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Magic by Any Other Name
Ivy Nichols O’Reilly has grown up in a wealthy family full of magic, fantasy creatures, and emotional abuse—but when her narcissistic mother arranges an unwanted marriage for her, the young witch reaches her breaking point. She drops out of college, changes her name to Georgette, and flees across the country with her best friend, a Wood Nymph named Mei-Xing.
Georgette is determined to build a new identity and a new life. But her journey leads her to cross paths with a number of magical characters—a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife; a Vampire who runs a unique magical business; a curandero , a shamanistic practitioner of traditional medicine; and a Valkyrie who, along with her raven partner, wants to make a risky deal—who make it clear to her that the past is not so easily left behind. In order to grow into her new identity, help her new friends, and develop a healthy relationship with a man she’s beginning to care for, Georgette will have to confront the privileges that have shielded her from the pain and ugliness of the magic community in which she was raised—and find the strength to overcome the trauma of her childhood.
Georgette is determined to build a new identity and a new life. But her journey leads her to cross paths with a number of magical characters—a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife; a Vampire who runs a unique magical business; a curandero , a shamanistic practitioner of traditional medicine; and a Valkyrie who, along with her raven partner, wants to make a risky deal—who make it clear to her that the past is not so easily left behind. In order to grow into her new identity, help her new friends, and develop a healthy relationship with a man she’s beginning to care for, Georgette will have to confront the privileges that have shielded her from the pain and ugliness of the magic community in which she was raised—and find the strength to overcome the trauma of her childhood.
440 pages, Paperback
Published November 7, 2023
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February 24, 2024
“She’s at war with herself. She was raised to be one type of woman, and now she’s remaking herself into another. It’s not an easy thing to be one’s own creator.”
I'd like to thank Books Forward for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
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Content Warnings: child abuse, death, forced confinement, kidnapping, slavery
The concept of this book was intriguing and the first chapters definitely grabbed my attention with all of the action. Unfortunately by the midway point, the story felt like it started to lag. By the end, things started to pick back up again but it did feel rushed at times. The backstory was well explained and I got a grasp of the overall mechanics of this urban fantasy world fairly quickly. There was an interesting cast of characters but one thing that hindered my enjoyment while reading was that there were so many different perspectives throughout the course of this book. My favourite aspect was the large variety of magical creatures. There was everything from witches to nymphs, to werhyenas, to vampires! I also liked the interconnectedness of the world and how fleshed out it was. This book has a lot of violence and tough subjects so I would recommend it to those on the older side of the YA reading range.
I'd like to thank Books Forward for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: child abuse, death, forced confinement, kidnapping, slavery
The concept of this book was intriguing and the first chapters definitely grabbed my attention with all of the action. Unfortunately by the midway point, the story felt like it started to lag. By the end, things started to pick back up again but it did feel rushed at times. The backstory was well explained and I got a grasp of the overall mechanics of this urban fantasy world fairly quickly. There was an interesting cast of characters but one thing that hindered my enjoyment while reading was that there were so many different perspectives throughout the course of this book. My favourite aspect was the large variety of magical creatures. There was everything from witches to nymphs, to werhyenas, to vampires! I also liked the interconnectedness of the world and how fleshed out it was. This book has a lot of violence and tough subjects so I would recommend it to those on the older side of the YA reading range.
November 6, 2023
In Alison Levy's "Magic By Any Other Name," the world of magic unravels in the most enchanting and unexpected ways. This novel weaves the threads of self-discovery, friendship, and the transformative power of resilience, all while sprinkled with the allure of enchantment.
The story centers on Ivy Nichols O'Reilly, a young witch who has been raised in the embrace of wealth, magical creatures, and a harrowing upbringing. As her narcissistic mother orchestrates an unwanted marriage, Ivy, like a phoenix, rises from the ashes of her old life. She drops her given name and flees across the country with Mei-Xing, her loyal Wood Nymph friend, in tow.
With resolve and determination, Ivy rebrands herself as Georgette, embracing her newfound freedom and embarking on a quest to build an identity that is uniquely her own. Along the way, she encounters a cast of characters that are diverse as the magical world itself. From a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife to a Vampire with a unique magical enterprise, a curandero specializing in traditional medicine, and a Valkyrie with a raven companion offering a high-stakes deal -- Georgette's journey is a beguiling array of encounters that challenge her, transforming her in ways she never expected.
"Magic By Any Other Name" explores identity and resilience. Georgette's path to self-discovery unveils the healing power of friendship and the human (and magical) spirit's ability to rise from the depths of trauma and adversity. Levy crafts a story that is ethereal and deeply human, blending the realms of magic with the universal human experience of growth, healing, and love.
