Funny Tragic Crazy Magic

Tragic Magic #1

by Sheena Boekweg

Keep your head down.
Don't make waves.
Don't let anyone know you're a freak.

LARISSA ALVAREZ is a witch. Magic was useful enough to make her pretty, but beyond transformation runes, Larissa has ignored her mom’s pleas to learn about her magical heritage on the grounds that it’s just too weird.
But when her family is killed, and the powerful book of runes Larissa was supposed to inherit disappears, she realizes she’s not going to survive without magic. Worse still, she’s falling in love with her only ally, her best friend Joe, who has a secret that could kill them both.
Now magic is the only way she can reclaim her heritage and save the boy she loves. Larissa dives into the world of magic she’s always ignored and finds herself caught in the middle of an age-old war between Witches and Mages.

She may be poorly trained.
She may not have anyone to trust.
But it's time to start making waves.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Witches

306 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2013

About the author

Sheena Boekweg grew up reading books with tree branches peeking over her shoulder. Her novels Glitch Kingdom and A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions, both with Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, feature fat positive girls with ambitions, love stories, and sometimes battle axes. She's a contributor to Every Body Shines, a fat-positive anthology publishing May 2021 with Bloomsbury, and is an alumni of the 2015 Pitch Wars Program and was a Pitch Wars mentor in 2017, 2018, and currently in 2020. Sheena believes that beauty is intrinsic and worth is unquestionable, and thinks you can't solve all problems with food, but it will always help.
She is well loved by a tall man with a great beard, her three kids, and the world's most spoiled puppy. Visit her online at boekwegbooks.com, or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @SheenaBoekweg. She's represented by Jessica Sinsheimer at Context Literary.

Reviews

[Sherilynn Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this fun book. I couldn't put it down. I purchased the Kindle version, it has a few editing problems but not enough to hamper the read, and easy enough to fix. I really got lost in the book and it took me to a place where I could dwell without worrying about life's problems. It was fun to get to know the characters and follow them in their adventure. The only problem about the book that I didn't like was that it ended too soon. It left me wanting more and I was happy to find that there will be a sequel. It's also important to me the types of books I read. I like books that lack swearing or sexual content or evil or excessive violence in them. There are way to many YA books that contain one if not all four, but Funny Tragic Crazy Magic doesn't. It's like reading Harry Potter where you have your good witches and bad ones. One of my favorite lines was when one of the characters mentioned that they'd call the non magical people Muggles but J. K. Rowling would sue them :) I loved it. It has a bit of romance, it's fun to relive young love through the characters eyes and it has an ending that will keep you up at night wondering. :) I won't say anymore you'll just have to read it.

I'd recommend this book to all YA readers and their parents, grandparents even great grandparents. This book isn't just for YA readers but for all ages. I'm 61 and I got really into the story and can't wait for more. Take a chance I think that you'd really enjoy the book if you like genre of this type.

I believe that the author has high standards in her writing and parents should feel comfortable about letting their children read this "Funny Tragic Crazy Magic" Way to go Sheena, can't wait for the sequel.

[Liliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

Such a great read! As its name suggests Funny Tragic Crazy Magic WAS funny, tragic, crazy, and magical!

Funny: One thing I absolutely love without a doubt in a book is that it can make me laugh. And this one made me do exactly that! Larissa's voice was just great! I loved her narration as she was in the wacky-shack (present) and how it switched fluidly to the past where the interesting magical things happened. I thought it was just a lot of fun being inside her head and she was overall a really likable character, even though she had her narcissistic moments, at times ;)

Tragic: *sighs* It was tragic, indeed. First of all, her whole family died in a car accident and she's left to fend for herself. That is, until she meets the gorgeous (and obnoxious) Joe and they become fast friends. In my opinion, their friendship had a really weird and fast (when I say fast I mean fast) start. But honestly, I really enjoyed their friendship throughout the book. Yes, Joe could be rather annoying at times but that just made him all that more adorable! I really liked his character :) [Insert crazy magical things happening here...] And fast-forward to the end of the book... Another tragedy! It was just SO sad what happened! Poor Larissa...we obviously know she ends up in a loony-bin but how she ends up there...I cried my freakin' eyes out! At the time I was reading that, I was SO depressed and I had no idea that there was going to be a sequel, so you can imagine my disappointment when I finished reading (I hate sad endings). BUT, there will be another book! Hurray! And you know, all in all, I love a book that can make me feel strong emotions like that.

Crazy: Hmm, what kind of crazy things can I tell you without giving too much away? Well, her BFF Joe will play big role in all this, magical and otherwise, and it could mean the difference between life and death *dun dun DUN* Also, Larissa discovers some crazy, magic-related stuff about her mother and other crazy stuff about the deaths of her family. Crazy stuff I tell ya! Crazy!

Magic: And another fave part of mine, the magic!


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I won this postcard in a giveaway recently, and it could not be more true!


Witches just happen to be my favorite supernatural being of all time! And the magic in this book I just absolutely LOVED! No, it did not involve the usual spells, incantations, and potions. Instead that magic these witches use is rune magic! As in you draw a series of lines and dashes and other stuff on your skin to create a mark that represents a word...take Larissa's favorite, for example: stay. I've only ever read about runes in one other series (Cassie Clare's Mortal Instruments). This rune magic is still kinda new to me, so I really enjoyed reading about it and getting a new take on the magic use witches. Reading something different once in a while is very refreshing!

Love magic, crazy adventures, and don't mind crying a bit? Well, looks like we've found the book for you! Happy reading! :)

[Rick Chiantaretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

To put it simply, Sheena is brilliant. The end of this book is incredible. I would read it for the end, if nothing else.

The plot is quick moving and exciting. I do wish we would have seen a bit more character development, as I felt the relationship between Joe and Larissa was a bit awkward at times - but I suppose that is how teenage romances are. The humor was fantastic, and even the teenage angst felt fresh and fitting.

I loved the outlook on magic: runes and instincts. Sheena does expect her readers to accept some facts without much explanation - like the fact that an instinct who can do runes is bad. Still, the characters are strong, and accepting Sheena's twisted world is a highly rewarding experience when all is said and done.

With endings like this (and a great story to get us there), I can't wait to read the other surprises Sheena has in store for us.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witch's tale

It was hard for me to make a connection with this story. It is written well but just not something I enjoyed.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. Everytime I read a YA book, I wish that this genre had been around when I was a teenager. I would have devoured these books then.

Larissa is telling this story after it has all happened, but for the most part it reads like you are right in the action. The first thing you learn is that Larissa's family was killed in a car accident and that even though she is just a teenager, the Grandmother Witches have decided that she is able to take care of herself. They apply some Runes (Spells) so that know one knows, outside of Larissa, that they are dead. She has to carry the grief alone and somehow manage to go to school, pay the bills, take care of herself, etc. Then she meets Joe.

She knows right away Joe is different, and soon she has let him in to her world. These two are perfect for each other, but unfortunately they come from the two sides of the war - sort of like Romeo and Juliet - the paranormal version - sort of. . .

As you go along in the story, things that happen early on, things that don't seem to have much effect on the story, start to really come into play. That made for an interesting read for me as then I started thinking about things that had been mentioned and wondered whether they would show up again.

You kind of knew part of the ending, as Larissa shares that at the beginning - where she is and that this has all already happened - but getting back to the point was a great read!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny Tragic Crazy Magic is a fun read with a refreshing, unique take on witches, magic, and the age-old war between the sexes. Larissa is one of the most likable heroines I've read in a long time, like the best friend I always wished I had. When the book opens, she's lost everything except her wit and humor, which shine through the narrative. She's funny and strong but still has the vulnerability of a teenager up against much more powerful adversaries, and that made the story a lot more relatable than some urban fantasies. Larissa isn't the kind of girl who wins every fistfight, but she is the kind who will persevere to protect the people she cares about.

Larissa's relationship with Joe is sweet, beautifully paced, and captures all the longing and uncertainty that comes with young love. These characters read like real teenagers, which should make them appealing both to teens and to adults who remember being teens, which is basically everyone. The whole book had me guessing how these two were going to get through the trials they faced, up until the last pages. I hope I'll get to read more of Larissa's story. She's so much fun to root for!

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy Tragic Funny Magic was a fun, quick read. The pacing was perfect, the characters were fascinating and well developed, and the plot twists kept me guessing. But what really made this book awesome were Joe and Larissa. Larissa wasn’t a bland heroine whose only purpose is to showcase how awesome the hero is (which I’ve found in some YA paranormal romances), but a fully fleshed out, strong and interesting character. Joe was pretty awesome too and a bit quirky in a cute way. But what I really loved was how perfect they were for each other. There was no instant love. We get to see them overcome obstacles and develop a strong unbreakable bond. In other words, we actually get to see them fall in love which is always fun. This was a great book with lots of action and lots of romance and an interesting world to explore. I highly recommended to anyone who loves YA paranormal romances.

[Rebecca Ethington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny Tragic Crazy Magic is awesome! From the second I picked it up I could not put it down. Larissa is such an interesting character, she is well rounded and very interesting. I loved the twists and turns that this book presented. The second I feel like I am beginning to understand what is going on something else pops up and throws everything through a loop. I simply could not figure out what was going on in the sub plot - and I love that about a book. It kept me guessing and completely engrossed.
Read it! You won't regret it!

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best young adult books I've ever read! Sheena kept me interested and wanting more with each turn of the page. Her descriptive writing makes you feel like you are in each scene and you feel like Larissa and Joe are your best friends. Sheena also as an amazing way at surprising you though out the book and keeps you guessing. I can't wait for more! Thanks for writing something that makes me want to read! This book proves you don't need 'filth' to be entertained.

[Aurora Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Clean and FUNNY. I really enjoyed this and the characters. I pride myself in being able to see what's coming but this one caught me off guard, which is always a fun surprise. The great thing is that I can give this to my nieces!
Want more though. This book needs a second!

[M. Kircher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, fun YA book. The writing is ok, not great. But the characters are likable and the author does a good job of keeping you interested. The premise of the Witches/Mages & Grandmothers/Grandfathers could have been fleshed out a bit more, but overall this is a great book to enjoy on the beach or before bed.

[Sara Shupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun adventure! I was a bit dissapointed in the ending though. I hear there will be a sequal. It will definitely be on my to-read list!

Update: Sheena's new epilogue was icing on the cake! If you haven't read it, it's a must! Loved it!

[Jami Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it was the first fantasy book I've ever read, so I had a little more trouble getting into it at first. Once I got into it I enjoyed the story and the characters and it kept my interest to the end. I will definitely be reading the next one!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books with twists, and this one has some doozies! In fact, when I finished the book, I was really grumpy at how it turned out. It took me about an hour of thinking about it to figure out what happened. The book starts off rather slow, but picks up in the middle.

[Dessa O'Dette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book...I was disappointed at the ending but maybe the author with write a sequel.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a very good twist at the end!! LOVED IT!

[Callie Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I'm hoping there's a sequel on its way.

[Tara Lofley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally fooled!!! What an evil plot! Good thing I didn't turn it off when I thought it was over like I almost did! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

[Silent Polyglot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great plot twist! I loved this book! :)

[Marsha Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good character development, pacing. Easy, fun read.

[Amanda Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

Love the perspective. Very easy to connect with the main character. Joe is also lovable in his own love to hate way.

[Sienna✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is literally sooo good!!!! I throughly enjoyed it. The writing style stays very consistent and I love love love it!!!! ❤️😁

[R.A. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Funny Tragic Crazy Magic', by Sheena Boekweg
Larissa Alvarez is a Mexican American, and although that would be enough to make her unusual as a main character, she's also a witch, raised by witch parents. Early in the book, when she's in her mid teens, her parents and sister are killed in a car crash. The book is the story of her growing into a friendship with a new guy at school and figuring out what happened to her family, along with learning the ins and outs of witch culture, and it's all told from a mental hospital. At first Larissa really irritated me with her selfish immaturity, but she got past it, and it was central to the plot.
The book is well written with few if any typos, and it's easy to feel like you know the main characters. It did get bogged down at times, where it seemed like nothing central to the plot was happening, but that's really my only complaint. And really, even then the story was interesting. It just could have been better with a little trimming.
The witch culture portrayed in the book is pleasingly convoluted and detailed, with good and bad characters everywhere, and often with no clear indication as to which side they're on. I thought the characters' motivations made sense when all was said and done, and I LOVED the ending. Kudos to Miss Boekweg for a fantastic twist/climax.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Language: It's been a few weeks since I read it, but I can't remember any bad language at all. If there's any, it's mild.
Sexual Content: A couple kisses.
Violence: Nothing remarkable, just some witchcraft craziness.
Over-all Message/Plot: It took its time coming together, but when it did, it was great. The ending was movie worthy.
To see why I was drawn to a book with a Mexican American heroine, visit my blog at rawhitebooksandmore.weebly.com

[Jeremy DeBottis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up until early summer I had been in a book club that helped to give me my fill of books I wouldn't ordinarily pick out on my own. Since the group went on hiatus I've binged on genres I've always gravitated for, and in an attempt to break the cycle I picked up a young adult book about magic. Am I happy with this decision? Yes.
While I felt something's were a little forced and like the narrator did more explaining than was necessary (although I understand how a story written from the perspective of a single character can be harder to avoid too much exposition) the story did find a way to hook me in. Most of the reviews I read praising this story mention the ending, and I cannot agree more.
This is a fun, quick read well worth giving a chance.
I will close by saying I find it amazing how the more I read the less I care about editing and format mistakes. I read the Kindle version of this book, which definitely had some formatting problems, but honestly, who cares? A good story is a good story.

[Dragonglimer Lisa Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a YA novel this was a great read. I got caught up in the story right away. Lots of action and the author explained things so that you would know what she was talking about. The end was a bit confusing and I had to reread it a couple times but then got it. All in all great story and I will have to read the next one.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Cute characters, great development, a plot with a few holes (can't be helped from the way the story is told), and a twist ending that I absolutely loved!

[Jennifer Erwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only made it to 13% of this book before I had to put it down. Once I noticed a week or more had gone by without me picking it up again, I decided to give up the ghost. Others may like this, but apparently it's just not my thing.

[Jams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Surprise ending!

[NeverEver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Larissa was a whiny character till the end. The twist at the end made me vote it up to 2 stars. Thank you, no more please.

[Vykki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really interesting book I love all the twist and turns. I really enjoy how she learned how to be a adult. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn about witches.