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Marla Mason #4
Spell Games
Brain-eating fungi, wannabe sorcerers, long-lost relations–does even a hard-core witch stand a chance?
Mad sorcerers, psychic vampires, an army of vengeful demons, Marla Mason would rather face them all than a flesh-and-blood ghost from her dysfunctional family her con artist brother, Jason. As Felport’s chief sorcerer, Marla would ordinarily consider it her duty to protect her town from such an unscrupulous ne’er-do-well. As his sister, things are a lot…trickier. Now, as Marla attempts to train an apprentice oracle whose magical wires have gotten crossed, Jason is setting up an elaborate sting and drawing her ever-so-corruptible partner Rondeau into the ruse.
Their patsy is a filthy-rich wannabe mage and their bait is something so valuable, so dangerous, so sought after, it probably doesn’t exist. But now word’s gotten out that the Borrichius spores do exist and instead of a sucker Jason and Rondeau have a much bigger–and much deadlier–fish on their a reclusive sorcerer whose devotion to the mushroom god and command of vegetal magic could bring a fungal apocalypse to Felport. It’ll be the mother of all bad trips unless Marla can pull off the ultimate magical switcheroo…and somehow live to tell about it.
Mad sorcerers, psychic vampires, an army of vengeful demons, Marla Mason would rather face them all than a flesh-and-blood ghost from her dysfunctional family her con artist brother, Jason. As Felport’s chief sorcerer, Marla would ordinarily consider it her duty to protect her town from such an unscrupulous ne’er-do-well. As his sister, things are a lot…trickier. Now, as Marla attempts to train an apprentice oracle whose magical wires have gotten crossed, Jason is setting up an elaborate sting and drawing her ever-so-corruptible partner Rondeau into the ruse.
Their patsy is a filthy-rich wannabe mage and their bait is something so valuable, so dangerous, so sought after, it probably doesn’t exist. But now word’s gotten out that the Borrichius spores do exist and instead of a sucker Jason and Rondeau have a much bigger–and much deadlier–fish on their a reclusive sorcerer whose devotion to the mushroom god and command of vegetal magic could bring a fungal apocalypse to Felport. It’ll be the mother of all bad trips unless Marla can pull off the ultimate magical switcheroo…and somehow live to tell about it.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Pratt
24 books126 followersT.A. Pratt is the pseudonym of Tim Pratt, under which he penned the Marla Mason books.
I've crowdfunded seven projects (four through Kickstarter) successfully in the past few years, and I don't foresee any problems with this one, either. I write novels for a living, and this is a book I'm excited to do. It's always possible there will be bumps and delays on the production process, or an unforeseen illness or other disaster, but if so, I'll keep everyone posted, and we'll get there in the end.
I've crowdfunded seven projects (four through Kickstarter) successfully in the past few years, and I don't foresee any problems with this one, either. I write novels for a living, and this is a book I'm excited to do. It's always possible there will be bumps and delays on the production process, or an unforeseen illness or other disaster, but if so, I'll keep everyone posted, and we'll get there in the end.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 3, 2024
*** 4.72 ***
Best book of the series so far! I was not expecting to be avalanched by so many emotions!!!
Best book of the series so far! I was not expecting to be avalanched by so many emotions!!!
December 5, 2017
It 's been a while since I read Dead Reign, but I remembered all too well how it ended, so it took me no time at all to get back in Marla's world.
And this book is yet another roller coaster of action. Marla has her hands full with trying to keep her beloved city from danger. A character from a previous book is back to help her, and he was just as cool as I remembered. And there's Rondeau of course, Marla's right hand man.
With each book there are new things added to this world, but in a way that makes you feel they've always been there. They just needed to be encountered. I liked the glimpse into the magic of the other sorcerers in the city, and of the mushroom god who sets eyes on Felport.
It was also good to see that with all her power Marla has her flaws and weaknesses. It makes it easy to root for her and her close friends.
