Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede

Little does Kim know that Mairelon is an actual magician (not just a street performer with quick hands and parlor tricks), and when she is caught in the act, she finds herself in a bit of a pickle. Some “toff” (rich lord) has promised her a tidy purse to break into Mairelon’s wagon and poke around to find a specific silver bowl, a task which seems innocent and easy enough. The first book opens with Kim, a young ragamuffin eying Mairelon, a flashy street magician, performing on the bustling streets of London. Re-released this year as a single volume, A Matter of Magic actually comprises two full-length novels Mairelon the Magician and its immediate sequel The Magician’s Ward. Wrede’s books – her Dragons series is one of my favorites from childhood – so when I saw this rerelease (which I had never heard of before), I had to have it. Why did I read this book: I *love* Patricia C. Stand alone or series: Duology (self-contained) Magic and intrigue go hand in hand in Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward, two fast-paced novels filled with mystery and romance, set against the intricate backdrop of Regency England. Kim soon finds herself entangled with murderers, thieves, and cloak-and-dagger politics, all while trying to learn how to become both a proper lady and a magician in her own right. Until he suggests she become his apprentice then the real trouble begins. But when the magician catches her in the act, Kim thinks she’s done for. A hard life and lean times have schooled her in one lesson: steal from them before they steal from you. Having grown up a waif in the dirty streets of London, Kim isn’t above a bit of breaking-and-entering. When a stranger offers her a small fortune to break into a traveling magician’s wagon, Kim doesn’t hesitate. Title: A Matter of Magic (comprising previously published novels Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward)

Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede