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Lizz Cook (11 KP) rated Practical Magic in Books

Jul 3, 2018

Practical Magic

Alice Hoffman | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.1

(8 Ratings)

Book Rating

They focus on relationships between the women in the house, learning to appreciate each other and who they are. (0 more)

The film adaption was nothing like the book though that is usually an expected problem. The movie was light and almost whimsical, while the book is much darker, serious and almost sinister in nature. (0 more)

Good Witches based book!

I liked the book on a few different levels. Being a writer can be difficult, and she wrote in third person which to me can be very difficult.
The mother is the main character because she overshadowed her daughter's actions (lives). It's about the Owen's family, mainly the sisters who resided in Massachusetts with their aunts. I love the themes of a family bond, they have to learn to appreciate each other and for who they are but also highlights the differences in the sisters. Learning that magic doesn't always fix everything. They use magic sparingly, only when they needed it.
Alice made Fate a real and breathing thing, the secondary theme. If you haven't read the book, prepare yourself to have an open mind because the story is a bit darker than you would expect. It can be entirely entertaining towards the right audience.

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated An Easy Death (Gunnie Rose, #1) in Books

Aug 7, 2019

Not an easy death

Contains spoilers, click to show

Set in a fractured United States, in the southwestern country now known as Texoma. A world where magic is acknowledged but mistrusted, especially by a young gunslinger named Lizbeth Rose. Battered by a run across the border to Mexico Lizbeth Rose takes a job offer from a pair of Russian wizards to be their local guide and gunnie. For the wizards, Gunnie Rose has already acquired a fearsome reputation and they’re at a desperate crossroad, even if they won’t admit it. They’re searching through the small border towns near Mexico, trying to locate a low-level magic practitioner, Oleg Karkarov. The wizards believe Oleg is a direct descendant of Grigori Rasputin, and that Oleg’s blood can save the young tsar’s life.

I'm not one for writing negative reviews and I really really wanted to like this book. Bit omg can someone tell me why Charlaine Harris is constantly writing about stupid annoying women? Considering the girl losses pretty much her love and friends in the first chapter she hardly has any emotional response. I just don't get the storyline or world building either. I won't be going on to book 2 😢 Definitely not an easy death

⭐⭐

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Shadowplay (Micah Grey #2) in Books

Nov 10, 2019

Shadowplay (Micah Grey #2)

Laura Lam | 2016 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy

7.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

Contains spoilers, click to show

Old magics are waking. But will the world survive their return?

Micah Grey almost died when he fled the circus with Drystan - now he and the ex-clown seek to outrun disaster. Drystan persuades his old friend Jasper Maske, a once-renowned magician, to take them in. But when he agrees to teach them his trade, Maske is challenged to the ultimate high-stakes duel by his embittered arch-nemesis.

Micah must perfect his skills of illusion, while navigating a tender new love. An investigator is also hunting the person he once seemed to be - a noble family's runaway daughter. As the duel draws near, Micah increasingly suffers from visions showing him real magic and future terrors. Events that broke the ancient world are being replayed. But can Micah's latent powers influence this deadly pattern?

The second installment of this trilogy and it started very slow for me I did struggle to keep myself focused. But it got better the longer it went on. Learning more about Micah and Drystan was good as well as their relationship development finally seeing them can me together was quite sweet. I loved the magic and introduction of Cyan. What will the 3rd book bring.

⭐⭐⭐

Kudos

Amy Norman (1042 KP) rated The Cruel Prince in Books

Apr 1, 2020

The Cruel Prince

Holly Black | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance, Young Adult (YA)

8.4

(36 Ratings)

Book Rating

I picked this up as a recommendation from my local library, and wasn't disappointed!
I have been lucky enough to pick up the follow up books one after the other, I think having to wait for the next parts would have been far too frustrating.

Holly weaves a fantastical world with perfectly imperfect characters, that you can't help but gravitate towards.

This was a great starter book but the next two in the series were even better.

If you enjoy fantasy lands that intersect with our own, combined with weird and wonderful creatures. Assassin's in training, and the beginnings of many schemes to go awry then this will be perfect for you.

There is also magic in this land but it is not showy, and doesn't become the be all and end all focus, as so many books with magic potential do, and often fall flat because of it.

There is great character development, and you will be torn over whether you should be rooting for 'heroes' or 'villains', and there is a lot of grey area around that.

Please do go and read this series, Holly is a fantastic writer and you can really feel the care and love she has put into building this world, you won't regret picking it up.