The Last Magician

May 8, 2017
Maxwell (Unhooked) introduces an alternate version of present-day New York City where those with magical talents, known as Mageus, are trapped in the city by a magic-stealing barrier called the Brink; the barrier was created by the Order, an organization bent on getting rid of the Mageus. Esta, a Mageus with some control over time, has been trained in the art of thievery since she was a child. Her mission: return to a New York City of the past and steal the Ars Arcana, the book responsible for the creation of the Brink. With painstaking worldbuilding, Maxwell captures the danger and grittiness of New York City in the early 1900s as Esta navigates poverty, deception, and desperation to complete her mission while battling her growing attraction to the man who also means to steal the book. The pace is somewhat slow, and Maxwell leans on a few too many clichés—including a hulking black character with medicine man–like healing powers and an Chinese assassin who relies on stealth—but altogether she provides a solid introduction into her new world. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary.

May 1, 2017
Gangs, immigrants, and the rich keeping the poor down, with a twist. In an alternate New York, magic is wielded by the Mageus, whose innate affinities vary widely, and the Order, who disdain but use magic in rituals that limit the Mageus' freedom. For centuries, Mageus have entered but cannot leave Manhattan thanks to the Brink, a magical barrier surrounding the island. Esta's affinity involves manipulating time, and the professor who raised her has sent her from the present day to 1901 to stop the destruction of a book that could potentially destroy the Brink. Shifting third-person perspective follows Esta into the past as she infiltrates Dolph Saunders' gang and becomes involved with Harte Darrigan, the handsome magician who destroyed the book. Crisp pacing and plenty of details tell the story of engaging, if selfish, characters in their late teens and early 20s working at cross purposes for big reasons. The past is slightly romanticized but largely realistic: the Mageus function as a stand-in for any immigrant group subject to prejudice, and Esta's contemporary attitudes shine a light on outdated attitudes, while through the experiences of Chinese Jianyu (the only nonwhite member of Dolph's gang), some of the racial prejudices of the past are confronted. A doorstopper with a total shakeup of an ending: don't miss this splendid series opener. (map) (Historical fantasy. 12-adult)

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June 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-This fantasy chronicles the struggles of the last surviving magicians in a draconian world of gangs and perilous dangers. Esta is a master thief who manipulates time in order to steal artifacts, all in the service of stopping the Magician, who means to kill the remaining Mageus-members of a secret order of magicians. Esta must keep an all-powerful book away from the villain to prevent him from destroying her order. She also needs to avoid "the Brink," a mystical barrier that causes her kind to lose their powers and become trapped. This novel will be quite the undertaking for most readers, as the main character jumps back and forth through time. The narrative is told from different points of view as various arcs come together during the climactic final struggle. Readers may find it hard to follow this long, intricate narrative. Hard-core magic and fantasy devotees might enjoy this ambitious tale, but more casual fans will be better served by the works of Maggie Stiefvater and Cassandra Clare. VERDICT Purchase where high fantasy is in demand.-Brian Hoff, Elmwood Park High School, IL

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