Tag: magic

Review: Port in a Storm (Kitten and Witch #1) by K.L. Noone

A short, sweet story about a kitten shifter and a kind witch.

4 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 43 pages. Published December 18th 2017 by Less Than Three Press, LLC

Blurb:

Colin is not having the best time lately, being a runaway shifter with a less than stellar reputation, hiding beneath a car in the pouring rain hoping to evade the angry warlock looking for him.

David’s had a long day; being the local white witch and healer is a worthwhile occupation, but it’s rarely an easy one. When he spies a stray kitten under his car, he figures he’ll be able to rescue at least one living thing that night… 

Likes:

  • Both David and Colin are likeable.
  • Feels like a more complete story than The Arch-Mage’s Firebird.
  • The way Colin sees magic as colors.
  • The idea of a graphomancer.

Dislikes:

  • Flowery language.
  • Run-on sentences.
  • Story was enhanced because I read The Arch-Mage’s Firebird first.

Having read The Arch-Mage’s Firebird before this story puts me in a strange position. Port in the Storm was written several years before The Arch-Mage’s Firebird and is, as far as I can tell, the first story set in this universe. But I can’t ignore the fact that I came into this story knowing certain things about the world. And I can’t help but think that that knowledge made this story feel much more understandable.

I do think all the pertinent information was provided in this story. Colin’s situation does end up being well explained. However, since I already knew a little about Colin, and about how magical creatures operate in this society, I was ahead of the curve.

Perhaps that’s why I felt that this story was much more complete than The Arch-Mage’s Firebird. Then again, there weren’t as many flashback scenes this time around. The details of Colin’s life before the story began were sprinkled here and there instead of being plopped whole in the middle of the story. Because of that, this story has a nice flow.

There is also much less of the flowery language that bothered me so much in The Arch-Mage’s Firebird. It’s still there, in sentences like, “The moment extended, tremulous and newborn and poised amid all sorts of possibilities.” But not too much.

Both Colin and David were easy to like. David was so kind and gentle. And Colin, for all that he was a party boy, just wanted someone to love him, not just his magic. This story definitely had a soft, cozy feel to it.

I especially enjoyed that Colin saw David’s magic as colors. “Primrose and sunset-gold billowed optimistically through the other colors.” There was just enough talk about the magic to fill out the world, without overtaking the story. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the term ‘graphomancer’ before, but it was a neat idea.

Like with The Arch-Mage’s Firebird, I think this story could have easily been spun out into a full-fledged novella. Strictly speaking, it didn’t need to be, but I again can’t help but wonder why it wasn’t. There’s enough material.

I’m looking forward to reading the second story, which is a continuation of David and Colin’s relationship. Hopefully, I’ll like that one just as much.

Review: The Arch-Mage’s Firebird by K.L. Noone

A good story idea, but way too short.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Kindle Edition. 41 pages. Published February 1st 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb:

Thomas East was meant to be the youngest Arch-Mage in history, a magical genius and a solver of problems. But he hadn’t expected quite so many problems — not to mention the endless meetings, bureaucracy, and political negotiations. So he’s currently hiding in a sleepy California seaside town, working in an ice cream parlor and avoiding everyone he’s let down … until a firebird in need of rescue crashes into his shop.

Nicholas Incandesco has far too many problems. He’s a firebird, a shapeshifter, and a power source, and a lot of magicians could use someone with his gifts. He’s also technically a murder suspect with two magical bounty hunters on his trail. He just wants someplace safe to land, and the attractive witch behind the ice cream counter might offer a sweet refuge.

This encounter might be exactly what both Nicholas and Tom need to find themselves … and rescue each other. 

Likes:

  • Started off right when the action begins.
  • The story was good.
  • Tom wanted to help the familiars and magical creatures.
  • Both Tom and Nicholas seemed nice.
  • Tom was sympathetic.
  • The romance was fast but sweet.
  • Included a playlist.

Dislikes:

  • Way too short for my tastes.
  • Lots of backstory.
  • Hard to form a deep bond with either character.
  • The prose is a bit too flowery for my tastes. Lots of long sentences and semi-colons.

I’ll admit to being sucked in by the blurb and not checking the page length. My mistake. I could tell right away from how the story opened that this was going to be short. I expected a novella, but at only 43 pages, it’s not even that. A short story that’s on the long side, maybe.

I love a good novella, but this story is simply too short for my tastes. It focused basically on two scenes – in the ice cream parlor and in Tom’s apartment. Aside from that, there was a lot of backstory. That’s the downside of starting a story in the middle of action. You then have to explain how everyone ended up there.

From the backstory, I got a good feeling about both Tom and Nicholas. It was a little sad that I was judging them for their past actions rather than for the present ones, but I did approve of how Tom had fought to get magical creatures and familiars more rights in the magical society. I also sympathized with how Tom’s idealistic ideas of changing the world for the better came crashing down in the face of bureaucracy and greed.

The story was an interesting one, and a lot was packed into the few short pages. It definitely left me wanting more. I think there’s enough possibility here to have turned the story into a full-fledged novel, or even a good-sized novella, and I can’t help but wonder why it wasn’t. It was too short for me to form a deep attachment to either man, and left me wanting to watch the relationship actually develop. All that was on the page was the first blush of romance.

Then again, the flowery language, while fine in such a short story, would have gotten overwhelming in something longer. It wasn’t bad, just not suited to my tastes. I like simplicity, not overly long sentences, lots of semi-colons, and abundant similes. I’ve read fiction written by poets before, and that’s what this story reminded me of. I don’t think I could have read an entire novel filled with sentences like, “Companionable sunbeams, plump and indolent, traveled across the end of the bed. Met sheet-hills of white froth and plopped down, content.”

I did like that the author included a playlist of songs she listened to when writing. That was new to me.

Even though this story isn’t listed as part of a series, it’s loosely connected to two other stories, and I plan to read both of those as well. But sadly, they’re equally as short.

Review: A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2) by T.J. Klune

A great addition to the series. Felt a little slow at first, when the plot was being set up, then took off.

4 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 400 pages. Published June 30th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Blurb:

Once upon a time, the wizard’s apprentice Sam of Wilds got his happily ever after in the arms of his cornerstone, Knight Commander Ryan Foxheart. A year has passed, and while Sam’s been captured five or six more times since then, things are pretty great. His parents are happy, Gary and Tiggy still eat sass for breakfast, Randall is somehow alive despite being older than the gods, the King rules with a gentle hand, Kevin the dragon is as gross as ever, Morgan sighs a lot, Ryan continues to be dashing and immaculate, and Sam is close to convincing Prince Justin they will be best friends forever. Life is good. Until it’s not. Because Vadoma, the leader of the gypsy clan and Sam’s grandmother, has come to the City of Lockes with a dire prophecy written in the stars: a man of shadows is rising and will consume the world unless Sam faces his destiny and gathers the five dragons of Verania at his side. And she brings along her second-in-command, a man named Ruv. Ruv, who Vadoma says is Sam’s true cornerstone. 

Likes:

  • The characters.
  • The humor.
  • The world building.
  • The plot.
  • More smut.
  • New dragon.
  • Villainous villain.

Dislikes:

  • Sam and Ryan both have a lot of room to grow, both as individuals and as a couple.
  • The first half of the book lacked movement.
  • Sam got annoying at times.
  • Sam doesn’t like fireflies.

One of the great things about this series is that it focuses on Sam and Ryan the whole way through. Which means that, even though the two of them got together in the last book, their romance isn’t finished. Not by a long shot. Because both men still need to grow, and so does their relationship.

While there is more smut in this book than the last, Sam and Ryan don’t mesh together perfectly. Their relationship, while strong, is still new, despite the eighteen months or so that passed since the end of The Lightning-Struck Heart. Honestly, they both got a little annoying in the first half of the book. Situations brought out their deepest insecurities. It also showed how little Sam had thought about the future. Like, not at all. And as much as I like his character – despite the fact that he doesn’t like fireflies – I’m ready for him to grow up.

Happily, most of the things I loved about the first book were present in this one. The characters were fantastic. Especially the new dragon, but there were a lot of new characters. The villain feels genuinely villainous, which is great because I hate lame villains. The humor didn’t feel quite as pronounced in this book, but the tone was generally more serious than the last book.

The one thing that I didn’t like about this book was how little movement the first half had. A lot happened, but it all took place in Castle Lockes. Basically, Part 1 of the book set up the plot, not just for this book but for the rest of the series. It wasn’t an info dump. And it was enjoyable to read, but I was itching for them to just get started already.