The ending was gut wrenching and heart breaking. I need the next book!
And this book is yet another roller coaster of action. Marla has her hands full with trying to keep her beloved city from danger. A character from a previous book is back to help her, and he was just as cool as I remembered. And there's Rondeau of course, Marla's right hand man.
With each book there are new things added to this world, but in a way that makes you feel they've always been there. They just needed to be encountered. I liked the glimpse into the magic of the other sorcerers in the city, and of the mushroom god who sets eyes on Felport.
It was also good to see that with all her power Marla has her flaws and weaknesses. It makes it easy to root for her and her close friends.
The ending was gut wrenching and heart breaking. I need the next book!
March 9, 2009
Fourth book in the series, Marla Mason and I have come to an understanding: she is badass. In Blood Engines, the characterization wasn't the greatest, but she's since turned into my favorite female urban fantasy heroine.
Both B and Marla's no-good brother, Jason, hit Fellsport at the same time, with disasterous results. B's visits to the different sorcerers was far more entertaining than Jason's lessons in the grift-life to Rondeau (especially the meet with the Bay Witch, who manages to confound me as much as she does the characters in the book).
A great moment, though, when they take Cam-Cam out to the island, and Marla greets them standing sideways on the wall thanks to her new gecko boots.
Pratt didn't take the easy way out in the ending, and I applaud her for that even if I was left going "NO!" Marla's reaction to B's death at Rondeau's unwilling hands played out true to character, and her grief felt real. I take comfort in the fact that if there's a way to bring B back (and in this series, anything is possible), Marla will find it. And, as her husband, Death, confirmed, he's not actually dead...
Both B and Marla's no-good brother, Jason, hit Fellsport at the same time, with disasterous results. B's visits to the different sorcerers was far more entertaining than Jason's lessons in the grift-life to Rondeau (especially the meet with the Bay Witch, who manages to confound me as much as she does the characters in the book).
A great moment, though, when they take Cam-Cam out to the island, and Marla greets them standing sideways on the wall thanks to her new gecko boots.
Pratt didn't take the easy way out in the ending, and I applaud her for that even if I was left going "NO!" Marla's reaction to B's death at Rondeau's unwilling hands played out true to character, and her grief felt real. I take comfort in the fact that if there's a way to bring B back (and in this series, anything is possible), Marla will find it. And, as her husband, Death, confirmed, he's not actually dead...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2020
6,75/10
Por ahora de los libros de Marla Mason creo que este Spell games es el que menos me ha gustado. Trama muy predecible y falta de chispa y sin un gran villano a la altura, secundario, a la altura de los personajes que ya conocemos.
A su favor, pues que su estilo narrativo está encaminado a facilitar la lectura, algunas situaciones interesantes durante la trama que supongo darán pie a las siguientes entregas, y como no, tanto Rondeau como Marla siguen en buena forma.
Seguiré con las siguientes lecturas.
Por ahora de los libros de Marla Mason creo que este Spell games es el que menos me ha gustado. Trama muy predecible y falta de chispa y sin un gran villano a la altura, secundario, a la altura de los personajes que ya conocemos.
A su favor, pues que su estilo narrativo está encaminado a facilitar la lectura, algunas situaciones interesantes durante la trama que supongo darán pie a las siguientes entregas, y como no, tanto Rondeau como Marla siguen en buena forma.
Seguiré con las siguientes lecturas.
August 11, 2020
This was good, it took a while for me to get into it. The action wasn't as fast and furious. More of a slow burn. But dang, Pratt is mean to these characters! I need to get my hands on the next book to find out what happens!
March 3, 2016
This one is almost an instant classic. T.A. Pratt is leading up to his promised fifth book in the series, and Marla's world has frayed. It hasn't come apart, yet but it's very clear that's the intention.
As usual for the Marla Mason books, her greatest enemy (as opposed to the antagonist, who moves the plot along), is herself. In this case, it's her own history, hinted in previous books, as a runaway from a broken home, and what happened with her brother. This is the last wall of Marla's protection, and in the course of events, it's shattered.
The consequences here are enormous , and the loss of innocence is precious. While Nicolette (returning wannabe nemesis whose impact is greater than Marla knows) has an influence, this time the crisis is of Marla's own instigation. The last half of the story mostly serves as a setup for the next, the grand climax to the arc. As such, it may be perceived to be a weaker story, but that's just because it's the proverbial calm before the storm — the crisis is personal, the pace subdued, and energy lower.
Your mileage may very, but I recommend it.
As usual for the Marla Mason books, her greatest enemy (as opposed to the antagonist, who moves the plot along), is herself. In this case, it's her own history, hinted in previous books, as a runaway from a broken home, and what happened with her brother. This is the last wall of Marla's protection, and in the course of events, it's shattered.
The consequences here are enormous , and the loss of innocence is precious. While Nicolette (returning wannabe nemesis whose impact is greater than Marla knows) has an influence, this time the crisis is of Marla's own instigation. The last half of the story mostly serves as a setup for the next, the grand climax to the arc. As such, it may be perceived to be a weaker story, but that's just because it's the proverbial calm before the storm — the crisis is personal, the pace subdued, and energy lower.
Your mileage may very, but I recommend it.
April 30, 2011
Not my favorite Marla Mason story. Not bad, mind you. But certainly one the weaker stories in this series. Maybe it was because the stakes were not as high in stories past. Maybe I just didn't like Marla's brother and held it against the rest of the story. Or perhaps it was the plethora of typos and errors that were contained in the Kindle version that I read while logging miles on the treadmill. If the errors were enough to be distracting while I was running and sweating profusely, there is something wrong...
I didn't particularly enjoy the grift plotline either. It was so, um, unmagical? It felt like part of Gaiman's American Gods but without the grit and weaker characters. I love this silly series, though, so I will forgive T.A. Pratt for this one.
I will say that I enjoyed the ending. I didn't see that coming... I look forward to reading about how Marla is going to sort everything out and get her two friends back.
I didn't particularly enjoy the grift plotline either. It was so, um, unmagical? It felt like part of Gaiman's American Gods but without the grit and weaker characters. I love this silly series, though, so I will forgive T.A. Pratt for this one.
I will say that I enjoyed the ending. I didn't see that coming... I look forward to reading about how Marla is going to sort everything out and get her two friends back.
December 5, 2020
It was good. Not great but good. I found it anticlimatic, all the rising tension just sort of resolved with a . Best parts were learning about Marla's past and the training montages with B.
March 4, 2024
This book was a ride from start to finish. I found the story at times uncomfortable, but I was still unable to look away--there is something horribly appealing about the tricks of a con-artist, even as I can't help but feel for their marks. So while on the one hand it was fun to watch Rondeau and Marla get embroiled in a plot of fake magics and big money, it also made me squirm... right up until everything went to hell in a handbasket. The book wrapped up really nicely with great comeuppance and Marla showing off why she's the Boss of Felport.
May 30, 2022
I did not see the ending coming!
December 1, 2015
Spell Games es la cuarta novela de Marla Mason y la última que pudo publicar en la editorial Spectra, que no estaba interesada en seguir con las aventuras de la hechicera.
Sin embargo, Pratt no se dio por aludido y continuó escribiendo historias sobre el Marlaverse. Escribió una precuela y varias historias cortas que incluso hoy en día se siguen pudiendo leer gratuitamente en su web. Es más, la quinta novela formal de Marla Mason, Broken Mirrors, fue publicada por capítulos estilo serial. El resultado final fue fantástico, las novelas se siguieron publicando y, de hecho, en marzo de este 2015 se llevó a cabo con éxito el proyecto de crowdfunding del noveno libro de esta saga. Claramente cuando Spectra decidió no renovar el contrato aún le quedaban a Pratt historias por contar.
En esta cuarta novela el pasado de Marla acude a su encuentro continuando con el cliffhanger de la anterior novela. La historia es relativamente sencilla ocupando Marla sólo parte del protagonismo (compartido por los habituales y un par de personajes nuevos de este volumen [como viene siendo normal en esta saga]). Aunque el argumento sea relativamente sencillo es imposible dejar de maravillarse ante el dominio de personajes y escenario de Pratt. Lo mejor, como siempre, los diálogos, que en este Spell Games son elevados hasta un estado de gracia casi divina. Reí y lloré con Marla y los suyos, ¡y tan sólo en 323 páginas de una edición de bolsillo particularmente pequeña!
El motor fundamental de la saga siempre ha sido Marla Mason. Tiene una personalidad muy fuerte que choca con todo y todos y una serie de reglas que cumple bajo cualquier circunstancia. En este volumen se llevan las cosas incluso más allá y me he visto sorprendido ante la humanidad de Marla y lo fiel que consigue Pratt que el personaje sea a sí mismo.
Aunque en otros volúmenes el final es lo que más le ha flojeado a la novela, este no es el caso. Spell Games tiene el final más sólido de la saga, aún cuando acabe en otro cliffhanger como la copa de un pino.
Sin duda seguiré leyendo las aventuras del Marlaverse, posiblemente con la novela precuela Bone Shop y el resto de relatos antes de enfretarme al quinto libro.
Sin embargo, Pratt no se dio por aludido y continuó escribiendo historias sobre el Marlaverse. Escribió una precuela y varias historias cortas que incluso hoy en día se siguen pudiendo leer gratuitamente en su web. Es más, la quinta novela formal de Marla Mason, Broken Mirrors, fue publicada por capítulos estilo serial. El resultado final fue fantástico, las novelas se siguieron publicando y, de hecho, en marzo de este 2015 se llevó a cabo con éxito el proyecto de crowdfunding del noveno libro de esta saga. Claramente cuando Spectra decidió no renovar el contrato aún le quedaban a Pratt historias por contar.
En esta cuarta novela el pasado de Marla acude a su encuentro continuando con el cliffhanger de la anterior novela. La historia es relativamente sencilla ocupando Marla sólo parte del protagonismo (compartido por los habituales y un par de personajes nuevos de este volumen [como viene siendo normal en esta saga]). Aunque el argumento sea relativamente sencillo es imposible dejar de maravillarse ante el dominio de personajes y escenario de Pratt. Lo mejor, como siempre, los diálogos, que en este Spell Games son elevados hasta un estado de gracia casi divina. Reí y lloré con Marla y los suyos, ¡y tan sólo en 323 páginas de una edición de bolsillo particularmente pequeña!
El motor fundamental de la saga siempre ha sido Marla Mason. Tiene una personalidad muy fuerte que choca con todo y todos y una serie de reglas que cumple bajo cualquier circunstancia. En este volumen se llevan las cosas incluso más allá y me he visto sorprendido ante la humanidad de Marla y lo fiel que consigue Pratt que el personaje sea a sí mismo.
Aunque en otros volúmenes el final es lo que más le ha flojeado a la novela, este no es el caso. Spell Games tiene el final más sólido de la saga, aún cuando acabe en otro cliffhanger como la copa de un pino.
Sin duda seguiré leyendo las aventuras del Marlaverse, posiblemente con la novela precuela Bone Shop y el resto de relatos antes de enfretarme al quinto libro.
June 6, 2017
This book was kind of meh to me until the end. The con artist storyline wasn't all that interesting to me. The other plot lines were good. B's training sessions were great for explaining the various kinds of magic but also for bringing in the wizards of Felport. The villain was nothing I'd ever seen before. Very imaginative.
The end was where it really got good but for very bad reasons. What happened to B and Rondeau was a huge gut punch. Marla's reaction to it was both wrenching and completely in character for her.
The ebook version does have several typing errors.
The end was where it really got good but for very bad reasons. What happened to B and Rondeau was a huge gut punch. Marla's reaction to it was both wrenching and completely in character for her.
The ebook version does have several typing errors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2009
By far my favorite of Pratt's Marla Mason novels. This pushed my squee buttons for confidence games (I dig a good long con, like in The Sting or Ocean's 11, or the BBC show Hustle), and the back and forth of this story kept me going all the way to the end. Marla also feels much more rounded in this story; not that she was in any way two-dimensional before, but Spell Games is a more personal story, not least of all because of the involvement of her brother Jason. (And though I cringed at first at the rhyminess of Jason Mason, I was pleased to see such a clever character share my first name.)
Apocalypse is threatened in the person of the mycomancer Bulliard, but the book doesn't feel quite so end-of-the-world as Pratt's previous books, which was a nice change. A smaller scale enables Marla to feel more like a real person, and her interactions with her brother are touching and honest and heartbreaking.
This seems to be the last Marla Mason book for a while, although I greatly hope it's not the end of the series. The book ends on a life-changing cliffhanger, and it honestly made me feel the same as the first time I watched The Empire Strikes Back, namely that I *really* wanted to find out what happens next. Each book has gotten progressively better, and Pratt's handle on the magical universe he's created has only increasingly solidified. I hope Spectra decides to keep the series going, because they've got a winner on their hands.
Apocalypse is threatened in the person of the mycomancer Bulliard, but the book doesn't feel quite so end-of-the-world as Pratt's previous books, which was a nice change. A smaller scale enables Marla to feel more like a real person, and her interactions with her brother are touching and honest and heartbreaking.
This seems to be the last Marla Mason book for a while, although I greatly hope it's not the end of the series. The book ends on a life-changing cliffhanger, and it honestly made me feel the same as the first time I watched The Empire Strikes Back, namely that I *really* wanted to find out what happens next. Each book has gotten progressively better, and Pratt's handle on the magical universe he's created has only increasingly solidified. I hope Spectra decides to keep the series going, because they've got a winner on their hands.
February 3, 2017
Marla Mason is Chief Sorcerer of Felport. She's got such a badass reputation that her older brother Jason, estranged since something bad went down between them as teenagers, hears about her and comes calling. Jason doesn't know that magic is real; he just assumes she's running a successful con herself, much like he does. He asks to use her name to help him fool an annoying wealthy would-be-sorcerer, and Marla is confident in her own abilities, happy enough to see him, and annoyed enough with the rich guy that she agrees. But alas, rumors of Jason's con filter into the magical community, and a nigh-unstoppable mushroom god storms to Felport looking for the imaginary spores he pretends to be selling.
So much of this book is threats building on each other, where Marla and Rondeau can't or won't see them, but we the reader see how the situation is compounding from bad to lethal. It made for a tense read. I was relieved when The mushroom magic was both cool and deeply icky, which is probably exactly how it should be.
So much of this book is threats building on each other, where Marla and Rondeau can't or won't see them, but we the reader see how the situation is compounding from bad to lethal. It made for a tense read. I was relieved when The mushroom magic was both cool and deeply icky, which is probably exactly how it should be.
January 3, 2013
First- I'm pissed this ended on a cliffhanger. Obviously the ending isn't clean, but it still irks me that I get drawn in, put up with a lot of nonsense (the general plot is lame, as is what resolution you get) and then... I have to go out to get another book to get any conclusion to the hanging plot threads. I guess I just don't have a lot of respect for 'serialization' like that. It's a marketing trick and the work of a lazy author that can't wrap up his/her plots.
Conversely, I like this universe. I like that we're finally getting some history on Marla. Admittedly, I like it when they reference events that haven't been recorded in the books, it gives the characters depth in a weird way - allows you to imagine things yourself to fill in the gaps. But we find out about her past and (eventually) how she ended up in Felport.
