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Cover of City by the Sea

City by the Sea

Debra Doyle;James D. Macdonald (1990)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Quick Read (<250))
SeriesCircle of Magic / The Wizard Apprentice #3
Setting
CSM age10+
Goodreads3.71
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Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Death

Positive tags

Coming of AgeAdventureMentor FigureSelf-Discovery

Hero archetypes

ApprenticeComing-of-Age Hero

Protagonist archetypes

Coming-of-Age ProtagonistReluctant Hero

Tropes

QuestAncient ArtifactComing of AgeMentor DiesReluctant HeroTraining ArcSoft Magic System

Themes

Coming of AgePower and CorruptionTemptationResponsibilityMoral ChoiceLegacyIdentity

Synopsis

A legacy from a dying stranger sends fifteen-year-old journeyman wizard Randal on a dangerous journey to find the rightful place of an artifact of power, which tempts him to succumb to its tainted magic.

Is City by the Sea appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

A journeyman wizard faces moral temptation from a magical artifact. Contains mild peril and the death of a stranger, but stays age-appropriate with magic-focused adventure.

What to know going in

This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death.

Who'll love this

Readers will enjoy following a young wizard on a dangerous quest where he must resist the temptation of powerful magic.

Tags

Quest FantasyWizarding AdventureMiddle Grade Fantasy