| Grief stricken at loosing his parents, Brenden Vetch has withdrawn into himself. He listens to the unspoken language of living things, especially plants. He has gained a reputation for great skill with all kinds of plants. Then one spring day an unusual woman named Od asks Brenden to come be the gardener at her magic school. She wants him to grow things for magic. Od realizes that Brenden knows the magic of living things, even if he does not realize it himself. He agrees and a few months later he travels to her magic school. He follows Od's directions and looks for a door under a shoe sign. He enters the door and surprises the wizards teaching there. No one has entered that door since the wizard Yar, nineteen years ago. It's been even longer since Od has visited her school, so Brenden creates quite a commotion. He learns that 400 years ago Od came into the city of Numis, which was at war. She came to the king and said she wanted to start a school in his city. The king told her that if she saved the city she could start the school. So she defeated the opposing armies and started her school. Since then she shows up every several with stories about her travels, checks on the school, and leaves again. Now the school is mostly controlled by the kings of Numis, who keep a very close eye on all the students. The wizard Yar decides to keep the fact that the gardener has strong magical abilities to himself. Yar thinks that Od has sent Brenden to the school for a reason. Little does he realize the destiny Brenden has.
Meanwhile the guard, Arneth, has been assigned to investigate the rumors about the magician Tyramin. Rumor says he is staying in the Twilight Quarter of Numis. Some rumors say he is a master illusionist, others say he is practicing real magic, something the king has forbidden outside of the school of magic. The king wants Arneth to discover the truth. In order to do that, Arneth will end up needing the Princess' help, who may herself be a magician. | ||
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Plot & Themes FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - society How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount Setting A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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