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Mad Magic Saga #1
Mad Magic
Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn't get any worse…she meets the guy from across the hall. Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he must swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets. With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.
300 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
70 people are currently reading
1444 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Conway
40 books600 followersNicole Conway is originally from North Alabama and attended Auburn University. She is happily married and enjoys writing as a full time career.
Best known for her international bestselling fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES - Nicole is currently working on a follow-on series, THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY. Her other published works include MAD MAGIC, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS, SCALES (Releasing Spring 2019), and RENEGADE RUNNER (2021).
Nicole is represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel.
Best known for her international bestselling fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES - Nicole is currently working on a follow-on series, THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY. Her other published works include MAD MAGIC, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS, SCALES (Releasing Spring 2019), and RENEGADE RUNNER (2021).
Nicole is represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
January 4, 2018
Interesting premise spoiled by the “ick” factor of having an adult male bonding with a toddler girl and essentially waiting for her to get at least close to the age of consent before acting on it. Ick.
November 12, 2017
Nicole Conway was popping up everywhere on my radar, and I just had to read one of her books. Mad Magic is amazing and I am really hoping for a sequel. It's a standalone story, however, leaves the door slightly open for more. I need more!! I'm totally hooked.
Josie Barton doesn't fit into the mundane life. She is literally stumbling through every moment. It doesn't help that someone is giving fate a helping hand and tormenting her. She lives alone and things are definitely going bump in the night.
Josie lost her family when she was young. She has never met her guardian. All she knows is he will provide for her. She had an overly expensive apartment and wants for nothing. She doesn't even know her benefactor's name. She just refers to him as Ben. She spends her time alone. She doesn't have any friends, and even spends holidays by herself. She may have everything money can buy, but it doesn't give her everything she needs. She always seems to be in trouble at school and is on the edge of being transferred.
Zeph is her neighbour. He's older and tattooed. He is smoking hot, and Josie can't help but notice him. She knows his schedule, and even though he doesn't talk to her, she feels his presence.
Zeph is wrapped up in his own problems. He has some tough decisions to make, and he is running out of time. He needs to get his affairs inline before it's too late.
Everything isn't what it seems. Mad magic appears to be a little spooky at first, but as this tale unfolds we find good friendship and everlasting love.
This is a fantasy action novel with magic and mystery. I don't want to give too much away, so I'm going to leave my review here. You need this book. I would recommend it to fans of Cassandra Clare. This book was perfect for me and I wouldn't change a thing. 5 stars out of 5. Loved it.
Mad Magic is aimed at the Young Adult audience.
*I received an ARC of Mad Magic as part of the Chapter by Chapter blog tour. My review is honest and fair*
Josie Barton doesn't fit into the mundane life. She is literally stumbling through every moment. It doesn't help that someone is giving fate a helping hand and tormenting her. She lives alone and things are definitely going bump in the night.
Josie lost her family when she was young. She has never met her guardian. All she knows is he will provide for her. She had an overly expensive apartment and wants for nothing. She doesn't even know her benefactor's name. She just refers to him as Ben. She spends her time alone. She doesn't have any friends, and even spends holidays by herself. She may have everything money can buy, but it doesn't give her everything she needs. She always seems to be in trouble at school and is on the edge of being transferred.
Zeph is her neighbour. He's older and tattooed. He is smoking hot, and Josie can't help but notice him. She knows his schedule, and even though he doesn't talk to her, she feels his presence.
Zeph is wrapped up in his own problems. He has some tough decisions to make, and he is running out of time. He needs to get his affairs inline before it's too late.
Everything isn't what it seems. Mad magic appears to be a little spooky at first, but as this tale unfolds we find good friendship and everlasting love.
This is a fantasy action novel with magic and mystery. I don't want to give too much away, so I'm going to leave my review here. You need this book. I would recommend it to fans of Cassandra Clare. This book was perfect for me and I wouldn't change a thing. 5 stars out of 5. Loved it.
Mad Magic is aimed at the Young Adult audience.
*I received an ARC of Mad Magic as part of the Chapter by Chapter blog tour. My review is honest and fair*
January 13, 2018
I signed up for this blog tour as soon as I received the email. One of the lovely ladies, Jaime from Rockstar Blog Tours, read the book and loved it. AND DID SOMEONE MENTION HOT BOYS? I'M IN!
This book reminds me of The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black, which I read when I was younger - both books include faeries, mythical beings and confused humans. I find the faerie realm so fascinating. Also, Zeph, Josie and Eldrick remind me of the characters in the K-drama, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God! Zeph is like Kim Shin - he's stubborn but kind, and a really great person overall (also he's the Goblin!!! Zeph is a changeling - they're both mythical beings :O) Josie is like Eun Tak, who lost both of her parents at a young age, and soon encounters two men who has looked out for her ever since. Eldrick reminds me of the Grim Reaper, who always wears long black cloaks and seems to feel indifferent about Eun Tak's well-being, but inside, he actually cares about her and has a heart of gold.
Josie, the protagonist of the story, annoyed me sometimes. She keeps acting lovesick and pushing Zeph away when she needs him the most, and she's kind of an idiot. However, she has several admirable qualities, for example, she's really courageous and willing to risk her life for the people she loves, and she has a talent for casting spells.
Zeph is the definition of Tall, Dark and Handsome. He can be a jerk sometimes though, and keeps hiding the truth from Josie. I soon realized that he does that to protect her, and it's really heartwarming to see how much he cares about her. He even makes up little stories and accompanies her to school to make her feel better.
At first I thought that Camilla and Freddy are actually secret bad guys™, but after I read the part where they fight so bravely with Josie, it's evident that they really care about her and will never hurt her.
I didn't really know much about Jack Frost, since he is only vaguely described in the fighting scenes and Josie's high school graduation ceremony. Is it weird that I tried to connect him with Jack Frost from the Rainbow Magic series, and Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians? Lol!
And Eldrick! My favorite character from the story :) He doesn't talk much, but it's obvious that he's a softie inside. AND IT'S SO COOL THAT HIS FATHER IS THE BOGEYMAN! He drinks lots and lots and lots of coffee and criticizes the Disney Cinderella movies and omg I need an Eldrick in my life please. I'm glad Josie chose him to be the faerie king - he is the perfect candidate for the job.
Rating
★★★★.5
Mystery + romance + magic + action + I forgot to mention Hank but he's awesome too = THIS LOVELY BOOK!
I recommend this to fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God because wow, if they had a child, it'd be Mad Magic.
This book reminds me of The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black, which I read when I was younger - both books include faeries, mythical beings and confused humans. I find the faerie realm so fascinating. Also, Zeph, Josie and Eldrick remind me of the characters in the K-drama, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God! Zeph is like Kim Shin - he's stubborn but kind, and a really great person overall (also he's the Goblin!!! Zeph is a changeling - they're both mythical beings :O) Josie is like Eun Tak, who lost both of her parents at a young age, and soon encounters two men who has looked out for her ever since. Eldrick reminds me of the Grim Reaper, who always wears long black cloaks and seems to feel indifferent about Eun Tak's well-being, but inside, he actually cares about her and has a heart of gold.
Josie, the protagonist of the story, annoyed me sometimes. She keeps acting lovesick and pushing Zeph away when she needs him the most, and she's kind of an idiot. However, she has several admirable qualities, for example, she's really courageous and willing to risk her life for the people she loves, and she has a talent for casting spells.
Zeph is the definition of Tall, Dark and Handsome. He can be a jerk sometimes though, and keeps hiding the truth from Josie. I soon realized that he does that to protect her, and it's really heartwarming to see how much he cares about her. He even makes up little stories and accompanies her to school to make her feel better.
At first I thought that Camilla and Freddy are actually secret bad guys™, but after I read the part where they fight so bravely with Josie, it's evident that they really care about her and will never hurt her.
I didn't really know much about Jack Frost, since he is only vaguely described in the fighting scenes and Josie's high school graduation ceremony. Is it weird that I tried to connect him with Jack Frost from the Rainbow Magic series, and Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians? Lol!
And Eldrick! My favorite character from the story :) He doesn't talk much, but it's obvious that he's a softie inside. AND IT'S SO COOL THAT HIS FATHER IS THE BOGEYMAN! He drinks lots and lots and lots of coffee and criticizes the Disney Cinderella movies and omg I need an Eldrick in my life please. I'm glad Josie chose him to be the faerie king - he is the perfect candidate for the job.
Rating
★★★★.5
Mystery + romance + magic + action + I forgot to mention Hank but he's awesome too = THIS LOVELY BOOK!
I recommend this to fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God because wow, if they had a child, it'd be Mad Magic.
September 26, 2020
The relationship between the two main characters was disturbing. I always have issues with the very old and very young relationships. The author did have an explanation for that in this book that made it slightly less disgusting but the controlling nature of the relationship put it back into the yuck category especially because it is YA. It is on the edge of healthy/not healthy and the instant love, again the author had a somewhat reasonable explanation, put it in the not healthy classification. The young,love starved girl falling instantly in love with a controlling savior isn’t something I would want to share with the teens I know. The book gets an extra star for being well written. I will try other books by this author hoping to find a different love angle.
November 21, 2017
Mad Magic is alluring, dangerous, and magical! This one will take you for a ride through a stunning world of enchantment and Faeries! With plenty of twists and turns, excitement, and passion, this one is sure to impress all YA lovers!
Can we just talk about the cover for a second? It is STUNNING! I was drawn to reading this one by the beautiful cover photo, and the synopsis. The book had a bit of a slow start for me though. It took me roughly 50 pages to really get in to this one, but once I did, it was smooth sailing from there.
Conway did a nice job with building and creating this world where faeries exist with humans. It had a similar feel, and system, to the world of Shadow Hunters. It had an immense amount of imagery, and creativity, and felt almost dream like.
The plot was quite intriguing too. It felt slightly formulaic, as far as YA Fantasy reads go, but still had enchantment and originality. It also felt like it gather inspiration from The Mortal Instruments series, Blade, Twilight, and Supernatural. After trudging through the slow, and slightly confusing beginning, I fell in love with the story line. I really enjoyed the unexpected plot twists, as well as the enjoyable predictability. I also loved the characters and their nice personality development!
Josie had a few "typical YA girl" qualities, but also had a few strong qualities. She was a little naive at times, but also had quite a bit of intelligence. Sometimes she was a little too "lovesick", but other times she was level headed and strong. She had a nice amount of confidence for a 17 year old, and seemed quite mature for her age, when it was necessary.
Zeph was dark and alluring. He was mysterious and caring. He felt like a "typical" YA Fantasy love interest at times, but still had depth and charm that helped him feel original.
Eldrick was my favorite character. He was definitely dark and mysterious. He added quite a bit of humor to the story, and seemed to have a nice character transformation. He was full of surprises, and was so alluring to me.
Mad Magic held charm, humor, fantasy, and excitement. It was well written, and definitely drew me in to the world Conway created. It made me think of faeries in a different way, and had a lot of originality as far as magic is concerned. I am looking forward to reading book 2, and would rate this one 3.5-4 stars.
Thank you to Chapter by Chapter for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of the blog tour!
Can we just talk about the cover for a second? It is STUNNING! I was drawn to reading this one by the beautiful cover photo, and the synopsis. The book had a bit of a slow start for me though. It took me roughly 50 pages to really get in to this one, but once I did, it was smooth sailing from there.
Conway did a nice job with building and creating this world where faeries exist with humans. It had a similar feel, and system, to the world of Shadow Hunters. It had an immense amount of imagery, and creativity, and felt almost dream like.
The plot was quite intriguing too. It felt slightly formulaic, as far as YA Fantasy reads go, but still had enchantment and originality. It also felt like it gather inspiration from The Mortal Instruments series, Blade, Twilight, and Supernatural. After trudging through the slow, and slightly confusing beginning, I fell in love with the story line. I really enjoyed the unexpected plot twists, as well as the enjoyable predictability. I also loved the characters and their nice personality development!
Josie had a few "typical YA girl" qualities, but also had a few strong qualities. She was a little naive at times, but also had quite a bit of intelligence. Sometimes she was a little too "lovesick", but other times she was level headed and strong. She had a nice amount of confidence for a 17 year old, and seemed quite mature for her age, when it was necessary.
Zeph was dark and alluring. He was mysterious and caring. He felt like a "typical" YA Fantasy love interest at times, but still had depth and charm that helped him feel original.
Eldrick was my favorite character. He was definitely dark and mysterious. He added quite a bit of humor to the story, and seemed to have a nice character transformation. He was full of surprises, and was so alluring to me.
Mad Magic held charm, humor, fantasy, and excitement. It was well written, and definitely drew me in to the world Conway created. It made me think of faeries in a different way, and had a lot of originality as far as magic is concerned. I am looking forward to reading book 2, and would rate this one 3.5-4 stars.
Thank you to Chapter by Chapter for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review, and as part of the blog tour!
July 30, 2016
I can't wait for everyone to read this new urban fantasy by Nicole! If you like Melissa Marr, Lesley Livingston or Julie Kagawa's Fae books this will be right up your alley! And there's a yummy love interest!
October 15, 2021
Zeph is a groomer and there were several scenes in this book that made me physically gag due to how disgustingly inappropriate their relationship is. He admits to falling in love with her as a TODDLER. the way he describes her lips as a BABY and her tiny fingers grasping at his hand-- I literally nearly vomitted. (This is near the end of Chpt 12 btw). WHY??? I can't ask that question loud enough. Even if you want to argue that they have a Jacob/Renesme relationship...it was clear that Jacob imprinted on Renesme in a protective parental sense. Not sexual yet. That line was not clearly drawn by this author at all. Especially since they immediately start making out as soon as he finishes talking about how much he loved her as a child. I. Cannot. At. All.
If that one element went away, this book would have a solid 3 stars. Not awful. Not the best. Decently written. Interesting enough to finish.
If that one element went away, this book would have a solid 3 stars. Not awful. Not the best. Decently written. Interesting enough to finish.
November 23, 2017
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
Josie is tormented by invisible creatures haunting her apartment... and they even torment her at school making her an outcast. When things are at there worst... she meets Zeph, the guy next door who seems to know what is going on! Then she meets the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, a gun-slinging shaman and a bunch more, making her life a lot less glum... until her past comes back to bite her happiness in half.
Urban fantasy for me is like YA dystopia... there is a TON out there and you aren't sure how to find the good stuff... You know it exists but its hard with all the copycats muddling the genre waters. Well I'm here to tell you this is a GOOD ONE!
Ignore the cover, its not a BAD cover but it isn't giving you a clue about the atmosphere in the book and it doesn't make it stand out from the other urban fantasy out there... The title, again, is not bad but its not doing its job making this book stand out from the crowd... Sit back and allow this review to convince you why this urban fantasy is worth reading...
#1 - A Fae Back History that Works
I won't go into specifics because you learn all of it in the book but suffice to say that where the fae came from and why they are there works for me... I enjoyed how we learned about these facts... I enjoyed how they wove into this first book's plot (there is a 1 on the cover so I assume another book is forthcoming!)
#2 - Fae Characters that feel Real
The way the book is setup we get that there is something going on with Zeph. I enjoyed this development immensely! It really sells each of the other characters from Zeph's world. Because we sympathize with Josie and we believe in Zeph the other characters are brought to life! Seriously there are some great secondary characters to root for!! (Elderick is my favorite! He loves coffee, is a vegetarian and can fill in for a cuddly reading companion when needed (i.e. shifts into a large hound!).
#3 - Relationships that Bond Us
Have you ever read a book where the secondary characters just stand around? They have one tiny bit part to play... they bring an item or a piece of information then hang out until the big fight! That is NOT how these characters were. Josie interacts with all the characters and we see a relationship form. It isn't the most depthful but it did form this bond that supported why they fought in the end and why they were invested in the stakes!
#4 - Everything is there for a Compelling Urban Fantasy series
Why has urban fantasy become so popular? There is strong world building, that makes sense and has room to grow. Mad Magic, check. The MC is someone you want to root for... and their love interest is flawed but dreamy. Mad Magic, check. The secondary characters feel like a group of friends you want to be a part of... Mad Magic, check. And the relationships develop and grow over time. The start of that is here in Mad Magic, check.
So if I would continue to read this series, why only 4 stars?
The plot is loose... You are really keyed into Josie's personal experience and how she's feeling rather than specific events that are happening. The flow of time was also really loose, feelings advanced quickly and while explained later I felt the loose timing was to cover up thoughts of instalove.
While I really loved the premise, world building, and development of the characters it was all framed in storycraft that relies on telling. I enjoyed the narrative and i didn't feel it was info dumping all the time but if everything had been taken a step further with dynamic showing the story would have been more mind blowing!
As a Reader...
I felt like this world has a ton of promise. I enjoyed every moment of it... it wasn't boring (a mega crime in my book!) and I was compelled by the characters. Yes, there is the appearance of instalove but if you give the story a chance that is explained quite well... I can safely say this is quite a good start to a new FAE urban fantasy. Authentic fae and not vampire / zombies / werewolves crossed with the fae world but authentic fae! That excites me and I hope others give it a chance!!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Premise & World Building
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Cover & Title
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Development & Storycraft
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relationships
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Feelings
BOTTOM LINE: A New Authentic Fae Urban Fantasy Worth Reading!
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Josie is tormented by invisible creatures haunting her apartment... and they even torment her at school making her an outcast. When things are at there worst... she meets Zeph, the guy next door who seems to know what is going on! Then she meets the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, a gun-slinging shaman and a bunch more, making her life a lot less glum... until her past comes back to bite her happiness in half.
Urban fantasy for me is like YA dystopia... there is a TON out there and you aren't sure how to find the good stuff... You know it exists but its hard with all the copycats muddling the genre waters. Well I'm here to tell you this is a GOOD ONE!
Ignore the cover, its not a BAD cover but it isn't giving you a clue about the atmosphere in the book and it doesn't make it stand out from the other urban fantasy out there... The title, again, is not bad but its not doing its job making this book stand out from the crowd... Sit back and allow this review to convince you why this urban fantasy is worth reading...
#1 - A Fae Back History that Works
I won't go into specifics because you learn all of it in the book but suffice to say that where the fae came from and why they are there works for me... I enjoyed how we learned about these facts... I enjoyed how they wove into this first book's plot (there is a 1 on the cover so I assume another book is forthcoming!)
#2 - Fae Characters that feel Real
The way the book is setup we get that there is something going on with Zeph. I enjoyed this development immensely! It really sells each of the other characters from Zeph's world. Because we sympathize with Josie and we believe in Zeph the other characters are brought to life! Seriously there are some great secondary characters to root for!! (Elderick is my favorite! He loves coffee, is a vegetarian and can fill in for a cuddly reading companion when needed (i.e. shifts into a large hound!).
#3 - Relationships that Bond Us
Have you ever read a book where the secondary characters just stand around? They have one tiny bit part to play... they bring an item or a piece of information then hang out until the big fight! That is NOT how these characters were. Josie interacts with all the characters and we see a relationship form. It isn't the most depthful but it did form this bond that supported why they fought in the end and why they were invested in the stakes!
#4 - Everything is there for a Compelling Urban Fantasy series
Why has urban fantasy become so popular? There is strong world building, that makes sense and has room to grow. Mad Magic, check. The MC is someone you want to root for... and their love interest is flawed but dreamy. Mad Magic, check. The secondary characters feel like a group of friends you want to be a part of... Mad Magic, check. And the relationships develop and grow over time. The start of that is here in Mad Magic, check.
