Home (The Magic Thief #4) by Sarah Prineas - ADVISABLE

Prineas, Sarah.  Home (The Magic Thief #4), illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo.  Harper, 2014.  $17.99.  380 pages.  Language: G.  Sexual content: G.  Violence: PG (kidnapping, beating up, peril). 

Connwaer (Conn) is no longer a street thief but he doesn’t feel as if he fits in with the wizards either, which may be in part that the wizards blame him for their current difficulties with magic.  Connwaer helped a new magic make its home in Wellmet caused friction with the magic that already resided there.  His friend, Rowan, the Duchess wants to make him the ducal magister and have him come live in the palace.  To make matter worse, his dragon, Pip, brings him another wizard’s locus magicalicus stone.   More stones are stolen and the wizards blame Conn and some thugs try to kidnap him.  Conn knows there is something wrong and decides to go undercover as a gutterboy (which he used to be) and to discover who is stealing the stones and why.  The plot is quick-moving with a few twists that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.   Conn’s character development is an important plotline.  Who is he?  And who does he want to be?  The author uses both narrative and letters to move the story along and give the reader insight into the different characters.  The illustrations and maps by Caparo help the reader understand the world of Wellmet and the distinct personality of each character.  The Magic Thief is a great series for any library.     

EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.