Robin M. (faburobin) reviewed on 6/23/2012 + 7 more book reviews

Patricia C. Wrede is a wonderful fantasy writer who, like so many others, gets hidden away in the young adult section far too often. This is the first book in the "Frontier Magic" trilogy, and that name really sums up a lot. It's set in an alternate, magical USA where Lewis and Clark's expedition met with tragedy, and Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were two of the many hero magicians who created a giant barrier along the Mississippi River, to keep the extremely dangerous western fauna and flora at bay. Eff and her twin brother Lan, born in a large eastern city amidst a huge extended family, have more than the usual amount of magic; he is the fabled 7th son of a 7th son, while she is the cursed 13th child. Luckily, their parents don't believe these superstitions, and when they realize how much both prejudices are harming their youngest children, they decide to take the plunge and move out west, to the edge of civilization, next to the Great Barrier. Here in a rougher, looser world, Lan shines as just another gifted boy, but Eff still worries about the evil she might accidentally do. She worries so much, she manages to repress her magical potential for years. In their late teens, a new kind of danger threatens the settlements on the other side of the Barrier, and the Barrier itself, and it's Eff's study of the natural world and her talent for "coaxing instead of ordering" that save the day.
This book can definitely be enjoyed by kids and teens as a cross between Laura Ingalls and Harry Potter, but there is a lot more happening beneath the surface to keep adults interested. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

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