Phrynne's Reviews > The Rithmatist

Of course Brandon Sanderson can do no wrong and even his Young Adult books, like this one, are really worth a read. He has this tremendous ability to keep creating new and fascinating worlds with equally fascinating science and magic.
The Rithmatists of the title are people who can use chalk to create magic wards and creatures which can in turn be used for duelling and fighting. Our main characters are Joel who is not a Rithmatist but wants to be and Melody who is one and does not care. Both characters are really likeable and they eventually make a great team.
The story reads like a mystery and, as is the case with the best mysteries, the author convinces us totally that one individual is the guilty party and then right at the end says "Haha, fooled you!"
All in all a very enjoyable book and the only reason that it is a four star instead of five star book for me is that it is very much aimed at a young reader. Dead people do not stay dead and even at its scariest moments there is no real fear that anything totally bad will happen. Still a good read:)