#thirteenth child

[popcornoncemore]

Shout out to all of the underappreciated children's/YA fantasy that raised me (plus the steam punk meets historical fiction meets fantasy that is Leviathan)

[book--brackets]

BFB Preliminary Round 23

Dragonkeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul

Clocktaur Wars by T. Kingfisher

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey

Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn

Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist

see results

Voting ended onAug 4, 2024

Dragonkeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul (2004-2008)

When Kale, a slave girl, finds a dragon egg, she is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. But on her way to The Hall, where she was to be trained, Kale runs into danger. Rescued by a small band of Paladin's servants, Kale is turned from her destination. 

Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find the Wizard Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg--whose true value they have not begun to suspect.

Clocktaur War by T. Kingfisher (2017-2018)

A paladin, an assassin, a forger, and a scholar ride out of town. It's not the start of a joke, but rather an espionage mission with deadly serious stakes. T. Kingfisher's new novel begins the tale of a murderous band of criminals (and a scholar), thrown together in an attempt to unravel the secret of the Clockwork Boys, mechanical soldiers from a neighboring kingdom that promise ruin to the Dowager's city.

If they succeed, rewards and pardons await, but that requires a long journey through enemy territory, directly into the capital. It also requires them to refrain from killing each other along the way At turns darkly comic and touching, Clockwork Boys puts together a broken group of people trying to make the most of the rest of their lives as they drive forward on their suicide mission.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon (1988-1989)

Paksenarrion — Paks for short — is somebody special. She knows it, even if nobody else does yet. No way will she follow her father's orders to marry the pig farmer down the road. She's off to join the army, even if it means she can never see her family again.

And so her adventure begins... the adventure that transforms her into a hero remembered in songs, chosen by the gods to restore a lost ruler to his throne.

Here is her tale as she lived it.

Paks is trained as a mercenary, blooded, and introduced to the life of a soldier . . . and to the followers of Gird, the soldier's god.

Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen (2006-2016)

An unusual murder brings together three strangers, John, Jack, and Charles, on a rainy night in London during the first World War. An eccentric little man called Bert tells them that they are now the caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica -- an atlas of all the lands that have ever existed in myth and legend, fable and fairy tale. These lands, Bert claims, can be traveled to in his ship the Indigo Dragon, one of only seven vessels that is able to cross the Frontier between worlds into the Archipelago of Dreams.

Pursued by strange and terrifying creatures, the companions flee London aboard the Dragonship. Traveling to the very realm of the imagination itself, they must learn to overcome their fears and trust in one another if they are to defeat the dark forces that threaten the destiny of two worlds. And in the process, they will share a great adventure filled with clues that lead readers to the surprise revelation of the legendary storytellers these men will one day become.

Dragon Jousters by Mercedes Lackey (2003-2006)

The first book in this thrilling new series introduces us to a young slave who dreams of becoming a jouster-one of the few warriors who can actually ride a flying dragon. And so, in secret, he begins to raise his own dragon...

Frontier Magic by Patricia C. Wrede (2009-2012)

Eff was born a thirteenth child. Her twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son. This means he's supposed to possess amazing talent -- and she's supposed to bring only bad things to her family and her town. Undeterred, her family moves to the frontier, where her father will be a professor of magic at a school perilously close to the magical divide that separates settlers from the beasts of the wild.

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan (2017)

The Borderlands aren’t like anywhere else. Don’t try to smuggle a phone or any other piece of technology over the wall that marks the Border ― unless you enjoy a fireworks display in your backpack. (Ballpoint pens are okay.) There are elves, harpies, and ― best of all as far as Elliot is concerned ― mermaids.  "Serene," said Serene. "My full name is Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle." Elliot? Who’s Elliot? Elliot is thirteen years old. He’s smart and just a tiny bit obnoxious. Sometimes more than a tiny bit. When his class goes on a field trip and he can see a wall that no one else can see, he is given the chance to go to school in the Borderlands. It turns out that on the other side of the wall, classes involve a lot more weaponry and fitness training and fewer mermaids than he expected. On the other hand, there’s Serene-Heart-in-the-Chaos-of-Battle, an elven warrior who is more beautiful than anyone Elliot has ever seen, and then there’s her human friend Luke: sunny, blond, and annoyingly likeable. There are lots of interesting books. There’s even the chance Elliot might be able to change the world. In Other Lands is the exhilarating new book from beloved and bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan. It’s a novel about surviving four years in the most unusual of schools, about friendship, falling in love, diplomacy, and finding your own place in the world ― even if it means giving up your phone.

Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn (2012-2014)

Imprisoned, starved and left with no memories, Thalia awakens to find herself at the mercy of an evil cult known as the Septori. Their leader has chosen Thalia as the test subject for a torture device of untold power, designed to change and twist her into something that is neither human nor Denai.

Escaping, Thalia finds an unwilling warrior to protect her and an unlikely Denai to befriend her. After finding a home at the Citadel as a servant, Thalia’s worst nightmare comes to life and she begins to show signs of power. Scared and unable to control her gifts, she tries to hide her past to fit in among the Denai. But the Septori want their latest test subject back and will stop at nothing to retrieve her, dead or alive.

Old Magic by Marianna Curley (2000)

Jarrod Thornton is mesmerizing, but Kate Warren doesn’t know why.

Jarrod is the clumsy new boy at school that Kate can’t take her eyes off, and it’s not just because he has amazing eyes, but because she senses something different about him, and when he inadvertently blows up the classroom, she knows exactly what it is. He has powers like her, except he doesn’t know it and Kate sets out to show him. On their journey of discovery Kate learns Jarrod has an ancient curse on his family that will keep hurting his little brother and parents if they don’t do something to remove it.

Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist (1988)

Successful screenwriter Phil Hastings decides to move his family from sunny California to a ramshackle farmhouse in New York State. The idea is to take some time out, relax and pick up the threads of his career as a novelist. Good plan, bad choice. The place they choose is surrounded by ancient woodland. The house they choose is the centrepoint of a centuries-old evil intent on making its presence felt to intruders.

[theravens-song]

I want people to discus this book with.

So there a book series I adore but the fandom is nonexistent, and so I am posting about it here! It's called "Frontier Magic Trilogy" by Patricia C. Wrede. The first book of the 3 books being titled "Thirteenth child". The series focuses on Eff Rothmer and her growing up as the 13th child in an alternate 1800. It's on audible for those who ether don't have time to read or just want to listen. I would love to see other people in this fandom so I could see other peoples idea's and join in to discussions.

[literallykarvonenshusband]

I love the end of the far west cause it’s like

“DRAGONS! This must be the climax!”

“OH! DRAGONS! THIS MUST BE THE CLIMAX!”

“OH NO! THE GREAT BARRIER SPELL! (PLEASE LET THIS BE THE CLIMAX I CANT TAKE ANY MORE)”

[cultivating-wildflowers]

Every time I read an alternate-history story with magic in it, presented as a mundane, everyday thing, but there’s also Christianity, I wonder: was Jesus a wizard?

[a-duck-with-a-book]

REVIEW // Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic #1) by Patricia C. Wrede

★★★★☆

I've been on a nostalgic re-read rampage recently, and no book called for me to pick it up again more than Thirteenth Child. I have vague memories of reading it in 7th grade (rereading my childhood books has been making me realize that time is a sham because there's no way I read this ELEVEN YEARS AGO) and struggling to finish it. I couldn't really remember much more about it other than an alternate history US where magic was commonplace and dangerous beasts roamed the plains.

// image: official cover art (of Across the Great Barrier) //

I definitely enjoyed it more this time, and as I was reading it I could tell why it rubbed me the wrong way so much the first time around. The main character faces a lot of scrutiny and insult for something she can't help (and, as some characters point out, is almost more superstition than fact) and at the time I was such a self-conscious preteen with a desperate need to please who constantly felt like everyone was disappointed or upset with me. You can see why this protagonist hit a little too close to home for nascent mental health problems.

The first book focuses on the early life and coming of age of Eff, the thirteenth child believed to be destined for evil. I loved seeing her character growth as she found her place in the world and moved past the confines that were set on her simply because of her birth. Some of her comments near the beginning of the book, when she was still a helpless child who took to heart every awful sentiment, truly broke my heart.

"She didn’t scold me when I spilled the milk because I was in such a hurry to show I could help."

I'm so happy that her parents steadfastly stood by her.

Beyond Eff, the world that the story takes place in is so interesting. The mix of alt history and fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and I love the impeding danger of the wilds that even magic can't tame.

Characters

Francine "Eff" Rothmer - the thirteenth child, considered unlucky and prone to evil, lacking in self-confidence Lan Rothmer - the seventh son of a seventh son, an extremely powerful magician, protective of Eff William Graham - Eff's closest friend, the primary person she turns to when she is in need, skilled magician Miss Ochiba - Eff's teacher who introduces her to Aphrikan magic rather than the Avrupan (European) magic usually taught in school Wash - circuit magician and guide on expeditions across the Great Barrier Spell Prof. Graham - William's father, tends to impose his own wishes on his son Prof. Jeffries - colleague of Eff and Lan's father, works in the menagerie

a duck's review of Thirteenth Child (Frontier Magic, #1)

4/5: I've been on a nostalgic re-read rampage recently, and no book called for me to pick it up again more than Thirteenth Child. I have vag

[book--brackets]

For the fantasy books: The Graceling series by Kristin Cashore, The Belgariad/Mallorean series by David Eddings, The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix, The Iron Butterfly Series by Chanda Hahn, The Goose Girl series by Shannon Cole, Joust series by Mercedes Lackey, Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan, Eragon series by Christopher Paolini, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Thirteenth Child series by Patricia C Wrede, Uglies series by Scott Westerfield, The Traveller's Gate series by Will Wight

I have a lot haha!

I added what wasn't already there except for Uglies. Uglies is technically a sci-fi, dystopian series, not fantasy, so it's ineligible for this competition. However, if we ever end up expanding into new genres again, hold onto it for that!

[cultivating-wildflowers]

“Uncle Earn can go jump in a lake,” Robbie said fiercely. “Why do you listen to him? Just because he’s the oldest? I wouldn’t listen to Frank if he said stupid things like that.”

“You won’t ever have to,” Frank muttered.

“Robbie!” Mama said. “Mind your manners.”

“But, Mama, you agree with me, don’t you?” Robbie said. “You practically said so!”

“I may agree with your sentiments, but I very much disapprove of your way of expressing them,” Mama told him. “Earn Rothmer is still your uncle, and you should be polite when you speak of him.”

“Is there a polite way to tell someone to go jump in a lake?”

— Patricia C. Wrede, Thirteenth Child