The Paradise Twin

Magemother #2

by Austin J. Bailey

In one summer Brinley has gone from small town girl to Magemother, a powerful figure in the magical kingdom of Aberdeen. Now she must find the missing mages and restore their power before the evil festering in the Wizard's Ire has a chance to escape. Meanwhile her newest mage, Hugo, is drawn into a battle for his soul that may just tear him apart.

The Paradise Twin is the second book in Austin J. Bailey's Magemother series: an epic middle-grade fantasy adventure series with witches, shapeshifters, and clifhangers, and awesome kids (There are very no boring adults in this book!).

What Readers are Saying
Loved the world it took me into to. A good, clean, fun story that left me wanting more. Loved how developed the characters were for such a quick read. A great read for any age.-Melissa

A fresh story of good versus evil set in a fantasy world much like a marvelous daydream gone wild. A truly enjoyable and engaging read.-S.Rosenquist

Interview with the Author
Q - Why should I try your books?

A - Because the Magemother books are fast and fun, and I guarantee you'll never forget the friends you find inside them. Each of the books is a different experience, but each one is worth your time. And I'm not just saying that because I wrote them. I've also read a TON of Fantasy. If you like fun, kid-friendly books with lots of magic and a plot that twists and turns, you'll get a kick out of this series.

Q - So, what makes the Magemother series so special?

A - A few things. When I set out to write the Magemother series I wanted to write the types of books that I love to read. My top picks are usually fantasy books. I'm well into my 20's now and I still love reading the middle grade bestsellers. Especially ones with a good bit of mystery, a few surprises, and lots of laughs.

The Magemother books have a good mix of these things. They mostly focus on the children's fantasy / teen fantasy adventure genre's over all, with some coming of age and mystery aspects thrown in for good measure.

Overall the Magemother series is designed to invite you into another wonderful fantasy universe alongside a set of unforgettable characters.

Q - What order should I read the books in?

A - Well, if I did my job right you should be able to read them in any order you want right? Seriously though, fantasy worlds can get a bit complicated, so if you don't want to risk missing anything I would suggest this order:

- The Mage and the Magpie
- The Empty Throne (Novella)
- The Paradise Twin
- The Bridge to Nowhere (coming soon)

Q - Which one was your favorite to write?

A - That's a tough one. The Empty Throne was fun because Tabitha is such a wonderfully strange and quirky character, and I really had a blast giving her her own adventure. That said, The Paradise Twin is my favorite so far. The characters really come alive in that book, especially Hugo, who has some serious demons to wrestle with. There is also some great plot twists and comedy in that one, if I do say so myself.

Magemother Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure Series eBook Categories:

-kids fantasy books ages 9-12
-young adult fantasy book series
-middle grade fantasy adventure
-middle grade books for boys,
-kids fantasy books 9-12,
-middle grade fantasy adventure
-midd

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2016

Reviews

[Isaac Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is truly something magical about this series because no matter how many books the author writes I am never disappointed. This is my third review for the Magemother series and I am honestly running out of things to say because this book is just as wonderful as the previous stories. Although this book is a sequel, this book is filled with new elements and locations which brings a refreshing take on this story. Austin Bailey does a really great job on world building and as I read I found myself savoring every word.
Just as the world is very well developed, so are the characters in this book. I don’t want to give anything away but Hugo’s journey on becoming the Mage of Light and Darkness was probably one of the most fascinating things to read. Lux in the first book was so mysterious, and now being able to see what he was capable of through Hugo’s eyes makes the story even more exciting. Just as Hugo has to learn to use his powers, so does Brinley as she learns to become the Magemother. Brinley has become a very motherly character, even though she is very young, the world is placed on her shoulders. Although there is a sense of power and responsibility, Brinley has yet to do anything to show her strength. The only thing I hope to see in the next book is to see Brinley become as powerful as she is meant to be. I could go on about each character but I will sum it up in a few words. In general every character was unique and vibrant. I found myself laughing and worrying about many of these characters.
I can already tell darkness is in the horizon for the last book in the Magemother series. Since the first book it seems like the story is getting a little darker which I really like because it makes it feel more real. Life is filled with difficulty and darkness and to see a book touch upon darkness to a younger audience is bold. I am thrilled to see what happens in the final book in the Magemother series. I really enjoyed reading this book and now can say that I am a huge fan of Mr. Bailey’s writings. I can’t wait to see what else he has in store for us as we wait for the final book!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting series

The Magemother series is a middle grade fantasy written by Austin J. Bailey. The gorgeous cover artwork is eyecatching, and the premise, well, the premise of misfit girl being summoned to another world and uncovering her true past could be either totally lame or really work well. The first book was (and at the time of this publication still is) free, so I figured, what did I have to lose?

The Mage and the Magpie

This book was free on Amazon and had high reviews. Honestly, I usually pick up freebies with high reviews so I can give an honest negative review. Many people seem to think that if they like a book, it deserves five stars. Five stars, imo, should be reserved for the most excellent, memorable, standout books. Not every single book you read.

Sometimes, though, books deserve the praise. I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed, the search was enjoyable, and since we're in an unfamiliar world there are lots of surprises. Some things that I think were supposed to be "reveals" were obvious to me, but others were not.

I haven't quite figured out how I feel about the magic in this series. I think magic is neutral and you use it for good or bad, like you would a car, and it seems like the mages and apprentices possess their particular magic. Like a gift. I don't think that the wind mage's apprentice could learn the magic of the metal mage. In this world, magic is either something you have or something you don't. If you have it, but are not a mage or mage apprentice, I'm not sure what you do. That's never addressed in the series.

I liked this book so much that I immediately looked the author up and signed up to receive updates from him. I received Magemother 1.5 as a "thank you."

4.5 stars

The Empty Throne

This is a novella, not a full length novel. It was offered as a "thank you" gift for signing up to receive updates from the author.

It is a very short and quick read, but it is an important link in the story. If you don't read this, there will be things you scratch your head at in later books trying to figure out if missed something.

While I didn't find this short story as compelling as the larger series narrative, I still thought it was important and highlighted the vulnerable side of Tabitha. It also makes the reader think about how they would respond if they had to go through Tabitha's test.

4 stars

The Paradise Twin

Book 2 largely focuses on finding the hidden mages and on Hugo's struggle with Molad. And there's a dragon. Dragon's are always fun, right?

In Hugo you really get that Jekyll and Hyde feel. His struggle is real, and it's easy to empathize with him. The search for the hidden mages was not as compelling, though, and almost became tedious at times. I had guessed part of Chantra's location, Unda's hiding place was obvious to me, but Lignumis' was well done.

In this book that I started feeling like the series was very similar to the Farworld series by J. Scott Savage.* A lot of necessary things happened in this book, but overall is wasn't as compelling as the others in the series. It moved things along, but I didn't feel anyone particularly developed as a character.

3 stars

The Bridge to Nowhere

This book was very interesting - and not entirely happy. There were a couple moments where I was actually surprised at something truly bad/sad happenings. Realism! I like books that have happy endings, but when absolutely everything works out perfectly as planned, it is eye-roll worthy. You see more development in Brinley and Hugo, others hold their own, and there are a couple flat characters. Some "twists" in the book I saw coming, but the intended audience would largely find them unexpected.

The Hugo/Molad struggle continued, and while it certainly felt real at times, there was one point very near the end in a major moment (trying for no spoilers!) where the reaction seemed a little extreme. But I understand why the author wrote it that way.

There is a meeting with the gods of their world, near the end of the book, and it rather felt like a huge aside. I got it - and they had showed up in other books - but the direction they promise really hadn't been there the whole series, so it didn't feel quite genuine. They also appear to be modeled after the Mormon view of God - being God and his wife who live in another world, but sometimes interact with us. The moral underpinnings in what they say are close to what I believe as a Christian, but the framework is wrong. Not everyone will agree, but I thought I'd mention it for those who want to have conversations with their children about that aspect of the book.

The biggest thing for me is one unanswered question that is actually asked in the series - what about the bell Brinley's father heard? That is never explained. I feel that is an oversight, or maybe it was too complicated to work into the book without a huge expansion ... but in that case the question should have been removed from the book. Its one thing for a reader to have questions of their own, it's another for an author to pose a question within the series that never gets answered.

Overall, the book gets 4 stars.

Serial Thoughts

As mentioned in my review of book 1, I'm not sold on how magic works in this world. To be sure, it is a well crafted story, but something seems a tad off, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe its the lack of complete explanation, I don't know.

*To expand on my Farworld comment from book 2's review. The Farworld and Magemother series aren't actually that similar. Just the whole looking for mages (who control the elements) that are hidden was bringing me strong vibes of the looking for the hidden elementals (basically the elements themselves). Also, the cross-world transfer of a main character. But the journeys are drastically different, as are the endings. The Magemother series actually has a more satisfying ending, but as a series I think I prefer Farworld. If you like one of the series, though, I'm pretty sure you'll like the other.

And, to reiterate from my review of book 3, I don't like unanswered questions posed within the story itself (If I missed this someone please point it out to me!). There is also the Mormon-esque deity thing going on that doesn't completely fit with the world that was built.

My biggest complaint for the series as a whole is the age of the our main cast. They're around 12 years old! Everything they do just seems better suited for someone at least an additional 5 years older. It's a little overdone in literature today to have THE FATE OF THE WORLD resting on pre-to-early teens.

I was grateful that while there is friendship (and hints of particular people probably liking each other) romance is not really in the book. Like I said, it's hinted around, but it's not the star. THANK YOU! That is so nauseously overdone, and these books show you can have a good story without the romance. Especially when we're talking this young.

Mage and the Magpie: 4.5 stars
The Empty Throne: 4 stars
The Paradise Twin: 3 stars
The Bridge to Nowhere: 4 stars

Magemother series average: 4

I received complimentary ecopies of books 2 & 3 in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The magemother series is a middle-grade series about a young girl who basically becomes the mother of all mages. Three of those mages are missing and she needs to find them to restore their powers and help save her mother from certain death. In this novel, Brinley and her friends are searching for clues to the missing mages, clues to how to save her mother as well as her father. BUT ALSO to find out why creatures are crossing from the Wizards Ire without harm. It sets the stage for something bigger to happen in the next novel.

I do have to say the artwork for this series is beautiful, it draws the readers eye in and makes them want to read the book. So Brinley is now the new mage mother, Tabitha is now her herald as well as apprentice to the Mage of Earth, AND is a shapeshiter (I love Tabitha she is probably my personal favorite). Hugo is now the mage of Light and Dark, which means he has his own dark demons he needs to face and find a way to bring balance within himself. I love how each character in the novel has their own trials and challenges they need to overcome to become stronger and be who they are meant to be.

There is a lot that goes into this book so sometimes it might feel like too much all at once, but in the end it comes together very well and still leaves the door open for what's to come in book 3. I am not sure if it is up to the standard that the first book was, but that tends to happen with series books, sometimes there is one that lacks something, I think this one needed a little more magic.

Bailey does have a gift from creating something engrossing, enchanting, and electric with this series and I am eager to see what happens next.

[Kirsten Wiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that Brinley, the new Magemother, will be staying in Aberdeen, a magical world in a different universe from our own, new troubles have arisen. Or rather, the troubles have become her priority and the threat from the Wizard's Ire grows every day. The Mage of Water, Fire, and Wood are especially important because Brinley's mother, the previous Magemother, can only be saved if all the mages come together.

Since Hugo is now the Mage of Light and Darkness, he has his own demons to face as he struggles to control the darkness within himself. It's almost like a split personality. Brinley and Animus are actively helping Hugo, but agents of darkness are also interested in helping him.

Tabitha has definitely left her tower far behind as she now serves as Brinley's herald (protector). She's also the apprentice to Belterras, the Mage of Earth, and coming into her own magic. She lacks confidence in her ability and potential, so she still has a lot to learn and much growing to do.

There is definitely a lot of action within "The Paradise Twin," especially since the characters split up to accomplish various tasks to save the world before it's too late.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga continued, and it was exciting to experience. This author is an awesome writer, but in a couple of places it really annoyed my. Perhaps I am wrong, but I found it odd that the metal man could hold off darkness, but then could be choked. It also annoyed me that the reason Hugo was selected to be the mage he that he became was because of his goodness. I don't like that goodness seems to imply weakness. It takes a great deal of strength to do good and much easier to do bad I think. Well, this shows how good the book is I would say. Well time to begin the last of the trilogy!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Magemother series. It focuses on Hugo, the Mage of Light and Darkness. He changes from a flighty prince with few cares to a young man who is realizing his responsibilities.

Brinley is still searching for her father, who is lost in the void. She is also searching for the missing mages. Without them she cannot save her mother.

There are many twists and turns in this book. I’m starting the third one now and am hoping it is better at keeping me hooked to the story.

[Christen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series still suffers from the fact that it's one long book masquerading as three. I have lost track of who some of the characters are, and I don't think I care. I probably won't spend the money to buy the third book. I may try to find a review with spoilers, but I can probably guess what happens. I would give this a pass.

[Kress F · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire Magemother series is fabulous. My 7 and 9 year olds loved the story (read aloud to them, they weren't up to this reading level yet). Even I enjoyed it greatly as an adult. Excellent, creative, fun, age-appropriate for pre-teens, tweens, and early to mature teens. So great, I recommend it to all my teenagers' friends, and to the parents of little kids as well.

[Brian Kinsella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars

This was an exciting book filled with anticipation. I would recommend this book to anyone between 12 & 14. Or anyone who wants to read a brilliant book

[Jyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical, fun, exciting and unique.

[Carol Rewick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting good!!!

[Orion Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradise twin introduces a lot of new things in the world of Aberdeen. It doesn't quite have the intrigue that the first one did, but it was still good.

[David Cozens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mage mother hunts for missing mages.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't love this series, but I will try to finish it.

[Shauna Zaugg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

An excellent adventure story as Brinley, Hugo and the remaining mages strive to find the others, fight the encroaching forces of darkness, and protect their kingdom.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a very short period of time, Brinley has gone from being a regular, somewhat invisible, young girl living in a small town in Colorado, to being one of the most powerful beings in the fantastic magical kingdom of Aberdeen. She definitely has her work cut out for her, being tasked not only with finding the missing mages and restoring their power, but doing it before the evil festering in the Wizard’s Ire has a chance to escape.

In this installment of the Magemother series, we learn much about many of the main players in the tale, as we watch them grow and develop into their new roles and responsibilities. Not all seem equal to the task. Considering how young many of them are, this should be no surprise; many are given duties that most adults would find daunting.

The Paradise Twin is definitely a sequel, not quite as good as the first book in the series, I would say; and it is certainly a typical place-holder, mostly setting up play for the battle ahead in the final book. But there are many new characters to meet and locales to explore. It is definitely quite the adventure. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

[Jim Sibigtroth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic fantasy slightly reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia

Book 2 in the 3 1/2 book Magemother series. This book should be read after reading the novella The Empty Throne which fits between books one and two. The books in this series do not work well as separate books...you need to read them all and in the right order.

Some things were predictable, but there were some unexpected surprises.

[E.C. Kraeft · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced enjoyable read. Austin J. Bailey truly has the gift of prose. I get swept up in his magical world, that everything in my life needs to be put on hold until I finish the last page. With this second installment of Magemother, the characters are more developed and the Kingdom of Aberdeen lets readers in on more secrets. I high recommend this series, but it must be read in order.

[Imani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad of the progression in this book, I genuinely am concerned for the well-being of the good guys and I hope for the evil not to conquer all.
Everything is straight-forwarded when it comes to Elementary age themed books, when I was promised adventure, I definitely get adventure. I need to read more to see how everything turns out.

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is typical in the second book of a series, some of the things that were more easily overlooked in book one continued to rear their heads in book two. Several of the major plot points and even the characters themselves seem very oversimplified. I realize this is a book written for children, but that doesn't mean people should be boiled down to caricatures and archetypes. It is still enjoyable and I look forward to seeing how the series ends.

[Allison Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful!!! Just when you think you have everything figured out, there's a twist. So awesome!!! Can't wait to read the next book!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am loving the books, the fact that the main characters are kids who have real courage and are ready to tackle anything is awesome!! Brinley has really taken to her role as magemother even though she is new to both the role and the planet where everything is taking place, Tabitha has changed from an eccentric loner to a fantastic shapeshifter and is making an excellent herald for Brinley and Hugo the paradise heir to the throne is trying hard to tackle the difficult role Brinley has set him - that of being the mage of lightness and dark!! a scary role to say the least but Hugo really wanted to be a mage so is doing his best not to be over powered by his dark side but every light side has a dark side to it and he needs to accept that both sides are his and need to be balanced!! Can Hugo do this? Love the character Maggie too and Habis the wicked witch who changes sides and are doing their best to help Brinley! Can she cope with the void and can Hugo cope with the dark box he has been locked up in? Cannon turns out to not be such a nerd and know it all after all in this book and is doing his damnedest to be a good friend to Hugo who is in desperate need of a friend in the dark place he finds himself in!! Am dying to carry on reading the 3rd book in the series, the very gripping series which is a never ending adventure from page to page!!