Book Review: A Scholar of Magics

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Scholar of Magics     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Caroline Stevermer
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Tor, Apr 2004, $24.95, 300 pp.

After spending time with Kiowa Bob's Wild West Show in locales like Wyoming, sharpshooting Samuel Lambert receives a job offer to work on the Agincourt Project at Glasscastle University in England. Though he is not entirely sure why a place of magical learning would invite an expert marksman, he jumps at the offer.

After six months at the college Samuel feels he can adapt to anything though his snooty roommate Fell gives him much cause to doubt his belief but not as much as whenever he sees Jane Brailsford. Sister of one of the Project sponsors, Jane teaches math at Normandy’s magical Greenlaw College. Strange things begin occurring with Fell seemingly in the middle that is when you can find him, but only Samuel and Jane seem to realize that weirdness is happening. Soon they learn that Fell shirks his duty as the Warden of the West, but vanishes before they can persuade him the world needs his powerful magic performing the tasks assigned a warden. Jane and Samuel realize trouble is brewing, but have no idea how to prevent it.

The sequel to A COLLEGE OF MAGICS is a fine fantasy that leaps to and fro London as magic goes astray. Samuel and Jane make a fine couple with her being the magic practitioner and him the swordsman (with bullets instead of blades) while the support cast brings a feel that magic is real inside the Stevermer universe. Though the ending lacks action when compared to the sword (make that bullets) and sorcery of much of the plot, readers will relish this enchanting tale and look forward to more magic starring the lead pair.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner