835 books
—
1,151 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Thief's Magic (Millennium’s Rule, #1)” as Want to Read:
Thief's Magic
(Millennium’s Rule #1)
by
The beginning of an all new epic fantasy series by international bestseller, Trudi Canavan.
In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, unearths a sentient book called Vella. Once a young sorcerer-bookbinder, Vella was transformed into a useful tool by one of the greatest sorcerers of history. Since then she has been collec ...more
In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, unearths a sentient book called Vella. Once a young sorcerer-bookbinder, Vella was transformed into a useful tool by one of the greatest sorcerers of history. Since then she has been collec ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 553 pages
Published
May 27th 2014
by Orbit
(first published May 13th 2014)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Thief's Magic,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Becki
None. This is the first book in a new series.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Thief's Magic (Millennium’s Rule, #1)

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
I was very excited when I first heard about Trudi Canavan’s Thief’s Magic, and doubly more so when I discovered it was going to be an introduction to a brand new universe we’ve never seen before. I’m not completely unfamiliar with the author’s work, having read The Magician’s Guild, book one of her Black Magician trilogy, but knowing that she has two series and a couple more novellas based in that world of Kyralia which I ...more
I was very excited when I first heard about Trudi Canavan’s Thief’s Magic, and doubly more so when I discovered it was going to be an introduction to a brand new universe we’ve never seen before. I’m not completely unfamiliar with the author’s work, having read The Magician’s Guild, book one of her Black Magician trilogy, but knowing that she has two series and a couple more novellas based in that world of Kyralia which I ...more

Trudi Canavan is a new author to me. She has a very accessible, cosy writing style, suitable for YA fantasy. I'd recommend for fans of Tamora Pierce and/or Mercedes Lackey.
In this book we have two stories:
In one, we are introduced to a steampunk/magical world. A young student of magic named Tyen discovers a powerful book while on an archaeological expedition. It's not just a book - it contains the consciousness of a woman, Vella, imprisoned in this form by a ruthless sorcerer long centuries befo ...more
In this book we have two stories:
In one, we are introduced to a steampunk/magical world. A young student of magic named Tyen discovers a powerful book while on an archaeological expedition. It's not just a book - it contains the consciousness of a woman, Vella, imprisoned in this form by a ruthless sorcerer long centuries befo ...more

Sadly the only word I can think of to describe this book is dull. And reading over 500 pages of dullness took a lot of perseverance. It is not a bad book, it just never captured my interest, the characters were bland and not much happened for page after page after page.
The possibilities were all there for something really good but for me it just never happened.
The possibilities were all there for something really good but for me it just never happened.

Nov 04, 2016
Rusty's Ghost Engine (also known as.......... Jinky Spring)
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
uhhhh,
high-fantasy
I have finally FINALLY finished this book!
I had just over a week off of college with nothing arranged yet in that week I failed to finish a single book..
Because I don't want to read this again..
(view spoiler) ...more
I had just over a week off of college with nothing arranged yet in that week I failed to finish a single book..
Because I don't want to read this again..
(view spoiler) ...more

May 09, 2014
Cora Tea Party Princess
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone who loves fantasy or wants to give it a go
5 Words: This book is so awesome.
What can I say? I freaking loved this book!
It's safe to say that I loved Trudi Canavan's first series The Black Magician Trilogy and I've read it over and over (seriously, my first copies are falling apart I think I've gone through 3 of each book) and recommended it to all of my friends who loved it too and fell in love with her world and her writing. But then I kind of fell out of love with her as I read her newer works.
But oh my god, I am back in love. Truly, m ...more
What can I say? I freaking loved this book!
It's safe to say that I loved Trudi Canavan's first series The Black Magician Trilogy and I've read it over and over (seriously, my first copies are falling apart I think I've gone through 3 of each book) and recommended it to all of my friends who loved it too and fell in love with her world and her writing. But then I kind of fell out of love with her as I read her newer works.
But oh my god, I am back in love. Truly, m ...more

Dec 13, 2014
Carolyn
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
australian-author,
fantasy
I've been looking forward to this new series from Trudi Canavan because I really enjoyed her excellent Black Magician trilogy. However, I was somewhat disappointed that it is a fairly long book (560 pages) where not too much happens.
The book is comprised of two stories, that of Tyen, a young magic and archaeology student and Rielle, daughter of a wealthy family who own a large dyeworks. They live in different countries but have the common problem that the world supply of magic is running out. In ...more
The book is comprised of two stories, that of Tyen, a young magic and archaeology student and Rielle, daughter of a wealthy family who own a large dyeworks. They live in different countries but have the common problem that the world supply of magic is running out. In ...more

Oct 09, 2013
Becky (Blogs of a Bookaholic)
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Readers 15+ who enjoy rich fantasy worlds, good writing and entertaining characters.
Shelves:
fantasy,
advanced-reader-copy

This review was originally published on Blogs of a Bookaholic.
Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. :)
Update 6th April: I JUST RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS. I AM SO DAMN EXCITED, IT'S MY FIRST ONE EVER AND FOR A BOOK BY MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR. ISN'T IT PRETTY? :D Thank you to the Little, Brown Book Group for providing it.

Intelligent world building and complex storytelling at its best.
Thief’s Magic is an epic adventure/fantasy novel that follows a young man named Tyen struggling to make his mark on the wor ...more

My first Trudi Canavan! I bought this out of curiosity several years ago, started and dropped it several times, then was just about to remove it from my kindle and gave it one last chance. I loved it! I found both T yen and Rielle's story equally engrossing too. Richly imagined worlds, strong characters and good plotting. I call that a win!
...more

German review on GosuReviews
After the somewhat disappointing second magician's trilogy by Trudi Canavan I had high hopes for her new book series in a completely new universe.
And it started out great. I liked the magic system, which had a few similarities to the one used in her previous books, but far more worked out. Story wise I liked the first part with the introduction to the world and Tyen as well, but then I got to part Two and it all went downhill from there. The story about Rielle is just ...more
After the somewhat disappointing second magician's trilogy by Trudi Canavan I had high hopes for her new book series in a completely new universe.
And it started out great. I liked the magic system, which had a few similarities to the one used in her previous books, but far more worked out. Story wise I liked the first part with the introduction to the world and Tyen as well, but then I got to part Two and it all went downhill from there. The story about Rielle is just ...more

The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/07/....
“My first Trudi Canavan novel is mostly a success. Smart, well written and compelling Thief’s Magic may not be perfect, but it is one of the better Fantasy books you’ll read this year and I can certainly recommend it.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, discovers a sentient book in an ancient tomb. Vella was once a young sorcerer-maker, until sh ...more
“My first Trudi Canavan novel is mostly a success. Smart, well written and compelling Thief’s Magic may not be perfect, but it is one of the better Fantasy books you’ll read this year and I can certainly recommend it.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
In a world where an industrial revolution is powered by magic, Tyen, a student of archaeology, discovers a sentient book in an ancient tomb. Vella was once a young sorcerer-maker, until sh ...more

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me this book to review.
Tyen is a student of archaeology and magic, living in a world where all machines are powered by magic, he finds a book which used to be a person called Vella. Since Vella can read the minds of anyone she touches and has to tell the truth, she has been collecting information which some people would do anything to get their hands on ...more
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving me this book to review.
Tyen is a student of archaeology and magic, living in a world where all machines are powered by magic, he finds a book which used to be a person called Vella. Since Vella can read the minds of anyone she touches and has to tell the truth, she has been collecting information which some people would do anything to get their hands on ...more

This book just needed to stick with the young man journey which was interesting. Rielle story was boring from the start and i couldnt get into it. I felt like i was reading two different fantasy novels(which rielle story was an awful fantasy). i really dont know what to make of this book which was too long because both characters just kept repeating the same thoughts in different ways which got annoying. Fantasies use to have great adventures with great characters and worlds that u could imagine
...more

My rating: 7/10
Tyen is a student of history at the influential Academy. When he falls foul of its politics and powers, he finds himself on the run, his fate now inextricably bound to a sentient book who calls herself Vella. Rielle is a socially oppressed young woman from a well-to-do family. When she inadvertently helps the authoritative priests to capture a ‘tainted’ (a person found using illegal magic), she begins a journey that will take her far from the life she has been raised to lead. Thie ...more
Tyen is a student of history at the influential Academy. When he falls foul of its politics and powers, he finds himself on the run, his fate now inextricably bound to a sentient book who calls herself Vella. Rielle is a socially oppressed young woman from a well-to-do family. When she inadvertently helps the authoritative priests to capture a ‘tainted’ (a person found using illegal magic), she begins a journey that will take her far from the life she has been raised to lead. Thie ...more

Having never read a Canavan book before when I saw the inexpensive preorder price for a Kindle version I decided to take the plunge. This was one of those middle of the road type fantasy books that had some interesting ideas but lacked any real punch for me. The writing was....utilitarian, that might be the best word for her style, at least in this book. There are two primary POV, Tyen a student sorcerer/archeologist. This was one of my biggest diassapointments with the book, this combination se
...more

Full Review: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2014/0...
Sometimes I really crave a good character driven book. I want to experience the story from the central character, feel and understand them, get inside their head. This was exactly that (plus magic and a cool new world). True there are two POVs in this, but they are actually self-contained stories with no intersection or overlap. Yet.
I know not everyone is a fan of books that start as pretty much multiple stories that have no known connection f ...more
Sometimes I really crave a good character driven book. I want to experience the story from the central character, feel and understand them, get inside their head. This was exactly that (plus magic and a cool new world). True there are two POVs in this, but they are actually self-contained stories with no intersection or overlap. Yet.
I know not everyone is a fan of books that start as pretty much multiple stories that have no known connection f ...more

Oct 28, 2015
gio
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley-edelweiss,
abandoned-series
1.5
I. Give. Up.
I made it to the 83 percent of the book, but I can't keep reading when I have no interest of whatsoever when it comes to the story and the characters both.
The biggest problem I had was how flat the book is. I've read much worse over the years, but if a book is so flat that it can't hold my interest I can't give it more than 1.5 stars. I don't know if the final 20 percent is actually good, but the point is: a good chunk of the book made me completely uninterested in finishing this ...more
I. Give. Up.
I made it to the 83 percent of the book, but I can't keep reading when I have no interest of whatsoever when it comes to the story and the characters both.
The biggest problem I had was how flat the book is. I've read much worse over the years, but if a book is so flat that it can't hold my interest I can't give it more than 1.5 stars. I don't know if the final 20 percent is actually good, but the point is: a good chunk of the book made me completely uninterested in finishing this ...more

‘Thief’s Magic’ by Trudi Canavan is the first in the Millennium’s Rule series. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems that this series is set in the same world as her previous series, The Black Magician trilogy and Traitor Spy – though perhaps in a world that has has become more developed.
We see a world that is currently in an industrial revolution that is powered by magic – there are machines, but they need a skilled man of magic to power them. Tyen is currently studying at the academy, worried th ...more
We see a world that is currently in an industrial revolution that is powered by magic – there are machines, but they need a skilled man of magic to power them. Tyen is currently studying at the academy, worried th ...more

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.
Yet again, I have found a book that I really wish I had picked up earlier.
Thief’s Magic had been sat on my Kindle for a while, one of my many Netgalley requests from when I was still really getting to grips with the whole system (i.e. not thinking through what I could read and when…). Unlike some of these requests, it was one that I knew I’d get around to – the question was ...more
Yet again, I have found a book that I really wish I had picked up earlier.
Thief’s Magic had been sat on my Kindle for a while, one of my many Netgalley requests from when I was still really getting to grips with the whole system (i.e. not thinking through what I could read and when…). Unlike some of these requests, it was one that I knew I’d get around to – the question was ...more

Nov 03, 2018
Tommye Turner
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-read
SPOILER FREE
Having purchased the third book of this series recently, I thought it was about time to read the first one. The second best part about reading this book was that when I first bought it, about 4 years ago, I must have put £25 inside it - no idea why - but it was a nice surprise!
- The best part was obviously the book itself.
To anyone who knows me, It is no secret that Trudi Canavan's fantasy is what made me fall in love with the genre. Her books are so accessible, relatable, and hav ...more
Having purchased the third book of this series recently, I thought it was about time to read the first one. The second best part about reading this book was that when I first bought it, about 4 years ago, I must have put £25 inside it - no idea why - but it was a nice surprise!
- The best part was obviously the book itself.
To anyone who knows me, It is no secret that Trudi Canavan's fantasy is what made me fall in love with the genre. Her books are so accessible, relatable, and hav ...more


I don´t know what I expected, but maybe it was more than I got in the end from this fantasy novel.
From the beginning till the end, I was hoping and searching for at least a few answers what Trudi Canavan´s unique style looks like and why she´s called one of the best and most famous high-fantasy writers. Well, I got one answer for sure: She has an uncommon writing style.
This first book of her Millennium’s Rule trilogy seems to be one big foreplay and introduction of her main figures. Two plots wh ...more

