Oddly similar to another series I read recently ([b:Rose|11179335|Rose|Holly Webb|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339304055s/11179335.jpg|6190346] by Holly Webb) where an orphan gets a job as a servant in the household of a magician. Stevermer's style is stronger, but the story weaker, and "Magic Below Stairs" does suffer from being a 'companion story' to a series for adults (beginning with [b:Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot|64207|Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot (Cecelia and Kate, #1)|Patricia C. Wrede|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328875743s/64207.jpg|505]). This particular magician is one of the characters of that series, and there's a strong sense of "you should know and care about these people and this world rather more than this book is actually telling you".Also irritating episodes of "wrap pregnant woman in cotton wool and not tell her what's going on because pregnant". Why anyone ever thinks knowing something is going on, but having it hidden from you is _less_ stressful than a clear explanation is beyond me...
