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Blud and Magick

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 24 ratings · 17 reviews

Always moving from city to city with her Uncle Ed, fourteen-year-old Darla has never lived in one place long enough to make any real friends. Though she has never had a problem attracting boys, there is something very strange about the hypnotic spell she puts over them. That is, until she meet Ash and Cirrus Craven. These two adopted brothers are different, and not just be...more

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Published May 2nd 2011 by Preston Norton (first published March 9th 2011)

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Nov 27, 2012 Bethany added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Harry Potter

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley on behalf of Cedar Fort publishing

Preston Norton's Blud and Magick was an exciting and fun novel. It had a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it, what with our heroine discovering her supernatural heritage and going off into another realm to a special school. But it was by no means a copycat. Blud and Magick was original and creative.

The concept behind Darla was incredibly interesting and an idea that you could explore on and on. The dilemma of whether s...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In early February I had the chance to be a part of the Blüd and Magick Blog Tour. Fantasy isn't my favorite genre, but the excerpt I was provided for my tour stop made the book sound very interesting, so I was excited when I had the chance to read it.

The fantasy books I prefer are those mixed with modern day. I was a bit concerned when Blüd and Magick opened with no modern elements, but it quickly made the move to the modern world and became more interesting to me. I found myself really liking D...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Shanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, paranormal, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first chapter of Blud and Magick pulled me in with great imagery and I enjoyed watching the Sages interact at the meeting that sets the stage for the rest of the story. Their different personalities provided contrast and interest that made me want to learn more about them and their world.

The next chapter jumps forward to just after Darla’s 14th birthday. She is about to start yet another first day at a new school and we get a glimpse into her character before everything in her world changes....more

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Feb 18, 2013 Inga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013

My review:

Blüd and Magick is a great book for fantasy readers! It involves so many creatures you usually meet in the fantasy and paranormal genre: witches, shifters, demons, vampires – you name it and it’s there! It was well written, easy to read and had fascinating characters. The story flowed smoothly and it kept my interest, especially due to the world the author has created.

Meet Darla, a teenager girl who has no idea where her roots are from. She lives with her uncle and they are constantly...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Blud And Magick
by
Preston Norton

My summary...short and sweet...

Darla is a Demi God and doesn't or rather didn't know it until her 14th year.

My thoughts after reading...

Hmmm...I found this to be a rather strange story that included almost every kind of other worldly being. This included shifters and vampires and wizards and dragons and tons more. Darla and her only relative...Uncle Edwin...have moved around a lot. The reason given to Darla is Uncle Edwin's profession...he is a school inspector but...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fantasy, paranormal, net-galley, received-to-review, young-adult

Darla Summer is fourteen and dealing with some serious problems. She and her Uncle Ed travel and move often. She runs into complications at her new High School.

She learns of a magical world that she is a part of. She was born from the ashes of a powerful villian. Her dilemma is how to control the evil lurking within her and continue to be the good girl.

I debated on the rating that I wanted to give this book. It would be more accurate to have a 4.5 star option. I was kept up late into the night g...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Jennifer K Jovus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Darla Summers is a normal, or seemingly normal, American teen jut trying to fit in and find her way in a new high school. When a series of events forces her to react she learns that she is more than normal – and so are her new study partners Ash and Cirrus.

Ash and Cirrus are both likeable, Ash in a more pestering brotherly sort of way. Together they are all thrust into a world they didn’t know existed. All of them just wanting to find a home, a place where they are all accepted.

I enjoyed Darla’s...more Darla Summers is a normal, or seemingly normal, American teen jut trying to fit in and find her way in a new high school. When a series of events forces her to react she learns that she is more than normal – and so are her new study partners Ash and Cirrus.

Ash and Cirrus are both likeable, Ash in a more pestering brotherly sort of way. Together they are all thrust into a world they didn’t know existed. All of them just wanting to find a home, a place where they are all accepted.

I enjoyed Darla’s interaction with Ash and Cirrus and hope that in the sequel we will see more of them together.

While the adults that seem to be protecting the kids all seem sincere, I had a very hard time trusting them. And that left me gripping my Kindle with anticipation. I had NO idea what to expect or where the story would lead us. Blud and Magick is an exciting adventure into the world of Magick, self discovery and friendship.

What I liked about Blud and Magick:
I loved the unexpected magic that lurked around every corner of this book. Blud and Magick is steeped with it's own magical history that will be a vivid and lasting backdrop for many books to come. And I believe they will come. Author Preston Norton’s writing is magical; I expect great things from him.

What I didn't like about it:
Blud and Magick opens with a dungeon and dragon’s style meeting that left me wondering what I had gotten myself into. Alas, it only lasted a short time before the reader was engulfed in modern day teenage life making the short mid evil introduction worth the effort.

Towards the end I felt like I was missing something. The writing seemed to jump from scene to scene without detail and I found myself trying to reread that last page wondering how the heck I got here. It was only a few places, but I felt like the ending, while exciting and COMPLETELY unpredictable (which is wonderful) felt somewhat rushed.

Read Blud and Magick if you like: middle grade magic books like John Stephens The Emerald Atlas.

