Rose et la maison du magicien

Rose #3

by Holly Webb

Rose quitte son orphelinat pour travailler au service du célèbre magicien, Mr Fountain. Une drôle de vie commence : formules, potions, mais surtout, une maison dans laquelle il se passe des choses étranges. Un jour Rose réalise qu'elle n'est pas une petite fille comme les autres et qu'elle aussi, maîtrise la magie... Alors quand des orphelins disparaissent mystérieusement, Rose n'hésite pas à se servir de ses pouvoirs...

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Magic, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Holly Webb is one of Britain's best-loved children's writers. She has written over a hundred books for children, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages. Holly lives in Tilehurst, just outside of Reading, Berkshire, with her husband, three children and several cats.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

*NOTE:This is a review of the entire series*

Typically, I don't read a lot of middle grade novels. I used to love them when I was younger. As an adult, I feel that I am so beyond the intended audience that the magic and wonder is lost on me. However, I've been on this kick lately where all I want to read is middle grade. I'm glad that I am. I read all of the Rose series by Holly Webb in one day, and I loved it. It brought all of the magic and wonder back into reading middle grade novels.

Holly Webb has a way of writing books that make you believe you are there right beside Rose, in Victorian London, experiencing the same thing that Rose is experiencing. For a middle grade novel, the author created a complex, intricate world that was absolutely beautiful. I love the magic system that she created. It was great to see how Rose, Mr. Fountain, and Freddie explored their talents, and became stronger magic users throughout each book. I loved seeing their progression from the beginning of Rose, to the end of Rose and Silver Ghost. My only problem with the series as a whole was that it was very predictable. By the first few chapters of Rose and the Magician's Mask, the third book in the series, I had already guessed most of the plot twists in the book, and was correct.

The Rose series was full of a fantastic cast of characters. I can't think of a single character that I disliked. Even Gossamer, the main villain in the series, was charming in his own way. Even though I liked all of the characters, my favorite was Gus. This should be no surprise for those of you that have followed my blog for a while, and know how much I love cats. I didn't just love him because he was a cat though. I also loved how protective he was of Rose. He might have seemed harsh, and pushed her to her limits sometimes, but that was because he wanted her to evolve her magic, and grow stronger. I also loved his snarky sense of humor.

I loved the Rose series. Even though it was predictable at times, it provided me with a lot of enjoyment. I noticed on Goodreads that Holly Webb has books with names of some of the minor characters in the Rose series, such as Maisie, and Lily. I'm not sure if the books are related to the Rose series, but I plan on reading them to find out because I want more of this world. I recommend this series for kids looking for a quick, fun fantasy read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute addition to the Rose series Gossamer is a properly creepy villain and Venice is a great and beautiful realized backdrop for this adventure. The denouement was once again too quick and perhaps too easy, but it was mostly satisfying. Lord Lytton is very funny and made me realize how much I appreciated that most of the adults in this world are in actually competent and trustworthy if flawed. I look forward to learning more of Miss Fell.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

I adore the Rose series. Seriously adore. They are just wonderfully fun, full of magic, and Rose is such a great character. The newest (US) installment, Rose and the Magician's Mask, lives up to the previous two and adds to them in interesting ways.

This installment picks up where the last installment left off. Rose and her friends are trying to track down the evil mastermind behind the plot in Rose and the Lost Princess. When a series of events leads them to believe he has absconded to Venice with a priceless and dangerous national treasure, there is only one solution. Road trip! Mr. Fountain must track down the artifact and the criminal. He takes Rose, Freddie, and Bella with him. Then Bill decides to stowaway too. Basically, all of my favorite characters in this series teamed up to go on a journey for a famous artifact and defeat the evil bad guy trying to take over the world via magic. It is a high fantasy quest novel wrapped up in the delightful alternate historical fantasy it has always been. It was the most perfect combination. There were even some hints given to Rose's mysterious past and how she is most likely higher born than she believes herself to be. So perfect. The beginning does start off a bit slow as a lot of the previous books are rehashed in typical kid series fashion, but once I got past that, I could not put this book down.

Rose continues to grow in her magic, as do both Freddie and Bella. They are all three growing as individuals too. Rose is showing a desire to be more bold and to figure out more of who she is an what she really wants in life. She is no longer content to hide in the shadows. Freddie is learning to broaden his horizons and give people more of a chance. Bella is learning to respect and listen to others. Bill was a wonderful addition to the magical team, even though he is not capable of magic himself. His common sense and fierce loyalty make him the perfect foil for the other three as they adventure. He has skills the others do not, and they come in handy more than once. Gus is, of course, still the best part of these books with the exception of Rose herself. He shows himself to be capable of far more than the others had previously seen and leaves them astounded in many places. There is an addition to the team in this book too. Miss Fell is a powerful magic worker, knows a lot about the world, and clearly suspects something of Rose's past. She is also one of those brilliant adults who allows the kids to go on their way being heroes with some assistance but also the knowledge that sometimes they must put themselves in danger and risk much to be those heroes.

This series just keeps getting better and better with each new volume. I am sad to see there is only one more book to go, Rose and the Silver Ghost, which will be released in March of 2015 in the US. It is currently available in the UK.

I read an e-galley provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, via NetGalley. Rose and the Magician's Mask will be available for purchase September 2.

[Liviania · Rating 4 out of 5]

ROSE AND THE MAGICIAN'S MASK can be read alone, although it is best if you have read the first two books about maid and nascent magician Rose. This book reveals more of her personal history, and delivers a thrilling plot.

Fans of the series know what to expect. For those who are new, expect a practical heroine, friendship, and magicians versus magicians. Gus, the talking cat, will be funny. The adult-in-charge will be useless, leaving saving the day to Rose and her friends. In this story, Venetian thieves who have stolen a mask of great power that must be retrieved.

This series reaches the point that so many series featuring magical kids (such as Harry Potter and Avatar: The Last Airbender) must reach. As Rose becomes more powerful, and faces more dangerous enemies, she can potentially use lethal force. This lends a bit more darkness to the final confrontation.

It's hard to say something new about the third book in a series. But it is easy to repeat something old. If you have a young reader in your life who enjoys fantastical adventures, I highly recommend this series. Yes, even to the boys.

[Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragged for me but I’m glad the character remains strong

[Grace Aristotle · Rating 3 out of 5]

post-venice read #yes it's really like that

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose and the Magician’s Mask
Holly Webb
Fantasy

Review: I have to admit I have not read the first two books in this series. Even so, I could easily follow the story as they let you know what had happened in the first two books. Rose an orphan, is now working as a servant in Mr. Fountain’s house. She is not only a servant though but Mr. Fountain’s magician apprentice. Mr. Fountain, herself and a few other characters are on their way to Venice in this the third book, because Gossamer a wicked magician that Rose defeated in the second book is back and has stolen a very powerful mask and taken it to Venice. It is up to Rose to once again stop Gossamer’s evil plans.
I truly enjoyed this story. Rose is a wonderful character who is loved by most everyone who comes into contact with her. She is a sweetheart who works hard at being a servant and a magician’s apprentice. Even when bad people are trying to hurt her she doesn’t want to have to harm them in return.
The other characters in this story just add to the story. Mr. Fountain is a magician who is a bit scattered at times but very good to his apprentices. His daughter Bella is a bit spoiled but she just adores Rose and would do anything for her. Then there is my favorite character Gus, he is Mr. Fountain’s familiar. He is a handsome white cat, with one blue eye and one orange eye. He is also magical and can change into other things and can talk. He loves Rose, because let’s face it Rose is great and he would do anything to protect her and all those he calls his own.

I recommend this story to younger girls who love fantasy mixed with some mystery. I hope that Holly Webb is planning another book in this series and I definitely will be reading it.

I received a free ecopy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

[Andréa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I enjoy these books!

Holly Webb has created a magical and menacing Venice in Rose and the Magician's Mask, a Venice teeming with spells and masked figures and political plots. For Rose, who has progressed from a poor orphan to a respectable servant to a part-time magician's apprentice, a trip to the watery city with Freddie and the Fountains gives her the opportunity to experience life as a full-time apprentice and "young lady." Instead of tip-toeing around the house to light the family's fires, she wakens to a crackling fire in her own fireplace; instead of wearing functional gingham and aprons, she's now wearing lace collars and party dresses; instead of preparing the day's tea, she's the one pouring it. And through it all, she must help track down the ever elusive Gossamer, the princess-snatching, snow-creating magician who has stolen the magical Magician's Mask right out of the King's own palace.

I really like the fantasy England (and, now, Venice) that Webb has imagined. It's a fairly believable world, especially the lower classes' wariness of magic, a luxury they don't inherit nor can afford. The characters are well-rounded, too: Mr. Fountain is smart and powerful, but also a little bit flighty; Bella is oh-so-spoiled but not such a terror that she doesn't love her father or buy presents for others; and Freddie can be stuck-up and lazy but also a good friend.

I cannot wait to read book #4!

Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good, like the first two, and I liked the character development (mainly between Rose and Bella). I liked how Bill played a bigger part, as I liked his character.
Though I found this book interesting, I did begin to tire of the series whilst reading this book, but that is just me, personally. I would still recommend it, however.

SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY READ THIS BOOK, AND WISH TO.
There is a later scene that spoke of a character having a knife impaled in his throat, so beware of that. I think that was the only scene that could be construed as gory or scary, but be sure to check, just in case.

[Lee Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun!

[Luckaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Yendare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voilà, maintenant deux ou trois mois que j'ai lus la saga Rose, j'ai tardé à en faire la critique car je voulais d'abord avoir l'avis de ma petite soeur, j'avais en effet acheté ce premier tome en brocante pour celle-ci attiré par sa jolie couverture rose mais le temps passe et celle-ci ne semble toujours pas décidé à l'ouvrir.
Ce n'est pas mon cas, ce premier tome fut bien vite lu et pour rien vous cachez j'ai beaucoup aimé. Ne vous fiez pas à sa jolie couverture rose, l'univers crée ici par Holly Webb à des côtés bien sombres et c'est dans celui-ci qu'évolue Rose.
Rose jeune orpheline de l'orphelinat de Saint Bridget où l'on prépare les jeunes filles à devenir femme de chambre. Rose est l'un des plus âgés et ne se fait guère d'illusions sur son avenir et a hâte de quitter cet orphelinat. Son souhait va dépasser ses espérances quand celle-ci va être engagée comme femme de chambre chez le célèbre Alchimiste Fountain. c'est une chance inespérée et celle-ci bien consciente de sa chance tâche donc d'effectuer son travaille de son mieux mais Rose n'est pas comme tout le monde, elle commence à le comprendre et elle a peur de ce qu'elle découvre. Rose fait de la magie, or la magie dans ce monde est rare, très rare et ceux qui la pratiquent sont craint par une population méfiante. Par chance, où malchance il s'avère que M. Fountain est lui aussi magicien, sa maison n'est donc pas en reste étant elle aussi pleine de magie. Son apprentie et le chat de M. Fountain véritable personnage à part entière vont lui faire vivre de belles frayeurs.
Le début du livre se met en place lentement mais surement ne laissant pas le temps au lecteur le temps de s'ennuyer Holly Webb nous présente l'univers dans lequel évolue Rose sans négliger ses personnages secondaires ayant tous leur spécificité. L'intrigue se met donc en place assez tard dans le roman, et il faut bien l'avouer assez classique avec pour cette histoire de sorcière enlevant des enfants un agréable ressenti de déjà vue dans la saga de l'apprentie épouvanteur de Joseph Delaney.
Ce fut donc vous l'aurez compris une lecture pour ce premier tome fort agréable qui laissait présager une excellente suite et je dois bien avouer ne pas avoir été déçu une seule fois convaincue par le monde que nous proposait ici Holly Webb et par ses personnages attachants.

[Zuii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE everything about this book. The enchanting setting in Venice, with the magic masks and balls, created a truly magical and mystical atmosphere. The primary antagonist, Gossamer, continues to be a menace to Rose and her friends, and I've got to say, it was really refreshing to read about a villain who's evil for the sake of being evil. He was a departure from the morally grey anti-heroes that I often encounter in YA fiction. There's little to critique here, but if I were to pick on something, it'd be Mr Fountain. Despite being touted as one of the most powerful magicians of his time, we see him get bested time and again. It felt rather unrealistic that children have to save his ass every time. Maybe Gossamer is just exceptionally powerful? Doesn't explain how a kid was able to overpower him though🫠. Aside from this minor gripe, I love the magical whirlwind of an adventure this book took me on. 5 stars from me!

[Aarthi Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, Rose and the Magician's Mask was an average book. It didn't really have anything that stood out to me from other fantasy books.

However, that doesn't mean it was not an enjoyable book. Although it was sometimes draggy, it at least had a ending where most of our questions were answered.

This is the third out of four books in the Rose series. I would recommend that one reads the first two books as there are many references to them. However, I myself read only this book yet was able to understand the whole plot, meaning it is not necessary to own all the books.

I adored the cast of characters because I felt they were realistic and relatable, except of course, the fact that most of them are magical.

All in all, this is a good book to read and one I would definitely recommend to fantasy lovers.

[Megan Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated how creepy and beautiful this book was. The creepy factor was not quite on par with the first book in my opinion, but the descriptions of the masks and a certain man in a chair inspired similar feelings as the cyber men in Doctor Who.

It was the beautiful descriptions that have stuck with me for the past 10 years, however. All I remembered from this book was the masks and the dress, and I know it was my favourite of the series when I first read it for all the pretty things in it and not the scary parts.

From an adult’s perspective I’ve given this 3 stars, but I’m sure that if I had rated it when I was in the correct age group that rating would be far higher. I’m also sure the set up in this book will lead to a very satisfying ending in the next.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun installment! I continue to enjoy Rose and her friends, and I'm even starting to warm up to Bella a little.

I was so excited at the prospect of Venetian mask magic, so I was bummed when it turned out to be pretty much all bad. The change of setting was fun though.

As with almost every other Holly Webb book I've read so far, she does a brilliant job of telling a full and complete story in about 200 pages without rushing anything, until we get to the very end and the big climax happens way too fast. It didn't bother me though since I know to expect it.

CW: Blood, attempted murder

[Kelly Higgins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not up to the standard set

I don't believe Holly Webb wrote this book. The person who penned this this completely lost Holly's voice. The details were too gruesome for the young audience I read the other books to. I chose this book because it was next in line in the series. There was coarse language and graphic details that my kids didn't need to hear. I missed the innocent wonder as Rose discovered more of her powers. I hope the The Silver Ghost is better.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was very fascinating because I like stories about magic and adventure and sometimes even fighting. This book had all of those things. It made me feel excited. There were so many cliffhangers and things that made me want to read more of the book. Rose is a card because she's magical but she doesn't know what kind of magic she really has. Reading this made me want to read the rest of the rose books

[Maria Carmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose is getting more and more into her "pen" skin, less as an orphanage girl and much more as the empowered person she in fact is.
Venice under a magic spell is still beautiful and special. For Rose, travelling may be an ancient dream come true.
Not to leak any spoilers, let us just say that Rose, Fredy, Bella, Bill and Gus have great (and dangerous ) adventures and consolidate even more their friendship.

Loved it!

Maria Carmo,

Lisbon, 16 November 2021.

[Ambre Assiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

j'ai été déçue pcq il est super court

sinon j'aime trop de développement de la relation Bill Freddy j'suis contente que y ait enfin un peu de focus sur eux deux ensemble


mais purée !!!!!!SPOIL!!!!!! le moment où on capte que Bill les a suivi + que c'est pour ça qu'il a pas dit au revoir etc PURÉÉÉÉÉEEEEE J'AI HURLÉ (c'est un livre pour enfants pourquoi je suis autant hype)
+ tous les moments de Bill giga protecteur OLALAAAAA

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

They follow Gossamer to Venice. It was predictable (apart from a near death that I was very concerned would be fatal and led to a touching scene between Mr. Fountain and Rose), but highly enjoyable.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Главное, что запомнилось в этой книге, это, конечно, путешествие и мистическая Венеция. Холли Вебб отлично прописывает атмосферу и бытовые детали, так что у меня осталось полнейшее ощущение того, что я сама плыла на корабле вместе с Роуз.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it’s been longer than I thought since I read the first Rose book. I remembered very little. However, Rose and the Magician’s Mask was well-written and creative. It reminded me a bit of Lord of the Rings. My favorite character was definitely Gus. Holly Webb is a great author!

[Jameyanne Fuller]

I really loved this book. It added nicely to the first two books in the series, and it involved all my favorite characters going on a road trip to Venice during carnival to track down an evil villain. I’m looking forward to the final book in the series.

[Inès Khrouf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre fantastique et fascinant sur l’histoire de Rose , une jeune orpheline qui est allée travailler chez un magicien.Entre mystères et aventures ce livre m’a impressionnée !
Je le conseille vivement.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooh, we are getting more hints about Rose's family...and more foreshadowing about Mr. Fountain. AND...more disturbing news from Talis. Can't wait for the next book!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very solid, but not as well-developed as others, or as open to possibility.

[Heather Rauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute series if you have a tween that likes magical stories. Rose is an enjoyable character.

[Laura Jibaja]

tiene mucha introduccion pero cuando lo lees te da ganas de saber que pasara despues