Magia Rising

by Monique O'Connor James

New Orleans is teeming with warring witch clans. Their world goes unnoticed by the people of the city,unseen by the masses. Nixon was one of those people, oblivious to the battles brewing around him. That is, until his eighteenth birthday.

Abandoned and on his own after the deaths of his parents...he'd grown used to being alone. Now he's discovering strange powers, learning secrets about his ancestors, and falling for the wrong girl--or is she the right one? In this new world he can trust no one...even the dead tell lies. Friends are enemies,
and enemies hide the truth. Who can he trust? What's real and what's illusion?

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 13, 2012

About the author

Monique is the mother of two beautiful children and lives in a small community outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She currently works full time as an insurance agent, but her favorite jobs are mother, wife, and author. On her eighth birthday, her mother bought her a journal and said "write whatever you want, just write." And so, a love affair with words was born. She wrote poetry and short stories in high school and college, until 1993 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her mother's death in 1998, Monique fell into a deep depression and found herself unable to write. Nine years passed, and only on rare occasion did she attempt to write with no luck. Finally, in 2007, under the urging of friends, she sat down and pecked out her first novel. It was raw and unpolished, but the process had been unquestionably cathartic. The next three years were spent filling her hard drive with seven complete manuscripts. At the beginning of 2011, Monique decided it was time to edit the work and share it with the world. She hopes you enjoy the ramblings of a deeply southern girl raised in a state rich with heritage and love.

Reviews

[K.M. Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book starts off all right. Nixon is hearing voices and it's driving him crazy, and also he can put thoughts into peoples' heads. His roommate is some guy he brainwashed into letting him live with him--or is his roommate doing it of his own accord? The story seemed to dither a lot.

The Nixon finds The Hawt Witch Chick who is evil--or is she good? And Nixon talks a lot to his dead great-great grandmother--but is she good or evil?

The stuff about the warring witch clans of New Orleans was interesting enough, as was he flavor of New Orleans itself. The setting lends itself to a good urban fantasy romp.

The novel isn't nearly as steamy as the cover makes it out to be. Nixon and his girlfriend kiss a lot and almost go to bed at one point, but nothing happens.

The story tries to throw in lots of twists and turns, but they don't work very well. It seems more like the author changed their mind a lot, rather than organic parts of the story. An ally turning traitor in the last third of the book smacked of a cheap reversal that had absolutely no foreshadowing, and in fact undermined the buildup through the first half of the book.

But the worst thing is the ending. Or the fact that there isn't an ending. The story cuts off mid-climax, for some reason. Just as the final battle between the witch clans is getting interesting, the book ends. Did the villains win? Is there going to be a sequel? Either way, it made me mad.

So yeah, it's a decent book. The writing is competent, but wouldn't win any contests. Don't read it until there's a sequel.

[Pauline Creeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if Harry Potter had grown up in New Orleans without coming into his magic until he turned 18? What if he found out that being the chosen one meant that all the witches came after him and not just Voldemort?

That about sums up life for Nixon.

In a crafty urban fantasy, Monique James takes the reader on a thrilling journey of discovery. Nixon discovers that ghosts, witches, murderers, and traitors lie around every corner of New Orleans. They've been there the whole time; he just never noticed. He finds himself stuck in the middle of a war he had nothing to do with. Friends, lovers, and family members seem to waver in their loyalty. He has no idea who he can trust. Can he even trust his own mind?

This is the kind of book that kept me up until 2 am reading, and I couldn't stop thinking about it throughout my day. It lingers.

[Cloey.k · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this Book. Ms. James created likable characters, even the bad guys. This book is filled with deception, danger, secrets, and romance. And what I liked most other than the shocking ending was that Nixon wasn't an airhead and he didn't get into non-stop trouble with his new powers. He is a regular guy who is trying to learn to live with himself and others and not be alone – but the witches and ghosts wont let him.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urban fantasy meets witchcraft meets romance. A wonderful blend with just enough intrigue to keep you guessing. Never knowing who to trust, Nixon falters numerous times before an end battle that leaves you waiting desperately for book #2... Gonna be a great series!

[Carly Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is great!!! I loved it from the first line, I was drawn in to a world where everyday people brandish powers that send shivers down your spine. Monique has a extrodinary talent for taking the reader through an adventure.. By that I mean the story is so detailed and plotted out that you become engrossed in the words on the pages as they open the characters lives up in front of your eyes. Age old struggle of good versus evil is given a new and interesting twist as Nixon embarks on a journey that will not only change his life but will also explain his past. Liivie will aide him on this journey and in a new one as well, she will change every thing about her life and enter a world where she is the enemy and Nixon must choose. Live in the past or make his own path in life?
An amazing story full of twists and turns and even a budding romance, just before a cliffhanger that will send you reeling and screaming for more.. 5 out of 5 stars for Magia Rising I personally can not wait for the next book!!!!!!!!!

[Tishia (Paperback Opinion) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The day Nixon turns 18, something strange starts happening. Unaware that he was born into a witch coven, he thinks he is going crazy. He can suddenly hear people's thoughts, and manipulate their thoughts with his mind.

Poor Nixon has it rough. His parents are dead and he is completely alone in the world. He has nobody to teach him how to control his powers. In a city of rivaling witch clans, he has no idea who he can trust. Nixon falls for a beautiful girl named Liivie, but he doesn't know if she is really an ally or enemy.

The New Orleans setting was nice and the story was well written. I just couldn't connect with the characters though. I definitely couldn't get into the romance between Nixon and Liivie – I just didn't feel the chemistry. The ending was unexpected (in a good way), but yet it was too abrupt. Overall, it wasn't a bad book – it just wasn't for me. It's getting excellent reviews so far, and other fans of paranormal romance/urban fantasy might really like this one.

[Michelle Drury · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this one at all. Love my Mo, but this was not a good book. There are a ton of issues from the story background (among many things, I swear the description of what a Cajun "Treater" is was ripped from Wikipedia) to the "powers" and the characters themselves, to the story development, to the pacing, to the frequently odd wording, to the awfully convenient and out of place developments in the story. And the ending...well...there isn't one. So I take it another book is forthcoming.