A Caged and Restless Magic

by Emmie Christie

Saida is a fox-shifter who gardens magic in each of the five Sense-enhanced worlds, but the Vision world’s magic is fading fast. She must find and transplant magic from the other worlds to save it, and a human on Sound has the strongest voice magic she’s ever heard. Saida fears humans and the touch of their hands, but she might have to make an exception for Alesio.

Alesio is an ex-cage match fighter and aspiring singer. All he wants is to sing at the best concert hall in town, but his old gang haunts him, trying to make him return to fighting, and his partial deafness makes him doubt his dream. He never imagined meeting someone like Saida or traveling to different worlds.

Meanwhile, by accident, Saida opens a portal to a different Plane than the Sense worlds altogether and releases a a monster hungry for her magic. She needs to find enough transplants to save Vision while running from the monster; but what she fears the most is the trust and attraction blossoming between her and Alesio.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Romance

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2024

Reviews

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Really exquisite world building and a truly interesting magic system. Enjoyed how it wasn’t just a love story but an examination of what love is and means. Thanks to Netgalley , the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this. 🩷

[Carolyn Schaeperkoetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you BookSiren and Emmie Christie for the opportunity of reading this arc!

What a trip!

A very unique journey into a strange world where all the senses represent worlds of their own, the five together creating one universe, but in order to save the magic that binds them together from dying completely, a magical being must trim access magics and transplant it in the other worlds.

We meet Saida, a magical fox person, Shapeshifter who has the ability to transfer into different worlds of the five senses to transplant magics to help even the score and balance of the universe. She feels lonely as she's the only one with this ability, and as a result, creates friends with the magical artifacts she collects along the way. Some sort of apocalypse had occurred a long time ago, and now she tries to restore balance. But a dark force follows her and tries to stop her.

Then we have Alesio, a citizen from the world of Sound. He's a "strait", which is a lower class citizen, in contrast to the "pipers" and dreams of singing in the Cadenza to make music instead of using his voice for violence. He reaches for bigger and better things despite the hand that he's dealt, and this all changes when he comes across a certain fox person Shapeshifter.

I can certainly say that this is not like any story I've read before, so imaginative, original, and yet discussing themes that anyone can relate to. Saida struggles with trusting other people and so is unable to love and be loved as she deserves due to trauma, while Alesio struggles trusting in others to help themselves while helping him feel safe as well. When they find each other, there's an immediate pull between the two, a sweet, kind of slow-burning romance as they run from a horrible shadowy monster that keeps getting bigger, threatening to devour them all. Strange things start happening to the people of Sound when the monster from the Primal Plane begins turning them into zombie like creatures, forcing Saida and Alesio on a race through many dimensions.They journey through all the Five Senses to pick up magics and along the way, encounter other strange monsters and binds that they must escape, saving the world while saving themselves.

I really enjoyed the amount of imagination that went into this as well as the journey Saida and Alesio take within themselves as well as together. There were moments when the description of the worlds as a bit lacking, but overall I love how well Alesio and Saida's emotional trauma and tumult are depicted and how they eventually come together.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kalee McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the story and the magic system were unique. I really could have read this in one sitting if I had the time. I would definitely recommend this to someone wanting a unique story.

I received this as an ARC from book sirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Lroc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book. As a connoisseur of the fantasy and sci-fi genres, it’s rare to find something that feels ‘new’. The whole premise of worlds linked to different senses sounds half-baked or even childish on the surface, but the author has carefully created a universe in which it not only works, but flourishes. Despite the wild, fanciful universe, Saida’s and Alesio’s stories feel so very real. Both characters are people dealing with traumatic pasts, and the emotional depth they have is very well written.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my true and honest thoughts.

[Leslie Twitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Caged and Restless Magic is a good read. Easy to follow. Original writing. A first from this author and won't be the last.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Caged and Restless Magic is a beautiful world filled with fantastic creatures unlike anything I have ever read!

If you’re looking to disappear for a while into a fantasy adventure, this is your book. The characters are so likable, and you will find yourself routing for them every step of the way.

The author’s writing is pure magic! I will be looking for her works in the future.

4/5 stars

[Shy Mysterious · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review: "A Caged and Restless Magic" by Emmie Christie 🌟

Hey fellow bookworms! 📖✨ Mysterious Shy here with a magical tale that's got me under its spell! A huge shoutout to BookSirens and Emmie Christie for whisking me away on an adventure with an advance copy. Let's dive into the enchanting world of "A Caged and Restless Magic."

🌈 Plot Magic:

Imagine a fox-shifter, Saida, tending to magic gardens across five vibrant worlds. But hold up, the Vision world is losing its sparkle, and Saida's got a mission: transplant magic from other worlds to save the day. And guess what? A human, Alesio, has a voice that's pure magic. Cue the unexpected team-up of a fox and an ex-cage fighter turned aspiring singer.

🦊🎤 Character Chemistry:

Saida, with her fox-shifting awesomeness, meets Alesio, a fighter with a dreamy voice. Sparks fly, but not just any sparks – we're talking about trust and attraction brewing amidst magical chaos. Saida fears human touch, but Alesio might just be the exception. Talk about a match made in a cosmic concert hall!

🌌 World-Hopping Wonders:

Get ready to secure your bookmarks tight because Saida, quite unintentionally, unleashes a portal to an entirely new dimension! Picture this: hungry monsters craving magic, and various planes colliding like a literary rollercoaster. Our dynamic duo must navigate these cosmic curveballs while striving to rescue Vision. To unveil the outcome, you'll have to dive into the pages and experience the adventure for yourself!

📚 Writing Style:

Emmie Christie spins a spellbinding narrative with a mix of relatable emotions and fantastical elements. The language is as smooth as a cozy reading nook, making it easy for even us mere mortals to understand the intricacies of magic and mayhem.

🌟Why You Should Read It:

First off, if you're a fan of fox-shifters and singers in one story, this is your golden ticket! "A Caged and Restless Magic" weaves together fantasy, romance, and a dash of cosmic chaos into a captivating tale. It's like grabbing a front-row seat to a concert in a world where the impossible becomes possible.

👀 Final Thoughts:

As I turned the last page, I found myself craving more of Saida and Alesio's adventures. "A Caged and Restless Magic" isn't just a book; it's a journey through realms of imagination, love, and the unexpected. Trust me, this one's a keeper for your magical bookshelf.

So, my bookish buddies, grab your reading lamps, a comfy blanket, and let the magic unfold. Happy reading! 📚✨

[Alana Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Caged and Restless Magic By Emmie Christie tells the narrative of Saida, a foxan whose task it is to keep magic pruned and blossoming across all the worlds in her purview. However, the magic eater, Watthe, stalks her travels and threatens life as she knows it—good thing she runs across Alesio, a human who seems to have magic to spare! (Now, if only she can convince him to help…)

Christie weaves an enchanting fantasy tale that immerses readers straightaway and has them committed to the interweaving stories of Saida and Alesio as they both do what it takes to survive—Alesio as a Cathedral guard trying to escape his past as a cage fighter and Saida as she tries to save magic in a race against time against Watthe as he grows even stronger. Saida and Alesio are drawn to each other’s magic in a way that mirrors their relationship of complements. The reader will enjoy discovering the worlds Saida visits through Alesio’s eyes while also experiencing the urgency Saida feels to Fix Magic. Christie subtly weaves in the past traumas both Saida and Alesio must overcome before they can come together to fight as a team, however, the reader might find the initial confidences between the two a bit unearned and the healing a bit unbelievable as the characters seem to heal by the power of good thinking instead of the hard work usually involved. The cohesive narrative has a satisfying conclusion that brings everything and everyone together for a conflict that is just long enough to raise the stakes without meandering to the point of disinterest. The novel wraps up cleanly but leaves room for a sequel that would no doubt expand Saida’s world further.

A Caged and Restless Magic is a solid read for any fantasy reader, and those who typically read higher fantasy will enjoy the worldbuilding in between heavier novels. This story is light enough to be a pleasure read and very accessible to readers who typically do not foray into fantasy.

I received an ARC on Reedsy Discovery

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Received this Audio through Netgalley_

A Caged and Restless Magic" by Emmie Christie is a stunning and truly unique read that had me hooked from the very first page. I've never encountered a concept quite like it, and the author's ability to weave together a narrative about a fox-shifter, interdimensional travel, and the raw power of sound is nothing short of magical.

The core of the story, centered on Saida—a fox-shifter who tends to magical gardens across five distinct Sense-enhanced worlds—is brilliantly original. I was completely drawn into her journey to save the Vision world from fading magic. Her fear of human touch adds a powerful layer of emotional depth, making her connection with Alesio all the more compelling.

Alesio, with his past as a cage match fighter and his dream of being a singer, is an incredibly well-developed and relatable character. His partial deafness and the challenges he faces with his past gang make his resilience shine, and his journey into the Sense worlds with Saida is a thrilling adventure.

The world-building is breathtaking. The idea of traveling between worlds based on the senses is a creative masterpiece, and the sense of danger from a monster that has accidentally been released adds a constant, thrilling tension. The central conflict between Saida's fear of touch and the undeniable attraction and trust that blossoms between her and Alesio creates a beautiful and heart-wrenching emotional arc.

This book is a fantastic blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for something fresh and imaginative. I can't recommend it enough!

[Yamini · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are five worlds, each tied to one sense (Vision, Sound, Taste, etc.), and their magic is tended by a fox-shifter gardener, Saida. But one of the worlds is losing its magic, and Saida needs to find enough transplants to heal it. In her search for overgrown magic, she encounters Alesio from the Sound world, whose magic is somehow stuck. She wants to save the world, but she also wants to be by his side. Something is blossoming between them that neither is ready for. An accidental portal opening complicates matters even further, releasing a monster that now hunts all magic and Saida herself. 👾

The book dives right into the story with no slow buildup. There is less explanation and telling, and more showing of how portals work, how they shift into animal and human forms, and so on. Such a fresh perspective! The whole idea of magic as something to be planted, trimmed, and replanted was delightful to read. Each world had its own unique touch, and experiencing the senses as fully realized worlds was a novel experience.

The language of the devil or monster, however, was basically mumbo-jumbo English. I wished it had a little more complexity. Also, the devil’s name (which I won’t reveal) could have been something more fitting, rather than sounding like half a chewed sentence. Otherwise, the story was good. The background was rich, the songs Alesio sang had a nice rhythm, and the narrators delivered them beautifully in the audiobook.
3.5 🌟

[Queerly_Noted · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book exists in a very different series of worlds which was great, the magic systems were very unique and well thought out. The pace of the book however was very slow to start with and much of the language was passive which made reading difficult. Perhaps due to this I found it hard to relate to Saida and Alessio and form any type of emotional relationship to them, which is what would have elevated this book for me. Their burgeoning attraction felt forced to me and I struggled to be invested in it. In summary, a unique magic system and series of worlds that was well thought out, however, the delivery fell a bit flat due to the lack of emotive language and a subsequent difficulty in being invested in the journey of Saida and Alessio. I did enjoy the discussions of their challenges (such as Alessio’s partial deafness) and Saida’s trauma and stress related to seeing the world’s suffer and trying to transplant magic to help them. If you enjoy unique magic systems and parallel worlds, but don’t need to form an emotional connection with the characters this book is for you.

I received an advanced copy for free, but I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jelena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saida is a foxan, a magical shapeshifting creature who travels between the worlds whose magic is based on senses, and keeps their magic alive. She finds "overgrowths" - bits of magic she can transplant to other worlds. As the last remaining foxan who can travel, she struggles to keep the magic flowing, especially on Vision - a world where magic is wilting and people are dying. To make matters worse, her travelling opens a portal to a strange, unknown world, and releases a creature who hunts her.

Alesio is a singer who lives on Sound and possesses a very strong magical overgrowth he is not aware of. When Saida meets him, she believes his magic could be the key to reconnecting the worlds drifting apart. But the monster chasing her is getting closer and both Saida and Alesio are in danger.

"A Caged and Restless Magic" is a beautiful portal fantasy about magic and art, with unique worldbuilding and a sweet romance woven in. It's dreamy and slow-burning and although the stakes are high, it feels cosy and suitable for younger readers. It took me on a whimsical journey filled with adventures and cool magic.

I received an ARC from the author.

[Jocelyn Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. I had to read the first chapter a couple times to figure out what was going on in terms of world building, but once I understood that the female lead could talk to magical inanimate objects, I was able to move on. I find that many young adult type books follow a similar pattern of going on a quest, self discovery, and lessons learned. This story has some of those elements but has a much more original plot and world. My favorite part was the vivid descriptions of the different sense worlds. That being said, I would recommend reading this book rather than listening to it. I think it might be hard to understand the nuances of the different worlds by listening to the descriptions.

The two main characters were fairly interesting and multifaceted. I could tell this is just the beginning of their story, and I can’t wait to see how they grow and change down the road. Their romance was very sweet. This is not a dark fantasy novel, and it appealed to me in an innocent kind of way.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book's biggest strength is its descriptive writing. The author transports the readers to the different sensory worlds and makes them feel as though they are experiencing what the characters are feeling. The worldbuilding is unique, I've never seen sensory magic before. Many of the touches were very creative, such as hearing loss being a useful defense against sound magic. The heavy reliance on the senses did make the worlds feel a little small however, and some of the writing felt a little clumsy, such as euphemisms like "Sounddammit!" and "Holy Sound!"

I really enjoyed the characters; I loved Saida and her journey of self-love and recovering from a painful past. Alesio was a wonderful friend; I appreciated how much he cared for Saida. Unfortunately I found the side characters to be forgettable, but the story mostly focuses on Alesio and Saida anyway.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Daniel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very cute and wholesome and left me with that warm tingly feeling. I really enjoyed the author's way of describing the setting and events through the different character's POV.

This is a portal romantasy that takes the characters to different worlds where a certain sense is heightened and I love how the setting is described through that sense, not always just "they saw" "it looked like", it was unique and interesting each time.

For example, they travel to the world of Taste, and are in dessert region, and the first thing that the characters notice and how the scene is laid out for the reader is by the overwhelming saltiness and dryness in their mouths.

Anyways, I could go on with tons more examples and little quirks of this book that I loved, but I'll leave them for you to discover. And put much more eloquently and creatively than I could write it out...clearly.

[Kokechii · Rating 4 out of 5]

After months of being disappointed that I haven't read anything new-new, this was such a breath of fresh air.
Very original and imaginative, specially in the way the author uses descriptions. Saida was also something completely new, and her magic making her more than unique (if very lonely) from other protagonists I've read recently. Even the worlds we travel to and from felt fresh - each of the five senses represented by its own world in a unique way. I loved Saida and felt for her and I just loved immersing myself in this world the author created. I'm sure to be thinking of it for a long while.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for providing the ARC.

[Erica Trobaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's full of heart and heartbreak, and it ultimately ends on such an uplifting and healing note. The characters feel real and genuinely complex. The romance is tender and believable without being over the top.

And the fantasy world is so wonderfully inventive. The idea that each sense is a magic all its own is just genius, and Christie executes it perfectly. The world setup and magic system are everything I didn't know I needed in a story. Brilliant!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca Rosser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing and Audio ARC for this ARC audio copy via Net Galley.

This was a unique fantasy story with a very interesting magic system. It incorporated elements of love and family within the story.
I did enjoy this. However, it lost me at times with the world building and the magical element. I found at times my mind wondered. I liked both the fmc and mmc and how their friendship grew.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a fantasy reader so this was a first! It was a little slow to start but when the adventures really began, it was very captivating. I kept wondering where it was going and what was going to happen next! I’m very thankful to have been able to be one of the first to read this. Excited to see what comes next!

[Caitlin D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ultimately ended up enjoying this book. It was a bit slow to get started and I bit discouraged, but it really picked up and the last 70% or so was much more captivating. I think the slowness can be attributed to a complicated universe-building, so with a unique story like this it can't be helped. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure about this one. Stopped after a few pages. Might try again some any time

[Emmie Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just found out that authors are (supposedly) meant to rate their own books, so here goes.

This novel is my heart and soul of whimsical magic systems, fox-shifters, portal transportation, cosmic/eldritch beings, the ambition and ache of singers, and my favorite romance trope of "who hurt you?!" all wrapped into one.

My inspiration for this novel came largely from my stumbling attempts at worshipping the watercolor style of Hayao Miyazaki's dreamlike whimsy and his strong female leads. I have author idols as well, of course, but I am too embarrassed to name them at this point. Suffice it to say that fantasy is my first love because of the incredible works in that genre.

Saida and Alesio are more than just my characters. They built my confidence in becoming a real author. In my Neverending Story, they would be my Sebastian. They called my name, and gave me worlds upon worlds to play in.

I hope you enjoy what we created together.