Unmagical Boy Story: a Belladonna University novella

Belladonna University #2

by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Viola Vale, Jules Nightshade & Ferdinand Chauvelin had everything: wealth, family legacy, powerful magic and high status at Belladonna University's College of the Real. But when Chauv lost his magic in an accident at school, he slipped away from their life, finding new friends on the other side of campus.

Viola thinks Jules is crazy: one night partying with Chauv's geeky, tragically insignificant friends (who calls a band Fake Geek Girl? What does that even mean?) is not going to make a difference to their lives. 

Viola has never been more wrong.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, School, Paranormal, New Adult, Urban Fantasy

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2016

About the author

Tansy Rayner Roberts is a fantasy and science fiction author who lives in southern Tasmania, somewhere between the tall mountain with snow on it, and the beach that points towards Antarctica.

Tansy has a PhD in Classics (with a special interest in poisonous Roman ladies), and an obsession with Musketeers.

You can hear Tansy talking about Doctor Who on the Verity! podcast. She also reads her own stories on the Sheep Might Fly podcast.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw a new Tansy Rayner Roberts story available, I didn't bother to read the blurb for it - I just GRABBED it immediately without needing any description! So I was about two chapters into Unmagical Boy Story when I finally realized that I should absolutely NOT be reading this novella...because here's the thing: I have a rule that I NEVER read anyone else's stories on the same themes that I'm in the middle of working on in one of my own projects. It's almost never a good idea, because (a) I'm so prickly and territorial that it's very unlikely that I'll be able to relax and enjoy someone else's take on those themes until after I've finished with my own; and (b) if I DO like someone else's take on them, I usually feel disheartened by contrast and want to give up on doing it myself. (Example A: when I read Sorcery & Cecilia, after writing the first 4 chapters of Kat, Incorrigible, and ended up setting aside my own novel for MONTHS because I despaired about ever writing any Regency fantasy of my own that could possibly measure up!)

But here's the other thing: by the time I realized that uncomfortable truth, I was already HOOKED. There was NO WAY I could stop reading this novella! I devoured it all within a day because it was so smart and sharp and spiky and magical and joyfully full of heart and humor. I loooooove the abrasive, prickly heroine, Viola Vale; I loved the magical university setting, the characters, the fandoms, the friendship arcs and even the unexpected touch of romance. I loved every minute of it. It was SO MUCH FUN.

I'm going to try not to get discouraged about my own project by comparison. But either way, I'm glad I broke my own rules and read this, and I can't wait to read the next Belladonna University story!

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is mostly about the lovely Viola Vale (isn't Tansy the BEST at picking names?) who is my close second favourite after Hebe <3

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved listening to Tansy Rayner Roberts' podcast Sheep Might Fly where you too can listen to lots of her short stories!

[Tsana Dolichva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unmagical Boy Story by Tansy Rayner Roberts is the second novella in the Belladonna University series. It chronologically follows Fake Geek Girl and precedes The Bromancers, although I read and both of those novellas first. They're all relatively self-contained and reading them out of order only really leads to mild character development spoilers and spoilers regarding the introduction of new characters.

This is a fluffy story about a grumpy post-grad which touches on some deeper issues. Viola Vale come from a rich upper-class family who are, and consort with, important decision-makers in the magical world. And of course they look down on non-magical people. The story is about Viola coming to terms with one of her best friends (also from an upper-crusty family) having been in a magical accident that stripped him of his power. It's a story of learning understanding and acceptance and Viola's journey is quite pronounced. She goes from wanting to fix her, now unmagical friend, Chauv, to accepting him as the person he now is.

The other, slightly less significant, story of acceptance is Viola's slow-building tolerance for Chauv's new friends, flatmates and girlfriend, who are basically the Fake Geek Girl gang. She goes from generalised distain for people she sees as beneath her to grudging acceptance (but not of the music), and something approaching respect for Sage and Hebe.

All it all, this was a fun, short and relaxing read with enough depth to properly address the more serious issues that it raised. I enjoyed it and I recommend it to all fans of Roberts' writing and to fans of humorous or lighthearted fantasy and geek culture. I look forward to more instalments in the series.

4 / 5 stars

You can read more of my reviews on my blog.

[Anna Hepworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second of Robert's quirky stories set in a combined magical/unmagical university. Although ostensibly a romantic YA romp, there is a subtle undertone about accepting who people are, and not attempting to 'fix' someone who doesn't consider themselves broken.

I love all the myriad details -- the reflections on fan culture of many and varied types, the uses of in-jokes, the use of the university environment as a somewhat closed microcosm. Roberts has a deft touch with characterisation, and I love the sheer variety of her characters. She handles diversity with subtlety as well. Other than the aspects of the story that focus on the eponymous Unmagical Boy, none of the diversity is there to drive the story, it just is.

Caveat on this review -- I did feel it necessary to go back and read the first one again, because I felt that I should know the characters better than I did. But I don't hold details of stories in my head very well, so this isn't a judgement on how memorable the story is.

[Miss Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ohhhhh man. you know that feeling when you read something by an author and you're like huh. that was really good. let's give them another go. and then you read something else and you're like ...wow this feels familiar...like that moment where i'm about to get obsessed and start reading everything this person's ever written...where did that amazon tab come from, i don't remember opening that... -softly- help

anyways i love belladonna university and i'm moving there now. i'm gonna chill and watch these people be friends and witness viola vale successfully defend her thesis to THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE

4.5 stars

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another installment of pure fun. I listened to this in installments on Tansy Rayner Roberts' podcast, Sheep Could Fly, and it's perfectly suited to that medium. The tone keeps things light and fun, while the plot delves into issues of discrimination and how we sometimes try to force our loved ones to be who they've always been, instead of letting them find their own way.

[Fred Langridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban(ish) fantasy novella. I think I said about the first in this series (Fake Geek Girl) that it reads like very good fanfic of itself. The same is true here: extremely fluffy and easy reading. Enough plot to keep me going, and lots of character exploration. Lovely comfort reading.

[Mel (booksandsundry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always so much fun to be in a Tansyverse. So many happy feels when I read or listen to the stories from this series.

[Stas · Rating 4 out of 5]

No abrupt endings. YAY!
Fun and serious both.

[Ju Transcendancing · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be better than rereading 'Fake Geek Girl'? *Another* story set in the same universe, continuing the story about those characters! Unmagical Boy Story is a glorious follow up to 'Fake Geek Girl' and tells the story of Viola Vale and how she and Ferd repair their friendship (and defeat some trolls in the process).

Again, this is a story about the intricacies of friendship and is deeply emotionally satisfying and a whole lot of fun. This is a comfort read, a unicorn-chaser and has become one of those stories that I just want to reread whenever I have a bad day. This universe and these characters also continue to give me a vicarious experience in the university life I always wanted and have never managed.

Snarky and intelligent, fluffy but with fully realised and complex characters this is Tansy doing what she loves and excelling at it. Buy the ebook, and listen to her read the story via her podcast Sheep Might Fly - it's awesome.

Again, I don't have much by way of useful review criticism because I'm just full of whimsy and love for this. 1001 stars.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered this story as a piece of audio fiction, read aloud on Tansy's podcast "Sheep Might Fly". I loved it. I began to eagerly look forward to Mondays, when the new episodes would go up. That alone should tell you something, because I am such a visual person and audio fiction is a challenge for me.

BUT. Now, fortunately for those of us who like to use our eyes more than our ears, this lovely novella is available as an ebook!

If you like magic, if you like academia, if you like friendships, and if you like snark, you should read this novella. The setting is fantastic (a magical university which is divided into the colleges of the Real (magic) and the Unreal (not magic)). There's just the right amount of academic flavoring. Plus Viola Vale is my new favorite person. Tansy does a fantastic job of making her sympathetic despite (because of?) her prickliness. I hate people too, Viola. I get you.

Anyway, this little story is utterly charming and engagingly written and I will definitely be reading more of Tansy's work.

[Narrelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and punchy with Tansy Rayner Roberts' trademark humour, thoughtfulness and flair. The story hums with undercurrents until multiple plot threads - some of which you don't even realise are integral to the story - are al gathered together and tied off perfectly. Deceptively light but with very real, very human things to say about how people treat each other, TRR packs a lot even into such a short story. She's always a delight, and I always recomment her work heartily.

[Sidsel Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah the last chapter of the novella came out this weekend and it is awesome! I can very much recommend this universe. Tansy's work is funny as always with a great deal of snark. She turns the urban fantasy trope of a magic school on it's head. It's wonderful

[Rivqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous work as always from Tansy. This isn't really much about the boy at all, and the tone is very different from Fake Geek Girl, because the main character is a new one. But it fits perfectly with its predecessor nonetheless.