Rating: PG, no swearing, no sex, some violence. I wouldn't have a problem recommending Blud and Magick to a 12-14 year old.

Overall: I gave Blud and Magick 4 Skulls. What does that mean? I would buy this book and happily read it with my kids when they are a little older. I really had a hard time putting Blud and Magick down and only found a few things about it that bothered me. I look forward to the sequel Preston Norton is currently working on.(less)

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Jan 06, 2013 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, paranormal-read-in-2013, ya-read-in-2013

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. Darla Summers thinks she lives an ordinary life. She lives with her uncle and they move a lot for his job. When she gets to her newest school she begins to notice a few strange things. Some of the kids act different and she has some very weird dreams. One day something horrible happens and she learns she isn't normal and that supernatural things are all around her. She also learns she was born from the ashes of an evil c...more I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. Darla Summers thinks she lives an ordinary life. She lives with her uncle and they move a lot for his job. When she gets to her newest school she begins to notice a few strange things. Some of the kids act different and she has some very weird dreams. One day something horrible happens and she learns she isn't normal and that supernatural things are all around her. She also learns she was born from the ashes of an evil creature. Now she has to figure out if she is going to the good side or the bad side. Both sides want her and her world has completely changed forever.

Darla is at times weak but hey she has always thought she was normal. Now she has to come to terms that their is stuff that go bump in the night and day for that matter and that she is one of them. She has been lied to her whole life and has to figure out what is deep inside herself as well. She does grow for me the more I read and I really enjoyed her by the end. Her Uncle Ed has gave up so much to protect her that I can't help but love him. He did hide stuff from her but it really was to protect her and keep her hidden from the bad guys. Then we have Ash and Cirrus who are different as well. They are adopted brothers who look out for each other and become friends with Darla. Even if one seems like he doesn't care about anyone but his self you can't help but like them. They agree to go with Darla to a new place as well. I like these to and can't wait to read more about them.

This book will for sure be a new and magical read for any paranormal lover. It kept me enthralled all the way till the end and I can't wait to read more. The more you read this book the more you learn about the paranormal world you find yourself in. I didn't want to put it down and had to know what happened next. You have everything form fairies, vampires, sorcerers and so much more. It would recommend anyone to pick this up and read it. Watching Darla grow into her powers and her eternal struggle to do what is right is so fascinating. She stands by her friends no matter what anyone tells her and is a joy to learn more about. There is even a school for the paranormal but you don't read a whole lot about it yet. I think that is to come and look forward to where the author goes with it. (less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Darla Summers is just the name of the most evil warlord ever in Trivaesian history spelled backwards - but she doesn't know that yet. She just thinks that something mysterious happened in her past and that's why she lives with her Uncle Edmund. But really Darla was born from the ashes of the most evil warlord in the history of a magical land that she is about to be thrown into headfirst, when his followers come searching for her as a way to resurrect him! Now with the help of her reluctant misfi...more Darla Summers is just the name of the most evil warlord ever in Trivaesian history spelled backwards - but she doesn't know that yet. She just thinks that something mysterious happened in her past and that's why she lives with her Uncle Edmund. But really Darla was born from the ashes of the most evil warlord in the history of a magical land that she is about to be thrown into headfirst, when his followers come searching for her as a way to resurrect him! Now with the help of her reluctant misfit friends, Ash and Cirrus (one's a wizard, the other's a half-vampire) and her Uncle Ed, Darla must prove to herself and the world at large that she is her own person. She may have sprung from the ashes, but Darla is NOT the reincarnation of evil! She's just a teenage girl who wants to be happy. But when she is captured can she be saved from a fate worse than death? This was an interesting novel, one of the more intelligent creations of an original mythology that I've read recently. First of all, it has names that I can remember and pronounce out loud! A lot of high fantasy authors make it their mission for you to keep a notebook for their characters and plots, just so you can keep it all straight. Not Preston Norton, who has an intricate mythology, but still considers the reader's peace of mind. I really enjoyed Darla, although she was verging on a little too self-pitying and weak for a tolerable heroine. But she made the cut off point. I loved the dynamic between Ash and Cirrus, the unrelated brothers, who are both misfits in their own ways but are always there for each other. The whole situation with the Sages and the god Alpha was very intriguing and made for a good mystery. All in all, with the way it ended I will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out (at least I'm pretty sure there will be one!). I'd recommend it to those who'd like a different take on the supernatural world than the usual tripe.

VERDICT: 4/5 Stars

**I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is January 8th, 2013.*(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Paula Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cedar-fort-book-tours, read-in-2013

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 03, 2013 Pam Torres rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

See Complete Review At SoImFifty.blogspot.com...

