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Magic Unveiled: an Anthology
Either the wondrous or the perilous awaits us when we play a hand at magic.
A hard boiled detective chases the supernatural, unveiling a frightening world right alongside modern man's. A mother, able to grant wishes, shows us we must be careful what we wish for. An African Orisha might just pass you in downtown Los Angeles, eager to siphon some of your energy so that he will not fade out of existence.
From heart wrenching, ghostly goodbyes to relatives, to discovering sparks of otherworldly magic permeating contemporary society, these nine tales of magical realism and paranormal fantasy come together to form this enchanting and gripping anthology.
Magic Unveiled is presented to you by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie, Seattle Times and Amazon bestselling author Raven Oak, Amazon bestselling authors Alesha Escobar and Devorah Fox, NIEA Finalist H.M. Jones, Alice Marks, Jayme Beddingfield, Ronovan Hester, and Keith Goodno.
A hard boiled detective chases the supernatural, unveiling a frightening world right alongside modern man's. A mother, able to grant wishes, shows us we must be careful what we wish for. An African Orisha might just pass you in downtown Los Angeles, eager to siphon some of your energy so that he will not fade out of existence.
From heart wrenching, ghostly goodbyes to relatives, to discovering sparks of otherworldly magic permeating contemporary society, these nine tales of magical realism and paranormal fantasy come together to form this enchanting and gripping anthology.
Magic Unveiled is presented to you by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie, Seattle Times and Amazon bestselling author Raven Oak, Amazon bestselling authors Alesha Escobar and Devorah Fox, NIEA Finalist H.M. Jones, Alice Marks, Jayme Beddingfield, Ronovan Hester, and Keith Goodno.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published October 10, 2016
2 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Alesha Escobar
47 books265 followersAlesha Escobar writes action-packed paranormal fantasy with a dash of humor and romance mixed in. She’s the author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy, a WW2 paranormal fantasy often described as “Agent Carter meets Hellboy.”
She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.
Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.
When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.
To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads
Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!
She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.
Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.
When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.
To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads
Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 7, 2016
Magic Unveiled: An Anthology is a collection of nine different short stories all featured around of course the use of magic in one way or another. The collection includes the following stories:
Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes by H.M. Jones
The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar
The Isis Enigma by Samantha LaFantasie
Unusual Suspect by Ronovan Hester
Journey to a New Home by Jayme Beddingfield
The Dark Ones by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno
Three Wishes by Alice Marks
Blackwing by Devorah Fox
Mirror Me by Raven Oak
As with a collection of stories there's always some that stand out a bit more but overall I enjoyed the entire collection. My one complaint is the same I normally have when picking up short stories, they end up just simply being too short. As soon as I start to really enjoy one it seems to be over and I just wish for more depth but that's just my own opinion, I'm sure fans of magical reads and short stories should enjoy this read as they all seem to be a little different in content to keep up a reader's interest.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes by H.M. Jones
The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar
The Isis Enigma by Samantha LaFantasie
Unusual Suspect by Ronovan Hester
Journey to a New Home by Jayme Beddingfield
The Dark Ones by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno
Three Wishes by Alice Marks
Blackwing by Devorah Fox
Mirror Me by Raven Oak
As with a collection of stories there's always some that stand out a bit more but overall I enjoyed the entire collection. My one complaint is the same I normally have when picking up short stories, they end up just simply being too short. As soon as I start to really enjoy one it seems to be over and I just wish for more depth but that's just my own opinion, I'm sure fans of magical reads and short stories should enjoy this read as they all seem to be a little different in content to keep up a reader's interest.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 3, 2016
( I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to authors Alesha Escobar and Devorah fox for making sure the copy was made available to me on NetGalley.)
BLURB
Either the wondrous or the perilous awaits us when we play a hand at magic.
A hard boiled detective chases the supernatural, unveiling a frightening world right alongside modern man's. A mother, able to grant wishes, shows us we must be careful what we wish for. An African Orisha might just pass you in downtown Los Angeles, eager to siphon some of your energy so that he will not fade out of existence.
From heart wrenching, ghostly goodbyes to relatives, to discovering sparks of otherworldly magic permeating contemporary society, these nine tales of magical realism and paranormal fantasy come together to form this enchanting and gripping anthology.
OVERALL REVIEW OF THE BOOK
Magic Unveiled is a well put together anthology of, well, magical stories. The stories deal with wishes to witches, all of them crafted beautifully. My favourites were The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar, Journey to a new home by Jayme Beddingfield , and Gypsum Jane’s Inkscapes by H.M.Jones.
