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Deep Magic #1
Deep Magic
Dear Author,
So strange to be back. Nothing’s changed. The same soft gold of the September sun against my face, the crash of waves against the sheer cliff face of the Welsh coast below my feet. Even my grandmother’s cottage, with the only half-tamed garden, is exactly the same. The only difference is she’s not there, not anymore. I’m alone in my memories of her… and of the mysterious boy I once met in the smuggler’s cave on the shore.
I told her of him, back then, of how he was a merman prince and I the knight of the garden gnomes. When I told her that she was the witch queen watching over the fragile peace between the spirits of the sea and the garden, she waved her spoon as though she was really one.
She was always like that, very accepting of me. Even when I came out to her, she never batted an eye, but said she loved me.
Every summer of my childhood was like that, until I moved to Australia. I never went back. Until I received the terrible news of my grandmother’s death, that is. Now I stand here, where I once did, waiting…
He is waiting as well? Or was he only a dream?
Sometimes I still see the twinkle in his eyes…
Photo Description:
A man sits alone in the long grass atop a cliff. His head is bowed, and he is oblivious to the beauty of the sunset behind him. The gold, orange, and red of the sunset fade into the calm waves of the sea beyond him. Superimposed over this are two men, one gazing intently at his laughing companion, a memory of lost happiness.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
So strange to be back. Nothing’s changed. The same soft gold of the September sun against my face, the crash of waves against the sheer cliff face of the Welsh coast below my feet. Even my grandmother’s cottage, with the only half-tamed garden, is exactly the same. The only difference is she’s not there, not anymore. I’m alone in my memories of her… and of the mysterious boy I once met in the smuggler’s cave on the shore.
I told her of him, back then, of how he was a merman prince and I the knight of the garden gnomes. When I told her that she was the witch queen watching over the fragile peace between the spirits of the sea and the garden, she waved her spoon as though she was really one.
She was always like that, very accepting of me. Even when I came out to her, she never batted an eye, but said she loved me.
Every summer of my childhood was like that, until I moved to Australia. I never went back. Until I received the terrible news of my grandmother’s death, that is. Now I stand here, where I once did, waiting…
He is waiting as well? Or was he only a dream?
Sometimes I still see the twinkle in his eyes…
Photo Description:
A man sits alone in the long grass atop a cliff. His head is bowed, and he is oblivious to the beauty of the sunset behind him. The gold, orange, and red of the sunset fade into the calm waves of the sea beyond him. Superimposed over this are two men, one gazing intently at his laughing companion, a memory of lost happiness.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
308 pages, ebook
First published August 8, 2015
492 people are currently reading
1041 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
October 6, 2015
I had major doubts about reading this. Three-hundred pages for a free book? Oh, come on! I was prepared to be disappointed but my god, it was beautiful. And I don’t mean that in a flowery, sunshine-y way.
Like the photo above depicting our regal sea prince, Myrhydion, and his noble knight, Oliver Evans, this book is beautiful but has a haunting quality to it – one which is eerie but not creepy. It’s like the book is enveloped by a lilting loneliness which I can’t put my finger on. It’s akin to a deafening silence – where the air is thick and your senses are hyperaware. The kind of feeling you get when you wake up to be the last person on earth and you don’t feel panicky. It’s pronounced and melancholic but not at all overbearing. There’s a certain placidness to it that anchors you.
And my god, it anchors you well. The story draws you in like the song of the morgen. It’s slow but steadily building to a crescendo of revelations. It’s a gripping story but heartwarming as well. There’s a lyrical quality to the way Olly delivers. The level of detail and care being given to the Welsh folklore was astounding and it felt believable. The same goes to the dialogue and conversations. It’s like being warped in an alternate universe where people are speaking in beautiful riddles. Many times, I got lost in trying to find the meaning behind them. But I found out soon enough that to enjoy this book, I have to acquiesce and let the story flow for itself. To just let my imagination run wild like Olly’s.
The girl put her hands in the pockets of her jeans. "Just because you look like you doesn't mean you're you. There are powerful forces out here on the edge of the land. Everything's not all it seems."
Her perfect composure as she made this extraordinary statement made me grieve. Not for Nan this time, but for myself – the younger self that had delighted in stories just as this girl did.
Beautifully spellbinding and captivating!
P.S. If that doesn't convince you enough to read this, then how do you feel about underwater blowjobs and underwater sex? Well, that certainly got your attention. And I'm not saying anything more. *Grins*
August 18, 2015
~3.5~
Mesmerizing and magical, seeped in Welsh mythology and mystery, Deep Magic is a unique story that makes the prompt proud.
It is, however, more myth than romance. By 70 percent, I was struggling to finish. At nearly 6,000 locations, it's a hefty read. I found the many side stories unnecessary and the plot too bogged down with secondary characters.
I smiled at the Vegemite challenge, and I liked the morgen's sassiness. My favorite moments were Olly's childhood memories: his grandmother, his prince, endless hours spent telling stories, and ginger biscuits.
The resolution with the king was confusing, the ending a little abrupt.
All frustrations are mine alone. This is a well written, original story, and a nice addition to the event.
Mesmerizing and magical, seeped in Welsh mythology and mystery, Deep Magic is a unique story that makes the prompt proud.
It is, however, more myth than romance. By 70 percent, I was struggling to finish. At nearly 6,000 locations, it's a hefty read. I found the many side stories unnecessary and the plot too bogged down with secondary characters.
I smiled at the Vegemite challenge, and I liked the morgen's sassiness. My favorite moments were Olly's childhood memories: his grandmother, his prince, endless hours spent telling stories, and ginger biscuits.
The resolution with the king was confusing, the ending a little abrupt.
All frustrations are mine alone. This is a well written, original story, and a nice addition to the event.
August 16, 2015
Slow, twisty story full of mystery, magic, and a warm feel of Wales. This Welsh person was left very happy.
--
This story has a timeless quality; stepping through myths, with a romance that'll form future fables. It's slow moving but never drags, there's too much character and mystery for that. It's hard to review because saying too much would spoil the magic, but for all the dreaming there is a measure of snark.
It's set in Wales and being Welsh I took a deep breath before reading but was smiling almost immediately, it was the feel of a warm cwtch familar without overwhelming. There's a smattering of Welsh all smoothly explained by the context and it was enough to feel right for me - the language is dying out but the odd word/phrase filters through. And the attitudes were so spot on in places that it made me laugh.
The Morgen, the cunning women, the tales, the longing and everything - this worked for me, I loved it. Well okay - except for the Vegemite/Marmite! That's YUCK!
--
This story has a timeless quality; stepping through myths, with a romance that'll form future fables. It's slow moving but never drags, there's too much character and mystery for that. It's hard to review because saying too much would spoil the magic, but for all the dreaming there is a measure of snark.
It's set in Wales and being Welsh I took a deep breath before reading but was smiling almost immediately, it was the feel of a warm cwtch familar without overwhelming. There's a smattering of Welsh all smoothly explained by the context and it was enough to feel right for me - the language is dying out but the odd word/phrase filters through. And the attitudes were so spot on in places that it made me laugh.
The Morgen, the cunning women, the tales, the longing and everything - this worked for me, I loved it. Well okay - except for the Vegemite/Marmite! That's YUCK!
August 15, 2015
Have you ever watched the movie Big Fish?
It's hard to tell where make believe ends and real life begins. That's Oliver Evans' dilemma. As a child, he spun so many stories of Knights and Princes, witches and fantasy, that he can no longer remember what parts of his childhood are real and what are not.
When Oliver was nine he met a crying boy in a cave. To cheer him up, he told him the story of how he was a Knight and the boy a Prince. They'd have many adventures in the following years, until at sixteen, they kissed. The results of their new relationship would become and all or nothing circumstance which would cost them both dearly. Now Oliver travels, never spending time in one place long enough to set roots. He's overcome with the Longing, and travels, searching for something, and not knowing what.
When he returns to The Llŷn Peninsula at the age of twenty-three, after having been gone the past seven years, he discovers there's truth behind his fairytales, and that now, more than ever, the Llŷn is in need of a Knight. And he'll discover that the magic is in believing, and that sometimes the unbelieveable can happen.
What this story is, is incredible. The author took an amazing prompt, and not only delivered, but created something vivid and magical. It's steeped in superstition, folklore, and rich storytelling. The atmosphere is so alive that I felt as if I was there, amongst the fog and cliffs. I connected with the dialogue and story, and was hooked from the first page. There wasn't a wasted moment in these 300 pages, and I savoured every one of them.
It's more than a story about a love that endured, or the Knight rescuing his Prince. It's a tale of Kings and water horses, the morgen of the deep, cunning women, and of a beautiful spot of land near the Irish Sea that has a history all it's own.
Have I convinced you to read it yet?
You should, because it's as engaging as it is unique.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
It's hard to tell where make believe ends and real life begins. That's Oliver Evans' dilemma. As a child, he spun so many stories of Knights and Princes, witches and fantasy, that he can no longer remember what parts of his childhood are real and what are not.
When Oliver was nine he met a crying boy in a cave. To cheer him up, he told him the story of how he was a Knight and the boy a Prince. They'd have many adventures in the following years, until at sixteen, they kissed. The results of their new relationship would become and all or nothing circumstance which would cost them both dearly. Now Oliver travels, never spending time in one place long enough to set roots. He's overcome with the Longing, and travels, searching for something, and not knowing what.
When he returns to The Llŷn Peninsula at the age of twenty-three, after having been gone the past seven years, he discovers there's truth behind his fairytales, and that now, more than ever, the Llŷn is in need of a Knight. And he'll discover that the magic is in believing, and that sometimes the unbelieveable can happen.
What this story is, is incredible. The author took an amazing prompt, and not only delivered, but created something vivid and magical. It's steeped in superstition, folklore, and rich storytelling. The atmosphere is so alive that I felt as if I was there, amongst the fog and cliffs. I connected with the dialogue and story, and was hooked from the first page. There wasn't a wasted moment in these 300 pages, and I savoured every one of them.
It's more than a story about a love that endured, or the Knight rescuing his Prince. It's a tale of Kings and water horses, the morgen of the deep, cunning women, and of a beautiful spot of land near the Irish Sea that has a history all it's own.
Have I convinced you to read it yet?
You should, because it's as engaging as it is unique.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
November 27, 2015
This. Is. AMAZING. A slow-paced, enchanting tale of magic and adventure!!! Gillian is the damn Pied Piper - I’d blindly follow her right off the cliff and into the deep any day.
August 19, 2015
Awesome read...
Loved the characters, their story, and the world they lived in. With an otherworldly feel, with touches of sweetness and humor, and with brilliant little details (Sir Spikesalot :D), this fascinating story captured and kept my interest through every layer, through every reveal.
A few small niggles, mostly how young the adult MCs seemed at times...and I would have liked more world building details like how the morgen age in the water, if they age differently out of the water. Overall, though, this was a delightful, engaging tale and I would love to see it continued, maybe with Duhywynt and Myfanwy? *crosses fingers*
Loved the characters, their story, and the world they lived in. With an otherworldly feel, with touches of sweetness and humor, and with brilliant little details (Sir Spikesalot :D), this fascinating story captured and kept my interest through every layer, through every reveal.
A few small niggles, mostly how young the adult MCs seemed at times...and I would have liked more world building details like how the morgen age in the water, if they age differently out of the water. Overall, though, this was a delightful, engaging tale and I would love to see it continued, maybe with Duhywynt and Myfanwy? *crosses fingers*
March 3, 2017
I really enjoyed submerging into this story of a young man trying to reclaim his past, of merfolk and mythology and a fairy-tale feel in a modern setting. There's a mystery, and plenty of adventure, and a slow human-merman romance, with some fun quirks and a little angst.
Oliver was always one to make up stories, and as an adult, he returns to his childhood haunts on the Welsh coast unsure of what he made up, and what he really remembers. His Nan is gone, having left him her solitary home, and he's a bit adrift in his life as he tries to decide what to do about her bequest. A few cryptic warnings and inexplicable events, and that niggling sense of memories he can't quite touch, pull him forward into adventure. And slowly, into love.
A tale about the power of story-telling, and the weight of responsibilities. The author creates some beautiful, atmospheric descriptions, interwoven with the fantasy plot, a bit of humor, and a solid resolution.
Oliver was always one to make up stories, and as an adult, he returns to his childhood haunts on the Welsh coast unsure of what he made up, and what he really remembers. His Nan is gone, having left him her solitary home, and he's a bit adrift in his life as he tries to decide what to do about her bequest. A few cryptic warnings and inexplicable events, and that niggling sense of memories he can't quite touch, pull him forward into adventure. And slowly, into love.
A tale about the power of story-telling, and the weight of responsibilities. The author creates some beautiful, atmospheric descriptions, interwoven with the fantasy plot, a bit of humor, and a solid resolution.
March 25, 2017
4.5 stars.
The ending seemed as tangled as Dewy's hair at one point, and was dealt with it the same way - cut short. But on the whole - pure magic. I loved it to pieces :)
And yeah, Vegemite... Rounding up to 5 just for that ;)
The ending seemed as tangled as Dewy's hair at one point, and was dealt with it the same way - cut short. But on the whole - pure magic. I loved it to pieces :)
And yeah, Vegemite... Rounding up to 5 just for that ;)
August 17, 2021
This was not at all what I was expecting and I'm not even sure now why I chose this one way back when this was first released as part of DRitC. I didn't even remember anything about the blurb, just the cover art, and I started to worry this was going to go into fae territory since fae and their brainwashy ways are usually not conducive to romance. But I was pleasantly surprised by what I got, which was a story about stories, steeped in Welsh mythology.
This was slow to start and it took me awhile to settle into the story, so much so that I was not exactly looking for ways to keep reading. But there was just enough promise there to keep me going, and once it started clicking at around 25%, it just got better and better. There were some odd jumps in the narrative, especially at transition points, and a few more details would have been appreciated at times especially
Ridi and Dewey and Myfawny were all hilarious in their own peculiar ways, and Olly was an interesting POV character, not too clueless but not too quick on the pickup either. The village where this takes place has a magical quality to it and is just as much a character as the people in it. I even liked the subplot with Harry and Rob.
While this was written for DRitC and is a complete story, the author did write more in this world. I'm not sure yet if I'll be reading any of those, as they don't follow the same characters. For now, I'm treating this as a standalone.
This was slow to start and it took me awhile to settle into the story, so much so that I was not exactly looking for ways to keep reading. But there was just enough promise there to keep me going, and once it started clicking at around 25%, it just got better and better. There were some odd jumps in the narrative, especially at transition points, and a few more details would have been appreciated at times especially
Ridi and Dewey and Myfawny were all hilarious in their own peculiar ways, and Olly was an interesting POV character, not too clueless but not too quick on the pickup either. The village where this takes place has a magical quality to it and is just as much a character as the people in it. I even liked the subplot with Harry and Rob.
While this was written for DRitC and is a complete story, the author did write more in this world. I'm not sure yet if I'll be reading any of those, as they don't follow the same characters. For now, I'm treating this as a standalone.
dnf
December 1, 2020(DNF at 15%)
i don't think it's anything personal, i've just been SO finicky with books lately. maybe some other time.
i don't think it's anything personal, i've just been SO finicky with books lately. maybe some other time.
August 19, 2015
Deep Magic is actually 3 books in one: it starts as some kind of old-fashioned gothic tale that turns fast into an adolescent adventure with caves and cliffs and treasure hunts and finding best friends in odd places (one of those adventures I couldn't read enough in my youth and probably still can't get enough just on a different level) to finally move into an urban fantasy with just so much romance that it doesn't disrupt its adventure character.
I surely enjoyed it so much because I find it so easy to identify with Olly even at that time he broke his morgen's heart and I simply loved those retrospective scenes with his Nan (can't tell you how much I loved those, Gillian, they really shine). When I wrote the prompt I had no idea about the reason for the move to Australia or why Oliver doesn't remember if his memory is about a real or an imagined friend. Here Gillian came up with a solution as simple and beautiful as it can be and do I have to tell that I left Deep Magic with the feeling that my one time vacation to Wales wasn't enough because obviously I missed places I have to see?
And of course as it is a youth adventure (although for grown-ups) there's a lesson-learnd: you don't need spells or potions to be a witch, telling stories and make people believe might do that magic too - and in that regard Gillian St. Kevern is a witch.
I surely enjoyed it so much because I find it so easy to identify with Olly even at that time he broke his morgen's heart and I simply loved those retrospective scenes with his Nan (can't tell you how much I loved those, Gillian, they really shine). When I wrote the prompt I had no idea about the reason for the move to Australia or why Oliver doesn't remember if his memory is about a real or an imagined friend. Here Gillian came up with a solution as simple and beautiful as it can be and do I have to tell that I left Deep Magic with the feeling that my one time vacation to Wales wasn't enough because obviously I missed places I have to see?
And of course as it is a youth adventure (although for grown-ups) there's a lesson-learnd: you don't need spells or potions to be a witch, telling stories and make people believe might do that magic too - and in that regard Gillian St. Kevern is a witch.
October 26, 2017
I won’t lie, this was a long book. I liked it, but felt that had it been condensed or better edited, I would have felt a greater pull toward the characters and their predicaments. As it was, i kept getting tripped up by all of their stumbling blocks and felt myself drawing away from them and their story.
The author, however does a lovely job of conjuring the Welsh coast and it’s tales. The story itself was unique as were the characters, I just think it could have flowed better.
The author, however does a lovely job of conjuring the Welsh coast and it’s tales. The story itself was unique as were the characters, I just think it could have flowed better.
October 26, 2016
4.5 stars. An excellent free m/m fantasy novel set in north Wales. Following the death of his grandmother, 23 year old Oliver Evans returns from Australia to his hometown of Aberdaron after a seven year break. Ollie begins to recall the mysterious young boy that he befriended in the cave on the shore all those years ago. Full of myth and magic, not to be missed!
maybe
May 23, 2016I more of a Marmite fan, but what the heck!
Holy Bookdoodles--over 110K words! *seeks download link*
Ms. Breezy-Cheezy, that is one sexy cover.
Informal Polling
Marmite: 2
Vegemite: 1
Double Yuck: 1
Holy Bookdoodles--over 110K words! *seeks download link*
Ms. Breezy-Cheezy, that is one sexy cover.
Informal Polling
Marmite: 2
Vegemite: 1
Double Yuck: 1
August 27, 2015
Warning: You're probably going to want to come up for air a few times while reading this. It's going to be tempting to stay submerged in the world Gillian's created, but don't let your lungs explode. Of course, if you're lucky enough to have a cunning woman on your side, by all means stay there. I know I didn't want to leave.
This is one of those books where the setting really is another character - the Llŷn is alive in a way that draws you in, making you feel like you're actually there. It's a place that can be beautiful, moody and mysterious. In fact, it's a lot like the morgen prince, Myrhydion, who loses his heart to Oliver Evans, a guy with a singular talent for telling made-up stories that happen to be true. Their quest to find each other again is exactly that: a quest, with all of the importance of an epic adventure.
But it's not just a love story. It's also a fabulous mystery that doesn't cheat - once you get the answer, you smack yourself on the head that you didn't pick it up sooner because of course that's what that was about. And it's funny, too - like, not just a little giggle here and there, but honest to goodness laugh out loud parts. Myrhydion especially is hysterical in his confusion at the strange ways of humans and his ridiculous sense of dignity.
So go ahead and take a dive. Just remember to bring a pair of earplugs and a jar of Marmite. They might come in handy if things get rough.
This is one of those books where the setting really is another character - the Llŷn is alive in a way that draws you in, making you feel like you're actually there. It's a place that can be beautiful, moody and mysterious. In fact, it's a lot like the morgen prince, Myrhydion, who loses his heart to Oliver Evans, a guy with a singular talent for telling made-up stories that happen to be true. Their quest to find each other again is exactly that: a quest, with all of the importance of an epic adventure.
But it's not just a love story. It's also a fabulous mystery that doesn't cheat - once you get the answer, you smack yourself on the head that you didn't pick it up sooner because of course that's what that was about. And it's funny, too - like, not just a little giggle here and there, but honest to goodness laugh out loud parts. Myrhydion especially is hysterical in his confusion at the strange ways of humans and his ridiculous sense of dignity.
So go ahead and take a dive. Just remember to bring a pair of earplugs and a jar of Marmite. They might come in handy if things get rough.
January 23, 2016
3.75 stars
I enjoyed this immensely. I love learning about other cultures in my books. The basis of this one is rooted deeply in Welsh mythology.
It's hard for me to call at least the first 60% of this book a romance. There is very little of it. There is a big paranormal mystery going on. I was enraptured reading it though because of the magical aspects being introduced.
I did feel that somewhere 60-80% it slowed down a bit. This was the point where there's a bit more romance in it as well. Maybe the shift from mystery to romance cooled my interest on the story. However, it picked up on the last 15% off with a great resolution.
Thanks to the author for writing this engaging story and making it available for free.
I enjoyed this immensely. I love learning about other cultures in my books. The basis of this one is rooted deeply in Welsh mythology.
It's hard for me to call at least the first 60% of this book a romance. There is very little of it. There is a big paranormal mystery going on. I was enraptured reading it though because of the magical aspects being introduced.
I did feel that somewhere 60-80% it slowed down a bit. This was the point where there's a bit more romance in it as well. Maybe the shift from mystery to romance cooled my interest on the story. However, it picked up on the last 15% off with a great resolution.
Thanks to the author for writing this engaging story and making it available for free.
February 13, 2020
Amazing read! The plot alternates somewhat between what happened in the past (with the MCs in their early through to late teens years) and the present - when Olly goes back to the only place he can call home to regain his fragmented memories and find the truth behind his deep longing for something or someone. The paranormal elements are sometimes a little hokey (I feel the bad/evil character could have been a lot more malevolent and nasty given my reading exposure to many other authors) but overall I would say charmingly done. I guessed a couple of the 'reveals' quite early on in the reading but was not too disappointed when they came to pass. Recommended to those who like the Tyack and Frayne books.
August 18, 2015
By far one of the best freebies I ever read
Amazing world and characters, really loved it!
Thanks Gillian St. kevern for this free book!!!!!
Amazing world and characters, really loved it!
Thanks Gillian St. kevern for this free book!!!!!
February 18, 2020
New to me author. This is a mm story with some Welsh fantasy thrown in. Mix Welsh fairytale and the welsh coast line together and you have an amazing setting for this story.
August 11, 2015
Oliver Evans is returning to the Llŷn Peninsula in Wales, where he spent summers with his grandmother, after seven years of being in Australia. She is no longer with him but has left her cottage on the cliffs to him along with some of his memories of that time. Memories of the stories he would weave for her, telling of him being a knight and her being a witch.
But things aren't what they seem on the peninsula, and Oliver is going to need to need to remember and find help to undo the injustice perpetrated on a family and to find out why he has been plagued with the Longing, the need to find and search for something or someone in all the places he has been.
This was a truly epic and mystical tale that kept me spell-bound for two days. Every moment I could spare, I had to read this story to find out what was going to happen. The story was so intricately woven it kept me riveted. There is so much to it. I loved the folktales and the mystical legends which are such a big part of the story. I was hooked from the beginning.
But things aren't what they seem on the peninsula, and Oliver is going to need to need to remember and find help to undo the injustice perpetrated on a family and to find out why he has been plagued with the Longing, the need to find and search for something or someone in all the places he has been.
This was a truly epic and mystical tale that kept me spell-bound for two days. Every moment I could spare, I had to read this story to find out what was going to happen. The story was so intricately woven it kept me riveted. There is so much to it. I loved the folktales and the mystical legends which are such a big part of the story. I was hooked from the beginning.
December 25, 2015
I am quite conflicted about this book as I must rely more on feeling than on facts to review it.
For sure it is professionally written and edited which is already quite remarkable in indie works. It also has a fascinating basic idea and its general plot flows. There are also several pages full of humour and/or well written dialogues and/or nice suspense. The Welsh setting is exotic enough to nearly erase the "urban" from the "urban-fantasy" which would probably be the aptest synthetic description for this novel.
What I missed was a tension, a sense of continuity and the ability to entirely drop disbelief.
Paragraphs, taken individually, are good but they don't always merge into each other. Many plot details remain vague so that several plot twists appear contrived and do not fit well into the general plot/outline.
I felt a sense of detachment that is not conducive to an entirely enjoyable reading experience.
For sure it is professionally written and edited which is already quite remarkable in indie works. It also has a fascinating basic idea and its general plot flows. There are also several pages full of humour and/or well written dialogues and/or nice suspense. The Welsh setting is exotic enough to nearly erase the "urban" from the "urban-fantasy" which would probably be the aptest synthetic description for this novel.
What I missed was a tension, a sense of continuity and the ability to entirely drop disbelief.
Paragraphs, taken individually, are good but they don't always merge into each other. Many plot details remain vague so that several plot twists appear contrived and do not fit well into the general plot/outline.
I felt a sense of detachment that is not conducive to an entirely enjoyable reading experience.
June 19, 2020
I enjoyed these immensely. The first two books were my favorite, but the whole series was amazing. Very different from my usual choices, it turned out to be the perfect comfort read, leaving me with all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings. Not to say there was no drama - the morgenau are all drama queens (well, except for Cedifor, who was super cool) - but it was mostly harmless, and the HEA was never in question.
I knew nothing about Welsh mythology going in, so it was all wonderfully new and unfamiliar. The author’s passion for the Welsh folklore was clear throughout the books, and it gave them a new depth. The world building was excellent, pulling the reader in from the very beginning. The love story between Olly and Myrhydion was sweet and beautifully developed, but it wasn’t the only focus here - the family bonds and friendships were equally important.
