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Magemother #1
The Mage & the Magpie
An invisible girl. A missing mage. A world in need…
Brinley has spent most of her life lost in her own imagination, teaching bullfrogs to do gymnastics and pretending to be invisible. Now, when a magic bell from another world summons her across time and space on a journey to find her mother, she will discover real friendship, face true evil, and overcome her greatest fears in order to save the ones she loves.
The Mage and the Magpie is the first book in Austin J. Bailey's Magemother series: an epic middle-grade fantasy adventure series with witches, shapeshifters, and cliffhangers, and awesome kids (There are very few boring adults in this book!).
What Readers are Saying
Loved the world it took me into to. A good, clean, fun story that left me wanting more. Loved how developed the characters were for such a quick read. A great read for any age.-Melissa
A fresh story of good versus evil set in a fantasy world much like a marvelous daydream gone wild. A truly enjoyable and engaging read.-S.Rosenquist
Interview with the Author
Q - Why should I try your books?
A - Because the Magemother books are fast and fun, and I guarantee you'll never forget the friends you find inside them. Each of the books is a different experience, but each one is worth your time. And I'm not just saying that because I wrote them. I've also read a TON of Fantasy. If you like fun, kid-friendly books with lots of magic and a plot that twists and turns, you'll get a kick out of this series.
Q - So, what makes the Magemother series so special?
A - A few things. When I set out to write the Magemother series I wanted to write the types of books that I love to read. My top picks are usually fantasy books. I'm well into my 20's now and I still love reading the middle grade bestsellers. Especially ones with a good bit of mystery, a few surprises, and lots of laughs.
The Magemother books have a good mix of these things. They mostly focus on the children's fantasy / teen fantasy adventure genre's over all, with some coming of age and mystery aspects thrown in for good measure.
Overall the Magemother series is designed to invite you into another wonderful fantasy universe alongside a set of unforgettable characters.
Q - What order should I read the books in?
A - Well, if I did my job right you should be able to read them in any order you want right? Seriously though, fantasy worlds can get a bit complicated, so if you don't want to risk missing anything I would suggest this order:
- The Mage and the Magpie
- The Empty Throne (Novella)
- The Paradise Twin
- The Bridge to Nowhere (coming soon)
Q - Which one was your favorite to write?
A - That's a tough one. The Empty Throne was fun because Tabitha is such a wonderfully strange and quirky character, and I really had a blast giving her her own adventure. That said, The Paradise Twin is my favorite so far. The characters really come alive in that book, especially Hugo, who has some serious demons to wrestle with. There is also some great plot twists and comedy in that one, if I do say so myself.
Magemother Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure Series eBook Categories:
-kids fantasy series free
-teen fantasy series free
-teen fantasy free
-free teen fantasy books
Brinley has spent most of her life lost in her own imagination, teaching bullfrogs to do gymnastics and pretending to be invisible. Now, when a magic bell from another world summons her across time and space on a journey to find her mother, she will discover real friendship, face true evil, and overcome her greatest fears in order to save the ones she loves.
The Mage and the Magpie is the first book in Austin J. Bailey's Magemother series: an epic middle-grade fantasy adventure series with witches, shapeshifters, and cliffhangers, and awesome kids (There are very few boring adults in this book!).
What Readers are Saying
Loved the world it took me into to. A good, clean, fun story that left me wanting more. Loved how developed the characters were for such a quick read. A great read for any age.-Melissa
A fresh story of good versus evil set in a fantasy world much like a marvelous daydream gone wild. A truly enjoyable and engaging read.-S.Rosenquist
Interview with the Author
Q - Why should I try your books?
A - Because the Magemother books are fast and fun, and I guarantee you'll never forget the friends you find inside them. Each of the books is a different experience, but each one is worth your time. And I'm not just saying that because I wrote them. I've also read a TON of Fantasy. If you like fun, kid-friendly books with lots of magic and a plot that twists and turns, you'll get a kick out of this series.
Q - So, what makes the Magemother series so special?
A - A few things. When I set out to write the Magemother series I wanted to write the types of books that I love to read. My top picks are usually fantasy books. I'm well into my 20's now and I still love reading the middle grade bestsellers. Especially ones with a good bit of mystery, a few surprises, and lots of laughs.
The Magemother books have a good mix of these things. They mostly focus on the children's fantasy / teen fantasy adventure genre's over all, with some coming of age and mystery aspects thrown in for good measure.
Overall the Magemother series is designed to invite you into another wonderful fantasy universe alongside a set of unforgettable characters.
Q - What order should I read the books in?
A - Well, if I did my job right you should be able to read them in any order you want right? Seriously though, fantasy worlds can get a bit complicated, so if you don't want to risk missing anything I would suggest this order:
- The Mage and the Magpie
- The Empty Throne (Novella)
- The Paradise Twin
- The Bridge to Nowhere (coming soon)
Q - Which one was your favorite to write?
A - That's a tough one. The Empty Throne was fun because Tabitha is such a wonderfully strange and quirky character, and I really had a blast giving her her own adventure. That said, The Paradise Twin is my favorite so far. The characters really come alive in that book, especially Hugo, who has some serious demons to wrestle with. There is also some great plot twists and comedy in that one, if I do say so myself.
Magemother Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure Series eBook Categories:
-kids fantasy series free
-teen fantasy series free
-teen fantasy free
-free teen fantasy books
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2015
1877 people are currently reading
2096 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 11, 2017
CHARACTERS
Brinley is a girl with an overactive imagination and a flair for drawing. She imagines many a things and at times draws them too; but she knows that the bell only her father and herself can hear is not her imagination. I enjoyed getting to know about Brinley, her deep desire to know who her mother is and the way she makes friends along the way. She was a very realistic character with real problems and some magical ones. Her character development, especially towards the end is beautiful to see.
Hugo is the one with the most character development. From a somewhat bratty Price who wants to learn magic he grows into a very trustworthy wonderful friend and also learns a lot in the way. The friendships and relationships he forges along the way are written beautifully and are heartwarming.
Every character in this book has a role to play; even the minor characters who appear for a short period of time have important roles to play in the plot!
PLOT
It's quite a complex plot for a middle-grade fantasy! Not the plot itself but rather the world building. It was a fun adventure story that leaves some loose ends as it's the first book in a series! While the plot was wonderful, the big reveal was pretty obvious from the start? But thinking about it now I think the author meant it to be a reveal only for the characters themselves and not the readers. If that's the case, it was done very well. But maybe due to fact that I've read a lot of high fantasy and epic fantasy books, certain plot points seemed a little predictable to me. But I think it would work perfectly for a younger audience.
WRITING
The writing is smooth and the dialogue well written. I was so engrossed in this book and read most of it during a loud fest going on! I was so engrossed, all the noise didn't bother me at all. There were certain places were there was a lot of information given to us but I'm glad it didn't feel like info-dumping! Also I must say I loved the Chapter names and enjoyed the humor interwoven into the story.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing
- The cover! (It's so pretty!)
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The predictable plot points
- certain places with a lot of information/description
CONCLUSION
It's a well-written Middle grade high fantasy with a wonderfully done world building and delightful characters! I can't wait to pick up the sequel and find the questions we're left with at the end of the book.
Brinley is a girl with an overactive imagination and a flair for drawing. She imagines many a things and at times draws them too; but she knows that the bell only her father and herself can hear is not her imagination. I enjoyed getting to know about Brinley, her deep desire to know who her mother is and the way she makes friends along the way. She was a very realistic character with real problems and some magical ones. Her character development, especially towards the end is beautiful to see.
Hugo is the one with the most character development. From a somewhat bratty Price who wants to learn magic he grows into a very trustworthy wonderful friend and also learns a lot in the way. The friendships and relationships he forges along the way are written beautifully and are heartwarming.
Every character in this book has a role to play; even the minor characters who appear for a short period of time have important roles to play in the plot!
PLOT
It's quite a complex plot for a middle-grade fantasy! Not the plot itself but rather the world building. It was a fun adventure story that leaves some loose ends as it's the first book in a series! While the plot was wonderful, the big reveal was pretty obvious from the start? But thinking about it now I think the author meant it to be a reveal only for the characters themselves and not the readers. If that's the case, it was done very well. But maybe due to fact that I've read a lot of high fantasy and epic fantasy books, certain plot points seemed a little predictable to me. But I think it would work perfectly for a younger audience.
WRITING
"When you do a thing for too long, you become it."
The writing is smooth and the dialogue well written. I was so engrossed in this book and read most of it during a loud fest going on! I was so engrossed, all the noise didn't bother me at all. There were certain places were there was a lot of information given to us but I'm glad it didn't feel like info-dumping! Also I must say I loved the Chapter names and enjoyed the humor interwoven into the story.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK
- The characters
- The plot
- The writing
- The cover! (It's so pretty!)
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
- The predictable plot points
- certain places with a lot of information/description
CONCLUSION
It's a well-written Middle grade high fantasy with a wonderfully done world building and delightful characters! I can't wait to pick up the sequel and find the questions we're left with at the end of the book.
April 2, 2019
This was definitely better than I thought it would be considering I downloaded it as a freebie. But there was still something lacking. The ideas and the story were quite interesting and enough to keep me reading through to the end but I thought it felt kind of disorganized. Like there was missing that one thread to tie it all together perfectly and have it live up to its potential.
November 27, 2018
I just couldn’t finish this. It felt slow and boring. I had high hopes but am sadly disappointed.
August 19, 2015
This first book in the Magemother series was a fun fantasy that was filled with hope and adventure. One cool aspect of this book that I loved was how this fantasy world was connected to earth or “ert!” As soon as Brinely entered Aberdeen I was fascinated to see how she will adapt with a place filled with unique animals, monsters, and magic.
Having very few characters really helped me get to grow with these people and even adapt to them. Brinley was probably the most relatable because she was a little bit shy and felt that she needed to be invisible. Her journey to accepting the role she was meant to have, and opening up, was really nice and by the end she had developed into an entirely new person. Hugo, Tabitha, the witches, and the seven mages were all very well developed and exciting to read!
This book was actually a GREAT book. There was nothing I found boring or confusing. It took me a while to start reading it but as soon as I delved into the book I was able to read 50% of the book in a day. I feel that this book is underappreciated and I hope that it will become the next popular book series! Everyone needs to read this book!!!
Having very few characters really helped me get to grow with these people and even adapt to them. Brinley was probably the most relatable because she was a little bit shy and felt that she needed to be invisible. Her journey to accepting the role she was meant to have, and opening up, was really nice and by the end she had developed into an entirely new person. Hugo, Tabitha, the witches, and the seven mages were all very well developed and exciting to read!
This book was actually a GREAT book. There was nothing I found boring or confusing. It took me a while to start reading it but as soon as I delved into the book I was able to read 50% of the book in a day. I feel that this book is underappreciated and I hope that it will become the next popular book series! Everyone needs to read this book!!!
October 23, 2018
Such a nice book, well written, I will surely read the other books of the series as I am looking forward and can't wait to see what happens to all its characters! I think it would appeal to young readers so I will make my daughter to read it too. I highly recommend it to those who like fantasy books.
February 3, 2017
I can't remember the last time I finished a book that was the first in its series with a smile on my face.
This middle grade fantasy adventure is fantastic! I love the metaphoric but simplistic plot, the plethora of dynamic characters and the easy to follow writing that makes it simple for very young readers to pick up but also for older readers - such as myself - to get lost into too!
This was only the first book in its series and it is quite promising. I already got the free novella from the Authors website and bought the next two books in the series when I was only 12% through the book! It is just that great!
It does have a quality to be on the same competing level as the Harry Potter series.
This is far more developed than the Percy Jackson series was, even when the series has an original story inspiration, I prefer Brinley and her troubles than I did with Percy and all his half blood cousins/nephews/nieces? ...what? (No seriously, the other campers at Half Blood are his nieces and nephews if you were to check a family tree. That's just weird.)
Looking forward to the next installment. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens to all its characters!
This middle grade fantasy adventure is fantastic! I love the metaphoric but simplistic plot, the plethora of dynamic characters and the easy to follow writing that makes it simple for very young readers to pick up but also for older readers - such as myself - to get lost into too!
This was only the first book in its series and it is quite promising. I already got the free novella from the Authors website and bought the next two books in the series when I was only 12% through the book! It is just that great!
It does have a quality to be on the same competing level as the Harry Potter series.
This is far more developed than the Percy Jackson series was, even when the series has an original story inspiration, I prefer Brinley and her troubles than I did with Percy and all his half blood cousins/nephews/nieces? ...what? (No seriously, the other campers at Half Blood are his nieces and nephews if you were to check a family tree. That's just weird.)
Looking forward to the next installment. I truly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens to all its characters!
December 24, 2016
Character development had a very strong start; world building was weak and never gained strength over mediocrity.
The summoning bell was a gentle icon to blend the two worlds with a hint of its significance. To the reader. Cuz it went over the heads of Archibald, Cannon, and the entire Magisterium. C'mon. If they knew it was a summoning bell, certainly talk of *who* or *what* should have demanded more attention.
Then character fell off the script as if the author had forgotten them. In chapter 16, Denmyn ran over the elderly librarian and promptly "stage lefted" the scene as Cannon & Archibald nonchalantly dismissed the disappearance of the bell and began a magic carpet ride.
Then Cannon appears in 17 from the trees and idk where his shotgun passenger (Archibald) is.
Lack of urgency and the nonplussed attitudes of the characters made me feel like I was more anxious to uncover reasons for the disappearance of the mages than the characters whose lives needed them more.
Great cover. Intriguing description to entice a download click. Suspenseful start.
Two stars, but would not recommend this book nor follow the series.
The summoning bell was a gentle icon to blend the two worlds with a hint of its significance. To the reader. Cuz it went over the heads of Archibald, Cannon, and the entire Magisterium. C'mon. If they knew it was a summoning bell, certainly talk of *who* or *what* should have demanded more attention.
Then character fell off the script as if the author had forgotten them. In chapter 16, Denmyn ran over the elderly librarian and promptly "stage lefted" the scene as Cannon & Archibald nonchalantly dismissed the disappearance of the bell and began a magic carpet ride.
Then Cannon appears in 17 from the trees and idk where his shotgun passenger (Archibald) is.
Lack of urgency and the nonplussed attitudes of the characters made me feel like I was more anxious to uncover reasons for the disappearance of the mages than the characters whose lives needed them more.
Great cover. Intriguing description to entice a download click. Suspenseful start.
Two stars, but would not recommend this book nor follow the series.
August 15, 2016
Let's put it this way: If you don't typically read this style of story (magic, fantasy, witches, and whatnot) then you'll probably really like this. Also, if you don't care about writing style, then you will probably like it more.
For me, the writing (adverbs....telling...) drove me nuts. Then there was the fact most of this story has been done before, in other books, and way better. There was nothing that wowed me, or made me go, "Oh, that's cool! Fresh and original!!" No, there was nothing like that. It's a stew of other books. Parts and pieces rehashed into something that makes this not violate copy rights. It's my own fault for reading so much and being exposed to better books! Hahaha!
2 stars. Read it if you fit the above description. Otherwise, read it when you don't have anything else to read.
PS. Austin, stop with the adverbs, and write the story how you want it to be told and stop trying to fit it into a YA or children's mold. Kids will read what they want. They self-censor pretty well, so you don't need to dumb this down to make it for kids. Just write it and let them decide if it is for them.
For me, the writing (adverbs....telling...) drove me nuts. Then there was the fact most of this story has been done before, in other books, and way better. There was nothing that wowed me, or made me go, "Oh, that's cool! Fresh and original!!" No, there was nothing like that. It's a stew of other books. Parts and pieces rehashed into something that makes this not violate copy rights. It's my own fault for reading so much and being exposed to better books! Hahaha!
2 stars. Read it if you fit the above description. Otherwise, read it when you don't have anything else to read.
PS. Austin, stop with the adverbs, and write the story how you want it to be told and stop trying to fit it into a YA or children's mold. Kids will read what they want. They self-censor pretty well, so you don't need to dumb this down to make it for kids. Just write it and let them decide if it is for them.
April 23, 2017
A good story that deserves better writing
The story in this book is really quite wonderful. I only wish it had been written better. It has so much potential, but I almost stopped reading several times. I'm not sure if the writer just tried to write down to children's level instead of writing for them or if they just didn't quite know how to wrangle the correct pace for an adventure. But if you can get past that, it's an enjoyable read that made me smile and I look forward to reading the next in the series. I hope the writing improves for that one.
The story in this book is really quite wonderful. I only wish it had been written better. It has so much potential, but I almost stopped reading several times. I'm not sure if the writer just tried to write down to children's level instead of writing for them or if they just didn't quite know how to wrangle the correct pace for an adventure. But if you can get past that, it's an enjoyable read that made me smile and I look forward to reading the next in the series. I hope the writing improves for that one.
August 9, 2016
A bit painful to get through that one!
September 8, 2016
Interesting series
The Magemother series is a middle grade fantasy written by Austin J. Bailey. The gorgeous cover artwork is eyecatching, and the premise, well, the premise of misfit girl being summoned to another world and uncovering her true past could be either totally lame or really work well. The first book was (and at the time of this publication still is) free, so I figured, what did I have to lose?
The Mage and the Magpie
This book was free on Amazon and had high reviews. Honestly, I usually pick up freebies with high reviews so I can give an honest negative review. Many people seem to think that if they like a book, it deserves five stars. Five stars, imo, should be reserved for the most excellent, memorable, standout books. Not every single book you read.
Sometimes, though, books deserve the praise. I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed, the search was enjoyable, and since we're in an unfamiliar world there are lots of surprises. Some things that I think were supposed to be "reveals" were obvious to me, but others were not.
I haven't quite figured out how I feel about the magic in this series. I think magic is neutral and you use it for good or bad, like you would a car, and it seems like the mages and apprentices possess their particular magic. Like a gift. I don't think that the wind mage's apprentice could learn the magic of the metal mage. In this world, magic is either something you have or something you don't. If you have it, but are not a mage or mage apprentice, I'm not sure what you do. That's never addressed in the series.
I liked this book so much that I immediately looked the author up and signed up to receive updates from him. I received Magemother 1.5 as a "thank you."
4.5 stars
The Empty Throne
This is a novella, not a full length novel. It was offered as a "thank you" gift for signing up to receive updates from the author.
It is a very short and quick read, but it is an important link in the story. If you don't read this, there will be things you scratch your head at in later books trying to figure out if missed something.
While I didn't find this short story as compelling as the larger series narrative, I still thought it was important and highlighted the vulnerable side of Tabitha. It also makes the reader think about how they would respond if they had to go through Tabitha's test.
4 stars
The Paradise Twin
Book 2 largely focuses on finding the hidden mages and on Hugo's struggle with Molad. And there's a dragon. Dragon's are always fun, right?
In Hugo you really get that Jekyll and Hyde feel. His struggle is real, and it's easy to empathize with him. The search for the hidden mages was not as compelling, though, and almost became tedious at times. I had guessed part of Chantra's location, Unda's hiding place was obvious to me, but Lignumis' was well done.
In this book that I started feeling like the series was very similar to the Farworld series by J. Scott Savage.* A lot of necessary things happened in this book, but overall is wasn't as compelling as the others in the series. It moved things along, but I didn't feel anyone particularly developed as a character.
3 stars
The Bridge to Nowhere
This book was very interesting - and not entirely happy. There were a couple moments where I was actually surprised at something truly bad/sad happenings. Realism! I like books that have happy endings, but when absolutely everything works out perfectly as planned, it is eye-roll worthy. You see more development in Brinley and Hugo, others hold their own, and there are a couple flat characters. Some "twists" in the book I saw coming, but the intended audience would largely find them unexpected.
The Hugo/Molad struggle continued, and while it certainly felt real at times, there was one point very near the end in a major moment (trying for no spoilers!) where the reaction seemed a little extreme. But I understand why the author wrote it that way.
There is a meeting with the gods of their world, near the end of the book, and it rather felt like a huge aside. I got it - and they had showed up in other books - but the direction they promise really hadn't been there the whole series, so it didn't feel quite genuine. They also appear to be modeled after the Mormon view of God - being God and his wife who live in another world, but sometimes interact with us. The moral underpinnings in what they say are close to what I believe as a Christian, but the framework is wrong. Not everyone will agree, but I thought I'd mention it for those who want to have conversations with their children about that aspect of the book.
The biggest thing for me is one unanswered question that is actually asked in the series - what about the bell Brinley's father heard? That is never explained. I feel that is an oversight, or maybe it was too complicated to work into the book without a huge expansion ... but in that case the question should have been removed from the book. Its one thing for a reader to have questions of their own, it's another for an author to pose a question within the series that never gets answered.
Overall, the book gets 4 stars.
Serial Thoughts
As mentioned in my review of book 1, I'm not sold on how magic works in this world. To be sure, it is a well crafted story, but something seems a tad off, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe its the lack of complete explanation, I don't know.
*To expand on my Farworld comment from book 2's review. The Farworld and Magemother series aren't actually that similar. Just the whole looking for mages (who control the elements) that are hidden was bringing me strong vibes of the looking for the hidden elementals (basically the elements themselves). Also, the cross-world transfer of a main character. But the journeys are drastically different, as are the endings. The Magemother series actually has a more satisfying ending, but as a series I think I prefer Farworld. If you like one of the series, though, I'm pretty sure you'll like the other.
And, to reiterate from my review of book 3, I don't like unanswered questions posed within the story itself (If I missed this someone please point it out to me!). There is also the Mormon-esque deity thing going on that doesn't completely fit with the world that was built.
My biggest complaint for the series as a whole is the age of the our main cast. They're around 12 years old! Everything they do just seems better suited for someone at least an additional 5 years older. It's a little overdone in literature today to have THE FATE OF THE WORLD resting on pre-to-early teens.
I was grateful that while there is friendship (and hints of particular people probably liking each other) romance is not really in the book. Like I said, it's hinted around, but it's not the star. THANK YOU! That is so nauseously overdone, and these books show you can have a good story without the romance. Especially when we're talking this young.
Mage and the Magpie: 4.5 stars
The Empty Throne: 4 stars
The Paradise Twin: 3 stars
The Bridge to Nowhere: 4 stars
Magemother series average: 4
I received complimentary ecopies of books 2 & 3 in exchange for my honest opinion.
The Magemother series is a middle grade fantasy written by Austin J. Bailey. The gorgeous cover artwork is eyecatching, and the premise, well, the premise of misfit girl being summoned to another world and uncovering her true past could be either totally lame or really work well. The first book was (and at the time of this publication still is) free, so I figured, what did I have to lose?
The Mage and the Magpie
This book was free on Amazon and had high reviews. Honestly, I usually pick up freebies with high reviews so I can give an honest negative review. Many people seem to think that if they like a book, it deserves five stars. Five stars, imo, should be reserved for the most excellent, memorable, standout books. Not every single book you read.
Sometimes, though, books deserve the praise. I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed, the search was enjoyable, and since we're in an unfamiliar world there are lots of surprises. Some things that I think were supposed to be "reveals" were obvious to me, but others were not.
I haven't quite figured out how I feel about the magic in this series. I think magic is neutral and you use it for good or bad, like you would a car, and it seems like the mages and apprentices possess their particular magic. Like a gift. I don't think that the wind mage's apprentice could learn the magic of the metal mage. In this world, magic is either something you have or something you don't. If you have it, but are not a mage or mage apprentice, I'm not sure what you do. That's never addressed in the series.
I liked this book so much that I immediately looked the author up and signed up to receive updates from him. I received Magemother 1.5 as a "thank you."
4.5 stars
The Empty Throne
This is a novella, not a full length novel. It was offered as a "thank you" gift for signing up to receive updates from the author.
It is a very short and quick read, but it is an important link in the story. If you don't read this, there will be things you scratch your head at in later books trying to figure out if missed something.
While I didn't find this short story as compelling as the larger series narrative, I still thought it was important and highlighted the vulnerable side of Tabitha. It also makes the reader think about how they would respond if they had to go through Tabitha's test.
4 stars
The Paradise Twin
Book 2 largely focuses on finding the hidden mages and on Hugo's struggle with Molad. And there's a dragon. Dragon's are always fun, right?
In Hugo you really get that Jekyll and Hyde feel. His struggle is real, and it's easy to empathize with him. The search for the hidden mages was not as compelling, though, and almost became tedious at times. I had guessed part of Chantra's location, Unda's hiding place was obvious to me, but Lignumis' was well done.
In this book that I started feeling like the series was very similar to the Farworld series by J. Scott Savage.* A lot of necessary things happened in this book, but overall is wasn't as compelling as the others in the series. It moved things along, but I didn't feel anyone particularly developed as a character.
3 stars
The Bridge to Nowhere
This book was very interesting - and not entirely happy. There were a couple moments where I was actually surprised at something truly bad/sad happenings. Realism! I like books that have happy endings, but when absolutely everything works out perfectly as planned, it is eye-roll worthy. You see more development in Brinley and Hugo, others hold their own, and there are a couple flat characters. Some "twists" in the book I saw coming, but the intended audience would largely find them unexpected.
The Hugo/Molad struggle continued, and while it certainly felt real at times, there was one point very near the end in a major moment (trying for no spoilers!) where the reaction seemed a little extreme. But I understand why the author wrote it that way.
There is a meeting with the gods of their world, near the end of the book, and it rather felt like a huge aside. I got it - and they had showed up in other books - but the direction they promise really hadn't been there the whole series, so it didn't feel quite genuine. They also appear to be modeled after the Mormon view of God - being God and his wife who live in another world, but sometimes interact with us. The moral underpinnings in what they say are close to what I believe as a Christian, but the framework is wrong. Not everyone will agree, but I thought I'd mention it for those who want to have conversations with their children about that aspect of the book.
The biggest thing for me is one unanswered question that is actually asked in the series - what about the bell Brinley's father heard? That is never explained. I feel that is an oversight, or maybe it was too complicated to work into the book without a huge expansion ... but in that case the question should have been removed from the book. Its one thing for a reader to have questions of their own, it's another for an author to pose a question within the series that never gets answered.
Overall, the book gets 4 stars.
Serial Thoughts
As mentioned in my review of book 1, I'm not sold on how magic works in this world. To be sure, it is a well crafted story, but something seems a tad off, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe its the lack of complete explanation, I don't know.
*To expand on my Farworld comment from book 2's review. The Farworld and Magemother series aren't actually that similar. Just the whole looking for mages (who control the elements) that are hidden was bringing me strong vibes of the looking for the hidden elementals (basically the elements themselves). Also, the cross-world transfer of a main character. But the journeys are drastically different, as are the endings. The Magemother series actually has a more satisfying ending, but as a series I think I prefer Farworld. If you like one of the series, though, I'm pretty sure you'll like the other.
And, to reiterate from my review of book 3, I don't like unanswered questions posed within the story itself (If I missed this someone please point it out to me!). There is also the Mormon-esque deity thing going on that doesn't completely fit with the world that was built.
My biggest complaint for the series as a whole is the age of the our main cast. They're around 12 years old! Everything they do just seems better suited for someone at least an additional 5 years older. It's a little overdone in literature today to have THE FATE OF THE WORLD resting on pre-to-early teens.
I was grateful that while there is friendship (and hints of particular people probably liking each other) romance is not really in the book. Like I said, it's hinted around, but it's not the star. THANK YOU! That is so nauseously overdone, and these books show you can have a good story without the romance. Especially when we're talking this young.
Mage and the Magpie: 4.5 stars
The Empty Throne: 4 stars
The Paradise Twin: 3 stars
The Bridge to Nowhere: 4 stars
Magemother series average: 4
I received complimentary ecopies of books 2 & 3 in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 5, 2016
A few months ago, I was asked to read this series. I'm not a huge fantasy fan necessarily, but I decided this one had enough to interest me to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the characters, both human and mages, and how the action and twists kept me wanting to read more. I read both the first book in the expected trilogy, as well as a side story novella.
I started with Magemother: The Mage and the Magpie to help me understand the basics of the story and the world of the Mages. We meet Brinley, who was abandoned as a baby, and raised by the man who found her. Although loved, she longs to find the mother who left her. When she continues to hear a bell coming from that same church, she fears it is only her active imagination playing tricks on her. Soon enough, the tolling bells sends her through space and time to a world where magic abounds. The land is in chaos and the only solution is to find the Magemother, the one person who can bring balance back to the magic in the kingdom. Brinley sets off on a quest to find her, along with Hugo, the prince and heir to the throne, Tabitha, a student at the Magesterium who has a special connection to birds, and Archibald, Hugo's tutor. Through their adventures, they encounter witches, laurels, and the Mages themselves. Alliances are formed, secrets are revealed, and a battle ensues to save the land.
I also read Magemother: The Empty Throne which is not part of the trilogy, but a short novella that works as an accompanying story to the books and takes place between Book 1 and Book 2 This plot focused on the character of Tabitha, my personal favorite, as she follows the captured Archibald into the kingdom of the Nymphs. To save him, she must face a series of tests with her companion Fitz, where she faces her worst nightmare and through the experience learns about how strong and true she really is. And as with everything, there is more to the test than meets the eye.
This series I would recommend for those fantasy fans who ate up books like Harry Potter, Narnia, and Percy Jackson. The magical world is well built in the story, and the action builds and builds up to the final battle. Readers will not be bored! There is something for both genders. Girls will enjoy and be empowered by Brinley, and boys will like Hugo and their relationship is one the of best parts of the story. I also think every reader will enjoy Tabitha. She is such a unique and quirky character and I loved how important she became to the plot, even when no one else sees her as special. The secret of who is Brinley's mother was not difficult to figure out, but I was very surprised to find out who her birth father was. (I will keep that to myself!) The ending definitely leaves you knowing that the story is not over, so those who enjoy it will be ready for the next part. There are a TON of characters, so the index to all the people and places was helpful to keep track of everything.
Although I believe middle school students are the prime age for this series, I can see even as young as fourth graders being able to get into this one. If you love fantasy, please do pick this series up! There are two more books planned. Book 2 will be called The Paradise Twin and Book 3 titled The Bridge to Nowhere. Both are due to come out at a later time, and I look forward to see what happens.
I started with Magemother: The Mage and the Magpie to help me understand the basics of the story and the world of the Mages. We meet Brinley, who was abandoned as a baby, and raised by the man who found her. Although loved, she longs to find the mother who left her. When she continues to hear a bell coming from that same church, she fears it is only her active imagination playing tricks on her. Soon enough, the tolling bells sends her through space and time to a world where magic abounds. The land is in chaos and the only solution is to find the Magemother, the one person who can bring balance back to the magic in the kingdom. Brinley sets off on a quest to find her, along with Hugo, the prince and heir to the throne, Tabitha, a student at the Magesterium who has a special connection to birds, and Archibald, Hugo's tutor. Through their adventures, they encounter witches, laurels, and the Mages themselves. Alliances are formed, secrets are revealed, and a battle ensues to save the land.
I also read Magemother: The Empty Throne which is not part of the trilogy, but a short novella that works as an accompanying story to the books and takes place between Book 1 and Book 2 This plot focused on the character of Tabitha, my personal favorite, as she follows the captured Archibald into the kingdom of the Nymphs. To save him, she must face a series of tests with her companion Fitz, where she faces her worst nightmare and through the experience learns about how strong and true she really is. And as with everything, there is more to the test than meets the eye.
