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Stronger Than Magic
In this enchanting romance, a cursed beauty and a man with an endangered soul are transported through space and time to be reunited in Regency-era England for one last chance at redemption—could their love be stronger than the spell that binds them?
Born to a faerie father and a mortal mother, Lucan lacks one thing: a soul. To become complete, he must fall in love. When he does—with spoiled, willful Alys le Fayre—his life ends tragically. Too late, Alys realizes that Lucan was her soul mate. Now imprisoned in the faerie underworld as punishment for causing Lucan’s death, she is fated to spend the next millennia helping humans find happiness. But she’s never forgotten the love she lost.
Her chance for redemption comes in 1816, when she’s tasked with finding the perfect woman for Lucian Warre, the seventh Marquess of Thistlewood, who is Lucan reborn into his final life. The catch? She has only 130 days before tragedy once again befalls the half-mortal Lucian, who doesn’t believe in love and never intends to marry. But Alys has other plans . . .
Heather Cullman delivers a timeless romantic tale about two people whose love transcends time, fate, and intervention—both human and otherworldly.
Born to a faerie father and a mortal mother, Lucan lacks one thing: a soul. To become complete, he must fall in love. When he does—with spoiled, willful Alys le Fayre—his life ends tragically. Too late, Alys realizes that Lucan was her soul mate. Now imprisoned in the faerie underworld as punishment for causing Lucan’s death, she is fated to spend the next millennia helping humans find happiness. But she’s never forgotten the love she lost.
Her chance for redemption comes in 1816, when she’s tasked with finding the perfect woman for Lucian Warre, the seventh Marquess of Thistlewood, who is Lucan reborn into his final life. The catch? She has only 130 days before tragedy once again befalls the half-mortal Lucian, who doesn’t believe in love and never intends to marry. But Alys has other plans . . .
Heather Cullman delivers a timeless romantic tale about two people whose love transcends time, fate, and intervention—both human and otherworldly.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 5, 2022
По-силна от магия бе един забавен и вълнуващ роман. Замесен реален свят с този на феите, главната ни героиня Алис трябва да изпълни дълга си, за който се подготвя 500 години.
Алис първоначално човек, заради егоистичното си поведение довело до трагедия, се превръща в омагьосана пионка в света на феите. Безсмъртната ѝ душа и тази на Лусиън, зависят само от нея.
Изпратена след дълго чакане в света на хората, Алис ще ни поведе на едно приключение. Но какво е мисията ѝ без придружителят ѝ Хедли( фея духче), което е толкова пакостливо, смърдливо и сърдито, че няма как да не ви напълни очите със смях. Ситуациите, в които вкарва Алис поставя мисията ѝ в опасен провал. Честно казано много симпатизирах на Алис, за характера, който имаше и как преоткриваше все повече себе си.
А Лусиън, ах ,Лусиън, силно променен в новия си живот, той те държи под напрежение. Известен с отчуждението и досадата му към живота, както и военните му подвизи. Той съвсем не е впечатлен от повереницата си Алис, а ангажиментите му към нея го изкарват извън кожата му. Израстването му от начало до края бе докосващо.
Едно от любимите ми теми за плавно развиваща се любов, съчетана с прекрасна и много увлекателна история. Имаше си магия, хумор, тъга и една силна любов отвъд времето.
Алис първоначално човек, заради егоистичното си поведение довело до трагедия, се превръща в омагьосана пионка в света на феите. Безсмъртната ѝ душа и тази на Лусиън, зависят само от нея.
Изпратена след дълго чакане в света на хората, Алис ще ни поведе на едно приключение. Но какво е мисията ѝ без придружителят ѝ Хедли( фея духче), което е толкова пакостливо, смърдливо и сърдито, че няма как да не ви напълни очите със смях. Ситуациите, в които вкарва Алис поставя мисията ѝ в опасен провал. Честно казано много симпатизирах на Алис, за характера, който имаше и как преоткриваше все повече себе си.
А Лусиън, ах ,Лусиън, силно променен в новия си живот, той те държи под напрежение. Известен с отчуждението и досадата му към живота, както и военните му подвизи. Той съвсем не е впечатлен от повереницата си Алис, а ангажиментите му към нея го изкарват извън кожата му. Израстването му от начало до края бе докосващо.
Едно от любимите ми теми за плавно развиваща се любов, съчетана с прекрасна и много увлекателна история. Имаше си магия, хумор, тъга и една силна любов отвъд времето.
October 29, 2025
I really like the idea of this story. Soul mates reincarnated, fairy curses, redemption, enemies to lovers, etc. etc. That being said, the execution was a bit iffy.
For a solid two-thirds of the book the heroine is described (and treated) as a child. The hero repeatedly refers to her child-like body, which just gave the read a huge ewww factor, knowing they would eventually hook-up.
There are also religious undertones sprinkled throughout, which isn't necessarily a negative, just confusing. Is this a story about reincarnation and magical creatures, or about God's forgiveness and getting your soul in heaven?
Though there were quite a few annoying things to work through (was the ebook even checked for typos???), my biggest issue was how the story rambled on chapter after chapter without really going anywhere. For a 516 year old woman with a singular mission, she pays a lot more attention to shopping trips than actually saving either of their souls. Maybe she needed another half-century to grow up a little?
I'd love to see this idea revisited, because the premises has promise.
For a solid two-thirds of the book the heroine is described (and treated) as a child. The hero repeatedly refers to her child-like body, which just gave the read a huge ewww factor, knowing they would eventually hook-up.
There are also religious undertones sprinkled throughout, which isn't necessarily a negative, just confusing. Is this a story about reincarnation and magical creatures, or about God's forgiveness and getting your soul in heaven?
Though there were quite a few annoying things to work through (was the ebook even checked for typos???), my biggest issue was how the story rambled on chapter after chapter without really going anywhere. For a 516 year old woman with a singular mission, she pays a lot more attention to shopping trips than actually saving either of their souls. Maybe she needed another half-century to grow up a little?
I'd love to see this idea revisited, because the premises has promise.
April 7, 2025
In another lifetime the heroine was careless with the hero's love which resulted in his death. Cursed, she's been living in fairy limbo for the chance to make things right, the find the hero's true love and save his soul before time runs out. So, she's sent back to earth, to London, and meets the man not all at all like the man she knew. Her knight was king, generous with his love and with his laughter. This man is cold, heartless-his soul spent too long in darkness which has turned it to stone. He feels neither joy nor happiness and has zero tolerance when it comes to the silly notion of love. Only his sense of honor drives him to accept the heroines as his ward but one look at her and he realizes it'll take a miracle to find a man willing to marry her.
First off, she's blonde, something he despises in females. Secondly, she has no figure to speak of. She's very thing with no curves and a bosom that is more childish than womanly. He finds her very unappealing indeed. Lastly, her disobedience is a major issue and one that results is damaging his sense of calm. Never in his life has anyone let alone a silly girl managed to ruffle his feathers. Everything she does makes him frustrated or worse, makes him doubt himself. This is of course the heroine's plan. She knows that the only way to break away the ice around the hero's heart is with fire and she does everything she can to disturb him, to put him off kilter. How else is she to find him his fated love if he's closed himself off every emotion? Their first few weeks are rocky to day the least-each managing to put the others buttons with great success. And slowly, a change begins to take place in the hero's personality. It starts off gradually. He begins to think of others, and realizes that what he says and does actually affects other people. He begins to put into consideration how other people feel. This in turn makes him look into himself in an attempt to figure out these strange emotions he himself has begun to experience. Happiness, pride, protectiveness and jealousy. And each emotion is closely related to the heroine and his developing relationship with the woman he's come to consider to be the most beautiful woman in England. The unsettling jealousy the hero feels whenever a suitor comes to call is inconvenient considering it was him that urged her to marry in the first place. Now this jealousy is causing him to lash out and say mean things to the heroine who has come to mean everything to him. But he's developed enough to know how to apologize so it's no hardship for her to forgive him because she can see truth in his eyes. Strangely enough she finds himself falling in love with a man destined for another woman. So when she admits this to him she's snapped back into fairy land in punishment. Never did she consider the idea that she may be his destined love and not time is running out before he's lost to her forever.
What a lovely book. Very charming, very funny and beautifully written. The premise of having a woman sent to earth to save a man by finding his love while at the same time the man responsible for finding the woman a husband was very sweet. The hero's character development was beautifully done and gradual enough to allow the reader to truly become a part of his journey. From the heartless bastard he was into the man capable of love and being loved in return. I loved how frustrating the heroine could be as she repeatedly damaged the hero's calm. I simply adored her character because she too was closed off to love and the journey was as much hers and it was his. So, what the ending a bit off putting and sort of awkward? I liked the idea that she never felt the need to explain fairies to him or the idea of reincarnation instead she let them be happy as they were. I really liked this book and highly recommend this author.
First off, she's blonde, something he despises in females. Secondly, she has no figure to speak of. She's very thing with no curves and a bosom that is more childish than womanly. He finds her very unappealing indeed. Lastly, her disobedience is a major issue and one that results is damaging his sense of calm. Never in his life has anyone let alone a silly girl managed to ruffle his feathers. Everything she does makes him frustrated or worse, makes him doubt himself. This is of course the heroine's plan. She knows that the only way to break away the ice around the hero's heart is with fire and she does everything she can to disturb him, to put him off kilter. How else is she to find him his fated love if he's closed himself off every emotion? Their first few weeks are rocky to day the least-each managing to put the others buttons with great success. And slowly, a change begins to take place in the hero's personality. It starts off gradually. He begins to think of others, and realizes that what he says and does actually affects other people. He begins to put into consideration how other people feel. This in turn makes him look into himself in an attempt to figure out these strange emotions he himself has begun to experience. Happiness, pride, protectiveness and jealousy. And each emotion is closely related to the heroine and his developing relationship with the woman he's come to consider to be the most beautiful woman in England. The unsettling jealousy the hero feels whenever a suitor comes to call is inconvenient considering it was him that urged her to marry in the first place. Now this jealousy is causing him to lash out and say mean things to the heroine who has come to mean everything to him. But he's developed enough to know how to apologize so it's no hardship for her to forgive him because she can see truth in his eyes. Strangely enough she finds himself falling in love with a man destined for another woman. So when she admits this to him she's snapped back into fairy land in punishment. Never did she consider the idea that she may be his destined love and not time is running out before he's lost to her forever.
What a lovely book. Very charming, very funny and beautifully written. The premise of having a woman sent to earth to save a man by finding his love while at the same time the man responsible for finding the woman a husband was very sweet. The hero's character development was beautifully done and gradual enough to allow the reader to truly become a part of his journey. From the heartless bastard he was into the man capable of love and being loved in return. I loved how frustrating the heroine could be as she repeatedly damaged the hero's calm. I simply adored her character because she too was closed off to love and the journey was as much hers and it was his. So, what the ending a bit off putting and sort of awkward? I liked the idea that she never felt the need to explain fairies to him or the idea of reincarnation instead she let them be happy as they were. I really liked this book and highly recommend this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2016
Stronger than Magic by Heather Cullman
A good story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
SHE WAS ENCHANTED
Five hundred years ago beautiful Alys Faire was taken captive by fairies. Now she was being offered a chance for freedom by saving the soul of Lucian Warre, the cold- hearted Marquess of Thistlewood. All she had to do was match him with a woman he could love.
HE WAS ASTONISHED
Lucian could not believe the outrageous, outspoken hoyden who had been left as his ward. No one ever questioned his orders before. Or turned his enter household upside down as Alys did. Wishing to rid himself of this unwelcome burden, Lucian decided to enter society to find Alys a husband. Too bad no suitor in the entire realm seemed right.
AND THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING
Heaven would have to help Lucian, for he was being bewitched by this irritating ward. And with each day, his feelings for her were becoming dangerously stronger. But as Alys was cursed, she knew that their union could never be...unless a force stronger than magic made the impossible happen when two people fell in love....
A good story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
SHE WAS ENCHANTED
Five hundred years ago beautiful Alys Faire was taken captive by fairies. Now she was being offered a chance for freedom by saving the soul of Lucian Warre, the cold- hearted Marquess of Thistlewood. All she had to do was match him with a woman he could love.
HE WAS ASTONISHED
Lucian could not believe the outrageous, outspoken hoyden who had been left as his ward. No one ever questioned his orders before. Or turned his enter household upside down as Alys did. Wishing to rid himself of this unwelcome burden, Lucian decided to enter society to find Alys a husband. Too bad no suitor in the entire realm seemed right.
