The Paper Magician

Gr 10 Up—In early 20th century England, 19-year-old Ceony Twill graduates with distinction from the Praff School for the Magically Inclined and must now commit to a lifetime bond with one element. Although bespelling metal is Ceony's choice, she is, much to her dismay, required to bond to paper owing to a shortage of paper magicians. She reluctantly travels to the cottage of magician Emery Thane, to whom she will apprentice. Although she's initially scornful of the paper element, Thane wins over his prickly apprentice with inventive and delightful paper creations including a lifelike paper dog that becomes Ceony's beloved companion. The story swiftly moves to deadly serious, as Lira, an Excisioner who practices dark magic on human flesh, arrives intending to rip out and steal Thane's heart. (Lira, coincidentally, is Thane's ex-wife.) Although Amy McFadden's performance is capable, the story strains belief with loose ends and contradictions throughout, e.g., though a novice at working with paper, Ceony creates a paper heart to keep Thane alive and single-handedly rides to rescue his real heart using a magical paper glider. In a confusing scene, Ceony somehow becomes trapped inside Thane's heart and travels through its chambers discovering his memories and deepest secrets. After this journey she exits and has another violent encounter with Lira, who seems, conveniently, strangely powerless even though as an Excisioner she is supposed to possess great abilities.