Customer Reviews

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After: Being the Private Correspondence Between Two Prominent FamiliesRegarding a Scandal Touching the Highest Levels of Government and theSecurity of the Realm

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Oddly enough, Amazon seems to have failed to realize that this is just the paperback version of a hardback released in 2006. A good story if you have the first two books, but probably not a stand-alone novel. This review is simply to save others from with equally poor memories from thinking "Haven't I read this already?"

This is the third book with these characters. It all started with Sorcery and Cecilia; Or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. Then it continued with The Grand Tour and now we have this third book. It centers around two families. The wives are cousins and the husbands have been friends through their adult life. It picks up with more mysteries to solve and their families to protect as they use magic, wits, and prolific writing to solves the mysteries surrounding them and come out triumphant in the end.

Ten years after their grand wedding tour (and the concurrent unraveling of an imperial magical contretemps), Thomas and Kate (the Marquess and Marchioness of Schofield) are living quietly on their country estate outside of London, still very happily married and now the parents of two sons. Cecy and James, who shared in the Continental adventure, are similarly shrouded in connubial bliss. The Tarletons have set up their home at Tangleford Hall in Kent. Blessed with four children of their own, Cecy and James also find their days nicely filled. But it seems that magic and intrigue are not ready to leave these two couples behind, not by a long shot.

The Duke of Wellington, now the Prime Minister, has charged James (who was, as you may remember, 'Old Hookey's' ADC during the fuss with Napoleon) with a delicate mission in the north. It seems a Prussian railway surveyor/magician, one Herr Magus Franz Wilhelm Schellen, has managed to go missing while surveying railway lines in the countryside around Leeds. As his disappearance occurred some six months ago, the Prussians are becoming quite shirty about it. The Duke would like James and Cecy to make some discreet inquiries into the matter. Of course they must go, but it is equally plain that they cannot take four small children with them. The solutions is for James and Cecy to send their brood to Thomas and Kate.

While Cecy and James are gadding about the north searching for their missing Prussian and investigating a tangle of magical ley lines and railway politics, Kate and Thomas are having a few adventures of their own. Kate's spoiled younger sister Georgina, now Her Grace, the Duchess of Waltham, has shown up and made herself at home - with no explanation given for separating from her husband or the even more unbelievable fact that she is missing the London Season to rusticate at Skeynes with Kate and Thomas. With six children in the nursery (at least two of whom are beginning to show a precocious talent for magic) and Georgy moping about the place, Kate and Thomas have their hands full. When an unknown villain makes off with their eldest son, the couple rescues him and a young girl - the stoic and dignified Drina, who refuses to say a single word about where she was abducted from or why. Then there's the matter of a very strong magician poking at the magical wards around Skeynes and attempting to find a way into the Schofield home. It's enough to make one wonder what in the world is going on in the Realm!

I am a huge fan of this historical/fantasy/mystery trilogy by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. Like the novel that originally introduced readers to Kate and Cecy (Sorcery and Cecelia), The Mislaid Magician is composed entirely of letters. Now, however, we also get to hear from Thomas and James, as well as Kate and Cecy. All three of these novels (the second was The Grand Tour) are utterly charming with sweet, funny, feisty characters and fascinating mystery plots. The Regency details, especially the manners and mannerisms, contribute a goof deal to the overall stories, as does the wonderful, witty writing of the two authors.

Really enjoyed this book,it is well written and very enjoyable.Characters are very likable and people you would like to know.hope they write more.

The third book in this series remains just as good as the first. A fun romp through steam train era England with magical overtones!

It was an okay read but not nearly as good as the first book in the series "Sorcery and Cecelia: The enchanted chocolate pot". Sorcery and Cecelia makes me laugh every time I read it. This book I would probably only recommend you check out at the library.

I bought this book to complete the set of books, I already had the first two. I purhcased the book and expected it to arrive within the next couple of weeks. I was very surprised to find it come in the mail within the next few days! Very prompt! It was amazing!