The Magician's Doll by M.L. Roble

M.L. Roble's debut novel follows the tale of Natalie, a twelve-year-old girl who is just discovering that she is more than what she seems. She quickly comes into supernatural powers of her own while coming to the realization that her world is far more than it seems. From her mother's psychic business to her friend Phillip and his ability to travel through maps and to a very special doll who may be more human than she appears, Natalie is in a for a whirlwind of a ride! The book is reminiscent of a blend of Charlie Bone meets Pinocchio meets Harry Potter's Order of the Phoenix with just a drop of The Inheritance Sage/Eragon.

Natalie, Phillip, and their mothers attend a circus where they meet The Great Beausoleil and his magical doll, Louisa. But each is more than meets the eye, and Natalie's and Phillip's endowments spark and burn with the presence of Beausoleil and Louisa. As Natalie is struggling to come to terms with her gifts, a dark force is struggling to find her and her friends and family. After Beausoleil is captured, Natalie is forced to confront what she has been dreading most: herself and her powers. She is thrown into a realm of power, enchantment, unseen forces, and long kept secrets...even some about her and Phillip's absent fathers. And when Phillips is captured by the dark forces, how much will Natalie risk to try to get him back?

The Magician's Doll, while ultimately captivating, starts off a bit slow, but the pace greatly increases after the first plot point, which can afford to be placed earlier in the novel. What is especially artful is how the audience discovers Natalie's gifts at the same pace she does. The first few encounters Natalie and the reader have with her endowment are somewhat unclear, but that's exactly how it feels to Natalie. The book lacks somewhat in description, especially of scenery and surroundings. Though I respect the risk the author takes to allow the reader to create Natalie's world with his or her imagination, more narration on the topic would definitely add to the overall tone and feel of the novel.

The book is geared toward younger teens/tweens - I'd say kids between the ages of 9 and 12 would most enjoy The Magician's Doll. Thematic elements were minimal; the greatest thematic element was the lack of Phillip's and Natalie's fathers. With two single mothers raising their only children, the book focused mainly on Natalie's relationship with her mother and their dynamic. I would have liked to see more of how Phillip and his mother interact on a daily basis.

What Roble did exceptionally well was how the kids were still ultimately regarded as kids. So many books credit twelve-year-olds to be out doing so many things on their own (The Babysitter's Club, Harry Potter, Charlie Bone, etc.), while in reality, the majority of parents I know would never let their kids at that age ride their bikes across town or work for people they've never met before. Roble kept the parents' rules in perspective and made sure the kids did not have free reign as many of that age do in similarly age-related books.

 Much respect to M.L. Roble for her debut novel, which is self-published. With two more books in the trilogy on their way, Natalie and Phillip are about to grow up very quickly, whether they want to or not. Though the books were geared for a younger audience, I would definitely pick up the next one in the series thanks to the semi-cliffhanger ending of The Magician's Doll. We could all use a little magic in our lives, but perhaps not as much as Natalie and Phillip!

For a preview of the book, check it out on amazon.com.

Enjoy, and happy readings!