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Stirring Power
This is an alternate-cover edition for B01N8R12LY.
In young hunter Jacob Wildleaf’s world, magic isn’t a thing of beauty or wonder.
It’s a nightmarish plague.
And it’s crept into his village.
With his loved ones falling prey to the infection, Jacob sets out to find a healer in a nearby city. But before he can, soldiers loyal to Regent of the Blackwood Kingdom catch him using magic and chase him out.
He doesn’t realize they’ve followed him until it’s too late.
The Regent wants to purge all traces of magic from the land. Every village. Every person.
Jacob barely manages to escape the burning of his village, the sole survivor. With every step drawing him unwillingly deeper into battle, he must find a way to survive both the Regent’s soldiers and the magically created beasts to prevent more bloodshed than magic alone could ever cause.
If the magic inside him doesn’t destroy him first.
In young hunter Jacob Wildleaf’s world, magic isn’t a thing of beauty or wonder.
It’s a nightmarish plague.
And it’s crept into his village.
With his loved ones falling prey to the infection, Jacob sets out to find a healer in a nearby city. But before he can, soldiers loyal to Regent of the Blackwood Kingdom catch him using magic and chase him out.
He doesn’t realize they’ve followed him until it’s too late.
The Regent wants to purge all traces of magic from the land. Every village. Every person.
Jacob barely manages to escape the burning of his village, the sole survivor. With every step drawing him unwillingly deeper into battle, he must find a way to survive both the Regent’s soldiers and the magically created beasts to prevent more bloodshed than magic alone could ever cause.
If the magic inside him doesn’t destroy him first.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2016
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Blackbyrn
3 books26 followersK.C. Blackbyrn grew up in western Washington state and is currently enjoying life in the city of Seattle. Along with her passion for reading she studies Shorin Ryu Karate and Kajukenbo Kung Fu. After getting a B.A. in general studies she wrote her first book which became a 2018 finalist for Readers' Favorite.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 11, 2017
I do wrote honest reviews and unfortunately up until I got about 30% through, the book I was ready to give up and only didn't as I don't like quitting on a book. It did become more enjoyable after this and the storyline became more clear and less confusing. Excellent descriptions with unique and fascinating mythical creatures
Filled with Magic, action, fantasy, young adults and betrayal and would recommend to fans of these books.
I was torn coming to the end of the book whether to rate 3 or 4 but due to the fantastic twist at the end I decided to rate 4. Although it was a struggle at the start it definitely perked up and the descriptions and unique creatures made up for it xx
Filled with Magic, action, fantasy, young adults and betrayal and would recommend to fans of these books.
I was torn coming to the end of the book whether to rate 3 or 4 but due to the fantastic twist at the end I decided to rate 4. Although it was a struggle at the start it definitely perked up and the descriptions and unique creatures made up for it xx
February 27, 2017
I was given an arc copy of this novel for an honest review.
This was a well crafted, and well written story of a young man coming into a power he was unaware he possessed. The story itself moved along at a constant pace and the story kept me engaged. Occasionally I felt the MC needed a little work regrading his reactions, just tweaked, so that it mirrored how any other would react in those circumstances. BUT I have given four stars because the writing itself is really well done. The author is fluent in their craft.
As remarked in a previous review... I found the new cover more compelling and this would have had be pick this up to read the blub.
This is a book that I would happily recommend to lovers of Fantasy and mild horror.
This was a well crafted, and well written story of a young man coming into a power he was unaware he possessed. The story itself moved along at a constant pace and the story kept me engaged. Occasionally I felt the MC needed a little work regrading his reactions, just tweaked, so that it mirrored how any other would react in those circumstances. BUT I have given four stars because the writing itself is really well done. The author is fluent in their craft.
As remarked in a previous review... I found the new cover more compelling and this would have had be pick this up to read the blub.
This is a book that I would happily recommend to lovers of Fantasy and mild horror.
February 13, 2018
Interesting concept, but it has a long way to go before being publish-worthy. The version I read was so riddled with formatting errors that it was practically unreadable. Paragraph breaks happened in the middle of sentences. Scene breaks were random - sometimes in the middle of scenes, but not always where a scene break designation was necessary. For instance, in one paragraph a character is in bed, sick, not feeling like eating, and closes her eyes. The next paragraph she is being cremated on a pyre with people looking on.
