Sinners of Magic

Of Magic #1

by Lynette E. Creswell, Phil Moss (Illustrator)

Crystal is no ordinary sixteen year old girl. Ever since she was a small child she's been able to sense things, feel when danger approaches and now she's gone one step further and saved a boy's life by summoning a supernatural being. Little does she know it but her natural parents are powerful immortals. Secret lovers in a magical land where procreation outside of their own realms is forbidden, the Elders punish Amella and Bridgemear by banishing their new born child to the world of mere mortals. Years have passed and dark times have descended upon the Elf Realm. Crystal is visited by a shape-changer and tricked into believing if she returns to the Kingdom of Nine Winters, she will find the answers regarding her newly revealed birth right. Soon she is caught up in dangers greater than anything she could have ever imagined while those who fight at her side, battle to protect her from a wicked sorcerer gone insane and one who is willing to take her to the very edge of destruction...

Genres: Fantasy

348 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Lynette was born in London but raised in Burnley, Lancashire. From the tender age of five she was raised by her grandmother who gave her books in which to help keep her quiet. However, Lynette found she had quite a passion for reading and subsequently began writing once she started school.

Whilst at junior school Lynette's teacher was so impressed with her writing skills that her stories were read out to her classmates. Due to family commitments Lynette was unable to take her writing further and joined the Forces instead. Lynette married a soldier and when her children came along she had little time to write but jotted down a few tales for her boys to read at bedtime.

Lynette's husband was so impressed with her ability to capture people's imaginations that he encouraged her love of writing by buying her a laptop in the hope she would write something a little more substantial. So with a great deal of encouragement and a push in the right direction her first novel Sinners of Magic was born.

Lynette decided her first novel would be something magical and her inspiration came from writers from her childhood such as Enid Blyton. ‘The Faraway Tree’ and ‘The Wishing Chair’ were her first real taste of fantasy and later on in life J.K. Rowling's Potter series proved to her that magic was still alive in peoples hearts. Her second novel, Betrayers of Magic is currently available on kindle and will be out in paperback by May 2013. Lynette currently lives near Grimsby and works part-time for the NHS.

Reviews

[A.E. Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really consumed me to the point where I'd begin reading it and before I knew it, the sun was down. That's how easily you become absorbed by it's magic. Amazing characters and fantastic descriptions that really give you a vision of the world. I'm currently re reading it with my daughter who is six and she loves it also. It's a book I'd recommend and a book I'd read again and again. Can't wait to start on book 2 which is out now! :)

[Jenny Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must confess, this is not a genre I usually read but I’m very glad I read this one. I was captivated from the very first page. What a wonderful premise for a story this was! Crystal, who came from the illegitimate affair between a wizard an elfin princess in the magical land of the immortals, is taken away when a babe and left as a changeling in our real world. She is brought up by a widow who believes Crystal to be her own, though she is haunted by a dream she had on the night, unknown to her, that her real child had died.
Yet the author gives the teenage Crystal a modern, feisty edge. She is a supposedly ordinary girl in the mortal world, but who increasingly comes to realise she has extraordinary powers. Visited by a shape-changer from the Elf Realm, Crystal’s curiosity about her real origins is aroused. She meets Matt, who becomes her trusty friend, amid the dusty shelves of the town library. After being tricked into believing she will find the answers she seeks in the Kingdom of the Nine Winters, Crystal and Matt embark on a terrifying journey of discovery and danger.
Written with great imaginative flair and vivid descriptions, Lynette E Creswell takes us on a magical journey into a land of elves, witches, wizards, and Nonhawk warriors, and through evocatively named kingdoms such as Raven’s Rainbow, and the Kingdom of the Nine Winters.
This book contains all the ingredients of a great, action packed, fantasy novel. That this was a debut novel makes it all the more commendable. It is no surprise that Lynette E Creswell has built such a solid following of fans.
Recommend.

[Arianne The Bookworm on the Loose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a great enchanting read. Watch out Harry Potter! A new hero is here, and she's not wearing glasses. Be ready to get transported into another realm, where magic unfolds right before your eyes.

Imagine having been born to the mortal world, only to discover that you belong to another place where mythical creatures like elves, witches, shape-changers, wood sprites, warriors and mages dwell and conquer each other. Get ready to be fascinated, amazed, intimidated and frightened with the creatures of he Kingdom of Nine Winters. That's where Crystal was transported to, where she got lost, captured and rescued. But amidst all these experiences, she learned the truth about herself, she discovered who her true friends were and she tried her best to embrace her destiny.

I love so many things in this book. First, the characters. Crystal is one feisty daughter of Bridgemear, the magician, and Princess Amella, the banished daughter of King Gamada. She's incredibly brave and loyal, who wouldn't think twice in saving her friends, even if her life is in danger. She even got transcendental magic she never knew of. And there's Matt - a mortal who became Crystal's friend after she saved her from drowning and getting killed by an evil force (Abbadon) and who accompanied her to the Magical world.

Among the other characters I liked in the book are:
Bracken - the naughty wood sprite who was caught stealing Bridgemear's food
Tremlon - the trusted King's envoy and shape-changer who told Crystal about her birthright.
Amadeus - a strong, loyal and brave elf warrior
Nekton - the good-hearted innkeeper of the Fortune's End, who thirsts for adventure
and of course - King Forusian - the evil and cunning King of the Nonhawk, who captured Crystal and wanted to copulate with her to start his bloodline

I also liked how modern technology was somehow incorporated in the magical world. Like, imagine a room that can magically transform into a place of your liking by just using a room dial. Or being able to open a particular magical door by using the authorized thumbprint. Amazingly, the author was able to define the characters and the story in a readable and engaging manner, that's why I had a great time reading the book. Truly an amazing feat for a debut.

I recommend Sinners of Magic to those who may have missed Harry Potter. I recommend this book to fantasy lovers like me. I recommend this to those who want to feel good during and after reading. I recommend this to everyone!

[Tony Yoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinners of Magic is a must read for anyone that loves Fantasy. I was hooked from the first page, the writer makes you feel like you want to protect the main character Crystal and her loyal friends.
Crystal is the illegitimate child of a Wizard and and an Elven Princess. Crystal is totally unaware of this due to having only known her earthly Mother and the want of a Father she had never seen. The only thing Crystal and her earthly Mother know is that she is different than most girls, having strange visions and insights that's she is compelled to follow through.
This Fantastical story transports you to beautifully described realms of Powerful, witches, Elves and sometimes scary situations especially for brave Crystal and her friends.
The story develops into a breath taking Finale which just left me wanting more and just had to order the next in the trilogy Betrayers of Magic.
I'd like to congratulate and thank the author for giving me a place I could escape to during a very difficult time.

[Soo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I follow a strict protocol with electronic books and very rarely pay over 99p for a book by a new author, without first downloading a sample. The sample of this book really grabbed me and I downloaded it without a thought for the cost.

The way that the character, Crystal, was introduced into the story was very original and that is not easy to achieve within this genre. The characters were very engaging and I really wanted to follow their progress. I particularly liked Tremlon and his encounter with Crystal and Matt in the library.

As with many first books, published electronically, the proof reading was a little under par. My only bugbear while reading was the overuse of the word "slither" but that is purely subjective. Both of these points are intended as constructive criticism and they did not prevent my enjoyment of the storyline. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I was picturing it as a film the whole way through and i know that this book can and will go very far. This book has everything that any fantasy reader will love, including elves and a sprite to name just a couple. I do not usually read fantasy but thought i would give it a go and i don't regret it one bit. The storyline had me hooked from the get go and i love Lynette's magical way with words. She is such a talented author and i can't wait to read more books from her.

[Rose Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

l love this book from start to end, this is certainly magical,wonderful fantastic story,l really enjoyed reading it,their are places it pulled my heart strings,l felt sorry for Chystals parents,who were forced to have their daughter taken away from and put into another world,now l'm going to stop there, l recommend if u are a lover of fantasy then this is the book for u, you will love it as l did, so be a devil and go for it u wont regret it. R M Steiger

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical debut novel, which gets to the heart of the fantasy genre. A good YA read with a compelling story, yet still readable and relatable to an adult readership. With well created characters and a twisting plot, Ms Cresswell is one to watch!

[Connie Jasperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Periodically I like to check out the Young Adult and Teen books available out on the indie market, as I have grandchildren and like to be able to recommend a good read for them. Sinners of Magic, by Lynette Creswell is a YA fantasy book, suitable for readers age 12 and up.

The Blurb:
Crystal is no ordinary sixteen year old girl. Ever since she was a small child she's been able to sense things, feel when danger approaches and now she's gone one step further and saved a boy’s life by summoning a supernatural being.

Little does she know it but her natural parents are powerful immortals. Secret lovers in a magical land where procreation outside of their own realms is forbidden, the Elders punish Amella and Bridgemear by banishing their new born child to the world of mere mortals.

Years have passed and dark times have descended upon the Elf Realm. Crystal is visited by a shape-changer and tricked into believing if she returns to the Kingdom of Nine Winters, she will find the answers regarding her newly revealed birth right.

Soon she is caught up in dangers greater than anything she could have ever imagined while those who fight at her side, battle to protect her from a wicked sorcerer gone insane and one who is willing to take her to the very edge of destruction...

MY REVIEW:
This is an excellent novel for teens. The characters are compelling, and the storyline is a good play on the traditional switched-at-birth theme. If at times the dialogue is a little stilted, over all this book was an enjoyable read. Crystal is a kind, rather cocky and headstrong girl. She is somewhat confrontational, but it seems to be her nature. Matt, whom she meets on Earth and whose life she saved is also a well-drawn, three-dimensional character.

Bridgemear is hard to like, but he is Crystal’s birth-father and a powerful magician, and Amella is a strong, usually likeable character. I like the way their relationship was handled.

Tremlon, the shape-changer and King's envoy, has a major role in this tale, and his burden of guilt and responsibility is handled well. At the end, I was left wondering about Amadeus, a strong, loyal and brave elf warrior who struggles with many issues. I’m definitely curious to see where that thread leads in the next book.

I did find the wood sprite, Bracken, to be quite hilarious, and I enjoyed Nekton, the innkeeper of Fortune's End, who longs for a real adventure. There is great atmosphere in this tale, and great adventure.

As in all good tales, bad things happen to good people, and worse things happen to the bad people. I liked the way the evil King Forusian, who kidnaps Crystal with lustful intentions, was dealt with.

I’d gladly recommend this book to any young teen, and give it four full stars for inventiveness and a good, immersive story. The narrative may be a little too young for some adults, but I found it to be an excellent afternoon of reading.

[Valerie Hemlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Sinners of Magic ~ Book One, Magic Series, by Lynette Creswell

Lynette Creswell is a Master storyteller

Sinners of Magic, a Young Adult fantasy, is the first book in Lynette Creswell’s The Magic Trilogy series. This new fantasy is particularly creative and quite unique. Instead of relying on traditional fables and fairytales, Ms. Creswell weaves a delightful story that crosses seamlessly from our mundane world into a magical extraordinary one. She sets up the story brilliantly in a dark prologue leading into the story years later.

Crystal, the beautiful copeer haired heroine is 17 years old with a mysterious past and inexplicable powers. Her friend Matt, a teen heartthrob, follows her bravely, if a bit reluctantly, into the unknown. Their adventure is non-stop action and filled with breath-taking suspense. They meet Tremlon a shape-shifting elf, in the public library where he conjures a living, miniature fire-breathing dragon. When sparks literally fly, they all flee into the extraordinary world where they meet an engaging cast of vibrant characters ~ dashing warrior wizards, suspicious elven courtiers, a helpful, yet reclusive woman, a sinister witch, and a delightful wood-sprite named Bracken. And what adventure would be complete without an evil villain whose plotting threatens to overthrow the entire Nine Winter’s Realm?

In short, this cleverly told tale packs in adventure, intrigue and a distinctive world-view that is sure to please both young adults and even a fun loving, older young-at-heart audience. I highly recommend this book to all readers of YA and light fantasy. I have even taken a peek into her next book, Betrayers of Magic, already promising to surpass this remarkable tale.

[Angus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The protagonist in this work is a teenager named Crystal who has suffered though her years knowing she was different but not why. Having visions and being able to cause stuff to happen when she wears a certain piece of jewelry that her mother found in the crib with her as a baby are just the glamour on the surface. Just wait and see what she self discovers once she ventures out of the ordinary world.

I'm really impressed. Thank you very much Lynette for world building, creating an epic coming of age journey for a reader to be carried away with in a more meal sized package. Other than a few point of view shifts that muddle unless you immediately reread the passages I feel that this is a well thought out story and worthy of reading for ages nine and up.

On a more mature literary note it is amazing how we can develop fantasies and display questions or views of race relations. I felt that it was going to get a bit preachy but the topics were presented as an undercurrent throughout the book and resolved to a side by the end. The manuscript could use another pass by an editor but so could several works I have read from Tor and Random House.

I recommend this book not only for personal entertainment but as a book for discussion in groups of readers as they challenge each other to find all the plots and ideas.

http://www.amazon.com/Sinners-of-Magi...

[A.J. Attard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, spell binding, and absolutely enchanting!

[Kurt Springs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.

Synopsis:

When the elf Amella and the wizard Bridgemear become lovers, the birth of their daughter sets events into motion. The Elders force the two to stay apart and banish their infant daughter to the Ordinary Realm (our world). Sixteen years later, Crystal proves to be no ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. She can sense things and feel when danger is near. She has saved a human boy from drowning at the hands of a demon named Abbadon by summoning a supernatural being.

Troubles have come to the Extraordinary Realm of elves and wizards. The elf king of the realm of Nine Winters sends a shape-changer to bring his granddaughter back to help deal with an evil king who will consort with the dark powers to conquer the Extraordinary Realm for himself. Crystal finds friends in the Extraordinary world but finds herself caught up in the power struggle before her friends can train her to use her magic. The evil King Forusian has kidnapped her, and if he can’t force her to his will through marriage, he will use darker means.

Review:

It is hard to pin Sinners of Magic into a particular genre of fantasy. The protagonist, Crystal, is a young woman living in our world. She can also fall into the category of a changeling. When the Elders banish her to the Ordinary World as an infant, the magical beings replace a dead infant with her before her mother realizes that she lost her baby.

The story is engaging, but while brave in her own way, Crystal ends up a stereotypical damsel in distress. That isn’t to say she doesn’t have any agency. She defies King Forusian. She insists on returning to King Forusian’s castle to rescue her friends. However, when the final crisis comes, she is reliant on others. Still, the story is quite enjoyable. I look forward to reading the sequel.

[A.L. Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinners of Magic by Lynette Cresswell is a fantasy tale following the adventures of young adults Crystal and Matt. Crystal is a strange girl, haunted by visions, and odd occurrences and has no answers for her skills. After she saves her friend from drowning a strange bird arrives on her windowsill. Then answers start coming and a splendid adventure really starts. The world is interesting - with elves, sorcerers, monsters and orc-like beings. The rules of the world are strict, and inevitably get broken and this leads to more problems. There is death, there is wicked magic, there is love, courage and intrigue.

It took me a while to get into the book and to connect with the characters (it may be an age thing as they are young adults - and I haven't been that for 25 years...). That said once the adventure gets going the story is exciting, well-written and the world well crafted. The two protagonists are out of their depth, taken to a strange realm they never believed existed, and faced with life-threatening revelations and situations but the bond of friendship doesn't wane. I found myself really wanting Crystal to find the answers, the evil lord to be defeated and the good guys to win out. Did they? Read and find out.

I shall definitely pick up the other two books in this trilogy.

4 stars.

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read to pass the time. Was not good d enough to make me rush out for the 2nd book in the series. A few things were done without an explanation that I did not like.

[Jenny Burnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

SINNERS OF MAGIC-A GREAT READ
This unique, engaging fantasy story is the first in the series of The Magic Trilogy. It revolves around a beautiful girl called Crystal, daughter of a magician and an elf Princess, who was switched at birth and left under mysterious circumstances in the earth world. She possesses magical powers, not yet developed, but obviously potentially powerful. The complex story describes her action-packed, often terrifying journey to the Magical World, to discover the secret of her mysterious beginnings, as well as learning her extraordinary destiny. The fascinating adventures she becomes engulfed in involve a large cast of well-drawn characters from the Kingdom of Nine Winters, who are described in great detail and with impressive imagination. These include Tremlon, a space-changer, Matt, the mortal, Bridgemear the magician, crafty witches, brave elves, mischievous sprites and of course the baddie of the piece, the evil Ferusian, King of the terrifying Nonhawk. Everything required for a great fantasy tale is here, bursting with intrigue, betrayal, love and mystery. I enjoyed Sinners of Magic from beginning to end; it’s a great read, try it yourself.

[Taylor Bunker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unknowing that she is a changeling, Crystal and those around her live life not knowing any better. However, she's always been able to sense danger. One day, her senses lead her to save her friend with magic. Wanting to know why she is the way she is, it appears that she will never know the truth about her powers. Until one day an elf approaches her, and offers to take her back to her homeland. Unable to pass up such an offer, Crystal and her friend Matt go with him, only to fall into the wrong hands when they get there.

This book has a fun story to tell, with magic, betrayal, and courage. The fantasy gets you day dreaming of such a world with different races, tabooed magic, and forbidden love. The ending leaving you satisfied, yet keeps the story open for the next. It's an enjoyable read!

[Billy Buttons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Our young readers enjoyed the story. They felt the characters were very well described and they loved the fantasy element running through it. There favourite character was, of course, Crystal and most of them would be interested in reading the sequel. They felt the descriptions, though beautifully written, were a little over-long and there was the odd layout problem.

If you enjoy books with very-well developed characters and a twisting and turning plot, this book is for you.

'A powerful story of magic set in a beautifully described fantasy world.' The Wishing Shelf Awards