In the heart of this tale is the delicate balance between privilege and pain. Georgette is forced to confront her own privilege within the magical community in which she was raised and find the courage to navigate the trauma of her past. Her journey towards a healthy relationship with a man who sparks her heart's desires is a representation of the power of transformation and personal growth.
"Magic By Any Other Name" is an enchanting journey through the complex corridors of identity, self-acceptance, and healing. Levy's writing is a magical incantation that captures imagination. This book explores wonder, resilience, and the inexhaustible magic that resides within all of us. This novel will be enjoyed by those who believe in the extraordinary power of self-discovery and transformation.
Alison Levy has conjured a world where magic is a supernatural gift and a profound symbol of our own capacity to rise, heal, and create a life filled with enchantment and promise.
"Alison Levy's 'Magic By Any Other Name' -- A lyrical journey of self discovery and transformation."
"A spellbinding tale of resilience, friendship, and the healing power of magic."
"An enchanting odyssey through the worlds of identity and belonging."
"Levy's narratives weaves a spell of empowerment, healing, and authenticity."
"A whimsical tale of self-rediscovery that will leave you spellbound."
"The magic of 'Magic By Any Other Name' lies in its profound message of growth."
"A masterpiece of transformation -- A journey from trauma to triumph."
"Alison Levy casts a spell of empathy and resilience."
"A magical adventure that celebrates the power of friendship and self resilience."
"A story of enchantment, healing, and the magic that resides within all of us."
The story centers on Ivy Nichols O'Reilly, a young witch who has been raised in the embrace of wealth, magical creatures, and a harrowing upbringing. As her narcissistic mother orchestrates an unwanted marriage, Ivy, like a phoenix, rises from the ashes of her old life. She drops her given name and flees across the country with Mei-Xing, her loyal Wood Nymph friend, in tow.
With resolve and determination, Ivy rebrands herself as Georgette, embracing her newfound freedom and embarking on a quest to build an identity that is uniquely her own. Along the way, she encounters a cast of characters that are diverse as the magical world itself. From a Werehyena searching for his kidnapped wife to a Vampire with a unique magical enterprise, a curandero specializing in traditional medicine, and a Valkyrie with a raven companion offering a high-stakes deal -- Georgette's journey is a beguiling array of encounters that challenge her, transforming her in ways she never expected.
"Magic By Any Other Name" explores identity and resilience. Georgette's path to self-discovery unveils the healing power of friendship and the human (and magical) spirit's ability to rise from the depths of trauma and adversity. Levy crafts a story that is ethereal and deeply human, blending the realms of magic with the universal human experience of growth, healing, and love.
In the heart of this tale is the delicate balance between privilege and pain. Georgette is forced to confront her own privilege within the magical community in which she was raised and find the courage to navigate the trauma of her past. Her journey towards a healthy relationship with a man who sparks her heart's desires is a representation of the power of transformation and personal growth.
"Magic By Any Other Name" is an enchanting journey through the complex corridors of identity, self-acceptance, and healing. Levy's writing is a magical incantation that captures imagination. This book explores wonder, resilience, and the inexhaustible magic that resides within all of us. This novel will be enjoyed by those who believe in the extraordinary power of self-discovery and transformation.
Alison Levy has conjured a world where magic is a supernatural gift and a profound symbol of our own capacity to rise, heal, and create a life filled with enchantment and promise.
"Alison Levy's 'Magic By Any Other Name' -- A lyrical journey of self discovery and transformation."
"A spellbinding tale of resilience, friendship, and the healing power of magic."
"An enchanting odyssey through the worlds of identity and belonging."
"Levy's narratives weaves a spell of empowerment, healing, and authenticity."
"A whimsical tale of self-rediscovery that will leave you spellbound."
"The magic of 'Magic By Any Other Name' lies in its profound message of growth."
"A masterpiece of transformation -- A journey from trauma to triumph."
"Alison Levy casts a spell of empathy and resilience."
"A magical adventure that celebrates the power of friendship and self resilience."
"A story of enchantment, healing, and the magic that resides within all of us."
November 7, 2023
A while ago, Simone Jung from Books Forward (a marketing and publicity firm) got in touch and offered me access to an ARC for a fantasy book in exchange for a review. The premise was interesting, so I said sure. Magic by Any Other Name by Alison Levy was released yesterday (the 7th) from SparkPress. Let’s get on with the review!
Magic by Any Other Name follows Ivy (aka Georgette) as she and her best friend Mei-Xing run away from Ivy’s emotionally abusive mother and insane family. As she struggles to build her new identity as Georgette, she collects a strange but powerful found-family to help her figure out who she is while she helps them. Werehyenas, vampires, Valkyries, and numerous other magical folk fill the pages of this book. Plus, there’s the human love interest. But before she can settle down, Georgette must confront the darkest parts of her upbringing as a witch as well as work through her trauma.