So if I would continue to read this series, why only 4 stars?
The plot is loose... You are really keyed into Josie's personal experience and how she's feeling rather than specific events that are happening. The flow of time was also really loose, feelings advanced quickly and while explained later I felt the loose timing was to cover up thoughts of instalove.
While I really loved the premise, world building, and development of the characters it was all framed in storycraft that relies on telling. I enjoyed the narrative and i didn't feel it was info dumping all the time but if everything had been taken a step further with dynamic showing the story would have been more mind blowing!
As a Reader...
I felt like this world has a ton of promise. I enjoyed every moment of it... it wasn't boring (a mega crime in my book!) and I was compelled by the characters. Yes, there is the appearance of instalove but if you give the story a chance that is explained quite well... I can safely say this is quite a good start to a new FAE urban fantasy. Authentic fae and not vampire / zombies / werewolves crossed with the fae world but authentic fae! That excites me and I hope others give it a chance!!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Premise & World Building
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Cover & Title
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Development & Storycraft
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing & Narrative
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Relationships
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Feelings
BOTTOM LINE: A New Authentic Fae Urban Fantasy Worth Reading!
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
January 8, 2018
My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! I haven’t bought it yet, but I will be buying this book.
This is the first book in this new YA series, and it is a full-length book.
Wow! This book is awesome! I couldn’t put it down! At the start of this book, Josie is tormented and feels alone. With the help of her neighbor, Josie starts on a scary and amazing journey. So many twists and turns, some you see coming and others not so much. I truly enjoyed this book, and the high school parts of girl drama reminded me of what I see at the high school. I loved this magical world, and I can’t wait for more!
Nicole Conway creates an amazing world that is rich and exciting! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
I highly recommend to all paranormal fans because you have magic, fae, battles, romance, friendships, and more!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! I haven’t bought it yet, but I will be buying this book.
This is the first book in this new YA series, and it is a full-length book.
Wow! This book is awesome! I couldn’t put it down! At the start of this book, Josie is tormented and feels alone. With the help of her neighbor, Josie starts on a scary and amazing journey. So many twists and turns, some you see coming and others not so much. I truly enjoyed this book, and the high school parts of girl drama reminded me of what I see at the high school. I loved this magical world, and I can’t wait for more!
Nicole Conway creates an amazing world that is rich and exciting! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
I highly recommend to all paranormal fans because you have magic, fae, battles, romance, friendships, and more!
June 25, 2024
2.75 stars rounded up
February 5, 2023
1.5 🌟
It gave me Cassandra Clare's books' vibes. Which I hate because I remembered :
"you're my sister," he said finally.
"My sister, my blood, my family."
"I should want to protect you" he laughed soundlessly and without any humour.
"To protect you from the sort of boys who want to do with you exactly what I want to do."
⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS here⚠️⚠️
And I wasn't wrong catching that vibe because the man she fell in love with is the man who took her father's role (i predicted that from the beginning by the way) and it's so disgusting because he was using her and playing with her emotions I just hate it. ALSO, DON'T PLAY WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS JUST TO MAKE A PLOT TWIST IT IS DISGUSTING JUST STOP! you even weren't enough with that you added a backstory to their relationship. HIM BABYSITTING HER!!! THIS IS SO DISGUSTING. And he was telling her about the time he was babysitting her and her brother and then making a promise with him to always protect her or something after that he said "this is the moment where you catch my heart" at that time I was thinking as she literally grabbed his heart out of his chest but no.. he said after that "I love you Jossie" LIKE WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHILE WRITING THIS??? HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS JUST A TODDLER???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no he didn't stop at that. THEY STARTED TO MAKE OUT. I can't explain how uncomfortable I was. Even Zeph's brother and his wife were Shocked that they have that relationship. But the author always mention that Josie WILL be 18 soon so it's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Yeah and let's not forget that when Josie found out that Zeph is Ben she just wanted him to stay with her as a punishment. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ASK HIM TO KILL HIMSELF, YOU IDIOT. AND SHE STILL WANTED TO GO ON A DATE WITH HIM!! SHE SAID SHE WAS GLAD HE WAS BEN!!!!!! SUCH A WEIRDO.
⚠️⚠️END OF SPOILERS⚠️⚠️
Anyway, in the beginning, it wasn't bad. But what got on my nerves was the narrator speaking to us in the middle of the audiobook!!!!???? She's like okay so here is a surprise I'm going to read Ben's emails with my normal voice and stuff. DUDE, I DON'T CARE!!! DON'T INTERRUPT THE BOOK!
The story is not bad not good I don't really know. I'm not into fairies and stupid main characters so maybe not my cup of tea. I don't know. But what I know is that I cringed A LOT.
It was funny to listen to this audiobook. It was long but I needed something silly and stupid to change my mood. Trust me, It's not healthy to read/listen to a book that has a vegetarian Fairy who is stuck with a creepy woman that stalked him for months. I finished the whole 13 hours cursing myself I don't know why I kept listening. it was torture. Still funny tho.
To be honest I think Eldrek's Back story and relationship with Josie were much better than Zeph's. if Zeph wasn't in the book I wouldn't mind I actually want Zeph to be gone because he is the head of all the problems in the book. If he wasn't there I bet the book would be much much much better.
If the author wants to rewrite the book I would suggest to make Zeph just a guardian to Josie. It will be more emotional and less awkward and cringy. She will see Zeph as a father and we will see how that father will sacrifice his freedom for hers. And admire their father/daughter relationship. Then maybe that wolf, Eldrek was it? Can be her lover or something. It will be much better than what we got in the book --> a friend of her father who took her father's role after her father's death and she fell in love with him and he is taking advantage of her love for him to gain more magic with small missions but at the same time not wanting to sacrifice her to that powerful fairy to gain his freedom back.
Last but not least, TEAM ELDREK!!
It gave me Cassandra Clare's books' vibes. Which I hate because I remembered :
"you're my sister," he said finally.
"My sister, my blood, my family."
"I should want to protect you" he laughed soundlessly and without any humour.
"To protect you from the sort of boys who want to do with you exactly what I want to do."
⚠️⚠️ SPOILERS here⚠️⚠️
And I wasn't wrong catching that vibe because the man she fell in love with is the man who took her father's role (i predicted that from the beginning by the way) and it's so disgusting because he was using her and playing with her emotions I just hate it. ALSO, DON'T PLAY WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS JUST TO MAKE A PLOT TWIST IT IS DISGUSTING JUST STOP! you even weren't enough with that you added a backstory to their relationship. HIM BABYSITTING HER!!! THIS IS SO DISGUSTING. And he was telling her about the time he was babysitting her and her brother and then making a promise with him to always protect her or something after that he said "this is the moment where you catch my heart" at that time I was thinking as she literally grabbed his heart out of his chest but no.. he said after that "I love you Jossie" LIKE WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHILE WRITING THIS??? HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS JUST A TODDLER???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no he didn't stop at that. THEY STARTED TO MAKE OUT. I can't explain how uncomfortable I was. Even Zeph's brother and his wife were Shocked that they have that relationship. But the author always mention that Josie WILL be 18 soon so it's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY.
Yeah and let's not forget that when Josie found out that Zeph is Ben she just wanted him to stay with her as a punishment. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ASK HIM TO KILL HIMSELF, YOU IDIOT. AND SHE STILL WANTED TO GO ON A DATE WITH HIM!! SHE SAID SHE WAS GLAD HE WAS BEN!!!!!! SUCH A WEIRDO.
⚠️⚠️END OF SPOILERS⚠️⚠️
Anyway, in the beginning, it wasn't bad. But what got on my nerves was the narrator speaking to us in the middle of the audiobook!!!!???? She's like okay so here is a surprise I'm going to read Ben's emails with my normal voice and stuff. DUDE, I DON'T CARE!!! DON'T INTERRUPT THE BOOK!
The story is not bad not good I don't really know. I'm not into fairies and stupid main characters so maybe not my cup of tea. I don't know. But what I know is that I cringed A LOT.
It was funny to listen to this audiobook. It was long but I needed something silly and stupid to change my mood. Trust me, It's not healthy to read/listen to a book that has a vegetarian Fairy who is stuck with a creepy woman that stalked him for months. I finished the whole 13 hours cursing myself I don't know why I kept listening. it was torture. Still funny tho.
To be honest I think Eldrek's Back story and relationship with Josie were much better than Zeph's. if Zeph wasn't in the book I wouldn't mind I actually want Zeph to be gone because he is the head of all the problems in the book. If he wasn't there I bet the book would be much much much better.
If the author wants to rewrite the book I would suggest to make Zeph just a guardian to Josie. It will be more emotional and less awkward and cringy. She will see Zeph as a father and we will see how that father will sacrifice his freedom for hers. And admire their father/daughter relationship. Then maybe that wolf, Eldrek was it? Can be her lover or something. It will be much better than what we got in the book --> a friend of her father who took her father's role after her father's death and she fell in love with him and he is taking advantage of her love for him to gain more magic with small missions but at the same time not wanting to sacrifice her to that powerful fairy to gain his freedom back.
Last but not least, TEAM ELDREK!!
November 14, 2017
(
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review
)
Mad magic by Nicole Conway was a epic magical, action packed ride that had me hooked from start to finish.
I finished this book in a day, I couldn't stop reading. The flow was smooth, the plot stayed on point and I felt that this story, tied up it's major plot question at the end; leaving the ending open just enough for a sequel.
Now I did have one problem with the story. It it has to do with the noticeable age difference. Now I get that Zeph is not human, and he doesn't age the same as humans, but that wasn't the issue. It was how he looked like he was in his mid 20's. Josie being only 17, made this pairing uncomfortable with me. It didn't help that it was repeatedly brought up, as if to drive the point home that he was an adult. It was a bit of a turn off at first, because I didn't want them as a couple. ( Towards the end, they grow on me) I've never been fan of these types of paring's for YA. Even if she turned 18 in the story, and was legal; I still felt like it was a bit much. (These another bit that comes out towards the end that really, really, was a nope for me.. but I won't tell you that.. No spoilers here)
Now you might feel like that one problem would ruin the whole story, and you're probably wondering why I still gave it a five star, well because this is a freaking amazing story. Josie, though started out like other YA heroine's (useless), she stepped up, she didn't want to be a damsel in distress, and actually took it upon herself to learn how to use her powers. She put time and energy, and strived to perfect for craft. She developed a plan, reached out for help when things got to deep, she didn't go in alone. She used her head, she not only saved herself but she saved the ones that she loved. That my friends is why this is a 5 star. Our heroine, was an actual freaking heroine. She didn't stand in the background like a lump, she was in the action, she got hurt, bleed and she stepped the f*** up.
There is also no love triangle, there could have been, the set up was there, but I'm delighted that the author took the unbeaten path and opted out. She created a true friendship, build on leaning how to trust, forgive and platonic love. It was sweet, and it made me feel a gushy on the inside, because it was true connection. It also paved the way to the epic ending.
That ending! What at battle, it was so well written and choreographed. I could see the action like a movie. It had ups downs, and it was explosive. For a minute I wasn't sure how they were going to pull it off. But like I said, Josie stepped the F*** up.
I highly recommend this truly stunning work of fiction. This book is everything done right, how YA should be written. It broke away form the overused cliché's, troupes, and scripted nonsensical filler. It was a well-rounded story that kept your attention, kept you guessing. It's more then a page turner, it's a legendary journey that will suck you in body and soul.
Happy Reading.
E.A. Walsh
Mad magic by Nicole Conway was a epic magical, action packed ride that had me hooked from start to finish.
I finished this book in a day, I couldn't stop reading. The flow was smooth, the plot stayed on point and I felt that this story, tied up it's major plot question at the end; leaving the ending open just enough for a sequel.
Now I did have one problem with the story. It it has to do with the noticeable age difference. Now I get that Zeph is not human, and he doesn't age the same as humans, but that wasn't the issue. It was how he looked like he was in his mid 20's. Josie being only 17, made this pairing uncomfortable with me. It didn't help that it was repeatedly brought up, as if to drive the point home that he was an adult. It was a bit of a turn off at first, because I didn't want them as a couple. ( Towards the end, they grow on me) I've never been fan of these types of paring's for YA. Even if she turned 18 in the story, and was legal; I still felt like it was a bit much. (These another bit that comes out towards the end that really, really, was a nope for me.. but I won't tell you that.. No spoilers here)
Now you might feel like that one problem would ruin the whole story, and you're probably wondering why I still gave it a five star, well because this is a freaking amazing story. Josie, though started out like other YA heroine's (useless), she stepped up, she didn't want to be a damsel in distress, and actually took it upon herself to learn how to use her powers. She put time and energy, and strived to perfect for craft. She developed a plan, reached out for help when things got to deep, she didn't go in alone. She used her head, she not only saved herself but she saved the ones that she loved. That my friends is why this is a 5 star. Our heroine, was an actual freaking heroine. She didn't stand in the background like a lump, she was in the action, she got hurt, bleed and she stepped the f*** up.
There is also no love triangle, there could have been, the set up was there, but I'm delighted that the author took the unbeaten path and opted out. She created a true friendship, build on leaning how to trust, forgive and platonic love. It was sweet, and it made me feel a gushy on the inside, because it was true connection. It also paved the way to the epic ending.
That ending! What at battle, it was so well written and choreographed. I could see the action like a movie. It had ups downs, and it was explosive. For a minute I wasn't sure how they were going to pull it off. But like I said, Josie stepped the F*** up.
I highly recommend this truly stunning work of fiction. This book is everything done right, how YA should be written. It broke away form the overused cliché's, troupes, and scripted nonsensical filler. It was a well-rounded story that kept your attention, kept you guessing. It's more then a page turner, it's a legendary journey that will suck you in body and soul.
Happy Reading.
E.A. Walsh
August 3, 2022
This could have been such a good storyline without all the grooming and manipulation. Dear authors, please stop creating stories were an older character has a “connection” with the main character at a young age then pursues them and manipulates them once they’re older. Giving it a name like heart string or imprint doesn’t change how creepy that it. That’s not romantic that’s abuse.
November 30, 2017
Same Review Also Published On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
Mad Magic was a super fun urban fantasy read with intriguing plot and interesting characters. I totally fell for this book when I first read its synopsis and I knew I had to read it because it has fae and other mythical creatures. I'm total sucker for fae books. The story has captivated me from the start and it was even better than I had expected. It was a perfect entertainer filled with magic, romance, action, and handsome faeries. I haven't read Nicole Conway's Dragon Rider series but this was pretty good and definitely a great start for a new series. Although I had some few issues, I immensely enjoyed reading it. The author was very creative and she has done a great job in weaving this story. I really can't wait to know what she has in store for us next.
The story follows a seventeen year old high school student Josie Barton whose parents has been died when she was young. She's been taken care by an anonymous guardian named Ben. She's always a social pariah in her school because of her weird hallucinations of monsters which always gets her into trouble. Something invisible haunts her Apartment but Josie can't tell anyone about it because she didn't want to end up in a mental asylum. When something invisible attacks her, her handsome neighbor across the hall comes to her rescue. Josie finally learns that the monsters she's been hallucinating are actually real and the guy named Zeph who came to her rescue wasn't even human. Zeph Clemmont is a changeling who's been fighting a curse that threatens to end his life. He works as a bounty hunter for a shaman and he's surrounded by so many enemies. He leads a dangerous life and he doesn't want to drag Josie into it but when a powerful evil faerie brings a huge threat to both faerie and human realm, Josie, Zeph and an unlikely ally team up together to defeat him.
I loved all the characters in the book! Josie isn't really my favorite protagonist but I did enjoyed her character. She's vulnerable yet strong. At the beginning, she did seemed like any other typical YA heroine but eventually I found myself liking her. I loved her character development. She's started as a weak and naive character but she doesn't want to be a useless damsel in distress so she struggles hard to become strong. Zeph is a mysterious and captivating character. I loved his fun attitude and cool personality. He has some beautiful magical runes on his body which glows whenever he uses his power. He loves honey, he turns into a crazy fae in front of a honey bottle. He's very protective of Josie and he wouldn't mind sacrificing his life to save her. There's also another handsome fae named Eldrick. He's a Prince of Nightmares and also one heck of a swoon worthy guy. I absolutely loved his character because I'm into broody guys. He doesn't trust humans because of his bitter experience with them in the past. He mostly keeps to himself, and he loves food and coffee. There's also an interesting side character named Hank who's a shaman. He's owner of a bar and also Zeph's boss. As for the relationships, I enjoyed the romance between Zeph and Josie but it looked kinda insta-love-ish because they both develop feelings for each other pretty quickly. I didn't minded the age gap between them but some readers might feel a bit uncomfortable with a seventeen year old girl with a guy who's somewhere in his mid twenties. I also enjoyed the friendship between Eldrick and Josie and how they grew to trust each other. I loved their every interaction and Eldrick definitely makes a great roommate. There's no triangle in this book but I thought there's going to be one. The faerie villain in this book looks totally alluring on the outside but inside he's totally evil.
The plot was very interesting and engaging! Even though some parts were predictable, It was a well written plot. The story moved in a fast pace. From the start, I was hooked to the plot and it never left me bored. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns, and also the action in the second half. This was my first book by Nicole Conway and I loved her writing style. The whole book was told from Josie's first person POV. The world building was pretty great. Nicole created a modern world where mythical creatures from faerie world lives alongside humans. The entire book was set in human world but I was hoping for a glimpse into a faerie realm. I loved the magical system in this book especially the intricate spellworks and how they work.
Overall, I loved this book and every aspect of it. It might not be a total perfection but it was a great read. It has intriguing characters, great character/plot development, interesting magical system, and kickass action. There's no cliffhanger at the end but I'm still very eager to read the next book.
Mad Magic was a super fun urban fantasy read with intriguing plot and interesting characters. I totally fell for this book when I first read its synopsis and I knew I had to read it because it has fae and other mythical creatures. I'm total sucker for fae books. The story has captivated me from the start and it was even better than I had expected. It was a perfect entertainer filled with magic, romance, action, and handsome faeries. I haven't read Nicole Conway's Dragon Rider series but this was pretty good and definitely a great start for a new series. Although I had some few issues, I immensely enjoyed reading it. The author was very creative and she has done a great job in weaving this story. I really can't wait to know what she has in store for us next.
The story follows a seventeen year old high school student Josie Barton whose parents has been died when she was young. She's been taken care by an anonymous guardian named Ben. She's always a social pariah in her school because of her weird hallucinations of monsters which always gets her into trouble. Something invisible haunts her Apartment but Josie can't tell anyone about it because she didn't want to end up in a mental asylum. When something invisible attacks her, her handsome neighbor across the hall comes to her rescue. Josie finally learns that the monsters she's been hallucinating are actually real and the guy named Zeph who came to her rescue wasn't even human. Zeph Clemmont is a changeling who's been fighting a curse that threatens to end his life. He works as a bounty hunter for a shaman and he's surrounded by so many enemies. He leads a dangerous life and he doesn't want to drag Josie into it but when a powerful evil faerie brings a huge threat to both faerie and human realm, Josie, Zeph and an unlikely ally team up together to defeat him.
I loved all the characters in the book! Josie isn't really my favorite protagonist but I did enjoyed her character. She's vulnerable yet strong. At the beginning, she did seemed like any other typical YA heroine but eventually I found myself liking her. I loved her character development. She's started as a weak and naive character but she doesn't want to be a useless damsel in distress so she struggles hard to become strong. Zeph is a mysterious and captivating character. I loved his fun attitude and cool personality. He has some beautiful magical runes on his body which glows whenever he uses his power. He loves honey, he turns into a crazy fae in front of a honey bottle. He's very protective of Josie and he wouldn't mind sacrificing his life to save her. There's also another handsome fae named Eldrick. He's a Prince of Nightmares and also one heck of a swoon worthy guy. I absolutely loved his character because I'm into broody guys. He doesn't trust humans because of his bitter experience with them in the past. He mostly keeps to himself, and he loves food and coffee. There's also an interesting side character named Hank who's a shaman. He's owner of a bar and also Zeph's boss. As for the relationships, I enjoyed the romance between Zeph and Josie but it looked kinda insta-love-ish because they both develop feelings for each other pretty quickly. I didn't minded the age gap between them but some readers might feel a bit uncomfortable with a seventeen year old girl with a guy who's somewhere in his mid twenties. I also enjoyed the friendship between Eldrick and Josie and how they grew to trust each other. I loved their every interaction and Eldrick definitely makes a great roommate. There's no triangle in this book but I thought there's going to be one. The faerie villain in this book looks totally alluring on the outside but inside he's totally evil.
The plot was very interesting and engaging! Even though some parts were predictable, It was a well written plot. The story moved in a fast pace. From the start, I was hooked to the plot and it never left me bored. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns, and also the action in the second half. This was my first book by Nicole Conway and I loved her writing style. The whole book was told from Josie's first person POV. The world building was pretty great. Nicole created a modern world where mythical creatures from faerie world lives alongside humans. The entire book was set in human world but I was hoping for a glimpse into a faerie realm. I loved the magical system in this book especially the intricate spellworks and how they work.
Overall, I loved this book and every aspect of it. It might not be a total perfection but it was a great read. It has intriguing characters, great character/plot development, interesting magical system, and kickass action. There's no cliffhanger at the end but I'm still very eager to read the next book.
January 2, 2018
This surprised me in a good way! I'm working on my review now as part of Rockstar Book Tours so stay tuned.
--------------
This book pleasantly surprised me! This story was packed full of romance, danger, evil villains, magic (so much magic...), and attractive fae. I'm quickly finding my place in the fantasy-reading population and therefore found myself enjoying this more than I thought I would.
I really liked the characters and felt they were very well developed and complex. Josie, the protagonist, was living a life where she was constantly getting in trouble for things that either were not her fault or out of her control. She lived in a world where she was being tormented by invisible creatures. Things went sideways when she met Zeph, the handsome bad boy across the hall from her haunted apartment. Zeph is the typical swagger filled handsome dreamboat dripping with "I'm nothing but trouble" from every inch of him. Did that stop Josie? NOPE. These two were so much fun to read! Josie tried to ignore her feelings for Zeph but when his secret was revealed, everything just got more complicated. Things get more complicated when Eldrick is introduced into the story. Eldrick was your standard swoon-worthy tall drink of water with just enough mystery to make a girl forget who she is. The adventure that lies ahead of these three is one you just have to read for yourself. With the help of Zeph and Eldrick, Josie discovered who she was supposed to be and her place in her crazy life.
There was not a moment of this story where I was bored or skimming just to finish. This held my attention and left me wanting more from this author. There is a huge battle at the end that let my head spinning, but know it was in a good way.
I'm trying so hard not to give anything away! Keeping spoilers out of this review is tough, let me tell you. Please add this to your TBR if it isn't already there. Great characters, engaging plot, and twists & turns everywhere. It really is a must read for fantasy lovers.
--------------
This book pleasantly surprised me! This story was packed full of romance, danger, evil villains, magic (so much magic...), and attractive fae. I'm quickly finding my place in the fantasy-reading population and therefore found myself enjoying this more than I thought I would.
I really liked the characters and felt they were very well developed and complex. Josie, the protagonist, was living a life where she was constantly getting in trouble for things that either were not her fault or out of her control. She lived in a world where she was being tormented by invisible creatures. Things went sideways when she met Zeph, the handsome bad boy across the hall from her haunted apartment. Zeph is the typical swagger filled handsome dreamboat dripping with "I'm nothing but trouble" from every inch of him. Did that stop Josie? NOPE. These two were so much fun to read! Josie tried to ignore her feelings for Zeph but when his secret was revealed, everything just got more complicated. Things get more complicated when Eldrick is introduced into the story. Eldrick was your standard swoon-worthy tall drink of water with just enough mystery to make a girl forget who she is. The adventure that lies ahead of these three is one you just have to read for yourself. With the help of Zeph and Eldrick, Josie discovered who she was supposed to be and her place in her crazy life.
There was not a moment of this story where I was bored or skimming just to finish. This held my attention and left me wanting more from this author. There is a huge battle at the end that let my head spinning, but know it was in a good way.
I'm trying so hard not to give anything away! Keeping spoilers out of this review is tough, let me tell you. Please add this to your TBR if it isn't already there. Great characters, engaging plot, and twists & turns everywhere. It really is a must read for fantasy lovers.
January 4, 2018
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Mad Magic is the first book in the Mad Magic saga by author Nicole Conway. Nicole Conway is a new to me author, but after devouring Mad Magic in one night, I can't wait for more from her. Mad Magic and I got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I fell into the world we became kind of obsessed with each other. I really loved this book, and I am so beyond excited that there will be more in this saga.
Mad Magic is the story of Josie. Josie's parents passed away earlier in her life and she was kind of taken in by a mysterious benefactor. I say kind of because she doesn't seem to actually see very much of Ben, but he does pay her bills. She lives on her own. But Josie is plagued by invisible demons. I have to be honest. I was a little bored by the start of the story. It felt kind of formulaic; like a story I had seen done many times before with the dead parents and the mysterious past. But all of my worries evaporated the second I met Zeph. I swooned nearly as hard as Josie did for Zeph. I really loved him. In fact, the swoony romance was my favorite part of the story.
After Zeph came into the picture, I became totally absorbed with the world that Nicole Conway created. It was magical and twisty turny and just an all around excellent read. I love faeries and Mad Magic took some new twists on the fae, which I appreciated but still had all the elements I love from a fae fantasy. I can't wait for more. There are also some great secondary characters in Mad Magic, like Elderick. (How could you not love Elderick??)
Bottom line: Once I got past my little hiccup at the start of the story, I fully fell in love with Mad Magic. I loved the plot, the pacing, the world the characters and the romance. This read was thoroughly enjoyable for me and I can't wait for more. Mad Magic was a big hit in my book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Mad Magic is the first book in the Mad Magic saga by author Nicole Conway. Nicole Conway is a new to me author, but after devouring Mad Magic in one night, I can't wait for more from her. Mad Magic and I got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I fell into the world we became kind of obsessed with each other. I really loved this book, and I am so beyond excited that there will be more in this saga.
Mad Magic is the story of Josie. Josie's parents passed away earlier in her life and she was kind of taken in by a mysterious benefactor. I say kind of because she doesn't seem to actually see very much of Ben, but he does pay her bills. She lives on her own. But Josie is plagued by invisible demons. I have to be honest. I was a little bored by the start of the story. It felt kind of formulaic; like a story I had seen done many times before with the dead parents and the mysterious past. But all of my worries evaporated the second I met Zeph. I swooned nearly as hard as Josie did for Zeph. I really loved him. In fact, the swoony romance was my favorite part of the story.
After Zeph came into the picture, I became totally absorbed with the world that Nicole Conway created. It was magical and twisty turny and just an all around excellent read. I love faeries and Mad Magic took some new twists on the fae, which I appreciated but still had all the elements I love from a fae fantasy. I can't wait for more. There are also some great secondary characters in Mad Magic, like Elderick. (How could you not love Elderick??)
Bottom line: Once I got past my little hiccup at the start of the story, I fully fell in love with Mad Magic. I loved the plot, the pacing, the world the characters and the romance. This read was thoroughly enjoyable for me and I can't wait for more. Mad Magic was a big hit in my book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
November 14, 2017
I read other series by this author and she does a fanatsic job with dragons. Now we get to see what she does with an urban fantasy surrounding my other favorite mythical creature, the fae. Oh boy oh boy did she knock it out the park. You got your fun loving puck type fae which is the book he goes by a few names but his main one is Zeph. Then you got a brooding puca who your not sure is good or bad or just somewhere in the middle. You got your normal human who has no idea she got magic or she going to attempt to save the whole dang fae world. Nicole adds in other delightful fae from the unseelie and the unseelie court. Cause you can't have a fae book without a battle between those courts.
I totally love this book, the romance is just right, the funny laugh out moments are a delight, and the battle for good over evil just pefect. If your a huge fan of julie kagawa fae series or other fae series for that matter then this one will delight you and keep you reading tell the wee hours of the morning.
I also felt that not only we got the ending to where this current story line was going we got a nice little glimpse into what happens once all was said and done. I excited to see where things go for these characters in the rest of the series.
I totally love this book, the romance is just right, the funny laugh out moments are a delight, and the battle for good over evil just pefect. If your a huge fan of julie kagawa fae series or other fae series for that matter then this one will delight you and keep you reading tell the wee hours of the morning.
I also felt that not only we got the ending to where this current story line was going we got a nice little glimpse into what happens once all was said and done. I excited to see where things go for these characters in the rest of the series.
