The Wizard of Seattle [Mass Market Paperback]

Kay Hooper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2005

She looked like a ragged, storm-drenched urchin, but from the moment Serena Smyth appeared on his Seattle doorstep, Richard Patrick Merlin recognized the spark behind her green eyes. Serena had crossed a country to find him, guided by her determination to become a master wizard. She knew he could be her teacher—but she never expected the charismatic, seductive power that was Merlin's. Nor had she dreamed of the fire he ignited in her body and soul, a flame that burned even hotter than the powerful talent she possessed but did not yet understand. Their love forbidden by an ancient law, Serena and Richard will take a desperate gamble and travel to a long-lost world to change the history that threatens to separate them. But they risk being torn apart forever, destroyed by a cursed land...and their own fierce desires.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1984, 16-year-old Serena Smyth appeared on the doorstep of wizard Richard Merlin in Seattle demanding that he take her on as an apprentice. The body of this silly novel picks up nine years later, when Serena and Richard are secretly attracted to each other but still keeping up the pretense of being uncle and niece for the benefit of the "powerless" world. Serena's high jinks prompt a local reporter to write an article about them questioning their relationship, which in turn brings them to the attention of the Council of Elders--a ruling group of wizards. It seems Richard has ignored an age-old law stating that no women be trained to use magic. Richard and Serena then travel far back in time to Atlantis in order to find out why this rule was created and to rectify the situation. There they find male and female wizards living in separate communities, with mutual mistrust and hatred. Common sense says that powerful Richard could fix this ancient war of the sexes with a flick of his impressive staff, so Hooper ( The Matchmaker ) must continually work at creating suspense through arcane regulations, i.e., time travel is too risky to be attempted more than once.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

She looked like a ragged, storm-drenched urchin, but from the moment SerenaSmyth appeared on his Seattle doorstep, Richard Patrick Merlin recognized thespark behind her green eyes. Serena had crossed a country to find him, guidedby her determination to become a master wizard. She knew he could be herteacher--but she never expected the charismatic, seductive power that wasMerlin's. Nor had she dreamed of the fire he ignited in her body and soul, aflame that burned even hotter than the powerful talent she possessed but didnot yet understand. Their love forbidden by an ancient law, Serena and Richardwill take a desperate gamble and travel to a long-lost world to change thehistory that threatens to separate them. But they risk being torn apartforever, destroyed by a cursed land...and their own fierce desires.
--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553588583
• ISBN-13: 978-0553588583
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,735,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

KAY HOOPER is the award-winning author of Sleeping with Fear, Stealing Shadows, and more than ten other novels of suspense and intrigue along with dozens of other books. She lives in North Carolina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wizards and Love - What a great combination!, June 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wizard of Seattle (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I have read by Kay Hooper, although I love fantasy and romance - together and separate. I really enjoyed this book. Very unique and thought-provoking. I couldn't stop thinking about it even after I finished it. The plot was fairly complex and I really liked the hero and heroine. Mostly what got me was that the conflict between male and female wizards was very unique and yet still very believeable. I have not read any other books that approached magic and power in this way. Definitely recommended reading!

Now I've got to find more of Kay Hooper's books!!!!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Master Wizard, An Apprentice - A Forbidden Love!!, October 26, 2001

By 

Carolyn Christy "Caro" (Fairhaven, Ma. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wizard of Seattle (Mass Market Paperback)

The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hopper is an OUTSTANDING romance. I could not put this book down. I was rivetted by the main characters and how expertly Ms. Hooper fans their growing attraction into an deep abiding love. This was such a wonderful romance . . .

Richard Patrick Merlin is a wizard. Not just any wizard but a tenth degree wizard. He possesses an unimaginable power which draws a young Serena Smyth across the country in search of . . . him.

Serena "feels" the powers that lurk within her and is very determined to become a wizard. She never images how hard it would be to remain indifferent to Merlin's seductive handsomeness and power. In return, she has no knowledge of the powerful hunger she stirs within him as she blossoms into a beautiful woman. Beneath his calm facade, he longs for Serena, desires her with a growing hunger that is becoming harder and harder to control. Even as he is drawn to her, there is a part of himself that warns him of . . . danger. As if Serena somehow poses a threat to him!

There is an ancient law that strictly forbids a wizard to take a woman of power as his apprentice. From that first fateful day when she had stood before him, he sensed her untapped powers and was unable to turn her away.

Merlin believes that such a law is senseless and continues to teach Serena. He teaches her secretly without the knowledge of the Council of Elders. He is an excellant teacher, patient and gentle and he encourages Serena to develop and control the power that lurks deep within.

Now the knowledge of his teachings are no longer a secret. There are consequences for disobeying this law. Consequences that will destroy Serena if he should obey. Unexpectedly, fate might have given him the answer out of this dilemna.

He finds a very old ancient writing, describing in detail, the horrible destruction of Atlantis. This eyewitness was a wizard who warned that such terrible destruction could happen again. Merlin knows that there were some wizards living amongst the powerless there yet all details of Atlantis are sketchy. What really did happen to compell another wizard to write such an omnious warning???? A warning so foreboding that is still affects the wizards of this day and age!!

Merlin and Serena risk their very lives in a desperate bid to unravel the mystery surrounding this ancient law. They travel back in time, to the lost continent of Atlantis, hoping to change history.

Yet, there is a danger in tampering with history for it alters the future as you know it . . .

I LOVED this entire book. I absolutely loved the way Serena and Merlin fought for their love even when the odds were so clearly stacked against them. The interaction between the two characters were perfect. As the reader, you felt the intensity of their feelings as they tried so hard to deny them. Merlin, an omni-powerful wizard risks all he is, all he has been taught to claim a love none of his kind have ever know.

Also, there are a special pair of secondary characters which I grew to love. I could have read another hundred pages!!

AH - - - - - What a BEAUTIFUL, incredible lovestory!!!!!!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful blend of fantasy and romance, April 4, 2000

By 

"sunrunner-mage" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wizard of Seattle (Mass Market Paperback)

I found this book on a 'top 100 fantasy' list on amazon.com and got it because I thought the reviews looked good, and they were right. This book has a wonderfully written, complex plot. The characters are very well developed, likeable and believeble. Unlike some books I've read, the romance is not over done or unrealistic. If you like fantasy/romance books you'll love this one. I can't wait to read more of Kay Hooper's books.