A Plague of Sorcerers

As wizard's apprentice Jermyn Graves delves deeply into his studies of practical magic, he helps thwart a diabolical scheme to kill all of the wizards in the land. Even though this novel threatens to collapse under the weight of its numerous plots and counterplots--creaking loudly as they are jammed together--somehow events are righted and coherence achieved by the final page. Zambreno's greatest accomplishments are the creation of a highly believable world where magic follows an intriguing set of laws and a cast of delightfully eccentric, constantly feuding characters--including a temperamental Weather Wizard, a feverishly verbal master Herbalist, a brilliant Theoretician and the shrewd and talented Jermyn himself. Ages 9-14. (Oct.)