The Stranger’s Magic

Max Frei. Overlook, $27.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-59020-479-5

The pseudonymous Frei’s third Labyrinths of Echo magical adventure (after The Stranger and The Stranger’s Woes) is unpredictable, mysterious, and full of surprises. Revenge motivates “pretty boy” Nennurex Kiexla to infiltrate the secret police and kill Sir Max, a powerfully witty investigator with the Secret Investigative Force who tracks down illegal magic and trespassing monsters from other worlds. Despite the efforts of investigators, a rider has straddled the back of Sir Shurf and used him as a vehicle to invade Sir Max’s dreams. The characters have the ability to borrow or share sleep, insinuate themselves into dreams, use thought to paint a picture, or even commit murder by exercising mind control. Readers will be entranced by the complex world, though they may frequently need to go back and reread earlier sections to make sense of later ones, and will enjoy Sir Max’s unusual methods of investigation. (July)

Reviewed on: 05/28/2012

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