The Witches of Karres is a fantasyscience fiction novel of intrigue and magic. In order for tension to be maintained throughout the novel to a satisfying conclusion, the magic must have limitations, to avoid making life too easy and success too predictable, and to enable its characters to experience the fascinating, frustrating process of growth, thus developing the admirable qualities of bravery and competence— this last important especially for the adolescent reader.

So it makes sense that the two principal characters be young people in the process of developing, in unpredictable order, their respective talents, as well as learning to get along with each other. It is also appropriate that they travel widely, encountering many types of people and new cultures, as well as strange and new dangers. Schmitz peoples his fantasy world with many kinds of eccentric but believable characters, from the stuffy high society of...