the wizard heir

the wizard heir

the heir chronicles #2

cinda williams chima

ya/fantasy/suspense

hyperion

published 2009

Sixteen-year-old Seph McCauley has spent the past three years getting kicked out of one exclusive private school after another. And it's not his attitude that's the problem. It's the trail of magical accidents--lately, disasters--that follow in his wake. Seph is a wizard, orphaned and untrained--and his powers are escalating out of control.

After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to the Havens, a secluded boys' school on the coast of Maine. At first, it seems like the answer to his prayers. Gregory Leicester, the headmaster, promises to train Seph in magic and initiate him into his mysterious order of wizards. But Seph's enthusiasm dampens when he learns that training comes at a steep cost, and that Leicester plans to use his students' powers to serve his own dangerous agenda.

In this companion novel to the exciting fantasy The Warrior Heir, everyone's got a secret to keep: Jason Haley, a fellow student who's been warned to keep away from Seph; the enchanter Linda Downey, who knew his parents; the rogue wizard Leander Hastings, and the warriors Jack Swift and Ellen Stephenson. This wizard war is one that Seph may not have the strength to survive.

My review the first time I read wasn't very revealing:

A great follow-up to The Warrior Heir! I love books that introduce new characters while still showcasing the original players. I can't wait to see what happens in the Dragon Heir. 

Let's see if I can elaborate on that pitiful review....

The Wizard Heir takes place a some months after the events at Raven's Ghyll.  Seph is a wizard without any sort of training.  He knows what he is, but he's an orphan brought up by a sorcerer with a mistrust of wizards so his knowledge is very limited.  He lands himself at Haven, a school for boys with issues.  When he learns there's a wizard there who will train him he's thrilled, until he starts getting glimpses of something terribly wrong at Haven.

He meets Jason who wants nothing more than to escape Haven and find The Dragon, a mysterious rebel who is turning the Wizard Council against each other and strengthening the Anawizard weir.

Basically, we're introduced to Seph, Jason & Madison and eventually the major players from the first book come together.  Cinda Williams Chima is awesome at creating characters like Dr. Gregory Leicester whom you just can't stand.  The perfect villain to our stoic heroes!  She did write an amazing follow-up and set us up quite well to be eager for The Dragon Heir.  So I guess my review wasn't as bad as I thought!