Paper Mage - Leah R. Cutter Book Review

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Review Summary

Roc, March 2003, 6.50, 352 pp.
ISBN 0451459172

During the Tang Dynasty in the city of Bao Fang, a young girl loses her father and brothers in an accident at sea forcing the female survivors (she, her sisters and her mother), to live with their Aunt Wang Tie Tie. In an age when women are subordinate to men, Wang Tie Tie is an independent person who runs her own household and businesses. She sends her niece Xiao Yen to school to learn to be a PAPER MAGE, one who folds paper into shapes and bring them to life.

Xiao Yen promises her aunt that she will do daring deeds to attract the attention of the god Zhang so he will give her a peach to give to her an aunt so she too will become immortal. On her very first job, guiding two men to a predetermined destination, she slays a dragon, frees a goddess from a tyrant's spell, and kills an evil dictator. Slaying someone forces Xiao Yen to decide whether she wants to be a traditional Middle Kingdom woman or an independent person.

It is very obvious that the author researched Ancient Chinese culture and history during the time of Charlemagne in Europe so that readers obtain a very visual picture of the country. The heroine is an interesting mix of independence and dependency on her family. When she grows into being a mage, she does so knowing what many of the ramifications will be. Leah R. Cutter has written a cutting edge historical fantasy balanced between plenty of action, strong visualization of Ancient China, and deep introspective pondering on the part of a delightful protagonist.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Paper Mage

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - a teen
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - dictator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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