I persevered to read in spite of the formatting only to find awkward sentences, unnatural dialogue, poorly constructed scenes, and an overall serious need for editing at every level. The author seems to want to tell us too much - not only in terms of telling what could and should be shown, but in going over the same scenes from different points of view with disorienting little jumps in time. None of the reiteration was necessary or interesting. For instance, at one point you see some of the characters being led into captivity by enemies, then suddenly you are back in time to watch them be captured. Why? Nothing new was learned and the potential excitement in the scene is lost because we already know the outcome. Pick the character whose point of view is best for that scene and stick with it! If something happens beyond that point of view character's experience that we must know, find another way to express that later.
The overall concept has potential, but it is far from ready to share yet. I did like the cover art, however.
I persevered to read in spite of the formatting only to find awkward sentences, unnatural dialogue, poorly constructed scenes, and an overall serious need for editing at every level. The author seems to want to tell us too much - not only in terms of telling what could and should be shown, but in going over the same scenes from different points of view with disorienting little jumps in time. None of the reiteration was necessary or interesting. For instance, at one point you see some of the characters being led into captivity by enemies, then suddenly you are back in time to watch them be captured. Why? Nothing new was learned and the potential excitement in the scene is lost because we already know the outcome. Pick the character whose point of view is best for that scene and stick with it! If something happens beyond that point of view character's experience that we must know, find another way to express that later.
The overall concept has potential, but it is far from ready to share yet. I did like the cover art, however.
March 13, 2024
This is book one from 2017, and I can’t find a follow-up story that is implied in the title (Magic Book 1). The ‘illness/curse’ (Midas touch concept) and seeking to abolish it was an interesting premise. I kept getting thrown off by the use of Dregen instead of the more customary Dragon. Some story tropes were utilized. As I read, I got impatient to resolve the issues with Princess Adeline and Prince Mathew. There were also odd tags that felt like they should have been connected to dialogs, but weren’t. Some of the metaphors worked, others didn’t. “Jacob fought against the panic flooding his chest like a bowl of melting snow.” These types of sentences constructs caused me to pause. Nevertheless, I did like the book. And I appreciated that it took five years to write.
October 16, 2017
K. C. Blackbyrn's take on magic and what it could mean was a great diversion from traditional themed magic fantasy, and I enjoyed her rendition of greater powers and Jacob's harrowing tale. This book consistently left me wondering what the outcome would be, and while the start had me a little uncertain, it only mirrored the confusion of the main character as he comes to terms with a world far beyond the one he knows. I enjoyed the writing, and it reminded me very much of the Princess Bride in its telling, for its vivid and different imagery. Fantasy normally has a very well trod path and Blackbyrn takes you where fantasy should - beyond what you can imagine.
May 11, 2017
KC Blackbyrn has built a world in which magic is unlike anything we have known. It is a plague, a curse, a weapon and a shield. Jacob Wildleaf is thrown into a journey for his life to find a cure for the magic that rages inside him and with the briefest of touches can kill, but along the way he must help to save a kingdom from an evil usurper. We are taken along for the ride and I became thoroughly engrossed.
October 12, 2017
“Stirring Power” by K.C. Blackbyrn has royal intrigue, deception, and dragons! It’s a creative action/adventure story with an interesting new take on organic magic. Jacob is the likable orphan hero who grows in understanding and power; Adeline is a selfless Princess heroine seeking to save her realm. The plot has frequent twists and the world building is solid. This is the first in a series; it ends with a foreboding revelation.
April 18, 2018
The book was well written and the idea of the story was unique and interesting. Like some have said, the pace was a little lacking until about half way through when the story began to gain momentum and pace. That said, I did get to feel more connected with the main characters at this time and found the 2nd half a pleasant read. The ending felt a little abrupt and could have been fleshed out without the cliffhanger ending; it wouldn't have stop readers coming back.
June 14, 2017
A riveting adventure!
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a fantasy story as much as I enjoyed 'Stirring Power'. The author made a new but entirely believable world with unique creatures and a fresh take on magic. Brilliant!
It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a fantasy story as much as I enjoyed 'Stirring Power'. The author made a new but entirely believable world with unique creatures and a fresh take on magic. Brilliant!
June 23, 2017
Fantastic
I loved following Jacob on his heroic adventure to save the ones he loves. The book will definitely have you gripping the pages as you follow along as Jacob battles heroic feats in order to to save his family.
I loved following Jacob on his heroic adventure to save the ones he loves. The book will definitely have you gripping the pages as you follow along as Jacob battles heroic feats in order to to save his family.