May 30, 2024
Hmmmm so i like the concept but felt really uncomfortable with the grooming and huge age gap. Like he mated with her as a toddler and then neglected her for 15 years only to make a move when she is barely of age ?? Nah yuck
Would have been alot more interested in Ulrich as a possible love interest later on in the series not a fan of Zeph at all he is controlling and just overall not interesting or a desirable guy unfortunately
Wont be finishing the series
Would have been alot more interested in Ulrich as a possible love interest later on in the series not a fan of Zeph at all he is controlling and just overall not interesting or a desirable guy unfortunately
Wont be finishing the series
December 16, 2017
This book had a great opening hook that made me want to keep reading to find out what was going on. The mystery surrounding her guardian, Ben, kept me guessing for a while, and I enjoyed getting to know the other characters along the way. Seeing them in their down time was really funny. There were a few times where the relationships seemed to jump ahead of themselves and the plot lag a bit, but overall it was a fun read for anyone who likes faerie tales.
January 10, 2018
-Copy kindly offered by RockStar Book Tours and the author in exchange for an honest review-
Humans and fairies. Two peoples living together in a tight balance. Humans may seem weak but it is just a human who chooses the Fairy King or Queen and this person is Josie Barton, a insecure and frightened seventeen year old girl, apparently alone in the world. She is a chosen one who will have a difficult life because a powerful - how bad - fairy that wants to force her to choose him as a regent.
Josie is a character who undergoes several changes through fear and love. At the beginning of the book, she is a lonely girl, tormented by nightmares and believed crazy then turns into a heroine and finds her way in the company of her fairy friends.
I have loved much Eldrick, the prince of nightmares, and son of the Bogeyman. I have a real weakness for the beautiful gloomy boys, especially for those who later turn out to be the most loyal friends. The friendship between him and Josie really moved me and made me smile. It is a bond that goes beyond romantic love, it is a deep understanding between non-consanguineous siblings. I will tell you the truth: I thought it would have formed a love triangle and I had the whole intention of cheering for the prince but in the end nothing. In the heart of Josie there is only Zeph. The latter has charm, arrogance, sarcasm to sell but does not make him irritating, rather a character that gives joy even in dark times and full of danger. Another point in his favor is his protection against those he loves. He's a bit of an idiot and he seems like a jester sometimes but I liked him anyway.
The cohabitation between the protagonist and the two fairies was the thing that I found most fun and precious in this novel. Josie had lost her family but found another one formed by an old shaman and fairies, including her beloved. While I twisted a little the nose in reading instalove. Not that I hate love at first sight but I call them rare and instead I read many - too many - in the novels. The author could deepen a little more their relationship before arriving at the declaration of love. It was all too hasty.
The Conway gave us another illustration of the fairies. She describes them of various types - changeling, sidhe, etc ... - but they are as vulnerable as they are powerful. They have the innate talent for magic and are divided between the famous courts Seelie - fairies that follow the ancient rules and they are kind of policemen - and Unseelie - unruly and rebellious fairies. But however powerful they are and which court they belong to, the fairies have two weaknesses: pride and humans. They are terribly attracted to humans, an attachment that can turn into love or hate. It will of course the latter to bring the antagonist has to persecute Josie. Hatred and an insatiable thirst for power. Things that drive most villains to be bad. Fir Darrig is an excellent antagonist. Sneaky and evil. It is a pity that he is mentioned for most of the book and that he really only appears towards the last pages. I would have preferred more presence and less talk about him but patience.
Mad Magic is a reading that accompanies you in a whirlwind of magic, action and feelings. A novel that kept me glued to the pages until late at night.
Humans and fairies. Two peoples living together in a tight balance. Humans may seem weak but it is just a human who chooses the Fairy King or Queen and this person is Josie Barton, a insecure and frightened seventeen year old girl, apparently alone in the world. She is a chosen one who will have a difficult life because a powerful - how bad - fairy that wants to force her to choose him as a regent.
Josie is a character who undergoes several changes through fear and love. At the beginning of the book, she is a lonely girl, tormented by nightmares and believed crazy then turns into a heroine and finds her way in the company of her fairy friends.
I have loved much Eldrick, the prince of nightmares, and son of the Bogeyman. I have a real weakness for the beautiful gloomy boys, especially for those who later turn out to be the most loyal friends. The friendship between him and Josie really moved me and made me smile. It is a bond that goes beyond romantic love, it is a deep understanding between non-consanguineous siblings. I will tell you the truth: I thought it would have formed a love triangle and I had the whole intention of cheering for the prince but in the end nothing. In the heart of Josie there is only Zeph. The latter has charm, arrogance, sarcasm to sell but does not make him irritating, rather a character that gives joy even in dark times and full of danger. Another point in his favor is his protection against those he loves. He's a bit of an idiot and he seems like a jester sometimes but I liked him anyway.
The cohabitation between the protagonist and the two fairies was the thing that I found most fun and precious in this novel. Josie had lost her family but found another one formed by an old shaman and fairies, including her beloved. While I twisted a little the nose in reading instalove. Not that I hate love at first sight but I call them rare and instead I read many - too many - in the novels. The author could deepen a little more their relationship before arriving at the declaration of love. It was all too hasty.
The Conway gave us another illustration of the fairies. She describes them of various types - changeling, sidhe, etc ... - but they are as vulnerable as they are powerful. They have the innate talent for magic and are divided between the famous courts Seelie - fairies that follow the ancient rules and they are kind of policemen - and Unseelie - unruly and rebellious fairies. But however powerful they are and which court they belong to, the fairies have two weaknesses: pride and humans. They are terribly attracted to humans, an attachment that can turn into love or hate. It will of course the latter to bring the antagonist has to persecute Josie. Hatred and an insatiable thirst for power. Things that drive most villains to be bad. Fir Darrig is an excellent antagonist. Sneaky and evil. It is a pity that he is mentioned for most of the book and that he really only appears towards the last pages. I would have preferred more presence and less talk about him but patience.
Mad Magic is a reading that accompanies you in a whirlwind of magic, action and feelings. A novel that kept me glued to the pages until late at night.
April 8, 2021
Very very predictable!!! But, I still enjoyed the story😊 Some parts however were cringe worthy😬😲but other than that... I’ll continue the series, not right away but at some point lol😊👍🏾
August 17, 2021
Rating: 3.4/5.0
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
Mad Magic started slow, but it picked up a little further in and then snowballed. I highly enjoyed it, though there were a lot of cheesy, cringe-worthy moments that, as an "adult", I don't appreciate as much as I would have if I were still in 8th grade. That being said, the target audience would be pretty captivated, as it is right up their alleys.
I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and (most of) the pacing. For a genre that seems overdone sometimes, a lot of the Fae concepts were different and exciting. They weren't all gorgeous, immortal males with lots of magic and courts like in A Court of Thorns and Roses, nor were they fallen angels (I would have rolled my eyes so hard if they were, so thank goodness) like in Hush, Hush.
The characters had their own brands of sass and comedy, and I enjoyed a lot of the banter. I did wish Josie wouldn't cry as much because I kept getting second-hand embarrassment, but it worked and she fixed it, so I'm fine now.
By the way, the character names for the fae and magic creatures were all various brands of old-fashioned words that sound cool like Zeph and Eldrick, and then we have Fir Darrig and Hedley Kow. I don't really see how to make all those different names fit within the same story, so the outlandish ones felt out of place to me.
Plot-wise and character-wise Mad Magic was solid, but then we reach the romance.
For starters, the entire beginning of the romance was embarrassing like you would not believe. I kept wincing and cringing and rolling my eyes - but, again, this book wasn't made for me. It feels more directed towards (younger) teenagers and others who enjoy this type of reading material.
However, the romance shifted into what might be considered predatory. .
The romance completely died for me once I learned that. Because of that, what was probably a 4/4 1/2 star rating was bumped to a 3.4.
But, I am excited to read the next one sometime!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
Mad Magic started slow, but it picked up a little further in and then snowballed. I highly enjoyed it, though there were a lot of cheesy, cringe-worthy moments that, as an "adult", I don't appreciate as much as I would have if I were still in 8th grade. That being said, the target audience would be pretty captivated, as it is right up their alleys.
I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and (most of) the pacing. For a genre that seems overdone sometimes, a lot of the Fae concepts were different and exciting. They weren't all gorgeous, immortal males with lots of magic and courts like in A Court of Thorns and Roses, nor were they fallen angels (I would have rolled my eyes so hard if they were, so thank goodness) like in Hush, Hush.
The characters had their own brands of sass and comedy, and I enjoyed a lot of the banter. I did wish Josie wouldn't cry as much because I kept getting second-hand embarrassment, but it worked and she fixed it, so I'm fine now.
By the way, the character names for the fae and magic creatures were all various brands of old-fashioned words that sound cool like Zeph and Eldrick, and then we have Fir Darrig and Hedley Kow. I don't really see how to make all those different names fit within the same story, so the outlandish ones felt out of place to me.
Plot-wise and character-wise Mad Magic was solid, but then we reach the romance.
For starters, the entire beginning of the romance was embarrassing like you would not believe. I kept wincing and cringing and rolling my eyes - but, again, this book wasn't made for me. It feels more directed towards (younger) teenagers and others who enjoy this type of reading material.
However, the romance shifted into what might be considered predatory. .
The romance completely died for me once I learned that. Because of that, what was probably a 4/4 1/2 star rating was bumped to a 3.4.
But, I am excited to read the next one sometime!
November 3, 2021
I don't know what the author was thinking, in regard to the love interests?? 😅
The main male character constantly referring to himself as looking like a "perv" or "molester" just ruined it for me. I nearly stopped reading when I heard he fell in love with her when he was BABY SITTING HER🤦♀️This was clarified as a heart cord later but still was weird. 🙄
Plus jumping her on her birthday and not letting her shower first...dude chill. 😐
It gets 3 stars because despite the cringy relationship, the other characters were very quirky and lovable (especially Jack Frost, ☃️❄️).
No one else seems to mention Eldrick in their reviews. I think he was my favourite characters out of everyone. Level headed and actually showed some HEALTHY character growth.
I enjoyed the writing style, it was well paced with good use of humour as well as action and adventure.
Im really not sure if I'll read the next one. I looked at the reviews and they aren't great 🙁
The main male character constantly referring to himself as looking like a "perv" or "molester" just ruined it for me. I nearly stopped reading when I heard he fell in love with her when he was BABY SITTING HER🤦♀️This was clarified as a heart cord later but still was weird. 🙄
Plus jumping her on her birthday and not letting her shower first...dude chill. 😐
It gets 3 stars because despite the cringy relationship, the other characters were very quirky and lovable (especially Jack Frost, ☃️❄️).
No one else seems to mention Eldrick in their reviews. I think he was my favourite characters out of everyone. Level headed and actually showed some HEALTHY character growth.
I enjoyed the writing style, it was well paced with good use of humour as well as action and adventure.
Im really not sure if I'll read the next one. I looked at the reviews and they aren't great 🙁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2018
The first few pages were really interesting, what was happening to this girl? all the suspense was great, but since the instalove, everything went south.
I couldn't relate with Josie and I didn't care for Zeph and their unique bond didn't make me see sparkles. The background story was interesting enough to keep me going as well as the description of the fairies, but that was it.
I couldn't relate with Josie and I didn't care for Zeph and their unique bond didn't make me see sparkles. The background story was interesting enough to keep me going as well as the description of the fairies, but that was it.
January 23, 2021
Couldn’t stand to finish it
November 24, 2017
Josie knows that she causes trouble, but she doesn't mean to, it really just happens. But when her guidance counselor tells her it is time to go to a special school for troubled kids, Josie knows she needs to get her act together... but that is easier said then done when she has a mysterious benefactor she has never met, she suffers from strange hallucinations, and something terrifying visits her at night in her apartment. Thankfully, she may have a new potential friend in her surly, very attractive neighbor...maybe.
I am a huge sucker for anything having to do with faeries, I will just gobble it up- out of all the paranormal sub-genre, Faeries win my heart. That being said, I am always on the prowl for new reads about the fair folk so when I read the synopsis that this was about Faeries, I jumped at the chance to read this paranormal adventure.
I was really excited that the book started in the middle of action and never let up. We find ourselves thrown right into the world of Josie, who is struggling with being "weird" due to her random outburst from her hallucinations, to strange happening in her apartment, an intriguing jerk/cocky neighbor, and some surprising tidbits of information. The story started with a bang (I mean really, what is a bigger bang than a special school for damaged kids?) and the pace never slowed, keeping me engaged with all the crazy situations that Josie stumbled into through no fault of her own. And dang, that girl is a trouble magnet.
I think my favorite part of the story was the relationship dynamics between all the character as well as the random assortment of people that found their way into this story. For the two main characters we have a lonely, incredibly socially awkward girl who is fairy convinced she is crazy and may smile creepily at inappropriate times when she thinks she may have a friend, and a winged man full of attitude and snark, is a bartending vegetarian, who could change his features at a whim. Watching the interactions between these two just made me giggle, it was so perfect. There were so many other quirky unforgetable people Nicole created making for the best kinds of story.
This was my first book by Nicole and I really enjoyed her writing style as well as her characters and fast-paced plot. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to what else she was and will write. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a read with a lot of magic, mystery, a quirky main character and a dash of love.
Follow the book tour at my blog https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
I am a huge sucker for anything having to do with faeries, I will just gobble it up- out of all the paranormal sub-genre, Faeries win my heart. That being said, I am always on the prowl for new reads about the fair folk so when I read the synopsis that this was about Faeries, I jumped at the chance to read this paranormal adventure.
I was really excited that the book started in the middle of action and never let up. We find ourselves thrown right into the world of Josie, who is struggling with being "weird" due to her random outburst from her hallucinations, to strange happening in her apartment, an intriguing jerk/cocky neighbor, and some surprising tidbits of information. The story started with a bang (I mean really, what is a bigger bang than a special school for damaged kids?) and the pace never slowed, keeping me engaged with all the crazy situations that Josie stumbled into through no fault of her own. And dang, that girl is a trouble magnet.
I think my favorite part of the story was the relationship dynamics between all the character as well as the random assortment of people that found their way into this story. For the two main characters we have a lonely, incredibly socially awkward girl who is fairy convinced she is crazy and may smile creepily at inappropriate times when she thinks she may have a friend, and a winged man full of attitude and snark, is a bartending vegetarian, who could change his features at a whim. Watching the interactions between these two just made me giggle, it was so perfect. There were so many other quirky unforgetable people Nicole created making for the best kinds of story.
This was my first book by Nicole and I really enjoyed her writing style as well as her characters and fast-paced plot. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to what else she was and will write. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a read with a lot of magic, mystery, a quirky main character and a dash of love.
Follow the book tour at my blog https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
July 5, 2020
Book sent by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The author got me with the invisible creatures tormenting Josie and all the mystery around her life. Then she meets Zeph, her mysterious, older neighbor and her life starts to change. I loved the beginning of the book, the mysterious hallucinations Josie suffers got me hooked, it was dark and I wanted more. Even though it's not as dark as the story progresses, I liked the plot of the book and discovering the faerie world. I also really liked the writing style of Nicole Conway.
Be aware that this will not be all action, the story centers around Josie and her life as a high school girl. If you’re looking for fast paced novel, you could be disappointed. After the first half of the book, I realized that not much had happened in terms of magic involving Josie, as it is more focused on character development and the second half is more focused on action. This book is first of all a fantasy novel and the paranormal trope does not disappear in favor of the romance aspect of the story which was great because I'm not a big fan of pure romance.
Josie has many qualities, she’s thoughtful and generous, although she can also be a bit annoying sometimes when she’s in love. I concur with other reviewers, the love story of the book can be considered as pretty “fast”, it’s a bit love at first sight, although it is later explained why. Some people could be bothered by the age difference, even though it stays mainly platonic. I also really liked that the author avoided the classic love triangle trope that I was expecting and I thought it was well written, even though I must admit I was at first a bit put out by a scene where I thought Josie was a bit pressured when she clearly has other things to worry about and I cringed a little at Zeph’s initial behavior because it was coming a bit out of nowehere.
Big kudos regarding the Prince of Nightmares, Eldrick. This is my favorite character, he’s very compelling, not black or white, and is coming from far with his redemption. I laughed a lot with some of his antics and Zeph’s. He’s amazing and he has a very interesting family to say the least. The beginning of chapter 19 sums it up pretty perfectly. I hope we will see more of him in book 2 because I really love him. I also liked Hank the shaman as a secondary character, he was great and not at all what I initially expected.
Finally, I decided that I should mention this because nobody else talked about it in their review, be aware that there are some spelling/grammar mistakes in the kindle edition, not a lot considering the length of the novel but this could be a bit distracting. This is not on the author, but the editing company, and can easily be fixed in the ebook version, but still you should know that when you buy the book. In any event, this was a great read, the ending did not disappoint, I am excited to learn more and I think I will gladly read book 2!
The author got me with the invisible creatures tormenting Josie and all the mystery around her life. Then she meets Zeph, her mysterious, older neighbor and her life starts to change. I loved the beginning of the book, the mysterious hallucinations Josie suffers got me hooked, it was dark and I wanted more. Even though it's not as dark as the story progresses, I liked the plot of the book and discovering the faerie world. I also really liked the writing style of Nicole Conway.
Be aware that this will not be all action, the story centers around Josie and her life as a high school girl. If you’re looking for fast paced novel, you could be disappointed. After the first half of the book, I realized that not much had happened in terms of magic involving Josie, as it is more focused on character development and the second half is more focused on action. This book is first of all a fantasy novel and the paranormal trope does not disappear in favor of the romance aspect of the story which was great because I'm not a big fan of pure romance.
Josie has many qualities, she’s thoughtful and generous, although she can also be a bit annoying sometimes when she’s in love. I concur with other reviewers, the love story of the book can be considered as pretty “fast”, it’s a bit love at first sight, although it is later explained why. Some people could be bothered by the age difference, even though it stays mainly platonic. I also really liked that the author avoided the classic love triangle trope that I was expecting and I thought it was well written, even though I must admit I was at first a bit put out by a scene where I thought Josie was a bit pressured when she clearly has other things to worry about and I cringed a little at Zeph’s initial behavior because it was coming a bit out of nowehere.
Big kudos regarding the Prince of Nightmares, Eldrick. This is my favorite character, he’s very compelling, not black or white, and is coming from far with his redemption. I laughed a lot with some of his antics and Zeph’s. He’s amazing and he has a very interesting family to say the least. The beginning of chapter 19 sums it up pretty perfectly. I hope we will see more of him in book 2 because I really love him. I also liked Hank the shaman as a secondary character, he was great and not at all what I initially expected.
Finally, I decided that I should mention this because nobody else talked about it in their review, be aware that there are some spelling/grammar mistakes in the kindle edition, not a lot considering the length of the novel but this could be a bit distracting. This is not on the author, but the editing company, and can easily be fixed in the ebook version, but still you should know that when you buy the book. In any event, this was a great read, the ending did not disappoint, I am excited to learn more and I think I will gladly read book 2!
December 16, 2020
Originally I opened this with “decent for a YA” but I feel I must amend that. This feels it was written for really young YA readers, but there are so many things about it that should keep it out of young readers’ hands. And I don’t mean mature scenes, I mean certain themes that should not be hero worshipped. I’ll get to explaining that in a minute.
This was recommended to me by some audible algorithm that ultimately sold me on “I’m free and have fairies!” Nice world building, characters are fairly two dimensional but likable. Likable wasn’t really what I was looking for. Zeph had potential at being a great anti-hero but it turned to mush. Same for Eldric. They were both mysterious and a little bad boy, but you could see their damage and “fix me” slogan in big neon lights
Josie was extremely naive and didn’t have much self worth or confidence. She was severely abused and when finally confronted with the abuser, she bows out like a weak little mouse. I don’t fault her for this. I fault her for the so quick and innocent dismissal she gives the abuser’s actions over and over, never making anyone own up. Even if the excuse is validated (which I can’t say it was), it was still ultimately allowed. And yes it made it easier for her to build a bond with him story wise, but not out of respect. There were so many lessons to be exploited but ultimately it was a Disney fantasy of a half assed conflict that peaked with a cool moment or two of magic, then wrapped up with a warm fuzzy bow.
Even the antagonist was so flat, and Josie’s reaction to the threat was convenient and out of character for her. She forgives nearly every other man in her life for their lies and abuse, but can’t allow this one character a chance at redemption? Convenient. We were only told antagonist was a bad guy and given vague reasons. His story/past was a small part of the plot, when it could have busted the story wide open. So many moments of “why don’t they just- oh because *insert vague reason that could easily have been overcome.”
We didn’t get a taste of true magic, the ability it had to corrupt and manipulate. We were told it could, then never tasted it’s salty tip. Just thrown a breath mint and told it was the flavor of wonder. “Hey, it happened to this one guy in the past though it’s not truly made apart of his character. Sooo.. it’s possible? Meaning don’t do magic.” Oh! Okay. No further warning needed.
There was a lot of what some call “the third arm” (as in he has to have a third arm to pull that off) where characters are having the time and ability to do things that aren’t really possible in the time frame you’re given. It all added up to feeling lazy.
Honestly, now that I’m reflecting, I’m not entirely sure why I liked this book. Maybe because it was nice to read a warm fuzzy high school fantasy, but I still felt cheated in the end. No real fulfillment, just teases. I don’t regret reading it, just disappointed in the potential unfulfilled. I gave it 4 stars to help the rating but I’d give it 2.5 give or take. It has me seesawing that much. I know I just wrote a lot of smack but the truth is yes, I did enjoy it. This is the first and only book I’ve read by Nicole Conway, and I’d consider reading another if its free and I don’t feel like using many neurons.
This was recommended to me by some audible algorithm that ultimately sold me on “I’m free and have fairies!” Nice world building, characters are fairly two dimensional but likable. Likable wasn’t really what I was looking for. Zeph had potential at being a great anti-hero but it turned to mush. Same for Eldric. They were both mysterious and a little bad boy, but you could see their damage and “fix me” slogan in big neon lights
Josie was extremely naive and didn’t have much self worth or confidence. She was severely abused and when finally confronted with the abuser, she bows out like a weak little mouse. I don’t fault her for this. I fault her for the so quick and innocent dismissal she gives the abuser’s actions over and over, never making anyone own up. Even if the excuse is validated (which I can’t say it was), it was still ultimately allowed. And yes it made it easier for her to build a bond with him story wise, but not out of respect. There were so many lessons to be exploited but ultimately it was a Disney fantasy of a half assed conflict that peaked with a cool moment or two of magic, then wrapped up with a warm fuzzy bow.
Even the antagonist was so flat, and Josie’s reaction to the threat was convenient and out of character for her. She forgives nearly every other man in her life for their lies and abuse, but can’t allow this one character a chance at redemption? Convenient. We were only told antagonist was a bad guy and given vague reasons. His story/past was a small part of the plot, when it could have busted the story wide open. So many moments of “why don’t they just- oh because *insert vague reason that could easily have been overcome.”
We didn’t get a taste of true magic, the ability it had to corrupt and manipulate. We were told it could, then never tasted it’s salty tip. Just thrown a breath mint and told it was the flavor of wonder. “Hey, it happened to this one guy in the past though it’s not truly made apart of his character. Sooo.. it’s possible? Meaning don’t do magic.” Oh! Okay. No further warning needed.
There was a lot of what some call “the third arm” (as in he has to have a third arm to pull that off) where characters are having the time and ability to do things that aren’t really possible in the time frame you’re given. It all added up to feeling lazy.
Honestly, now that I’m reflecting, I’m not entirely sure why I liked this book. Maybe because it was nice to read a warm fuzzy high school fantasy, but I still felt cheated in the end. No real fulfillment, just teases. I don’t regret reading it, just disappointed in the potential unfulfilled. I gave it 4 stars to help the rating but I’d give it 2.5 give or take. It has me seesawing that much. I know I just wrote a lot of smack but the truth is yes, I did enjoy it. This is the first and only book I’ve read by Nicole Conway, and I’d consider reading another if its free and I don’t feel like using many neurons.
November 23, 2017
This book has it all: romance, danger, magic, changelings, evil villains, sexy faeries (and not the flittering-about kind, I might add). These fae are not to be trifled with and they will have you salivating.
Zeph is your rough, tattooed biker looking dude. Eldrick is your dark-haired, swoon-worthy, sophisticated hottie with a mysterious side that will leave you breathless.
The story unfolds with high school student, Josie Barton, getting in trouble once again for something she has no control over. It’s been this way for a long time, with invisible creatures reeking havoc on everything around her. Just when her world goes really south and she feels there is no hope left, in steps Zeph, the scraggly neighbor with that ‘you’re-so-hot in a bad way-I could-eat-you-up’ swagger. But there’s something weird about Zeph and in a short amount of time, Josie discovers just what his secret is, as well as the secret behind the invisible creature living in her apartment. But the secrets and intrigue don’t stop there. Nope, they just keep coming and coming, and the life Josie thought she knew shatters all around her. She discovers things about herself and her father she never dreamed possible, and with the help of Zeph and Eldrick, she figures how who she is and becomes everything she is meant to be.
There is a climactic battle in the end that left me riveted on the edge of my seat, but the novel also ends with a fantastic HEA, at least for now.
It’s really hard to write a review of this book without giving spoilers away. Let me just say this novel was full of unexpected twists and turns, the characters are layered and I enjoyed peeling each layer back to expose their true selves. This was a fun book that can be read in one sitting. It’s got everything in it for YA fantasy readers, and fans of Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thrones series will find this equally enjoyable. I hope to see more books in this series.
Zeph is your rough, tattooed biker looking dude. Eldrick is your dark-haired, swoon-worthy, sophisticated hottie with a mysterious side that will leave you breathless.
The story unfolds with high school student, Josie Barton, getting in trouble once again for something she has no control over. It’s been this way for a long time, with invisible creatures reeking havoc on everything around her. Just when her world goes really south and she feels there is no hope left, in steps Zeph, the scraggly neighbor with that ‘you’re-so-hot in a bad way-I could-eat-you-up’ swagger. But there’s something weird about Zeph and in a short amount of time, Josie discovers just what his secret is, as well as the secret behind the invisible creature living in her apartment. But the secrets and intrigue don’t stop there. Nope, they just keep coming and coming, and the life Josie thought she knew shatters all around her. She discovers things about herself and her father she never dreamed possible, and with the help of Zeph and Eldrick, she figures how who she is and becomes everything she is meant to be.
There is a climactic battle in the end that left me riveted on the edge of my seat, but the novel also ends with a fantastic HEA, at least for now.
It’s really hard to write a review of this book without giving spoilers away. Let me just say this novel was full of unexpected twists and turns, the characters are layered and I enjoyed peeling each layer back to expose their true selves. This was a fun book that can be read in one sitting. It’s got everything in it for YA fantasy readers, and fans of Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thrones series will find this equally enjoyable. I hope to see more books in this series.
January 2, 2018
To be honest the whole reason I wanted to read this book was because of the cover. I think it is one of the most beautiful covers I have seen. I am glad that I did pick it up. The inside of the book is just as good as the outside.
The story is about Josie, a 17 year old high school student, orphan, and possibly crazy. Her life is about as bad as it can get. She is about to get kicked out of school. She has no family and no friends. To make it worse she is terrorized every night. Things start getting better for her fast, as she starts to realize that she is more important than she can imagine.
This book is extremely well rounded. The writing is wonderful. It flows really well and was very engaging. It is writing a lot more like an adult urban fantasy book than a young adult one. The only reason I would put it as young adult is the age of the main character.
The plot is well crafted as well. There was some flow issues. Things go from extraordinarily bad to good extremely fast. In some ways it is to be expected, in others it was a little not realistic. Josie is also just a little too sweet for the tough character that she is suppose to be.
This book did have one cringe factor for me. The main character is 17 and her main love interest is practically immortal (we don't know his actual age). Most of the relationship is really sweet, but they do have sex. It is tastefully written, but as a reader I question if it really needed to be included in a young adult book. Although, at least they did wait until she was officially 18.
I enjoyed this book and am glad that I picked it up. If you enjoy fantasy, urban fantasy, or a good romance then I would highly recommend this book. Even if you typically stay clear of young adult books it is still worth picking up. I do plan on reading Conway's other fantasy series.
The story is about Josie, a 17 year old high school student, orphan, and possibly crazy. Her life is about as bad as it can get. She is about to get kicked out of school. She has no family and no friends. To make it worse she is terrorized every night. Things start getting better for her fast, as she starts to realize that she is more important than she can imagine.
This book is extremely well rounded. The writing is wonderful. It flows really well and was very engaging. It is writing a lot more like an adult urban fantasy book than a young adult one. The only reason I would put it as young adult is the age of the main character.
The plot is well crafted as well. There was some flow issues. Things go from extraordinarily bad to good extremely fast. In some ways it is to be expected, in others it was a little not realistic. Josie is also just a little too sweet for the tough character that she is suppose to be.
This book did have one cringe factor for me. The main character is 17 and her main love interest is practically immortal (we don't know his actual age). Most of the relationship is really sweet, but they do have sex. It is tastefully written, but as a reader I question if it really needed to be included in a young adult book. Although, at least they did wait until she was officially 18.
I enjoyed this book and am glad that I picked it up. If you enjoy fantasy, urban fantasy, or a good romance then I would highly recommend this book. Even if you typically stay clear of young adult books it is still worth picking up. I do plan on reading Conway's other fantasy series.
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