What is Crow – Thief of Magic about?
A street kid caught up in a pick-pocket and thieving gang discovers he has the gift of magic after surviving a terrible event. He is torn between his old life on the streets and a new life as the apprentice of a highly respected Dream Maker.
A comet is hurtling towards Eortha as it does every 75 years, and his entire city of Starsgard is celebrating its arrival. It’s believed to be a changebringer and omen of good times ahead.
But Crow’s new master knows something about the comet that others don’t. It’s the opposite of anything good.
Plot summary of Crow – Thief of Magic (No Spoilers)
Crow lives on the streets of Starsgard of Eortha – bonded by fear and control by the Reaver gang. The only good thing in his life, is time spent with his close friends Sal and Jonas. They share their food they scrounge or buy with their meagre spoils of pick pocketing allowed by the gang or anything else they can earn. They also share their dreams to escape the gang and finally be free of them.
While working on a plan for their future, a job goes terribly wrong and lives are lost. Crow’s life is suddenly changed forever as he finds himself under the care and then tutelage of the city’s Dream Maker.
Viktor Avery is wealthy and famous in Starsgard, but he isn’t all he seems. Crow must decide whether to believe a strange ghost’s warning about Viktor, or Viktor’s kindness and care of him.
Crow discovers his special knack to stay alive on the rough dark streets of the city is more magic than street smarts. Can he harness it in time to save himself, his friends and the entire city?
My thoughts
Beginning with a detailed map, Crow’s world was easy to immerse myself in. He’s a kind and thoughtful character, living on the streets where food is scarce and kindness even more so.
His bond and loyalty to his friends is heart warming in such a harsh life, and his unexpected apprenticeship to harness the full power of his latent magic, an intriguing story line.
Crow’s magic is connected to Dreams, and to his horror, Nightmares too, which bring important contrasts to this novel and Crow himself. Rich world building kept me reading right up to an exciting climax and satisfying conclusion.
Perfectly paced with action, tough choices to be made, and deciding who to trust as a young street-kid, this middle-grade novel is an engaging read. I cared about Crow very early in the narrative and was keen to see him come into his own on the streets of a fictional medieval-styled, fantasy city.
(Thanks to Harper Collins NZ for my ARC)
Writing Style
Chapters are numbered and named, and also include a countdown of days until All Souls’ Eve – (Readers learn along the way why this is important to the inhabitants of Starsgard)
What age is it for?
Age – 10+
Where & When is it set?
A fictional city called Starsgard in the Northern Isles of Eortha / Medieval Times
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
Third Person (Both Crow and Viktor) / Paste Tense
Is there Violence?
Yes.
What genre is Crow – Thief of Magic?
Middle-grade Fantasy
Themes
Friendship / Loyalty / Fantasy / Poverty
Is it part of a series?
Yes. This is the first book in a three book series.
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Author
Fiona Dixon
Publisher
Harper Collins UK
(2026, Harper Collins UK, Fantasy, Series, Gang, Medieval City, Poverty, Friendship, Dreams, Magic, Nightmares, Dream Maker, Secrets, Revenge, Lies, Eternal, Comet, Good Luck, Power, Action, Betrayal, Bullies, Courage, Animals, Cat)