The premise is definitely what attracted me to the book, good rising out of evil, pretty compelling stuff. I wanted to see how Norton was going to flesh this out. He did an awesome job creating characters and a believable world. That said, I felt the narrative suffered from a common problem when world building. How much backstory does the reader need for the plot to move forward? There were a few times I felt bogged down in extemporaneous details,...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4 STARS

Blud and Magick is a different story but is simalar in type to Harry Potter fans will like. It has magic,wizards,vampires, good guys and bad guys some you know some you don't expect at all. Blud and magick has lots of drama, kids in high school trying to fit in.
The story evolves around Darla. But she has no idea of how her beginning was different and thier are fractions wanting her dead, some want her so they can have thier evil leader back.
All Darla knows is that she lives with her Uncle...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Darla Summer thinks she's just a normal teenager. She lives with her uncle Edwin, and they travel around an awful lot for his job, so Darla is always the "new girl" at school. It has gotten to be pretty normal for her. What she doesn't know, but is about to find out is that she is really from a different place called Trivaesia, where she was born from the ashes of a man they called the Shadow Lord. But his followers have now found her and they want to take her back to Trivaesia so that the Shado...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Suzanne (Paranormal Pages) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. For two reasons. The first being that the protag, Darla, is only 14. This must have slipped my notice when I requested this book because, with the exception of Harry Potter, I prefer the characters to be a bit older.

The second reason, is that this book was written by a male author, and with a female protag. In the past, I've found that I struggle more to connect with females, written by men, though there have been a couple of exceptions.

D...more I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. For two reasons. The first being that the protag, Darla, is only 14. This must have slipped my notice when I requested this book because, with the exception of Harry Potter, I prefer the characters to be a bit older.

The second reason, is that this book was written by a male author, and with a female protag. In the past, I've found that I struggle more to connect with females, written by men, though there have been a couple of exceptions.

Darla Summer was born out of the ashes of the evil Remmus Alrad, also known as The Shadow Lord, in front of a Council of Sages who mostly thought she should be killed immediately. Except for Edwin, who said that someone born out of something so evil, would be the complete opposite and would be inherently good. He offered to take her to the human world where he names her Darla Summer, and raises her as his niece, constantly on the move, so as not to be found by any of the Shadow Lord's followers.

But, on her first day at a new school, Darla and three of her fellow students are attacked at school by some of these followers, known as Shadow Risers. They believe his soul still resides inside Darla and they want to release him and have him back as their leader.

Darla, and two of the boys, adopted brothers Ash and Cirrus, a wizard and half vampire respectively, and who happen to also be living in the human world are taken back to Trivaesia, to attend The Alrad Academy of Blud and Magick, where they can live and learn among their own kind. But things will not be easy for Darla, being what she is. A vessel for the most feared and evil man in Trivaesia.

This book is set in two worlds, the world of Trivaesia and the human world. I enjoyed the world building, and the explanations and history of the gods, and how Remmus came to be. Darla was a great little character who had a lot thrown onto her shoulders after believing she was human for the first fourteen years of her life, but she handles it well. Her friendship with Cirrus and Ash begins because they are together at the wrong place at the wrong time, but blossoms as the book continues. Ash is quite a surly character but I actually enjoyed his attitude. Darla and Cirrus are better friends. He's caring and fun loving and I can't help but wonder if this will turn into more down the road. I did enjoy the interactions between this trio.

This book doesn't have any romance, which would usually be a negative for me, as I never truly enjoy a book that lacks in the romance department, but this was an exception. It actually didn't quite register with me that there was none until I had finished the book.

The ending surprised me and I'm really looking forward to the next book because there was a bit of a twist. But, sadly, with a release date of January 2014, I'll have quite the wait(less)

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Feb 12, 2013 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-fiction, young-adult-fiction

Darla Summer was an average teenage girl. That is until she discovered she was born out of the ashes of the evil shadow lord. BLUD AND MAGICK had a mixture of demons, vampires, witches and more. A great story line and the end, in my opinion, left room for a second book, all while leaving the reader satisfied. This young adult paranormal is recommended for YA and young at heart. A great read!

Rating: 4.5

Heat Rating: sweet

Reviewed By: Rae,My Book Addiction Reviews

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Feb 14, 2013 Kaylynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013

I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention and I found myself anxious to get back to it. Great description within the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories. From my web site www.bookreviewsandmore.com. I received a free copy of this book for a honest review.

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Mar 26, 2013 Kerry Amburgy-Dickson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, paranormal

I sat down to read a chapter or two before doing other things and by the time I had paused, I had read over half the book. The book has a very unique and interesting setting and it sucks you right in. I am very much looking forward to seeing how this story unfolds in future books.

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Apr 04, 2012 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Really interesting to be thrust into a world of magic with Sages, vampires, wizards, faeries, etc. I loved the characters and found myself literally laughing out loud at the witty banter amongst them. The only negative is that it ends with a To Be Continued and i haven't found Book 2. Other than that i absolutely loved it.

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Jan 15, 2013 Shelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

LOVED IT, IT WAS AMAZON AND FANTASTIC. WON THIS BOOK ON GR GIVEAWAYS..

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Nook and kindle freebie

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About Preston Norton

PRESTON NORTON is the co-author of The Lost Son to be released in October 2012, and Blüd and Magick, to be released in January 2013. He was born in California, raised in Texas, and is currently a student at Brigham Young University – Idaho, seeking a degree in English Education. He enjoys sushi, rock concerts, and scary movies.

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