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Fairy Tale #3
A Kind of Magic
Dancing on ice …
The holiday season in New York City is supposed to be magical, but it’s not yet Thanksgiving, and what’s happening isn’t that kind of magic.
The fairy world seems to be bleeding into the human world. Strange white horses carry people into the Central Park lake. Children are disappearing from their beds. Unearthly snow flurries pepper the air while odd pockets of summer appear randomly in Central Park. There’s even a suspicious wave of injuries among Broadway dancers and ballerinas, who feel like they’ve danced all night.
Noticing this, outside enchantresses are converging on New York to stop what they think is a fae incursion. Sophie Drake knows the fae aren’t to blame, and she suspects that one of the enchantresses is up to no good, creating a situation that will put her in power. But revealing how she knows what’s happening would mean revealing her own fae ties to the anti-fae enchantresses.
Not that she has time to deal with any of this. She’s been offered a major ballet role in The Nutcracker – a chance to revive her dance career. She can’t miss a step onstage as she tries to thwart the power play and balance the realms without running afoul of the fae or the enchantresses.
The holiday season in New York City is supposed to be magical, but it’s not yet Thanksgiving, and what’s happening isn’t that kind of magic.
The fairy world seems to be bleeding into the human world. Strange white horses carry people into the Central Park lake. Children are disappearing from their beds. Unearthly snow flurries pepper the air while odd pockets of summer appear randomly in Central Park. There’s even a suspicious wave of injuries among Broadway dancers and ballerinas, who feel like they’ve danced all night.
Noticing this, outside enchantresses are converging on New York to stop what they think is a fae incursion. Sophie Drake knows the fae aren’t to blame, and she suspects that one of the enchantresses is up to no good, creating a situation that will put her in power. But revealing how she knows what’s happening would mean revealing her own fae ties to the anti-fae enchantresses.
Not that she has time to deal with any of this. She’s been offered a major ballet role in The Nutcracker – a chance to revive her dance career. She can’t miss a step onstage as she tries to thwart the power play and balance the realms without running afoul of the fae or the enchantresses.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2015
10 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Shanna Swendson
40 books1,135 followersOnce upon a time ...
A little girl learned to amuse herself by making up stories in her head. She turned everyday activities into exciting adventures, and she made up new adventures for characters from her favorite movies, TV shows and books. Then one day she realized that if she wrote down those stories, she'd have a book! But that was crazy, she thought. Real people don't become novelists. That was like deciding you were going to be a movie star. You couldn't just go and do it.
But, it turns out, you can, and she did. She realized her dream of becoming a novelist and seeing her stories in bookstores.
And then she started to wig herself out by writing about herself in the third-person.
This is her story.
The Novelist's Journey
As I said above in that bit of silliness, I've always been a writer at heart. My favorite way to play was to create stories and act them out with my Fisher-Price people, my Barbie dolls or myself and a box of play clothes. If none of those things were available, I could just sit and make up stories in my head. I occasionally got into trouble for being a little too creative, such as the time when I embellished a bit on my kindergarten experiences (where's the dramatic hook in coloring, cutting out and pasting?).
When I was in seventh grade and a bit old for Fisher-Price people, Barbie dolls or the dress-up box, I started writing these stories down in spiral notebooks. Later, I found an old manual typewriter, taught myself to type, then wrote a lot of first chapters of novels on it. I still hadn't figured out how to actually be a working novelist who gets paid for writing (finishing a book instead of writing a lot of first chapters might have been a good start), so when it came time to go to college, I went to journalism school at the University of Texas. While getting my degree in broadcast news, I managed to structure a curriculum that might also help me in my real career plans. I took fencing (which I thought would be useful for writing fantasy novels), an astronomy course on the search for extraterrestrial life (in case I wanted to write science fiction), psychology, interpersonal communication, and parageography (the geography of imaginary lands).
I got serious about pursuing my novel-writing ambitions soon after I got my first job in public relations (TV reporting, it turns out, would have taken away from my writing time) when I started joining local writing organizations and reading books on how to write a novel. Then I took the big step of registering for a writing conference. With the registration fee, you could enter two manuscripts in a contest that went with the conference. I figured if I was paying that much money, I'd get the most out of it, so I wrote two entries. At the conference, I met a real, live editor, who encouraged me to submit, and one of my entries won the science fiction/fantasy category of the contest. I hurried to finish the novel the editor had asked for, then mailed a proposal.
She ended up rejecting the book, but encouraged me to keep trying. I ended up selling that novel elsewhere, then sold two more books to that publisher before I had another idea for that original editor. That book ended up selling, and then one more.
And then I hit the wall. Due to a number of circumstances, some of which weren't my fault and some of which were, I didn't sell anything else for eight years. But then I had the idea that became Enchanted, Inc., I wrote it, sold it, and here I am.
Other Life Stuff
I think I need to get a few more hobbies or something else going on in my life that isn't related to reading or writing because currently my bio in my books is shorter than the "about the typeface" section. Yes, a typeface has a more interesting life than I do.
When I'm not writing, I'm most often reading. Otherwise, I enjoy watching science fiction TV shows and then discussing them on the Internet, working crossw
A little girl learned to amuse herself by making up stories in her head. She turned everyday activities into exciting adventures, and she made up new adventures for characters from her favorite movies, TV shows and books. Then one day she realized that if she wrote down those stories, she'd have a book! But that was crazy, she thought. Real people don't become novelists. That was like deciding you were going to be a movie star. You couldn't just go and do it.
But, it turns out, you can, and she did. She realized her dream of becoming a novelist and seeing her stories in bookstores.
And then she started to wig herself out by writing about herself in the third-person.
This is her story.
The Novelist's Journey
As I said above in that bit of silliness, I've always been a writer at heart. My favorite way to play was to create stories and act them out with my Fisher-Price people, my Barbie dolls or myself and a box of play clothes. If none of those things were available, I could just sit and make up stories in my head. I occasionally got into trouble for being a little too creative, such as the time when I embellished a bit on my kindergarten experiences (where's the dramatic hook in coloring, cutting out and pasting?).
When I was in seventh grade and a bit old for Fisher-Price people, Barbie dolls or the dress-up box, I started writing these stories down in spiral notebooks. Later, I found an old manual typewriter, taught myself to type, then wrote a lot of first chapters of novels on it. I still hadn't figured out how to actually be a working novelist who gets paid for writing (finishing a book instead of writing a lot of first chapters might have been a good start), so when it came time to go to college, I went to journalism school at the University of Texas. While getting my degree in broadcast news, I managed to structure a curriculum that might also help me in my real career plans. I took fencing (which I thought would be useful for writing fantasy novels), an astronomy course on the search for extraterrestrial life (in case I wanted to write science fiction), psychology, interpersonal communication, and parageography (the geography of imaginary lands).
I got serious about pursuing my novel-writing ambitions soon after I got my first job in public relations (TV reporting, it turns out, would have taken away from my writing time) when I started joining local writing organizations and reading books on how to write a novel. Then I took the big step of registering for a writing conference. With the registration fee, you could enter two manuscripts in a contest that went with the conference. I figured if I was paying that much money, I'd get the most out of it, so I wrote two entries. At the conference, I met a real, live editor, who encouraged me to submit, and one of my entries won the science fiction/fantasy category of the contest. I hurried to finish the novel the editor had asked for, then mailed a proposal.
She ended up rejecting the book, but encouraged me to keep trying. I ended up selling that novel elsewhere, then sold two more books to that publisher before I had another idea for that original editor. That book ended up selling, and then one more.
And then I hit the wall. Due to a number of circumstances, some of which weren't my fault and some of which were, I didn't sell anything else for eight years. But then I had the idea that became Enchanted, Inc., I wrote it, sold it, and here I am.
Other Life Stuff
I think I need to get a few more hobbies or something else going on in my life that isn't related to reading or writing because currently my bio in my books is shorter than the "about the typeface" section. Yes, a typeface has a more interesting life than I do.
When I'm not writing, I'm most often reading. Otherwise, I enjoy watching science fiction TV shows and then discussing them on the Internet, working crossw
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 8, 2018
This is a very good book, but one scene soured my mood (but not my rating). The "good cop, bad cop" routine in Chapter 19 was more like "boring cop, quiet cop." Seriously? It was a major disappointment. I was expecting much and received little: "Tell us what you’re up to." - "I do not recognize your authority." - "She’s not talking" I don't even have to think hard to come up with something better than that, such as an illusion of a big hairy wart on the tip of Alice's nose or some other magical mischief. This scene was even worse than putting the Borg to sleep to rescue Picard. It wasn't exactly a major plot point, but it bothered me for days as a read with greater scrutiny.
Other than that, it was a good read.
Other than that, it was a good read.
March 8, 2025
Another Shanna Swendson book that was really good. Sophie, who's turned the running of the Realm over to her Nana, has been asked to step in and take over the role of Snow Queen in The Nutcracker being performed at Lincoln Center in just one week's time. Sophie danced this routine years ago, but the director is in a real bind, their lead has been injured. Fate or something else? Fairy world and human world are coming into contact with each other, and the results are NOT good. One woman has ridden to her death on the back of a kelpie(a mystical creature that takes on the appearance of a white horse, but leads the unsuspecting rider into a watery grave). Other types of manifestations are showing up...naked ladies on the shore of a lake in NYC in Nov.? Our lead hero, Michael, needs to investigate. Thank heavens he's part fae himself, the other part is NYC detective. Someone is trying to take control of the throne of the Realm. Emily, Sophie's younger sister, just wants to get it on with Eamon, but he's clueless; Michael's wife has already decided that she's staying put in the Realm...so where does that leave him? Emily's leading man in this season's production of EMMA is really into her, I mean REALLY into her, like worshiping at her feet. Some strange things are going on. Sophie, fresh from Louisiana and arriving in NYC in Nov., Emily, Athena, Amelia and Michael all have to be on the look out for whatever is happening. Whatever it is cannot be good for the human world. Good story.
August 18, 2024
Normally in a trilogy, the 2nd book is the one I like the least. For this series, it was this book. I didn't like the direction Emily's character took, although I did like the development of the Michael/Sophie relationship. There were a couple of times that I felt like some of the drama was not necessary to further the story. I will say, I did not see the end coming. I thought it was an interesting twist.
While the book didn't leave on a cliffhanger, the door was left wide open for another book. Considering this was published in 2018, I doubt there is another one coming. I enjoyed the series enough that I would read the book if another one came out, but not enough that I feel really sad that it is over.
While the book didn't leave on a cliffhanger, the door was left wide open for another book. Considering this was published in 2018, I doubt there is another one coming. I enjoyed the series enough that I would read the book if another one came out, but not enough that I feel really sad that it is over.
November 1, 2019
I like her books. They are silly and frivolous but fun. I thought this was the best of this series. Not sure why. I just liked it better than the other two. Probably would rate it closer to 3 1/2. This one has more ‘sex’ per se though. And by that I mean that it’s mentioned and there are some make out scenes. All of her books (and I’ve read nearly all of them) have been squeaky clean and very ‘G’ rated. This one was more ‘PG’. Still very clean though. She’s a fun author if you’re up for some quick and silly....which I definitely was after having just finished Frankenstein. 🙂
December 29, 2019
I hope there are more books coming in this series as the ending seems a bit open for more. Another attempt at the throne is starting to get old for the Drake women, but they are up to the challenge. The only problem is the enchantress who's trying to take over. Aside from that Sophie goes back onto the stage as The Snow Queen and Emily continues her starring role in a musical rendition of Emma. All hands and paws are called to action in this book and a bit of romance is in the air as well. This is a fun series!
August 4, 2025
I'm not a big fan of this ending for the series. The author mentioned that she's still considering more books for the series, but due to cover art issues, hasn't been able to. This just left a lot of things very open ended, and seeing as this was published a decade ago, I really don't think we're going to get any sort of satisfying conclusion to a lot of the characters.
March 7, 2018
I kept checking and checking if this was YA. The writing and the cover say "yes," but Goodreads and my library holdings say "no." Did not finish--I even tried simply reading the dialogue because the accompanying narration did nothing for me. But in the end, I had to give up on this simplistic read.
August 27, 2025
Very interesting, but i really needed lot of patience to read.
Keeps moving from one pov to another, too many low key cliff hangers after every chapter
Which could be good, but i am frustrated...
But I very much love the story, The contemporary side of it an all!!!!
Keeps moving from one pov to another, too many low key cliff hangers after every chapter
Which could be good, but i am frustrated...
But I very much love the story, The contemporary side of it an all!!!!
August 3, 2017
Very good, but obviously not the end of the series
May 21, 2023
Loved this series and hoping for more!
September 21, 2024
I never felt like this story or series had a resolution thus leaving me hanging! It also left all the relationships hanging which just seems unfair!
March 29, 2016
Probably a solid 3.5. This has been my favorite in this series so far. Swendson creates interesting characters and fun worlds. The action and intrigue are always interesting.
My one issue with this series is her seeming obsession with virginity. It's just...odd. I'm not one who thinks books have to have sex scenes to be interesting, but just don't write them if you don't want them. The characters don't have to constantly mention the lack of sex.
Still, I very much enjoyed the battle on multiple fronts in this book and seeing Sophie balance the fae and enchantress sides of herself. Curious to see what comes with Michael and the development at the end.
My one issue with this series is her seeming obsession with virginity. It's just...odd. I'm not one who thinks books have to have sex scenes to be interesting, but just don't write them if you don't want them. The characters don't have to constantly mention the lack of sex.
Still, I very much enjoyed the battle on multiple fronts in this book and seeing Sophie balance the fae and enchantress sides of herself. Curious to see what comes with Michael and the development at the end.
April 29, 2016
Again, this is the same as the previous two books.
I don't know there's much else to say. If you liked the previous ones, you'll enjoy this one. If you didn't, you still won't.
Sophie is still the most pathetic "Princess" of all of the Fairy's history.
Nothing and I mean, nothing makes a whole lot of sense in this series. But it doesn't mean that it's not a decent listen. Suzy Jackson is awesome.
I don't know there's much else to say. If you liked the previous ones, you'll enjoy this one. If you didn't, you still won't.
Sophie is still the most pathetic "Princess" of all of the Fairy's history.
Nothing and I mean, nothing makes a whole lot of sense in this series. But it doesn't mean that it's not a decent listen. Suzy Jackson is awesome.
December 15, 2015
I was starting to get a little frustrated with the various characters for not sitting down and working harder to figure out what was really happening, but then the action picked up and things finally started going the right direction. The conclusion seemed a little rushed, but otherwise it was good. I would like more Marisol in the next book though.
August 27, 2024
Rated lower PG-13 for some sexual references. Not quite as great as the previous two (especially now that I’ve finally read the second book!) but still pretty good. Doesn’t tie up as nearly as the others, though.
December 11, 2015
I loved this instalment in the series! Some twists I didn't see coming and Sophie & Michael seem to be getting closer! Can't wait for the next book!
June 18, 2016
I thought this was the end
April 29, 2017
The fairy world is suddenly seeping into the human world, causing all sorts of trouble. Not even dreams are safe, as Emily and her costars discover. It seems as though someone is trying to frame the Fae and force a showdown between humans and fairies. Sophie and her grandmother must defend their rights to the crown once again, this time against a type of magic no one recognizes.
For readers' advisors: story, character, and setting doorways are all strong. No onscreen sex, violence, or bad language (maybe a mild curse once or twice??). Set mostly in NYC and the (fairy) Realm. Sophie and Michael's romance takes a small step forward. Emily and Eamon aren't as lucky: human/fairy logistics prove a substantial stumbling block.
For readers' advisors: story, character, and setting doorways are all strong. No onscreen sex, violence, or bad language (maybe a mild curse once or twice??). Set mostly in NYC and the (fairy) Realm. Sophie and Michael's romance takes a small step forward. Emily and Eamon aren't as lucky: human/fairy logistics prove a substantial stumbling block.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews