A Ragged Magic

by Lindsey S. Johnson, Jak Koke (Editor), Angie Abler (Editor)

Rhiannon has the Sight — the ability to glimpse the hearts and minds of others. Her visions attract the attention of the powerful kirche, which has condemned all magic outside the holy orders. Branded a witch, her family executed, Rhiannon is handed over to a diabolical bishop who wants to use her power to discredit the royal family and advance his own candidate for the throne. But she is not without she is saved from a terrible fate by the very people the bishop aims to destroy. Thrust into intrigue and danger, Rhiannon must learn to control her growing power, and master ... A RAGGED MAGIC "Lindsey S. Johnson debuts strongly with her tale of betrayal, magic and political intrigue. She breaks our hearts open in the first chapter ... with her fast-paced, often poetic prose ... "
--KEN SCHOLES, award-winning author of The Psalms of Isaak “Lindsey S. Johnson’s strong, confident voice ... and complex, fascinating characters make this debut novel riveting and deeply satisfying.”
— SHANNON PAGE, author of Our Lady of the Islands (with Jay Lake) “A Ragged Magic is one of those books that makes me want to curl up with a cup of hot tea on a stormy weekend and read until the world ends.”
— J.A. PITTS, award-winning author of Forged in Fire

346 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2014

Reviews

[Miki Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one chapter into this book the other night when I decided to take it with me to read while I soaked in a hot bath tub. An hour and a half later, I finally made my way -- shivering -- out of the cold bath with the book. Once I got into it, I lost all track of time until I finished it. So yes, I'd consider that a compelling read.

Unlike many books in this category, which are sometimes all about the magic, this one really gripped me with the political intrigue and the ways in which family dramas could play out on a large scale. Both the character development and the world-building were so solid that I finished the book thinking of all the different ways in which the story might go next.

[Melinda Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spies. Magic. Demons. An evil bishop at work in the church that controls magic, Rhiannon, having survived the slaughter of her family, is saved by a princess who vows to get to the bottom of the evil bishop's plot, but Rhiannon can't help but feel used by every side. Having been tortured and used for demon magic, Rhiannon longs for freedom--until she finds her brother's lover is also a victim of the bishop. Together with the princess and new friends, she must uncover the plot by the bishop, some of the secret written into her very skin when he tortured her.

A twisted magical tale, it was a bit confusing at first with all the characters, but I was drawn in by Rhiannon's struggle for the truth and survival. Loved it.

[Ms. Acc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a great combination of fun, interesting, compelling, curious... it was my favorite kind of fantasy, namely: hard to put down. It seems hard to find books I enjoy as much as I did this one.