It's also nice to see Marla vulnerable and human, she's a tough broad, and it's hard for her to deal with emotion. But the plot seems like it could have been resolved in a short story, and dragged quite a bit. I can't say much more without wrecking it. And of course, I will be reading the next book. But it sucks that the series seems to be shaping up to be 'the odd # books rock, the even # ones are weak.'
Conversely, I like this universe. I like that we're finally getting some history on Marla. Admittedly, I like it when they reference events that haven't been recorded in the books, it gives the characters depth in a weird way - allows you to imagine things yourself to fill in the gaps. But we find out about her past and (eventually) how she ended up in Felport.
It's also nice to see Marla vulnerable and human, she's a tough broad, and it's hard for her to deal with emotion. But the plot seems like it could have been resolved in a short story, and dragged quite a bit. I can't say much more without wrecking it. And of course, I will be reading the next book. But it sucks that the series seems to be shaping up to be 'the odd # books rock, the even # ones are weak.'
January 12, 2011
This novel lacked the sense of danger that made the previous novels so exciting. The characters are great, and it was fun learning about B's apprenticeship, but the bad guy in this book was disappointing. Supposedly a fungus magician is on his way to threaten Fellport. Well he certainly does show up, however, he leaves about 10 minutes later. The other question mark is Marla's brother Jason. That plot line wasn't much more developed than the mushroom guy. Nothing much happens in this book, which is disappointing since I loved this series so much. Even with all of that said, I ate the book up. It's just so fun to read about Marla no matter what is happening, or in this case, isn't happening. Hopefully the next one picks up the excitement a bit. I'm sick of reading in the first few paragraphs about some interesting drama Marla has run into between books, I want to experience it! Time to bring back our snake god from book 1 please. Fans of the other books should definitely read this, even with it's shortcomings.
August 17, 2014
This one was really hard to read, also i had started broken mirrors before reading this so i knew what happened making the inevitability that much more difficult to get to. but if i didn't know then i think i would have enjoyed it more.
Marla's brother Jason has come to town to look her up after nearly two decades apart. And with him he brings trouble, difficult memories and more trouble. Jason has made it big as a grifter, a man who really enjoys the long con, and the heist he's schemed up this time could use a little help. Marla wants to mend their broken fences so agrees to participate in the scheme and allows Jason to get Rondeau wrapped up in it as well. The grift: Take Campbell Campion for all he's worth. The Bait: Magical spores that are priceless. The problem? everything; word gets out that the spores are on the market enticing quite a few interested parties. Jason isn't just conning Cam-cam. And unbeknownst to Jason magic is real and it can come with a very hefty price tag. Dark, thrilling, anxiety inducing, another good installment.
Marla's brother Jason has come to town to look her up after nearly two decades apart. And with him he brings trouble, difficult memories and more trouble. Jason has made it big as a grifter, a man who really enjoys the long con, and the heist he's schemed up this time could use a little help. Marla wants to mend their broken fences so agrees to participate in the scheme and allows Jason to get Rondeau wrapped up in it as well. The grift: Take Campbell Campion for all he's worth. The Bait: Magical spores that are priceless. The problem? everything; word gets out that the spores are on the market enticing quite a few interested parties. Jason isn't just conning Cam-cam. And unbeknownst to Jason magic is real and it can come with a very hefty price tag. Dark, thrilling, anxiety inducing, another good installment.
October 27, 2014
I'm really bummed that this series got canceled by the publisher. The books can stand alone, but there was a definite cliffhanger at the end of this one.
Not my favorite in the series (that's reserved for book #3), but definitely better than the first two. It was nice to get some real background on Marla the person, not just Marla the sorcerer.
Mushrooms? Really? I found that whole plotline annoying and practically pointless. Sure, it roped her brother in. But I felt like it was some lame device to incorporate Marla's non-magical world (her brother) with her magical one (the shrooms).
I'm glad Death made a cameo in this book. I loved his character at the end of book #3, and was looking forward to them interacting more.
Hopefully the author will self-publish book #5, because I really need to know what's happening with B and Rondeau!
Not my favorite in the series (that's reserved for book #3), but definitely better than the first two. It was nice to get some real background on Marla the person, not just Marla the sorcerer.
Mushrooms? Really? I found that whole plotline annoying and practically pointless. Sure, it roped her brother in. But I felt like it was some lame device to incorporate Marla's non-magical world (her brother) with her magical one (the shrooms).
I'm glad Death made a cameo in this book. I loved his character at the end of book #3, and was looking forward to them interacting more.
Hopefully the author will self-publish book #5, because I really need to know what's happening with B and Rondeau!
August 9, 2012
As noted in the last book's tag, this is Marla Mason vs family. (As noted in the last book's review, I decided to drop this series. Then I changed my mind; so much for me.)
This is distinctly better-written, or clashes less with my descriptive kinks, anyhow. Being more firmly grounded in the real world helps a lot. The series arc is (only now) kicking into full gear, as an unfriendly mushroom-wizard and Marla's no-good mundane brother roll into down on different but colliding roads. The no-good brother is the contrast we've needed to our no-good protagonist. I also appreciate that everybody plans and takes sensible precautions, and information gets screwed up *anyway* because you can't know everything.
(Warning: the e-book conversion is *terrible*. It's a minefield of missing periods and spurious line breaks.)
This is distinctly better-written, or clashes less with my descriptive kinks, anyhow. Being more firmly grounded in the real world helps a lot. The series arc is (only now) kicking into full gear, as an unfriendly mushroom-wizard and Marla's no-good mundane brother roll into down on different but colliding roads. The no-good brother is the contrast we've needed to our no-good protagonist. I also appreciate that everybody plans and takes sensible precautions, and information gets screwed up *anyway* because you can't know everything.
(Warning: the e-book conversion is *terrible*. It's a minefield of missing periods and spurious line breaks.)
April 16, 2013
Never have I been so relieved about the continuation of a series as I was after finishing this book.
Just think how close we were to it ending here! I put Bantam right there up to FOX for the Firefly cancellation for this one. But like another recent phoenix-from-the-ashes story in Veronica Mars, the creator behind this took it upon himself to go straight to the fans. THANK GOD.
Okay, the mushrooms were a little annoying. But it was an effective plot device and sometimes entertaining.
Marla's brother? GREAT character.
And the ending utterly took me by surprise. After it was over I just sat there for a few minutes, digesting.
One spoilery comment:
Just think how close we were to it ending here! I put Bantam right there up to FOX for the Firefly cancellation for this one. But like another recent phoenix-from-the-ashes story in Veronica Mars, the creator behind this took it upon himself to go straight to the fans. THANK GOD.
Okay, the mushrooms were a little annoying. But it was an effective plot device and sometimes entertaining.
Marla's brother? GREAT character.
And the ending utterly took me by surprise. After it was over I just sat there for a few minutes, digesting.
One spoilery comment:
June 22, 2015
I like these books quite a lot, and it's hard to put an exact finger on why. The prose is all right, I guess, and they're reasonably inventive for that "-and-the-kitchen-sink" brand of urban fantasy. Usually it's the characters that elevate a book like this, if it's gonna be elevated, but I think they're also hovering somewhere around "good enough" — there's a decent mix of types, but no one has a huge amount of interiority, and they mostly maintain a cartoonish sort of resolution, with bold lines and bright colors.
But after a few confused attempts to explain these to friends, I think I have it: the Marla Mason books win because they follow through on their swing. Consequences happen, are not what you expect, and _persist._ Shit happens, and it's highly entertaining.
But after a few confused attempts to explain these to friends, I think I have it: the Marla Mason books win because they follow through on their swing. Consequences happen, are not what you expect, and _persist._ Shit happens, and it's highly entertaining.
April 4, 2009
More enjoyable (by me, at any rate) than the last Marla Mason novel, Spell Games brings Marla down to earth a little bit. Sure, there's magic galore, but she's not battling gods, or death himself for a change. We get to meet her brother Jason, and also learn more about her pals B. and Rondeau.
