The Magister’s Mask and The Necromancer’s Bones by Deby Fredericks

The Magister’s Mask and The Necromancer’s Bones by Deby Fredericks

Kindle Edition

Published October 2004 and June 2009, respectively, by Dragon Moon Press

Review by N. E. White.

The Magister’s Mask and The Necromancer’s Bones are some of those hidden gems you’ll be surprised to find on the virtual racks of Amazon. And one of the few young adult tales that do not rankle my nerves. Call me old school, but I like it when kids meet challenges head on while still respecting their elders (when it’s due). In both The Magister’s Mask and the followup book, The Necromancer’s Bones, we are given two young adult heroines sure to capture your hearts as they navigate the tricky politics of their island nation.

The story starts with Shenza Waik, a sensible, level-headed young woman, who has just finished her apprenticeship with the local magister. On her first day, she is put to the test. The first lord has been murdered, in his very bedroom and in such a way that only sorcery can be the culprit. Shenza is shocked by the lord’s horrific death, but is determined to make her mentor proud by doing her best to solve the murder.

Shenza is helped by a member of the local police force as she navigates the politics of the island court, the earthly spirits that are unhappy about the whole thing, and the killer who wants nothing else but to thwart Shenza and get off that island.

While the immediate mystery is satisfactorily solved in The Magister’s Mask, it is by no means the end of the story. In The Necromancer’s Bones, the story picks up immediately after the events of The Magister’s Mask. The Necromancer’s Bones focuses on Shenza’s sister, Chimi, as she struggles to accept her (unwanted) abilities and affinity with ghosts. The consequences of the first lord’s death drive the plot of this story and we learn that people from distant island nations are playing a deadly game that may have them all wishing they were seeing ghosts. It takes Shenza and Chimi both, along with their mentors, to beat back the forces that wish to dethrone the lord’s brother (whom Shenza has fallen in love with). The ending is fantastical, and will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Both novels are filled with amazing descriptions of the islands, the magic system, and island food. The characters are well drawn out and I found both Shenza and Chimi to be convincing in their respective roles. Ms. Fredericks does an excellent job of setting up the relationships between her characters. I found their grandmother just as annoying as everyone else did in the story, and there were a few times I wanted Shenza’s plucky helper to shut up as much as she wanted him to. The pacing is slow in these books, but I never felt bored. Rather, I felt immersed in the natural rhythm of the island world the author had created. I’d be happy to go back again and again.

Because these books are not filled with battle scenes, blood, gore, and sex (all things I love, but don’t mind going without), they are perfect for the young reader. These books are a great introduction to a new place filled with magic and characters they can look up to while entertaining them with two intriguing mysteries. I highly recommend these books to the pre-teen in all of us.

N.E. White, May 2014.