What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
This topic is about
A Bad Spell in Yurt
SOLVED: Adult Fiction
>
SOLVED. Fantasy about young wizard graduate taking up residence in a medieval kingdom. [s]
date
newest »
newest »
Just to get the ball rolling - you have already ruled out all Dianna Wynne Jones and in particular the The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1? :)There's a list you might like to browse here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Not Diana Wynne Jones, but thanks. I should add that the writer is not very well known. At least I think she isn't.
One further point: this is not a book about an apprentice, as I hope my description now makes clear. It is about a graduate wizard who takes up a post as the wizard in residence in a kingdom. The sole wizard. His training has finished.
The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin seems to fit this description-from what I remember there are many sorcerers but they are sent out to kingdoms in need and there is a forbidden tower and he struggles with his own identity which really impacts his powers.
Bear wrote: "The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin seems to fit this description-from what I remember there are many sorcerers but they are sent out to kingdoms in need and there is a forbidden tower and ..."Thanks for the reply. The Earthsea novels are among my favourites but it is not that. The author of the novel I'm looking for is not very well known to be honest. A published author, I am sure, as it was a traditionally published book, but not a very famous one.
Can you recall anything about the cover? Was there any plot, beyond the young wizard figuring out how to be a court wizard -- was there a villain, for example, or an external threat to the kingdom, or...? You mention a priest -- do you recall was he a Christian priest, or a priest of some fictional religion within the world of the book? Can you remember if the book was standalone, or part of a series?
I have found the name of the book. I just googled the phrase "wizard spell telephone system" after several attempts at googling other phrases as I was sure a telephone appeared in the plot. I had tried googling all sorts of stuff before but kept getting other famous books with wizards. Thanks anyway for the help. The book is A Bad Spell in Yurt by C. Dale Brittain. Can anyone tell me how to mark this thread as solved?
A Bad Spell in Yurt by C. Dale Brittain for the link.Jon, if you are using the website, you can edit the header to change the title to include the word "solved".
However, it is not required that you do so.
Glad you found your book.
Michele wrote: "And lucky you, there's an entire series!!https://www.goodreads.com/series/5654..."
Yes, and all available on kindle! Looking forward to it.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
A Bad Spell in Yurt (other topics)The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 (other topics)
I think it may have been an early work of hers - perhaps her first? I read it about 5 years ago and I think the book is probably older than that - it may be a couple of decades old. It may also be a YA fantasy but it may have been classed as adult fantasy - but it was slightly whimsical, with a sort of Dianna Wynne Jones feel to it. It was about a young male wizard who, having finished his training, takes up residence in a medieval-style castle kingdom as the court wizard. I think the previous holder of the post, a wizard, lives off in the woods somewhere. The new wizard, our protagonist, has to struggle with spells when he takes up the post, due to his poor abilities, but sometimes he manages it. I think one spell may involve a sort of telephone system in all but name so that characters can talk to each other. There is a tower which is locked by the previous wizard who held the post and can't be opened. There is a king, and a queen, and I think one of them is very pleased with the wizard. There is also an aunt or other noble relative in the picture whom the wizard visits and who seems interested in him. A priest is also one of the main characters, and the kingdom is pretty closely based on the Middle Ages, but with added magic. I never finished the book as I lost it but I would like to find the book title and finish it as the feel of the book has stayed with me.