The Paper Magician

The Paper Magician ***
                                         Charlie N. Holmberg- Teen/ Young adult Historical Fiction 

The Paper Magician was Charlie’s 9th novel but her first published and only after receiving an abundance of rejection letters. So many she joked about fashioning a quilt from the stack. 

The book is set in historical England at the turn of the century and is filled with quirky charm and magical splendor. 

Ceony Twill is assigned to Magician Emery Thane as his apprentice and begins to learn the ins and outs of becoming a master folder. Without giving too much away Ceony is, at first, very displeased with the mandated title of “folder” and arrives to her new home with a broken heart and sour outlook on the situation. Her feelings and displeasure morph as the novel wares on and her heart soon learns to love the bond she forms with paper through magic. 

This is the first of three novels in the series and, in my opinion, is the least entertaining of the trio. It’s a great read and holds your attention rather well but its successors are a bit more dramatic and intriguing in content. Much of the center of this book is spent traveling alongside Ceony and she wanders through the chambers of Emery’s heart (I don’t want to say more than this in hopes it intrigues you enough to pick up the book! ) just keep reading, it gets better. 

I had few qualms with this book though there are two that present themselves by the close of the last chapter: 

#1. Why do Excisioners (Magicians who bond to blood and practice dark magic) exist at all. What is their goal, their purpose? World domination? To destroy all good magic? I haven't a clue! 

#2. The development of a prospect romantic relationship between Ceony (Who's 19) and her instructor (whose 30 and once divorced) is absolutely NOT needed and strikes the reader out of left field. Either the Charlies attempt to kindle romance between the two was very poorly executed or the romance was an afterthought because, lets face it, love sells. Either way, it’s awkward and unnecessary. 

I picked up this book on a whim as it was free with KindleUnlimited but I thoroughly enjoyed the easy read! So much so I downloaded and read its sequel and am now onto the third and final book in the series! 

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