The Devil’s Pawn

Pötzsch’s inspired and thrilling sequel to The Master’s Apprentice picks up with magician and astrologer Doctor Johann Georg Faustus trekking across Germany in the 1500s with his daughter and an assistant in a fiery magic show. After Faustus is called to Rome to help Pope Leo X boost the church’s funds through a horoscope reading, the road gets rocky. Faustus had previously bargained with the devil for money and fame, and the devil doesn’t want him fulfilling the pope’s wishes. Meanwhile, Faustus suffers from seizures and seeks help from Leonardo da Vinci, who endures the same mysterious ailment, in France. What follows is classic Pötzsch, a whirlwind of sorcery and mayhem as Pope Leo’s henchmen pursue Faustus in search of his magical prowess. Also joining the mix is magician and juggler Tonio del Moravia, Faustus’s former master who’d raised him and now assumes Satan’s human form. New readers would benefit from the first installment, as the author frequently references and builds on its narrative threads. Moving at a quick clip, Potzsch packs in plenty of surprise twists, culminating in a battle of good versus evil. A supremely atmospheric, immersive, and magical ride, this packs plenty of mystical and historic punch. (Apr.)