Like I said, this novel is lower key, and I found it a nice change of pace. If every novel got bigger and bigger, I'd quickly lose interest. As it stands, I enjoyed meeting her con-man brother, and learning more about Marla's associates. Fun stuff.
Like I said, this novel is lower key, and I found it a nice change of pace. If every novel got bigger and bigger, I'd quickly lose interest. As it stands, I enjoyed meeting her con-man brother, and learning more about Marla's associates. Fun stuff.
December 13, 2010
Marla Mason is one of my favorite characters in the urban fantasy genre--she's seriously hard core but down to earth at the same time, and what makes her most believable is her complexity. She always works hard to be cool and in control, but her humanity shows through in subtle ways. The adventure in Spell Games isn't quite as strong as in the previous books in the series, but I don't see this as a lack since in Spell Games, you really get to know Marla the person, instead of Marla the chief-sorceror.
January 26, 2010
Marla Mason, chief sorcerer of Felport, defeater of Death, faces her most terrible opponent yet - family.
Amusing story. I really like this series. They're quick (1 day) reads, no heavy duty thinking involved unless you want to do so. For instance, we could ruminate on the nature of family we choose vs family we're born to; death, immortality, and identity; the nature of intelligence; and, natural disasters vs acts of war. But, we could also just read the damned story and LIKE it. =-)
Amusing story. I really like this series. They're quick (1 day) reads, no heavy duty thinking involved unless you want to do so. For instance, we could ruminate on the nature of family we choose vs family we're born to; death, immortality, and identity; the nature of intelligence; and, natural disasters vs acts of war. But, we could also just read the damned story and LIKE it. =-)
November 17, 2012
Marla Mason stories are like a warm, comfortable sweater. Whenever I feel like a fun, casual read, I turn to Marla Mason.
I'm continually impressed by the variety of characters that Pratt manages to include in every book. Empaths. Charmers. Illusionists. Chaos. Liches. Death. Muggles. And mushrooms. Mushrooms! And that's just in one book.
Felport is such an interesting place to visit. And I'll keep coming back.
I'm continually impressed by the variety of characters that Pratt manages to include in every book. Empaths. Charmers. Illusionists. Chaos. Liches. Death. Muggles. And mushrooms. Mushrooms! And that's just in one book.
Felport is such an interesting place to visit. And I'll keep coming back.
April 7, 2009
I think this might be my favorite Marla Mason book. I really liked the Jason Mason character and loved the idea of the monstrous Mycelium! I'm operating under the assumption that more is going to happen with respect to the B character... hopefully T.A. Pratt plans to follow this with an incredible twist that will change his fate. Otherwise I'll be kind of ticked off.
June 21, 2009
I just finished this book and it has been the best of the novel set so far. I was completely suprised several times in this novel. Having read the other Marla books it's easy to see her as force of nature that is going to finish a fight on her terms. I really am hoping to see where she'll go from here.
November 22, 2014
This is the 3rd Sorcerer Marla Mason mystery, it's been a while since I read the previous 3, and I had forgotten what a kick I get out of Marla. She is described as "slightly wicked", but I think it's more than slightly. It's refreshing to have a heroine who is action oriented and not focused on romance or being moral. I think the book was a lot of fun.
December 23, 2012
I enjoyed the first three of these books enough to search out #4, but frankly, the ending sucked. While I've seen it called a 'cliffhanger', I felt much more like it was just an easy way to put paid to a storyline that the author had run out of ideas or affection for. Now I see that there is a #5. Maybe I'll look for it, but more likely, unless it falls in my lap, I won't.
October 16, 2013
I didn't like this nearly as much as the previous book (Dead Reign). It was good, but I found it just too dark for me. I can't point to any one bit (in part because I am far too late posting this review), but I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much.
I have, however, requested the next book from the library.
I have, however, requested the next book from the library.
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