The Rithmatist: Book 1

Young student Joel is fascinated by the magic of Rithmatics, but few have the gift and he is not one of them. Undaunted, Joel persuades Professor Fitch to teach him about this geometric magic. For although Joel can't infuse his protective lines and circles with power, or bring his chalk-drawn creatures to life, he can really understand how it works. However, a daunting test lies ahead, when someone starts kidnapping top Rithmatic students at his school, Armedius Academy.

Since he's not a magic user, Joel appears to be safe and he's desperate to investigate and prove himself. Then people start dying - but can Joel really stop a killer alone? He'll need the help of Rithmatist apprentice Melody, as even more students disappear. Together, they must race to find clues before the killer notices them - and takes them out too. Brandon Sanderson was born in Nebraska in 1975. Since then he has written, among others, The Mistborn books, and begun the internationally bestselling Stormlight Archive. He was also chosen by Robert Jordan's family to complete Jordan's Wheel of Time Sequence. He lives in Utah.