The plot is standard fantasy fare. Witches enslave “familiars” (any other magical creatures collectively called fae for some reason) by branding them. But one young witch uses the brand to share power with her magical friends. One of her new friends’ family member (wife) was taken by the big bad (fae traffickers) and together they must save her. Things go from bad to worse until finally there’s a happy ending. Wrap it all up in family trauma and that’s the book. Not bad. I enjoyed the plot for what it is.
The characters ranged from fleshed out and interesting to stereotypes. I wanted more out of Kazimiera. She was on the flatter end of the spectrum, as was Mei-Xing. Georgette and Ishak were the fleshiest, so to speak. I wasn’t particularly a fan of Ishak. The whole point of the book is emotional growth, but Ishak keeps playing on Georgette’s guilt instead of trusting her to help him because she wants to. It’s super annoying. He does it all the way through and no one calls him out on it. Yes, she’s a witch. Yes, her kind are generally dicks. But she’s proven her loyalty to the fae time and time again. Stop being an asshat.
I don’t generally talk about book structure unless it’s glaringly flawed, so guess what! It’s not great. Every chapter is from a different POV. Usually, it switches between three characters, but there are at least nine POVs that get at least a chapter. It’s too many to keep track of, especially when they show up once and that’s it. It’s also unnecessary. The prologue being from the aunt’s perspective could have just as easily been in Ivy’s perspective. The aunt didn’t play a role at all in the book. And the guy who just shows up to die. His chapter was useless. Nico’s chapters were okay, but not exactly necessary either. Same with Neil. There should be like five POVs, tops. Any more and it gets super hard for the average reader to follow.
The writing itself was nice. There was a lot going on, but the pacing was pretty good. It dragged in the beginning, but got better.
Ultimately, I enjoyed Magic by Any Other Name for what it is. A found-family fantasy story. If there’s another one, I’ll give it a shot. It’s called book one, so I’m guessing it’s supposed to be a series, but it’s an okay stand-alone.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. There’s room for improvement, but if you enjoy fantasy and found-family stories, it’s not bad.
Magic by Any Other Name follows Ivy (aka Georgette) as she and her best friend Mei-Xing run away from Ivy’s emotionally abusive mother and insane family. As she struggles to build her new identity as Georgette, she collects a strange but powerful found-family to help her figure out who she is while she helps them. Werehyenas, vampires, Valkyries, and numerous other magical folk fill the pages of this book. Plus, there’s the human love interest. But before she can settle down, Georgette must confront the darkest parts of her upbringing as a witch as well as work through her trauma.
The plot is standard fantasy fare. Witches enslave “familiars” (any other magical creatures collectively called fae for some reason) by branding them. But one young witch uses the brand to share power with her magical friends. One of her new friends’ family member (wife) was taken by the big bad (fae traffickers) and together they must save her. Things go from bad to worse until finally there’s a happy ending. Wrap it all up in family trauma and that’s the book. Not bad. I enjoyed the plot for what it is.
The characters ranged from fleshed out and interesting to stereotypes. I wanted more out of Kazimiera. She was on the flatter end of the spectrum, as was Mei-Xing. Georgette and Ishak were the fleshiest, so to speak. I wasn’t particularly a fan of Ishak. The whole point of the book is emotional growth, but Ishak keeps playing on Georgette’s guilt instead of trusting her to help him because she wants to. It’s super annoying. He does it all the way through and no one calls him out on it. Yes, she’s a witch. Yes, her kind are generally dicks. But she’s proven her loyalty to the fae time and time again. Stop being an asshat.
I don’t generally talk about book structure unless it’s glaringly flawed, so guess what! It’s not great. Every chapter is from a different POV. Usually, it switches between three characters, but there are at least nine POVs that get at least a chapter. It’s too many to keep track of, especially when they show up once and that’s it. It’s also unnecessary. The prologue being from the aunt’s perspective could have just as easily been in Ivy’s perspective. The aunt didn’t play a role at all in the book. And the guy who just shows up to die. His chapter was useless. Nico’s chapters were okay, but not exactly necessary either. Same with Neil. There should be like five POVs, tops. Any more and it gets super hard for the average reader to follow.
The writing itself was nice. There was a lot going on, but the pacing was pretty good. It dragged in the beginning, but got better.
Ultimately, I enjoyed Magic by Any Other Name for what it is. A found-family fantasy story. If there’s another one, I’ll give it a shot. It’s called book one, so I’m guessing it’s supposed to be a series, but it’s an okay stand-alone.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. There’s room for improvement, but if you enjoy fantasy and found-family stories, it’s not bad.
November 14, 2023
Ivy Nichols O'Reilly has made the difficult decision to leave her controlling and abusive family. However, leaving isn't easy when you come from a powerful family of witches. Ivy changes her name to Georgette and finds a place to stay on the other side of the country. With Georgette is Mei-Xing, a wood nymph and her best friend. As they travel, Georgette and Mei-Xing are found by an enslaved Werehyena, Ishak, who seeks Georgette's help to free his wife from a familiar brokerage. The trio identify the brokerage in Las Vegas and Georgette finds a job with a Vampire, Kazimiera, keeping up the enchantments on her magical club. As they are planning, Georgette catches the attention of a Valkyrie and her partner who need Georgette's powers, but could also help them free the familiars in the brokerage. In the search for Ishak's wife, the group discovers something much more sinister at the brokerage that they need to solve.
Magic By Any Other Name is an exciting fantasy that examines the value of friendship, finding strength within yourself and overcoming abuse. The writing brings the many magical characters alive with amazing descriptions and distinctly human traits. I felt a connection with Ivy and her strength to escape and reclaim her self worth. Her spirit and amazing willingness to help others shone through. Mei-Xing, Ishak, Kazimiera, Nico, Neil, Delia and Senji were also well developed and interesting characters. I liked that the point of view switched between all of the characters in order to see their perspective on the events and what was driving them and important to them. I love that Georgette was able to gain confidence in herself and her abilities through her friendships with the others in order to find purpose and do good. Culminating in standing up to her mother along with forging her own path in life, Magic By Any Other name is an exciting fantasy with plenty and magic and heart.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Magic By Any Other Name is an exciting fantasy that examines the value of friendship, finding strength within yourself and overcoming abuse. The writing brings the many magical characters alive with amazing descriptions and distinctly human traits. I felt a connection with Ivy and her strength to escape and reclaim her self worth. Her spirit and amazing willingness to help others shone through. Mei-Xing, Ishak, Kazimiera, Nico, Neil, Delia and Senji were also well developed and interesting characters. I liked that the point of view switched between all of the characters in order to see their perspective on the events and what was driving them and important to them. I love that Georgette was able to gain confidence in herself and her abilities through her friendships with the others in order to find purpose and do good. Culminating in standing up to her mother along with forging her own path in life, Magic By Any Other name is an exciting fantasy with plenty and magic and heart.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
October 16, 2023
Starting off, toward the beginning of the book was not easy to get into. It had some interest, but it was kind of forgettable. However, it does get better.
Georgette is a great character. It takes a lot of strength to leave toxic situations. There are only really a couple of issues I have with her - first being that she leaves her younger sister behind with little thought for most of the book, until she suddenly remembers later on. While I understand that she might not have been able to safely take her on the journey, you would think that she would either give words of advice or think about her more. The second is how fast she falls in love with Neil and trusts him. I'm not saying that you can't fall in love that fast, but it seems unrealistic when you think about how Georgette has trust issues from her family. I wish that this was explored more in the novel.
Ishak also has trust issues, as he is searching for his wife, who was kidnapped and sold off. I absolutely love his character. You can tell that he cares so much; he doesn't just say it. While we don't really get a look at his backstory, his character is very well developed throughout the book. My only concern is that it seems like he got more development than Georgette, the main character.
The Valkyrie and her raven are barely in the book at all, and I am hoping that will change as the author writes the sequel (s). Mei-Xing was actually pretty well developed, though not as much as I'd like.
I do very much like the way that trauma is handled in this. Since it is a young adult novel, there are obvious things that may not be appropriately and accurately portrayed, but it is definitely enough to go on with younger audiences.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book, and it is definitely recommendable to a few of my friends.
Georgette is a great character. It takes a lot of strength to leave toxic situations. There are only really a couple of issues I have with her - first being that she leaves her younger sister behind with little thought for most of the book, until she suddenly remembers later on. While I understand that she might not have been able to safely take her on the journey, you would think that she would either give words of advice or think about her more. The second is how fast she falls in love with Neil and trusts him. I'm not saying that you can't fall in love that fast, but it seems unrealistic when you think about how Georgette has trust issues from her family. I wish that this was explored more in the novel.
Ishak also has trust issues, as he is searching for his wife, who was kidnapped and sold off. I absolutely love his character. You can tell that he cares so much; he doesn't just say it. While we don't really get a look at his backstory, his character is very well developed throughout the book. My only concern is that it seems like he got more development than Georgette, the main character.
The Valkyrie and her raven are barely in the book at all, and I am hoping that will change as the author writes the sequel (s). Mei-Xing was actually pretty well developed, though not as much as I'd like.
I do very much like the way that trauma is handled in this. Since it is a young adult novel, there are obvious things that may not be appropriately and accurately portrayed, but it is definitely enough to go on with younger audiences.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book, and it is definitely recommendable to a few of my friends.
January 29, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and SparkPress for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!
"Magic By Any Other Name" by Alison Levy is an engaging story focusing on the themes of identity, found family, and magic, drawing you into the intricate world Levy has created. Fleeing from her emotionally abusive mother and troubled family, Ivy embarks on a journey to construct a new identity as Georgette, accompanied by her best friend Mei-Xing. The narrative introduces a diverse ensemble of magical beings, including were-hyenas, vampires, Valkyries, and more, creating a rich and fantastical backdrop.
I really enjoyed the world that Levy created, especially with the variety of magical beings throughout the book; the exploration of these creatures was very interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about them (especially the were-hyenas – I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with those creatures before). This book also had strong character writing with Ivy's struggle to overcome her traumatic past and build connections with her newfound magical family. I thought the family trauma and Ivy’s reactions to her past were fleshed out and realistic, especially with her emotional growth throughout.
The book has a bit of a slow start, but I overall thought it maintained a good balance, delivering an enjoyable reading experience. Some of the side characters were a bit underdeveloped and stereotypical, but I absolutely loved the found family aspect of the story. It was a bit difficult to follow the different perspectives throughout; I found myself forgetting who was who, especially since I’m pretty bad with names.
"Magic By Any Other Name" is a book I greatly enjoyed for its feel-good atmosphere, themes of found family, and the handling of heavy topics with a lighter touch. I recommend the book for those who enjoy found family stories with a magical twist.
"Magic By Any Other Name" by Alison Levy is an engaging story focusing on the themes of identity, found family, and magic, drawing you into the intricate world Levy has created. Fleeing from her emotionally abusive mother and troubled family, Ivy embarks on a journey to construct a new identity as Georgette, accompanied by her best friend Mei-Xing. The narrative introduces a diverse ensemble of magical beings, including were-hyenas, vampires, Valkyries, and more, creating a rich and fantastical backdrop.
I really enjoyed the world that Levy created, especially with the variety of magical beings throughout the book; the exploration of these creatures was very interesting, and I enjoyed learning more about them (especially the were-hyenas – I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with those creatures before). This book also had strong character writing with Ivy's struggle to overcome her traumatic past and build connections with her newfound magical family. I thought the family trauma and Ivy’s reactions to her past were fleshed out and realistic, especially with her emotional growth throughout.
The book has a bit of a slow start, but I overall thought it maintained a good balance, delivering an enjoyable reading experience. Some of the side characters were a bit underdeveloped and stereotypical, but I absolutely loved the found family aspect of the story. It was a bit difficult to follow the different perspectives throughout; I found myself forgetting who was who, especially since I’m pretty bad with names.
"Magic By Any Other Name" is a book I greatly enjoyed for its feel-good atmosphere, themes of found family, and the handling of heavy topics with a lighter touch. I recommend the book for those who enjoy found family stories with a magical twist.
November 16, 2023
I really enjoyed Magic by Any Other Name. It was a bit of a cozy/feel-good read although there are themes of abuse, neglect, and cheating. Even the heavy topics felt lighter with the found family and friendship themes layered on. I found myself looking at the family tree a lot at the beginning of the story, but once I got the hang of who everyone was, the story flowed nicely. Each chapter is from a different character's perspective, so that can take you out of the zone, but it didn't bother me too much.
I really loved Georgette and Mei-Jing. There almost wasn't enough of the characters to get attached, but the whole cast was pretty great. It was nice to see each character's struggles show through their actions and to see them each grow and change throughout the story. That isn't easy to do with multiple POVs.
If you like found family stories or need a little magic in your life, I recommend this book! Thank you, SparkPress and LibraryThing, for an ARC of this magical novel.
I really loved Georgette and Mei-Jing. There almost wasn't enough of the characters to get attached, but the whole cast was pretty great. It was nice to see each character's struggles show through their actions and to see them each grow and change throughout the story. That isn't easy to do with multiple POVs.
If you like found family stories or need a little magic in your life, I recommend this book! Thank you, SparkPress and LibraryThing, for an ARC of this magical novel.
November 20, 2023
Such a great ya novel by Alison Levy. I have read and reviewed a few by her and I never come away disappointed. She is a wonderful author that knows how to create a wonderful set of characters in these great fantasy worlds that just pull you into the story.
This novel is no different, it pulls you into a world of magic and mystery and family abuse from a young witches point of view. You meet a nymph , a were hyena, a Valkyrie and many other magical characters along the way in a world full of humans.
Georgette aka Ivy is on the run from her abusive witch family with her friend and they fall into this crazy situation and she just cant leave without helping which throws her down the rabbit hole of bad situation after bad situation.
Such a whirlwind of a story but I loved it.
5 stars
This novel is no different, it pulls you into a world of magic and mystery and family abuse from a young witches point of view. You meet a nymph , a were hyena, a Valkyrie and many other magical characters along the way in a world full of humans.
Georgette aka Ivy is on the run from her abusive witch family with her friend and they fall into this crazy situation and she just cant leave without helping which throws her down the rabbit hole of bad situation after bad situation.
Such a whirlwind of a story but I loved it.
5 stars
November 8, 2023
3.75-4 stars
Thank you so much Books Forward Pr for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Despite this book being very honest about the generational trauma, and having a lot of hard themes, it was an easy read. At times, I thought I was watching a movie at how easily Levy details magic or a specific moment. This book also emphasizes the found family over blood that so many of us relate to. My favorite characters were by far Delia and Senji, a Valkyrie and her raven partner. Their stories fascinated me and the way Levy chose to retell a Valkyrie’s mythology just beguiled me. I loved Levy’s tone and how she depicted different pov’s throughout the book.
Books CW: generational trauma, emotional abuse, death, trafficking, arranged marriage, narcissistic mother, violence
Thank you so much Books Forward Pr for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Despite this book being very honest about the generational trauma, and having a lot of hard themes, it was an easy read. At times, I thought I was watching a movie at how easily Levy details magic or a specific moment. This book also emphasizes the found family over blood that so many of us relate to. My favorite characters were by far Delia and Senji, a Valkyrie and her raven partner. Their stories fascinated me and the way Levy chose to retell a Valkyrie’s mythology just beguiled me. I loved Levy’s tone and how she depicted different pov’s throughout the book.
Books CW: generational trauma, emotional abuse, death, trafficking, arranged marriage, narcissistic mother, violence
November 10, 2023
I loved reading this book about Ivy/Georgette and her best friend Mei-Xing. I loved this book in the very first chapter, about Claudia(Olivia) and how Ivy was going to be the MC and her story for the rest of the book as she becomes a different person. This was an intriguing and engaging read overall and the author did a great job with the writing of this book. I really enjoyed the story between Georgette and Ishak’s story to find his wife. There is so much to this story, emotional abuse, escaping from a bad situation, changing one’s name, kidnapping, forced slavery, and more are just a few of the triggers.
The end of the story is a nice way to end the book but it does also leave the book open for more of the story, so I am interested to see where the story goes from here.
The end of the story is a nice way to end the book but it does also leave the book open for more of the story, so I am interested to see where the story goes from here.
September 17, 2023
Magic by Any Other Name by Alison Levy
Ivy is in an abusive home and has to escape. Her best friend is a Wood Nymph named Mei-Xing. Together they escape Hazel the horrible, Ivy’s abusive mother. On the run they find themselves helping others who are also in horrible situations.
This is not a kid’s book as some of the violence is graphic. The other addresses situations with plenty of action and anguish. There is a wealth of fantastic creatures who exhibit some very human characteristics, fears, and behaviors.
I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next volume.
Ivy is in an abusive home and has to escape. Her best friend is a Wood Nymph named Mei-Xing. Together they escape Hazel the horrible, Ivy’s abusive mother. On the run they find themselves helping others who are also in horrible situations.
This is not a kid’s book as some of the violence is graphic. The other addresses situations with plenty of action and anguish. There is a wealth of fantastic creatures who exhibit some very human characteristics, fears, and behaviors.
I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next volume.
October 27, 2023
This was such a fast-paced, easy read — which is not something that can be said about a lot of fantasy books. I often get confused reading fantasy if the world is too complicated, but this book is set in the real world with a simple magic system that's easy to understand and follow. Nymphs and vampires and Valkyries are all things I've heard of before and instead of focusing on what the characters are, I could focus more on who they were. I also loved that the book touched on some really important topics like mental health and the value of found family over blood. If you're a fan of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, then you're gonna love this one!
February 7, 2024
Magic by Any Other Name takes readers on a fantasy-filled journey filled with magic, overcoming trauma, and friendship. It’s a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end as Georgette sets out to break free from her mother’s reins and take charge of her own life. Once living (somewhat) on her own she faces numerous difficult obstacles from real-life enemies to processing her trauma and trying to heal from it. Her journey is not an easy one, but she grows into her own with the help of others and starts to believe in herself (and her magical abilities).