This series I would recommend for those fantasy fans who ate up books like Harry Potter, Narnia, and Percy Jackson. The magical world is well built in the story, and the action builds and builds up to the final battle. Readers will not be bored! There is something for both genders. Girls will enjoy and be empowered by Brinley, and boys will like Hugo and their relationship is one the of best parts of the story. I also think every reader will enjoy Tabitha. She is such a unique and quirky character and I loved how important she became to the plot, even when no one else sees her as special. The secret of who is Brinley's mother was not difficult to figure out, but I was very surprised to find out who her birth father was. (I will keep that to myself!) The ending definitely leaves you knowing that the story is not over, so those who enjoy it will be ready for the next part. There are a TON of characters, so the index to all the people and places was helpful to keep track of everything.
Although I believe middle school students are the prime age for this series, I can see even as young as fourth graders being able to get into this one. If you love fantasy, please do pick this series up! There are two more books planned. Book 2 will be called The Paradise Twin and Book 3 titled The Bridge to Nowhere. Both are due to come out at a later time, and I look forward to see what happens.
September 28, 2016
I enjoyed this fantasy adventure novel and think it would appeal to young readers in about 4th to 8th grade. I found the second half of it to be especially interesting because the fantasy elements became more elaborate after the characters and world were established. The first few chapters were a little less clear because it took a while to understand the characters and background.
There were several good characters with interesting stories, but I really liked quirky Tabitha and the ambiguous witch Habis. It was quite fun to see these characters develop and interact with each other and the story.
This is the first book in a series three books plus a shorter novella between the first and second books. After finishing the first one I immediately started the #1.5 book. The first book has a satisfying conclusion, but leaves room for the sequels (not surprising for a series). While not the most complex fantasy, I think the slightly lighter degree of difficulty is an asset for young readers or those just getting into the fantasy genre.
There were several good characters with interesting stories, but I really liked quirky Tabitha and the ambiguous witch Habis. It was quite fun to see these characters develop and interact with each other and the story.
This is the first book in a series three books plus a shorter novella between the first and second books. After finishing the first one I immediately started the #1.5 book. The first book has a satisfying conclusion, but leaves room for the sequels (not surprising for a series). While not the most complex fantasy, I think the slightly lighter degree of difficulty is an asset for young readers or those just getting into the fantasy genre.
October 3, 2023
Brinley is a youngster raised by a single father, who brought her into their Colorado home under curious circumstances. In another setting, a king sends his right-hand man to search for missing mages, people with magic abilities, particularly the one who makes wind, and for the mother of all mages. The separate threads merge about a third of the way into the book, when Brinley enters the other world without really intending to. There she becomes involved in the search, befriending the prince and an odd bird-talking young woman. They face the bad guys, witches and giants and other things that make one say, “Oh, my!”
This would appeal to a middle grade or high school reader capable of handling parallel stories until they merge. The created world and its magic and creatures are cleverly made. For its audience, I think this is probably worth a fourth star., and I could recommend it to one Since I am not in its audience, not so much.
This would appeal to a middle grade or high school reader capable of handling parallel stories until they merge. The created world and its magic and creatures are cleverly made. For its audience, I think this is probably worth a fourth star., and I could recommend it to one Since I am not in its audience, not so much.
June 12, 2017
This book was ok. I think I would have liked it better if it was, you know, an entire book. Instead, it just introduced a bunch of problems and left them unresolved. A book in a series should really stand on its own. This doesn't.
Here are some problems with the book.
I will probably keep reading this series to see what happens next, but no promises.
Here are some problems with the book.
I will probably keep reading this series to see what happens next, but no promises.
January 31, 2017
I wasn't expecting to like this book so much. Usually I don't like this type of POV stories, but the world building, the magic, the characters, the pacing, and the plot was intriguing. This is the 1st free book that I have really liked. I would not only read this book again, but I will buy the other books in this series. I think my favorite part was the fact that each character plays a vital role, and as a reader I found myself caring about all of them. I am not sure if I have ever read a book that left me feeling that connected to all of the characters like that. I can't say enough good about this book. I don't normally give 5 stars.
January 31, 2017
This was a quick & easy read. I liked the way the story started with two separate threads beginning with Brinley & Hugo and the way it would flip-flop when the bell rang although
I enjoyed the "magemother" concept, but was disappointed with
It's a cute story, I imagine younger readers or those new to the fantasy genre would appreciate this.
I enjoyed the "magemother" concept, but was disappointed with
It's a cute story, I imagine younger readers or those new to the fantasy genre would appreciate this.
December 23, 2015
The writing in this book was disconnected. It jumped from scene to scene, with either no explanation, or a vague explanation coming after the event. It is also too juvenile for YA. Most of it was cliche, too. I barely made it to my three chapters before DNFing rule. Pretty cover, though.
March 23, 2017
DNF. Didn't even get 2 chapters in. Found it for free on iBooks, was intrigued by the beautiful cover. But the first pages break every rule I've been careful to follow: exotic dialogue tags, awkwardly convenient conversation shifts, cliché descriptions "twinges of excitement". It lost me.
March 24, 2017
Very boring, Not that interesting. Book was very detailed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2017
This was a very good book how ever I do wish the author had done more to make it more interesting. I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
September 4, 2017
Read this with my son - we both loved it & couldn't wait to read the rest of the series.
January 2, 2019
How did I not know about this book before now?!?!
This is a fantastic book, I'm surprised I didn't know about this author\series before now. Brimley is a loveable misfit who tries and mostly succeeds in being invisible. And the mages, well, most of them are interesting. But I love Archibald and Hugo
This is a fantastic book, I'm surprised I didn't know about this author\series before now. Brimley is a loveable misfit who tries and mostly succeeds in being invisible. And the mages, well, most of them are interesting. But I love Archibald and Hugo
October 4, 2023
A fun and clean fantasy book with memorable characters, a story that moves along at a good pace, and characters that actually think and solve problems rather than wait for the author to save them. Recommended.
February 25, 2020
Great characters and story!
September 16, 2025
3.5 stars.
October 6, 2018
I almost gave up on this one, but I'm so glad I didn't because it was just the kind of adventure that I needed.
August 18, 2016
This was a delightful book that jars you into it with the sound of a gong and the jolt of a fall, not to mention a fair amount of drooling! And from there it just whisks you away on a wonderful adventure to a different land full of magic and mystery, where even the laws of physics are not quite the same.
The title of the book, “The Mage and the Magpie,” at first seems a little odd; I wondered why it wasn’t simply called “The Magemother.” But as the story progresses, you learn the importance of the two characters from the title.
There is quite a large cast of personalities involved in the narrative, but each of them is distinctly unique and endearing. The main handful of players are especially well-developed, but everyone adds their special lit bit to the development of the story. Even some of the personae that one might consider minor or even irrelevant, later prove to have a specific part to play.
Brinley, of course, is the main character, an adopted young woman of unknown origin, who is quite abruptly transported across space and time, to a world desperately in need of her help, although neither she nor anyone else knows that at the time. The mere fact that she was summoned by a calling bell intended for someone else lends a significant amount of intrigue to the tale.
Searching for the Magemother (who alone can repair some of the damage being done to the world), while also looking for her birth parents (especially her mother), Brinley ventures along with a rather odd assortment of traveling companions, all of whom prove to be quite helpful and necessary.
This book is classified as a middle grade series, which I would say is just about correct. There are a few dark scenes that are rather uncharacteristically and perhaps unnecessarily gory and gruesome, but the overall tone is hopeful and positive. Even if the general tone is a little bit younger, the tale has something for everyone; and the writer’s style just draws you into the story and carries you along for the ride.
I received a free e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The title of the book, “The Mage and the Magpie,” at first seems a little odd; I wondered why it wasn’t simply called “The Magemother.” But as the story progresses, you learn the importance of the two characters from the title.
There is quite a large cast of personalities involved in the narrative, but each of them is distinctly unique and endearing. The main handful of players are especially well-developed, but everyone adds their special lit bit to the development of the story. Even some of the personae that one might consider minor or even irrelevant, later prove to have a specific part to play.
Brinley, of course, is the main character, an adopted young woman of unknown origin, who is quite abruptly transported across space and time, to a world desperately in need of her help, although neither she nor anyone else knows that at the time. The mere fact that she was summoned by a calling bell intended for someone else lends a significant amount of intrigue to the tale.
Searching for the Magemother (who alone can repair some of the damage being done to the world), while also looking for her birth parents (especially her mother), Brinley ventures along with a rather odd assortment of traveling companions, all of whom prove to be quite helpful and necessary.
This book is classified as a middle grade series, which I would say is just about correct. There are a few dark scenes that are rather uncharacteristically and perhaps unnecessarily gory and gruesome, but the overall tone is hopeful and positive. Even if the general tone is a little bit younger, the tale has something for everyone; and the writer’s style just draws you into the story and carries you along for the ride.
I received a free e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2017
I really liked this book and hope to read the next two in the trilogy. I'd like to find out what Brinley, Hugo, and Tabitha do with the help of Archibald, Animus, and even Hadis.
This was a very interesting "through the portal or looking glass" type of story. Brinley, our main character, follows the sound of a bell to another world where she starts to find answers about her long lost mother.
You can definitely tell who the main characters or key players are in the story, they have the most developed personalities. Some of the secondary characters may take on greater shape as the story continues.
The story itself clips along at a nice pace. There are a couple point of view shifts as the writer focuses on the experiences of either Brinley, Hugo, or Tabitha. It's well thought out and accomplished without confusing for the reader. Book one finishes in a nice cliff hanger.
I had fun reading this and look forward to more.
This was a very interesting "through the portal or looking glass" type of story. Brinley, our main character, follows the sound of a bell to another world where she starts to find answers about her long lost mother.
You can definitely tell who the main characters or key players are in the story, they have the most developed personalities. Some of the secondary characters may take on greater shape as the story continues.
The story itself clips along at a nice pace. There are a couple point of view shifts as the writer focuses on the experiences of either Brinley, Hugo, or Tabitha. It's well thought out and accomplished without confusing for the reader. Book one finishes in a nice cliff hanger.
I had fun reading this and look forward to more.
May 16, 2019
I don't usually read middle-grade books and read this one as part of a reading challenge to read outside my usual genres. I enjoyed the story and wondered if some of the scenes were a bit intense for third, fourth and fifth graders. Then I thought about what I read at that age. My British grandmother gave me a series of books for young ladies that included some very intense scenes. (Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Little Women, the Little Princess, and more. I still have these books.) I was also allowed to read whatever I could reach on my parent's bookshelves. They didn't pay enough attention to the fact that I reached mom's height by 12 and could reach all the books.
Although this is the first of a series, most of the tension in this story is resolved by the end of the book. Enough is left to continue the story. The teenagers in the story all grow by the end of the book in significant ways.
Although this is the first of a series, most of the tension in this story is resolved by the end of the book. Enough is left to continue the story. The teenagers in the story all grow by the end of the book in significant ways.
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