The Glass Magician
Stevermer builds an intriguing world in her new historical fantasy, set in early 20th century New York. The cream-of-the-crop elites are Traders, the working folk are Solitaires and then there are the reclusive Sylvestri. Traders are born into Trader families and are raised to understand and control their nature until their ‘ordeal’ (to Trade and un-Trade at will or on command). Before that they are not safe as their magic can be stolen by the vicious manticores.
Thalia Cutler has always known she’s Solitaire, a pretty-much penniless but talented stage magician with a number of daring feats in her portfolio, including the ‘Bullet Catch’. Her assistant is also her mentor/father-figure, who knows all about Thalia’s background but gives little away. When a Houdini-type trick goes awry, Thalia discovers she has accidentally triggered a Trade―the transformation from human form to one’s interconnected animal. But Thalia is Solitaire!
When their stage contract is abruptly terminated Thalia agrees, for a fee, to coach Nathaniel Ryker’s sister Nell into not choosing a stage career. Ryker and Nell are Traders, but Nell has not passed her ordeal and her determination to build a stage career must be thwarted by her brother until she is an independent Trader/safe in society. When an ‘accident’ kills the rival magician, Thalia’s assistant is charged with murder and Thalia must prove his innocence. This is also true of Thalia who must learn to control her own Trades.
I was intrigued by the elaborate society set-up and the story rolled along with good pacing, clearly well researched, (in as far as one can research magic tricks) with believable characters. Readers interested in otherworldly worlds, magic and mystery will enjoy this novel.