June 27, 2017
Although the story gets off to a slow start, I was soon engrossed in Jacob's journey as his character evolved and the action picked up. Great world-building, and I loved the unique view of the origins of magic. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 11, 2016
Amazing!!!!
The author had given me this book to read in exchange for a review and I loved it. The action was amazing, the characters were awesome and the plot was well written. The story is about 17 year old Jacob, a young boy keoba, a village in the mountains that's has stayed hidden from the outside world. But when persons in his village starts dying he goes out to seek a rememdy and that's when he found he had poweres. The creatures in this book was so scary, but I feel in love with one Niro. This book was amazing from start to finishing, during his journey with a man who was searching for his father they both encountered persons, a sea that seems to swallow people, trees and more mystical creatures and animals. The ending came as a big shocker.. who knew that that would happen. I found myself getting lost and hurrying so I could reach the end.. This book had me anticipating what was coming next. I would highly recommend it. It was a fun read.
The author had given me this book to read in exchange for a review and I loved it. The action was amazing, the characters were awesome and the plot was well written. The story is about 17 year old Jacob, a young boy keoba, a village in the mountains that's has stayed hidden from the outside world. But when persons in his village starts dying he goes out to seek a rememdy and that's when he found he had poweres. The creatures in this book was so scary, but I feel in love with one Niro. This book was amazing from start to finishing, during his journey with a man who was searching for his father they both encountered persons, a sea that seems to swallow people, trees and more mystical creatures and animals. The ending came as a big shocker.. who knew that that would happen. I found myself getting lost and hurrying so I could reach the end.. This book had me anticipating what was coming next. I would highly recommend it. It was a fun read.
January 23, 2017
This is a great story, well crafted, and very well written. The premise was great. The pacing was consistent. Most of the time, the story kept me engaged. However, the tension wasn't always there for me. Once in a while a clue was dropped, I felt, a little too early and it killed the tension. And at times, I had a little trouble getting through the exposition during their journey. Other times, I had trouble at times relating to the protagonist, Jacob. It seemed in the beginning he should have been feeling remorse. But I didn't get that from him. For me, it needed more of the human element.
Again, it's four stars because the writing is outstanding. The cover and synopsis was intriguing enough for me to get the book. Then once I started reading, I realized it wasn't the kind of story I usually go for. I recommend this to the fantasy sci-fi or horror reader who tends to enjoy these things.
By the way, there is a new cover on Amazon that is more intriguing than this one.
Again, it's four stars because the writing is outstanding. The cover and synopsis was intriguing enough for me to get the book. Then once I started reading, I realized it wasn't the kind of story I usually go for. I recommend this to the fantasy sci-fi or horror reader who tends to enjoy these things.
By the way, there is a new cover on Amazon that is more intriguing than this one.
April 4, 2017
In this fantasy world, whole communities are falling sick with a mysterious illness. Young Jacob Wildleaf discovers that there is a new power, called magic, flowing through the land and creating weird and wonderful monsters. Jacob must take part in a quest to find his father and the answer to where the magic came from. This book was very enjoyable to read, with well-formed, likeable characters and I liked all the creatures the writer created, from the treems to the bloodthirsty chirops and many more. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 5, 2017
Magic
An interesting read in which magic is born and takes hold in strange and mystical ways, great details described and quite bloodthirsty in parts. Some strange creatures of good and bad, Jacob is cursed with magic but in a different way to the others. Good vs evil, Princess and soldiers trees and dragens.
The twist at the end was a corker nice one an enjoyable read and nicely written
An interesting read in which magic is born and takes hold in strange and mystical ways, great details described and quite bloodthirsty in parts. Some strange creatures of good and bad, Jacob is cursed with magic but in a different way to the others. Good vs evil, Princess and soldiers trees and dragens.
The twist at the end was a corker nice one an enjoyable read and nicely written
January 8, 2017
A well crafted tale about magic and a young boy who discovers he has powers in a world where they are forbidden. I thought the author did a great job of bringing the world to life and I could really imagine where they were. I would recommend it.
March 5, 2017
This was an intriguing story with interesting characters. Magic is usually a dangerous tool that people learn to wield. This story had a nice twist to what we normally see with people who use magic. In some places the plot seemed to be disconnected and the ending was abrupt but it was a good story.
December 14, 2016
Beautifully written and imaginative story about the origin of magic. I couldn't stay away from this book and will remember it long after reading the last word.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews