[2] Holmberg wanted to avoid crafting her protagonist's love interest with a "semblance of perfection," opting instead to create flawed characters and focus on themes of forgiveness and self-love.

Holmberg was influenced by the British historical drama Downton Abbey in creating The Paper Magician's setting.

[3] In the year 1902, nineteen-year-old Ceony Twill graduates from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined at the top of her class, but her dreams for the future are unexpectedly dashed.

In a world where magicians can only manipulate one man-made element, Ceony is forced to study the art of "Folding"—paper magic—instead of learning how to magically smelt metal as she'd hoped.

After receiving the money necessary to pay her tuition from an unknown party, she becomes an apprentice to Paper Magician Emery Thane.

Ceony also learns that Emery has participated in efforts to rid the land of those who practice blood magic (a forbidden, dark art) called "Excisioners."

One day, Ceony watches as Emery's ex-wife, Lira, attacks him by ripping his heart out of his chest using blood magic.

Valerie Laub, a reviewer for Drexel University's publication The Triangle, praised The Paper Magician for its vivid and intense scenes, but said that she felt that the ending was "incredibly rushed," resulting in the novel being "underdeveloped" overall.