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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Smoke In the Wind by Will Hanson



Five Star, Dec 2004, 25.95, 420 pp.
ISBN 1594142149

On Sam Guest's first day as an architect in his own firm he receives a commission via mail and by the time he finishes the sketches for the building he is no long on Earth but on the planet Cul where magic works. He wakes up in the castle of the powerful wizard Aleb and his beautiful daughter Gisele. They tell him that he was touched at birth by the High Ones, has latent power he never knew about and when the time was right Aleb would train him in magic so that the wizard can retire to his own planet.

It is love at first site for Sam and Giselle but he is a man on a mission. He must learn everything he can about wizardry from Aleb and then from ancient Evenan when Aleb disappears. When he gets through his training he will be the most powerful wizard in the world. However the reptilian wizard Ervic wants to kill him before he can grow into his powers. Ervic's goal is to control all of Cul and he has more wizards joining him every day. A showdown between these two is inevitable.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - two lovers coping with tough mission
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 - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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