#RIPXI: 2, The Evil Wizard Smallbone

My second read for the RIP XI Challenge was The Evil Wizard Smallbone, a new middle grade fantasy tale from Delia Sherman (out on September 13). It's the story of twelve-year-old Nick, an orphan who lives in an abusive home with his uncle and cousin. He finally runs away in the middle of winter only to collapse on the doorstep of Evil Wizard Books, domain of the Evil Wizard Smallbone. Once Nick is there, he's trapped by the wizard and the wards around the shop and town of Smallbone Cove that keep away the evil French loup-garou, Fidelou -- a wizard-werewolf hybrid. If Nick could only find a way to learn a little magic of his own, he might finally get the safe life he dreams about.

With a setting in rugged, coastal Maine and many unexpected twists and turns and changes of character, this story is quite the adventure. Nick is surly and reckless but also earnest and determined and I very quickly found myself rooting for him. His relatives are truly horrid, almost as bad as either of the wizards, which was reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones. I greatly enjoyed the magic system in the story, especially the way Sherman dealt with transfiguration. And I'll let you in on a little secret -- the bookshop is magical! By the end, I was reading as quickly as possible, hoping for the best but never quite sure where the tale would go. This tale has as much adventure in it as it does heart.

Searching for the books with magic,
K

#MarchMagics Readalong: Equal Rites

Welcome to the Equal Rites readalong! This is our first readalong of the month and, for some of you, your first Pratchett!

This is the third Discworld book but the first in the Witches series. Some readers find the Rincewind books (The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic) a bit harder to start with. And, luckily, this book delivers all of the Discworld basics so that readers aren't short any information. You learn about the structure of Discworld -- a flat disc of earth and water on the back of four massive elephants who stand on the back of A'Tuin, the great turtle. You learn about Ankh-Morpork, the large city of grime and crime. And finally, you learn about witches and wizards.

This book introduces us to the powerful witch Granny Weatherwax, a prominent figure in many of the Discworld novels. (In fact, she shows up in a full dozen of them!) Though many readers start their journey with The Wee Free Men, the first Tiffany Aching book, I enjoyed having more of the backstory about Granny Weatherwax before getting into that subplot of the Witches story.

We also get to meet Esk (Eskarina Smith), who shows up again in I Shall Wear Midnight, so also I find it's nice to know her already before that time comes. Traditionally, the eighth son of a eighth son will become a wizard. Esk is the eighth daughter of a eighth son and somehow, bucking tradition, she inherits a staff and, consequently, powers from a dying wizard on the day she is born.

Equal Rites (obviously a play on the words "equal rights") establishes the lore about witches and wizards (did I just say "lore'?! ::gulp::), and especially the traditional roles of women (witches) and men (wizards). Different characters react in different ways to Esk and her desire to become a wizard. The narrow confines of gender roles are explored again in the Tiffany Aching series when one male character shows aptitude toward being a witch.

Was this your first time reading Equal Rites? Did you like it?

Who was your favorite character?

Would you rather be a witch or a wizard?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below or leave a link to your own post!

Breaking boundaries,
K