A Tricky Kind of Magic - Nigel Baines

Cooper is brilliant at magic tricks. Card tricks, clever illusions - he can do them all. His dad, also known as the Great Eduardo, taught him the tricks of the magical trade before he passed away. But the one thing Cooper can't do is see his dad again.

So when a talking rabbit appears from his dad's top hat, and reveals there is a place where Cooper might find him, he jumps at the chance. Magic is about believing the impossible, after all. And Cooper desperately wants to believe that he can see his dad once more.

But what - and who - is waiting for them in the land where magic goes wrong?

Filled with filled with humour and emotion, this is an action-packed graphic novel about finding magic when you need it the most.

 

What did I think?

I don’t read graphic novels (for children or adults) but something about A Tricky Kind of Magic drew me to it like a moth to a flame and I loved it.

Oh Cooper, I just wanted to reach into the book and give him a hug. Cooper and his little brother Fin are dealing with their grief after the sudden loss of their dad. Cooper feels guilty for laughing when he should be feeling sad and he can’t understand why his Mum seems to be all business as usual. Cooper is sad, angry and confused but an old friend, in the form of a beloved toy rabbit, is about to make him smile.

The illustrations are fantastic and they’re almost as powerful as the words. Nigel Baines is truly talented to have both written and illustrated this outstanding story. It’s the perfect read for anyone dealing with grief, not just children, and a reminder that magic is there if you look for it. People may die but love doesn’t.

I read A Tricky Kind of Magic with a lump in my throat and a song in my heart. It’s a book I will definitely read again and I’m in my forties! Highly recommended.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Regency Faerie Tales series - Olivia Atwater

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for the fantastic Regency Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater.  So, instead of a single book review this is a triple book review!

First up, it's Half a Soul.

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!

 

What did I think?

I've been reading more fantasy novels lately and with books of such high quality as Half a Soul, it's quickly becoming one of my favourite genres.  If you're looking for escapism, then look no further than the Regency Faerie Tales series.

A list of characters is included at the start of the book in the form of a 'Dramatis Personae' and I loved reading the short, entertaining biographies of each one.  You don't have to remember them of course, as each character is introduced within the novel, but it's handy to refer back to if you forget who a particular character is.

Dora is a wonderful main character; she only has half a soul so she doesn't experience emotions and her interactions with others are often funny and charming.  Dora is drawn into solving an intriguing mystery with Elias Wilder, the Lord Sorcier, and their story is entertaining and delightful.

Olivia Atwater's writing style is completely breathtaking; mixing historical fiction with fantasy is absolute genius.  Half a Soul is a novel that has everything; the scandal and competition of Bridgerton, an intriguing mystery to solve, a surprising and charming romance, and a colourful and magical Faerie realm.  

Half a Soul is an adult fairy tale written in the style of a classic Jane Austen novel and it's brilliant.  I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read it again and again.  It deserves a place on my bookshelf along with my many copies of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (my comfort book) as I found Half a Soul to be equally comforting, magical and entertaining.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

~~*~~

The second book (and my personal favourite) is Ten Thousand Stitches.

Faerie godfathers are supposed to help young ladies find love. Unfortunately, no one told Lord Blackthorn that.

Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. There's only one problem; Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Ashbrooke's heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favourite jacket.

Effie has heard rumours about what happens to those who accept help from faeries, but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, she has one hundred days - and ten thousand stitches - to make Mr Ashbrooke fall in love and propose. . . if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a whimsical faerie tale set in a magical version of Regency England, with an enchanting Cinderella twist.

 

What did I think?

I loved Half a Soul, the first book in the Regency Faerie Tales series, so I couldn't wait to read Ten Thousand Stitches.  Not only did I love Ten Thousand Stitches, I completed adored it. 

Olivia Atwater's characters are so vividly depicted that they almost pop out of the book the moment you turn the page.  The main character of housemaid Effie is no exception and I loved her dream of falling in love with Benedict, a gentleman who is out of her league.  All is not lost for Effie though, as she makes a bargain with Lord Blackthorn, a faerie, who will grant her wish in exchange for sewing ten thousand stitches on his jacket.

With hints of Cinderella (my favourite Disney film), the well-known fairy tale is turned on its head and makes you question why on earth you would want to marry someone who can't see the real you.  Love is more than skin deep and Effie discovers that her Prince Charming may not be who she thought it was after all.

I loved meeting colourful new characters in Ten Thousand Stitches, as well as encountering some old friends from Half a Soul.  You can definitely read Ten Thousand Stitches as a standalone and there's a 'Dramatis Personae' included at the beginning which lists all the characters.  As much as it's a handy reference guide to the characters it's also very entertaining to read their little biographies, so don't be tempted to skip past it.

