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Marked For Magic
The witch mark on Nin’s hand is a curse. She has no magic powers, whatever the lore says. But the village believes. The old crone’s wisdom is to see her banished. Ragged and hungry, she must serve the Mage. Alone in his tower, she is his chattel. But Mage Thabit is not what Nin expected—the bright green eyes and supple form under his cloak are not the stuff of nightmares, and kindness hides in his brusque heart. Thabit senses that Nin is more than she seems, too. When true nightmares haunt the land, it is precisely her elusive powers that might deliver them…
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
16 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Banks
30 books17 followersI grew up in the Black Country, the heart of the industrial midlands in the UK. I take great pride in my heritage. I have travelled, married, had two beautiful boys who have brought me a great deal of happiness.
I began writing when faced with a difficult illness and have continued to develop my skills and write. I love writing.
Presently I live in rural Shropshire.
I began writing when faced with a difficult illness and have continued to develop my skills and write. I love writing.
Presently I live in rural Shropshire.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 6, 2025
Marked for Magic is an interesting, enjoyable paranormal fantasy.
Eighteen year old, Nin is cast out of her village for a “witch mark”. Nin seeks the Mage, Thabit, with hopes that he will take her in. After some begging, Nin convinces Thabit to give her a chance.
Thabit quickly discovers that Nin has untapped but powerful magic. While he tutors her in magical ways, he discovers a romantic connection that he is struggling to deny. Realizing he can't keep his impulses at bay he seeks Lady Cassandra's assistance in Nin's magical education. But as soon as Nin reaches the palace and Lady Cassandra's tutelage, the kingdom comes under attack from an ancient evil; an evil that can only be destroyed by Nin's special abilities.
The story is good and I did loved the premise but I struggled with the Thabit's and Nin's interaction which disconnected me from the story. Some of it just seemed a bit off track, distracting from the main story; but ultimate came back to a predictable conclusion. I liked it and I would be very interested in delving deeper into this world. In the end, I give Marked for Magic 3.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of Marked for Magic from Kensington Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 28, 2015.
Eighteen year old, Nin is cast out of her village for a “witch mark”. Nin seeks the Mage, Thabit, with hopes that he will take her in. After some begging, Nin convinces Thabit to give her a chance.
Thabit quickly discovers that Nin has untapped but powerful magic. While he tutors her in magical ways, he discovers a romantic connection that he is struggling to deny. Realizing he can't keep his impulses at bay he seeks Lady Cassandra's assistance in Nin's magical education. But as soon as Nin reaches the palace and Lady Cassandra's tutelage, the kingdom comes under attack from an ancient evil; an evil that can only be destroyed by Nin's special abilities.
The story is good and I did loved the premise but I struggled with the Thabit's and Nin's interaction which disconnected me from the story. Some of it just seemed a bit off track, distracting from the main story; but ultimate came back to a predictable conclusion. I liked it and I would be very interested in delving deeper into this world. In the end, I give Marked for Magic 3.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of Marked for Magic from Kensington Books in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 28, 2015.
December 24, 2021
3.5 stars
This is another one of those books that I've had for a very long time and just never got around to reading. And now that I've read it, I'm glad that I didn't let it waste away in my TBR Pile any longer. This is a world I wouldn't mind reading more of, for sure.
The world was one of those that combines that feeling of a pre-modern world with a magical world. The two go together really well and Daisy Banks used the two elements to create a really interesting world. I found the way magic worked fascinating and the simultaneous fear of & dependence on magic wielders well done. We're introduced to the world through Nin, a young girl who's been cast out of her town to live with Thabit because of the appearance of her "witch mark."
As the book unfolds, Nin learns to wield her uniquely strong magically abilities (so yeah, a bit of that special snowflake syndrome, but not as pronounced as in many books), while also falling in love with Thabit, who has just begun to discover an ancient evil. Together they must work to save the land.
There were some moments where Thabit and Nin's relationship disconnected me from the story - they run hot and cold quite a bit. And then there's this mixing of sexuality with the magic that was really unexpected but also kind of worked in a deliciously sexy kind of way. So it had its ups and downs. It would be cool to read more in this world - it doesn't appear to be a series, but I do see some characters that were setup well to have their own books, so maybe.
Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt Item #2 - Read a book with a Red item on the cover. Her dress is red.
This is another one of those books that I've had for a very long time and just never got around to reading. And now that I've read it, I'm glad that I didn't let it waste away in my TBR Pile any longer. This is a world I wouldn't mind reading more of, for sure.
The world was one of those that combines that feeling of a pre-modern world with a magical world. The two go together really well and Daisy Banks used the two elements to create a really interesting world. I found the way magic worked fascinating and the simultaneous fear of & dependence on magic wielders well done. We're introduced to the world through Nin, a young girl who's been cast out of her town to live with Thabit because of the appearance of her "witch mark."
As the book unfolds, Nin learns to wield her uniquely strong magically abilities (so yeah, a bit of that special snowflake syndrome, but not as pronounced as in many books), while also falling in love with Thabit, who has just begun to discover an ancient evil. Together they must work to save the land.
There were some moments where Thabit and Nin's relationship disconnected me from the story - they run hot and cold quite a bit. And then there's this mixing of sexuality with the magic that was really unexpected but also kind of worked in a deliciously sexy kind of way. So it had its ups and downs. It would be cool to read more in this world - it doesn't appear to be a series, but I do see some characters that were setup well to have their own books, so maybe.
Qualifies for COYER Fall Scavenger Hunt Item #2 - Read a book with a Red item on the cover. Her dress is red.
April 8, 2020
I'm just not in a good mood right now.
First of all, I have to agree with a previous review: this book is really like a discount version of Grace Draven's Master of Crows, except far more juvenile and lacking in substance. The characters are bland and unmemorable, the plot too thin and weak to the point of being boring. But it's the romance that really kills it for me.
As much as I enjoy romance in books, sometimes it is unwarranted and unnecessary--which is definitely the case here. The so-called love between Nin and Thabit took me by surprise, and not in a good way. It's instalove to the max, and childish to boot. Look, I did the math: in less than three days, Nin was already pledging her eternal love to Thabit and begging him to bed her(!) This just two days after she had arrived at his doorstep, powerless and in fear that he would enslave and ravish her like all the horrible rumors claimed. Yet in no time she realized he must be charming and good, after all he's so handsome and beautiful and she wanted him to want her. Um, what??? How did this go from 0 to 100 so fast???
But anyway, I was getting really irritated by their juvenile antics. Thabit blowing hot and cold because Nin was simply too distracting and so beautiful that he had to put her out of his mind, but noooo, he never wanted to let her go, NEVER! Or how Nin went one day being all "Oh I love him sooooo much!" to the next day being "I never want to see him ever again! I hate him!" ...all because Thabit didn't give her a passionate kiss for a week or so. Yes, he gave her a chaste peck on the forehead, which must mean he didn't love her or want her anymore and now her whole world was falling apart!!!
...I can't even.
And maybe it's just me, but I found Thabit's fascination with Nin sort of creepy. It certainly doesn't help that he kept referring to Nin as "girl" (at least in the beginning). I kept getting older creeper guy vibes from him--plus his age is never hinted at or specified, and his mannerisms remind me of a grouchy old coot--so the fact that he kept obsessing over Nin's immaturity and innocence made me uncomfortable. At one point, Thabit reasoned to himself that Nin was "a mere babe," so clearly she was off-limits to his desires. Way to go, Thabit. (Also he was lusting after Nin like a deprived sex-crazed monk after Nin took a bath and became clean and pretty because beauty is everything. Like, who cares about personality, right? Lust triumphs over everything.)
Then of course there's the Yeah...just no.
I wish there was more focus on the plot and maybe the development of Nin's powers. She went from a naive apprentice to an all-powerful magic user who could heal broken bones, control fire, and master all sorts of magic. It was too fast, too unbelievable, and too annoyingly convenient for the plot's sake.
But I guess that's ok, because the most important thing is the great profound love between our two leads. After all...
First of all, I have to agree with a previous review: this book is really like a discount version of Grace Draven's Master of Crows, except far more juvenile and lacking in substance. The characters are bland and unmemorable, the plot too thin and weak to the point of being boring. But it's the romance that really kills it for me.
As much as I enjoy romance in books, sometimes it is unwarranted and unnecessary--which is definitely the case here. The so-called love between Nin and Thabit took me by surprise, and not in a good way. It's instalove to the max, and childish to boot. Look, I did the math: in less than three days, Nin was already pledging her eternal love to Thabit and begging him to bed her(!) This just two days after she had arrived at his doorstep, powerless and in fear that he would enslave and ravish her like all the horrible rumors claimed. Yet in no time she realized he must be charming and good, after all he's so handsome and beautiful and she wanted him to want her. Um, what??? How did this go from 0 to 100 so fast???
But anyway, I was getting really irritated by their juvenile antics. Thabit blowing hot and cold because Nin was simply too distracting and so beautiful that he had to put her out of his mind, but noooo, he never wanted to let her go, NEVER! Or how Nin went one day being all "Oh I love him sooooo much!" to the next day being "I never want to see him ever again! I hate him!" ...all because Thabit didn't give her a passionate kiss for a week or so. Yes, he gave her a chaste peck on the forehead, which must mean he didn't love her or want her anymore and now her whole world was falling apart!!!
...I can't even.
And maybe it's just me, but I found Thabit's fascination with Nin sort of creepy. It certainly doesn't help that he kept referring to Nin as "girl" (at least in the beginning). I kept getting older creeper guy vibes from him--plus his age is never hinted at or specified, and his mannerisms remind me of a grouchy old coot--so the fact that he kept obsessing over Nin's immaturity and innocence made me uncomfortable. At one point, Thabit reasoned to himself that Nin was "a mere babe," so clearly she was off-limits to his desires. Way to go, Thabit. (Also he was lusting after Nin like a deprived sex-crazed monk after Nin took a bath and became clean and pretty because beauty is everything. Like, who cares about personality, right? Lust triumphs over everything.)
Then of course there's the Yeah...just no.
I wish there was more focus on the plot and maybe the development of Nin's powers. She went from a naive apprentice to an all-powerful magic user who could heal broken bones, control fire, and master all sorts of magic. It was too fast, too unbelievable, and too annoyingly convenient for the plot's sake.
But I guess that's ok, because the most important thing is the great profound love between our two leads. After all...
June 29, 2015
Ms. Banks has kept my interest from the first page to the last. Secrets, surprises, and prophecies. This is how I would sum up Marked for Magic. A fantasy romance that has captured my undivided attention with the entertaining love story between Ninian aka Nin and Mage Thabit. The plot is provocative, the characters are appealing,
“A grubby wench” is what the Mage calls Nin the first time he finds her on his doorstep. Thrown out of her village as she is considered a witch, Nin ‘s last hope for survival is the Mage. “Only the Mage, this tower’s owner, stood between her and death in the forest.”
A frightening, arrogant man, with “eyes that gleamed like January lake water” is what Nin considers the Mage to be when he allows her to enter his home.
But things will change little by little. With each passing day he realizes she is more than just a common peasant girl or a “foolish brat”. Her special powers may at some point even surpass his. This comes useful when evil forces will ensnare the realm.
Magic, romance, adventure are the story’s elements that kept me engrossed in the pages. And love at first sight, a feeling I believe in, makes it more relatable with Nin. I am a great fan of stories with characters who prove their strength and indomitability, and Nin and Thabit are such characters. Marked for Magic is Nin’s quest of self discovery as a woman and as a sorceress.
Lady Cassandra, Alicia are also interesting characters who complete the story in a pleasant way.
The story is told in two POVs – Nin’s and Thabit’s. Both characters evolve along the story, they help each other grow and their forces unite and lead to the salvation of the realm from the darkness that enveloped it. I liked how the author built suspense.
I felt engaged and drawn into the mythical world of the story from the very first page. A story whose end will bring a smile to your face. Curl up with your copy of the Medieval suspense, Marked for Magic, today. I highly recommend it if you want a well-written, pleasant story that will cheer you after a hard day. I was offered a complimentary copy of the book, by the author, with no obligations whatsoever.
“A grubby wench” is what the Mage calls Nin the first time he finds her on his doorstep. Thrown out of her village as she is considered a witch, Nin ‘s last hope for survival is the Mage. “Only the Mage, this tower’s owner, stood between her and death in the forest.”
A frightening, arrogant man, with “eyes that gleamed like January lake water” is what Nin considers the Mage to be when he allows her to enter his home.
But things will change little by little. With each passing day he realizes she is more than just a common peasant girl or a “foolish brat”. Her special powers may at some point even surpass his. This comes useful when evil forces will ensnare the realm.
Magic, romance, adventure are the story’s elements that kept me engrossed in the pages. And love at first sight, a feeling I believe in, makes it more relatable with Nin. I am a great fan of stories with characters who prove their strength and indomitability, and Nin and Thabit are such characters. Marked for Magic is Nin’s quest of self discovery as a woman and as a sorceress.
Lady Cassandra, Alicia are also interesting characters who complete the story in a pleasant way.
The story is told in two POVs – Nin’s and Thabit’s. Both characters evolve along the story, they help each other grow and their forces unite and lead to the salvation of the realm from the darkness that enveloped it. I liked how the author built suspense.
I felt engaged and drawn into the mythical world of the story from the very first page. A story whose end will bring a smile to your face. Curl up with your copy of the Medieval suspense, Marked for Magic, today. I highly recommend it if you want a well-written, pleasant story that will cheer you after a hard day. I was offered a complimentary copy of the book, by the author, with no obligations whatsoever.
March 23, 2015
review can also be found on my blog here.
To start with..
I really do
In the beginning of the book, we meet Nin. She is an 18 year old villager who is cast away from her village after her palms showed the curse of the witch's mark, yet she has no magic. She is meant to live with the Mage an serve him in his tower.
The Mage, Thabit, is not interested in having someone to teach, let alone someone who has no talent for magic! He decides that she needs to be taken by Lady Cassandra's enclave so she could learn to develop her skills/magic.
Mean while, a strange disease takes over the realm, with dark forces that they can't seem to figure out. The only way to beat this evil is to join forces. There was a major plot twist in the book, which I really appreciated.
To keep this spoilers free, I'll end my review here.
I enjoyed reading this story, and I think it ended perfectly for what it is. When I first read the Mage's name, I was surprised. It is an Arabic name that means calm/collected/imperturbable, which really works for his character here -- well, at least until he meets Nin lol.
*This arc was kindly provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
To start with..
I really do
In the beginning of the book, we meet Nin. She is an 18 year old villager who is cast away from her village after her palms showed the curse of the witch's mark, yet she has no magic. She is meant to live with the Mage an serve him in his tower.
The Mage, Thabit, is not interested in having someone to teach, let alone someone who has no talent for magic! He decides that she needs to be taken by Lady Cassandra's enclave so she could learn to develop her skills/magic.
Mean while, a strange disease takes over the realm, with dark forces that they can't seem to figure out. The only way to beat this evil is to join forces. There was a major plot twist in the book, which I really appreciated.
To keep this spoilers free, I'll end my review here.
I enjoyed reading this story, and I think it ended perfectly for what it is. When I first read the Mage's name, I was surprised. It is an Arabic name that means calm/collected/imperturbable, which really works for his character here -- well, at least until he meets Nin lol.
*This arc was kindly provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
April 27, 2015
Marked for Magic is an adult fantasy. It does contain sensual sexual encounters. Nin has been thrown out of her village because she has the mark of a witch. The villagers have sent her to a Mage called Thabit to be trained as his apprentice. At first he doesn't want an apprentice, but he is soon attracted to her and finds she does have magical skills. He would rather her be trained at the castle of Lord Farel by the Lord's sister Cassandra.
Whilst at the castle Thabit foretells of a darkness which will consume the land unless he can find it's source. Thabit and Nin share an ability to communicate telepathically and Nin must rescue Thabit when his spirit is captured, and together they must become a strong power to defeat the evil.
A well written book and I enjoyed the details of the magic
Whilst at the castle Thabit foretells of a darkness which will consume the land unless he can find it's source. Thabit and Nin share an ability to communicate telepathically and Nin must rescue Thabit when his spirit is captured, and together they must become a strong power to defeat the evil.
A well written book and I enjoyed the details of the magic
April 7, 2015
Originally Reviewed on The Bewitching Bibliophile
I'm not quite sure why I agreed to this, but I'm happy I did. This hit the right note that I needed at the right time. Very rich and reminiscent of a good fairy tale, it's told from first 2 points of view then picks up a third closer to the end. Our main p.o.v is Nin our protagonist and I kinda fell in love with her voice from the start, she really reminded me of Alys from Dragon's Bait by Vivian Van Velde. they share similar circumstances and their voices felt the same and I absolutely loved Dragon's bait so when I realized Nin's story sent her on a similar journey I was so happy to read. This is the grown up version and of course there is a Mage instead of a dragon and this isn't about revenge, but the loss of home and family is similar and finding their way and learning that they are stronger than they originally thought well, this story had that lesson in spades. It was a quick read, that was humorous, entertaining, filled with magic and a few of the crazies (as always). The mystery kept you intrigued but really I was here for Nin and the Mage.
I loved the povs we got. The characters shared enough t create the world for us but not so much that we were bored. The world building was done is such a way as to let it unfold for us the same as it did for Nin, as she learnt more about the world she inhabited so did we. The plot moved quickly and the pacing was perfect, sometimes with time jumps to allow the story to move quickly. I know for me there were times they mentioned things and I was like *sob* no that's too long off, but Daisy did a god job of making it all work.
I really enjoyed the use of magic and the glimpses of healing, & ritual and their mythology we were given. I really loved how herbalism was shown and made so simply beautiful. This however isn't a perfect world and we learn that along with Nin in a particularity scary moment for her,
I loved the Mage, seen as a scary person for Nin, she's filled with trepidation but knows he's her last chance at survival, if he didn't take her in then she was doomed to wander the woods. I hoped that he would be a kind man, but he was a hard taskmaster with reason, both for his and Nin's sake. We learn his name as the story progresses and he moved form being the Mage to (well I'll let you learn it with the story because it changes who he is in the story), he wasn't amused at having a girl dumped on his doorstep, especially because he considered the practice barbaric. I loved that he was smitten even though he didn't want to be and that he had some tricks up his sleeve to help make her just a student. I laughed at that pretty hard actually because Yeah too funny.
I loved his sense of humor and his sense of honor. He had me cracking up when he tried to save face and even when he tested Nin. When he realized Nin was the real deal he made some decisions on her behalf and she wasn't amused in fact she became stubborn. I loved the way they interacted with each other and the way he tried to teach her. We get introduced to new characters because of the Mage's choice and we really get to see the world and Nin's growth explode. Under new tutelage Nin really blooms as a character and I really loved the new glimpses we got of her. I loved the love story that developed and how sweet the two characters were when they were together. I found myself rooting for them as the story progressed and feeling so sad as circumstances conspired against them.
I loved the way the characters interacted and while the story was a bit bare bones in many ways, we got the most important parts and I loved it for that. The story was written in a way that gave you the reader a chance to imagine as much or as little about the surroundings as you wanted. I loved being able to picture it as she wrote it along with some of my own flares along the way.
I just really enjoyed reading and was kinda disappointed when I got to the end, because well it's the end and it appears to be a standalone, so no more Nin and the Mage. I loved how they bloomed as a couple, and as individuals. I loved that the characters did grow and change and that they were so fun to read. This is a world I wouldn't mind returning to again & again, as we got glimpses of great characters who had some good story lines within this one.
Want a taste?? Daisy shared this excerpt on her blog and I thought you would enjoy it as well.
Excerpt
What could he do with her? Gods of the water, why him?
He scanned the streambed for shells, picked up a handful, and rolled them in his palm as he thought through the problem. One path offered a solution, and she would never know. A glamour to change her appearance. With her charms disguised, he would be able to teach her, and those pert little attractions wouldn't get in the way. He skimmed a stone down the stream.
Yes, it might work, so he wouldn't be distracted.
Perhaps, when he took her to the castle, he might be able to persuade Lady Cassandra to take her. Even though it was late for Nin to join the other students, it might be a possibility. If she’d been found earlier, she would be in Cassandra’s care, learning from her skills. He closed his eyes. This was the best idea he’d had since yesterday afternoon. Cassandra would understand the problem. She could take Nin out of his life, at least until his maiden developed her skills, knowledge, and control.
When had she become his maiden? He couldn't tell, but after today, he’d never see her as a grubby little wench again. He’d need the stepping skills of a sword dancer to avoid her snare. Tilting his head back, he looked up to the clear blue sky as he tried to work out what he truly wanted.
The spring birds soared and circled, and no answer came to his questions. It seemed he must improve his self-awareness. Scraping his hair back, he tied the leather loop back in place before making his way to the tower.
By the time he walked into the kitchen, she had set dishes out on the table, ready to serve the food. From the look of her, she’d found peace with her sorrow for now.
One eye still on her, he trickled the shells from the stream into the small jar where he kept his collection. When she turned to stir what was in the cauldron, the glamour cloaked her. She moved to the table with the pot.
He stepped back in surprise. Oh! Perhaps he’d been a little extreme, but he’d get over it. Now, her image could not tempt him.
“Dinner’s ready,” she said with a gap-toothed smile
Make sure to check out the other bloggers who are sharing their reviews as well. Blog Tour Page
★★★★☆
What My Rating Means :★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ~ This is awesome!! It's an add to your TBR Pile, asap. & 4 ~ Steamy Stars: Okay plot, excellent love scenes
Happy Reading
I'm not quite sure why I agreed to this, but I'm happy I did. This hit the right note that I needed at the right time. Very rich and reminiscent of a good fairy tale, it's told from first 2 points of view then picks up a third closer to the end. Our main p.o.v is Nin our protagonist and I kinda fell in love with her voice from the start, she really reminded me of Alys from Dragon's Bait by Vivian Van Velde. they share similar circumstances and their voices felt the same and I absolutely loved Dragon's bait so when I realized Nin's story sent her on a similar journey I was so happy to read. This is the grown up version and of course there is a Mage instead of a dragon and this isn't about revenge, but the loss of home and family is similar and finding their way and learning that they are stronger than they originally thought well, this story had that lesson in spades. It was a quick read, that was humorous, entertaining, filled with magic and a few of the crazies (as always). The mystery kept you intrigued but really I was here for Nin and the Mage.
I loved the povs we got. The characters shared enough t create the world for us but not so much that we were bored. The world building was done is such a way as to let it unfold for us the same as it did for Nin, as she learnt more about the world she inhabited so did we. The plot moved quickly and the pacing was perfect, sometimes with time jumps to allow the story to move quickly. I know for me there were times they mentioned things and I was like *sob* no that's too long off, but Daisy did a god job of making it all work.
I really enjoyed the use of magic and the glimpses of healing, & ritual and their mythology we were given. I really loved how herbalism was shown and made so simply beautiful. This however isn't a perfect world and we learn that along with Nin in a particularity scary moment for her,
I loved the Mage, seen as a scary person for Nin, she's filled with trepidation but knows he's her last chance at survival, if he didn't take her in then she was doomed to wander the woods. I hoped that he would be a kind man, but he was a hard taskmaster with reason, both for his and Nin's sake. We learn his name as the story progresses and he moved form being the Mage to (well I'll let you learn it with the story because it changes who he is in the story), he wasn't amused at having a girl dumped on his doorstep, especially because he considered the practice barbaric. I loved that he was smitten even though he didn't want to be and that he had some tricks up his sleeve to help make her just a student. I laughed at that pretty hard actually because Yeah too funny.
I loved his sense of humor and his sense of honor. He had me cracking up when he tried to save face and even when he tested Nin. When he realized Nin was the real deal he made some decisions on her behalf and she wasn't amused in fact she became stubborn. I loved the way they interacted with each other and the way he tried to teach her. We get introduced to new characters because of the Mage's choice and we really get to see the world and Nin's growth explode. Under new tutelage Nin really blooms as a character and I really loved the new glimpses we got of her. I loved the love story that developed and how sweet the two characters were when they were together. I found myself rooting for them as the story progressed and feeling so sad as circumstances conspired against them.
I loved the way the characters interacted and while the story was a bit bare bones in many ways, we got the most important parts and I loved it for that. The story was written in a way that gave you the reader a chance to imagine as much or as little about the surroundings as you wanted. I loved being able to picture it as she wrote it along with some of my own flares along the way.
I just really enjoyed reading and was kinda disappointed when I got to the end, because well it's the end and it appears to be a standalone, so no more Nin and the Mage. I loved how they bloomed as a couple, and as individuals. I loved that the characters did grow and change and that they were so fun to read. This is a world I wouldn't mind returning to again & again, as we got glimpses of great characters who had some good story lines within this one.
Want a taste?? Daisy shared this excerpt on her blog and I thought you would enjoy it as well.
Excerpt
What could he do with her? Gods of the water, why him?
He scanned the streambed for shells, picked up a handful, and rolled them in his palm as he thought through the problem. One path offered a solution, and she would never know. A glamour to change her appearance. With her charms disguised, he would be able to teach her, and those pert little attractions wouldn't get in the way. He skimmed a stone down the stream.
Yes, it might work, so he wouldn't be distracted.
Perhaps, when he took her to the castle, he might be able to persuade Lady Cassandra to take her. Even though it was late for Nin to join the other students, it might be a possibility. If she’d been found earlier, she would be in Cassandra’s care, learning from her skills. He closed his eyes. This was the best idea he’d had since yesterday afternoon. Cassandra would understand the problem. She could take Nin out of his life, at least until his maiden developed her skills, knowledge, and control.
When had she become his maiden? He couldn't tell, but after today, he’d never see her as a grubby little wench again. He’d need the stepping skills of a sword dancer to avoid her snare. Tilting his head back, he looked up to the clear blue sky as he tried to work out what he truly wanted.
The spring birds soared and circled, and no answer came to his questions. It seemed he must improve his self-awareness. Scraping his hair back, he tied the leather loop back in place before making his way to the tower.
By the time he walked into the kitchen, she had set dishes out on the table, ready to serve the food. From the look of her, she’d found peace with her sorrow for now.
One eye still on her, he trickled the shells from the stream into the small jar where he kept his collection. When she turned to stir what was in the cauldron, the glamour cloaked her. She moved to the table with the pot.
He stepped back in surprise. Oh! Perhaps he’d been a little extreme, but he’d get over it. Now, her image could not tempt him.
“Dinner’s ready,” she said with a gap-toothed smile
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★★★★☆
What My Rating Means :★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ~ This is awesome!! It's an add to your TBR Pile, asap. & 4 ~ Steamy Stars: Okay plot, excellent love scenes
Happy Reading
June 21, 2020
I got through half, and
Idk I just wasn't feeling it. Also, Nin falling in love with Mage Thabit after a few days just because he was decent to her is weird. I don't know how or why they fall in love; the magical backstory couldn't keep me going because it wasn't that interesting; and the weird paternal dynamic between the two was not sexy. At all.
Idk I just wasn't feeling it. Also, Nin falling in love with Mage Thabit after a few days just because he was decent to her is weird. I don't know how or why they fall in love; the magical backstory couldn't keep me going because it wasn't that interesting; and the weird paternal dynamic between the two was not sexy. At all.
November 19, 2017
Libro favoloso e la storia tra Nin e Thabit è inusuale ma intensa.
April 6, 2021
Pick a name!
What a waste of time! Pick a name for this girl and not his nickname! Just not a good book!
What a waste of time! Pick a name for this girl and not his nickname! Just not a good book!
May 5, 2015
I was provided this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Marked for Magic is a fairytale of types. The tale unfolds with Nin, a young woman cast out of her village for baring the mysterious witch’s mark on her hand. With no other options, Nin finds herself on the door step of Mage Thabit and at his mercy. Ignoring his initial instinct to unceremoniously dismiss the unkempt girl, Thabit reluctantly admits her into his home as a servant. The two settle into a routine and, predictably, come to find one another irresistible. Nin comes of age learning from Thabit and the magical community; readying her skills for the ultimate test.
I was initially attracted to this book for its stunning cover design. I love pretty things. But the cover was slightly more entrancing than the text within. It was a quick, entertaining read, but in no way life-altering. It was fairly predictable throughout. I liked the growing tension between Nin and Thabit, but I really couldn’t get into Thabit as a romantic love interest. I just couldn’t lose myself in a poetically poor, straw-hat-wearing, slender, vegetarian. Maybe he reminded me of a guy I dated in my 20s, who can be similarly described. Maybe I just really like meat. Maybe he’s just too divergent from the filthy rich, muscle-bound alpahs I’ve become accustomed to. Whatever the case, he just didn’t do it for me. However, Banks does a good job of convincing the reader of Nin’s utter devotion and attraction to Thabit. I bought into their romance as something sweet and touching. Ultimately, I found Marked for Magic to be a charming, quaint tale, but lacking in memorable spark.
Reviewed for http://www.ismellsheep.com/
Marked for Magic is a fairytale of types. The tale unfolds with Nin, a young woman cast out of her village for baring the mysterious witch’s mark on her hand. With no other options, Nin finds herself on the door step of Mage Thabit and at his mercy. Ignoring his initial instinct to unceremoniously dismiss the unkempt girl, Thabit reluctantly admits her into his home as a servant. The two settle into a routine and, predictably, come to find one another irresistible. Nin comes of age learning from Thabit and the magical community; readying her skills for the ultimate test.
I was initially attracted to this book for its stunning cover design. I love pretty things. But the cover was slightly more entrancing than the text within. It was a quick, entertaining read, but in no way life-altering. It was fairly predictable throughout. I liked the growing tension between Nin and Thabit, but I really couldn’t get into Thabit as a romantic love interest. I just couldn’t lose myself in a poetically poor, straw-hat-wearing, slender, vegetarian. Maybe he reminded me of a guy I dated in my 20s, who can be similarly described. Maybe I just really like meat. Maybe he’s just too divergent from the filthy rich, muscle-bound alpahs I’ve become accustomed to. Whatever the case, he just didn’t do it for me. However, Banks does a good job of convincing the reader of Nin’s utter devotion and attraction to Thabit. I bought into their romance as something sweet and touching. Ultimately, I found Marked for Magic to be a charming, quaint tale, but lacking in memorable spark.
Reviewed for http://www.ismellsheep.com/
April 19, 2015
This was a fantastically imaginative book based upon magic and the a young girl as she learns how to use magic properly. It was a new take on a story that we think we’ve all heard before; the story is well told and gripping and takes the whole mentor / tutor relationship to a whole new level.
The main characters were the mage Thabit and Nin; when Nin is found to have a mark on her hand she is sent to the mage Thabit. Though Nin seems to be an ordinary non magical person when she is sent to Thabit however he finds work for her in the kitchen cooking and cleaning for him. When she begins developing her power he becomes more and more interested and they begin a relationship. The two of them fight together to face something horrible happens to the people around them Thabit is forced to journey to another realm and Nin has to save him. The two main characters are very well written as the author takes you on the journey along with the characters.
While there are a few noteworthy secondary characters in this book they are not a big factor in the story as it very much centres on the two main characters.
The storyline and pacing are very good as they go together in building tension and keeping the reader at the edge of their seat until the very end. I really liked the suspense and lead up to the two main characters getting together and then when they actually came together which I felt was very much worth waiting for.
3.5 stars a good read.
The main characters were the mage Thabit and Nin; when Nin is found to have a mark on her hand she is sent to the mage Thabit. Though Nin seems to be an ordinary non magical person when she is sent to Thabit however he finds work for her in the kitchen cooking and cleaning for him. When she begins developing her power he becomes more and more interested and they begin a relationship. The two of them fight together to face something horrible happens to the people around them Thabit is forced to journey to another realm and Nin has to save him. The two main characters are very well written as the author takes you on the journey along with the characters.
While there are a few noteworthy secondary characters in this book they are not a big factor in the story as it very much centres on the two main characters.
The storyline and pacing are very good as they go together in building tension and keeping the reader at the edge of their seat until the very end. I really liked the suspense and lead up to the two main characters getting together and then when they actually came together which I felt was very much worth waiting for.
3.5 stars a good read.
May 5, 2015
I had so many problems with this book.
- instalove
- flat characters
- the girl is like "I'll love you forever" halfway through
- scenes don't play as they were intended. A marketplace scene is meant to show how valuable the mage's wares are, but instead the reader is left thinking, "Yards of wool cloth for a teeny tiny bottle? I don't even know what is in the bottle..."
- I don't understand the mage's motivation. Bang the girl, fight evil? I guess?
- the cover is misleading. Look at that dress - the pleating, the intricate sewing. But the whole book is in a medieval-type world. There's no way she seamed that together herself.
- and technical niggles galore. For example - after walking barefoot for a long time she had blisters. Blisters come from repeated rubbing in the same place, like from an ill-fitting shoe. Going across the countryside would give you scrapes, abrasions, cuts, overall soreness... but not blisters. GRAH.
- the girl's power climb is sudden and unbelievable. Her training is mentioned in passing, and all of a sudden she can smother flame and use some all-amazing white light to save all? Nuh-uh, I'm not following you.
So yeah, not a fan.
- instalove
- flat characters
- the girl is like "I'll love you forever" halfway through
- scenes don't play as they were intended. A marketplace scene is meant to show how valuable the mage's wares are, but instead the reader is left thinking, "Yards of wool cloth for a teeny tiny bottle? I don't even know what is in the bottle..."
- I don't understand the mage's motivation. Bang the girl, fight evil? I guess?
- the cover is misleading. Look at that dress - the pleating, the intricate sewing. But the whole book is in a medieval-type world. There's no way she seamed that together herself.
- and technical niggles galore. For example - after walking barefoot for a long time she had blisters. Blisters come from repeated rubbing in the same place, like from an ill-fitting shoe. Going across the countryside would give you scrapes, abrasions, cuts, overall soreness... but not blisters. GRAH.
- the girl's power climb is sudden and unbelievable. Her training is mentioned in passing, and all of a sudden she can smother flame and use some all-amazing white light to save all? Nuh-uh, I'm not following you.
So yeah, not a fan.
July 29, 2015
The character growth in Marked For Magic in both Nin and the Mage is probably the most dramatic I've seen in a long time. She starts out a timid girl and over the course of the book, blossoms into a confident woman. He is introduced as an impatient sourpuss with a bit of a temper, but love, fear and sacrifice show him how to become an indulgent, generous and caring man, who would do anything for the woman he loves.
I loved Nin's stumbling and bumbling through her first attempts at magic, and the way she discovered and became accustomed to her gifts. The evil in the land was chilling, and the betrayal at the end added a wonderful element of surprise. I especially loved that they conquered it together. The setting was beautiful, one I could totally picture on the big screen someday.
Banks has a lovely writing voice and paints characters that will worm their way quickly into your heart. This was the first time I have read one of her books, but I can't wait to discover more.
I loved Nin's stumbling and bumbling through her first attempts at magic, and the way she discovered and became accustomed to her gifts. The evil in the land was chilling, and the betrayal at the end added a wonderful element of surprise. I especially loved that they conquered it together. The setting was beautiful, one I could totally picture on the big screen someday.
Banks has a lovely writing voice and paints characters that will worm their way quickly into your heart. This was the first time I have read one of her books, but I can't wait to discover more.
March 30, 2015
This was a slow-paced fantasy in a world of magic and, sometimes, cruelty. It reminded me very much of Master of Crows by Grace Draven. Not that the stories were alike, but more that the story pace and world building seemed similar.
So this tale meandered along a love story between Nin, our heroine bearing a witch mark, and Thabit, a powerful mage. Together, the couple was forced to battle an evil entity that was bringing sickness to the land. Though there was a battle, the story was not ever fast-moving or action-packed. The budding love between the naive Nin and the reluctant mage was much more interesting, and I was happy to see them get a HEA.
So this was an okay read for me, but the slow pace left me wanting.
So this tale meandered along a love story between Nin, our heroine bearing a witch mark, and Thabit, a powerful mage. Together, the couple was forced to battle an evil entity that was bringing sickness to the land. Though there was a battle, the story was not ever fast-moving or action-packed. The budding love between the naive Nin and the reluctant mage was much more interesting, and I was happy to see them get a HEA.
So this was an okay read for me, but the slow pace left me wanting.
April 19, 2015
MARKED BY MAGIC has an interesting storyline but it took a bit of a push for me to get through. There were too many places that seemed to drag a bit and didn't hold my interest the way that I would have liked. World building often takes precedence over action in paranormal stories and this may be the case in MARKED BY MAGIC. Thabit's and Nin's relationship builds slowly and sweetly. Their relationship wasn't what I expected but it's nice. There's magic and a bit of adventure in this story that is neatly wrapped up at the end. This isn't my usual paranormal read but it was an enjoyable one.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
February 12, 2015
3,5
V skutočnosti to bola taká lepšia fantasy rozprávka, ktorá ma možno neposadila na zadok, ale aspoň som si pri jej čítaní dokonale oddýchla. Len si myslím, že príbeh mal byť dlhší. A teraz naozaj nemyslím o sto alebo dvesto strán. Mám pocit, že toto mohla byť schopná dvoj a možno aj trojdielna séria. Tým pádom by postavy pôsobili vierohodnejšie vo svojich premenách. Niektoré zmeny sa dejú len veľmi pomaly. Ale na druhej strane som zase rada, že tým pádom autorka vynechala všetky tie nudné záležitosti okolo štúdia a príbeh sa skutočne rozbehol v druhej polovici.
Zaujímavé čítanie :)
V skutočnosti to bola taká lepšia fantasy rozprávka, ktorá ma možno neposadila na zadok, ale aspoň som si pri jej čítaní dokonale oddýchla. Len si myslím, že príbeh mal byť dlhší. A teraz naozaj nemyslím o sto alebo dvesto strán. Mám pocit, že toto mohla byť schopná dvoj a možno aj trojdielna séria. Tým pádom by postavy pôsobili vierohodnejšie vo svojich premenách. Niektoré zmeny sa dejú len veľmi pomaly. Ale na druhej strane som zase rada, že tým pádom autorka vynechala všetky tie nudné záležitosti okolo štúdia a príbeh sa skutočne rozbehol v druhej polovici.
Zaujímavé čítanie :)
May 3, 2015
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... nope, I am sorry it was just plain bad. The cover was nice though ( my weak spot) the couple of chapters I read were so so, and the best part I am afraid to say was the last page. The biggest issue I had with the book was that it seem to be written in an incredibly immature voice that irritated the life out of me. I must be honest I thought I was reading a YA book until I randomly came across an explicit sex scene (there might be more) - I am not sure what YA's read, is this deemed acceptable nowadays or not? if not you have been warned.
March 31, 2016
I hate books where the romance springs out of nowhere and is forced down the reader's throat. Nin goes from being terrified that the Mage will treat her as a whore to being in total lust for him in less than 2 days. She's possessive, clingy, and whiny, a little brat pouting because he won't sleep with her immediately. The great evil in the book is meh. The writing is full of drama with very little substance.
August 30, 2016
Reminded me a lot of the characters from Uprooted but a much blander watered down version. The entire plot was kinda a snooze fest for me, there was just so little tension and the climax was just meh. Felt like I was drinking a cup of supermarket brand defcaf coffee, it had a lot of promise and seemed like a great idea but, just didn't live up to my expectations.
Read
October 29, 2015The cover is my favourite thing about this book. Otherwise I really struggled to connect with and understand the characters who were inconsistent and didn't have much depth.
Found the story didn't flow very well and much of it didn't make sense. In the end I skipped quite a lot to get to the end.
Found the story didn't flow very well and much of it didn't make sense. In the end I skipped quite a lot to get to the end.
March 14, 2016
Everything was so rushed in this book. She goes to the Mage, falls for him, she learns magic, becomes powerful, they get the bad guy, then get married. Nothing is gone into in any great detail at all. The whole story needed more fleshing out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2016
There might have been a decent story in there somewhere, but I couldn't get past the immature writing style and the fact that all the characters seemed to be stuck in adolescence.
January 1, 2017
I enjoyed how vulnerable Nim was and that the story progression was very good it kept me interested and was a good story
Read
February 5, 2019This is not my usual genre but I was willing to give it a try. It was not very well written at all. The story was very short (under 200 pages) and written almost like an outline - just x happens, then y, then z. The difficulties to overcome were easily taken care of. There were also typos. Could've definitely used an editor. Will not pick up anything by this author again.
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