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A Brush with Magic
When Rua frees Silas from some bandits, the seasoned warrior takes the student mage under her wing... partly down to him wanting to repay her kindness, but mostly because his lack of common sense meant he needed saving from himself.
She soon suspects he's hiding something. That doesn't bother her. She has a secret too. She's killed thousands over the centuries and even rises from the dead to finish the job. She just tries not to do it in front of anyone she likes.
But as a routine rescue operation goes from bad to worse, Silas is forced to reveal that he is the most dangerous mage in existence.
And the one she has been searching for her entire life.
She soon suspects he's hiding something. That doesn't bother her. She has a secret too. She's killed thousands over the centuries and even rises from the dead to finish the job. She just tries not to do it in front of anyone she likes.
But as a routine rescue operation goes from bad to worse, Silas is forced to reveal that he is the most dangerous mage in existence.
And the one she has been searching for her entire life.
- GenresManga
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Sonia Leong
60 books23 followersSonia Leong is a comic artist and illustrator specialising in Anime/Manga. Her first graphic novel was Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Abrams). Her awards include Young Adult Library Services Association Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Best Books for Young Adults and Tokyopop's first UK Rising Stars of Manga competition. She contributed to the Eisner Award-winning Comic Book Tattoo: Tales inspired by Tori Amos (Image Comics). Her most recent graphic novel was Great Lives: Marie Curie (B.E.S. Publishing). Her work also appears in Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived (BBC Books), Domo: The Manga (Tokyopop) and Bravest Warriors: The Search for Catbug (VIZ Media). Sonia is a cover artist for Titan Comics on Assassin's Creed: Awakening and Norman. In children's publishing, she illustrated the I, Hero series (Hachettes) by Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore, the Girls FC series (Walker) by Helena Pielichaty and the Ninja series (Barrington Stoke) by Chris Bradford. She also works in other fields such as design, film and television, fashion and advertising. She is part of Sweatdrop Studios, a comic collaborative and independent comic publisher based in the United Kingdom. She loves fashion, food and videogames.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 27, 2025
This is one of the many books our Sant Jordi visiting author wrote; she mostly writes manga, but this is manga lite, a high fantasy quest/light romance. It’s very good, both the story and illustrations. Sonia is such a gifted storyteller and illustrator; my students followed her around like adoring fans all day. I probably did, too. 💗
January 24, 2019
Not my usual read, not being well acquainted with manga or light novel adaptations of it. I picked A Brush With Magic up at a Japanese convention late 2018, having seen author Sonia Leong at a stall, and the artwork and light novel concept reached out to me. The artwork was striking, and the personality of the characters fit perfectly with the written versions. The story was pleasant and made me chuckle a few times. It has a heart-warming tone and a sense of light-hearted adventure combined with dark peril and exaggerated threat.
The author has a great awareness of character and perception, related through her characters, who both have tragic powers that mark them as different from the norm and make them unable to fit in. Vulpine warrior Rua saves Mage Silas from bandits and they both develop a connection, understanding each other and yet with there being enough to be discovered about each other. Ultimately, I felt the story was about acceptance and reliability, which were things both characters wanted from each other and they couldn’t get enough of either.
There were some neat ideas in the story too, of a magical inbox Silas can create to withdraw items and send them, like an ‘enhanced postal system’. I liked this concept. It was my opinion that the writing was very good where description and action was concerned. Check this out: ‘Before anyone could take another breath, Rua drew her hand back and flung the dagger at him with full force. It spun, end over end, embedding itself square in the middle of the bandit’s forehead with a sickening thunk’.
There was a scene involving Silas and Rua where they intended to go to a club and I wanted to see what happened when ‘they got there’, and I was disappointed when it was related to other characters instead, but this was my only qualm.
Reading ABWM was a positive and enjoyable experience, with humour and real and lovable characters. The story had thought and care put into it, and the illustrations certainly did! What an excellent and well put-together story!
The author has a great awareness of character and perception, related through her characters, who both have tragic powers that mark them as different from the norm and make them unable to fit in. Vulpine warrior Rua saves Mage Silas from bandits and they both develop a connection, understanding each other and yet with there being enough to be discovered about each other. Ultimately, I felt the story was about acceptance and reliability, which were things both characters wanted from each other and they couldn’t get enough of either.
There were some neat ideas in the story too, of a magical inbox Silas can create to withdraw items and send them, like an ‘enhanced postal system’. I liked this concept. It was my opinion that the writing was very good where description and action was concerned. Check this out: ‘Before anyone could take another breath, Rua drew her hand back and flung the dagger at him with full force. It spun, end over end, embedding itself square in the middle of the bandit’s forehead with a sickening thunk’.
There was a scene involving Silas and Rua where they intended to go to a club and I wanted to see what happened when ‘they got there’, and I was disappointed when it was related to other characters instead, but this was my only qualm.
Reading ABWM was a positive and enjoyable experience, with humour and real and lovable characters. The story had thought and care put into it, and the illustrations certainly did! What an excellent and well put-together story!
June 7, 2015
'A Brush With Magic' is a light fantasy novel with a collection of beautiful manga-styled illustrations, also by the author, to accompany it. It's a relatively quick read, but I managed to stretch it out to last a week because I didn't want to finish it too soon! The story focuses on two main characters, Ruaidri'ogan (Rua) and Silas L'Heritier, who encounter one another when Rua rescues Silas from bandits. Both characters were likeable and really made the novel enjoyable. High-spirited Rua kept the story going with her energy, while clumsy and awkward Silas was extremely endearing. At first, it seems these two have few concerns, but as the story develops we learn more about their pasts and exactly why they have been brought together this way, and their backstories are really developed.
The story moves at a quick pace, but this is to be expected with a light novel. There is a sharp contrast between the humorous scenes between Rua, Silas and various side-characters, and the violence of the battle scenes scattered throughout the story. This can seem a little jarring at first, but it is also effective in conveying the contrasts involved in Rua's life. Also, this is a book made to read like an anime series, so we can't expect it to read in exactly the same way as a standard fantasy novel.
The writing style throughout the story was clear, concise and well-paced, with locations described just enough to pique the reader's interest without bogging them down in too much detail. Battles were written at a quick pace and character development scenes at a much slower one to allow us to really get to know them. In my opinion, I would not have used so many adverbs when describing characters' dialogue and actions - 'Eerily, she smiled through her hair' etc. - because I believe the writing was strong enough to stand without them, but this is a personal preference.
Overall, this is a strong fantasy novel with very likeable characters and I'm looking forward to the next one!
The story moves at a quick pace, but this is to be expected with a light novel. There is a sharp contrast between the humorous scenes between Rua, Silas and various side-characters, and the violence of the battle scenes scattered throughout the story. This can seem a little jarring at first, but it is also effective in conveying the contrasts involved in Rua's life. Also, this is a book made to read like an anime series, so we can't expect it to read in exactly the same way as a standard fantasy novel.
The writing style throughout the story was clear, concise and well-paced, with locations described just enough to pique the reader's interest without bogging them down in too much detail. Battles were written at a quick pace and character development scenes at a much slower one to allow us to really get to know them. In my opinion, I would not have used so many adverbs when describing characters' dialogue and actions - 'Eerily, she smiled through her hair' etc. - because I believe the writing was strong enough to stand without them, but this is a personal preference.
Overall, this is a strong fantasy novel with very likeable characters and I'm looking forward to the next one!
June 10, 2022
I had read this book previously but have re-read it as the sequel is now out so wanted to familiarise myself with the characters so the date read is the most recent reading.
First of all I want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading A Bruch with Magic by Sonia Leong for the second time and it has filled me with excitement to start reading the sequel.
A brush with magic starts off with a chilling prelude. We are thrown into the depths of a bloody war between elves and humans. All hope for the humans seem lost until Ciel's chosen champion appears. A feisty Vulpine woman with deadly daggers turns the tides of the battle. This depiction is elequent and paints a vivid picture and immediately draws you into the light novel. As the very end of the prelude is what sets this novel apart from other novels out there. A picture, incredibly drawn and rendered depicting the character we have just seen. She stares at us, the reader almost daring us to continue with the book.
If you continue to read on then you won't be disappointed. The light novel is split into two distinctive stories, which if you know Leong's gaming background is akin to a quest like element. In the first part the two main protagonists meet for the first time, with Rua the Vulpine dagger of Ciel rescuing Silias who has his own secrets. They form an almost immediate bond, almost as if it was destined for them to meet and support one another. The entire plot of this first story drives towards the end where both characters reveal their secrets to one another in a gripping and emotional way. We really get a sense of the characters vulnerability as they risk severing the bond they gained during their mission.
The interval is seen on the perspective of a young elven girl who helps her mum run their small hotel. This provides a unique view on our two protagonists from the previous chapter as we see their relationship develop without truly knowing their internal thoughts. It actually provides an NPC perspective and gives an idea on what it might be like when you play your favourite video game as your character enters an inn and speaks to the inn keeper giving them a voice.
The final part again helps build our understanding of the two characters, we are plunged into Silias' world as he returns home, with Rua in tow. We get to see both characters in 3 dimensions as Rua, who is usually in her warrior garb is dressed in dresses and is somewhat more out of her element here as the main antagonist is a magic user so there is a lack of the melee combat Rua is more akin to. The plot of this story has more undertones of a wider reaching story arc which is just begging to come into view.
