The Master Magician

The Paper Magician, Book 3

By: Charlie N. Holmberg

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Throughout her studies, Ceony Twill has harbored a secret, one she's kept from even her mentor, Emery Thane. She's discovered how to practice forms of magic other than her own - an ability long thought impossible.

While all seems set for Ceony to complete her apprenticeship and pass her upcoming final magician's exam, life quickly becomes complicated. To avoid favoritism, Emery sends her to another paper magician for testing, a Folder who despises Emery and cares even less for his apprentice. To make matters worse, a murderous criminal from Ceony's past escapes imprisonment. Now she must track the power-hungry convict across England before he can take his revenge. With her life and loved ones hanging in the balance, Ceony must face a criminal who wields the one magic that she does not, and it may prove more powerful than all her skills combined.

The whimsical and captivating follow-up to The Paper Magician and The Glass Magician, The Master Magician will enchant readers of all ages.

©2015 Charlie N. Holmberg (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

An endearing, enchanting culmination to the series

Charlie Holmberg is a masterful literary tight-rope walker; she has written that fine line between fierce vs. frenetic, endearing vs. cloying, inventive vs. a show-off and clear headed vs. cold-hearted. The main protagonist is an almost ideal character in that she doesn't come off as a constructed character at all. She is clear headed, except when it comes to her own safety. She is brilliant except for some moments of her own relationships. She is brave, physically and emotionally, but not (usually) brash. She is not perfect, thank goodness. She can be impatient. Her feisty temper can flare; it is all too easy to push her buttons. She is less self-focused than Katniss or Bella, more aware than Triss or Clary and less annoying than Hermione (at least at the beginning of the HP series). She has heart, grit and talent. In short, the perfect protagonist (made better by not being perfect). I really like Emery as well, but he leans a little too much toward the perfect side; of course, this comes from the perspective of a guy who knows he doesn't live up to anything like Magician Thane. Ms. Holmberg draws their relationship and the series to a delightful culmination in The Master Magician.

As is my wont, I went between the Kindle and Audible versions of the book. Amy McFadden conveys the care and confidence of Emery, the pragmatism of Mg. Patrice Aviosky and the awkward infatuation of Bennet Cooper. Immersed within the spell of her voice, you can easily visualize Bennet's shyness, puppy-dog look and melancholic knowledge that he isn't really making any headway with Ceony. Her male voices are great, she keeps consistent, perfect inflection within each character and always keeps the attention on the story, not her narration. Absolutely spot-on. If you like audiobooks, this is one you'll want to get.

For full review: wp.me/p2XCwQ-19F

Lucky always wins

MC continues to take risks that should get her killed. There is also a lot of introspection that gets annoying for me.

Rushed

What would have made The Master Magician better?

In the Acknowledgements the author mentions that giving birth to her daughter somehow helped her finish the book sooner. It shows. The last few chapters of the book felt very rushed and short. It reads like she just wanted to be done with it. The ending was so predictable and the last words, not intended to be funny, made me laugh out loud. Many points are very cliched and it is just bad writing. She also randomly inserts a comment here or there about religion which does not add to the plot or the characters and is clearly just her reflecting her personal values. While she's certainly entitled to those values, it would be better if it served a purpose rather than just reminding the reader "Don't forget I went to BYU and am super religious."

What do you think your next listen will be?

Nothing by this author ever again. I couldn't bring myself to read the previewed first chapter from another of her books.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Master Magician?

I would have cut the scene regarding Ceony's sister. She just tied everything up in one chapter and it didn't add anything meaningful to the story. More importantly I would have had the author expand on other chapters toward the end where the effort is sorely lacking.

loved the whole series

Fun, exciting and sweet. I love the characters and the creativity of the story. I wish there was more!

Great ending to a great trilogy

Loved this series. Fell in love with the MCs, their world, and their story. I hope there's a spinoff series in the future. Something a la Prudence by Gail Carriger. That would make it even better.

Nothing really happened?

There didn't seem to be anything that really happened if that makes any sense. From the beginning I have found Ceony kinda unlikable and that hasn't entirely changed for me. I'm always up for Amy McFadden but I can't say I was largely impressed by the author.

Perfect End.

Again, a wonderful story full of suspense, detail, and magic. The ending, of course, was perfect.

The second and this last book has much more romance the the first, but it's the sweet kind. There's certainly other things in the story that adds a good plot, so I don't mind. Plus, no crazy love triangles! Just a good adventure with a bit of honest love, a combination I can appreciate. I feel this could be something other fantasy novels could learn from. ;)

Wish there had been an epilogue, but it wasn't necessary. The end seems final, but I would love it if the story continued years down the road - I always hate for the adventure to end, especially with such a unique world.

As to the performance, the narrator upped her game here! I guess she listened to the cries of the other reviewers and softened her voice just a touch with a slower pace. At first I wanted the familiar pacing that I had grown accustomed to, but the change was certainly an improvement - I rarely had to replay the story to catch what was going on this time (something I did often in the previous books). Nice job!

Overall, I am pleased (and secretly hoping for more from this fantastical world).

the romance is just awful

I really do understand that this is a fantasy world, but in what version of this time period would a scandal not be caused by a young woman dating her former teacher literally 10 seconds after she left his tutelage. Not to mention that she had practically been acting as his maid for the entire time she lived with him. The entire story just infuriates me. Ceony passes herself off as a strong, intelligent, independent woman and then every single one of her actions is contradictory of that fact.
This story is unbelievable and poorly written over all.
And please stop making the narrator give each and every person a different accent.

Mostly satisfying ending to the trilogy

Any additional comments?

Ceony Twill’s at the end of her studies and is about to take her magician’s exam. Her relationship with Emery has continued to grow romantically, but politics regarding master-apprentice romances is heating up. If Ceony every wants to be with Emery, she must pass her test as soon as possible. Sent to prepare for the exam with another folder, magician Prit. Being enemies with Emery, Prit has every intention of delaying Ceony from passing her exam. With old enemies resurfacing and Emery temporarily out of the picture, will Ceony be able to survive to pass her test? Will she be able to take her test or will Prit find a way to sabotage her?

Narrator, Amy McFadden does a great job of bringing to life Ceony's world. Her unique voices provide the listener with a unique, versatile narrative style. The plot is well developed, engaging, and keeps a fairly fast pace despite its historical setting. The characters are likable and humorous. The dynamics between them are enjoyable and McFadden easily navigates their dialogue. Readers who like to get to know the characters well will appreciate the mix of action adventure with the more serious matters of the heart. It does feel off for the time period, however, for Ceony to be so gung-ho about trying to solve her own problems without any help. Also, he problems with Prit never really resolved themselves, but the humor and rivalries that come to light make up for it. Recommended for those readers who like an action-packed, historical fantasy adventure.

The story was good but the narrator was really annoying.

The story was good but the narrator was really annoying. It was the same with the first two books.

Loved this Trilogy!

I really enjoy Charlie N. Holmberg books - her style of writing is full of wonder and her characters are well rounded and well explained. I have listened to all three over a weekend while convalescing after an illness and they have really cheered me up. As with some reviews I was unsure at first of the American narration of the English based books, but Amy McFadden must have done a great job as I soon forgot this was ever an issue at all!! Book three has ended still with lots of promise of places for it to go so I can hope….. one day maybe…… 🤔

Overuse of the word 'fag' to mean cigarette...

American writer things British people say 'fag' all the time but yet also uses Americanisms constantly.... why set your novel in 1800s London if you're going to write in American vernacular?

Excellent Holmberg

I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Charlie. They are so interesting and different. Find that I am turning into a fan.

goog book. Nice recording

it is number 3 in series. have to read others or will not make sense

Lovely

I found this series to be lovely I would recommend its n nice story good characters so give it a try you may be surprised😉😉😉😉

great trilogy

I have really enjoyed this trilogy. Well written, well performed what more can you ask for :)

The final

Great book only feel the end could a bit more detailed... Worth reading 👍👍👍 great book

A brilliant finale

I want to learn that shredding spell, it'd be so much easier than using a conventional shredder.

Other than that I did enjoy this book the third in the trilogy. And it leaves you with that sigh of satisfaction because all is sewn up and the ending is what you need.

Coming back to this reality has been a struggle though. What do I read/listen to next? I have a major book hangover now.

A Little disappointed

Would you consider the audio edition of The Master Magician to be better than the print version?

N/A

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the different magic sections particularly when the specific spells were discussed. There seemed to be a lot of thought put into the factions of magic used in this trilogy.

Which character – as performed by Amy McFadden – was your favourite?

Ceony Maya Twill & Magician Thane

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed by the ending of this book as it was a little predictable. I had imagined that I would have been taken further along the journey of Ceony rather than the ending which was drawn out. It would have been more interesting if I had been taken to the next step as to where her discovery led her, especially given the title of the book. I had thought, upon starting the book, that Ceony would have ended up being given a certificate of "Master Magician" or being given the opportunity to study the other factions of magic however this was left to my own imagination. I just think the book had more to give, especially as the end of a trilogy.

Good finish to this series!

Enjoyable listen, and a nice way to end this series. Also the narrator's English accent wasn't as painful as the earlier ones. I am happy I finished this series.