It’s impossible to have enjoyed this book and not be desperate to rush ahead to the next. So many things were hinted at, both good and bad. There wasn’t a cliffhanger, but the plot is racing forward.

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.

Review: The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5) by T.J. Klune

A free side story that made me laugh.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ebook. 65 pages. Published September 26th 2015

Blurb:

Lady Tina DeSilva was not a cruel girl. No, she most definitely wasn’t cruel. After all, it wasn’t her fault that Mervin made her want to stab him in the face just to see what his blood looked spilling out onto the ground while he screamed for her to stop.

Rystin was forever. Mervin, though.

Mervin was just a bump in the road.

Likes:

  • Made me laugh.
  • Accurate representation of toxic fandoms, bad fanfic, and unrealistic erotica.
  • I read it at the perfect time.
  • Free.
  • Every comment Gary made.
  • Larry and Wiggy.

Dislikes:

  • Made me look up what fletching was.
  • Easy to overlook.
  • Not perfectly edited.
  • Dumps hard on fanfic.

I had no idea this story existed. I saw it listed on Goodreads and looked it up, pleased to find that it was free on TJ Klune’s blog. Then I forgot all about it until Lady Tina shows up in A Destiny of Dragons.

I immediately stopped reading A Destiny of Dragons and read this short story. And I have to say, that was absolutely the right thing to do. What Lady Tina does in A Destiny of Dragons is directly related to this short story. And honestly, I would have forgotten about this story if I had read it before getting started on A Destiny of Dragons because a lot happens in the first quarter of that book.

So much about this story made me laugh. Even the intro. Knowing that Klune had planned this to only be 5,000 words and it ended up being 16,000 made me chuckle. But of course, it was Gary’s comments during the fanfic that were the best.

This story definitely feels like a bit of a commentary on toxic fandoms, bad fanfic, and unrealistic erotica. And that’s part of what made it funny. But it’s super easy to dump on fanfic and label it all as crap. Luckily, that’s not what’s done in this story. The fanfic is supposed to be bad, partly because it’s a product of Lady Tina and how unhinged she is. I just wish I hadn’t looked up what fletching was. To quote the story – “Hup,” Larry gagged. “Hup. Hup.”

The story isn’t perfectly edited, but I’m not going to complain about it. It was free, and made me laugh. I’m just glad I can go straight from this story back to A Destiny of Dragons. HaveHeart forever!

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1), A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.

Review: The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania #1) by T.J. Klune

I have read this book multiple times and it remains my favorite book.

5 out of 5 stars

E-book. 405 pages. Published July 20th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

 Blurb:

Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam’s pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King’s Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam is fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle. Sir Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell through the years when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can’t control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan’s boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or so he thinks. 

Likes:

  • All the characters.
  • The humor.
  • The world building.
  • The plot.
  • Slow-burn romance.
  • Played my heartstrings like a fiddle.
  • A complete story, but with more to come.

Dislikes:

  • If you can’t handle some ridiculous situations, this book isn’t for you.

I don’t remember if this is my fourth or fifth time reading The Lightning-Struck Heart, but the fact that 1.) I’ve re-read it so many times even though I’m not a big re-reader and 2.) it can still make me laugh and cry says so much about this book. Basically, it’s amazing and everyone should read it.

For me, five star books are books that I would recommend to anyone, even someone who isn’t into mm romance. I once read the first chapter of this book out loud to my friend while she was dismantling a couch. I am not a talented voice actor, but she still ended up laughing so hard she almost hit her finger with a hammer.

From the moment I first read this book, it became my favorite. Not my favorite mm romance, my favorite book period. It’s not just the humor, or the characters, or the love story. It’s all of it. And the fact that the story is high fantasy is the icing on the cake for me. I mean, dragons, unicorns, trolls, and truth corn!

Now, to be fair, this book is ridiculous. And I mean that in the best way. Take this passage for example:

Two days before the wedding, I stood in the throne room, watching as the King regally posed next to a stained glass window. I had the easel set up a few feet away from him as I studied him closely, wanting to make sure I got his likeness just right.

“Oops,” I said.

“Oops,” the King said. “What oops?”

“Okay, so how would you feel if you looked like you had boobs?”

“Is that a hypothetical question?”

“Hypothetically… no. More like that’s what I painted somehow and will now be a part of the finished product because I don’t know how to fix it. Nor do I know if I want to.”

“Am I busty?”

“Very. You also have three of them.”

“Good. Proceed.”

“Excellent,” I said, putting more puce on the canvas, because if there was one thing the world needed more of, it was puce. “I am such a good painter.”

I understand if Klune’s humor isn’t for everyone. That’s fine. You have a mummified raisin instead of a funny bone, but that’s fine.

The slow-burn romance is part of what makes this book so great. Sure, the slow-burn means that there’s only one sex scene. But it allows the world building and character development to shine. The side characters are fully fleshed out and absolutely integral to the story. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the side characters truly make this book. Gary is my favorite, of course, but Sam is surrounded with so many amazing people.

I think a big part of what drew me to this book was that, not only could I see myself in Sam, there’s also an element of wish fulfillment. Sam grew up in the slums, different from the other kids. Then one day, he realized he was special, and so did Morgan. So Saw was whisked off to a new life full of joy and excitement. As a queer kid who grew up in a working poor family in the American Midwest, that’s basically what I dreamed about when I was young.

I think the things that impresses me most about The Lightning-Struck Heart is that it’s a complete story. The series is all about Sam, so it’s not like this book is the only one about him and his romance. But it’s written as though it was. The reader learns everything they need to know about Sam from this book. The romance goes through the usual ups and downs, with a happy ending.

Yet there’s more to come. And that’s the best part. The knowledge that you get to read more about these characters in the next book and the next and the next.

Be sure to check out the reviews for The Tragic Life of Lady Tina DeSilva (Tales From Verania #1.5), A Destiny of Dragons (Tales From Verania #2), The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania #3), A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania #4), and the series review.

Review: Music and Magic by Foster Bridget Cassidy

Took me a bit to warm up to the story, but then it turned out really well.

4 out of 5 stars

E-book. 152 pages  Published on April 2, 2020 by JMS Books LLC

Blurb.

Markle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.

Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest — only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess performing evils in the goddess’s name. When he runs into helpless Markle, he feels obligated to show Markle there is some good in the world.

Like it or not, Markle gets caught up in Frye’s game of fox and hare. When the priestess finally catches them, Markle may have a few surprises of his own.

Likes:

  • World building.
  • The way magic was used.
  • I did eventually get invested in the story.
  • The men, together and separately.
  • A surprisingly well rounded novella.
  • Story wrapped up but with a hint of future books to come.

Dislikes:

  • No immediate hook.
  • Took me a while to warm up to the story and characters.
  • No information about the book up on Goodreads.
  • Blatant withholding of information from the reader.
  • Romance was a little clunky.

My biggest problem with a lot of novellas is that they have a hard time hooking me. It feel like they start off mid-story and I’m scrambling to understand what’s going on. It leads to a lot of backstory so the readers can get caught up, and the forward momentum is dampened. That’s what happened at the beginning of this book.

I’ll admit that I was not hooked right away, either by the story or the men. Happily, it didn’t take too long before I was invested. It’s clear from the beginning that something is different about Markle. His resistance to Frye’s magic added a hint of mystery to the plot. There’s also a feeling that a lot is happening around the two men, and that it will be explained later. And it was

I am pleasantly surprised at how fleshed out this story is. For a novella, it contained a lot of information. The world building was interesting, magic system was understandable, and both men’s pasts got explained. There was even time to set up a hint that this is the first book in a series.

As for the romance, it wasn’t as smooth as I’m used to. Markle and Frye spent a good chunk of time unsure if their feelings were real. Then, like a switch being flipped, they got together. I would actually say that their blossoming friendship was my favorite part of the book. Markle starts off weary of Frye. Watching both men open up to each other was heartwarming, and the romance wouldn’t have been nearly as good without that solid foundation of trust and understanding.

One thing I definitely didn’t like was the obvious way certain information was kept from the reader. It was blatant and annoying. Whenever I come across something like this in a book, I feel the heavy hand of the author. It’s like ‘There’s something important here, so you should pay attention, but also I’m not going to tell you what it is yet.’ Ugh. I’m just glad it didn’t get dragged out.

I am honestly surprised at how much I ended up liking this book at the end compared to how unenthusiastic I was at the beginning. I’ve never read anything by Foster Bridget Cassidy before, but I’ll definitely check out some of her other works in the future. The talent is there. And anyone who writes quality high fantasy novellas is my kind of author.