A Review of The Novice, By Trudi Canavan

The Second Book in 'The Black Magician' Trilogy

Oct 3, 2008 Jen Syrkiewicz

'The Novice' is the second novel in the Black Magician trilogy published in 2004 by Trudi Canavan.

Readers of the second novel will already be familiar with the setting of the book, the fictional city of Imardin. The Novice continues the story of Sonea, a young heroine who discovers she has magical powers and is accepted in to the Guild of Magicians in order to learn control and study her apprenticeship as a scholar of white magic.

At the culmination of the first novel, Sonea had just joined the Guild and was learning to use her powers more effectively. The second book in the trilogy has a dual plot. The first element continues to track Sonea as she undertakes her apprenticeship as a novice in the Guild. The second part follows the path of Dannyl, a fellow magician and friend of Sonea’s Guardian, who embarks on a quest to learn more about the dark magic which some fear the High Lord is involved with.

A Magical Storyline

Dannyl’s quest is interesting and nerve wracking, lacking none of the tension and interest which made the first novel in the set so appealing to readers. More displays of magic and exploration of lands makes for an enjoyable read, as Canavan further develops her fictional world.

Sonea becomes a stronger and more likeable character within the novel, as she learns to hold her own in a world which is unfamiliar to her. She is taught many new skills in her quest to become a practiced magician.

A secondary element of the text focuses on the High Lord himself, as the plot set out in The Magicians’ Guild is developed further.

Adult Themes

The Novice is as enjoyable and believable as the first book in the series, though it is here that Canavan begins to develop some more adult themes such as homosexuality and relationships which may not be suitable for younger readers. Having said that, the novel gains interest and intrigue as a result of these themes. It is this which will set Canavan apart from the inevitable comparisons with Rowling and Pullman.

One thing which really detracts from the writing style and plot of the text is the many grammatical and typographical errors evident. A book so full of imagination and careful structuring deserves to be presented to the reader free of basic mistakes which undermine the writing.

Despite this small flaw, The Novice is as engaging and appealing as the first novel would lead the reader to expect from this fantasy writer, and leaves the reader eager to commence the third novel of the series to discover how the story will conclude.

Source:

Canavan, Trudi. The Novice Orbit, 2004. ISBN: 1841493147

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