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The Magic Collectors #2
To Catch a Magic Thief
Falsely accused of being the notorious Magic Thief, the non-magic Marcel Ellsworth wants nothing more than to stay away from enchanters and sorcerers. Unfortunately, he soon discovers his mentor, the Duke of Henly, is head of a family of proud enchanters—and that they’re the next target of the Magic Thief. With the threat of another accusation hanging over him, Marcel sets out to prove his innocence, especially to the duke’s beautiful daughter Gabriella, and to stop the Thief once and for all.
But Gabriella is hiding a deadly secret that complicates Marcel’s mission, and raises its stakes. For one thing is certain: the Magic Thief has come for more than magical treasures—he’s come for Gabriella.
To Catch a Magic Thief is a stand alone novel in The Magic Collectors series. The series can be read in any order. This is a clean series with a "Jane Austen romance meets fantasy adventure" feel.
But Gabriella is hiding a deadly secret that complicates Marcel’s mission, and raises its stakes. For one thing is certain: the Magic Thief has come for more than magical treasures—he’s come for Gabriella.
To Catch a Magic Thief is a stand alone novel in The Magic Collectors series. The series can be read in any order. This is a clean series with a "Jane Austen romance meets fantasy adventure" feel.
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First published February 21, 2019
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September 29, 2020I really wanted to like this book, since I liked the first one, but even after 25% it was difficult to follow the story and connect with the characters. Maybe it's just me, so I'll keep it in my Kindle and hope to try again soon.
February 22, 2019
I've never read a book like this. It had an old-time Jane Austin/Downton Abbey feel with magic and mystery at every turn. E J Kitchens weaves a beautiful story with characters that felt real. Never forced, and never out of character. They rang true. I found myself feeling sorry for the misunderstood, bumbling Barron of Carrington and hoping for the change in the self-righteous Gabriella. I rooted for them to grow and fight the pressures and prejudices surrounding them.
The author's word choice is brilliant, enabling me to envision the story with clarity, never lost--wondering what I'd missed.
To Catch a Magic Thief's pace is more fitting for those who enjoy sitting on a porch sipping tea as opposed to those who'd prefer a more adrenaline-pumping pastime. But it is highly entertaining and will suck you in if you let it. For those who enjoy Jane Austin and Downton Abbey, but would like a bit of Harry Potter thrown in, this book is for you.
The author's word choice is brilliant, enabling me to envision the story with clarity, never lost--wondering what I'd missed.
To Catch a Magic Thief's pace is more fitting for those who enjoy sitting on a porch sipping tea as opposed to those who'd prefer a more adrenaline-pumping pastime. But it is highly entertaining and will suck you in if you let it. For those who enjoy Jane Austin and Downton Abbey, but would like a bit of Harry Potter thrown in, this book is for you.
March 17, 2019
I don’t think I’ve ever connected with a character so much as I have Marcel Ellsworth. Full review TC.
February 25, 2019
Magically Intriguing
I read The Rose and the Wand under its original release as The Beast’s Enchantress and really enjoyed it. I snagged a copy of The Magic Thief.
Marcel was immediately endearing to me. Gabriella is a Floriason, which means she’s proud and arrogant. At the same time, it’s easy to love her as the “black sheep” sister and when her secret comes to light she’s an even more sympathetic heroine. Although, I’m going to be honest and say I love all of the Floriasons (except maybe Aunt Helene) even in all their snobbery.
The supporting cast is great too leaving lots of opportunities for lovable characters, villains, and suspicious figures who could be good or bad.
This brings me to the magic system where there are enchanters, half-magics (some people believe they’re fictional ), and non-magics. And of course all kinds of magical objects. The story is tightly wound with action, humor, and a bit of romance.
I love EJ Kitchens imaginative writing style. More books in this world, please.
I read The Rose and the Wand under its original release as The Beast’s Enchantress and really enjoyed it. I snagged a copy of The Magic Thief.