Each story is unique and deals with various topics but the one thing almost all the stories have in common are human emotions. The stories deal with loss, happiness, fear, hope among other emotions. Despite their fantastical character, the stories are highly relatable because of the emotions prevailing in them. The language and writing style of all the stories were beautiful and uncluttered enabling me to read the entire book in one sitting.
GYPSUM JANE'S INKSCAPES by H.M. Jones (5/5)
A beautiful story to start off the anthology. This story deals with loss, love and hope. The author crafts a story that teaches the reader the tragedy of loss and the need for hope. The descriptions are beautiful and the places described by the author in the story are etched in my mind. I connected with the protagonist and was able to see the story through his eyes.
THE BLACK DAGGER GODS by Alesha Escobar (5/5)
Oh my Gods! I want a sequel to this story! Maybe a whole series would satisfy my appetite for this story. The plot was unique and refreshing. The story starts off with a whole lot of suspense and I loved how the whole thing played out. The writing style was very descriptive and the characters very realistic. Reading about Gods being so human-like was highly enjoyable.
THE ISIS ENIGMA by Samantha LaFantasie (4.5/5)
Once again, I want a whole series!! The author leaves a huge part of the story to the readers imagination. While I liked the end, I don't just want to have to imagine. I want to know! This story is a different take on witches and is interlaced with emotions. The emotions of the protagonist adds a three dimensional character to the plot that keeps the reader hooked.
UNUSUAL SUSPECT by Ronovan Hester (4.5/5)
The whole premise is different and intriguing. The story left me asking for more. This story deals with hell and evil souls. It was highly interesting and I personally liked Max! I love Kick-ass female characters and Max fits the description to the T.
JOURNEY TO A NEW HOME by Jayme Beddingfield (5/5)
If you thought only long novels about lost love can bring tears to your eyes,..think again. This short and sweet story pulled at my heartstrings and I teared up so much I had to take deep breaths every five sentences or so. Loved the innocence and beauty of the story so much.
THE DARK ONES by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno (4/5)
Once again,I want a whole series! The premise is exciting. The protagonist's fear seeps into us and I found myself drawn into the story. The end of the story made me feel all bold and fearless. I felt feminist power surge into me at the end of the story.
THREE WISHES by Alice Marks (4/5)
It is a story about wishes as the title denotes. Being a person who always wishes at 11:11 I totally understand the need to make wishes every chance one gets because who knows! The wish might just come true. It is a light take on wishes with a deeper moral.
BLACKWING by Devorah Fox (4.5/5)
It is a short and sweet story that makes the reader feel good at the end of it. It is the kind of story that puts a smile on readers' faces. It is a story of lighthearted magic that reaches out to us during the most unexpected of times.
MIRROR ME by Raven Oak (4.5/5)
It is so different from all fantasy stories I've read so far. It is an intriguing plot that touches on father-son relationships and human emotions. The protagonist is well rounded and carries the plot forward with ease. For some reason, I really loved the quote below from the story.-
"You try and shut out the world, and the world will swallow you.”
CONCLUSION
It is an amazing collection of magical stories that are unique and different from each other. A must read!
BLURB
Either the wondrous or the perilous awaits us when we play a hand at magic.
A hard boiled detective chases the supernatural, unveiling a frightening world right alongside modern man's. A mother, able to grant wishes, shows us we must be careful what we wish for. An African Orisha might just pass you in downtown Los Angeles, eager to siphon some of your energy so that he will not fade out of existence.
From heart wrenching, ghostly goodbyes to relatives, to discovering sparks of otherworldly magic permeating contemporary society, these nine tales of magical realism and paranormal fantasy come together to form this enchanting and gripping anthology.
OVERALL REVIEW OF THE BOOK
Magic Unveiled is a well put together anthology of, well, magical stories. The stories deal with wishes to witches, all of them crafted beautifully. My favourites were The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar, Journey to a new home by Jayme Beddingfield , and Gypsum Jane’s Inkscapes by H.M.Jones.
Each story is unique and deals with various topics but the one thing almost all the stories have in common are human emotions. The stories deal with loss, happiness, fear, hope among other emotions. Despite their fantastical character, the stories are highly relatable because of the emotions prevailing in them. The language and writing style of all the stories were beautiful and uncluttered enabling me to read the entire book in one sitting.
GYPSUM JANE'S INKSCAPES by H.M. Jones (5/5)
A beautiful story to start off the anthology. This story deals with loss, love and hope. The author crafts a story that teaches the reader the tragedy of loss and the need for hope. The descriptions are beautiful and the places described by the author in the story are etched in my mind. I connected with the protagonist and was able to see the story through his eyes.
THE BLACK DAGGER GODS by Alesha Escobar (5/5)
Oh my Gods! I want a sequel to this story! Maybe a whole series would satisfy my appetite for this story. The plot was unique and refreshing. The story starts off with a whole lot of suspense and I loved how the whole thing played out. The writing style was very descriptive and the characters very realistic. Reading about Gods being so human-like was highly enjoyable.
THE ISIS ENIGMA by Samantha LaFantasie (4.5/5)
Once again, I want a whole series!! The author leaves a huge part of the story to the readers imagination. While I liked the end, I don't just want to have to imagine. I want to know! This story is a different take on witches and is interlaced with emotions. The emotions of the protagonist adds a three dimensional character to the plot that keeps the reader hooked.
UNUSUAL SUSPECT by Ronovan Hester (4.5/5)
The whole premise is different and intriguing. The story left me asking for more. This story deals with hell and evil souls. It was highly interesting and I personally liked Max! I love Kick-ass female characters and Max fits the description to the T.
JOURNEY TO A NEW HOME by Jayme Beddingfield (5/5)
If you thought only long novels about lost love can bring tears to your eyes,..think again. This short and sweet story pulled at my heartstrings and I teared up so much I had to take deep breaths every five sentences or so. Loved the innocence and beauty of the story so much.
THE DARK ONES by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno (4/5)
Once again,I want a whole series! The premise is exciting. The protagonist's fear seeps into us and I found myself drawn into the story. The end of the story made me feel all bold and fearless. I felt feminist power surge into me at the end of the story.
THREE WISHES by Alice Marks (4/5)
It is a story about wishes as the title denotes. Being a person who always wishes at 11:11 I totally understand the need to make wishes every chance one gets because who knows! The wish might just come true. It is a light take on wishes with a deeper moral.
BLACKWING by Devorah Fox (4.5/5)
It is a short and sweet story that makes the reader feel good at the end of it. It is the kind of story that puts a smile on readers' faces. It is a story of lighthearted magic that reaches out to us during the most unexpected of times.
MIRROR ME by Raven Oak (4.5/5)
It is so different from all fantasy stories I've read so far. It is an intriguing plot that touches on father-son relationships and human emotions. The protagonist is well rounded and carries the plot forward with ease. For some reason, I really loved the quote below from the story.-
"You try and shut out the world, and the world will swallow you.”
CONCLUSION
It is an amazing collection of magical stories that are unique and different from each other. A must read!
November 12, 2016
Magic Unveiled: An Anthology
Various Authors
Magic has many facets. Sometimes good. Other times evil. A blessing. A curse. Humorous. Frightening. This collection gathers nine supernatural stories that differ in style and tone, bringing together the many faces of magical, supernatural power.
Always a fan of magical tales, I was so excited to delve into this collection. I brewed a pot of tea, curled up on the sofa with my cat, and spent the evening in the fantasy world created by this collection of magical stories.
I was not disappointed! As with any anthology, I liked some of the stories better than others. But, all in all, this collection was an enjoyable, quick, read. It was a nice dose of magic on a fall evening.
The stories included are:
Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes by H.M. Jones. A tale of a man in mourning and a visit to a supernatural tattoo parlor. Jones' story masterfully weaves a tale that blurs the boundary between this world and the after-life. I loved this story!
The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar. A gang of Gods ventures forth to discover who murdered one of their own. Rogue deities. Fading power of the old Gods. And a guardian tied to both men and gods. Awesome story with a lot of action.
The Isis Enigma by Samantha LaFantasie. Young witch Audrey's college life is interrupted by a dream that leads her on a journey to discover her family's magical legacy and starts her on a quest to free an imprisoned goddess. This was a coming of age story with a magical twist.
Unusual Suspect by Ronovan Hester. Detectives investigate the death of a woman who was host to a Hell Soul. A tale of possession with a new twist!
Journey to a New Home by Jayme Beddingfield. A child's drawing takes her on a magical walk with her ill mother. This was a hauntingly beautiful story, my favorite in this collection.
The Dark Ones by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno. Anna discovers that some relationships are dysfunctional and toxic for a reason.
Three Wishes by Alice Marks. Always be careful what you wish for.
Blackwing by Devorah Fox. A handyman finds a pencil that just might change his life. This story made me, as a writer, happy in my soul. :)
Mirror Me by Raven Oak. A mirror that reflects a little bit more than just the truth.
All in all, an enjoyable short story anthology!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this story anthology from Creative Alchemy, Inc via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.**
Various Authors
Magic has many facets. Sometimes good. Other times evil. A blessing. A curse. Humorous. Frightening. This collection gathers nine supernatural stories that differ in style and tone, bringing together the many faces of magical, supernatural power.
Always a fan of magical tales, I was so excited to delve into this collection. I brewed a pot of tea, curled up on the sofa with my cat, and spent the evening in the fantasy world created by this collection of magical stories.
I was not disappointed! As with any anthology, I liked some of the stories better than others. But, all in all, this collection was an enjoyable, quick, read. It was a nice dose of magic on a fall evening.
The stories included are:
Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes by H.M. Jones. A tale of a man in mourning and a visit to a supernatural tattoo parlor. Jones' story masterfully weaves a tale that blurs the boundary between this world and the after-life. I loved this story!
The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar. A gang of Gods ventures forth to discover who murdered one of their own. Rogue deities. Fading power of the old Gods. And a guardian tied to both men and gods. Awesome story with a lot of action.
The Isis Enigma by Samantha LaFantasie. Young witch Audrey's college life is interrupted by a dream that leads her on a journey to discover her family's magical legacy and starts her on a quest to free an imprisoned goddess. This was a coming of age story with a magical twist.
Unusual Suspect by Ronovan Hester. Detectives investigate the death of a woman who was host to a Hell Soul. A tale of possession with a new twist!
Journey to a New Home by Jayme Beddingfield. A child's drawing takes her on a magical walk with her ill mother. This was a hauntingly beautiful story, my favorite in this collection.
The Dark Ones by Samantha LaFantasie and Keith Goodno. Anna discovers that some relationships are dysfunctional and toxic for a reason.
Three Wishes by Alice Marks. Always be careful what you wish for.
Blackwing by Devorah Fox. A handyman finds a pencil that just might change his life. This story made me, as a writer, happy in my soul. :)
Mirror Me by Raven Oak. A mirror that reflects a little bit more than just the truth.
All in all, an enjoyable short story anthology!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this story anthology from Creative Alchemy, Inc via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.**
October 14, 2016
This is a well constructed anthology because of the variety both in styles and storylines. I definitely got what I expected from it. Thank you Netgalley and Creative Alchemy fot the ARC! Full review on my blog.
Esta es una antología que está muy bien creada porque ofrece una buena variedad de estilos e historias en cuanto a la magia. Definitivamente obtuve lo que siempre espero de las antologías y colecciones.
Reseña completa en mi blog.
Esta es una antología que está muy bien creada porque ofrece una buena variedad de estilos e historias en cuanto a la magia. Definitivamente obtuve lo que siempre espero de las antologías y colecciones.
Reseña completa en mi blog.
October 10, 2016
I enjoyed all the stories in this anthology. They were widely varied and many of the authors were not familiar to me. I'll have to do some research but I'm thinking some of these short stories were part of a series or a beginning of a new series. There are 9 stories and I would be hard pressed to pick one favorite. I like the fact you can sit and read one or several at a time. I'm going to look into books by several of these great writers. As the title suggests the stories are all based on a theme of magical people or objects.
May 16, 2017
The first two stories in this collection were awesome. Unfortunately that trend didn't continue for me since I actually stopped reading the third one after only two chapters. I did finish the other six stories, but none of them captured me the way the first two did. I'm definitely going to check out the first two author's other works - H.M. Jones ("Gypsum Jane's Inkscapes") and Alesha Escobar ("The Black Dagger Gods")
January 13, 2017
I enjoyed the magic filled short stories. Many left me want to read more, which is always an admirable quality in a short story. Definitely a enjoyable evening's read.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
I received this book as part of a Good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.
November 29, 2017
A mixed bag. I didn't enjoy the first story, it felt like someone had gone through it with a thesaurus, baby kangaroo Tribianni style, but it generally got better and was worth persevering. Black Dagger Gods was a triumph and my favourite of the collection. A quick and mostly enjoyable read.
November 16, 2016
These were nine stories of fantasy and magic with a wide variety of subject and writing style, yet they all remained true to the central theme, Fantasy and Magic. I had a little difficulty selecting the one I like best; but in the end, I settled on The Black Dagger Gods by Alesha Escobar. I like Escobar’s clear writing and the way she brings her characters to life in her story. They were all excellent shorts, but I like this one the best. I’m looking forward to the book when it is released. I highly recommend this anthology to fantasy book lovers!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews