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Seven Wanderers Trilogy #1
Lives of Magic
Seventeen-year-old Gwen is settling into her new home in Oregon and looking forward to senior year when she is kidnapped by Kian, who warns her that she is in terrible danger. An ancient war was fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. To save the world, Gwen must unlock the magic trapped in her memories of a past life in Britannia.
As Gwen starts to recover her lost memories and awakens to her power, she suffers the consequences of a divided soul. Gwen and Kian travel to New York and then to England to find others of her kind. Gwen, Garrison, Seth, and Moira need each other to solve the puzzle of their last days in ancient Britannia. They are only as strong as what they remember, but a troublesome history threatens to doom the world. One way or another, a deadly showdown is inevitable, ready or not ...
As Gwen starts to recover her lost memories and awakens to her power, she suffers the consequences of a divided soul. Gwen and Kian travel to New York and then to England to find others of her kind. Gwen, Garrison, Seth, and Moira need each other to solve the puzzle of their last days in ancient Britannia. They are only as strong as what they remember, but a troublesome history threatens to doom the world. One way or another, a deadly showdown is inevitable, ready or not ...
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
1352 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Leiderman
4 books42 followersLucy Leiderman was born on a naval base in Kaliningrad, Russia and raised in Toronto, Canada. A fan of all things mythological from an early age, she began writing stories as a child. As an adult and avid traveller, she infuses her writing with magic and compelling settings. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree from Uppsala Universitet.
During working hours, she enjoys coming up with ideas that live on the Internet. She currently resides in Toronto, where she enjoys tea, archery, and two spoiled greyhounds.
During working hours, she enjoys coming up with ideas that live on the Internet. She currently resides in Toronto, where she enjoys tea, archery, and two spoiled greyhounds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 28, 2015
This book review first appeared on: Thoughts and Pens.
***This ARC was freely provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Book gods, did I do something to displease you? Why can’t you just work your magic on me and put me under a spell that would make me love this book? Why can’t you just brew a love potion and spike my drink with it? Why can’t you just give me a good story to read? Is this part of life’s lessons? Because if you’re intending to do that then I should have graduated months ago considering the torture you’ve put me through over the past months
Right. I went into Lives Of Magic with a lot of expectations considering its stellar rating on GR and the fact that it’s about magic. My favourite kind of story. Factor in the enchanting summary, who am I to resist? But for the love of anything holy, Lives of Magic was hellbent in drawing out the beast in me. The book immediately irritated me during the early chapters with the abrupt introduction of info overload about Gwen’s life. I don’t know how to describe it properly but the timing seemed a bit off granting that Kian and Gwen just knew each other. And after Kian’s very unconvincing tale of destruction and wicked magicians, Gwen immediately went with him without a lot of thinking. For someone like Gwen, I assumed that she will have more sense than trusting her life to a complete stranger. You could say that this book and I really started on a wrong footing which proved to be irreparable until the end.
Lives of Magic is a story of five teenagers who were thrown to each other due to an ancient magical event. While still trying to fit in in a new town, Gwen—through Kian—discovered that she’s a reincarnated magician from thousands of years ago. And a long forgotten war has caught up with the new millennia and Gwen must take up the mantle of leadership to stop it from destroying the world for good.
Lives of Magic has a lot of awesome things to offer but sadly, it didn’t deliver. It could’ve been the next bestseller in the market with its premise being a cross between “I Am Number Four” and “X-Men.” But what a waste. Lives of Magic’s magic isn’t strong enough to haul itself from the depths of haphazardly written urban fantasy books. Except for a few laughs, there’s actually nothing worth reading about this book. I gave it a chance every chapter but alas, my frustration only worsens.
In terms of character development, Lives of Magic gave us half baked heroes and heroines that are almost indiscernible from one another. Gwen is irritating with her spending half the day thinking back and forth about Seth and Kian. Then she spends the other half whining about this and that. I just want her to get a move on and be someone whose life doesn’t revolve around her romantic woes. Even Gwen’s romantic interest in this book, Kian, is as bland as my morning porridge. To be fair with the author, she really attempted to develop him however, it felt phony. At times, I find his voice very inconsistent. His occasional flare for melodrama is somewhat disconcerting and didn’t suit his personality at all. He doesn’t even have the air of someone who lived in the past. Seth, Garrison and Moira felt more like unnecessary distractions rather than being important characters. It’s like if they’re not present in a particular scene, you can just forget about them.
Concerning the prose, Lives of Magic also flopped. It was too simplistic and lacklustre for my taste. It didn’t manage to draw me in. And the pop culture had my eyes rolling skywards and sidewards. Also include the fact that the interactions and dialogues were mediocre that I ended up practically talking to myself, re-enacted the scenarios in my head adding my own touch to the dialogues.
But what ruined it all for me was the PLOT. It moved in a very sluggish way that would even give the turtles a very good headstart. What’s worst is the fact that it was punctured with a lot of nonsensical stuff like thoughts of avocado wrap and tea; endless practice about self-defence, and constant moving. There’s also the constant mention of global warming and stuff like that. The flood of Gwen’s dreams was frustrating to the point that I didn’t bother reading some of them. The revelation of truths was done in a brazen way. Instead of using the gradual approach, the author always opted to overload me with information. The first chapter immediately suffered from a terrible info dump and then midway, I was just given weak snippets of the past. They were so weak that they failed to build any tension at all. And then at the end, there was another infodump. It would’ve been okay if the timing was great but it wasn’t. To make the story short, the plot was not only dull but had a lot of holes given that the author failed to construct a solid story about the whole magician war thing. For example, the things mentioned below were not explained well:
How come Kian doesn’t have magic when his brother, Seth, is gifted with one?
Is Kian the only one left in the tribe? Where are the other members of the tribe when it was clearly shown in the flashback that there were a lot of people who witnessed Gwen and Co. sacrifice? Where was the king?
Why is Kian immortal?
Why is it that Kian managed to track Gwen when he couldn’t track the other reincarnated magicians and had to rely on the latter’s capability to find them?
Why is it that the evil magicians didn’t just kidnap Gwen and Co., bring their memories back and suck their powers dry? Why do they need to rely on someone incompetent when they could immediately know the location of the others through their magic? Garrison and Seth have been using magic for years and the magicians didn’t feel them? Instead they bribed Kian to find Gwen and Co.
I could go on and on with my questions for this book but I’m already at 1000 words so let’s get moving and be done with this lengthy review. Because the character development and plot didn’t work for me, I thought the world building would come to the rescue. But boy oh boy, Lives of Magic really wanted to push my limits as a reader. The world building totally sucked and didn’t offer something new to the table. Oregon, New York and England were just described as it is without the author putting in an effort in embellishing the said places with magic.
Overall, I didn’t hate Lives of Magic. But I regretted the time I spent reading it. I regretted the fact that it has a lot of potential and yet the author failed to harness them. If only things were done in a more sophisticated way, then perhaps I would’ve seen this book in a better light. The Seven Wanderers Trilogy is, unfortunately, another series that I wouldn’t be continuing.
1 star because it’s not the worst book I’ve read.
***This ARC was freely provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***
Book gods, did I do something to displease you? Why can’t you just work your magic on me and put me under a spell that would make me love this book? Why can’t you just brew a love potion and spike my drink with it? Why can’t you just give me a good story to read? Is this part of life’s lessons? Because if you’re intending to do that then I should have graduated months ago considering the torture you’ve put me through over the past months
Right. I went into Lives Of Magic with a lot of expectations considering its stellar rating on GR and the fact that it’s about magic. My favourite kind of story. Factor in the enchanting summary, who am I to resist? But for the love of anything holy, Lives of Magic was hellbent in drawing out the beast in me. The book immediately irritated me during the early chapters with the abrupt introduction of info overload about Gwen’s life. I don’t know how to describe it properly but the timing seemed a bit off granting that Kian and Gwen just knew each other. And after Kian’s very unconvincing tale of destruction and wicked magicians, Gwen immediately went with him without a lot of thinking. For someone like Gwen, I assumed that she will have more sense than trusting her life to a complete stranger. You could say that this book and I really started on a wrong footing which proved to be irreparable until the end.
Lives of Magic is a story of five teenagers who were thrown to each other due to an ancient magical event. While still trying to fit in in a new town, Gwen—through Kian—discovered that she’s a reincarnated magician from thousands of years ago. And a long forgotten war has caught up with the new millennia and Gwen must take up the mantle of leadership to stop it from destroying the world for good.
Lives of Magic has a lot of awesome things to offer but sadly, it didn’t deliver. It could’ve been the next bestseller in the market with its premise being a cross between “I Am Number Four” and “X-Men.” But what a waste. Lives of Magic’s magic isn’t strong enough to haul itself from the depths of haphazardly written urban fantasy books. Except for a few laughs, there’s actually nothing worth reading about this book. I gave it a chance every chapter but alas, my frustration only worsens.
In terms of character development, Lives of Magic gave us half baked heroes and heroines that are almost indiscernible from one another. Gwen is irritating with her spending half the day thinking back and forth about Seth and Kian. Then she spends the other half whining about this and that. I just want her to get a move on and be someone whose life doesn’t revolve around her romantic woes. Even Gwen’s romantic interest in this book, Kian, is as bland as my morning porridge. To be fair with the author, she really attempted to develop him however, it felt phony. At times, I find his voice very inconsistent. His occasional flare for melodrama is somewhat disconcerting and didn’t suit his personality at all. He doesn’t even have the air of someone who lived in the past. Seth, Garrison and Moira felt more like unnecessary distractions rather than being important characters. It’s like if they’re not present in a particular scene, you can just forget about them.
Concerning the prose, Lives of Magic also flopped. It was too simplistic and lacklustre for my taste. It didn’t manage to draw me in. And the pop culture had my eyes rolling skywards and sidewards. Also include the fact that the interactions and dialogues were mediocre that I ended up practically talking to myself, re-enacted the scenarios in my head adding my own touch to the dialogues.
But what ruined it all for me was the PLOT. It moved in a very sluggish way that would even give the turtles a very good headstart. What’s worst is the fact that it was punctured with a lot of nonsensical stuff like thoughts of avocado wrap and tea; endless practice about self-defence, and constant moving. There’s also the constant mention of global warming and stuff like that. The flood of Gwen’s dreams was frustrating to the point that I didn’t bother reading some of them. The revelation of truths was done in a brazen way. Instead of using the gradual approach, the author always opted to overload me with information. The first chapter immediately suffered from a terrible info dump and then midway, I was just given weak snippets of the past. They were so weak that they failed to build any tension at all. And then at the end, there was another infodump. It would’ve been okay if the timing was great but it wasn’t. To make the story short, the plot was not only dull but had a lot of holes given that the author failed to construct a solid story about the whole magician war thing. For example, the things mentioned below were not explained well:
How come Kian doesn’t have magic when his brother, Seth, is gifted with one?
Is Kian the only one left in the tribe? Where are the other members of the tribe when it was clearly shown in the flashback that there were a lot of people who witnessed Gwen and Co. sacrifice? Where was the king?
Why is Kian immortal?
Why is it that Kian managed to track Gwen when he couldn’t track the other reincarnated magicians and had to rely on the latter’s capability to find them?
Why is it that the evil magicians didn’t just kidnap Gwen and Co., bring their memories back and suck their powers dry? Why do they need to rely on someone incompetent when they could immediately know the location of the others through their magic? Garrison and Seth have been using magic for years and the magicians didn’t feel them? Instead they bribed Kian to find Gwen and Co.
I could go on and on with my questions for this book but I’m already at 1000 words so let’s get moving and be done with this lengthy review. Because the character development and plot didn’t work for me, I thought the world building would come to the rescue. But boy oh boy, Lives of Magic really wanted to push my limits as a reader. The world building totally sucked and didn’t offer something new to the table. Oregon, New York and England were just described as it is without the author putting in an effort in embellishing the said places with magic.
Overall, I didn’t hate Lives of Magic. But I regretted the time I spent reading it. I regretted the fact that it has a lot of potential and yet the author failed to harness them. If only things were done in a more sophisticated way, then perhaps I would’ve seen this book in a better light. The Seven Wanderers Trilogy is, unfortunately, another series that I wouldn’t be continuing.
1 star because it’s not the worst book I’ve read.
July 6, 2013
Lives of Magic
by Lucy Leiderman
YA Fantasy
5 out of 5 Stars
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
Seventeen-year-old Gwen is settling into her new home in Oregon and looking forward to senior year when she is kidnapped by Kian, who warns her that she is in terrible danger. An ancient war was fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. To save the world, Gwen must unlock the magic trapped in her memories of a past life in Britannia.
As Gwen starts to recover her lost memories and awakens to her power, she suffers the consequences of a divided soul. Gwen and Kian travel to New York and then to England to find others of her kind. Gwen, Garrison, Seth, and Moira need each other to solve the puzzle of their last days in ancient Britannia. They are only as strong as what they remember, but a troublesome history threatens to doom the world. One way or another, a deadly showdown is inevitable, ready or not …
As a certified Anglophile for the past few decades, I am a sucker for all things Celtic. However, not many books that tackle the lore are spell-binding or gripping and merely fall into the category of travelogue through ancient times. Thankfully, Lives of Magic does not fall in that particular class.
But there is more going for this novel than just solid, intensive research into Celtic myths and culture. Lucy Leiderman has managed to bring a ragtag group of teens to life and keep you interested in how they relearn to be seasoned warriors of the past. The tenuous balance between the angst and insecurity of teens and the cocksure arrogance of blooded fighters keeps everyone on their toes, especially the reader!
You can't help but root for Gwen. She's the loner you know in school, one who looks kind of interesting but manages to keep everybody away by just doing what she wants. Plus, she's different and she knows it.
Then, meeting Kian on her first social day in a new town leaves her traumatised. She finds out she's not who she thinks she is plus she has magical powers that could help save the world from wizard domination. While it makes sense on one level, it's downright strange on another.
But she agrees to help him find the "others" and leaves her parents behind to do so. From New York to the UK, they track down other warriors and fight strange nature- and psychic-based battles. Some scenes are strangely eerie, like the clouds described in the massive hurricane that hits New York. It brings to mind that humongous swirling black cloud that hovered over the city on the day of the Hurricane Sandy. Creepy.
All the while, they struggle to regain old memories and reconnect with their mystical powers. Kian himself has secrets of his own that come into play at the height of the story... and that's all I'll say about this novel! You must read it yourself and get drawn into this most interesting work. Then, be as impatient as me to get the next instalment!
I received a copy of this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Contributed by Ramona
by Lucy Leiderman
YA Fantasy
5 out of 5 Stars
Blog: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
Seventeen-year-old Gwen is settling into her new home in Oregon and looking forward to senior year when she is kidnapped by Kian, who warns her that she is in terrible danger. An ancient war was fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. To save the world, Gwen must unlock the magic trapped in her memories of a past life in Britannia.
As Gwen starts to recover her lost memories and awakens to her power, she suffers the consequences of a divided soul. Gwen and Kian travel to New York and then to England to find others of her kind. Gwen, Garrison, Seth, and Moira need each other to solve the puzzle of their last days in ancient Britannia. They are only as strong as what they remember, but a troublesome history threatens to doom the world. One way or another, a deadly showdown is inevitable, ready or not …
As a certified Anglophile for the past few decades, I am a sucker for all things Celtic. However, not many books that tackle the lore are spell-binding or gripping and merely fall into the category of travelogue through ancient times. Thankfully, Lives of Magic does not fall in that particular class.
But there is more going for this novel than just solid, intensive research into Celtic myths and culture. Lucy Leiderman has managed to bring a ragtag group of teens to life and keep you interested in how they relearn to be seasoned warriors of the past. The tenuous balance between the angst and insecurity of teens and the cocksure arrogance of blooded fighters keeps everyone on their toes, especially the reader!
You can't help but root for Gwen. She's the loner you know in school, one who looks kind of interesting but manages to keep everybody away by just doing what she wants. Plus, she's different and she knows it.
Then, meeting Kian on her first social day in a new town leaves her traumatised. She finds out she's not who she thinks she is plus she has magical powers that could help save the world from wizard domination. While it makes sense on one level, it's downright strange on another.
But she agrees to help him find the "others" and leaves her parents behind to do so. From New York to the UK, they track down other warriors and fight strange nature- and psychic-based battles. Some scenes are strangely eerie, like the clouds described in the massive hurricane that hits New York. It brings to mind that humongous swirling black cloud that hovered over the city on the day of the Hurricane Sandy. Creepy.
All the while, they struggle to regain old memories and reconnect with their mystical powers. Kian himself has secrets of his own that come into play at the height of the story... and that's all I'll say about this novel! You must read it yourself and get drawn into this most interesting work. Then, be as impatient as me to get the next instalment!
I received a copy of this book as an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Contributed by Ramona
September 25, 2013
Gwen is seventeen and just about to start her final year of school in Oregon, after moving to the state from San Francisco with her veterinarian parents who are trying to escape the extreme upheavals of climate change. On her way to school, though, Gwen realises she's being followed by a strange man. He pursues her and in a panic, Gwen tumbles down a cliff to the wild Pacific Ocean below - and finds herself on her hands and knees on top of the water rather than fighting for her life beneath it.
The stranger introduces himself as Kian and tells a strange and incredible tale that Gwen slowly but reluctantly finds herself believing. He tells her that she is the reincarnation of a magician who was sent forward in time through magic, that she must unlock her memories of her previous life in order to unlock her magic. He tells her that she and six others were sent forward in time to battle three bad magicians who steal the magic from those who, like Gwen, inherited it naturally. And he tells her that all the natural disasters, the tsunamis and hurricanes and earthquakes, are a direct result from these powerful magicians' attempts to take over the North American continent. To defeat them, Kian was sent forward in time to find the good magicians, help them reach their powers, and fight the bad magicians. If they don't regain control of their magic, the bad magicians will steal it from them - along with their souls.
So begins a journey unlike any Gwen could have imagined: crossing the country to New York City to find more of her group, and from there to England where their search brings them face-to-face with their enemies and puts their very lives - and souls - in danger. Can this small group of teens gain control of their magic before it's taken from them?
Lives of Magic is, in many ways, fairly standard fantasy. I should really call it "urban fantasy" since it's set in our world rather than a make-believe one, but that sub-genre has been overrun with detective mystery stories so I felt it would be a bit misleading now. When I started reading this, I was rather confused into thinking that Kian came from one of those fantasy worlds; it was a while before I understood that he was from the past. Mostly because he is very vague about who he is and where he's from - at one time I entertained the notion that he was from Atlantis, a mythological place from our own world's history. It really wasn't clear (though it does say it on the back cover, which I hadn't read in a while) that Gwen's past self and Kian were all from ancient England, celtic Britannia.
In truth, it was just one of many such confusions for me as I was reading this. It's the kind of book that I read with a frown on my face, most of the time. There just seemed to be too many plot-holes that may (or may not) have been easily explained by the author, but just weren't. Gwen conveniently took too many things at face value, while not questioning some very obvious problems and holes in Kian's story. It wasn't enough to make the whole story cave in for me, but it was enough to create potholes everywhere for me to stumble in. It wasn't a smooth read, is what I'm trying to say. The pacing was good, and if the plot makes sense to you I'm sure it must read smoothly. But for me it was a very bumpy ride.
That aside (and it is a big thing), there were elements to the story that I did enjoy. I liked the kind of magic Leiderman employed, though we don't learn all that much about it here. I quite liked Gwen - not all the time, and she was very much an adolescent the way she could carry on (realistic but annoying to read) - and there were layers to the other characters that made them interesting. I was very curious about the ancient world they'd all come from, which is pieced together through unlocked memories - like visions and dreams - that Gwen has, but there's still a lot to learn. I didn't really "get" the bad magicians: the world-building to create a stable foundation of understanding was a bit rocky and patchy; without a strong foundation, it's hard to buy into the rest of the story as it plays out. The ending is mostly predictable, but the details were unknowns and kept it from being stale or boring. Gwen comes a long way over the course of the story and takes a leadership role, and I can see her becoming a strong, though still flawed, character (it's always nice for a heroine to have flaws - makes her both more interesting and more realistic, more human).
This is a debut, as well as the first in a trilogy, so there's plenty of room for the author's style to strengthen and become smoother, and for the story to gain flesh and depth. It's a fairly straight-forward premise that somehow seemed complicated and confusing while I was reading it, and I feel that that's down to the writer. It's a pretty good teen fantasy, but for me I couldn't get past the contrivances, the plot-holes, the loads of questions that I couldn't believe Gwen wasn't asking. So I'm conflicted, a bit disappointed, and not invested enough to continue reading the trilogy.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
The stranger introduces himself as Kian and tells a strange and incredible tale that Gwen slowly but reluctantly finds herself believing. He tells her that she is the reincarnation of a magician who was sent forward in time through magic, that she must unlock her memories of her previous life in order to unlock her magic. He tells her that she and six others were sent forward in time to battle three bad magicians who steal the magic from those who, like Gwen, inherited it naturally. And he tells her that all the natural disasters, the tsunamis and hurricanes and earthquakes, are a direct result from these powerful magicians' attempts to take over the North American continent. To defeat them, Kian was sent forward in time to find the good magicians, help them reach their powers, and fight the bad magicians. If they don't regain control of their magic, the bad magicians will steal it from them - along with their souls.
So begins a journey unlike any Gwen could have imagined: crossing the country to New York City to find more of her group, and from there to England where their search brings them face-to-face with their enemies and puts their very lives - and souls - in danger. Can this small group of teens gain control of their magic before it's taken from them?
Lives of Magic is, in many ways, fairly standard fantasy. I should really call it "urban fantasy" since it's set in our world rather than a make-believe one, but that sub-genre has been overrun with detective mystery stories so I felt it would be a bit misleading now. When I started reading this, I was rather confused into thinking that Kian came from one of those fantasy worlds; it was a while before I understood that he was from the past. Mostly because he is very vague about who he is and where he's from - at one time I entertained the notion that he was from Atlantis, a mythological place from our own world's history. It really wasn't clear (though it does say it on the back cover, which I hadn't read in a while) that Gwen's past self and Kian were all from ancient England, celtic Britannia.
In truth, it was just one of many such confusions for me as I was reading this. It's the kind of book that I read with a frown on my face, most of the time. There just seemed to be too many plot-holes that may (or may not) have been easily explained by the author, but just weren't. Gwen conveniently took too many things at face value, while not questioning some very obvious problems and holes in Kian's story. It wasn't enough to make the whole story cave in for me, but it was enough to create potholes everywhere for me to stumble in. It wasn't a smooth read, is what I'm trying to say. The pacing was good, and if the plot makes sense to you I'm sure it must read smoothly. But for me it was a very bumpy ride.
That aside (and it is a big thing), there were elements to the story that I did enjoy. I liked the kind of magic Leiderman employed, though we don't learn all that much about it here. I quite liked Gwen - not all the time, and she was very much an adolescent the way she could carry on (realistic but annoying to read) - and there were layers to the other characters that made them interesting. I was very curious about the ancient world they'd all come from, which is pieced together through unlocked memories - like visions and dreams - that Gwen has, but there's still a lot to learn. I didn't really "get" the bad magicians: the world-building to create a stable foundation of understanding was a bit rocky and patchy; without a strong foundation, it's hard to buy into the rest of the story as it plays out. The ending is mostly predictable, but the details were unknowns and kept it from being stale or boring. Gwen comes a long way over the course of the story and takes a leadership role, and I can see her becoming a strong, though still flawed, character (it's always nice for a heroine to have flaws - makes her both more interesting and more realistic, more human).
This is a debut, as well as the first in a trilogy, so there's plenty of room for the author's style to strengthen and become smoother, and for the story to gain flesh and depth. It's a fairly straight-forward premise that somehow seemed complicated and confusing while I was reading it, and I feel that that's down to the writer. It's a pretty good teen fantasy, but for me I couldn't get past the contrivances, the plot-holes, the loads of questions that I couldn't believe Gwen wasn't asking. So I'm conflicted, a bit disappointed, and not invested enough to continue reading the trilogy.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
August 8, 2013
Summary:
Gwen just moved in Oregon, she's starting a new life. She was in a new town, new school and maybe she may even gain new friends. She was leading a typical teenage life, but not until she was kidnapped by Kian. He warns Gwen that she is in terrible danger, Kian tells her of an Ancient war that is about to be unveiled once the three evil magicians who are after her get hold of power, and that in order for her to survive, Gwen must come with him.
Gwen and Kian venture off to New York to unlock her past and gain her powers, slowly Gwen starts to dream of a life that she cannot recall. She was a lover, a fighter and a wife.
As time progresses, Gwen and Kian find others that are just like her, warriors ready to face off into the unknown world. They travel into England with Seth, Garrison and Moira to battle an ancient secret that they may not be ready for.
Thoughts & Review
I was particularly drawn to the book the moment I saw the cover in the Net Galley library. It was really eye - catching! I think that is one of the best marketing strategies when it comes to books, keep your covers breathtaking and your title enticing. When I read "Lives of Magic" as its title I thought to myself, hey this is going to be pretty good, and boy was I in for a treat. I was very fortunate enough to be able to gain access with this book ahead of time so thank you DUDURN publishing for giving me the opportunity.
I expected a lot of thrills, a lot of chills and an all around action packed book. When I read books, I get a little impatient (sorry for that trait of mine) I want to know what happens and I want to know what ticks the time. I was hoping for the answers to slide in smoothly and even tried to cheat myself by trying to sneak a peak. The book kept me glued, I was enamored by the way Lucy Leiderman introduced her shift between worlds meaning, Gwen's past and the now. It was as you can say "magical" Gwen dreams about her past and so does everyone else, it was a fresh take on Y/A's nowadays, and truth be told it is a fresh take on books. I haven't been this excited since Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (my personal favorite) I mean imagine living lives over and over again, and never knowing that you had a secret past, and it was not any ordinary past but a past that was only made in fantasies.
I liked Gwen a lot she was strong willed and a little stubborn but that's what makes her a great protagonist she's quite an anti - heroine. Her past was filled of secrets, and not just any secret but "deep dark ones" haha. She was interlaced with a Roman warrior from behind enemy lines while married to someone else, that is just way on top of my list of scandals. It was riveting and intriguing. Kian was quite peculiar from the start, he was all over Gwen, he was even quite the crazy psycho boyfriend type, but at the same time, being that young and carrying a lot of responsibilities was hard for him. I mean I have to say he was quite a like - able character as well. In fact all characters were a life of its own. Seth was the gorgeous sensitive guy, Garrison was the geeky but cute one and Moira was the snobbish Irish girl.
The only thing that quite concerned me is the lack of information about them being great magicians, and in what way as a magician? Did they gain their powers out of genetics or was it in a form of witchcraft? I dunno, I needed more answers in that perspective. Yet what is a book series without a mind boggling 1st book right? so I expect the other books to be as mysterious as this first one.
The twists and turns of this book is endless, it will keep you hanging, and that's what's best about it.The author definitely did a great job in creating loopholes, this was a fun book to read.
Lives of magic comes out on Jan 4 2014!
Head on to my blog for more details about my review!
aimeedelacruz.blogspot.com
Gwen just moved in Oregon, she's starting a new life. She was in a new town, new school and maybe she may even gain new friends. She was leading a typical teenage life, but not until she was kidnapped by Kian. He warns Gwen that she is in terrible danger, Kian tells her of an Ancient war that is about to be unveiled once the three evil magicians who are after her get hold of power, and that in order for her to survive, Gwen must come with him.
Gwen and Kian venture off to New York to unlock her past and gain her powers, slowly Gwen starts to dream of a life that she cannot recall. She was a lover, a fighter and a wife.
As time progresses, Gwen and Kian find others that are just like her, warriors ready to face off into the unknown world. They travel into England with Seth, Garrison and Moira to battle an ancient secret that they may not be ready for.
Thoughts & Review
I was particularly drawn to the book the moment I saw the cover in the Net Galley library. It was really eye - catching! I think that is one of the best marketing strategies when it comes to books, keep your covers breathtaking and your title enticing. When I read "Lives of Magic" as its title I thought to myself, hey this is going to be pretty good, and boy was I in for a treat. I was very fortunate enough to be able to gain access with this book ahead of time so thank you DUDURN publishing for giving me the opportunity.
I expected a lot of thrills, a lot of chills and an all around action packed book. When I read books, I get a little impatient (sorry for that trait of mine) I want to know what happens and I want to know what ticks the time. I was hoping for the answers to slide in smoothly and even tried to cheat myself by trying to sneak a peak. The book kept me glued, I was enamored by the way Lucy Leiderman introduced her shift between worlds meaning, Gwen's past and the now. It was as you can say "magical" Gwen dreams about her past and so does everyone else, it was a fresh take on Y/A's nowadays, and truth be told it is a fresh take on books. I haven't been this excited since Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (my personal favorite) I mean imagine living lives over and over again, and never knowing that you had a secret past, and it was not any ordinary past but a past that was only made in fantasies.
I liked Gwen a lot she was strong willed and a little stubborn but that's what makes her a great protagonist she's quite an anti - heroine. Her past was filled of secrets, and not just any secret but "deep dark ones" haha. She was interlaced with a Roman warrior from behind enemy lines while married to someone else, that is just way on top of my list of scandals. It was riveting and intriguing. Kian was quite peculiar from the start, he was all over Gwen, he was even quite the crazy psycho boyfriend type, but at the same time, being that young and carrying a lot of responsibilities was hard for him. I mean I have to say he was quite a like - able character as well. In fact all characters were a life of its own. Seth was the gorgeous sensitive guy, Garrison was the geeky but cute one and Moira was the snobbish Irish girl.
The only thing that quite concerned me is the lack of information about them being great magicians, and in what way as a magician? Did they gain their powers out of genetics or was it in a form of witchcraft? I dunno, I needed more answers in that perspective. Yet what is a book series without a mind boggling 1st book right? so I expect the other books to be as mysterious as this first one.
The twists and turns of this book is endless, it will keep you hanging, and that's what's best about it.The author definitely did a great job in creating loopholes, this was a fun book to read.
Lives of magic comes out on Jan 4 2014!
Head on to my blog for more details about my review!
aimeedelacruz.blogspot.com
July 30, 2013
I have mixed feelings regarding this book. One half of me wished to skip to the ending and the other half enjoyed it.
Seventeen-year-old Gwen’s life took a dramatic turn, and it all started when she met him. Kian. He opened her eyes to a whole new world. One most people believe only lives in your childhood fairytales … a world of magic. She has a destiny to fulfill; along with 6 others; to try and save the world from an ancient evil.
The blurb was what made me click the request button for Lives of Magic on NetGalley. It was captivating and I was eager to jump right into the book. It is strange, because I can’t exactly pin point what it was I disliked about the book (if I even disliked it). Lucy Leinderman had the characters moving at a very fast-paced – the story immediately picks up – literally – on the first page. This somehow made everything seemed a bit rushed. I would have loved to learn more about Gwen and her companions – Seth and Garrison’s background (in their present lives). That was probably what gave me a bitter start.There is no mystery that Lives of Magic was served as an introduction to a more developed story to come (not that there wasn’t any development here), and I admit I am looking forward to it -- the half that enjoyed it, that is. The thing is, the first few chapters had a few interesting moments especially with Gwen and Kian, but I caught myself only skimming through it for most parts. Towards the end, however, the actions started kicking in; and that was when I couldn’t take my eyes off the pages (or screen, considering it’s an e-read). I have never been so confused about a book.
For those who do not know, I LOVE—love – love plots with mixing elements from the character’s past and present lives. The historical ingredient – with Princes, warriors, and … Magic, can never go wrong!
Thank Lucy Leiderman for giving her protagonist a strong personality! I would have stopped reading if Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). You will read about her strengths at the end of the book, and it leaves you wanting to know what she is really capable of. Kian is mysterious. For more than half of the book, you’ll wonder what in the world he is up too – what’s going on in his mind. I am really hoping to read more about him in the second installment (assuming there will be one, fingers crossed). Seth and Garrison – especially Garrison made the book all the better. Seth with his laidback coolness and Garrison with his at ease and up-beat personal. Each one of them important in their own way. Just thinking about what different kind of adventures await them, is exhilarating.
Seven Wanderers Trilogy the title of the series itself sounds epic.
Thank you to Dundurn Publishing for providing this review copy.
Seventeen-year-old Gwen’s life took a dramatic turn, and it all started when she met him. Kian. He opened her eyes to a whole new world. One most people believe only lives in your childhood fairytales … a world of magic. She has a destiny to fulfill; along with 6 others; to try and save the world from an ancient evil.
The blurb was what made me click the request button for Lives of Magic on NetGalley. It was captivating and I was eager to jump right into the book. It is strange, because I can’t exactly pin point what it was I disliked about the book (if I even disliked it). Lucy Leinderman had the characters moving at a very fast-paced – the story immediately picks up – literally – on the first page. This somehow made everything seemed a bit rushed. I would have loved to learn more about Gwen and her companions – Seth and Garrison’s background (in their present lives). That was probably what gave me a bitter start.There is no mystery that Lives of Magic was served as an introduction to a more developed story to come (not that there wasn’t any development here), and I admit I am looking forward to it -- the half that enjoyed it, that is. The thing is, the first few chapters had a few interesting moments especially with Gwen and Kian, but I caught myself only skimming through it for most parts. Towards the end, however, the actions started kicking in; and that was when I couldn’t take my eyes off the pages (or screen, considering it’s an e-read). I have never been so confused about a book.
For those who do not know, I LOVE—love – love plots with mixing elements from the character’s past and present lives. The historical ingredient – with Princes, warriors, and … Magic, can never go wrong!
Thank Lucy Leiderman for giving her protagonist a strong personality! I would have stopped reading if Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). You will read about her strengths at the end of the book, and it leaves you wanting to know what she is really capable of. Kian is mysterious. For more than half of the book, you’ll wonder what in the world he is up too – what’s going on in his mind. I am really hoping to read more about him in the second installment (assuming there will be one, fingers crossed). Seth and Garrison – especially Garrison made the book all the better. Seth with his laidback coolness and Garrison with his at ease and up-beat personal. Each one of them important in their own way. Just thinking about what different kind of adventures await them, is exhilarating.
Seven Wanderers Trilogy the title of the series itself sounds epic.
Thank you to Dundurn Publishing for providing this review copy.
August 1, 2013
How can you believe that you have lived before?
And if you believe it, how do you reconcile the two persons that you were and are?
Gwen, the wry narrator of the tale, grapples with the truth of her existence and what it will mean for the rest of her life. She expected to begin her first day of senior year at a new high school, and instead she began a new life plagued by the truth of the horrible natural disasters that rock the United States, the painful trickle of strange memories, and a seemingly impossible task: to find others like her, so that they may stop the cataclysmic future that is in store for them and the rest of the world.
There is action, there is a smattering of romance, there is magic, travel, and there is a sense of urgency that makes the story difficult to leave.
The story itself is told exclusively from Gwen's point of view. She is a believable and likable narrator; her reactions, fears, and hopes reflect what one would expect of a seventeen-year-old whose recent dreams of the near future had been dashed. It was satisfying to read about a heroine who was afraid and wary of her magic--Gwen comes across as real, as human. It was mostly my interest in her end of the story that kept me reading.
Additional characters, like Kian, her mysterious guide, add more depth to the story, although I wished that Gwen's friends, and fellow travelers Garrison and Seth had as much depth. There are times when the action slows, but it did not prevent me from quickly finishing the book. There are also a few junctures when I feel as if the author might be holding back information, but she treads a very fine line throughout to give the reader the suspense and worry necessary for the characters' fates. One of the things I wished for was a little more detail regarding the historical aspects of the book.
Readers who enjoy a story with latent historical elements, or contemporary fantasy would no doubt pick this one right up.
*note: I recieved a copy of this book from Dundurn Press via Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.
July 31, 2013
4.5
Overall, this is a very readable book. It took me perhaps a third of the book to really buy the plot and be pulled in by it, but that was mostly because the word "magicians" threw me off. The connotations of "magicians" versus "sorcerers" (which I think would've been a better fit for those who were known as magicians in this book) - that may have been something Ms. Leiderman should have thought about, since - to me at least - magicians are the quacks at carnivals and such, and sorcerers are the workers of magic in fantasy worlds. However, the protagonist's disbelief in the entire idea of the story helped the reader believe the story, so that was a clever twist of Ms. Leiderman's.
I really enjoyed Gwen's voice throughout the novel. She seemed like a very down-to-earth 17-year-old girl, although the depth of her love for Kian was a little unbelievable. I kept thinking to myself, "Is this really how a 17-year-old would feel?" but I guess it's possible. I was grateful, though, that the romance didn't take a front seat, and that more stock was placed in the adventure of trying to find the fellow magic-wielders across the globe.
My one complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed. And the fact that Kian didn't say goodbye before he left?! That broke my heart. I wish that he would've been able to say goodbye to Gwen at least, if she meant that much to him... and the way that no one knows what he meant by "I'm going home" because his true home is in the past... ahh, so sad.
However, overall, a definite good read. It was very absorbing and I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone with an interest in a quirky cast of characters, lots of actions, some romance, and some pretty cool uses of magic. Well done, Ms. Leiderman, for a very readable novel that I hope will be the beginning of a series!!
Many thanks to Dundurn, via Netgalley, for an opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall, this is a very readable book. It took me perhaps a third of the book to really buy the plot and be pulled in by it, but that was mostly because the word "magicians" threw me off. The connotations of "magicians" versus "sorcerers" (which I think would've been a better fit for those who were known as magicians in this book) - that may have been something Ms. Leiderman should have thought about, since - to me at least - magicians are the quacks at carnivals and such, and sorcerers are the workers of magic in fantasy worlds. However, the protagonist's disbelief in the entire idea of the story helped the reader believe the story, so that was a clever twist of Ms. Leiderman's.
I really enjoyed Gwen's voice throughout the novel. She seemed like a very down-to-earth 17-year-old girl, although the depth of her love for Kian was a little unbelievable. I kept thinking to myself, "Is this really how a 17-year-old would feel?" but I guess it's possible. I was grateful, though, that the romance didn't take a front seat, and that more stock was placed in the adventure of trying to find the fellow magic-wielders across the globe.
My one complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed. And the fact that Kian didn't say goodbye before he left?! That broke my heart. I wish that he would've been able to say goodbye to Gwen at least, if she meant that much to him... and the way that no one knows what he meant by "I'm going home" because his true home is in the past... ahh, so sad.
However, overall, a definite good read. It was very absorbing and I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone with an interest in a quirky cast of characters, lots of actions, some romance, and some pretty cool uses of magic. Well done, Ms. Leiderman, for a very readable novel that I hope will be the beginning of a series!!
Many thanks to Dundurn, via Netgalley, for an opportunity to read and review this book.
August 9, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a unique blend of a past life story and a magician/witch YA paranormal romance. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but this book really sucked me in. It starts as surely as any other YA book, with a girl in a new town going to a new school. It even had some dystopian elements thrown in (which usually I don’t like, but in this case, was necessary for the plot). Girl meets boy, then all hells breaks loose. That’s where we are thrown into this great world of the magicians (not what I picture – you know, the guy with the top hat and the rabbit? Yeah, no.) and a group of essentially reincarnated kids who are tasked with saving the world.
Gwen and Kian were the focus of my YA paranormal romance addicted brain. They were adorable and sweet and (of course, as is always the case) doomed from the get go. Gwen’s fellow “superheroes” were also really fun to read. The subject matter got a little dark and heavy at times, but was balanced nicely with the lovey dovey sigh-worthy Kian/Gwen interaction. While this book didn’t really end in a true cliffhanger – there are no puppies and rainbows for everyone. It was clearly meant to be part of a series, and after this stellar first book, I’ll gladly pick up the next one! I can’t wait to see what happens with all the characters from this book, especially after all they’ve been through.
This book was a unique blend of a past life story and a magician/witch YA paranormal romance. I’m not quite sure when it happened, but this book really sucked me in. It starts as surely as any other YA book, with a girl in a new town going to a new school. It even had some dystopian elements thrown in (which usually I don’t like, but in this case, was necessary for the plot). Girl meets boy, then all hells breaks loose. That’s where we are thrown into this great world of the magicians (not what I picture – you know, the guy with the top hat and the rabbit? Yeah, no.) and a group of essentially reincarnated kids who are tasked with saving the world.
Gwen and Kian were the focus of my YA paranormal romance addicted brain. They were adorable and sweet and (of course, as is always the case) doomed from the get go. Gwen’s fellow “superheroes” were also really fun to read. The subject matter got a little dark and heavy at times, but was balanced nicely with the lovey dovey sigh-worthy Kian/Gwen interaction. While this book didn’t really end in a true cliffhanger – there are no puppies and rainbows for everyone. It was clearly meant to be part of a series, and after this stellar first book, I’ll gladly pick up the next one! I can’t wait to see what happens with all the characters from this book, especially after all they’ve been through.
September 19, 2013
Kidnapped on her way to her first day at a new high school by a handsome stranger, Gwen finds out she is not who or what she thinks she is. She and her fellow magical warriors sacrificed themselves to be able to fight the evil Magicians sometime in the future. Unfortunately she does not remember any of this, nor how to use these magical powers.
Her kidnapper/ guide Kian is trying to help her remember her past life, access her powers and find her fellow magicians to stop the evil Magicians from destroying the world.
I received and advance copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review:
I really enjoyed this book, once I got into it. I enjoyed the characters and the revelations from their past and how it affects them presently. Love triangles, past and present added to suspense of the characters trying to find their past, and the adventure of working together to save their future.
Her kidnapper/ guide Kian is trying to help her remember her past life, access her powers and find her fellow magicians to stop the evil Magicians from destroying the world.
I received and advance copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review:
I really enjoyed this book, once I got into it. I enjoyed the characters and the revelations from their past and how it affects them presently. Love triangles, past and present added to suspense of the characters trying to find their past, and the adventure of working together to save their future.
August 10, 2016
This story started off perfectly. It hooked me from the beginning. Like most we all struggle for self identity secretly hoping someone will tell us what our destiny is...
Gwen get just that along with a previous life! This story is full of action mystery and a little romance and humor. The love triangles of multiple life times. All the perfect things to reel you in. I loved the characters. Each so full of life and bringing there own magic.
Beautifully written. A great read with great characters and an even more interesting story line! Kian's character almost had me for a moment, but I loved the journey. And love the cover!
http://twinopinionsreview.blogspot.co...
July 28, 2015
This is one of my shameful Netgalley requests... from 2013. When I read the description it sounded like my cup of tea but despite that it's taken me 3 attempts over 18 months to finish Lives of Magic. It took me a week to finally finish it this time and that was a struggle.
I loved the general idea but there was something about the story that I did not like which hampered my reading. Sadly I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.
I loved the general idea but there was something about the story that I did not like which hampered my reading. Sadly I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.
July 9, 2013
Wow. This book really surprised me and kept me guessing, from the additions of new people to the altering of locations. I'm really looking forward to any future books in this series. It's definitely a YA novel, but I really enjoyed it anyway. I'm hoping in future novels, Kian comes back to the group and finds his own way to help them again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2014
I am seriously conflicted when it comes to this book. As much as I loved the plot and (some of) the characters, I couldn’t bring myself to love the writing and a great part of the narration.
Let’s start with the writing. It wasn’t bad. The book itself was actually pretty good. However, I found that everything was dramatized for the narrator. She would blow everything out of proportion, make semi-relevant analogies, perform useless and stupid actions in times of distress, and rush into things. The beginning, especially, was rushed. Too much, actually, to the point that readers go through information overload. While I can understand the need to rush to the action and the magic parts, I wish that the beginning would have been slowed down a little, maybe a peek into her life before hand, or even just get us to see her relationship with her parents, as she misses them, but we know very little about them… like so little I don’t even remember if they had names…
At another point, the MC feels pity for her “kidnapper” and immediately states that it’s Stockholm Syndrome. This hit a nerve, maybe ’cause I just took a psych and law course, but she trivializes something that shouldn’t be trivialized. Stockholm syndrome is is basically when a victim feels pity or protective of their kidnapper, and it’s something that affects lives of many people who’ve been held captive for a long time and have been only found recently. I really don’t think it’s something that someone could develop in 5 minutes. And I’m not even sure if it took 5 minutes for the MC to diagnose herself with it. But it was something that really bothered me.
Some points also just seemed… cliché? Like when one of the characters say, “What if I told you that you are not actually who you think you are?” That’s such an atypical line and I feel like, with the rest of the book proceeding it and revealing everything just right, this part, the big secret kind of thing, could’ve been executed so much better.
[Note: all the bits I've just included are from the beginning of the novel, so don't eat me alive for spoiling the book]
After the initial reveal of all that is magical, the book gets a lot better and the writing hits it’s prime and begins to smooth out, becoming more coherent and easier to understand. It was all, generally, less dramatic and BAM in your face. The dreams and memories really helped sort out of the current plot from the past one, and I thought that it worked really well in keeping the two worlds apart, yet slowly piecing them together, as well.
Now for the plot. I thought the concept was really interesting, with the magicians and the tribes, and all the memories and dream sequences weaving two separate stories that clash against each other and yet fall into place perfectly. Throughout the book, I was constantly surprised by the plot’s twists and turns, as well as the fact that some parts managed to get me really excited or afraid for the characters, whom I got really attached to, especially the guys. The pace of the novel was great too, save for the beginning. It would be a boatload of excitement, and then moments of rest and relatively mundane days, full of training and flashes to the past. Overall, the two different times were weaved together well, and the plot panned out really well and kept me guessing.
If you haven’t already noticed, the MC, Gwen, kind of really annoyed me. She was very… selfish. Everything revolved around her, and her problems always were blown out of proportion to the point where her indecision concerning love interests was a GIGANTIC problem and of course took precedence to other people’s issues and bigger issues that arose throughout the novel. While she may be powerful, she has to get over herself, and fast, because she really got on my nerves.
Aside from Gwen, I really liked the male characters, especially Garrison and Kian. I always love the happy-go-lucky comedic relief, which was, more often than not, Garrison’s character. He was really laid back and took things in stride, and I loved his bromance with Seth. Their friendship was fun and full of teasing and poking fun at each other and their character’s really made the book. Kian, on the other hand, I liked the fact that his character developed well throughout the novel, each action making me love him (and hate him) a little more. By the end of the book, I was totally rooting for Kian. These guys made the book worth the read, because their unique personality really added colour to the otherwise bland and boring world painted by Gwen.
In the end, the book wasn’t mind blowing. It didn’t shock me out of the water, nor did it make me want to hop around in anticipation for the sequel. However, the plot and (most of) the characters made the book fun and extremely riveting. Despite its faults, Lives of Magic kept me glued to its electronic pages, ready and waiting for the next surprise around the corner. Overall, a great book ~
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.82/5
eARC provided by Dundurn, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes and criticism taken from and based on the contents of the Lives of Magic ARC.
-review by Between Printed Pages
Let’s start with the writing. It wasn’t bad. The book itself was actually pretty good. However, I found that everything was dramatized for the narrator. She would blow everything out of proportion, make semi-relevant analogies, perform useless and stupid actions in times of distress, and rush into things. The beginning, especially, was rushed. Too much, actually, to the point that readers go through information overload. While I can understand the need to rush to the action and the magic parts, I wish that the beginning would have been slowed down a little, maybe a peek into her life before hand, or even just get us to see her relationship with her parents, as she misses them, but we know very little about them… like so little I don’t even remember if they had names…
At another point, the MC feels pity for her “kidnapper” and immediately states that it’s Stockholm Syndrome. This hit a nerve, maybe ’cause I just took a psych and law course, but she trivializes something that shouldn’t be trivialized. Stockholm syndrome is is basically when a victim feels pity or protective of their kidnapper, and it’s something that affects lives of many people who’ve been held captive for a long time and have been only found recently. I really don’t think it’s something that someone could develop in 5 minutes. And I’m not even sure if it took 5 minutes for the MC to diagnose herself with it. But it was something that really bothered me.
Some points also just seemed… cliché? Like when one of the characters say, “What if I told you that you are not actually who you think you are?” That’s such an atypical line and I feel like, with the rest of the book proceeding it and revealing everything just right, this part, the big secret kind of thing, could’ve been executed so much better.
[Note: all the bits I've just included are from the beginning of the novel, so don't eat me alive for spoiling the book]
After the initial reveal of all that is magical, the book gets a lot better and the writing hits it’s prime and begins to smooth out, becoming more coherent and easier to understand. It was all, generally, less dramatic and BAM in your face. The dreams and memories really helped sort out of the current plot from the past one, and I thought that it worked really well in keeping the two worlds apart, yet slowly piecing them together, as well.
Now for the plot. I thought the concept was really interesting, with the magicians and the tribes, and all the memories and dream sequences weaving two separate stories that clash against each other and yet fall into place perfectly. Throughout the book, I was constantly surprised by the plot’s twists and turns, as well as the fact that some parts managed to get me really excited or afraid for the characters, whom I got really attached to, especially the guys. The pace of the novel was great too, save for the beginning. It would be a boatload of excitement, and then moments of rest and relatively mundane days, full of training and flashes to the past. Overall, the two different times were weaved together well, and the plot panned out really well and kept me guessing.
If you haven’t already noticed, the MC, Gwen, kind of really annoyed me. She was very… selfish. Everything revolved around her, and her problems always were blown out of proportion to the point where her indecision concerning love interests was a GIGANTIC problem and of course took precedence to other people’s issues and bigger issues that arose throughout the novel. While she may be powerful, she has to get over herself, and fast, because she really got on my nerves.
Aside from Gwen, I really liked the male characters, especially Garrison and Kian. I always love the happy-go-lucky comedic relief, which was, more often than not, Garrison’s character. He was really laid back and took things in stride, and I loved his bromance with Seth. Their friendship was fun and full of teasing and poking fun at each other and their character’s really made the book. Kian, on the other hand, I liked the fact that his character developed well throughout the novel, each action making me love him (and hate him) a little more. By the end of the book, I was totally rooting for Kian. These guys made the book worth the read, because their unique personality really added colour to the otherwise bland and boring world painted by Gwen.
In the end, the book wasn’t mind blowing. It didn’t shock me out of the water, nor did it make me want to hop around in anticipation for the sequel. However, the plot and (most of) the characters made the book fun and extremely riveting. Despite its faults, Lives of Magic kept me glued to its electronic pages, ready and waiting for the next surprise around the corner. Overall, a great book ~
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Writing: 3/5
World Building: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.82/5
eARC provided by Dundurn, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes and criticism taken from and based on the contents of the Lives of Magic ARC.
-review by Between Printed Pages
May 8, 2020
real bad
June 20, 2023
This book is truly a product of its time. Perhaps had I read it when it first came out my opinion would be different, but reading it a decade after it came out, I have many thoughts.
Let’s start with our main character Gwen. She’s a 17 year old high school senior. She’s written in very much a ‘not like the other girls’ way; despite being a petite, pale, sandy haired and light eyed girl. She also acts like every obnoxious girl I’d ever met in school. She’s described as being ‘quirky’ because she makes Star Wars and X-Men references.
Next the plot, or whatever this book had going on. Gwen gets kidnapped by our male lead Kian, then has a weird dream. The next day, Kian breaks into Gwen’s house and she decides to go on a magical adventure with this random dude. Because apparently she’s a reincarnation of a magical warrior from the past. After knowing each other for less than a day, they both become very jealous of each other for no reason. Gwen’s having dreams which are actually memories from her past life and are the key to unlocking her power. However all her dreams involve a man. This man turns out to be another character named Seth. In the past they were secret lovers, because they were both married to other people. I guess this was the authors attempt to set up a love triangle, however it did not work. After meeting up with Seth and another guy (can’t remember his name), they do some training, then get attacked by evil magicians and flee America. They head back to Britain, the homeland, to try and reconnect more with their past selves. There, they run into the fourth reincarnated warrior, who’s another girl. Immediately we learn that that the new girl hates Gwen. Why? Because she was Seth’s wife in the past.
Kian gets his own paragraph. He was not an enjoyable love interest. Apart from the insta love going on, I couldn’t for the life of me find out why they liked each other. To be honest, I thought that he was going to be like some semi immortal dude and be like 2000 years old. Instead we got something so much weirder. Kian is the biological younger brother to past Seth. He used to be in love with past Gwen. After Gwen, Seth and the others die, he makes a deal with an evil magician to travel into the future. Now Kian is 24 to Gwen’s 17, still not great. When he betrayed everyone, I could not have cared less.
And finally, there were also grammatical and spelling mistakes throughout the book. Don’t waste your time with this book. It’s a product of the past, and it should stay there.
Let’s start with our main character Gwen. She’s a 17 year old high school senior. She’s written in very much a ‘not like the other girls’ way; despite being a petite, pale, sandy haired and light eyed girl. She also acts like every obnoxious girl I’d ever met in school. She’s described as being ‘quirky’ because she makes Star Wars and X-Men references.
Next the plot, or whatever this book had going on. Gwen gets kidnapped by our male lead Kian, then has a weird dream. The next day, Kian breaks into Gwen’s house and she decides to go on a magical adventure with this random dude. Because apparently she’s a reincarnation of a magical warrior from the past. After knowing each other for less than a day, they both become very jealous of each other for no reason. Gwen’s having dreams which are actually memories from her past life and are the key to unlocking her power. However all her dreams involve a man. This man turns out to be another character named Seth. In the past they were secret lovers, because they were both married to other people. I guess this was the authors attempt to set up a love triangle, however it did not work. After meeting up with Seth and another guy (can’t remember his name), they do some training, then get attacked by evil magicians and flee America. They head back to Britain, the homeland, to try and reconnect more with their past selves. There, they run into the fourth reincarnated warrior, who’s another girl. Immediately we learn that that the new girl hates Gwen. Why? Because she was Seth’s wife in the past.
Kian gets his own paragraph. He was not an enjoyable love interest. Apart from the insta love going on, I couldn’t for the life of me find out why they liked each other. To be honest, I thought that he was going to be like some semi immortal dude and be like 2000 years old. Instead we got something so much weirder. Kian is the biological younger brother to past Seth. He used to be in love with past Gwen. After Gwen, Seth and the others die, he makes a deal with an evil magician to travel into the future. Now Kian is 24 to Gwen’s 17, still not great. When he betrayed everyone, I could not have cared less.
And finally, there were also grammatical and spelling mistakes throughout the book. Don’t waste your time with this book. It’s a product of the past, and it should stay there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2014
**Review appears on my blog; requested copy from Netgalley**
I love a good mystery story, one wrapped in jogging a memory of a long past full of magical wonder. That’s the reason I requested to read this novel—I felt it would speak to me.
The title and cover of this book is what grabbed me first—the idea that past lives wrapped into magic meets modern day times.
Gwen is a typical high schooler, with a new life in Oregon. All of that changes in an instant when Kian steps on the page. Soon, Gwen is swept up into a world she is unaware she was a part of, one with a connection to magic, and it is up to Kian to help her (1) remember that past and (2) stop the ones who do not want her—or anyone like her—to have a future.
But Gwen is not alone. There are others that are like her. She and Kian are on a quest. They must find those “others” if there is any chance at defeating the three evil magicians.
If only they could remember their past.
This novel was action packed. From natural disasters to love, Leiderman chose for her leading lady to juggle a lot. But if any character can handle it, it is Gwen. I enjoyed the idea that the magical powers grew within each character as he/she remembered their past.
What a clever way to have the magic grow as the character grows. This is a nice change from the “hey, you’re magical and need to figure out how to control your magic” story. It allowed each character to truly tap into his/her magical awareness. And it gave them an incentive to really dig deep into those memories.
It was fun to experience Gwen’s flashbacks with her. We learned of her past life as she did, and it helped bring the story full circle. What was even more fun was trying to see Gwen juggle a love life too. Not only does she need to save the world, but she must also save her heart (and possibly the heart of another).
In this part of the storytelling, the author will keep readers engaged.
I enjoyed the book as a whole, but I do not know if I will continue with the series. It just did not grab my attention in the way I was hoping—and expecting.
While I enjoyed the storytelling and getting to know Gwen as a character, I just did not connect to it. I have read several reviews that feel this was an awesome book. For me, it was okay.
For readers looking for a mixture of magical fantasy meets it’s time to save the modern world, this book will speak to you.
I love a good mystery story, one wrapped in jogging a memory of a long past full of magical wonder. That’s the reason I requested to read this novel—I felt it would speak to me.
The title and cover of this book is what grabbed me first—the idea that past lives wrapped into magic meets modern day times.
Gwen is a typical high schooler, with a new life in Oregon. All of that changes in an instant when Kian steps on the page. Soon, Gwen is swept up into a world she is unaware she was a part of, one with a connection to magic, and it is up to Kian to help her (1) remember that past and (2) stop the ones who do not want her—or anyone like her—to have a future.
But Gwen is not alone. There are others that are like her. She and Kian are on a quest. They must find those “others” if there is any chance at defeating the three evil magicians.
If only they could remember their past.
This novel was action packed. From natural disasters to love, Leiderman chose for her leading lady to juggle a lot. But if any character can handle it, it is Gwen. I enjoyed the idea that the magical powers grew within each character as he/she remembered their past.
What a clever way to have the magic grow as the character grows. This is a nice change from the “hey, you’re magical and need to figure out how to control your magic” story. It allowed each character to truly tap into his/her magical awareness. And it gave them an incentive to really dig deep into those memories.
It was fun to experience Gwen’s flashbacks with her. We learned of her past life as she did, and it helped bring the story full circle. What was even more fun was trying to see Gwen juggle a love life too. Not only does she need to save the world, but she must also save her heart (and possibly the heart of another).
In this part of the storytelling, the author will keep readers engaged.
I enjoyed the book as a whole, but I do not know if I will continue with the series. It just did not grab my attention in the way I was hoping—and expecting.
While I enjoyed the storytelling and getting to know Gwen as a character, I just did not connect to it. I have read several reviews that feel this was an awesome book. For me, it was okay.
For readers looking for a mixture of magical fantasy meets it’s time to save the modern world, this book will speak to you.
September 14, 2015
[I got this book for free from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.]
The first thing I want to say about this book...is that I'm tempted to keep it JUST for the feel of it. I don't normally like the feel of books that are the larger paperback size, and I admit to often being swayed by the look and feel of a book and not just the writing within. (There have been times I've fought to keep a book with bad writing just because the pages felt silky to the touch)
However, most people are more interested in the writing inside books than the feel of the pages and cover. I'm just a strange one, I suppose. :)
The basic plot line of the book is that the narrator is a sort of reincarnation of one of seven magicians from Celtic times whose souls and magic were flung forward in time so that they would not be lost to a trio of evil magicians.
To be honest, I read a GREAT number of books in this type of genre, and when I began the book I was expecting...well, I expected it to follow the same predictable paths others in the genre take.
And I was not...entirely wrong.
I'm very good at guessing the directions books take. Often I find myself at the very beginning of books going 'this character is the killer' or 'these two are going to end up together'. It's rare for a book to catch me completely off guard with something I didn't see coming.
This book did not do so. Every major plot point in the book I saw coming at least a chapter before, and the biggest twist in the book I 'called' right at the beginning.
It doesn't matter.
Even though I had a good idea what was going to happen...I was still very interested in HOW it was going to happen. I was interested in how the narrator was going to act and react, and what they were doing. I may not have been surprised, but I did enjoy it.
The book may follow some predictable lines...but it was an enjoyable journey. Good enough that when I saw the second book was in the Goodreads giveaways section, I didn't hesitate before entering in it...and I was actually disappointed when I didn't.
It's a pity that my bookshelves groan and creak already with so many books, because otherwise I probably would have kept this book. As it is, I will definitely be sharing it with my sister, who I believe will enjoy it. And for anyone who happens to read my review, well...I have no hesitations in recommending that you, too, find this book and try it out. :)
The first thing I want to say about this book...is that I'm tempted to keep it JUST for the feel of it. I don't normally like the feel of books that are the larger paperback size, and I admit to often being swayed by the look and feel of a book and not just the writing within. (There have been times I've fought to keep a book with bad writing just because the pages felt silky to the touch)
However, most people are more interested in the writing inside books than the feel of the pages and cover. I'm just a strange one, I suppose. :)
The basic plot line of the book is that the narrator is a sort of reincarnation of one of seven magicians from Celtic times whose souls and magic were flung forward in time so that they would not be lost to a trio of evil magicians.
To be honest, I read a GREAT number of books in this type of genre, and when I began the book I was expecting...well, I expected it to follow the same predictable paths others in the genre take.
And I was not...entirely wrong.
I'm very good at guessing the directions books take. Often I find myself at the very beginning of books going 'this character is the killer' or 'these two are going to end up together'. It's rare for a book to catch me completely off guard with something I didn't see coming.
This book did not do so. Every major plot point in the book I saw coming at least a chapter before, and the biggest twist in the book I 'called' right at the beginning.
It doesn't matter.
Even though I had a good idea what was going to happen...I was still very interested in HOW it was going to happen. I was interested in how the narrator was going to act and react, and what they were doing. I may not have been surprised, but I did enjoy it.
The book may follow some predictable lines...but it was an enjoyable journey. Good enough that when I saw the second book was in the Goodreads giveaways section, I didn't hesitate before entering in it...and I was actually disappointed when I didn't.
It's a pity that my bookshelves groan and creak already with so many books, because otherwise I probably would have kept this book. As it is, I will definitely be sharing it with my sister, who I believe will enjoy it. And for anyone who happens to read my review, well...I have no hesitations in recommending that you, too, find this book and try it out. :)
September 12, 2013
Instead of starting the first day of her senior year at a new high school, Gwen will start the first day of a new life far removed from anything she ever dreamed of! Who is she? What memories are locked within her mind? Are there really others out there like her? How can she find them?
Lives of Magic by Lucy Leiderman releases its momentum at full tilt from page one and does not let up! We are treated to Gwen’s unique POV, a completely likable seventeen-year-old girl who finds she has magic, is afraid, unsure and yet has a spark of determination glowing under everything as she faces her future head on. Kian has a mysterious air about him that adds dimension to the story, as do the other magical beings they team up with. But what of their pasts?
For lovers of all things Celtic, this is a great read that delves into Celtic lore with its myths and mysteries as Ms. Leiderman skillfully weaves her magic to include a little romance, a little history and a lot of fast-paced fantasy! Not too heavy or dark, this is a perfect escape read to enjoy!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Dundurn in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Seven Wanderers Tril (Book 1)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Dundurn (January 28, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1459708466
ISBN-13: 978-1459708464
Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Lives of Magic by Lucy Leiderman releases its momentum at full tilt from page one and does not let up! We are treated to Gwen’s unique POV, a completely likable seventeen-year-old girl who finds she has magic, is afraid, unsure and yet has a spark of determination glowing under everything as she faces her future head on. Kian has a mysterious air about him that adds dimension to the story, as do the other magical beings they team up with. But what of their pasts?
For lovers of all things Celtic, this is a great read that delves into Celtic lore with its myths and mysteries as Ms. Leiderman skillfully weaves her magic to include a little romance, a little history and a lot of fast-paced fantasy! Not too heavy or dark, this is a perfect escape read to enjoy!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Dundurn in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Seven Wanderers Tril (Book 1)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Dundurn (January 28, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1459708466
ISBN-13: 978-1459708464
Age Range: 12 and up
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars
Available From: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
January 1, 2014
Book Review- Lives of Magic by Lucy Leiderman
Gwen Carlisle has moved with her family from San Francisco to Astoria, Oregon after an earthquake hit the city. They were tired of the danger and wanted a quieter place.
On Gwen’s first day of school, she is walking to the bus stop in the rain when she sees a man in the distance. She can see clearly the rain dripping off his eyelashes from the distance she is from him. She panics and runs from him. He follows her to a cliff and reaches out to stop her from falling but is unable to get to her in time. Gwen falls down the cliff and lands on top of the Pacific Ocean. Yes I said on top of the water. She freezes on her hand and knees trying not to move. She is shocked. The man, who is named Kian, walks on the water to get to her. He carries her to a garden shed, treats her injuries and tells her the most amazing story. She listens but thinks he is crazy.
Apparently she has magic and a past life. She is needed to fight against three magicians from the past with a group of six other magicians. They have all been sent forward in time and she needs to help Kian find them all in order to win and save the earth. She goes with Kian to find the others and find the person she is looking for in her memories. She starts recovering more and more memories from her past and she struggles to remain who she is now. Her life is forever changed and there is no going back. She must prepare for the battle ahead with the other three young magicians she and Kian find. She must also face the betrayals that occur from the past and in the present.
The storyline was very unique. I wasn’t sure what to expect in the beginning. There were some parts that were a bit confusing but the story kept me interested. I really liked the journey that the author sent Kian and Gwen on. The reader didn’t know in what direction they would be sent. I had some suspicions but didn’t know until the author wanted me to know. I do wish Gwen wasn’t so afraid. She probably would have figured out things a little sooner if she would have trusted the others and shared more of her memories.
However I can’t wait to read the next one and see where these characters go from here. I would recommend this book for the awesome adventure the author presented. I give it a 4 out of 5.
Gwen Carlisle has moved with her family from San Francisco to Astoria, Oregon after an earthquake hit the city. They were tired of the danger and wanted a quieter place.
On Gwen’s first day of school, she is walking to the bus stop in the rain when she sees a man in the distance. She can see clearly the rain dripping off his eyelashes from the distance she is from him. She panics and runs from him. He follows her to a cliff and reaches out to stop her from falling but is unable to get to her in time. Gwen falls down the cliff and lands on top of the Pacific Ocean. Yes I said on top of the water. She freezes on her hand and knees trying not to move. She is shocked. The man, who is named Kian, walks on the water to get to her. He carries her to a garden shed, treats her injuries and tells her the most amazing story. She listens but thinks he is crazy.
Apparently she has magic and a past life. She is needed to fight against three magicians from the past with a group of six other magicians. They have all been sent forward in time and she needs to help Kian find them all in order to win and save the earth. She goes with Kian to find the others and find the person she is looking for in her memories. She starts recovering more and more memories from her past and she struggles to remain who she is now. Her life is forever changed and there is no going back. She must prepare for the battle ahead with the other three young magicians she and Kian find. She must also face the betrayals that occur from the past and in the present.
The storyline was very unique. I wasn’t sure what to expect in the beginning. There were some parts that were a bit confusing but the story kept me interested. I really liked the journey that the author sent Kian and Gwen on. The reader didn’t know in what direction they would be sent. I had some suspicions but didn’t know until the author wanted me to know. I do wish Gwen wasn’t so afraid. She probably would have figured out things a little sooner if she would have trusted the others and shared more of her memories.
However I can’t wait to read the next one and see where these characters go from here. I would recommend this book for the awesome adventure the author presented. I give it a 4 out of 5.
October 4, 2014
Lives Of Magic is the kind of book that you don't ever want to put down. The phrase, "just one more chapter" became a mainstay in my life in a way that it doesn't always while I was reading it in part because most of the chapters conclude with a reveal, leading to the desire to see what happens.
Gwen begins as a lot of main characters with magic do: she has always been a normal girl, never suspecting the magic that she can harness before she meets the slightly creepy and strange, Kian, who tells her that in a past life, she could wield a very powerful, natural magic. He also tells her that she'll need to recover her memories of her former self in order to increase her magical abilities in this life. Oh yeah, and there are not only other seventeen-year-olds like her that they need to find, but also there are three magicians who are actually causing all of the natural disasters that have been felt throughout the world lately, not global warming.
I loved the way that Gwen's magic and memories unfolded as well as how they differed from how she feels in her present life toward other characters. I also loved meeting the other magic-wielding teens, and learning how their past lives all fit together. At times I suspected some things that turned out to be reveals later in the novel, but nevertheless still didn't expect them when they came, if only because I doubted my own thoughts about what was going to happen.
One of my main issues with the novel is that it seems like it starts to soon, rather than at the inciting action, and the opening paragraph seems to speak to a Gwen who not only knows about her powers, but is comfortable in training for combat (which doesn't occur till halfway through the novel) and gives too little information to the reader at that point. Moreover, there were a few sections with several typos, incorrect punctuation, and occasional missing words, like "the". I would expect to see this in an ARC, but I found it to be jarring in a finished copy.
Despite these issues, I'm sold on the series, and can't wait to read Lives Of Kings, the second book in this new, Canadian trilogy, which comes out on November 22, 2014.
Gwen begins as a lot of main characters with magic do: she has always been a normal girl, never suspecting the magic that she can harness before she meets the slightly creepy and strange, Kian, who tells her that in a past life, she could wield a very powerful, natural magic. He also tells her that she'll need to recover her memories of her former self in order to increase her magical abilities in this life. Oh yeah, and there are not only other seventeen-year-olds like her that they need to find, but also there are three magicians who are actually causing all of the natural disasters that have been felt throughout the world lately, not global warming.
I loved the way that Gwen's magic and memories unfolded as well as how they differed from how she feels in her present life toward other characters. I also loved meeting the other magic-wielding teens, and learning how their past lives all fit together. At times I suspected some things that turned out to be reveals later in the novel, but nevertheless still didn't expect them when they came, if only because I doubted my own thoughts about what was going to happen.
One of my main issues with the novel is that it seems like it starts to soon, rather than at the inciting action, and the opening paragraph seems to speak to a Gwen who not only knows about her powers, but is comfortable in training for combat (which doesn't occur till halfway through the novel) and gives too little information to the reader at that point. Moreover, there were a few sections with several typos, incorrect punctuation, and occasional missing words, like "the". I would expect to see this in an ARC, but I found it to be jarring in a finished copy.
Despite these issues, I'm sold on the series, and can't wait to read Lives Of Kings, the second book in this new, Canadian trilogy, which comes out on November 22, 2014.
June 30, 2013
On Gwen’s first day of a new high school she is kidnapped by a stranger called Kian. He claims she possesses magic and is in danger of three powerful magicians who have traveled forward in time to conquer the world, and they need her power if they are to accomplish it.
With help from Kian, Gwen sets out to find others like her, in hope that if they work together they can regain their memories and powers in time to prevent the magicians from succeeding with their plan.
Let me just start by saying “OMG, how gorgeous is the cover, please?” I absolutely love it, it’s so eye-catching and I love the colours, they remind me of Autumn time. I would definitely pick this up if I saw it on the shelf for the cover alone.
Lives of magic had me gripped from the start, i loved the writing style, it was so smooth it was easy to get carried away, i could happily of finished it in one sitting, although i didn’t as life always seems to get in the way.
Following Gwen on her journey was an enjoyable experience. I felt sympathetic toward her throughout a lot of the story. First she gets kidnapped, then she has to go in search of the others, all the while trying to regain her memories and control her powers. It must be hard going from thinking your a normal person to being magical the next. Poor Gwen, she handles it remarkably well though.
I loved Kian’s character! Although there were a few times i wanted to smack him sideways, unfortunately for you i can’t tell you why or it would spoil all the fun; I didn’t see it coming!! At first he’s remote and stone-like but soon warms up to Gwen and relaxes bit by bit. He’s smart, cute (in my head he’s a proper fittie) *YUM YUM* and does whatever he can to help the others. Totally a great main character.
Overall i really enjoyed reading ‘Lives of Magic’, at times i felt it was a tad slow but still a great read none the less!
You can find my original review at: http://morphybooksblog.wordpress.com/...
With help from Kian, Gwen sets out to find others like her, in hope that if they work together they can regain their memories and powers in time to prevent the magicians from succeeding with their plan.
Let me just start by saying “OMG, how gorgeous is the cover, please?” I absolutely love it, it’s so eye-catching and I love the colours, they remind me of Autumn time. I would definitely pick this up if I saw it on the shelf for the cover alone.
Lives of magic had me gripped from the start, i loved the writing style, it was so smooth it was easy to get carried away, i could happily of finished it in one sitting, although i didn’t as life always seems to get in the way.
Following Gwen on her journey was an enjoyable experience. I felt sympathetic toward her throughout a lot of the story. First she gets kidnapped, then she has to go in search of the others, all the while trying to regain her memories and control her powers. It must be hard going from thinking your a normal person to being magical the next. Poor Gwen, she handles it remarkably well though.
I loved Kian’s character! Although there were a few times i wanted to smack him sideways, unfortunately for you i can’t tell you why or it would spoil all the fun; I didn’t see it coming!! At first he’s remote and stone-like but soon warms up to Gwen and relaxes bit by bit. He’s smart, cute (in my head he’s a proper fittie) *YUM YUM* and does whatever he can to help the others. Totally a great main character.
Overall i really enjoyed reading ‘Lives of Magic’, at times i felt it was a tad slow but still a great read none the less!
You can find my original review at: http://morphybooksblog.wordpress.com/...
February 13, 2014
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
This was, if I'm honest, a book I particularly wanted to win. So I was pretty happy when I got the e-mail telling me that I'd won this book. And then I read the blurb to my friend, who commented, "I hope she's not a massive Mary Sue.' I laughed... and hoped the same thing.
I needn't have worried, though. This was a refreshing book without even a hint of vampires, werewolves, or angels. I liked the past life aspects of this book and I thought they were handled particularly well.
I really liked all of the characters in this book. I felt that they came across as really well-rounded and weren't ridiculously over-powered. Even Gwen's extra power made sense once its origin was revealed.
I think I would have liked to see a bit more detail surrounding their past lives in this book - the second-to-last flashback reads more as a summary of events. I still liked it, but I do like to have more details.
I particularly liked Garrison and would have liked to know more of his modern-day past. Seth's, too, though I really liked their friendship. When Moira told Gwen she wanted to kill her, I was quite worried. A lot of the time, if someone says that, they become a foil for the main character to look good. It was nice that that didn't happen here.
I did notice a few errors in this book. One of them was a sudden change from past tense to present. The other was a problem I notice a lot with first person POV books. Gwen says, 'I didn't notice that Seth and Garrison looked bothered as well.' If she didn't notice, why was it stated?
I don't normally like love triangles, but this one didn't come across as too bad.
All in all, I really did enjoy reading this book. I would definitely be interested in reading the next one. I would recommend this book to people who like young adult urban fantasy books.
(This review may contain spoilers).
This was, if I'm honest, a book I particularly wanted to win. So I was pretty happy when I got the e-mail telling me that I'd won this book. And then I read the blurb to my friend, who commented, "I hope she's not a massive Mary Sue.' I laughed... and hoped the same thing.
I needn't have worried, though. This was a refreshing book without even a hint of vampires, werewolves, or angels. I liked the past life aspects of this book and I thought they were handled particularly well.
I really liked all of the characters in this book. I felt that they came across as really well-rounded and weren't ridiculously over-powered. Even Gwen's extra power made sense once its origin was revealed.
I think I would have liked to see a bit more detail surrounding their past lives in this book - the second-to-last flashback reads more as a summary of events. I still liked it, but I do like to have more details.
I particularly liked Garrison and would have liked to know more of his modern-day past. Seth's, too, though I really liked their friendship. When Moira told Gwen she wanted to kill her, I was quite worried. A lot of the time, if someone says that, they become a foil for the main character to look good. It was nice that that didn't happen here.
I did notice a few errors in this book. One of them was a sudden change from past tense to present. The other was a problem I notice a lot with first person POV books. Gwen says, 'I didn't notice that Seth and Garrison looked bothered as well.' If she didn't notice, why was it stated?
I don't normally like love triangles, but this one didn't come across as too bad.
All in all, I really did enjoy reading this book. I would definitely be interested in reading the next one. I would recommend this book to people who like young adult urban fantasy books.
September 17, 2013
Gwen just moved in Oregon, she's starting a new life. She was in a new town, new school and maybe she may even gain new friends until she was kidnapped by Kian. Their reason for moving is a real big bad earthquake in San Fransisco CA.There's an interesting premise at the beginning of the book: the bad weather/global warming scenario, to which Lucy Leiderman give her own explanation.
The story itself is told exclusively from Gwen's point of view. She is a believable and likable narrator; her reactions, fears, and hopes reflect what one would expect of a seventeen-year-old whose recent dreams of the near future had been dashed. Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). The meeting Kian on her first social day in a new town leaves her traumatized: first She found out she's not who she thinks she and second, Gwen learned from Kian that she is in terrible danger - three evil magicians are after her to get hold of powers as a participant in an ancient war, fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. In order f to survive, Gwen must remember how to use her magical powers. Kian also explained her, that she wasn't the only participant in that war, and in order to succeed, she must reunion with other 6 members. He also claim that she is a crucial key for locating this other 6 members as they have affinity to each other.
I was enamored by the way Leiderman introduced her shifts between Gwen's past and the now which I found done very very, nicely (Different personalities and past was full of "deep dark, scandalous" secrets).
The story itself is told exclusively from Gwen's point of view. She is a believable and likable narrator; her reactions, fears, and hopes reflect what one would expect of a seventeen-year-old whose recent dreams of the near future had been dashed. Gwen turned out to be whiny (although I know she has every right to be). The meeting Kian on her first social day in a new town leaves her traumatized: first She found out she's not who she thinks she and second, Gwen learned from Kian that she is in terrible danger - three evil magicians are after her to get hold of powers as a participant in an ancient war, fought between magical Celtic warriors and three evil magicians. Those magicians are alive and well and need Gwen's magic to regain their power. If they succeed, they'll be unstoppable. In order f to survive, Gwen must remember how to use her magical powers. Kian also explained her, that she wasn't the only participant in that war, and in order to succeed, she must reunion with other 6 members. He also claim that she is a crucial key for locating this other 6 members as they have affinity to each other.
I was enamored by the way Leiderman introduced her shifts between Gwen's past and the now which I found done very very, nicely (Different personalities and past was full of "deep dark, scandalous" secrets).
January 26, 2014
Book two. please.
One of my problems with reviewing book is that sometimes... I just don't know what to say. I'm speechless. And another thing, I'm also speechless because I've read this last Tuesday, 21st. And now... I can't remember it well. >.<
For what I remember... I liked this plot. The way it was written was good. It keeps me reading and not bored. That's really one of the major points I need when reading. It's essential that a story doesn't bore me to death that I would rate it 3 stars and up. But then again, it always depends on the plot. The plot is a bit complicated but I followed it! I keep on guessing what would happen next based on the facts given in the book.
I said that it was a bit complicated... because of the past life of the main character. The lives she lived back in the day was a bit confusing especially since the author made it like that deliberately (I think). Gwen is written to be confused at first because of her past life interconnecting with the present one. It's just like what Kian had said. That the past should not define her for what she is right now.
So as she gain her magic back and memories from the past back... I liked that she knows who she really wants. Not what her past wants. She decided it herself, her current self. And I'm glad that it was not really much of a love triangle.
It's really good that I want to read the next book right now cause I'm impatient like that. :P It's not much of a cliffhanger anyway. And I want to know what will happen to 'that' guy soon. Why does he needs to go... :(
YES! I recommend it! Fantasy magic lovers! :)
One of my problems with reviewing book is that sometimes... I just don't know what to say. I'm speechless. And another thing, I'm also speechless because I've read this last Tuesday, 21st. And now... I can't remember it well. >.<
For what I remember... I liked this plot. The way it was written was good. It keeps me reading and not bored. That's really one of the major points I need when reading. It's essential that a story doesn't bore me to death that I would rate it 3 stars and up. But then again, it always depends on the plot. The plot is a bit complicated but I followed it! I keep on guessing what would happen next based on the facts given in the book.
I said that it was a bit complicated... because of the past life of the main character. The lives she lived back in the day was a bit confusing especially since the author made it like that deliberately (I think). Gwen is written to be confused at first because of her past life interconnecting with the present one. It's just like what Kian had said. That the past should not define her for what she is right now.
So as she gain her magic back and memories from the past back... I liked that she knows who she really wants. Not what her past wants. She decided it herself, her current self. And I'm glad that it was not really much of a love triangle.
It's really good that I want to read the next book right now cause I'm impatient like that. :P It's not much of a cliffhanger anyway. And I want to know what will happen to 'that' guy soon. Why does he needs to go... :(
YES! I recommend it! Fantasy magic lovers! :)
October 25, 2014
So I made it halfway through the book, and then abandoned it. When I feel like a book is either too predictable or limited on the conflict, I'm just not keen to read much more of it. I couldn't attach myself to the main character, because I never felt like I could dig into any of her real qualities. I found a lot of the situations a bit beyond believable, and therefore I just couldn't stomache reading any more of it.
I mean, nearly halfway through the book, and they have their first interaction with the magicians, and the reasoning behind the magicians not taking them then is because "their powers haven't fully formed?" I really can't buy that. I was also unconvinced by her quick and sudden departure from her old life, and how easy that was for her to give up. It didn't seem realistic at all.
I felt more engaged once Seth arrived, and I was very curious to see how that would play out, but there are too many instances where I'm left with questions, and a lack of believability. I had really hoped it would have turned around.
I mean, nearly halfway through the book, and they have their first interaction with the magicians, and the reasoning behind the magicians not taking them then is because "their powers haven't fully formed?" I really can't buy that. I was also unconvinced by her quick and sudden departure from her old life, and how easy that was for her to give up. It didn't seem realistic at all.
I felt more engaged once Seth arrived, and I was very curious to see how that would play out, but there are too many instances where I'm left with questions, and a lack of believability. I had really hoped it would have turned around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2014
yay, very excited to receive and read this book, i will update my review as i go
truly delightful colorful cover it is completely magical and mesmerizing
rich storyline featuring magic, past lives and an epic quest to save the world i will continue to update my review as i read, currently reading on my breaks at work, makes work more interesting :)
just bought the second book in the series as so far am loving loving the first book. i am looking forward to being able to move on immediately to the next book.
truly delightful colorful cover it is completely magical and mesmerizing
rich storyline featuring magic, past lives and an epic quest to save the world i will continue to update my review as i read, currently reading on my breaks at work, makes work more interesting :)
just bought the second book in the series as so far am loving loving the first book. i am looking forward to being able to move on immediately to the next book.
December 31, 2013
I give this book 3 1/2 stars. The first half of the book was slow and did not keep my attention. Once I made it to the second half of the book I didn't want to put the book down. The first half of the book took several days for me to get through it and I was really confused by what was happening. Although there was parts I questioned in the second half, it was a lot easier to follow.
The characters fell a little flat for me. There wasn't a lot of depth to them which was disappointing.
The characters fell a little flat for me. There wasn't a lot of depth to them which was disappointing.
December 8, 2014
Magic
I did enjoy this book. I loved the characters. There were times when this book was confusing keeping up with memories of past lives, dreams and reality. The characters themselves were confused at times as well. So I guess that's just part of the storyline. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel because the story is not over yet. This is a good read.
I did enjoy this book. I loved the characters. There were times when this book was confusing keeping up with memories of past lives, dreams and reality. The characters themselves were confused at times as well. So I guess that's just part of the storyline. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel because the story is not over yet. This is a good read.
Want to read
October 2, 2015Won this off the author on goodreads! Sorry it took so long for me to read it I am a nursing student and I work so my time is limited! I'm starting it now!
March 20, 2014
it was a great book i couldn't put it down i loved all the plot twists and finding out more about each person past and present selfs
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