All in all, it’s a perfect feel-good series. A deceptively light read, but it packs a punch!
I knew nothing about Welsh mythology going in, so it was all wonderfully new and unfamiliar. The author’s passion for the Welsh folklore was clear throughout the books, and it gave them a new depth. The world building was excellent, pulling the reader in from the very beginning. The love story between Olly and Myrhydion was sweet and beautifully developed, but it wasn’t the only focus here - the family bonds and friendships were equally important.
All in all, it’s a perfect feel-good series. A deceptively light read, but it packs a punch!
June 16, 2016
A really lovely read, such a beautiful seam of Welsh folklore and history running through it. As well as themes of family, lost and found love.
Olly Evans wanders, not really realising what is making him do it and returns from Australia after his grandmother dies, and is reminded of what he thought was his lost love. Olly is a story teller and unknown to him, a witch.
Deep Magic is a love story, a story about the Morgen the magic people who drove themselves below the sea, a story about love conquering over evil, and about finding your roots.
This is not a book to skim, and there is a lot of lore, history and place names to take in, but it's so worth it, I finished this with such a strong sense of place.
Highly recommended.
Olly Evans wanders, not really realising what is making him do it and returns from Australia after his grandmother dies, and is reminded of what he thought was his lost love. Olly is a story teller and unknown to him, a witch.
Deep Magic is a love story, a story about the Morgen the magic people who drove themselves below the sea, a story about love conquering over evil, and about finding your roots.
This is not a book to skim, and there is a lot of lore, history and place names to take in, but it's so worth it, I finished this with such a strong sense of place.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2020
I loved it. Quirky, adorable, fairytale-ish, and a lot of welsh mythology. If you hate flashbacks though and/or looking for something with loads of steam, this ain't it boo.
May 6, 2021
I really love the whole high fantasy based on local mythology. However, I felt it could have been have as long and still give the same story.Too much filler.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2016
4,5 stars.
I used to get this really sharp tugging in my gut sometimes, a feeling that I'm needed somewhere else, but I don't know where to go. It made me restless but at the same time very much alive. The feeling had faded in my twenties, but when I was reading about the Longing here, in this book, it really resonated with me and added an extra layer to this book. Not that it was lacking in layers as it is.
I spent the last several days happily immersed in this book. It's biiig and full of magic. And I don't mean just spells and creatures, though there are those, but the story itself, and people in it, and stories that they tell themselves... it does create something bewitching. I loved how it mixed magical and mundane, when the story manages to feel both mythical and enchanting, yet modern and candid (where necessary).
The story is a bit unpolished: sometimes it was hard to understand what exactly was going on and other times something would came out of nowhere, like a remark too abrupt. Still, this book is definitely worth your time.
I used to get this really sharp tugging in my gut sometimes, a feeling that I'm needed somewhere else, but I don't know where to go. It made me restless but at the same time very much alive. The feeling had faded in my twenties, but when I was reading about the Longing here, in this book, it really resonated with me and added an extra layer to this book. Not that it was lacking in layers as it is.
I spent the last several days happily immersed in this book. It's biiig and full of magic. And I don't mean just spells and creatures, though there are those, but the story itself, and people in it, and stories that they tell themselves... it does create something bewitching. I loved how it mixed magical and mundane, when the story manages to feel both mythical and enchanting, yet modern and candid (where necessary).
The story is a bit unpolished: sometimes it was hard to understand what exactly was going on and other times something would came out of nowhere, like a remark too abrupt. Still, this book is definitely worth your time.
August 20, 2018
If you want to get swept away somewhere magical and charming, this is the book. St. Kevern paints the Welsh landscape in a way that pulls you in while she takes you on a sweet ride in an m/m romance that also teaches you a little bit about Welsh mythology. At the end of the book, I found myself desperate for more, and luckily, this book is the first in a series that enchants you just about as much as the song of the Morgen.
August 10, 2015
What an utterly fantastic story. I'm so in love with all of it... I don't think I'm actually capable of leaving a coherent review at the moment, but just...read this. Read this immediately. ♥
March 19, 2016
3.5 STARS
4 STARS for the mythology
3 STARS for the story
Great Welsh mythology story
4 STARS for the mythology
3 STARS for the story
Great Welsh mythology story
April 16, 2016
This needed a more streamlined plot with tighter pacing, but it had a lot of lovely moments and I enjoyed it.
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