Staff Pick: Frontier Magic Trilogy

Thirteenth Child, Across the Great Barrier and The Far West comprise the Frontier Magic Trilogy by Patricia C. Wrede. I read Thirteenth Child back in 2009 and enjoyed the story of Eff the unlucky 13th child and her twin brother. Lan is the seventh son of a seventh son who is expected to be magically gifted and more powerful than the average magician. Eff learns to fit in, in this fantasy story set in an alternate, historical, magical America.

Then a couple of months ago, I picked up the new book, Across the Great Barrier and realized it was book two. I read right through Eff's adventures with her magic. She spends more time in the new frontier on the other side of the Great Barrier Spell. This spell protects the more populated areas from the uncharted territories with dangerous magical creatures, such as saber cats, steam dragons and medusa lizards.

The third book, The Far West takes the twins even further west as they join the expedition that is headed on beyond the Great Barrier Spell. They plan to map the unexplored territory and discover new types of magical plants and wildlife. Eff is learning more about her magic as she matures into a young woman who suddenly finds herself with a young man who wants to marry her, but she is not about to give up her freedom to do just as she pleases.

This series kept me entertained as Eff and her family encountered many adventures and she learns that being the thirteenth child has many meanings, but unlucky was just not her destiny. If you'd like to check out the Frontier Magic Trilogy, find all three books in our online catalog here.

-Cindy