What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Brew: Edge Chronicles
“WHAT A BLAST! Magical gang wars, betrayal, hard core battles, laughter (including my own - out loud), love, and death.” ~ GOODREADS REVIEW ★★★★★
Something bad's about to go down at a supernatural gangland summit. Being part Djinn gives Edge a razor-sharp ability for knowing what’s ahead. It’s why his gang, the Forsaken, is undefeated. But this time he’s plagued by a vague, supersized case of the dreads.
Sure enough, the brown stuff hits the spinning thing at the summit. The gang’s been double-crossed and Edge finds himself at the center of an ancient power struggle he never knew existed. Now he’s running with what’s left of his gang through enemy territory thick with bloodthirsty gangs of shifters, witches, vamps and demons hunting them for the bounty on their heads.
Good thing Edge has an angel sitting on his shoulder–albeit a depressed one–because it looks like it’s going to be a hell of a night.
If you like The Mortal Instruments and A Modern Faerie Tale, you’ll love this fast-paced urban fantasy.
Something bad's about to go down at a supernatural gangland summit. Being part Djinn gives Edge a razor-sharp ability for knowing what’s ahead. It’s why his gang, the Forsaken, is undefeated. But this time he’s plagued by a vague, supersized case of the dreads.
Sure enough, the brown stuff hits the spinning thing at the summit. The gang’s been double-crossed and Edge finds himself at the center of an ancient power struggle he never knew existed. Now he’s running with what’s left of his gang through enemy territory thick with bloodthirsty gangs of shifters, witches, vamps and demons hunting them for the bounty on their heads.
Good thing Edge has an angel sitting on his shoulder–albeit a depressed one–because it looks like it’s going to be a hell of a night.
If you like The Mortal Instruments and A Modern Faerie Tale, you’ll love this fast-paced urban fantasy.
- GenresFantasy
303 pages, ebook
First published July 20, 2015
37 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
T. Rae Mitchell
16 books348 followersT. Rae Mitchell is an incurable fantasy junkie who spent much of her youth dreaming up worlds and bringing characters to life. While most kids grow out of such things, T. Rae didn’t and she sometimes took playing make-believe a bit far. Like the time a wizard hid a bottle of dragon beans in the back yard and left her son convinced he could grow his own dragons. Needless to say, the beans failed to produce and disappointments were had. That’s when T. Rae decided to funnel her crazy imagination into writing. She has since begun her young adult series, Her Dark Destiny (formerly Fate’s Journey), which can be found on numerous Amazon Top 100 Best Seller lists, such as Coming of Age Fantasy and Fairy Tales & Folklore.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 5, 2015
I don't usually spend any time talking about the covers of the books I read, but I just wanted to say that I love the one for Magic Brew! The cover model is exactly how I would have pictured Edge and I like the mysterious element that the smoky font gives to it. Very cool.
I was a big fan of author T. Rae Mitchell's other novel, Fate's Fables, so when she approached me about reviewing Magic Brew I immediately said yes. Some background, in case you are interested: the author is a fan of the movie The Warriors, and that was a big inspiration for her in writing this book. I have never seen that movie, but I found myself thinking about The Outsiders a lot. There really aren't a lot of parallels there, it just reminded me of it because of the obvious gang theme and in both cases the members are so close they are practically family.
Edge is our protagonist. As with all of the members in his gang, the Forsaken, he was not full blood supernatural; he was half Djinn and half unknown. He wasn't sure if it is was his father or mother that was Djinn, but he was afraid the other part was human (known as "gullies" in the book, as in "gullible"). There are quite a lot of secondary characters introduced, especially the other members of the gang. They are all interesting and comprised of many different supernatural combinations with fascinating abilities. I had trouble keeping them all straight in my head; luckily there is a handy list at the back of the book that names each member and important information about them. It also lists all of the rival gangs, which is nice.
The main conflict begins when the Bad Hats, a gang of warlocks, declare that they can knock down the Wall, a magical barrier meant to keep supernaturals in New York. It was constructed by the Highborns (fae royalty) and Edge was a key part in the plan to take it down. The rest of the story involves Edge learning more about his parents as the Forsaken fight many of the supernatural gangs around the city.
Even with all of this action going on, it's not completely devoid of romance. Edge has a pretty tight connection with one of his fellow gang members, Nyx, who is half Unseelie pixie and half shadow elf. He also met a human girl, Sierra, who he immediately feels a connection with. She has a sort of ability of her own, which is part of his infatuation with her. It doesn't go much farther than him exploring his feelings. I was disappointed in the way he treated both of the women at times. I get that his life was getting turned upside down and he was confused, but that didn't excuse him in my book.
Magic Brew was full of action, suspense, betrayal, and loss. There were still some questions left unanswered that I'm sure will be tackled in upcoming novels. I think I'm most interested in learning more about Edge's parents and seeing what happens between him and Nyx/Sierra. This was a great start to a new series and I look forward to what comes next for the characters.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please visit my book review blog, Lucky Devil Reviews
I was a big fan of author T. Rae Mitchell's other novel, Fate's Fables, so when she approached me about reviewing Magic Brew I immediately said yes. Some background, in case you are interested: the author is a fan of the movie The Warriors, and that was a big inspiration for her in writing this book. I have never seen that movie, but I found myself thinking about The Outsiders a lot. There really aren't a lot of parallels there, it just reminded me of it because of the obvious gang theme and in both cases the members are so close they are practically family.
Edge is our protagonist. As with all of the members in his gang, the Forsaken, he was not full blood supernatural; he was half Djinn and half unknown. He wasn't sure if it is was his father or mother that was Djinn, but he was afraid the other part was human (known as "gullies" in the book, as in "gullible"). There are quite a lot of secondary characters introduced, especially the other members of the gang. They are all interesting and comprised of many different supernatural combinations with fascinating abilities. I had trouble keeping them all straight in my head; luckily there is a handy list at the back of the book that names each member and important information about them. It also lists all of the rival gangs, which is nice.
The main conflict begins when the Bad Hats, a gang of warlocks, declare that they can knock down the Wall, a magical barrier meant to keep supernaturals in New York. It was constructed by the Highborns (fae royalty) and Edge was a key part in the plan to take it down. The rest of the story involves Edge learning more about his parents as the Forsaken fight many of the supernatural gangs around the city.
Even with all of this action going on, it's not completely devoid of romance. Edge has a pretty tight connection with one of his fellow gang members, Nyx, who is half Unseelie pixie and half shadow elf. He also met a human girl, Sierra, who he immediately feels a connection with. She has a sort of ability of her own, which is part of his infatuation with her. It doesn't go much farther than him exploring his feelings. I was disappointed in the way he treated both of the women at times. I get that his life was getting turned upside down and he was confused, but that didn't excuse him in my book.
Magic Brew was full of action, suspense, betrayal, and loss. There were still some questions left unanswered that I'm sure will be tackled in upcoming novels. I think I'm most interested in learning more about Edge's parents and seeing what happens between him and Nyx/Sierra. This was a great start to a new series and I look forward to what comes next for the characters.
If you would like to see more of my reviews, please visit my book review blog, Lucky Devil Reviews
October 14, 2015
“Every time Zulu gets amped up, he finds himself a mermaid. I have no clue how that works, anatomically speaking. I guess since he’s got gills and webbed hands and feet, he has the necessary parts to get down with those fishy skanks."
Yeah. I laughed out loud.
Magic Brew is a fast-paced adventure with unforgettable characters and a strong narrative voice. Holding true to its name, it’s a kick-ass blend of every sort of fantasy creature you can imagine. A literary feast for fantasy geeks.
Fans of The Maze Runner will love this book. The interactions between characters created a similar sense of camaraderie that pulls you into their extraordinary world. The fantasy elements also reminded of a more mature version of the Percy Jackson series. (Complete with some pretty terrifying creatures of the shadows. And sexy pixies and black widows. I rather enjoyed those.)
Beneath all of this is a story of friendship, love, family, and self-discovery.
Yeah. I laughed out loud.
Magic Brew is a fast-paced adventure with unforgettable characters and a strong narrative voice. Holding true to its name, it’s a kick-ass blend of every sort of fantasy creature you can imagine. A literary feast for fantasy geeks.
Fans of The Maze Runner will love this book. The interactions between characters created a similar sense of camaraderie that pulls you into their extraordinary world. The fantasy elements also reminded of a more mature version of the Percy Jackson series. (Complete with some pretty terrifying creatures of the shadows. And sexy pixies and black widows. I rather enjoyed those.)
Beneath all of this is a story of friendship, love, family, and self-discovery.
April 5, 2016
I love stories with action and adventure, so this story was a huge win for me. Vivid world building and vast and varied characters combined with seemingly unbeatable odds turned this story into a thrilling but also nail-biting race/chase through New York. The magic and chaos were woven in with just the right blend. My favorite characters were Nyx and Pandora - two sisters with unique strengths and weaknesses who more than hold their own against challenges from enemy gangs and the super-powered (and super-troubled) guys in their own gang. Loved the ending!
March 27, 2018
Mixed feelings on this one. The characters are interesting and the author sets a fast pace, immediately starting in on the action and not letting up. But it needed a little more world building and maybe a tighter plot. All of this action occurs against a fuzzy background - I never got a really good feel for just what the world was like. The generalities are there, but none of the specifics that bring a world alive and help immerse the reader. The storyline also struggles a bit in the last half. There's all this frenetic action and struggle but... not really heading anywhere.
December 27, 2018
My cover looked very different, showing another aspect of Edge's power. It's on Amazon if you are interested in seeing it!
I really liked that the general storyline is modeled after The Warriors. I liked that there is a large showing of supernatural species shown throughout, many stories just stick with the basics (vampire, werewolf, elf). The pacing is decent. And the ghoul circus! My only real complaint is that there's not enough backstory or character development to really connect. It's a good story though and worth the read.
I really liked that the general storyline is modeled after The Warriors. I liked that there is a large showing of supernatural species shown throughout, many stories just stick with the basics (vampire, werewolf, elf). The pacing is decent. And the ghoul circus! My only real complaint is that there's not enough backstory or character development to really connect. It's a good story though and worth the read.
August 12, 2018
Inventive and Non-stop
This book has a similar feel to 'The Hobbit' in that the action is one thing after another. I read this book all in one sitting and I am EXHAUSTED!! This book has some fantastic characters to fall in love with (except Dianna - not sure what the point of her character really was); but I highly recommend you read it in small doses so that you can recoup the energy to read the next battle. The whole book story takes place in the course of one night.
This book has a similar feel to 'The Hobbit' in that the action is one thing after another. I read this book all in one sitting and I am EXHAUSTED!! This book has some fantastic characters to fall in love with (except Dianna - not sure what the point of her character really was); but I highly recommend you read it in small doses so that you can recoup the energy to read the next battle. The whole book story takes place in the course of one night.
October 13, 2018
Warriors come out and play
I know Ms Mitchell admits that the Warriors were the inspiration for this story, it does a good job standing on its own. At the end I coild almost hear Luther doong his taught with the Coke bottles.
I know Ms Mitchell admits that the Warriors were the inspiration for this story, it does a good job standing on its own. At the end I coild almost hear Luther doong his taught with the Coke bottles.
May 18, 2017
Sequel
This book is so interesting! What happens to his mother/father? Please write another book in this series!!! I cannot wait to read another Edge Chronical!
This book is so interesting! What happens to his mother/father? Please write another book in this series!!! I cannot wait to read another Edge Chronical!
July 14, 2017
Magically Delicious
Loved the story. Lots of action and tragedy. Would love you to write more Edge chronicles. He needs to save his mother and meet his father. 5 stars all the way
Loved the story. Lots of action and tragedy. Would love you to write more Edge chronicles. He needs to save his mother and meet his father. 5 stars all the way
December 2, 2015
Alright, let's get one thing out of the way up front. Yes, this is an Urban Fantasy version of The Warriors. If you can't get past that idea, this book isn't for you. Everyone else, you're in for a treat.
Even in a city overrun with supernatural creatures, Edge is special. While elves, demons, vampires, were-whatevers and the Fae are a dime a dozen, Edge is the only Djinn in New York City. Well, half-Djinn anyway, which means the Forsaken are the only family he knows. The Forsaken take in the rejects and the half-breeds of the city, those not good enough for the purebloods that run the other gangs. They have power beyond imagining, but also their share of weaknesses—both physical and emotional. And when they are betrayed by the one man they’ve trusted above all others and lured into a trap, the journey back to their home turf may be the death of every last one of them….
Like I said, this one was a pleasure. The world created here is imaginative and engaging enough to make it well worth overlooking the recycled plot, and every single character you meet is a fully-rendered person with their own personality, strengths, weaknesses, and desires. There's Edge, obviously, half Djinn and half mystery, reeling from having his entire world pulled down around his ears. There's Pandora, Nyx and India, three half-pixie sisters dealing with the effects of their other halves. Pandora is half Chaos demon, killing anyone who hears her voice. India is half succubus, driving everyone who enters her bar mad with desire just by looking at them. And Nyx is half Shadow elf, able to disappear and move unseen through shadows. Then you have Justice, half cherub and half Chinese Mogwai demon. I know, I thought the same thing...."You mean an angel came down here and ****ed that creature from Gremlins?" Turns out Mogwai is a generic Chinese word for demon, so that makes more sense. Less funny though. You care about every one of them. This matters, because as the body count climbs you feel each casualty as acutely as the survivors. Bottom line: if you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy (or The Warriors, for that matter) I cannot recommend this highly enough.
CONTENT: Strong violence. Some R-rated language. Strong sexual innuendo. Various occultic topics such as demons and magic, handled as fantasy.
Even in a city overrun with supernatural creatures, Edge is special. While elves, demons, vampires, were-whatevers and the Fae are a dime a dozen, Edge is the only Djinn in New York City. Well, half-Djinn anyway, which means the Forsaken are the only family he knows. The Forsaken take in the rejects and the half-breeds of the city, those not good enough for the purebloods that run the other gangs. They have power beyond imagining, but also their share of weaknesses—both physical and emotional. And when they are betrayed by the one man they’ve trusted above all others and lured into a trap, the journey back to their home turf may be the death of every last one of them….
Like I said, this one was a pleasure. The world created here is imaginative and engaging enough to make it well worth overlooking the recycled plot, and every single character you meet is a fully-rendered person with their own personality, strengths, weaknesses, and desires. There's Edge, obviously, half Djinn and half mystery, reeling from having his entire world pulled down around his ears. There's Pandora, Nyx and India, three half-pixie sisters dealing with the effects of their other halves. Pandora is half Chaos demon, killing anyone who hears her voice. India is half succubus, driving everyone who enters her bar mad with desire just by looking at them. And Nyx is half Shadow elf, able to disappear and move unseen through shadows. Then you have Justice, half cherub and half Chinese Mogwai demon. I know, I thought the same thing...."You mean an angel came down here and ****ed that creature from Gremlins?" Turns out Mogwai is a generic Chinese word for demon, so that makes more sense. Less funny though. You care about every one of them. This matters, because as the body count climbs you feel each casualty as acutely as the survivors. Bottom line: if you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy (or The Warriors, for that matter) I cannot recommend this highly enough.
CONTENT: Strong violence. Some R-rated language. Strong sexual innuendo. Various occultic topics such as demons and magic, handled as fantasy.
October 2, 2015
*************4.5 Stars***********
*****I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*****
There is SO much going on in this book! It's well written, action packed and the characters are well developed and interesting. This is a first person, Urban Fantasy and it's VERY reminiscent of a cult classic movie called The Warriors.
The abridged synopsis: There are tons of varying gangs in NY but the story primarily focuses on a gang from Brooklyn NY (coney island to be exact) that have to fight rival gangs in order to make their way back to home turf (the Magic Brew club). The MC is called Edge and he's the only supernatural in New York City with Djinn powers. He's part of a mixed breed gang called the Forsaken. There is a cornucopia of magical Creatures including: Djinn, Japanese Oni, Shinto Forest Elf, Mermaids, Zambezi river gods, malicious spriggans, an old satyr, Glaax and Azaug demons, selkies, goblins, warlocks, succubus, pixies, black widow vampires as well as plain old vamps, ghouls, Werehyenas, redcap bezerkers, cherubim, fallen angels, sprites, an army of undead with their necromancer and MANY MANY more. All of the Supernaturals "are prisoners of New York. The whole state’s fenced in by a solid barricade of stormy energy swimming with sigils custom-built to kill anyone if we try to escape. We call it the Wall". The warlocks are trying their dastardly best to bring down that wall and only Edge's blood and magic can help them achieve that goal. There is a bounty put on his gang's heads causing every gang in NY to gun for them. The race is on! Can they get back home and can they do it with their lives intact? Read it to find out.
I'm definitely looking forward to book #2 in the series!
*****I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*****
There is SO much going on in this book! It's well written, action packed and the characters are well developed and interesting. This is a first person, Urban Fantasy and it's VERY reminiscent of a cult classic movie called The Warriors.
The abridged synopsis: There are tons of varying gangs in NY but the story primarily focuses on a gang from Brooklyn NY (coney island to be exact) that have to fight rival gangs in order to make their way back to home turf (the Magic Brew club). The MC is called Edge and he's the only supernatural in New York City with Djinn powers. He's part of a mixed breed gang called the Forsaken. There is a cornucopia of magical Creatures including: Djinn, Japanese Oni, Shinto Forest Elf, Mermaids, Zambezi river gods, malicious spriggans, an old satyr, Glaax and Azaug demons, selkies, goblins, warlocks, succubus, pixies, black widow vampires as well as plain old vamps, ghouls, Werehyenas, redcap bezerkers, cherubim, fallen angels, sprites, an army of undead with their necromancer and MANY MANY more. All of the Supernaturals "are prisoners of New York. The whole state’s fenced in by a solid barricade of stormy energy swimming with sigils custom-built to kill anyone if we try to escape. We call it the Wall". The warlocks are trying their dastardly best to bring down that wall and only Edge's blood and magic can help them achieve that goal. There is a bounty put on his gang's heads causing every gang in NY to gun for them. The race is on! Can they get back home and can they do it with their lives intact? Read it to find out.
I'm definitely looking forward to book #2 in the series!
December 23, 2016
I loved it! It's like someone took a book about gangs in New York and made all of the characters paranormal creatures. What made it even better was that the main character was in a gang of outsiders comprised of half-breeds. Now imagine that everywhere the gang goes they're fighting a different gang made up of different paranormals. This is where the non-stop action comes in.
As a side note - Apparently, this is a story written by one of the characters from the author's previous books. I've gotta say that this raises my interest in reading that book as well. If she wrote a character with this type of imagination, it has to be an interesting one.
As a side note - Apparently, this is a story written by one of the characters from the author's previous books. I've gotta say that this raises my interest in reading that book as well. If she wrote a character with this type of imagination, it has to be an interesting one.
February 11, 2016
Magic Brew is the second book by T. Rae Mitchell that I've read. She has such an excellent writing style. Magic Brew is a story about betrayal, magic, and adventure. Edge was an orphan on the street until he was 9. Then a man named Maddox took him in and made him a member of his gang "The Forsaken". The gang was full of misfits and half breeds. One day Maddox betrays the gang and Edge has to step up and lead the gang while they're being hunted down by all of the other gangs in New York City. Edge goes on a journey of self discovery. This story has an amazing plot and clever twists that I wasn't expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2015
Magic!
This is a story about redemption and second chances. Edge the main character is much more than he seems on the surface. The different types of supernaturals were very interesting. The New York setting was very believable. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good urban fantasy.
This is a story about redemption and second chances. Edge the main character is much more than he seems on the surface. The different types of supernaturals were very interesting. The New York setting was very believable. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good urban fantasy.
April 30, 2016
What a blast! Magical gang wars, betrayal, hard core battles, laughter (including my own - out loud), love, and death. There is some great character growth involved in the book, even better it's with all the characters. I liked each member of the gang and didn't feel any of her characters fell flat. I look forward to read more.
September 24, 2015
This was a good story. Dark. Moody.
Paints a great picture of a New York City bubbling with paranormal activity.
Paints a great picture of a New York City bubbling with paranormal activity.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews