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The Golden Magic Series #1
The Lost Magic
Librarian note: Older cover of B01MTWKWD3.
While the magical world has long since retreated into obscurity, the magic users of the world are far from safe. A shadowy government agency is hunting them down, forcing the world to go deeper into hiding.
Alice Tomkins spent most of her life cut off from this hidden world, safe in her own bubble with her mother, until their home was invaded and Alice's mother was forced to send Alice away and sacrifice herself to save her daughter.
Fast forward a year. Alice is living on the streets of San Francisco, struggling to survive, when she meets Riley Nichols, another magic user in a similar situation. They find themselves drawn together after Alice saves Riley from the mysterious men in black. As it turns out, however, the men are the least of their problems. Alice is in the cross hairs of a maniacal magic user, determined to use her and her magic to fight back. In her attempts to get away, Alice and Riley find themselves thrown deeper into the world they've been living on the edges of their entire lives, and quickly learn that nothing is what it seems.
While the magical world has long since retreated into obscurity, the magic users of the world are far from safe. A shadowy government agency is hunting them down, forcing the world to go deeper into hiding.
Alice Tomkins spent most of her life cut off from this hidden world, safe in her own bubble with her mother, until their home was invaded and Alice's mother was forced to send Alice away and sacrifice herself to save her daughter.
Fast forward a year. Alice is living on the streets of San Francisco, struggling to survive, when she meets Riley Nichols, another magic user in a similar situation. They find themselves drawn together after Alice saves Riley from the mysterious men in black. As it turns out, however, the men are the least of their problems. Alice is in the cross hairs of a maniacal magic user, determined to use her and her magic to fight back. In her attempts to get away, Alice and Riley find themselves thrown deeper into the world they've been living on the edges of their entire lives, and quickly learn that nothing is what it seems.
282 pages, ebook
First published December 2, 2016
9 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2017
This book was the best fantasy book I read this year. It was definitely one of those could not put it down books. The plot is exciting and the characters have a great dynamic. I especially enjoyed that LGBT characters were casually included and acknowledged, while the book still maintained a sparate plot.
I am excited to read the future books in this series. I recommend it to the many friends I have who complain about the lack of LGBT characters in fantasy, as well as anyone looking for a new and interesting world of magic.
I am excited to read the future books in this series. I recommend it to the many friends I have who complain about the lack of LGBT characters in fantasy, as well as anyone looking for a new and interesting world of magic.
February 6, 2017
Interesting, fascinating, gripping, and unique. Those are some of the first words that come to mind thinking back on this book. Honestly, this book is magical in every sense of the word. There is practically effortless diversity and it's very refreshing to have a romance (especially a f/f romance!) that is important to the plot but /isn't/ the entire plot. That being said, the romance was beautifully and organically created and I very much enjoyed it. It was thrilling to learn about this world of magic alongside Alice who was still learning some of the ins and outs even as she herself was a magic user. All of the characters where three-dimensional and wonderful and really made the story.
The Lost Magic flowed beautifully and kept my attention throughout and I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
The Lost Magic flowed beautifully and kept my attention throughout and I cannot wait to see what comes next in this series!
December 28, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading more of the series! We witness Alice and Riley, strangers to each other at the outset, develop an unbreakable bond as the story unfolds and they both discover more about magic - and themselves - in the process.
Recommended to those who like magic and urban fantasy alike. If you have any interest at all in those genres, or just want a good read in general, then definitely check this out!
Recommended to those who like magic and urban fantasy alike. If you have any interest at all in those genres, or just want a good read in general, then definitely check this out!
December 19, 2016
Interesting story
This is a new interesting take on different magic types. I enjoyed the story and can't wait to see where it goes.
This is a new interesting take on different magic types. I enjoyed the story and can't wait to see where it goes.
January 5, 2021
I liked that the first chapter grabbed me and pulled me in. I liked that the relationship between Riley and Alice wasn't sexualized, as advertised. I liked that there were all these greater forces around them working to come get them and haul them away. I liked that that added a layer of tension to the story, on top of Alice's need to figure out how her powers worked.
I would've liked more information about the world itself. Why don't the magic users just take over the world? How do the rules of magic work? (Similarly, be careful with the use of the word "unconsciousness." Sleeping is different from that.) Why are so many of the magic users homeless? Why can't they hide their magic? Why can't they use their magic? Who is "they" and why are "they" so dangerous to magic users? Why don't the magic users just push "them" out of the way, so that "they" aren't a threat anymore? How long does illusion magic last when it comes to money? How come we don't see the long drag of Riley getting sick, or of Alice recovering? If they get rendered unconscious so many times, how come they don't suffer more brain damage from these attacks?
I would've liked more information about Daniel: why does he need an army to get what he wants? How did he grow to be like this -- in terms of having power, the suggestion is that compulsion is the same as brainwashing, though the compulsion itself doesn't manifest until the very end of the story when everyone gets a glazed look on their faces. Why didn't he need to use this compulsion before, when he admits that it wasn't easy to get so many hundreds of people on his side?
I would've liked more conflict. Why are so many of the characters we meet so hospitable? How do they feel about being pulled into Alice and Riley's situation, even in a minor way? Are there tensions between the characters, ones that we don't see? Does having Alice and Riley stay with so many other magic users (while the girls are on the run) cause rifts between the couples and families they stay with? If not, why not? Do any of the other characters begin to feel afraid of what might happen to them if Alice and Riley stay?
How about the places they break into -- do they have security cameras? Can magic turn those off? How come they never got caught sneaking in? How come the men in black only found them once? If the magic users are in such danger of being caught by the humans, how come so many humans aren't after them whenever they use magic in public? How come no one runs after Alice and Riley once the money they made turns back into the junk it once was? How come they get away with it so many times? And if the government is aware of the magic users, why isn't there any policing of them? Do they have regulations on magic users?
Why are so many of Daniel's captives so easygoing and hospitable to Alice and Riley?
How come Alice and Riley fall in love so fast? Where did Alice get the idea that she was worthless? Why does she not believe Riley could love her? Why don't they argue more often? How come Alice didn't use magic much before, even to try it out? How come she didn't know about the magical community, even though her mom was magic? Why didn't her mom reach out to the friends she had who love her? Are we ever going to see her again? Why isn't Alice trying harder to get back to her mom? Does she blame her at all for what happened? How come she didn't try to stay with family friends after what happened? How come Riley doesn't try to actually, physically stop Alice from doing things, instead of just arguing with her? Were Alice and her mom on the run before this all happened? Did she go to college (Alice)? Was she in college? Why/not?
(And these are just my wonderings)
Are we going to see all the characters we met again? Are we going to learn more about the government that's after them? Whose story is coming next? Is she going to have to kill Daniel in the end? Will she see her mom again?
Will magic be revealed to the world?
I kept wondering the whole time if the men in black were actually with Daniel, and he just did this to collect his army under the guise of something outside himself.
I would've liked more information about the world itself. Why don't the magic users just take over the world? How do the rules of magic work? (Similarly, be careful with the use of the word "unconsciousness." Sleeping is different from that.) Why are so many of the magic users homeless? Why can't they hide their magic? Why can't they use their magic? Who is "they" and why are "they" so dangerous to magic users? Why don't the magic users just push "them" out of the way, so that "they" aren't a threat anymore? How long does illusion magic last when it comes to money? How come we don't see the long drag of Riley getting sick, or of Alice recovering? If they get rendered unconscious so many times, how come they don't suffer more brain damage from these attacks?
I would've liked more information about Daniel: why does he need an army to get what he wants? How did he grow to be like this -- in terms of having power, the suggestion is that compulsion is the same as brainwashing, though the compulsion itself doesn't manifest until the very end of the story when everyone gets a glazed look on their faces. Why didn't he need to use this compulsion before, when he admits that it wasn't easy to get so many hundreds of people on his side?
I would've liked more conflict. Why are so many of the characters we meet so hospitable? How do they feel about being pulled into Alice and Riley's situation, even in a minor way? Are there tensions between the characters, ones that we don't see? Does having Alice and Riley stay with so many other magic users (while the girls are on the run) cause rifts between the couples and families they stay with? If not, why not? Do any of the other characters begin to feel afraid of what might happen to them if Alice and Riley stay?
How about the places they break into -- do they have security cameras? Can magic turn those off? How come they never got caught sneaking in? How come the men in black only found them once? If the magic users are in such danger of being caught by the humans, how come so many humans aren't after them whenever they use magic in public? How come no one runs after Alice and Riley once the money they made turns back into the junk it once was? How come they get away with it so many times? And if the government is aware of the magic users, why isn't there any policing of them? Do they have regulations on magic users?
Why are so many of Daniel's captives so easygoing and hospitable to Alice and Riley?
How come Alice and Riley fall in love so fast? Where did Alice get the idea that she was worthless? Why does she not believe Riley could love her? Why don't they argue more often? How come Alice didn't use magic much before, even to try it out? How come she didn't know about the magical community, even though her mom was magic? Why didn't her mom reach out to the friends she had who love her? Are we ever going to see her again? Why isn't Alice trying harder to get back to her mom? Does she blame her at all for what happened? How come she didn't try to stay with family friends after what happened? How come Riley doesn't try to actually, physically stop Alice from doing things, instead of just arguing with her? Were Alice and her mom on the run before this all happened? Did she go to college (Alice)? Was she in college? Why/not?
(And these are just my wonderings)
Are we going to see all the characters we met again? Are we going to learn more about the government that's after them? Whose story is coming next? Is she going to have to kill Daniel in the end? Will she see her mom again?
Will magic be revealed to the world?
I kept wondering the whole time if the men in black were actually with Daniel, and he just did this to collect his army under the guise of something outside himself.
June 24, 2017
A fantastic and well written magical adventure. Non-sexualized lesbians, a creative and unique universe, and characters that make it possible for a good deal of emotional investment. The universe is diverse and inclusive, and the main couple is absolutely adorable.
A fantastic first novel from this author, and I have already preordered book 2.
A fantastic first novel from this author, and I have already preordered book 2.
August 5, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Lost Magic" and couldn't put it down. In addition, I read the short story "Thoughts of Yesterday" and I am absolutely looking forward to the next book when it comes out. I have so many questions to ask, but I won't spoil it here.
The story had quite a few twists and turns and still has quite a few mysteries left to discover. It's an excellent read.
The story had quite a few twists and turns and still has quite a few mysteries left to discover. It's an excellent read.
October 9, 2017
Good tread
Will reAd next book out this one was easy to just keep reading. Wishing it would not end. Author has a way to bring in little surprises to keep you guessing. Very interesting and fun to read.
Will reAd next book out this one was easy to just keep reading. Wishing it would not end. Author has a way to bring in little surprises to keep you guessing. Very interesting and fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews