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Maybe Magic
How can you find yourself when all you know is home?
Maebe Amos is desperate for a change. Born into the close-knit East Branch community, she longs to experience life beyond the fence demarcating the edge of the compound. But no one ever leaves East Branch—well, no one but her cousin Connor’s parents, who moved to the nearby town and raised him among the outsiders there. Maebe doesn’t know much about the outside world, but the little she’s picked up from her radio suggests veritable wonders, and she’s desperate to learn.
But for Maebe, gifted with “the touch” and cursed with a curious birth defect, the protection of isolated East Branch means safety. Lucky for her, the first outsider she meets is Connor’s girlfriend, Jane—and Jane is possessed of a powerful touch the like of which Maebe has never seen. Magic, Jane calls it, and offers to help her.
Can Maebe trust the people she’s been taught to fear? And as she tries to learn about herself and her talents, how can she protect East Branch when its long-forgotten secrets begin to surface?
Maebe Amos is desperate for a change. Born into the close-knit East Branch community, she longs to experience life beyond the fence demarcating the edge of the compound. But no one ever leaves East Branch—well, no one but her cousin Connor’s parents, who moved to the nearby town and raised him among the outsiders there. Maebe doesn’t know much about the outside world, but the little she’s picked up from her radio suggests veritable wonders, and she’s desperate to learn.
But for Maebe, gifted with “the touch” and cursed with a curious birth defect, the protection of isolated East Branch means safety. Lucky for her, the first outsider she meets is Connor’s girlfriend, Jane—and Jane is possessed of a powerful touch the like of which Maebe has never seen. Magic, Jane calls it, and offers to help her.
Can Maebe trust the people she’s been taught to fear? And as she tries to learn about herself and her talents, how can she protect East Branch when its long-forgotten secrets begin to surface?
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2025
About the author
Ash Fitzsimmons
34 books49 followersAsh has always loved a good story. Her childhood bookshelves overflowed, and she refused to take notes in her copies of classroom novels because that felt like sacrilege. She wrote her first novel the summer after her freshman year of college and never looked back. (Granted, that novel was an unpublishable 270,000-word behemoth, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?)
After obtaining degrees in English and creative writing and taking a stab at magazine work, Ash decided to put her skillset to different use and went to law school. She then moved home to Alabama, where she works as an attorney. These days, Ash can be found outside of Montgomery with her inordinately fluffy Siberian husky, who loves long walks, car rides, and whatever Ash happens to be eating.
After obtaining degrees in English and creative writing and taking a stab at magazine work, Ash decided to put her skillset to different use and went to law school. She then moved home to Alabama, where she works as an attorney. These days, Ash can be found outside of Montgomery with her inordinately fluffy Siberian husky, who loves long walks, car rides, and whatever Ash happens to be eating.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2025
THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!!!!!
I took a break from horror and chose a fantasy read for a change.
The story starts with a teen (well, she's 18) who is running away from home, which happens to be a some sort of secluded community that stays hidden. (and for good reason, but that would be spoilers).....
Maebe has led a very sheltered life.
A good Samaritan comes along and offers Maebe food and shelter.
Maebe doesn't even know what electricity is, or air conditioning, or computers.... so many things. I was so fascinated by reading about this girl that didn't even know how to buckle a seatbelt in a car.
Anyway, turns out Maebe is special and has a touch/ talent that she herself wasn't even aware of.
I had read the hall of Thorns books prior, and was so glad to see Rose show up in this storyline. I need to look into Jane Fortune's stories, too
I took a break from horror and chose a fantasy read for a change.
The story starts with a teen (well, she's 18) who is running away from home, which happens to be a some sort of secluded community that stays hidden. (and for good reason, but that would be spoilers).....
Maebe has led a very sheltered life.
A good Samaritan comes along and offers Maebe food and shelter.
Maebe doesn't even know what electricity is, or air conditioning, or computers.... so many things. I was so fascinated by reading about this girl that didn't even know how to buckle a seatbelt in a car.
Anyway, turns out Maebe is special and has a touch/ talent that she herself wasn't even aware of.
I had read the hall of Thorns books prior, and was so glad to see Rose show up in this storyline. I need to look into Jane Fortune's stories, too
May 4, 2026
This series is just so good you can’t stop reading! I finished Jane Fortune’s series (which you should also read—Fortune’s Child) and started the Maybe Magic books right away. These characters and the interesting world author Ash Fitzsimmons have crafted really stick with you, and that’s the mark of a great author. In Maybe Magic, we turn to East Branch, home of Connor, Jane’s boyfriend. The residents of East Branch have been living in isolation for generations, not allowing outsiders into their community out of fear that someone might discover their dangerous secrets. When Jane discovers Maebe in the woods after she runs away from home, hoping to see a bit more of the world, she realizes she needs to get the Pactlands involved, and that there is more magic in East Branch than anyone originally thought.
I loved all the surprises in this one. Some great twists that I was not expecting as we learned more about East Branch and its history. I love any time we see more of Diriem, Annie, Wylan, Rosie and Yven. All the recurring characters that come back are what make this series so great. Some of my favorite moments are just when Jane is helping Maebe acclimate to being in the outside world for the first time. How does toothpaste work. Or the fun of being in Diriem’s house where his cook is trying so hard to please Rosie and has a very old human cookbook with a bit too much emphasis on jello salad. These little fun touches about the elven world and the human world trying to coexist just make this such a treat to read. I can’t wait for the next book! 5/5 stars.
I loved all the surprises in this one. Some great twists that I was not expecting as we learned more about East Branch and its history. I love any time we see more of Diriem, Annie, Wylan, Rosie and Yven. All the recurring characters that come back are what make this series so great. Some of my favorite moments are just when Jane is helping Maebe acclimate to being in the outside world for the first time. How does toothpaste work. Or the fun of being in Diriem’s house where his cook is trying so hard to please Rosie and has a very old human cookbook with a bit too much emphasis on jello salad. These little fun touches about the elven world and the human world trying to coexist just make this such a treat to read. I can’t wait for the next book! 5/5 stars.
November 10, 2025
Maybe Magic
I wanted a cheery, fun, interesting novel to help take my mind off the troubles of the world, and this is what I got😁
It is definitely an advantage to have read Ash's previous books, especially those about the elven halls and the disastrous consequences of a Halloween party but even so this is a fun story mixing the real world and the magical worlds of Ash's brilliant imagination. Looking forward to the next few novels.
I wanted a cheery, fun, interesting novel to help take my mind off the troubles of the world, and this is what I got😁
It is definitely an advantage to have read Ash's previous books, especially those about the elven halls and the disastrous consequences of a Halloween party but even so this is a fun story mixing the real world and the magical worlds of Ash's brilliant imagination. Looking forward to the next few novels.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews