3.5 Stars

While I've read other works by Charlie Holmberg, I've somehow managed to miss reading The Paper Magician trilogy, so this book was an introduction into Holmberg's charming magical world, set largely in an alternate Edwardian era England, around 1906. Alvie Brechenmacher is a magician who wants to focus on plastics, a newer branch of magic in this world in which magicians work materials such as paper, metal, fire, among others. She is fortunate to be matched for her apprenticeship with British Magician Marion Praff, a polymaking magician with a generous nature and natural inclination for teaching. Alvie leaves her modest home in Columbus, Ohio and her German family, including her father Gunter, who worked with Thomas Edison on the light bulb, and makes her way to London and the Praff estate at Briar Hall. Alvie is a frizzy-haired, near-sighted early 20th Century nerd. And something of a tomboy, since she eschews skirts for more practical and comfortable trousers whenever possible.

This novel has a light but sweet romance element between Alvie and a paper magician's apprentice suitor named Bennet (shout out to Jane Austen?), and a mystery element with a competitor polymer magician who seems more willing to steal from Magician Praff than work on developing his own ideas. Covering approximately the first year of Alvie's apprenticeship, this novel shows promise for development into a spinoff series, with the next book finding the characters presenting at the Discovery Convention in New York in 1907. And we can hope that Alvie will be presenting about a special technique she's investigating at the end of this book. It would certainly make sense given that name, Brechenmacher, that she'd be breaking, or at least bending, some of the well-known rules of this magical world.

All in all, this was a historical steampunkish fantasy novel that I could enjoy, in spite of a basic foundation that might be too formulaic in a less skilled writer's hands. I would definitely pick up a second book about Alvie and plan to read The Paper Magician trilogy when I finish my Hugo reading this summer.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Plastic Magician (The Paper Magician #4 Spin-Off) by Charlie N. Holmberg from NetGalley and 47th North

New to the world of Charlie N. Holmberg I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by The Plastic Magician. This book although a spin-off of the popular YA Paper Magician Series (which I have yet to read) this book definitely works as a stand-alone.

The Plastic Magician treats us to twenty-year-old Polymaker (Plastic Magician) Alvie Brechenmacher’s adventures apprenticing abroad. Down to earth, intelligent and highly enthusiastic, Alvie leaves her German-American family in the states to apprentice for the world-renowned inventor and Polymaker, Magician Praff in London England.

Enroute she meets a rather rude gentleman who causes her to get off at the wrong train station and this is where her adventure begins. Along her journey, Alvie meets wonderful friends, a kind-hearted love interest and a mentor who respects and believes in her. Magician Praff and Alvie work on a life-changing invention to not only help a friend but to present at a world-famous convention(contest) for Magicians. Magician Praff has already won the elite contest and it helped establish him as one of the best Polymakers in the world. When word gets out to rivals that they are presenting a groundbreaking device that will help many people, their work and lives are put in peril.

Holmberg does a fantastic job crafting this fantastical cozy mystery. She creates a unique, fun magic system and her characters are interesting, quirky and downright loveable. Although the mystery is fairly predictable, I really didn’t mind because I liked the sweet story that unfolded along the way. There is a bit of adventure, a bit of romance and a great story that keeps you interested in Alvie’s journey.

All in all a fantastic, fun read that I would highly recommend for young and old alike.

I was worried going in about meeting a new MC after the paper magician series, but I worried for nothing. It was so refreshing to meet Alvie and learn about a new type of magic - Polymaking - instead of just the folding that was found in the first 3 books.
I did guess quite early on who the antagonist would be in this book - but it didn't take away from the action at all, in fact it made it more exciting for me to try and guess what would happen and why.
Definitely another great foray into the world of magicians from the author. Can't wait to see more!

I LOVE this series! I have been handselling The Paper Magician and telling our customers that this is the next Harry Potter series. Our adult customers have been reading these too!

Holmberg's Paper Magician series did something really cool: it introduced a very unique and very fun magic system. Expanding the world like that allowed us further glimpses into how this world fits magic alongside technology - in this spin off we get just a bit more from this wonderful trilogy. An absolute delight is probably the best way I could ever describe this book. Alvie's sense of discovery and marvel at the possibilities afforded by the chance to study and learn were absolutely contagious to me as the reader. The wait for the next book is going to be a long one!

Sweet, alternative, magical world where Alvie, a young woman apprentice, travels from her home in Ohio to London to learn the arts of Polymaking. Alvie is the only child of the unknown partner of Edison; the family fortune having originated from the creation of the electric lightbulb. With this financial backing she has pursued magic and now she is going far afield, all the way to England. She will meet with challenges, tests, triumphs and ultimately some success as she pursues her career in plastics. The book is described as a stand alone for those readers unacquainted with the larger Paper Magician series. The book is perhaps best described as young adult although any reader with an interest in cozy magic tales will enjoy it. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I loved the plot and the action in this novel. When I saw that I had been approved for this title, I couldn't believe it. I love Alvie, she is so sweet, and I ship her and Bennett. I also loved how events intertwined between the trilogy and this book. There is nothing much more to say except that I absolutely loved this book. A perfect conclusion to the Paper Magician Trilogy.

So, confession time - I have The Paper Magician on my TBR list and haven't quite gotten to it yet. After reading this, the book has absolutely jumped up the priority list on my TBR list. I really enjoyed The Plastic Magician. The world building is really creative. The story focuses on Alvie, a young girl who leaves her home in the US for London to train in Polymaking. She is a very focused, fast learner with a high work ethic who is not afraid to take on a challenge in her field of study. It's no wonder she rapidly rises to the top of her field under the guidance of her mentor and comes up with a creative concept for filling a technology gap. This, of course, makes her the target of rivals in the Polymaking field, which brings some trouble. Oh, and in the middle of all this, Alvie is being courted for the first time. Alvie is, for me, a highly relatable character. I was that awkward, nerdy girl who was distracted by the natural world around me. She seemed very genuine to me from how she faced scientific challenges to her awkwardness with her Bennet. Really enjoyed the writing and the pace. I am very much looking forward to reading more in The Paper Magician universe.

A delightful tale, as always. Charlie Holmberg consistently delivers intriguing and imaginative stories for lovers of fantasy with a dash of historical fiction. I'm so glad the Paper Magician Trilogy ended up with more than three books. Holmberg has created a wonderful world of material magic with Folders, Sipers, Gaffers, Smelters, Excisioners and now Polymakers. She creates strong female leads for the book-ish girls of the world.
A little nerdy, a little obsessed with her work, and whip smart, Alvie is a spunky apprentice in the most recent magical field of polymaking - the manipulation of plastic. This story finds her managing groundbreaking research in her field, while coping with, for her, the even more uncharted field of first love. As always, I can thank Ms. Holmberg for writing completely clean fiction, with light-hearted romance.
Readers of the initial trilogy will enjoy a fun cameo from some previous characters, and find themselves hoping, as I did, that maybe their story will continue in the near future.
I thoroughly enjoyed Alvie's story. The story comes to a conclusion, but I must say I hope the stories continue - if not for Alvie, for other magicians and apprentices.

Another fun addition to the Magician universe Holmberg created - I didn't want to put it down! This one is less nuanced than the original series but still enjoyable and could definitely stand alone from the first three. I do hope to see some more stories about different magicians and their skills - it seems like Holmberg has lots of new ideas to offer.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

The main character (and narrator) Alvie is sweet and has a good head on her shoulders. While Ceony often made risky choices (which used to irritate me), Alvie is much more responsible and clever.

My one problem in this book is that I wish there was more time spent on Alvie's character development. We learn a lot about her, but don't witness enough. She's ahead of her time and prefers pants over skirts. She has a head for numbers. Her parents are German immigrants that made something of themselves through innovation and hard work. She's is a strong female lead. There could have been so many interesting scenes built around these characteristics, but they never come to fruition. There are just awkward conversations and strange looks. I wanted more chances for Alvie's gumption to shine. Maybe she'll have her chance in the next book, which I'm looking forward to reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Loved this! I read the author's Paper Magician series, and this one has the same sort of feel as those books. New protagonist, but she's every bit as awesome as the protagonist from the first series. The magic system is as cool as ever, especially now that we get to see a new aspect of it.
Overall, this book is great for fans of the Paper Magician series, but I think it also would appeal to new fans as well.