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....
November 8, 2023
In this book, the MC runs away with her best friend to get away from a toxic home life. It is a story of self-discovery, friendship, and learning to trust again. The beginning of the book is slow at first, but it picks up well and pulls you in. I like the character development in this story but I feel like some of the characters were a little more fleshed out than others. Made it feel a little like we were following the wrong person. Loved the Valkyrie, hope that we will get to see more in future books.
December 20, 2023
Ivy has run away from an arranged marrige and her emotionally abusive mother. Her companion is a
Mei-Xing, a Wood Nymph. Ivy locates an aunt who escaped from the family. The aunt tells her to create
a new identity/life that will keep the mother from finding her.
As Ivy heads out, she crosses paths with other magical creatures who are in need of help. Taking
the name of Georgette, she discovers she is stronger than she thinks.
Lovely tale of friendship, resilience and healing.
#MagicByAnyOtherName #NetGalley
Mei-Xing, a Wood Nymph. Ivy locates an aunt who escaped from the family. The aunt tells her to create
a new identity/life that will keep the mother from finding her.
As Ivy heads out, she crosses paths with other magical creatures who are in need of help. Taking
the name of Georgette, she discovers she is stronger than she thinks.
Lovely tale of friendship, resilience and healing.
#MagicByAnyOtherName #NetGalley
December 29, 2023
In this tale, Ivy/Georgette escapes her toxic home with her bestie Mei-Xing, bonding over shared trauma while yearning for genuine love and trust. The narrative delves into self-discovery, friendship, and the process of rebuilding trust within oneself and with others. Although the story starts at a leisurely pace, it quickly gains momentum, captivating readers. The character development is praiseworthy, though some felt more nuanced than others.
Despite not typically delving into fantasy, this book ignited a newfound interest in the genre. A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley for this delightful journey into a mesmerizing new world.
Despite not typically delving into fantasy, this book ignited a newfound interest in the genre. A heartfelt thanks to NetGalley for this delightful journey into a mesmerizing new world.
January 3, 2024
This book took me a little while to read. I had to put it down and come back to it for the first 2/3rds of the book but once I got to the last third it was a fast one. There are a lot of characters and POVs. I had to write down each character and a bit about them to keep them straight in the beginning. The author puts a lot into the history of each character and it gets a bit dense at times. Once you're invested in the characters it's worth having all that information and makes the outcome of the book that much better.
November 8, 2023
I loved all the magical characters featured in this book, and I related to the MC's struggle to pave her own path. The story is both a fantasy road trip adventure and a hard, sincere look at emotional abuse—but at its heart, it's about a young witch trying to find her place in a sometimes unforgiving, yet fantastical world. Levy has brought something totally unique to the table, and I can't wait to see where this series goes.
August 18, 2024
I hope there’s a follow up!
Fun world with a lot of unique and well developed characters. It tells a complete story, but leaves plenty of room to explore where they go from here.
Really interesting take on the Valkyrie and the whole nightclub scene. I’m not sure about Neil, but willing to see where that goes.
Off to see if there’s a sequel.
Fun world with a lot of unique and well developed characters. It tells a complete story, but leaves plenty of room to explore where they go from here.
Really interesting take on the Valkyrie and the whole nightclub scene. I’m not sure about Neil, but willing to see where that goes.
Off to see if there’s a sequel.
March 30, 2024
So so good. Loved it. Can’t wait for the rest of the series.
January 28, 2025
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
One of the more interesting parts of the story was the characterization and the way the story flowed. For me, the character dynamics was the strongest aspect of this story.
Gripping Characters
Magic By Any Other Name follows Georgette, whose original name was Ivy O’Reilly. Part of a magical family, she was subject to a lot of emotional abuse, especially by her narcissistic mother. When her mother arranges a marriage for her to a shady character, for lack of a better word, Ivy decides this is the moment that she’s had enough. In the middle of the night with her wood nymph friend, she sneaks out, flees the country, and changes her name.
I really like how the story breaks apart POV’s and slowly introduces more and more characters. You have a vampire, a werehyena, and a Valkyrie, just to name a few, and it’s exciting to see how they all put their differences aside to form a bond with Georgette as she builds her new identity and life.
As Georgette reflects on her past, you know you are seeing a lot of the trauma that she has to deal with, a lot of the abuse, emotional, sometimes physical, that she suffered at the hands of her mother. Through her relationships, she’s finding her strength because she has to put aside some of her own trauma to undo some of the damage her witch community has done to all these magical and fantastical creatures communities.
She sees so much beyond herself and is forming her own family and learning about real love. She’s learning what real family is all about, which is the story’s most powerful aspect.
And I really like how the other characters are seeing her as well. But you’re also seeing the way the other characters change. They all have this persona about them, but they are growing and evolving throughout the story, making for a thoughtful narrative.
Final Thoughts
The pacing, I will say, is a little slow, but the author makes up more than that with her solid characterization and character dynamics. Magic By Any Other Name is a really thoughtful and moving story about moving on from trauma and abuse and breaking that cycle to have a happy ending.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
An emotional young adult fantasy, Magic By Any Other Name shows what it means to find your own family and the resilience to come out of trauma.
One of the more interesting parts of the story was the characterization and the way the story flowed. For me, the character dynamics was the strongest aspect of this story.
Gripping Characters
Magic By Any Other Name follows Georgette, whose original name was Ivy O’Reilly. Part of a magical family, she was subject to a lot of emotional abuse, especially by her narcissistic mother. When her mother arranges a marriage for her to a shady character, for lack of a better word, Ivy decides this is the moment that she’s had enough. In the middle of the night with her wood nymph friend, she sneaks out, flees the country, and changes her name.
I really like how the story breaks apart POV’s and slowly introduces more and more characters. You have a vampire, a werehyena, and a Valkyrie, just to name a few, and it’s exciting to see how they all put their differences aside to form a bond with Georgette as she builds her new identity and life.
As Georgette reflects on her past, you know you are seeing a lot of the trauma that she has to deal with, a lot of the abuse, emotional, sometimes physical, that she suffered at the hands of her mother. Through her relationships, she’s finding her strength because she has to put aside some of her own trauma to undo some of the damage her witch community has done to all these magical and fantastical creatures communities.
She sees so much beyond herself and is forming her own family and learning about real love. She’s learning what real family is all about, which is the story’s most powerful aspect.
And I really like how the other characters are seeing her as well. But you’re also seeing the way the other characters change. They all have this persona about them, but they are growing and evolving throughout the story, making for a thoughtful narrative.
Final Thoughts
The pacing, I will say, is a little slow, but the author makes up more than that with her solid characterization and character dynamics. Magic By Any Other Name is a really thoughtful and moving story about moving on from trauma and abuse and breaking that cycle to have a happy ending.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
January 12, 2024
Magic by Any Other Name follows Georgette as she runs away from her toxic magical family with her friend, a wood nymph named Mei-Xing. Their journey does not go as planned, however, as they become friends with the locals and realize that they can use their magic for good.
At the start of the book, I was not thinking this would be a book I liked. It started slowly and focused heavily on the different classes of the magical creatures. While I enjoyed the ethnic diversity of the characters, I wish it existed beyond characters in the lower "slave" classes, especially in a setting like California.
As I got farther into the book, I started to enjoy it more. Georgette was becoming her own person, aside from who her mother wanted her to be, and she gained a significant amount of confidence in her magical abilities. She also realized that her life was worth living, and that there are people who will come together with you and join you in your chaotic life.
My biggest issue with the book was how the diverse characters were integrated into the plot. While some of the characters were well developed, this book would have been much better had the diversity existed in all elements of the book and characters, not just the lower class of characters.
I received this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
At the start of the book, I was not thinking this would be a book I liked. It started slowly and focused heavily on the different classes of the magical creatures. While I enjoyed the ethnic diversity of the characters, I wish it existed beyond characters in the lower "slave" classes, especially in a setting like California.
As I got farther into the book, I started to enjoy it more. Georgette was becoming her own person, aside from who her mother wanted her to be, and she gained a significant amount of confidence in her magical abilities. She also realized that her life was worth living, and that there are people who will come together with you and join you in your chaotic life.
My biggest issue with the book was how the diverse characters were integrated into the plot. While some of the characters were well developed, this book would have been much better had the diversity existed in all elements of the book and characters, not just the lower class of characters.
I received this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2024
The characters and their relationships didn’t quite land for me. This might have been in part due to awkward pacing and frequent point-of-view changes.
It was sort of unfortunate since that really defines the novel. Georgette’s story is one of escaping an abusive family and Ishak’s is trying to reunite with his family. Along the way, all the main characters’ journeys involve finding comfort, trust, healing, etc. in found family and, in Georgette’s case, romance in Georgette’s case. While I understood the aim there, the character dynamics fell a little flat and didn’t always feel natural.
It was sort of unfortunate since that really defines the novel. Georgette’s story is one of escaping an abusive family and Ishak’s is trying to reunite with his family. Along the way, all the main characters’ journeys involve finding comfort, trust, healing, etc. in found family and, in Georgette’s case, romance in Georgette’s case. While I understood the aim there, the character dynamics fell a little flat and didn’t always feel natural.
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