The final thing that I would like to address is the artwork. Within the 220 or so pages there are many illustrations which turn this from a novel into something more. They add to the vibe of the book and showcase Leong's other passion of drawing. I have a number of Leong's pieces on my walls in my home so to be able to read and see the illustrations within view of the pictures is a true joy.
Overall I think you will enjoy this book, it's characters are gripping and very well developed and I look forward to reading more in the future...
First of all I want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading A Bruch with Magic by Sonia Leong for the second time and it has filled me with excitement to start reading the sequel.
A brush with magic starts off with a chilling prelude. We are thrown into the depths of a bloody war between elves and humans. All hope for the humans seem lost until Ciel's chosen champion appears. A feisty Vulpine woman with deadly daggers turns the tides of the battle. This depiction is elequent and paints a vivid picture and immediately draws you into the light novel. As the very end of the prelude is what sets this novel apart from other novels out there. A picture, incredibly drawn and rendered depicting the character we have just seen. She stares at us, the reader almost daring us to continue with the book.
If you continue to read on then you won't be disappointed. The light novel is split into two distinctive stories, which if you know Leong's gaming background is akin to a quest like element. In the first part the two main protagonists meet for the first time, with Rua the Vulpine dagger of Ciel rescuing Silias who has his own secrets. They form an almost immediate bond, almost as if it was destined for them to meet and support one another. The entire plot of this first story drives towards the end where both characters reveal their secrets to one another in a gripping and emotional way. We really get a sense of the characters vulnerability as they risk severing the bond they gained during their mission.
The interval is seen on the perspective of a young elven girl who helps her mum run their small hotel. This provides a unique view on our two protagonists from the previous chapter as we see their relationship develop without truly knowing their internal thoughts. It actually provides an NPC perspective and gives an idea on what it might be like when you play your favourite video game as your character enters an inn and speaks to the inn keeper giving them a voice.
The final part again helps build our understanding of the two characters, we are plunged into Silias' world as he returns home, with Rua in tow. We get to see both characters in 3 dimensions as Rua, who is usually in her warrior garb is dressed in dresses and is somewhat more out of her element here as the main antagonist is a magic user so there is a lack of the melee combat Rua is more akin to. The plot of this story has more undertones of a wider reaching story arc which is just begging to come into view.
The final thing that I would like to address is the artwork. Within the 220 or so pages there are many illustrations which turn this from a novel into something more. They add to the vibe of the book and showcase Leong's other passion of drawing. I have a number of Leong's pieces on my walls in my home so to be able to read and see the illustrations within view of the pictures is a true joy.
Overall I think you will enjoy this book, it's characters are gripping and very well developed and I look forward to reading more in the future...
April 14, 2022
I've read and re-read this so many times, it's become my own personal comfort fantasy read. I just absolutely love it and with the announcement this week if the sequel being released next month, I just had to revisit Rua and Silas again!
October 25, 2019
Despite not being a manga fan, this novel is fantastic. It includes a few aspects of young relationships and falls deep in to the pit of emotion. I cannot wait for unfoxed and the chronicles of Ciel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2015
An excellent fantasy adventure, and a real page turner!
The story keeps moving at a good pace, but affords rich descriptions to the worlds and characters. It's a very easy read, but I was glad to find plenty of words new to me, without harming the flow for me.
The book is split into an episodic format, with four or five smaller tales, each establishing characters but moving things forward. The liberal use of illustrations and comic book style support the story nicely, but the text never relies on them as a crutch.
I especially like the 'Hotel Muscari' interlude, which presents the characters from the point of view of a third party, and suggests any number of exploits the pair might be have been involved in while travelling the world.
A Brush with Magic establishes Rua and Silas as a pair of adventurers I'd gladly join on further adventures.
The story keeps moving at a good pace, but affords rich descriptions to the worlds and characters. It's a very easy read, but I was glad to find plenty of words new to me, without harming the flow for me.
The book is split into an episodic format, with four or five smaller tales, each establishing characters but moving things forward. The liberal use of illustrations and comic book style support the story nicely, but the text never relies on them as a crutch.
I especially like the 'Hotel Muscari' interlude, which presents the characters from the point of view of a third party, and suggests any number of exploits the pair might be have been involved in while travelling the world.
A Brush with Magic establishes Rua and Silas as a pair of adventurers I'd gladly join on further adventures.
August 31, 2015
I liked the story and the drawings, but it became obvious quite quickly that the author started as a manga artist. what I mean is that all the scenes felt over detailed almost as if describing all the details of pictures rather than showing a story. This is one of her first novels, so I expect her writing to improve and be at par with her drawing talent. If you like manda, you will like this story :)
June 26, 2015
A brilliant read! I found myself reading the novel over and over. I had immense compassion for both Rua and Silas. It was very vivid and it felt that I was literally in the story watching them and knowing what they are both up too. I'm really looking forward to the next novel. :D
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews