The Magician's Ward

Set one year after Mairelon the Magician, this novel revisits the alternate Regency England invented by Wrede (and Caroline Stevermer) in Sorcery and Cecelia. Wrede spins a classic Regency romance plot here, as her young heroine, former urchin Kim Merrill, falls in love with her guardian and magic teacher, Richard Merrill. Unfortunately, Kim's stiff aunt is determined to make Kim a lady whether she likes it or not. The plot thickens as an attempted burglary and even more dangerous misadventures force Kim to call upon all her street smarts and magical education. Although the premise has lost some of its novelty since Sorcery and Cecelia, smart plotting and numerous well-chosen details of the alternate London carry readers to a happy ending. No doubt the charm, humor and intelligence of Wrede's writing will continue to enthrall Regency fans and fantasy buffs looking for a new twist in their customary fare--as well as young readers moving up from Wrede's Chronicles of the Enchanted Forest. (Dec.)