The Magic Thief: Stolen (Magic Thief)
by Sarah Prineas (Goodreads author!)
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 193)
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.
Unf...more
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.
Unf...more
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Read in June, 2008
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 categ...more
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 categ...more
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Read in August, 2008
This stubby book, somewhat short and thick and with a jacket that makes it look like an ancient, leather-and-metal-bound tome, outwardly resembles many other recent fantasies – Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap books, for example. And sure enough, there are many familiar elements. An orphan street kid named Conn discovers (after attempting to steal wizard Nevery’s locus magicalus) that he has some latent magical ability and becomes Nevery’s servant/apprentice. Meanwhile, magic is ebbing at a...more
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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 character...more
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 character...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Kimberly by:
Jason Paulios
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 an...more
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 an...more
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Read in August, 2008
Conn has been working as a lock-picker and thief in the seedy part of town for years when he picks the pocket of the wizard Nevery, recently returned to town to look into the decline in magic levels. Nevery is intrigued by the fact that Conn lifts his locus magicalicus, his magic stone, without coming to serious harm; soon Conn is working for Nevery, first as a servant and then as his apprentice. The Magic Thief follows Nevery’s investigation, Conn’s education in magic, and of cours...more
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Read in August, 2008
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
[close:]
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...more
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
[close:]
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...more
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Read in September, 2008
The one where young Conn learns what happens when you pick a wizard's pocket.
I didn't realize when I put this on hold at the library that it was a children's book rather than a YA, but I still enjoyed it. I liked Conn's unshakable confidence (he offers to teach the wizard to pick locks). I liked the other characters, too; naturally in a kids' book, it's pretty easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys at a glance, but I like the way these good guys can be ill-tempered or cowardly or utte...more
I didn't realize when I put this on hold at the library that it was a children's book rather than a YA, but I still enjoyed it. I liked Conn's unshakable confidence (he offers to teach the wizard to pick locks). I liked the other characters, too; naturally in a kids' book, it's pretty easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys at a glance, but I like the way these good guys can be ill-tempered or cowardly or utte...more
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I confess, I know Sarah Prineas personally, but I'm not ashamed to also confess that I loved her book! I was surprised at the suspenseful turns, the dark political intrigue, and the complex characters who trip your interest but not necessarily your sympathy. The Magic Thief is very different from Harry Potter, although there is a young adolescent who discovers he has magic powers and then seeks tutelage under a wise older wizard. But Conn is no Harry, although they both have a penchant for tr...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
young readers
I enjoyed this story but it was formulaic and not written very well. I was brought out of the story by the odd "diary" pages and their exposition. I know this was written for a young audience but I thought the dialogue was weak and the plot elements very rushed and thrown together.
I'm interested to see if the next book's writing is any better. I know every fantasy book about a young wizard who doesn't know he is in fact a wizard will be compared to Harry Potter but frankly this book...more
I'm interested to see if the next book's writing is any better. I know every fantasy book about a young wizard who doesn't know he is in fact a wizard will be compared to Harry Potter but frankly this book...more
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Read in January, 2008
I absolutely adored The Magic Thief! I didn't know at all what to expect and haven't read a lot of MG, but let me tell you -- what a fun book to read! Part of what made it so fun wasn't just the story, but the language and relationships. I also loved how Sarah Prineas surprised me with the characters -- you'd think that a secondary character was just going to be an archetype and then you see him doing something utterly unexpected. I ended up falling in love with all the characters and honest...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
all readers
The Magic Thief was a fun take on the magical theme. I like Prineas' idea of magic and where it comes from. Similar to but still unlike J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Prineas' magic is a living entity that can ebb and flow but can be controlled by people. I like the fresh take on the genre by her introducing a thief of magic. I thought that the young hero from the slums was a bit too perfect for being raised on the streets, but I appreciated that his character has moral merit, loyalty, and h...more
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audiobook-Great fantasy! Spunky boy thief "Con" picks the pocket of a magician, and gets caught. Magician Nevery ends up taking him on as an apprentice, which Con takes to w/ as much gusto as he attacks biscuits and bacon. Nevery is back in town after a banishment to take on the problem of why the magic levels are dropping precipitously. Despite Neverly consistently under-estimating Con, Con turns out to be the key to solving the magical mystery. Wonderfully distinctive voicing, b...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Sarah by:
Sarah Prineasrecommends it for: everyone
This is a great book. Conn pickpockets a magician's stone. Because Conn didn't die when he touched the stone, the wizard takes Conn on as his apprentice. Conn needs to find his locus magiculus stone so he can become a wizard; he also must find out why the city is losing its magic before the city is destroyed.
This middle grade novel with illustrations at the beginning of each chapter and rune messages to decode will appeal to children.
I enjoyed this book and I think kids will love this story.
This middle grade novel with illustrations at the beginning of each chapter and rune messages to decode will appeal to children.
I enjoyed this book and I think kids will love this story.
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Read in August, 2008
I picked this up even though it announced that it was book one but was not unhappy. Its much better than the Magik/Septimus Heap series. The young boy has a strong sense of who he is, believes his opinions matter and isn't afraid to upset those who in authority to do what he thinks is right, especially if he has given those in authority the opportunity to make the right choices. He isn't obnoxious, just honest, and he believes he has a contribution to make.
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Read in September, 2008
I couldn't put this one down. It wasn't all that "meaty", just a good fantasy and adventure that kept me turning pages to find out what happens next. Conn is a thief who steals a stone from a wizard's pocket. It turns out to be a locus magicalicus and Conn's reaction to it intrigues the wizard who decides to take him on as a servant/apprentice. But something is happening to the magic in the town of Wellmet and Conn takes it upon himself to find out why.
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Read in July, 2008
I liked this book.
I enjoyed the characters and I thought it read well from beginning to end.
The little boy, Conn, is very likeable and you wonder about his relationship with Nevery. Conn wants to be an apprectice to the wizard, Nevery isn't sure what he wants, apprentice, servant, friend, ally?
Conn is on a mission to do something but isn't sure what it is he is supposed to do.
He figures it out in the end, leaving everyone a bit amazed.
I enjoyed the characters and I thought it read well from beginning to end.
The little boy, Conn, is very likeable and you wonder about his relationship with Nevery. Conn wants to be an apprectice to the wizard, Nevery isn't sure what he wants, apprentice, servant, friend, ally?
Conn is on a mission to do something but isn't sure what it is he is supposed to do.
He figures it out in the end, leaving everyone a bit amazed.
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Read in June, 2008
I really just ate this book up. Not only did it have a great plot, fantastic characters and a lot of magic, but it also had frequent journal entries that had little coded messages at the bottom. I had a lot of fun deciphering the codes with the key at the back of the book. This is definitely an easy read - geared towards middle school students. I found it much enjoyable and there is supposedly more to come as this is "Book One".
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Listening to the audio...gave it up. Don't know if it was the narration, the slow pace of the story, or me being distracted. I'm going to wait a bit and then try again by reading the print version. I just felt like NOTHING was happening and doing it very SLOWLY. It's getting lots of stars, though, so I'm going to try again.
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Conn is a thief and he wants to be the apprentice not the servant to Nevery after he successfully pickpockets his locus magicalicus (magic stone). Nevery reluctantly agrees and Conn begins his tasks, school and finding his own magic stone. Great characters, setting and plot; I read it in one sitting even though I knew that this was only the first in a trilogy. Easy read - great for fourth and fifth grade fantasy fans.
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