The story is set at in the United Isles of America, a world where gears and springs have replaced steam power.

: Students begin disappearing from the academy under mysterious circumstances. Joel is assigned to assist Professor Fitch in the investigation, alongside a struggling Rithmatist student named Melody. Core Themes & Style

zinlynn's review against another edition. 5.0. I read the whole thing in a day. While that could be enough to warrant the 5 stars, The StoryGraph Book Review: The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

: Joel is the son of a lowly chalkmaker. He lacks the "vital spark" required to be a Rithmatist, but he is obsessed with the theory and geometry behind the craft.

: Rithmatists can infuse life into two-dimensional drawings called Chalklings . These figures are used to defend humanity against "Wild Chalklings" that threaten the territory of Nebrask.