3.5 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews
Tyen is a student at the Academy, the only place in the Leratian Empire where magic can be properly investigated. Rielle is the daughter of a scorned but influential family of dyers, in a land where only priests are permitted to use magic. Both run afoul of the authorities, and must try to understand how to apply their magical abilities in difficult circumstances.
I quite liked Trudi Canavan's first (Black Magicians) series, though I know some found it overly roman ...more
Tyen is a student at the Academy, the only place in the Leratian Empire where magic can be properly investigated. Rielle is the daughter of a scorned but influential family of dyers, in a land where only priests are permitted to use magic. Both run afoul of the authorities, and must try to understand how to apply their magical abilities in difficult circumstances.
I quite liked Trudi Canavan's first (Black Magicians) series, though I know some found it overly roman ...more

http://unaeve.blogspot.com/
I was so happy when i found out about this new series, because her Black Magician trilogy
is on the top of my favorite books.
So i am very thankful to the Orbit publisher for providing me the book.
In this story we actually follow to story's. One is about Tyen, the magic and archeology student
and the second is about Rielle the daughter of a good-standing dye-works family.
And this to stories are very different, and they never meet each other, never intercept. Ah well, mayb ...more
I was so happy when i found out about this new series, because her Black Magician trilogy
is on the top of my favorite books.
So i am very thankful to the Orbit publisher for providing me the book.
In this story we actually follow to story's. One is about Tyen, the magic and archeology student
and the second is about Rielle the daughter of a good-standing dye-works family.
And this to stories are very different, and they never meet each other, never intercept. Ah well, mayb ...more

It was different, but then fantasy mixed with industrialism always is. Flying cars + magic, makes it different.
The book has 2 POVS, 2 worlds. First there is Tyen, a student of magic and sometimes archaeologist (well grave robber). Here they use magic for a lot as technology has made it into the world, but not by its own means, but by magic. Tyen was somewhat grey at times, he was a follower, but he finds his way. And grows a bit of backbone.
The other world was actually more interesting. Here pr ...more
The book has 2 POVS, 2 worlds. First there is Tyen, a student of magic and sometimes archaeologist (well grave robber). Here they use magic for a lot as technology has made it into the world, but not by its own means, but by magic. Tyen was somewhat grey at times, he was a follower, but he finds his way. And grows a bit of backbone.
The other world was actually more interesting. Here pr ...more

Thief’s Magic is the first book by Trudi Canavan I have read, and it is the first in a new trilogy. There is an interesting story and world here that did keep me reading, but the execution felt flat. The story is split between two main characters: Tyen and Rielle. Both live in different worlds in their universe and their lives do not intersect. By the end of the book, it seems that there is a chance they may have an opportunity to meet at some point in the future, but it’s not definite.
The reade ...more
The reade ...more

Originally posted at All About Books
It was not easy for me to rate this book and I’m still sad to only be able to give it 3 stars and not more. When I started reading Thief’s Magic I was sure I was going to love this story. The first few pages made me all excited, I enjoyed the story and loved the setting. Sadly only one half of this book, only one of the two POVs made me feel this way, the other half was rather boring.
+ Two very different POVs
Tyen and Rielle, the two main characters of this sto ...more
It was not easy for me to rate this book and I’m still sad to only be able to give it 3 stars and not more. When I started reading Thief’s Magic I was sure I was going to love this story. The first few pages made me all excited, I enjoyed the story and loved the setting. Sadly only one half of this book, only one of the two POVs made me feel this way, the other half was rather boring.
+ Two very different POVs
Tyen and Rielle, the two main characters of this sto ...more

I received this ARC through net-galley to review and give my honest opinion.
Woah Trudi canavan has done it again, another amazing book. I have loved Trudi canavan since the age of 14. Remember reading the black magician's trilogy all those years back and absolutely loving it. It quickly became one of my favourite trilogies even to this day. Even now I always recommend any Trudi canavan books, because honestly there has never been a bad book.
Yet again another extremely imaginative world Canavan ...more
Woah Trudi canavan has done it again, another amazing book. I have loved Trudi canavan since the age of 14. Remember reading the black magician's trilogy all those years back and absolutely loving it. It quickly became one of my favourite trilogies even to this day. Even now I always recommend any Trudi canavan books, because honestly there has never been a bad book.
Yet again another extremely imaginative world Canavan ...more

In a steampunk-ish world, where such things as aircarts and railsleds are powered by magic, Tyen is a student of archaeology and sorcery (though frankly, archaeology here is merely a term used to dignify grave-robbing). As the story opens, he finds a book that turns out to be sentient, holding the mind of a several-thousand-year-old sorceress named Vella. Tyen chooses to hide Vella from the Academy authorities (to whom he is supposed to turn over all treasure found on a dig), but soon enough the
...more

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I love reading fantasy and science fiction. I especially love reading well-written fantasy and science fiction. Trudi Canavan writes extremely well and is a truly gifted author; this book bears testament to her astounding talent.
This book is the first of a new series - the Millennium’s Rule Trilogy. It follows the main characters - Tyen - an archaeology student and Rielle - a dyer’s daughter. There’s also a third main (fabulous!) character - Vella, the sentient bo ...more
I love reading fantasy and science fiction. I especially love reading well-written fantasy and science fiction. Trudi Canavan writes extremely well and is a truly gifted author; this book bears testament to her astounding talent.
This book is the first of a new series - the Millennium’s Rule Trilogy. It follows the main characters - Tyen - an archaeology student and Rielle - a dyer’s daughter. There’s also a third main (fabulous!) character - Vella, the sentient bo ...more

Mar 31, 2017
Lynxie
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
smirk-worthy,
3-star-review,
aussie-authors,
fantasy,
netgalley,
aww2017,
a-z-challenge-2017
Thief's Magic is the first Trudi Canavan book I've read, and while I enjoyed the world created, the overall pace was plodding which made the read a bit more of a struggle than I expected.
I am intrigued enough to continue with the series, just not any time soon. 500+ pages is enough for anyone.
Using two main characters, Rielle and Tyen, in alternating sections, both in different locations meant a lot of ground was covered.
The supporting cast was varied and consisted of a good mix of good, bad an ...more
I am intrigued enough to continue with the series, just not any time soon. 500+ pages is enough for anyone.
Using two main characters, Rielle and Tyen, in alternating sections, both in different locations meant a lot of ground was covered.
The supporting cast was varied and consisted of a good mix of good, bad an ...more

So I'm going to DNF this book on the comment of: "It's not you, it's me!" I was REALLY enjoying the opening story line with Tyen and his mysterious book artifact. We had secrecy, buddy interactions, corruption, theft, man hunts, it was awesome! I had so many questions that I was hoping to be answered and then the author took that thrill ride on a detour trip through "romanceville"... OH lordy, that's just not my thing! I don't mind a little romance in my novels because it can play an important r
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Thief's Magic [Nov 2017] | 58 | 49 | Nov 21, 2017 12:38PM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Fantasy, two storylines; Male student of a magic university finds sentient book; Young woman trying to hide her magic in a town with magic outlawed [s] | 4 | 27 | Dec 07, 2015 07:55AM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Fantasy/Steam Punk Book From 2014? Sentient Book found in Tomb at beginning made from human skin/hair. [s] | 4 | 23 | Oct 02, 2015 11:44AM | |
The Magician's Guild: Thief's Magic (Millennium #1) | 51 | 54 | Apr 04, 2015 12:22AM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TM: Part 8 - Rielle | 2 | 16 | Jun 27, 2014 09:40PM | |
The Not a Book Cl...: TM: Part 4 - Rielle | 4 | 15 | Jun 20, 2014 03:59PM |
Trudi Canavan was born in Kew, Melbourne and grew up in Ferntree Gully, a suburb at the foothills of the Dandenongs.
In 1999 she won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story with “Whispers of the Mist Children”. In the same year she was granted a writers residency at Varuna Writers’ Centre in Katoomba, New South Wales.
In November 2001, The Magicians’ Guild was first published in Australia. T ...more
In 1999 she won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story with “Whispers of the Mist Children”. In the same year she was granted a writers residency at Varuna Writers’ Centre in Katoomba, New South Wales.
In November 2001, The Magicians’ Guild was first published in Australia. T ...more
Other books in the series
Millennium’s Rule
(4 books)
News & Interviews
Listen up, because our colleagues here at Goodreads have some excellent audiobook recommendations for you! Of course, the books they've...
14 likes · 11 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Restricting knowledge slows the pace of development.”
—
0 likes
More quotes…