AND THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING
Heaven would have to help Lucian, for he was being bewitched by this irritating ward. And with each day, his feelings for her were becoming dangerously stronger. But as Alys was cursed, she knew that their union could never be...unless a force stronger than magic made the impossible happen when two people fell in love....
November 17, 2014
synopsis:
alys was very beautiful and vain. she loved lucan, but liked all the attention she got from all the men. lucan was half faerie, and when he died, he had no soul. the only chance he has at getting a soul is by finding true love. when lucan is reborn as lucian, alys is set free from the faeries. she has to help lucian find true love, or her own soul will be lost forever. alys has learned a lot in the 500 years that she has been bonded to the faeries, and hopes that everything that she has learned will serve her well. when lucian and alys meet, he is so much like lucan that alys falls in love all over again. alys is provided with a companion, who is supposed to supply knowledge.
what i liked: the premise. alys actually did learn quite a bit in her indentured period, and even though she was still alys, she was also a better person. lucian, as someone whose soul has been on ice for 500 years, is cold and unforgiving, even of someone as charming as alys. his thawing, and alys's realization of love are charming.
what i didn't like: the writing style. i never really got drawn in.
alys was very beautiful and vain. she loved lucan, but liked all the attention she got from all the men. lucan was half faerie, and when he died, he had no soul. the only chance he has at getting a soul is by finding true love. when lucan is reborn as lucian, alys is set free from the faeries. she has to help lucian find true love, or her own soul will be lost forever. alys has learned a lot in the 500 years that she has been bonded to the faeries, and hopes that everything that she has learned will serve her well. when lucian and alys meet, he is so much like lucan that alys falls in love all over again. alys is provided with a companion, who is supposed to supply knowledge.
what i liked: the premise. alys actually did learn quite a bit in her indentured period, and even though she was still alys, she was also a better person. lucian, as someone whose soul has been on ice for 500 years, is cold and unforgiving, even of someone as charming as alys. his thawing, and alys's realization of love are charming.
what i didn't like: the writing style. i never really got drawn in.
October 30, 2014
I gotta admit, I didn't really think I was going to like this book, particularly the whole magical aspect. I felt like it had a slow, slightly confusing start, what with multiple characters that started with the letter A, and the explanations of fairy essence and stuff. Plus, I hated Alys in the beginning---I assumed she was just a pretty, self-centered bitch who got a kick out of making guys fight over her. So within the first 7 or 8 pages, I was kinda ready to give up on it. But then, things jumped ahead almost 500 years, and started to get a lot better.
Although he was a pretty unlikeable character at first, I loved watching Lucian slowly grow, discovering new feelings for the first time, almost like a child. It was cute, and sweet, and yes, there were even a few moments when I got a little choked up (go ahead, call me a sissy). I just wish the ending was a little longer....I felt like it was rather abrupt, with a very short epilogue....I wanted to hear more!
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The whole aspect of a true love that doesn't change over centuries was heartwarming, I'm so glad I didn't give up on it, and now I want to find more books like this one!
Although he was a pretty unlikeable character at first, I loved watching Lucian slowly grow, discovering new feelings for the first time, almost like a child. It was cute, and sweet, and yes, there were even a few moments when I got a little choked up (go ahead, call me a sissy). I just wish the ending was a little longer....I felt like it was rather abrupt, with a very short epilogue....I wanted to hear more!
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. The whole aspect of a true love that doesn't change over centuries was heartwarming, I'm so glad I didn't give up on it, and now I want to find more books like this one!
December 19, 2012
I was expecting to really love this book given Mrs Giggles rating of it as a Keeper. However I am somewhat prejudiced because I read and reread everything Georgette Heyer has written as a teenager and there were whole scenes lifted out of my favorite "These Old Shades" as well as "Arabella". This caused a weird sort of character morphing in the middle that destroyed the characters for me.
I had a problem with the ending -
I had a problem with the ending -
December 7, 2012
I'm not sure if i really am fair when i rated this book. You see, it's one of those cases where i have two other greatly anticipated reads waiting on the sidelines. Anyways, It was good enough that i couldn't stop reading it, but the ending was predictable. overall, as far as love stories go, i enjoyed this one happy predictable ending and all. I even shed a few tears at the end, so maybe my heart enjoyed this read far more that my cynical brain.
July 9, 2015
I cannot put it down...
July 29, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. Fairies, hobs, and other fantasy folk and some quite humorous parts as well.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews