"THE GLASS MAGICIAN," by Charlie N. Holmberg, 47North, $14.95, 222 pages (f) (ages 13 and up)
Set in England in fairly recent times, Ceony Twill is apprenticed to — and in love with — magician Emery Thane. Previously, Ceony saved Emery’s life after fighting a spell involving forbidden blood magic. In the process of saving his life, she confessed her love for him and cast a spell on his ex-wife Lira, making her immovable without completely destroying her.
But the story hasn't ended, because Grath Cobalt, who was in league with Lira, wants Ceony to break the spell that holds her bound.
Ceony is apprenticing in the magic of Folding, or manipulating paper to create objects, and must use her skills and her wits to defeat the man determined to destroy her and the people she holds dear.
In the process, she also longs to discover if the man she loves returns her affection, or if she is destined to always only be his apprentice.
Fans of the Harry Potter series and other fantasy works will delight in this piece of speculative fiction from Salt Lake resident and Brigham Young University graduate Charlie N. Holmberg.
Some of the magical processes, such as how Ceony got inside Emery's heart, are unclear but might make more sense after reading the first book in the series, "The Paper Magician."
There is some described violence and some practiciing of forbidden magic that includes ripping out human hearts and magical fights. There is no swearing and no sexual innuendo as the romance doesn't go beyond a kiss.
"The Glass Magician" is one of five 2014 Whitney Award finalists in the young adult speculative fiction category. The Whitney Awards recognize novels by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The third book in the Paper Magician series, "The Master Magician," is scheduled to be released in June.
Karen Schwarze blogs at karenlschwarze.wordpress.com.