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Tag Archives: magic
Book Review – When the Moon Was Ours
When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore
Miel and Sam have been best friends since they were young, but they are somewhat strange. Miel grows roses out of her wrist and Sam hangs painted moons in trees. But as weird as they are, even Miel and Sam stay away from the Bonner sisters, rumored to be witches. When the Bonner sisters decide they want Miel’s roses, Miel and Sam must fight to protect all their respective secrets from exposure. I’m not quite sure how to describe this book. I think it is best described as magical realism but really it was just strange. However, I still felt that the book is a worthwhile, haunting, character-driven story that is nothing if not unique.
Book Review – Forestium
Forestium by Christopher D. Morgan
Joshua, a young Woodsman, from the village of Morelle, goes in search of his missing father and discovers a much deeper destiny. He and his companions must find three magical orbs to open the Portallas, the gateway between worlds before the evil creature, the Goat, finds them. This self-published fantasy novel was professionally edited which is always a huge plus for me, however, the writing still seems underdeveloped. The characters and the story are lacking complexity and final polish. Also, while I appreciate a quickly moving plot, the character development felt rushed and unbelievable. The protagonist and his love interest fell deeply in love very quickly without any substantial descriptions of how their feelings evolved. I would have liked more depth in this novel given the story’s potential.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
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Book Review – The Paper Magician
The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg
Ceony Twill has spent the last five years daydreaming of being a Smelter, enchanting jewelry, bullets and cannons but she’s been apprenticed to Emery Thane, a paper magician and once bonded to paper it will be her material for life. The Paper Magician is written with the very interesting concept of magic tied to a specific material such as paper, glass, metal or plastic. Paper magicians make specific folds or cuts to different types of paper to create enchantments and spells. I very much enjoyed the magical system that Ms. Holmberg created. I also liked the character of Emery Thane. He is eccentric and has more depth than the main protagonist. This novel is the beginning of a series that I am excited to continue reading. I would recommend this quick fantasy novel to anyone who enjoys magical worlds.
Book Review – The Dreamweaver’s Journey #FeyronTour
The Dreamweaver’s Journey: The Age of Awakenings by Diana L. Wicker
The first book in the Tales from Feyron, “The Dreamweaver’s Journey” centers on the Realm of Feyron — the origin of all things magical and point where all worlds meet. For the first time in over three hundred years, a Dreamweaver has come of age and must awaken the long-lost Guardians of the Realm. However, when one of the Dreamweaver’s friends goes missing, the Guardians summon the Dreamweaver on a quest that will take her and her companions in search of answers. Diana L. Wicker’s novel is jammed packed with charming fantasy lore from her Realm of Feyron. The intricacy and depth of her world can be overwhelming at times but that is a testament to her imagination and the magic she’s spun into her pages. The story is a good mix of magic, adventure and history. I would recommend this light YA fantasy novel for readers ranging from young to old.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
You can get “The Dreamweaver’s Journey” and the other two books in the Tales from Feyron series for just $0.99. Use the codes below at Smashwords:
The Dreamweaver’s Journey: LQ98S
The Guardian Child’s Return: PV32X
Legacy of Mist and Shadow: AL72T
Win a $10 Amazon or B&N giftcard or credit at the Book Depository –OR– a Magic Bottle necklace. Ends 2/13.
Dori & Jess’ Book Club Reviews Sabriel
After a hiatus due to busy schedules and busy libraries, Dori & Jess’ Book Club is back with…
Sabriel by Garth Nix
The first installment of Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy is filled with magic, necromancy and mysterious dark foes. Dori and I both appreciated the rich universe that came to life with Mr. Nix’s cinematic writing. I particularly liked the system of magic. Necromancy, for instance, is performed using a set of bells which each have their own characteristic sound that brings about a particular magic effect. For example, Ranna, the sleepbringer bell, is described as having a sweet, low sound while Saraneth, the binder that shackles the dead to the ringer’s will, is described as having the sound of strength. While we both felt the world was beautifully laid out, we also wished there was more character development. Sabriel, the protagonist, felt one-dimensional and, while she may be fleshed out further over the course of the other two books, she does not have much depth in this segment of the series. Dori said, “this is often the issue with books that are all plot and adventure. There’s no downtime to be introspective.” And “Sabriel,” does have an abundance of plot and adventure to the slight detriment of the characters. For example, due to the lack to emotional depth in Sabriel and her companion, Touchstone, the budding love story between the two felt a little forced. However, this is a nitpicky failing and does not stop me from recommending this satisfying fantasy novel.
Book Review – The Nethergrim
The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin
Review: I bought this book on the recommendation of the staff of Powell’s Books on a trip to Portland. (If you are ever in Portland, you have got to check out this awesome, city-block sized bookstore.) This fantasy novel about magic and good fighting evil is the start of a series. The plot was a little slow to start but it was mostly because Mr. Jobin was explaining the interesting world that he created. However, once the action started, it was an adventure. And yet, the best part of this novel was that it was absolutely excellently written. The imagery was vivid and the language was beautiful, almost lyrical at times.
Book Review – The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic
The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker
Review: I will admit I picked up this book almost wholly based on the title which sadly turned out to be the best part of the 500+ page book. At the outset, the synopsis on the back was misleading. It only covered the first 50 pages at which point the story goes in an completely different direction. In addition, this book was entirely too long with large portions having to do with banalities. I don’t like to denigrate someone’s labor of love especially since I have such affection for the written word but this book was terrible, just terrible.
Novel Escapism 