Marcel was immediately endearing to me. Gabriella is a Floriason, which means she’s proud and arrogant. At the same time, it’s easy to love her as the “black sheep” sister and when her secret comes to light she’s an even more sympathetic heroine. Although, I’m going to be honest and say I love all of the Floriasons (except maybe Aunt Helene) even in all their snobbery.
The supporting cast is great too leaving lots of opportunities for lovable characters, villains, and suspicious figures who could be good or bad.
This brings me to the magic system where there are enchanters, half-magics (some people believe they’re fictional ), and non-magics. And of course all kinds of magical objects. The story is tightly wound with action, humor, and a bit of romance.
I love EJ Kitchens imaginative writing style. More books in this world, please.
February 24, 2019
I SO enjoyed delving back into Kitchens' world of manners and magic! Marcel was fun to root for as he struggled to overcome the Floraisons' prejudices against him, and who knew Gabriella was hiding such a secret?! Their relationship was fun to watch as it evolved from annoyance and misunderstandings to teamwork to friendship. And the hunt for the magic thief really kept me guessing! Kitchens' narrative is once again delightfully sophisticated with a fun touch of humor - perfect for fans of both fantasy and Jane Austen.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.*
August 11, 2020
Rating: 2.3x better than Jane Austen (an approximate value based on scientific calculations)
Strengths
-Main characters are believable and flawed; imperfections make successes feel more significant
-Writing creates a natural flow and rhythm to the story and utilizes an exceptional vocabulary
-Expansive, multi-faceted magic system is explained just the right amount
-Entitled, self-absorbed nature of characters made me want to smack them…which was the point
-Lore and history introduced via tidbits before chapters was a good idea
-Great plotline goes small; no epic storylines here, which is great for this novel
Weaknesses
-Romance relies heavily on coincidence to put artificial walls between the main characters; final change of heart happened very quickly and perhaps unrealistically
-The male protagonist is described as plain and bumbling, but he looks like a model on the cover
-A few secondary characters were examples of Chekhov’s Gun, making some twists predictable
The Bottom Line
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. The best way I can describe it is that if Jane Austen wrote less pretentious stories and included magic in them, she would be ripping off E.J. Kitchens! Right away, let me point out that this is not an action-packed adventure. The story focuses on characters and their relationships for most of its length. Both main characters are excellent, believable, and flawed in realistic and relatable ways. For example, one is prideful, and the other is a bit prejudiced (get it?!). Their failings are natural, relatable, and serve to make their successes seem earned in a significant way. I also appreciated that the male protagonist is written to be a plain, bumbling character who just wants to do the right thing but has both physical and mental barriers standing in his way. My one gripe as it relates to him is that while he is described as plain, he looks like a male model on the book cover, following a trend of cover art not lining up with what is inside. A few of the secondary characters existed as prime examples of Chekhov’s Gun, which is to say they were introduced early on for the sole purpose of being used as a “twist” near the end. Dwelling on these seemingly unimportant characters made the twists they represented somewhat predictable. The romance between the main characters was a driving force in the novel, and while I have this marked as a weakness, that is perhaps overstating the case. Generally, it was okay, though coincidence is often used to create artificial barriers between them, and the final change of heart happens quite suddenly. Nevertheless, the general relationship and friendship depicted growing between the two was quite good, able to carry the story on its own. As far as the typical fantasy elements of the story, I have only good things to say. The magic system introduced is multi-faceted and intriguing. It is described neither too much, nor too little, but just enough for the reader to appreciate it without being inundated. Additionally, lore and history of the world is introduced via snippets before each chapter. Few books can make this work, notable exceptions being Jurassic Park and The Oath, but Ms. Kitchens pulls it off, and I found myself eagerly reading each new piece of information rather than skipping over it. To Catch a Magic Thief is a fun read sure to keep you entranced for the duration. The ending is simultaneously a bit convoluted and predictable, but since character development and relationships carry the story, this small critique can easily be forgotten in light of how good the book is.
Strengths
-Main characters are believable and flawed; imperfections make successes feel more significant
-Writing creates a natural flow and rhythm to the story and utilizes an exceptional vocabulary
-Expansive, multi-faceted magic system is explained just the right amount
-Entitled, self-absorbed nature of characters made me want to smack them…which was the point
-Lore and history introduced via tidbits before chapters was a good idea
-Great plotline goes small; no epic storylines here, which is great for this novel
Weaknesses
-Romance relies heavily on coincidence to put artificial walls between the main characters; final change of heart happened very quickly and perhaps unrealistically
-The male protagonist is described as plain and bumbling, but he looks like a model on the cover
-A few secondary characters were examples of Chekhov’s Gun, making some twists predictable
The Bottom Line
This book is unlike anything I have ever read. The best way I can describe it is that if Jane Austen wrote less pretentious stories and included magic in them, she would be ripping off E.J. Kitchens! Right away, let me point out that this is not an action-packed adventure. The story focuses on characters and their relationships for most of its length. Both main characters are excellent, believable, and flawed in realistic and relatable ways. For example, one is prideful, and the other is a bit prejudiced (get it?!). Their failings are natural, relatable, and serve to make their successes seem earned in a significant way. I also appreciated that the male protagonist is written to be a plain, bumbling character who just wants to do the right thing but has both physical and mental barriers standing in his way. My one gripe as it relates to him is that while he is described as plain, he looks like a male model on the book cover, following a trend of cover art not lining up with what is inside. A few of the secondary characters existed as prime examples of Chekhov’s Gun, which is to say they were introduced early on for the sole purpose of being used as a “twist” near the end. Dwelling on these seemingly unimportant characters made the twists they represented somewhat predictable. The romance between the main characters was a driving force in the novel, and while I have this marked as a weakness, that is perhaps overstating the case. Generally, it was okay, though coincidence is often used to create artificial barriers between them, and the final change of heart happens quite suddenly. Nevertheless, the general relationship and friendship depicted growing between the two was quite good, able to carry the story on its own. As far as the typical fantasy elements of the story, I have only good things to say. The magic system introduced is multi-faceted and intriguing. It is described neither too much, nor too little, but just enough for the reader to appreciate it without being inundated. Additionally, lore and history of the world is introduced via snippets before each chapter. Few books can make this work, notable exceptions being Jurassic Park and The Oath, but Ms. Kitchens pulls it off, and I found myself eagerly reading each new piece of information rather than skipping over it. To Catch a Magic Thief is a fun read sure to keep you entranced for the duration. The ending is simultaneously a bit convoluted and predictable, but since character development and relationships carry the story, this small critique can easily be forgotten in light of how good the book is.
August 2, 2021
*Review of Audio edition.*
To Catch a Magic Thief is a companion novel to E.J. Kitchen's The Rose and the Wand. I say companion because the two books overlap a bit, though TCaMT is a technically the first chronologically. I really do recommend starting with TCaMT first. It sets up the world building a lot better than TRatW did and I think it will add to your enjoyment of that side of the story.
To Catch a Magic Thief, follows two first person POV characters. Marcel Ellsworth and Gabriella Florrissan. They are a bit of an odd couple. One without and the other of a long line of powerful enchanters. To make it even more awkward, Marcel is suspected of being the notorious magic thief.
This book is a great mystery. It's full of action and danger. Not to mention the constant guessing of who the real magic thief is.
And Gabriella has an amazing backstory/character arc about overcoming an abduction in her youth. This part of the plot was the most compelling part of the book to me. I feel like this story about Gabriella could have easily carried the book on it's own and I would love to see this idea of children abducted for their magic fleshed out more in a future novel.
The narrator, Paul Winter, reads well. He has a nice British voice that is fun to listen to and he handles the side characters excellently giving them each a different voice. But for the two first person POV characters he . . . doesn't.
The two First person voices really should have been given a bigger differentiation.
Winter's Marcel voice is really good. I suspect it may be his natural voice. Because his Gabriella voice is just his Marcel voice in a higher pitch. It makes following the first person narration a little hard at first, as you really have to pay attention to who's POV your in.
If you pay attention to the name said at the beginning of each chapter you should be fine. POV can also be intuited though context. Just take care to be an active listener an you should have no problems enjoying this magical mystery romance.
Or you can always just read it in print of ebook.
*I was given a reviewer code for an audible copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion of the provided audiobook.*
To Catch a Magic Thief is a companion novel to E.J. Kitchen's The Rose and the Wand. I say companion because the two books overlap a bit, though TCaMT is a technically the first chronologically. I really do recommend starting with TCaMT first. It sets up the world building a lot better than TRatW did and I think it will add to your enjoyment of that side of the story.
To Catch a Magic Thief, follows two first person POV characters. Marcel Ellsworth and Gabriella Florrissan. They are a bit of an odd couple. One without and the other of a long line of powerful enchanters. To make it even more awkward, Marcel is suspected of being the notorious magic thief.
This book is a great mystery. It's full of action and danger. Not to mention the constant guessing of who the real magic thief is.
And Gabriella has an amazing backstory/character arc about overcoming an abduction in her youth. This part of the plot was the most compelling part of the book to me. I feel like this story about Gabriella could have easily carried the book on it's own and I would love to see this idea of children abducted for their magic fleshed out more in a future novel.
The narrator, Paul Winter, reads well. He has a nice British voice that is fun to listen to and he handles the side characters excellently giving them each a different voice. But for the two first person POV characters he . . . doesn't.
The two First person voices really should have been given a bigger differentiation.
Winter's Marcel voice is really good. I suspect it may be his natural voice. Because his Gabriella voice is just his Marcel voice in a higher pitch. It makes following the first person narration a little hard at first, as you really have to pay attention to who's POV your in.
If you pay attention to the name said at the beginning of each chapter you should be fine. POV can also be intuited though context. Just take care to be an active listener an you should have no problems enjoying this magical mystery romance.
Or you can always just read it in print of ebook.
*I was given a reviewer code for an audible copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion of the provided audiobook.*
March 15, 2019
I very much enjoyed To Catch a Magic Thief! For context, I have not read the first book in the series, so this one is very much stand-alone. There were a few things about the world I was curious about that may be addressed in book 1, but nothing that was essential to understanding and enjoying the story, though I would have loved to see more about the Pyrens.
I found the societal construction of enchanters, half-magics, and non-magics to be fascinating and rife with story fodder. The conflict of sorcerers vs. enchanters was riveting, especially with the concept of a 'Sorcerer's Called' - an enchanter who is susceptible to becoming a sorcerer's thrall if, as a child, their blood is shed on a sorcerer's altar.
Overall, the only issue I had in enjoyment was that the climactic plot scenes had a very large cast of characters, some of them new and some them characters who'd briefly been on page earlier in the book, and I had a hard to time mentally keeping track of everyone, especially since several characters were in disguise.
With the backdrop of magic thieves, a hidden sorcerer's altar, and a delightful slow-build romance, this book is sure to please anyone who wants their Regency-style romance with a generous side of fantasy.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book.
I found the societal construction of enchanters, half-magics, and non-magics to be fascinating and rife with story fodder. The conflict of sorcerers vs. enchanters was riveting, especially with the concept of a 'Sorcerer's Called' - an enchanter who is susceptible to becoming a sorcerer's thrall if, as a child, their blood is shed on a sorcerer's altar.
Overall, the only issue I had in enjoyment was that the climactic plot scenes had a very large cast of characters, some of them new and some them characters who'd briefly been on page earlier in the book, and I had a hard to time mentally keeping track of everyone, especially since several characters were in disguise.
With the backdrop of magic thieves, a hidden sorcerer's altar, and a delightful slow-build romance, this book is sure to please anyone who wants their Regency-style romance with a generous side of fantasy.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book.
June 10, 2020
I love this one even more than the first in the series! I have a special place in my heart for fairytale retellings and regency era fiction, so to combine that with some excitement and mystery..... To Catch a Magic Thief = absolutely fabulous! I love the growth of both characters and the sweet, slow-building friendship (and ultimately romance) that blooms between them. I even fell in love with several side characters (maaaaaybe might there be a storyline for some of those, pretty pretty please???) For the timelines of the two books to occur simultaneously rather than linearly one behind the other was refreshing and something I haven't seen for a while in a series. There's so much I want to say but to do so would give out too many spoilers.
Just read this book!!! While it can stand alone, the story becomes even more full and satisfying when read in order, in my opinion (Or at least both stories read)
Please please please let the next in the series be released soon!
Just read this book!!! While it can stand alone, the story becomes even more full and satisfying when read in order, in my opinion (Or at least both stories read)
Please please please let the next in the series be released soon!
February 7, 2024
Pride and Prejudice meets a magical “who dunnit?”
This book occasionally got so intense i needed a break from reading. I don’t often read suspense or mystery novels, but i love magic and I love romance.
There were some parts that were difficult to get used to like the quotes found at the start of a chapter that slowly gave you background and context for the world. My brain was exhausted trying to solve the mystery of who to trust and what does that clue mean, etc. there were like 3-5 times that i didn’t understand what actions were happening in a paragraph. But i typically prefer my books to have more dialogue and less descriptions.
However, the witty banter was ON POINT in this book. You have to admit that the characters showed themselves to be well-read and were not afraid to display it. I appreciated how the author drew attention between different kinds of situations and people and questioned which was in the right.
This book occasionally got so intense i needed a break from reading. I don’t often read suspense or mystery novels, but i love magic and I love romance.
There were some parts that were difficult to get used to like the quotes found at the start of a chapter that slowly gave you background and context for the world. My brain was exhausted trying to solve the mystery of who to trust and what does that clue mean, etc. there were like 3-5 times that i didn’t understand what actions were happening in a paragraph. But i typically prefer my books to have more dialogue and less descriptions.
However, the witty banter was ON POINT in this book. You have to admit that the characters showed themselves to be well-read and were not afraid to display it. I appreciated how the author drew attention between different kinds of situations and people and questioned which was in the right.
May 31, 2020
I loved this book! In the Rose and the Wand you are introduced to Marcel and Gabriella but they are not main characters. I loved how this really dived into their unlikely relationship and you see why they started to fall for each other! Marcel is definitely an unlikely hero but has all the hero traits you want in a character. Gabriella though is who caught my attention with her curse. I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say go get this book and read it. It will be a page turner, pull at your heart strings type of book and you will love every second of it!
March 6, 2024
Great world building
Loved this book and the reminder that beauty on the inside is more important than outward beauty. Gabrielle has the family pride, yet knows she is flawed, Ellsworth while lacking status, wealth and beauty has strength of character and a willingness to sacrifice himself for Gabriella. Even so he has to realise that bitterness is as bad as pride. I also loved the Rose and the wand, the story of Gabrielle's sister. Great storyline, characters and loved the concept of half-magics. I hope there are more books I n this world.
Loved this book and the reminder that beauty on the inside is more important than outward beauty. Gabrielle has the family pride, yet knows she is flawed, Ellsworth while lacking status, wealth and beauty has strength of character and a willingness to sacrifice himself for Gabriella. Even so he has to realise that bitterness is as bad as pride. I also loved the Rose and the wand, the story of Gabrielle's sister. Great storyline, characters and loved the concept of half-magics. I hope there are more books I n this world.
February 4, 2023
I’ve been wanting to read magic books lately and this was a delightful book.
Marcel was the perfect cinnamon roll hero - a man who is aware of his limitations, and has not let circumstances get the better of him.
I found Gabriella harder to like, but as I learned more about her, I came to like her and appreciate her character.
I enjoyed the story and will read more from this author.
Marcel was the perfect cinnamon roll hero - a man who is aware of his limitations, and has not let circumstances get the better of him.
I found Gabriella harder to like, but as I learned more about her, I came to like her and appreciate her character.
I enjoyed the story and will read more from this author.
January 25, 2020
Various sides of magic along with a romance !
So interesting I didn’t want to put it down. So many issues involved , magic , snobbery , romance and good triumphs over evil. What’s not to like ?
So interesting I didn’t want to put it down. So many issues involved , magic , snobbery , romance and good triumphs over evil. What’s not to like ?
January 3, 2021
An enjoyable read
I enjoyed this book. Unlike the first one in the series, I wouldn’t care for my children to read it due to all of the sorcery mentioned throughout. But I loved how it is clean romantically and not a sappy romance.
I enjoyed this book. Unlike the first one in the series, I wouldn’t care for my children to read it due to all of the sorcery mentioned throughout. But I loved how it is clean romantically and not a sappy romance.
April 17, 2021
Good clean fantasy
A good clean romantic fantasy filled with adventure and intrigue. The characters are great and this book keeps you guessing who is good and who is bad. I loved it.
A good clean romantic fantasy filled with adventure and intrigue. The characters are great and this book keeps you guessing who is good and who is bad. I loved it.
October 15, 2021
DNF. Just could not get into this one. Writing isn’t bad, story is intriguing, but I’ve tried twice now and it just doesn’t keep my attention. I had the same struggle with the first book but not quite this bad.
January 1, 2025
I read this after the Of Magic Made series. Fun to visit Sonser in the future. Gabriella is descended from Florisan. Half magics, enchanters, and even a magical lion all play their part in this mystery.
March 26, 2021
Another solid story
I already liked Gabriella after meeting her in the first book, but Marcel's character became so much more interesting in this one.
I already liked Gabriella after meeting her in the first book, but Marcel's character became so much more interesting in this one.
March 23, 2021
I wanted to like it. I did at moments. But overall it just didn't hold my attention. I kept going back to it, but couldn't keep going. Maybe I will read it again another time.
July 3, 2022
In the first book, we followed Alexandria's storyline and now we get to see Gabriella and Marcel's story.
Marcel is unfortunately always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has been accused of being the famous Magic Thief and it is walking a tight rope trying to fulfill his obligations as a baron and stay away from enchanters. However, he yet again bumbles into more enchanters and a problem way bigger than his own. Now, he must try to solve who the Magic Thief is and protect those around him while having no magical powers himself.
Gabriella is a powerful enchantress and daughter of a duke with a dangerous secret. One that could ruin her life and her family. Yet, she is often kept in the dark and sheltered by her family. She joins forces with a few allies such as Marcel to fight the darkness gathering and save herself from an awful fate.
I highly recommend this book!
Marcel is unfortunately always in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has been accused of being the famous Magic Thief and it is walking a tight rope trying to fulfill his obligations as a baron and stay away from enchanters. However, he yet again bumbles into more enchanters and a problem way bigger than his own. Now, he must try to solve who the Magic Thief is and protect those around him while having no magical powers himself.
Gabriella is a powerful enchantress and daughter of a duke with a dangerous secret. One that could ruin her life and her family. Yet, she is often kept in the dark and sheltered by her family. She joins forces with a few allies such as Marcel to fight the darkness gathering and save herself from an awful fate.
I highly recommend this book!
March 10, 2024
I found the world and magic to be interesting and I liked that Gabriella and Marcel grew in character. I liked that Marcel was different from every other male lead. Gabriella was a bit boring to me and I didn't totally buy into her relationship with Marcel. The writing was awkward at times, forcing me to reread sentences to understand, and the story itself a bit convoluted. Perhaps if I had read the book before this things would have made more sense and things presented in the epigraphs wouldn't seem so deus ex machina. The book dragged on a bit but it looks as though some of the author's other books are shorter so I might try those out.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews