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A Course in Magic: From Novice to Master
Edwin knew better than to hope for anything better than his lonely life in a run-down house, or his low-paying job where his co-workers really weren't very nice to him, when they acknowledged him at all.
Thus, when he found the leather-bound book that read "A Course in Magic: From Novice to Master" embossed in gold on the cover, he knew better than to believe any of the spells could actually work, even though all he ever read were fantasy books about magic, forever imagining himself as the great Master Mage who was the hero. Still, he couldn't resist casting his first spell, just to see ....
Following the text of the novel can be found several spells as they appear in the spellbook!
Thus, when he found the leather-bound book that read "A Course in Magic: From Novice to Master" embossed in gold on the cover, he knew better than to believe any of the spells could actually work, even though all he ever read were fantasy books about magic, forever imagining himself as the great Master Mage who was the hero. Still, he couldn't resist casting his first spell, just to see ....
Following the text of the novel can be found several spells as they appear in the spellbook!
419 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2016
3 people want to read
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November 21, 2017
December Nolan is easily my favorite new author, and I look forward to more books from this literary genius who seems to be creating a new genre of her own. A sort of… genre-less genre. These books have unifying themes of unconventional spirituality, near-future or current event problem-solving, and an unusual reality. I suppose this could be called magical realism, and hence we come to the first book Nolan has released about actual magic.
A Course in Magic is probably Nolan’s most accessible book, a modern urban-fantasy that also isn’t, in that its world is our own, its approach to magic so pragmatic that it feels real—even achievable. Though the book contains plenty of December Nolan’s well-crafted philosophy, it is woven into the story with light-hearted seamlessness. One of the things I love most about Nolan’s work is that it and its characters are always aiming for healing—the characters, societal problems, or in this case, the whole world. The word “magical” appears in the second paragraph of the book, before any indication of the existence of literal magic in the book’s world, indicating what main character Edwin longs for that is also (we learn later) perhaps his birthright.
Nolan tracks the growth of characters who start off not at all likeable or in some cases even trustworthy—they feel like people you know, and not the best among those. Nolan effortlessly shrugs off the cliché of the brave, golden-hearted hero with no flaws—what’s interesting about that? Now, the story of an average jerk who, all unwilling at first, ends up seeking several lifetimes’ worth of redemption—that’s fascinating.
Edwin is a lonely, depressed, socially awkward geek living in a neglected house, scraping by in a dead-end job, ignored by his contemptuous coworkers and everyone else, when, at an office book exchange, he discovers a huge, leather-bound book that his coworkers roundly ridicule—a book that claims to teach real magic.
When Edwin finally accepts that magic is real, and that he can perform it, any elation he feels is soon replaced by terror. He tries to back out, but it becomes clear that he might say he’s done with magic, but it’s far from done with him. Is it a path to everything he has ever wanted, or a terrifying burden of responsibility he never asked for and can’t handle? Could it be both?
There is even an appendix of the spell book itself at the end, containing the full text of many of the spells performed in the story, with step by step instructions anyone could follow and do magic. It is hard to read the book without wanting to try to create real magic “in earth from the place where you live.”
This unique, delightfully readable novel of Nolan’s is highly recommended for anyone who needs more magic in their life. It will make you believe.
A Course in Magic is probably Nolan’s most accessible book, a modern urban-fantasy that also isn’t, in that its world is our own, its approach to magic so pragmatic that it feels real—even achievable. Though the book contains plenty of December Nolan’s well-crafted philosophy, it is woven into the story with light-hearted seamlessness. One of the things I love most about Nolan’s work is that it and its characters are always aiming for healing—the characters, societal problems, or in this case, the whole world. The word “magical” appears in the second paragraph of the book, before any indication of the existence of literal magic in the book’s world, indicating what main character Edwin longs for that is also (we learn later) perhaps his birthright.
Nolan tracks the growth of characters who start off not at all likeable or in some cases even trustworthy—they feel like people you know, and not the best among those. Nolan effortlessly shrugs off the cliché of the brave, golden-hearted hero with no flaws—what’s interesting about that? Now, the story of an average jerk who, all unwilling at first, ends up seeking several lifetimes’ worth of redemption—that’s fascinating.
Edwin is a lonely, depressed, socially awkward geek living in a neglected house, scraping by in a dead-end job, ignored by his contemptuous coworkers and everyone else, when, at an office book exchange, he discovers a huge, leather-bound book that his coworkers roundly ridicule—a book that claims to teach real magic.
When Edwin finally accepts that magic is real, and that he can perform it, any elation he feels is soon replaced by terror. He tries to back out, but it becomes clear that he might say he’s done with magic, but it’s far from done with him. Is it a path to everything he has ever wanted, or a terrifying burden of responsibility he never asked for and can’t handle? Could it be both?
There is even an appendix of the spell book itself at the end, containing the full text of many of the spells performed in the story, with step by step instructions anyone could follow and do magic. It is hard to read the book without wanting to try to create real magic “in earth from the place where you live.”
This unique, delightfully readable novel of Nolan’s is highly recommended for anyone who needs more magic in their life. It will make you believe.
Displaying 1 of 1 review