Crow: Thief of Magic

Working for the Reavers, a criminal gang operating in the shadows of Starsgard, Crow and his friends, Jonas and Sal, dream of escape. But when disaster and chance combine, Crow finds himself apprenticed to Viktor, the town's Dreamcatcher and given the opportunity of a new life. Introduced to the art of dream magic, Crow learns of the mara, an ancient and deadly nightmare magic threatening Starsgard. Faced with danger on all sides, Crow must decide who to trust if he is to survive.

Fantasy stories are very popular and so it gets harder to find one which stands out in the crowd. For me, 'Crow Thief of Magic' is one such book. Vividly imagined, it is a wonderfully magical adventure which, once started, is hard to put down.

From the outset, the plot is well paced and engaging and readers are instantly drawn into Crow's world. Details are threaded seamlessly into the action allowing familiarity with Starsgard's history and social structure to build effortlessly as the story progresses. The gritty realities of life for Crow and his friends trapped with the Reavers and lavish lifestyle of the elite adds a (sadly) realistic social background to contrast with the magical world of the Dreamcatcher.

An endearing main character, Crow's loyalty to his friends and desire to do the right thing will have readers cheering him from the first page until the last. Having found his niche, he doesn't abandon others, but strives to make things better for them as well. Other characters like Viktor, are equally well rounded- flawed and relatable, with complex motivations and I particularly like Nekima the Dreamcatcher's cat!

A trail has been paved for more stories to come and although I look forward to reading more about Crow, this story could easily stand alone as a very satisfying read. Although it would make a great class read for the right group of children, I feel this is a story where children will delight in losing themselves in the magic and adventure.

304 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Crow is an orphan and a thief. For him and his two best friends, Sal and Jonas, there’s no way out from the hunger and exploitation of being a junior Reaver - part of a criminal underworld organisation in the city of Starsgard. Even so, together the three of them dream of escape.

When a routine job takes him to the home of the Dreamcatcher, Crow is unexpectedly offered a different future as a sorcerer's apprentice. It could offer the new start he's always hoped for, but it would mean leaving his friends behind. He can't and won't do that - until a heist goes wrong and a warehouse explodes in flames with his two friends in it. Crow survives by a fluke of luck and jeopardy and danger bring difficult choices. Has his luck finally run out?

Although Crow: Thief of Magic is a relatively sophisticated novel, this was a quicker read than I expected at first. I was rooting from the start for Crow and his friends who are typically appealing urchin heroes. Almost as soon, I was absorbed by the twists and turns of the story; the plot is satisfyingly complex but carefully structured and so never obscure. There is a skilful balance of exciting action, complexity and description too. The fantasy world is fully imagined and vividly depicted with deft use of sensory imagery, especially taste and smell - some of the passages could make effective models incorporating description within a narrative.

Written in rich but readable language, it will be a valuable addition to the fantasy shelf in school library or book corner. An impressive debut - an author to watch.

304 pages / Reviewed by Louisa Farrow, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+