Sorcery for Beginners - (Codex Arcanum) by Matt Harry (Paperback)

About the Book

For fans of J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and anyone who ever wanted to be a sorcerer, Sorcery for Beginners is part novel, part "For Dummies" guide to magic, and every bit a fun, fast-paced adventure.

Book Synopsis

Five-hundred years ago, sorcery began to fade from the world. As technology prevailed, combustion engines and computers replaced enchanted plows and spell books. Real magicians were hunted almost to extinction. Science became the primary system of belief, and the secrets of spell-casting were forgotten. That is ... until now.

Sorcery for Beginners is no fantasy or fairy tale. Written by arcane arts preservationist and elite mage Euphemia Whitmore (along with her ordinary civilian aide Matt Harry), this book is a how-to manual for returning magic to an uninspired world. It's also the story of Owen Macready, a seemingly average 13-year-old who finds himself drawn into a centuries-long war when he uses sorcery to take on a school bully. Owen's spell casting attracts the attention of a ruthless millionaire and a secret society of anti-magic mercenaries, all of whom wish to use Sorcery for Beginners to alter the course of world history forever.

Review Quotes

"A clever, often hilarious adventure." --Booklist

"If you're looking for someone who's got the spell-books covered, you might want to turn to fiction: Matt Harry's Sorcery for Beginners... a fun getaway for any age." --BuzzFeed

"For the Harry Potter and other high fantasy magical realism fans this is a great title." --VOYA Magazine

"The book's inventive format incorporates spellbook elements, including engraving-style illustrations, droll sidebars, and spell instructions... it's a charming package and a drily funny adventure." --Publishers Weekly

"Matt Harry has a knack for taking what's already a fun concept (of his very own creation) and making it even more fun throughout. Sorcery for Beginners makes me wish I had this book when I was Owen Macready's age. The story casts a spell of its own." --Mike Rich, author of Skavenger's Hunt, screenwriter of The Rookie, Radio, and Finding Forrester

"Wonderfully hilarious, delightful, and charming." --Paula Yoo, author of Good Enough

"Fun premise that sorcery can be taught in a 'For Dummies'-type format. Clever and intriguing." --Helena Echlin & Malena Watrous, authors of Sparked