky self-confidence and believable childishness more than make up for that potential flaw.

It's also c...more

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, adventure

Conn is an orphan surviving the best he can picking locks, thieving and picking pockets. One night, he picks the pocket of the powerful wizard, Neverly Flinglas. Conn gets the wizard’s locus magicalicus, a stone that is the center of the magician’s power. Nevery isn’t mad that Conn tried to pick his pocket, he’s astonished that touching the magic stone didn’t kill Conn. No one else is supposed to be able to touch a wizard’s stone. Intrigued, Nevery takes on Conn as a servant and when Conn shows...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-9-12

Connwaer's life changes the moment he picks the pocket of a wizard. He is soon the apprentice of brusk, gruff Magister Flinglas and living in a real home--well, okay, half a home since the other half was blown up 20 years ago--named Heartsease on an island in the river, with a biscuit baking, knitting, body guard named Benet. Before long, the duchess's daughter, Rowan, becomes his best friend. Life is dangerous, but Connwaer wouldn't want things any other way. Well, maybe not everything.

I began...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3rd-grade, 4th-grade, 5th-grade, boy-main-character, fantasy, mystery, series

Enjoyable fantasy with steampunky elements; I enjoyed the conceit that industry is powered by magic in the land of Wellmet, with urban decline explained by a decrease in the amount of magic available to Wellmet's wizards. Conn is an endearing main character, whose voice leads us through the majority of the story. The chapters which he narrates are much more compelling than the short snippets we read from the journal of Nevery, the wizard who somewhat unwillingly takes Conn on as an apprentice fo...more

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Jul 02, 2011 LJ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-books

I think the idea is that this book would appeal to readers of the Septimus Heap series, the Fablehaven series, and those seeking out another good series about a boy wizard in training, but fantasy is not all created equal. That being said, even the first Harry Potter book had its flaws, and I adore that series, so I'm giving The Magic Thief a chance.

The plot is as follows: Conn is a young thief forced into the profession by desperate circumstances. His mother is dead and there's no one left to c...more I think the idea is that this book would appeal to readers of the Septimus Heap series, the Fablehaven series, and those seeking out another good series about a boy wizard in training, but fantasy is not all created equal. That being said, even the first Harry Potter book had its flaws, and I adore that series, so I'm giving The Magic Thief a chance.

The plot is as follows: Conn is a young thief forced into the profession by desperate circumstances. His mother is dead and there's no one left to care for him. One night in "Twilight" (a village filled with nere-do-wells) he picks the pocket of an old man and comes up with a "locus magicalicus" or wizard's stone which almost, but not quite, kills him. This intrigues the old wizard, Nevery whose pocket was picked and he takes him in. At first there is a misunderstanding. Conn thinks he is going to be trained as an apprentice, but Nevery views him as a servent. Eventually Conn convinces Nevery to take him on as his apprentice.

Besides following Conn's progress as an apprentice, there's a mystery to solve. The region's magic is fading and without it the area's vibrancy is in question. The ebbing of the magic affects the weather, getting colder and colder. Conn and Nevery argue about what is causing the change, both thinking they have the answer. At the heart of the mystery is the question, "What is magic?" Conn believes it is a living being, but Nevery holds to the views of historical scholars on the subject.

The book includes excerpts from Nevery's diary, so the reader knows what he's thinking while Conn narates the story. At the bottom of each diary entry is a secret code that readers can descipher using a key included at the end of the book.

Good character development, including minor characters keeps the interest up, but there's one mistake the author makes in the storyline that I can't quite forgive: at one point Conn reveals to Nevery that he can't read and then a few pages later Nevery accuses Conn of reading a forbidden text. This is never explained and is truely one of those continuety mistakes readers occasionally come across. Doesn't ruin the story, but it does take some of the polish away from an otherwise exciting read.(less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Sheryl added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Grade 3–6—Conn, a pickpocket on the streets of Twilight, one day picks the pocket of a powerful wizard and steals his locus magicalicus, the center of his power. It should kill Conn, but it doesn't. Nevery, the wizard, has just returned after a 22-year exile, to try to save the town from the leaching of its magic, upon which so much, including its economy, depends. Curious about the boy, Nevery takes him on as an assistant and then an apprentice. Although it is the wizard's job to stem the tide...more

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May 31, 2011 Justin Meyer rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book "The Magic Thief" is about a kid named Connwaer that lives on the streets and is an excellet pickpocketer. Connwaer pickpocketed a wizard's pocket and grabbed the wizards locus stone then it started glowing really bright. The wizard returned and saw that he had it so he said a spell and stopped it. The wizard was surprised because if another person touches the stone they end up dieing, but not Connwaer so the wizard took Connwaer as his apprentice. In the city the wizard lives, all the...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Bette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s

I liked this book a lot. It's a bit derivative of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series. There is a wizard school, for instance, but the focus of the book on schooling isn't nearly as prominent as in Harry Potter. But overall, Prineas succeeds in creating a unique alternative fantasy world with an engaging protagonist. The main character, Conn, is a clever pickpocket and lock picker. He is "nosy," according to the wizard, Nevery, but it's his curiosity that leads him to solve the mystery of why the a...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Andy rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-star

This book, the first in a trilogy, is a great example of how children’s book publishers are putting out way too many series and lots of bad fantasy in an attempt to make money. Connwaer has lots of street smarts and a skilled pick-pocketing hand. At the start of the story he steals the locus magicalicus of the Wizard Nevery Flinglas. This magical device should kill Conn, but doesn’t. And so, Conn is taken in with interest and some apprehension by the wizard Nevery. Magic abounds in their city of...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Truly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kalau bicara urusan perut, apapun bisa terjadi

Demi kelangsungan hidupnya, Connwear,biasa dipanggil Conn, terpaksa mencuri.Biasanya sebagai ahli membuka kunci dan memiliki kecepatan tangan ytang hebat, ia tidak pernah gagal. Suatu saat tanpa sengaja ia mencopet seorang lelaki tua yang ternyata adalah Nevery, penyihir yang terbuang 20 tahun silam.. Ia kembali karena merasa pengaruh sihir yang mulai menurun.Celakanya ia tak sengaja menyentuh locus magicalicus milik Nevery. Biasanya orang akan mati,...more

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Aug 23, 2010 Patrice Sartor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

GENRE: Fiction, fantasy.

SUMMARY: When Conn, young pickpocket and sneakster extraordinaire, takes the great magician Nevery's special wizard stone from his pocket and lives, Nevery becomes intrigued. Before long he makes Conn his apprentice, though the magical magistrate will not recognize Conn as such until he finds his own special wizard stone, called a locus magicalicus. Conn has only 30 days to complete this task, and Nevery is too busy trying to determine why the supply of magic in town is d...more

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Jul 22, 2010 Kater Cheek rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a middle grade fantasy, and though its protagonist is "somewhere between 12 and 14" I think that beginning readers and picky readers won't like it. Not that it's poorly written; on a sentence-by-sentence level, Prineas is adept. It felt bland and derivative. I admit, this may be that I am not in the book's target audience, but I have enjoyed other MG novels.

Conn is a gutter-dwelling pickpocket who steals a wizard's magic stone, the Magicalicus Locus, which my mind's voice invariably...more This book is a middle grade fantasy, and though its protagonist is "somewhere between 12 and 14" I think that beginning readers and picky readers won't like it. Not that it's poorly written; on a sentence-by-sentence level, Prineas is adept. It felt bland and derivative. I admit, this may be that I am not in the book's target audience, but I have enjoyed other MG novels.

Conn is a gutter-dwelling pickpocket who steals a wizard's magic stone, the Magicalicus Locus, which my mind's voice invariably interpreted as "magicalicious" (because magically and delicious are wedded solidly in my mind.) The stone does not kill Conn with its magic, which indicates that Conn may be a wizard, so the magician takes him home as an apprentice. Soon, we learn the main problem facing the citizens of the city: the magic levels are dropping, and if they drop all the way, the city will die.

For the first half of the book, none of the characters make any progress discovering why the magic level is dropping or how to stop it. Instead, Prineas concentrates on telling us about Conn. He's honest and practical. He's amazingly brilliant in everything he does (learns to read in a day, for example). He likes biscuits. We also meet the rest of the characters, a cast which is not large. Those who are good guys, Conn likes and befriends. Those who are evil, or working for evil, Conn never likes. When it comes time for Conn to find his own magic stone, he finds one that is more special and wonderful than anyone else's. Meanwhile, the plot has pretty much ground to a halt, not to resume again until two-thirds' of the way through.

I could have forgiven the slow plot if I had liked the characters a little better, but with the exception of the hulking bodyguard (who likes to knit and bake) they all fit their molds like cast plastic. The wizards felt like Gandalf-impersonators, the one girl was pretty much a princess, the sneering Draco-Malfoy character follows his script to the letter. As for Conn, he felt quite bland. He didn't seem to have any emotion, even when describing how his mother died. He's bright and honest, resourceful, and untainted by the tragedies and harsh living that has befallen him. He's also good at just about everything he does. He's the perfect robot boy, complete with 21st century middle class values and opinions.

I'm not going to say this was a bad book, because at least it didn't hit any of my pet peeves (too many italics, overt racism, stupid characters, plot armor) but it didn't light any fires in me either. I could have put it down and not really been bothered. I recommend it for kids who have devoured the Harry Potter series and are ravenous for more high fantasy, but aren't yet ready for darker YA.

(less)

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Jul 17, 2010 ICPL Staff Picks added it

Shelves: andrea, fantasy, fiction, staff-picks-blog

Local author Sarah Prineas has struck gold with The Magic Thief, the first book in the children’s series by the same name. In a setting that brings to mind Dickensian London, the young thief Conn pickpockets the local magicalus of a powerful magician Nevery Flingas. Intrigued that Conn is not killed by such an act, Flingas takes on Conn as an apprentice magician. Equally drawn to magic and the solid meals the lovable house-thug Bennett provides, Conn undertakes to make a go of it. While he has s...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Hallie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Hallie by: Dorian

Shelves: fantasy, childrens

This one just felt right from the beginning and continued to hit me the right way throughout. It's a bit younger than I normally read, but the fact that I never felt the least bit less enjoyment from it says a lot.

It's extraordinary because if you set up the plot it sounds very, very old. Young boy, underdog of the first order (orphan, "gutterboy", pick-pocket), taken up, reluctantly, by an older wizard - a grumpy and often distracted one who ultimately comes to care for the boy. (I almost could...more

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Sep 20, 2009 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: youth-fiction

Making a living on the Twilight side of Wellmet, Connwaer (Conn) was commonly referred to as a gutter boy with quick hands as a pick pocket and a lock pick. Picking the pocket of the wizard Nevery Flinglas should have left him dead, but instead it left Nevery interested in why his locus magicalicus (wizards magical stone) had not hurt the street boy. Knowing the magic of Wellmet was declining, Nevery was asked to find the cause and help to solve the problem. Taking Conn on as an apprentice proba...more

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Apr 04, 2009 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a great little fantasy book. Thanks to Wendy and Rose for recommending it. My son loved it, and it was also a good read-aloud for me and my husband. The elements and plot aren't unique--orphan boy takes up with Gandalf-type wizard, finds that he has magical talent and saves the city. But the way Prineas puts it all together is refreshing and quite good. Well drawn, appealing characters. Benet is delightful. I found Con's self-confidence unusual, but effective. I really like Prineas' voic...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Dougal Trump rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a really great book about a poor street boy called Conn, who steals a stone from an old man. But the old man is a wizard and the stone his like his wand. The wizard isn't very pleased, but he is surprised that Conn isn't dead, because that's what normally happens if you touch a wizard's stone. Well, Conn might have survived, but his problems are only just beginning - now he has to put up with being the servant of a seriously grumpy wizard and his hard as rock bodyguard, who doesn't like...more

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About Sarah Prineas

I'm from rural Johnson County, Iowa, and my first novel, The Magic Thief, was published by HarperCollins in June 2008 and by a bunch of other publishers around the world. The next book in the series, The Magic Thief: Lost, came out in May 2009, and the third, The Magic Thief: Found, was published in spring 2010. My next book from HarperCollins was Winterling (2012), followed by two sequels, Summer...more

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