Please note that I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for your trust 47North!

Alvie dreams of becoming a Polymaker, the art of bespelling plastic. She therefore travels to London and becomes the apprentice of the famous magician Marion Praff. Since Alvie is pretty much into Polymaking she studies until late at night and works pretty hard which resembles the behaviour of Magician Praff. Alvie soon forms an idea that could change not only Polymaking but the whole world. Meanwhile she gets to know Bennet who seems to be the first boy ever to like her and on top of that someone tries to steal Alvie's and Magician Praff's new invention in order to take credit for it himself.

First let me say that I did not read the first three books in the Paper Magician Series. This is my first one and I am glad that I picked it up. So from my point of view I would say there is no need to read the first three books before reading this one. The charcaters and the storyline seem to be different.

I enjoyed the Plastic Magician very much. Alvie is such a dedicated character and so much into Polymaking that she fogets time. It goes so far that one day she forgets her date with Bennet. She is just so adorable because she is dediacated, smart and well, she is struggling with herself because of her big glasses which she thinks make her less pretty. Also Magician Praff is the best teacher ever. They make a got team because they are both so dedicated and full of ideas.

The romance builds up slowly but at the right pace and it doesn't consume too much of the story. It fells more like a nice side effect. The focus is on the new invention, the struggle to keep it secret and the person(s) who might want to steal it. I liked the suspense but it became already soon obvious to me who is responsible.

All in all a very nice read. Would not want to miss it. If I find the time I will prpbably read the first three titels in the Paper Magician series as well.

Alvie is a myopic young American thrilled to be apprenticed to a famous English polymaker, or magician specializing in plastic. Her inventive mind finds fertile ground in the new field of polymaking, her mentor Marion Praff is wonderfully supportive, and she even manages to fall for a paper apprentice whose sister inspires Alvie to come up with an entirely novel application for polymaking. The only dark cloud on her bright future is Mg. Ezzell, Mg. Praff's nemesis. He lurks like a vaudeville villain, bent on avenging a perceived slight. Alvie's quirky brilliance and social awkwardness are charming, outshining a predictable plot.

I enjoyed this latest book from Charlie Holmberg. I had previously read the Master Magician, the Paper Magician and the Glass Magician , and enjoyed them a lot. This story revolves around a new character, Alvie, who relocates to England from the United States, to study the new branch of magic, Polymaking. The story has some interesting characters, a little romance , adventure and intrigue. If you liked the first three books, you'll probably like this one, too!

I liked this book. I have read most of Charlie N. Holmberg's books and I enjoy her style of writing. In this book, Alvie, the main character is a lovable and clumsy person who I can relate to in more ways than one! The writer instantly makes you love her and the other characters in the book. I love the love story to it with the lovely Bennett and her friendship with his sister Ethel (i love that name!) It has some amusing bits in it, remarks on the British weather always being wet which is true! My only fault was that I enjoy faster paced books and although I enjoyed reading it I didn't find it a 'page turner'. Sometimes i would get to the end of a chapter and put it down without needing to know what happens next, there's no urgency to it. However, I wanted to finish and see it to the end and I'm glad i did. All in all a great read and I would definitely read any after.

Perfection. This book is perfect. I was a little worried I wasn't going to like it as much as The Paper Magician. However, was I wrong. While this takes place in the same time/world it is a story of its own. I was really happy she decided to go with plastic as the material because it was so new to the magical world. Paper still makes its apprearance and is still captured beautifully. While this book wasn't as "action" as the first, the story development was still very well done. My interest was held throughout the whole book

Alvie. I don't think I could speak enough about how much I love her. She's clumsy, she's blind without her glasses but she is so beyond brilliant. Her personality is scattered which makes her so enduring. I can honestly say that I smiled throughout reading this whole book because of how amazing her character is. All of the other characters just added so much to the story. There was not one moment, one word I would change in this story.

All in all I am so happy with the continuation of this already amazing series and I hope we get to see more of Alvie!!

I was so thrilled to be back in the world of The Paper Magician! I loved this spin off set in the same world (we even got to see a little of Ceony and Emery!!). Alvie was a great character, she was smart, determined, yet incredibly likable and awkwardly adorable. I couldn’t help but root for her throughout the book. Her drive and determination was great and it was refreshing to read about a character who loved to learn as much as I did in school (we really need more characters like Alvie and Hermione!).

I also really enjoyed the relationship Alvie had with her mentor, Praff. He was just as curious as Alvie and really fostered her excitement and drive for the subject while still helping/guiding her to learn what she needed and pulling her back when required without damping her drive to create. Ethel and Bennet were wonderful additions to the story, and I loved seeing how they helped Alvie become more confident in who she was and they were fantastic friends to her throughout the book.

I honestly think I would either want to be a Folder (who works with paper, even though no one seems to want to in the stories) or a Smelter (who works with metals) if I were able to join this enchanting world.

This book comes out May 15th. Do yourself a favor and pick up The Paper Magician Trilogy now but if you don’t have time before this one comes out don’t worry, The Plastic Magician can be read as a stand alone!

Rating 4 /5 – I could gush about these books all day so I’ll spare you and just beg you to pick up this book (or the previous books) and jump into this wonderfully crafted world you’ll never want to leave.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and 47North for my copy in exchange for my honest review!

Holmberg does it again! There is definitely magic between the covers of this book!

Meet Alvie. She is bright, intelligent, and driven! As a new graduate from her local School of Magic, she begins an adventure abroad as an apprentice in the new exciting and competitive field of Polymaking. As an apprentice Polymaker - or Plastic Magician, she has been lucky enough to be under the tutelage of Magician Marion Praff, a pioneer in the fledgling field. Alvie quickly proves herself to be a keen and intelligent apprentice and she is soon working together with her mentor on a special project to present at the most prestigious Magic convention in the world, and to help a new friend. But someone seems intent on preventing Alvie and Marion's success - regardless of what it takes.

Despite being the fourth book in the series, it really does not demand that you have read the previous books (although I have, and I loved them!). Although a few of the characters from the previous books make "cameo" appearances, it has mostly a whole new cast. It would be easy for a new reader to read "The Plastic Magician", and then read the "The Paper Magician", "The Glass Magician" and "The Master Magician".

I am hoping that this is book 1 of a "spin-off trilogy". I would love to see more of Alvie!

In reading the "about the author" notes at the end of this book, I noted that the the first three books have already been optioned by Disney! I would SO love to see the magic of these books on the big screen.

Thank you to 47North and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this advance reader's copy.

Mind-tingling and so original. Ever since I read the Paper Magician trilogy by this author, I've been enchanted by her world of magic based on the use of materials such as paper. What an exciting surprise it was to discover a new story in the same world! The Plastic Magician is lovely and stimulating on all levels.

Alvie, the young American female lead, is delightfully obsessed with numbers and measurements, wears pants despite the ladylike norm, and acts innocently awkward in social situations resulting in very funny and endearing scenes. I loved her quick mind, her thick glasses and unconventional beauty, the way she looks at things and sheds a light onto a dark obstacle.

From Ohio to England, she travels to start an apprenticeship and become a magician in a newly developed discipline. I could feel her barely contained enthusiasm for every aspect of her new life. She's both naïve and ambitious, smart and honest. Plastic and paper magic are weaved into small details in daily life, yet reach grandeur when creative minds wield it to change society.

The plot was engaging all along as Alvie learns her new magic and she meets new people that will change both her and her tutor's fates. I loved the scene at the post office and also Alvie's sweetly romantic relationship with Bennet.

Quote: "Technology is the uneducated man's magic." This leads to a great scene full of thoughtful conversation. The author has a subtle and sweet sense of humour.

Along the lessons, Alvie contributes to a special project that involves mechanics, plastic magic, cunning and with, and I enjoyed that so much. The mystery plot revolved around that particular invention and how it would affect people and posterity. It all worked together as well as a oiled motor.

The atmosphere of the story is cozy and fun, and the workings of the magic are truly engaging. The ending is bustling with action, betrayal, ingenuity, Houdini escapism and a satisfying resolution to every plot line. Still, I would love more Alvie, more plastic discoveries and more sense of wonder. Beautiful.