Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg returns to the enchanting world of The Paper Magician.
Alvie Brechenmacher has arrived in London to begin her training in Polymaking—the magical discipline of bespelling plastic. Polymaking is the newest form of magic, and in a field where there is so much left to learn, every Polymaker dreams of making the next big discovery.
Even … the next big discovery.
Even though she is only an apprentice, Alvie is an inventor at heart, and she is determined to make as many discoveries—in as short a time frame—as she can. Luckily for her, she’s studying under the world-renowned magician Marion Praff, who is just as dedicated as Alvie is.
Alvie’s enthusiasm reinvigorates her mentor’s work, and together they create a device that could forever change Polymaking—and the world. But when a rival learns of their plans, he conspires to steal their invention and take the credit for it himself.
To thwart him, Alvie will need to think one step ahead. For in the high-stakes world of magical discovery, not everyone plays fair…
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I’m just in awe of this book. I really enjoyed the Paper Magician trilogy, so I was excited be able to dive back into that world. And the Plastic Magician lived up to all of my expectations, and then some.
Alvie was an awkward girl, one who was easily wrapped up in her work and carried away in a wave of her thoughts. She was incredibly smart, and believed her brains made up for what she felt she lacked in looks. She wasn’t a polished girl, and it made her very endearing.
What I loved most about this book was how wonderfully written the descriptions were. Alvie and Mg. Praff’s invention was very interesting, but the way the author described the mechanics of the invention as they were making it was so intriguing. I honestly felt my mouth dropping open in awe as I read it.
The end of the book had a bit of action that I hadn’t expected, and it left me on the edge of my seat as I tore through the pages to see what was going to happen. This was a great read and a wonderful addition/spin-off to the Paper Magician series.
This is a charming addition to the series that started with Paper Magic. It is clear who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and the twists are not tremendously surprising, but the story is whimsical and entertainingly frothy and fun. Alvie is a likeable heroine and shows the requisite amount of spunk to keep the story humming along. Very enjoyable!
Fun, imaginative stories, some suspense and romance, good stuff for fantasy lovers. All in all an enjoyable clean series and this book is just as good as the previous ones. I enjoyed it very much and am hoping for more.
Excellent read all the magician books enjoyed all
Amazing
I am rating this book 5.5 this book didn’t disappoint one bit. I enjoyed this book was never bored. But then again I am never bored when reading any of Charlie N. Holmberg books. This story is set in London where Alvie travels from US. To become a polymaker which a magician who is bonded to plastic and learns everything there is about it. Alvie is learning from mg. Praff. And she meets Bennet who besides Alvie is my favorite character. I love their relationship and how cute they are together. I can picture how he may look at her. She meets his sister and wants to help her. Alvie and Mg. Praff figure out invention to help Bennet sister. But old rivals come around. And that’s when adventures start. I loved this book and didn’t want to end. I can’t wait for another book and more about Alvie.I highly recommend this book.
I was so excited to come back to the Paper Magician universe! This concept is so fun and Holmberg’s imagination never disappoints.
The Plastic Magician was just as quirky as her previous books. I wasn’t totally in love with the main character (she seemed to be a typical Strong Intelligent Female), but she was sweet, and I’m so glad we got to see Bennet again.
Personally, I felt that this plot didn’t have the urgency or adventure that the previous books did, but that could have been due to the short length of the book. I wish there had more, period (I’ll read everything she writes!) but the inventiveness in polymaking makes up for the calm plot. No spoilers, but she introduces some fascinating ideas about the magic itself.
This was a cute read, and I recommend it, if only to catch a glimpse of Ceony and Emery again.
Good, but not as good as the other magician books. Worth reading, though it would probably be best to read this one before the paper magician, etc.
Different and fun to read
When Alvie Brechenmacher finishes her schooling in the States, she’s delighted to find out that she’s been apprenticed to Polymaker Tagis Praff all the way in London. After making her way overseas, she begins her training in the art of plastic magic under his eccentric, curious, but encouraging tutelage. Polymaking is very new and every magician in the field strives to create, invent, and discover new ways to work with plastics. When Alvie makes an acquaintance at a hospital in London, she strikes upon an idea that sparks Mg. Praff and herself into a whirlwind of new invention. But a rival conspires to steal their plans and take credit for the miraculous new device, and Alvie must keep her wits about her if she hopes to turn his plans asunder and make sure the new device gets the attention it deserves.
For fans of the Paper Magician trilogy, this new book in the same world will absolutely delight you. The Plastic Magician features all the same interesting magics as before, this time taking a lot at the theories, capabilities, and limitations behind the magic of plastic. We see some familiar characters from the previous trilogy, some as a tribute to the other books and others in an expansion of their former role, but at the center of it all is curious and tenacious Alvie Brechenmacher. Alvie is a delightful main character- very smart, somewhat unsure of her looks and socially awkward, but a caring and devoted friend even to her very new friends in London. She pushes social norms with her habits, pushes the limits of a “woman’s place” with her conversation and hobbies, and pushes those around her to use their magic for something greater than just show. I hope there are more books to follow Alvie’s first story, because The Plastic Magician wasn’t nearly enough story to keep me satisfied for long.
Charlie Holmberg is an exceptional writer.who brings her characters to life with their own quirks, feelings and strengths.
This book is like a great painting, looking at the brush strokes and seeing a whole world before your eyes.
This was a creative and inventive book. Perfect for a summer afternoon read. I’m recommending it to my grandchildren!
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the other three books in this series so I anticipated a quick, entertaining read. The Plastic Magician fell slightly short of that mark for me, unfortunately. The characters were not as compelling and the story felt very basic. Also, plastic as a material magic didn’t interest me as much as paper or glass because the things that can be done with plastic are so common in real life.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it. It’s easy and accessible. It’s technically sound. And I’d be curious to see what else Alvie gets up to if her story continues. But it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
I would recommend this (and the whole series, really) to a younger audience. They’d probably find it very enjoyable.
I think this series is meant for young adults, but (as an adult) I thoroughly enjoyed the first trilogy, and this was a pleasant return to the works of material magicians. I found this one lacking, though, with my only tangible observation being that I was expecting a more complex plot twist. The book also ends with what could be solid closure, so I can’t tell if she’ll be writing more with this new set of characters. I’d love to see a more in depth tie-in with the previous characters and perhaps the master magician concept, although this book introduces a similar concept that could be fodder for expansion. I’ll definitely keep reading, if more books are in store.
Not as interesting or well developed as the previous trilogy by the same author, but fun.
This is a compelling series. I have to devour every one!
Love this book and the entire paper magician series.
An official spin-off from the Paper Magician books, I loved reading this story! I love jumping into a world I’m already familiar with but from the fresh eyes of a new character! I love the world Holmberg has created. The magic in these books feels so tangible and believable. I can’t wait to see what else this author has to share with us in the future. <3
I read the other books in the series so I was thrilled when another book was added.
I love Charlie N. Holmberg’s creation of a new setting and twist to magic.
This book was a delight to read. Charming characters, an inventive system of magic, and deadly enemies. It was a fun addition to the series.