Mairelon the Magician is a Young Adult blend of historical mystery and fantasy. The fun book follows Kim through the streets of Victorian England as she partners up with Mairelon, a Real Magician. The book is complex enough to keep most adults interested while maintaining its appeal for younger readers, as long as they aren’t too young; I have it on good authority that many 12 year olds find this book too confusing and difficult to follow.
Kim, 17, is a great character, surviving on the streets through masquerading as a boy and balancing on the fine line between ethics and survival. She is smart and brave without the unbelievable lack of fear present in some protagonists. This book is one of a two part series and I look forward to the sequel.
One of Patricia C. Wrede’s greatest successes with this book is that she manages to create a world where Wizardry and true magic are common place and yet it still manages to feel authentic to the reader. This apparent realism woven into the fantasy is important for a reader like me who is skeptical about blending genres but the fantasy element was interesting enough for fans of magic to also be intrigued.
It was fun reading a YA book and I encourage all adult readers to explore this growing area of fiction. I enjoyed that this mystery is about something other than murder and Wrede demonstrates that a story can still be full of suspense and adventure without depending on violence to further the plot; authors of adult mysteries could learn from this and expand their repertoires of intrigue.
