The Magicians's Ward [Library Binding]

Patricia C. Wrede (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

One year after Richard Merrill promised to make young Kim a lady and a magician in MAIRELON THE MAGICIAN, Kim is discovering that magic can be harder than it looks--and being a lady in Regency London is even harder. When disaster strikes, Kim must negotiate the hazards of London society, and she finds that her abilities as a magician and a lady are a matter of life and death .

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This sequel to Mairelon the Magician (Tor, 1991. o.p.) finds Kim, an apprentice magician and ward of Richard Merrill (Mairelon), in Regency England society. When Mairelon's magic powers are stolen, Kim must trust her magician's abilities to uncover the thief. This light romance cloaked in fantasy is a marginal purchase.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

No, not a hospital drama about ailing wizards, but another yarn set in a fantasy Regency England featuring Richard Merrill, a.k.a. Mairelon the Magician, and his ward Kim, the former street thief. While Kim resists Richard's Aunt Agatha's determined attempts to introduce her to Polite Society (i.e., find her a husband), a gentleman burglar attempts to steal a book from the house library. Somehow connected to this, so Kim learns from an old thief colleague, are the efforts of a wicked moneylender to gather up street urchins who have magic talents, coupled with a mysterious, debilitating magical attack on Mairelon himself. Something of an improvement over Mairelon the Magician (1991), but still leisurely, YA-ish, and lacking innovation. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Sagebrush Education Resources (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613173600
• ISBN-13: 978-0613173605
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,453,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PATRICIA C. WREDE has written many novels, including Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot and The Grand Tour coauthored with Caroline Stevermer, as well as the four books in her own series, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles. She lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superb Sequel and A Wonderful (and acceptable) Romance, June 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magician's Ward (Mass Market Paperback)

I found 'The Magician's Ward' and excellent and satisfying sequel to 'Mairelon the Magician.' Kim is much more mature in this book, and her friendship with Mairelon is a bit closer than in the last. Of course, as anyone who read the first has probably guessed, both start to have feelings for one another in a different sort of way. Now, to clear up any misunderstandings: A ward is NOT the same as an adopted child. A ward's parents can be alive and the amount of time that they're someone's ward can be long or short or permanent until the child marries. But the child and gaurdian are by no means considered related as a father and child. It would be more like the relationship between an apprentice and mentor. I recommend looking the term up in the dictionary, which would give you a clear idea. Secondly, Mairelon is NOT that much older than Kim. He is below 30, as was clearly stated in this book, but older than Lord Franton, who's about 23. My guess is that Mairelon is 8 to 9 years older than Kim, who is 19, despite what the back cover says. She was seventeen in the first book, and almost two years have elapsed between the first and second books. And lastly, you do have to keep in mind that this was set in the English Regency. It was considered acceptable to marry someone twenty years older or more. And nowadays, the age difference between Mairelon and Kim is still considered acceptable.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a great Wit: Wizard-in-training, November 5, 2002

By 

agtpeach (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magicians's Ward (Mass Market) (Mass Market Paperback)

Kim and Mairelon are back in a lovely sequel to Mairelon the Magician. Kim begins her training as a wizard, while living with Richard Merrill (aka Mairelon) and his formidable Aunt Agatha as his ward. This time we get a different look into Wrede's wonderfully evocative Regency England. London is mostly grand homes and marquises, with an occasional trip to the Wizard's College to remind us that this is a fantasy.

Not that we need to be reminded, for there are enchanted plots abrewing. A book of spells seems to be a popular wanted item, and when a backfired spell leaves Mairelon magically incapacitated, it¡Żs up to novice Kim and his vivacious mother to unravel the increasingly sinister mystery. Additionally, Kim is the toast of London and with avid suitors seeking her hand, Mairelon has to face some difficult decisions.

Wrede again delivers a witty, sparkling story peopled by memorable characters. The plot is as complex than the prequel, but without its madcap pace, this one falters a bit. Some interesting supporting characters are Aunt Agatha, Mairelon's mother, and her monkey - giving us a look into society manners and fashions of the period. Hunch is less prominent in this book, although we see more of Renee and her compatriots. The mood is more serious than the farcical Mairelon the Magician, but has a more distinct touch of romance. The ending is reminscent of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot and felt a little rushed. As pleasant as the book was, I hope there is another sequel because it's not everyday you meet remarkable characters like Kim and Mairelon.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical, enchanting, and very humorous!, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magician's Ward (Hardcover)

I loved this book! Mairelon the Magician was pretty good (and traditional of all of Patricia Wrede's books, extremely funny).Magician's Ward is absolutely,positively wonderful!The characters were really developed in the sequel. Miss Wrede's books are always inspiring because they have good characters, plots that are not cliche, but always fresh and new, good language, clean outline (which is becoming rare lately),halarious interactions between characters, romance, and all that good stuff! Mairelon the Magician was outstanding when there was dialogue, but could kind of get to be a "page filler" when there wasn't. Magician's Ward however was... I can't tell you anything more other than it was the best and one of my favorite books! A MUST READ!