June 1, 2010
Grades 7-10 Set in fifteenth-century France, this first-person account follows 15-year-old Michael de Lorraine, who longs to become a Sacred Magician, a career that is anathema to the established church. Saved from being burned at the stake by a mysterious monk, Michael finds himself in the Benedictine monastery of Sainte Felice, which is populated by only five monks, who have fled persecution or death for practicing astrology, alchemy, and other proscribed arts. Their abbot, FrancisMichaels rescuerturns out to be none other than the notorious Seratois, the Wizard of Alceste, a celebrated necromancer. Despite their reputations, the monks are good and charitable men much loved by the local villagers, while Abbot Francis turns out to be a combination saint and sorcerer with the power to summon angels. When Michael becomes his apprentice, the boys lifelong dream seems to be coming true until the church again intervenes. First-novelist Finnin does a convincing job of re-creating fifteenth-century life while investing it with holy magic and expanding the growing body of contemporary fiction featuring angels, fallen and otherwise.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)
September 1, 2010
Gr 8 Up-In 1480, 15-year-old Michael de Lorraine is saved from being burned at the stake by a mysterious abbot who sweeps him off to the Benedictine monastery of Sainte Felice. There Michael joins a motley group of sorcerer-monks, each (conveniently and improbably) from a different country and possessing a specialized skill. Over several months, the men battle opposition from both secular and religious authorities, culminating in the abbot's arrest by the Inquisition. Despite their magical powers, the brotherhood's reaction is surprisingly feeble, leaving it up to Michael to save the day and produce a happily-ever-after ending. The best part of Finnin's book is the intriguing cover, resembling video-game graphics and picturing Michael as a tormented hero. He's definitely full of angst; barely a page goes by without him gasping, fretting, swallowing hard, catching his breath, staring aghast, gazing in amazement, or (literally and figuratively) wringing his hands. This quickly taxes readers' patience. The narrative is overly descriptive, and most of the characters are stereotypes. Though the plot is interesting, the novel is laden with so many obscure religious terms and esoteric references that it is largely incomprehensible. For a lively, entertaining look at medieval life from the point of view of a stubborn and smart-mouthed teenage boy, try Catherine Jinks's "Pagan" series (Candlewick).-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
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