Part adult fairy tale, part regency romance, completely brilliant, Ten Thousand Stitches is a delightful tale with a twist.  I loved it and already want to read it again.  An easy five stars. 

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

~~*~~

And finally, the third book: Longshadow.

Proper Regency ladies are not supposed to become magicians - but Miss Abigail Wilder is far from proper.

The marriageable young ladies of London are dying mysteriously, and Abigail Wilder intends to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, believes that a dark lord of faerie is involved - but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, neither her father nor high society believe that she is capable of doing so.

Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. Mercy, a street rat and self-taught magician, insists on joining Abigail to unravel the mystery. But while Mercy's own magic is strange and foreboding, she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.

From the author of HALF A SOUL comes a queer faerie tale romance full of love and defiant hope. Pick up LONGSHADOW, and return once more to Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England.

 

What did I think?

Longshadow is the third book in the wonderful Regency Faerie Tales series and I enjoyed it as much as the two previous novels, although this instalment is a little different as there is an LGBTQ+ element that transforms it into a queer faerie tale.

I love how the characters from the previous novels appear in Longshadow and I really did benefit from reading them one after the other as they were still fresh in my mind, although you could definitely read Longshadow (and the other novels) as a standalone.  A 'Dramatis Personae' is included at the start of the book to give a brief and entertaining bio of each character.

A spate of inexplicable deaths has an air of dark magic about them and Abigail, daughter of the Lord Sorcier, is determined to get to the bottom of it.  Her magic may not be enough to fight whatever is hunting young ladies but she joins forces with a mysterious stranger called Mercy and together their magic is a force to be reckoned with.

The magical element of the plot is stunning and the developing relationship between Abigail and Mercy is beautifully written.  Abigail's confusion over her feelings is portrayed sensitively, especially as she is living in an era when being attracted to the same sex would make ladies faint.

Olivia Atwater has stunningly mixed life in Regency England with the faerie realm and the glitz and glamour of society balls sprinkled with magic makes Longshadow hugely entertaining from start to finish.  This is an adult faerie tale for the 21st century and I highly recommend Longshadow and the whole Regency Faerie Tales series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

BLOG TOUR: Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales Book 1) - Olivia Atwater

It's difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you're a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs.

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle in this enchanting historical fantasy, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mother.

Pick up HALF A SOUL, and be stolen away into Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England!

 

What did I think?

I've been reading more fantasy novels lately and with books of such high quality as Half a Soul, it's quickly becoming one of my favourite genres.  If you're looking for escapism, then look no further than the Regency Faerie Tales series.

A list of characters is included at the start of the book in the form of a 'Dramatis Personae' and I loved reading the short, entertaining biographies of each one.  You don't have to remember them of course, as each character is introduced within the novel, but it's handy to refer back to if you forget who a particular character is.

Dora is a wonderful main character; she only has half a soul so she doesn't experience emotions and her interactions with others are often funny and charming.  Dora is drawn into solving an intriguing mystery with Elias Wilder, the Lord Sorcier, and their story is entertaining and delightful.

Olivia Atwater's writing style is completely breathtaking; mixing historical fiction with fantasy is absolute genius.  Half a Soul is a novel that has everything; the scandal and competition of Bridgerton, an intriguing mystery to solve, a surprising and charming romance, and a colourful and magical Faerie realm.  

Half a Soul is an adult fairy tale written in the style of a classic Jane Austen novel and it's brilliant.  I enjoyed it so much that I plan to read it again and again.  It deserves a place on my bookshelf along with my many copies of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (my comfort book) as I found Half a Soul to be equally comforting, magical and entertaining.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Follow the tour:

Bound in Black - Steven De Luca

Galdor the Green, great and powerful leader of the Lifting Plateau dragons, finds himself magically incarcerated—without means of escape—deep within an underground cavern. Deceived by the dragon, Blaze, once friend and ally, a black scaled, black-hearted liar and master of deception.

A lot can happen to a dragon in a hundred years and the constant emotional turmoil, and starvation, weigh heavy on his heart.

Now, close to the brink of insanity, Galdor is plagued with nightmares over the havoc the deceitful Blaze will inflict upon his lost colony.

Yet, there is hope. The key to his return, lies in his past… with a human sorcerer. And another black dragon.

With his rival safely out of the way, Blaze the usurper is free to advance his coup unchecked. Dragons have become soft under Galdor’s complacent rule. It is up to him to restore his species to their rightful place, using his new found magic to strengthen his position and teach dragons how to really behave. As his magic grows, so does his ambition, and with it an unknown influence of unstoppable power, never before seen on his world.

Once fully ensconced as Galdor’s replacement, he will deal with the hateful humans, and by fang and flame, he will teach them the way of the dragon.

Skies will burn. Dragons will clash. Enemies, old and new, will die.

What did I think?

I rarely read fantasy but having read Steven De Luca's fantastic debut, Bound in Scales, I definitely became more open to reading novels in the fantasy genre and I was super-excited to read Steven De Luca's new novel, Bound in Black.  It certainly didn't hang around on my TBR list for very long!  Don't worry if you haven't read Bound in Scales, as Bound in Black reads very well as a standalone and it introduces us to a completely new colony of dragons.

The story is told in three parts as Galdor, the moot leader of the Lifting Plateau, is tricked and imprisoned by fellow dragon, Blaze.  Part One is very much setting the scene and Galdor's imprisonment, with a cameo appearance by our favourite sorcerer, Alduce.  When he came into the story, albeit briefly, I felt like I was seeing an old friend who I hadn't seen for years!  Alduce helps Galdor to escape his stony prison but the world to which he returns in Part Two is nothing like the peaceful colony he once led.  Blaze has become new moot leader and has waged war against the humans, turning once peaceful dragons into fighting machines.

Parts One and Two already had me on the edge of my seat but the pacing and tension are ramped up to the max in Part Three: the inevitable showdown between Galdor and Blaze.  Galdor has a little help from his friends and I was absolutely delighted to see some much-loved dragons from Bound in Scales appear in the story.  The friendship between Nightstar and Sunburst is stronger than ever and I love how little character quirks of the other rub off on each of them.  They definitely steal the show and make me want to read so many more of their adventures.

Bound in Black is fantastic fantasy!  I am surprised how much I love these stories of dragons and magic but that's all down to the captivating writing of Steven De Luca.  Bound in Black is gripping, captivating and filled with fast and furious fiery fun!  I couldn't put it down and I'm already crying out for more!  Bound in Black is very highly recommended; I absolutely loved it and could read it all over again right now.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Bound in Scales - Steven de Luca

Scientist.

Sorcerer. 

Thief.

For most of his adult life Alduce has kept to the shadows… until now.

His passion to complete ‘The Atlas of Dragons’—the definitive guide to dragon lore—consumes him and he must emerge from the safety of his studies to face the world once more.

After years of research he has discovered the secret to unlocking the fabled gateways, powered by a legendary lost metal known only as Flaire.

Risking his life on an experiment fraught with danger, he embarks on an unimaginable journey to another world, where dragons are real.

He will forge an unlikely new friendship and face the ultimate test to his humanity, changing his life forever.

His voyage of self-discovery leads to lies, deception and betrayal that threaten to destroy everything he has strived to achieve.

Will Alduce find the answers he seeks?

Can he learn from his mistakes and find redemption? 

Or will he choose the path of destruction?

What did I think?

Fantasy is not my preferred genre so I didn't really know what to expect when embarking on Bound in Scales by Steven de Luca.  A couple of hours later, I was like a newly hatched dragon emerging from an egg, blinking in an attempt to focus on the time when I managed to tear my eyes away from the page.  There's magic in this book, that's for sure; it even made me forget about my morning cup of tea to the point that the tea was STONE COLD.  Books have come close but have never succeeded in making me forget about my first cuppa of the day until Bound in Scales landed on my kindle.

Alduce is a bit of a loner, content with his own company he is writing an Atlas of Dragons and what better way to study these fine creatures than from within their midst.  Using science and sorcery, Alduce adds shapeshifter to his repertoire as he transforms into magnificent black dragon, Nightstar.  In the land of dragons, he befriends a yellow dragon named Sunburst and together the pair form a friendship that will be tested time and again.

With Alduce being a human, his thoughts and fears, hopes and dreams are completely relatable.  When he becomes Nightstar, he is still the same person underneath and his whole character is part of who Nightstar becomes.  With individual personal strengths and surprising insecurities, the dragons became characters I quickly began to care about, forgetting at times that they were beasts not people.

The whole story had me gripped from start to finish, from Alduce trying to keep his identity a secret from the other dragons to the battle with the evil Extractor who sees dragon blood as a valuable commodity.  The writing is excellent as landscape and characters are described so vividly that I could easily visualise the intended scenes.  I have to applaud the author for his amazing Northern Lights scene as the breathtaking beauty of this natural phenomenon is described with such reverence and clarity through Steven de Luca's outstanding imagery.   

Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones in this fantastic debut from new fantasy writer, Steven de Luca.  Remember that name as I'm sure we're going to be hearing a lot more about him.  Don't be put off if fantasy is not your preferred genre, this is an extraordinary piece of pure escapism fiction and one that I will enjoy reading again...hopefully along with a sequel so we can continue the adventures of Alduce and Nightstar.  Try something new and take a chance on Bound in Scales, you won't regret it!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon