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Tides of Magic
Meet Charley Deacon. She's failing out of uni, being near the sea makes her inexplicably ill, and now her sister has gone missing in suspicious circumstances. Her only hope of finding her may lie with an impossibly old woman who lives - you've guessed it - by the sea.
Welcome to Inver Aora, a tiny settlement on the coast of New Zealand's South Island. It has a holiday park, a woman who may or may not be a witch, and not a lot else. Most people can't find their way here, but the locals find it hard to leave. If there's anything weird going on, they're not in the habit of talking about it.
Charley might be the least likely person to show up in Inver Aora, but it also might just be the place she discovers new powers, her own purpose, and some people that make her want to stick around.
Welcome to Inver Aora, a tiny settlement on the coast of New Zealand's South Island. It has a holiday park, a woman who may or may not be a witch, and not a lot else. Most people can't find their way here, but the locals find it hard to leave. If there's anything weird going on, they're not in the habit of talking about it.
Charley might be the least likely person to show up in Inver Aora, but it also might just be the place she discovers new powers, her own purpose, and some people that make her want to stick around.
- GenresFantasy
134 pages, Paperback
Published January 24, 2023
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 19, 2023
Not only is this a great fantasy story, but as a Mainlander by birth from a long line of Mainlanders, it was so much fun to read a book referencing cities in New Zealand and a (tiny) bit of Te Reo. Gotta ask though, 'convenience store'? Was dairy or Four Square too kiwi ;)?
Excellent, easy read with a hint of potential romance.
Excellent, easy read with a hint of potential romance.
January 11, 2023
ARC Review
This is a story about a young woman, Charley, whose sister goes missing in suspicious (magical?) circumstances. Charley ends up going to a small town by the coast to consult an old woman, possibly a witch, and convince her to help look for her sister. Charley enters into a questionable bargain with the old woman and the search begins. Over the course of the book, Charley learns a lot about herself – both natural and supernatural – and makes some friends along the way.
This is a fun addition to the cosy fantasy genre and even though the main character is trying to solve a serious and potentially deadly mystery, the book never feels too high stakes.
The author deliberately crafts characters with ADHD as well as LGBTQ+ characters.
I enjoyed this book and will look for more from the author.
The world presented on page at times feels very small, but of course, that is indeed the nature of small-town life. The narration of Charley’s life in Dunedin helps to give more depth and places the events of the book in the wider world. However, at times it felt a little too convenient that almost everything that was needed to advance the plot was found within a short drive of the very small-town Charley found herself in.
The author does a good job of developing Charley as a character and developing her relationships with the other key characters. I especially enjoyed the relationship and dynamic with True, a local woman who Charlie befriends. I think I enjoyed this relationship the most because it seemed to be the least necessary for advancing the main plot and so added extra depth and complexity to the story.
I like how the ending sets the stage for future books in this series to be located, at least partially, in this same small-town. That’s great, because I think there’s still so much more to explore in terms of Charley’s relationship to the ocean and to this place, and also in terms of her relationships with the people of this town.
There were some relationships that are obviously important to Charley but which we didn’t get to see much of through the narration. Firstly, Charley’s relationship with her sister Melissa and then also her relationship with her parents. I found the final chapters really satisfying here as we got extra nuance to these characters and got a chance to see and hear more about them, especially beyond what we’d gotten so far from Charley’s point of view.
Overall, I’d describe this as fun cosy fantasy or urban fantasy with real-world people.
For fans of Mel Harding-Shaw, Travis Baldree, and Marie Cardno.
This is a story about a young woman, Charley, whose sister goes missing in suspicious (magical?) circumstances. Charley ends up going to a small town by the coast to consult an old woman, possibly a witch, and convince her to help look for her sister. Charley enters into a questionable bargain with the old woman and the search begins. Over the course of the book, Charley learns a lot about herself – both natural and supernatural – and makes some friends along the way.
This is a fun addition to the cosy fantasy genre and even though the main character is trying to solve a serious and potentially deadly mystery, the book never feels too high stakes.
The author deliberately crafts characters with ADHD as well as LGBTQ+ characters.
I enjoyed this book and will look for more from the author.
The world presented on page at times feels very small, but of course, that is indeed the nature of small-town life. The narration of Charley’s life in Dunedin helps to give more depth and places the events of the book in the wider world. However, at times it felt a little too convenient that almost everything that was needed to advance the plot was found within a short drive of the very small-town Charley found herself in.
The author does a good job of developing Charley as a character and developing her relationships with the other key characters. I especially enjoyed the relationship and dynamic with True, a local woman who Charlie befriends. I think I enjoyed this relationship the most because it seemed to be the least necessary for advancing the main plot and so added extra depth and complexity to the story.
I like how the ending sets the stage for future books in this series to be located, at least partially, in this same small-town. That’s great, because I think there’s still so much more to explore in terms of Charley’s relationship to the ocean and to this place, and also in terms of her relationships with the people of this town.
There were some relationships that are obviously important to Charley but which we didn’t get to see much of through the narration. Firstly, Charley’s relationship with her sister Melissa and then also her relationship with her parents. I found the final chapters really satisfying here as we got extra nuance to these characters and got a chance to see and hear more about them, especially beyond what we’d gotten so far from Charley’s point of view.
Overall, I’d describe this as fun cosy fantasy or urban fantasy with real-world people.
For fans of Mel Harding-Shaw, Travis Baldree, and Marie Cardno.
January 25, 2023
Charley feels like a failure. She’s failed out of uni, she can’t get a grip of her life, ahes the family scapegoat, and now her high achieving sister (who is also a super nice person) is missing. Charley’s only hope of finding her lies with an old woman with mysterious powers who lives in a tiny village by the sea….and the sea makes Charley unbelievably sick.
One of the the things I enjoy most about this author’s writing is that the characters and the settings feel authentic. Charley doesn’t come across as an idiot, she’s comes across as someone struggling with untreated ADHD. I swear I have spent summers in Inver Aroa - it feels like the tiny beach communities here, where there’s a campground, maybe a petrol station or a dairy (corner store), and a town hall. And the slow budding relationship that Charley may or may not be developing with True, a local woman, felt real and so sweet!
I also enjoyed the world building and the character of Thalassa, the elderly woman at the heart of everything. I liked the way the magic was introduced, I liked the mystery of what happened to Melissa, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two!
While this book is aimed towards YA, it feels a little more NA to me - not because of the content (there’s zero spice and very little violence) but because Charley isn’t in high school. That being said, I’d have no hesitation recommending it to YA and adult readers alike, especially those who like urban fantasy with a queer neurodiverse MC and a crotchety magical mentor.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of Tides of Magic to read and review. All opinions are my own and freely given.
One of the the things I enjoy most about this author’s writing is that the characters and the settings feel authentic. Charley doesn’t come across as an idiot, she’s comes across as someone struggling with untreated ADHD. I swear I have spent summers in Inver Aroa - it feels like the tiny beach communities here, where there’s a campground, maybe a petrol station or a dairy (corner store), and a town hall. And the slow budding relationship that Charley may or may not be developing with True, a local woman, felt real and so sweet!
I also enjoyed the world building and the character of Thalassa, the elderly woman at the heart of everything. I liked the way the magic was introduced, I liked the mystery of what happened to Melissa, and I can’t wait to get my hands on book two!
While this book is aimed towards YA, it feels a little more NA to me - not because of the content (there’s zero spice and very little violence) but because Charley isn’t in high school. That being said, I’d have no hesitation recommending it to YA and adult readers alike, especially those who like urban fantasy with a queer neurodiverse MC and a crotchety magical mentor.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of Tides of Magic to read and review. All opinions are my own and freely given.
May 13, 2023
This eARC was provided by Booksirens.com and I am giving an unbiased review.
As one can see from the picture of the book cover, this is a first book in a new series. From the book blurb, we find out a little about our main character, and what event(s) she will be facing. And from that point on, I was somewhat disappointed. Charley obviously has some issues if she is failing out of school. Add to that we find out she has some form of ADD/ADHD and I am not a practitioner to know the signs, but our scatter-brained, OCD main character just loses my attention. There is something about the sea that just bothers Charley, bad enough to cause nausea, but we find out that is where her power evidently lies (in some form).
Several things about the story bothered me. It seemed to jump between events - like the author was trying to make the reader feel like they had ADD like the character, and so read the story like the character acted it. I don't know. But there wasn't much for character building going on either. Every character was.. well, just "was", with no major explanation, and no introduction except when they were needed to fulfill a portion of the story. The story is based in NZ, a place I have never been nor studied, so I do not know if this is common among story-telling there. Either way, I loved the idea behind the story, and will probably watch for a second story to see if the writing style or storyline has improved. Was a pretty quick read since it seemed to lack some content.
As one can see from the picture of the book cover, this is a first book in a new series. From the book blurb, we find out a little about our main character, and what event(s) she will be facing. And from that point on, I was somewhat disappointed. Charley obviously has some issues if she is failing out of school. Add to that we find out she has some form of ADD/ADHD and I am not a practitioner to know the signs, but our scatter-brained, OCD main character just loses my attention. There is something about the sea that just bothers Charley, bad enough to cause nausea, but we find out that is where her power evidently lies (in some form).
Several things about the story bothered me. It seemed to jump between events - like the author was trying to make the reader feel like they had ADD like the character, and so read the story like the character acted it. I don't know. But there wasn't much for character building going on either. Every character was.. well, just "was", with no major explanation, and no introduction except when they were needed to fulfill a portion of the story. The story is based in NZ, a place I have never been nor studied, so I do not know if this is common among story-telling there. Either way, I loved the idea behind the story, and will probably watch for a second story to see if the writing style or storyline has improved. Was a pretty quick read since it seemed to lack some content.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2023
A young woman, Melissa Deacon, is missing, but both the police and her parents dismiss the oddities involved in her disappearance. Her sister Charley worries about those oddities, and seeks help from a private investigator. The PI is an old woman, Thalassa, who may be a psychic, or perhaps even a witch. Charley makes a possibly unwise deal with Thalassa, and they work together to find Melissa.
This story is more successful as a journey of self-discovery than as a mystery. What actually happened to Melissa didn’t make a lot of sense to me. But that’s OK, as the focus is really on Charley learning that she has both sea magic—despite the sea making her ill—and ADHD. Under Thalassa’s watchful eye, she begins to grasp what she’s capable of, and undo the damage done by emotionally abusive parents telling her she’s a failure.
This is a comfort read, a story with gentle magic, small-scale problems, hints of found family, LGBTQ+ representation, and a neurodivergent main character. The crotchety Thalassa is great, and the small town setting on New Zealand’s South Island gives the book a distinct Kiwi flavour.
The only thing I found really annoying was that no one had identified Charley, an adult, as being ADHD earlier. (Including her medical student sister, who should have had some idea.) Which is, ironically, a positive, as it indicates how much I came to care about the character.
This story is more successful as a journey of self-discovery than as a mystery. What actually happened to Melissa didn’t make a lot of sense to me. But that’s OK, as the focus is really on Charley learning that she has both sea magic—despite the sea making her ill—and ADHD. Under Thalassa’s watchful eye, she begins to grasp what she’s capable of, and undo the damage done by emotionally abusive parents telling her she’s a failure.
This is a comfort read, a story with gentle magic, small-scale problems, hints of found family, LGBTQ+ representation, and a neurodivergent main character. The crotchety Thalassa is great, and the small town setting on New Zealand’s South Island gives the book a distinct Kiwi flavour.
The only thing I found really annoying was that no one had identified Charley, an adult, as being ADHD earlier. (Including her medical student sister, who should have had some idea.) Which is, ironically, a positive, as it indicates how much I came to care about the character.
January 26, 2023
Charley is a young woman who's lost and at a dead end in life. When her sister, Melissa, mysteriously disappears, she turns to a strange witch-like woman named Thalassa for help.
Across the course of the book, Charley must learn to trust strangers, accept help and her own powers if she's to find Melissa and save her.
This was a urban/paranormal fantasy with a strong and sensitively-written ADHD main character, a truly wonderful witchy mentor and a hint of sweet sapphic romance.
I especially enjoyed the coastal village setting based in Aotearoa (New Zealand), which was as much a character in the book as Charley and Thalassa. The writing is strong, the story moves fast and there's a good balance between character development and plot.
Totally recommend this one for anyone who likes urban fantasy in settings that are NOT the normal run of the mill US boring city/southern states fare.
Will definitely read the next book. This is an honest review left after I received an ARC copy of the book from Book Sirens. Many thanks to them and the author for providing me with a copy.
Across the course of the book, Charley must learn to trust strangers, accept help and her own powers if she's to find Melissa and save her.
This was a urban/paranormal fantasy with a strong and sensitively-written ADHD main character, a truly wonderful witchy mentor and a hint of sweet sapphic romance.
I especially enjoyed the coastal village setting based in Aotearoa (New Zealand), which was as much a character in the book as Charley and Thalassa. The writing is strong, the story moves fast and there's a good balance between character development and plot.
Totally recommend this one for anyone who likes urban fantasy in settings that are NOT the normal run of the mill US boring city/southern states fare.
Will definitely read the next book. This is an honest review left after I received an ARC copy of the book from Book Sirens. Many thanks to them and the author for providing me with a copy.
March 31, 2023
"Tides of Magic" by Andi Christopher is a fantasy novel that tells the story of a young woman named Charley who discovers that she has magical powers when she meets a mysterious woman who's helping her locate her missing sister.
The world-building in this book is rich and detailed, with an interesting magical system. The characters are well-written and have distinct personalities and motivations.
However, the pacing of the book can be slow at times, with long stretches of exposition and description that can be tedious to read. The plot is also somewhat predictable, with few surprises or twists to keep the reader engaged.
Overall, "Tides of Magic" is a solid fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not be the most original or exciting book in the world, it is well-written and has a compelling protagonist and setting. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and is looking for a new series to dive into.
ARC provided by BookSirens in exchange for a fair review.
The world-building in this book is rich and detailed, with an interesting magical system. The characters are well-written and have distinct personalities and motivations.
However, the pacing of the book can be slow at times, with long stretches of exposition and description that can be tedious to read. The plot is also somewhat predictable, with few surprises or twists to keep the reader engaged.
Overall, "Tides of Magic" is a solid fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. While it may not be the most original or exciting book in the world, it is well-written and has a compelling protagonist and setting. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and is looking for a new series to dive into.
ARC provided by BookSirens in exchange for a fair review.
September 9, 2023
Very much enjoyed this story. A lot. Charley's sister has gone missing, so she travels to a small South Island town, seeing out the help of a private investigator who might not use conventional means. But perhaps all of this is about more than just her sister, as Charley sees things beyond explanation, and learns more about herself. The title says a lot, after all.
It's always nice to see books set in NZ, and the presentation has a lot of charm, especially the small fictional town of Inver Aora. The southern NZ feel is done really well. The mystery is interesting, slowly revealed as the story progresses, and as Charley grows as well.
There isn't much in the way of romance in this book (though there are some hints), but there is both neurodivergent and lgbtq rep, and they are both done well, and the book does have a queer feel to it. It's an easy book to read that draws you in, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
It's always nice to see books set in NZ, and the presentation has a lot of charm, especially the small fictional town of Inver Aora. The southern NZ feel is done really well. The mystery is interesting, slowly revealed as the story progresses, and as Charley grows as well.
There isn't much in the way of romance in this book (though there are some hints), but there is both neurodivergent and lgbtq rep, and they are both done well, and the book does have a queer feel to it. It's an easy book to read that draws you in, and I'm very much looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
January 24, 2023
This is an intriguing start to a series where real people are living everyday lives and occasionally dealing with locally important issues, not end of the world stuff. I enjoy the conciseness of this writer's style - each word is necessary for story construction and is never fluff for the word count. They consistently build fascinating worlds with interesting magical and nonmagical characters where some mild romance adds to the story, not is the story. This story digs deeper into the neurodiverse characters' thoughts, troubles and successes than in other books by this author. It is a great balance between a character and plot driven novel. I love reading books by this author and am always eagerly awaiting their new releases. My only issue with this book is that the ending seemed quite abrupt.
June 7, 2023
Tides of Magic was a solid read, albeit a bit slow at first. It follows Charley who is looking for her sister Melissa who disappeared under seemingly mysterious circumstances. After meeting a mysterious woman named Thalassa who can help her, Charley discovers there’s much more to her sisters disappearance and the town than she first thought.
Despite the book being slow at first, I really enjoyed it. It was very much a fantasy story but with a strong mystery element to it too. Many times I had no idea what was going to happen next. The characters in the town were all complex as well and my perceptions of them throughout the book constantly shifted. I’m very much looking forward to what happens in book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Despite the book being slow at first, I really enjoyed it. It was very much a fantasy story but with a strong mystery element to it too. Many times I had no idea what was going to happen next. The characters in the town were all complex as well and my perceptions of them throughout the book constantly shifted. I’m very much looking forward to what happens in book 2.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 18, 2023
"Charley could only hope so. It didn't feel like she had anyone else on her side."
Charley, diagnosed with ADHD, lst her sister Melissa in "strange circumstances". Connecting with Thalassa to try to find her, she finds herself not knowing what to actually expect as she enters the world of magic. Will her ADHD help or hinder the process? Will she accept the magic all around her? Will there be another book?
This is a gentle YA magical world book. The characters are well developed and I found myself rooting for Charley. LBGTQIA2S+ issues are not front and center but do add to the story. I'd quickly read another Andi Christopher book if given a chance to. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer:I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
Charley, diagnosed with ADHD, lst her sister Melissa in "strange circumstances". Connecting with Thalassa to try to find her, she finds herself not knowing what to actually expect as she enters the world of magic. Will her ADHD help or hinder the process? Will she accept the magic all around her? Will there be another book?
This is a gentle YA magical world book. The characters are well developed and I found myself rooting for Charley. LBGTQIA2S+ issues are not front and center but do add to the story. I'd quickly read another Andi Christopher book if given a chance to. Highly Recommended 5/5
[Disclaimer:I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
February 1, 2023
Charley is a failure, she has failed out of uni. She has a sister who goes missing. Charley’s only hope of finding her lies with an old woman with mysterious powers who lives in a tiny village by the sea….and the sea makes Charley unbelievably sick.
But Charley is not a failure, she doesn’t come across as an idiot, she comes across as someone struggling with untreated ADHD.
I enjoyed the world-building and the character of Thalassa, the elderly woman at the heart of everything. I liked the way the magic was introduced, and how things flowed almost naturally for such a wonderfully magical tale.
I will say that this book is clean. No naughty bits, so perfect for younger adult readers. Even though it is about a college girl and her sister, it would suit those younger readers due to the topics covered.
But Charley is not a failure, she doesn’t come across as an idiot, she comes across as someone struggling with untreated ADHD.
I enjoyed the world-building and the character of Thalassa, the elderly woman at the heart of everything. I liked the way the magic was introduced, and how things flowed almost naturally for such a wonderfully magical tale.
I will say that this book is clean. No naughty bits, so perfect for younger adult readers. Even though it is about a college girl and her sister, it would suit those younger readers due to the topics covered.
February 16, 2023
I had such a fun time with this book! It's exactly the kind of cozy mystery urban fantasy that works for me. Very gentle and slow with an exploration of issues like neurodiversity and family dynamics, plus lots of interesting characters and magic. I loved the small seaside town setting and the sort of slightly creepy mysterious vibes for the whole story, and I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up in the end while leaving plenty of room for the series to continue. I can't wait for more books to be released!
Content Warnings:
toxic family relationships, child verbal abuse, self-harm, eating disorder, illness, injury, negative self-talk, family separation
Content Warnings:
toxic family relationships, child verbal abuse, self-harm, eating disorder, illness, injury, negative self-talk, family separation
January 1, 2023
I would give this one 3.5 stars. The character of Charlie was what pulled me through this story. She was an interesting sort, who didn’t try to make excuses for her problems. Poor thing has been dealt a rough in life but she loves her sister more than anything. Now that she is missing, she feels driven to find her. I liked the town. But the whole way her sister went missing felt a bit off to me. I liked the story though for the most part. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 16, 2023
ARC Review
A cosy magical mystery set in Aotearoa NZ / Inver Aora with plenty of heart as well as thrills. Really great characters and world building with a brilliant (positive) inclusion of neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ representation. I loved the locations used, and was able to visualise the scenes really well. Good writing with a strong character voice and pacing.
((I will add to this review when I get more time.))
A cosy magical mystery set in Aotearoa NZ / Inver Aora with plenty of heart as well as thrills. Really great characters and world building with a brilliant (positive) inclusion of neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ representation. I loved the locations used, and was able to visualise the scenes really well. Good writing with a strong character voice and pacing.
((I will add to this review when I get more time.))
January 3, 2023
A quick and easy mystery aimed at young adults. Quirky characters and a camping ground by the sea allow readers to glimpse the world of magic. LGBT+ themes are featured but were not central to the plot. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 12, 2023
A quick read with an engaging character with both mundane and magical problems to overcome. I particularly liked how Charley's ADHD diagnosis was dealt with sensitively and linked into the magical plot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 27, 2023
A nice read, but a bit simplistic. It could have been a full-length novel and explored the plot resolution and all the issues and character development in greater depth.
Really enjoyed reading an UF story set in NZ, and would love to find more.
Really enjoyed reading an UF story set in NZ, and would love to find more.
October 16, 2023
Cute lil adventure. Always nice to read something NZ based. I'm curious to learn more about Thalassa and the other magical beings in this universe
August 16, 2024
Nice short magical story.Good
main character in Charley. Good ADHD representation I think Charley's ADHD was well written. It's a very
short book so besides Charley and Thalassa to a lesser extent you didn't get to know the characters well, like True, Charley's potential love Interest who we barely see. Book was also quite slow which isn't my personal preference usually but could be appealing to others. Looking forward to how it all develops including a romance between Charley and True in the next book.
main character in Charley. Good ADHD representation I think Charley's ADHD was well written. It's a very
short book so besides Charley and Thalassa to a lesser extent you didn't get to know the characters well, like True, Charley's potential love Interest who we barely see. Book was also quite slow which isn't my personal preference usually but could be appealing to others. Looking forward to how it all develops including a romance between Charley and True in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews