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Fairies of Rush #1
By Magic Beguiled
By New York Times and USA Today Bestselling, RITA® Award winning author, Maggie Shayne
*Originally titled Fairytale.
A little boy’s haven…
As a child Adam found respite from his father’s cruelty in the woods around their home. During one of his forest adventures, he crawled through tunnel and emerged into another world, a magical world, where a beautiful fairy child splashes in an enchanted pool.
It was just imagination…
Or so Adam tells himself as an adult. Until he finds a painting of that same crystal-strewn glade, that same glistening pool, the same mysterious girl splashing in its waters.
That painting becomes his most cherished possession.
Brigit thinks she knows who she is…
A fire razed the orphanage where she lived. But a homeless man saved her, and he saved the book that had been left on its doorstep with her.
She and Raze have been family to each other ever since.
Brigit can paint anything she sees precisely, and she uses her gift to get her and Raze off the streets when he gets too old and too sick to survive that way anymore.
The wrong people find out about her ability, though, and Raze is kidnapped. To get him back, Brigit must get close enough to Adam to copy his painting, switch them, and deliver the original to the kidnapper.
But it’s not just a painting…
It’s the key to Brigit’s secret past, her connection to the enchanted land Adam discovered as a boy, and a message from a twin sister she never knew she had pointing the way to her destiny.
Fans of films like The Huntsman will devour this series.
*Originally titled Fairytale.
A little boy’s haven…
As a child Adam found respite from his father’s cruelty in the woods around their home. During one of his forest adventures, he crawled through tunnel and emerged into another world, a magical world, where a beautiful fairy child splashes in an enchanted pool.
It was just imagination…
Or so Adam tells himself as an adult. Until he finds a painting of that same crystal-strewn glade, that same glistening pool, the same mysterious girl splashing in its waters.
That painting becomes his most cherished possession.
Brigit thinks she knows who she is…
A fire razed the orphanage where she lived. But a homeless man saved her, and he saved the book that had been left on its doorstep with her.
She and Raze have been family to each other ever since.
Brigit can paint anything she sees precisely, and she uses her gift to get her and Raze off the streets when he gets too old and too sick to survive that way anymore.
The wrong people find out about her ability, though, and Raze is kidnapped. To get him back, Brigit must get close enough to Adam to copy his painting, switch them, and deliver the original to the kidnapper.
But it’s not just a painting…
It’s the key to Brigit’s secret past, her connection to the enchanted land Adam discovered as a boy, and a message from a twin sister she never knew she had pointing the way to her destiny.
Fans of films like The Huntsman will devour this series.
543 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 1996
696 people are currently reading
2873 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,571 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
March 18, 2012
2.5 stars
It was free.
So, how much can I really complain about it?
The part of the story that was about a lost fairy princess and her twin was pretty interesting.
But.
You had to slog through way too much of the main characters Deep Otherworldly Love for Each Other to get to the original plot, that it made it kind of hard to take. I felt like I was getting beaten over the head with their passion for each other. Urp. *shudder*
I think Shayne is a good writer. All she needs (my opinion) is an editor that can persuade her to cut out some massive hunks of the repetitive romantic stuff. Otherwise, I think she had some really clever ideas, and a potentially good start to a series with this book.
It was free.
So, how much can I really complain about it?
The part of the story that was about a lost fairy princess and her twin was pretty interesting.
But.
You had to slog through way too much of the main characters Deep Otherworldly Love for Each Other to get to the original plot, that it made it kind of hard to take. I felt like I was getting beaten over the head with their passion for each other. Urp. *shudder*
I think Shayne is a good writer. All she needs (my opinion) is an editor that can persuade her to cut out some massive hunks of the repetitive romantic stuff. Otherwise, I think she had some really clever ideas, and a potentially good start to a series with this book.
April 4, 2012
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE PRETTY COVER!!!
The cover is the ONLY thing good about this book. The story is a COMPLETE FAILURE!!!
Here's the Summary: Oh, do I know you-no couldn't be but wait I feel like I've known you all my life-you're my fate-I know you're lying to me but that's okay cuz I've been betrayed before- I won't let it happen to me again-why don't you move in with me-oh no, I'm falling for you-let's sleep together while you're so drugged you can barely sit up- damn that was awesome-damn that was a mistake-wow you've had a rough life, I've had a rough life blahblahblah-you still don't trust me-you're in danger-I'd help you through anything even though you're a fairy who will break my heart and steal my soul-it's cool-I love you, you can use me for anything you want----Gag reflex in overdrive at this point!!!
This book was ridiculous and pathetic. Again, one of my attempts at self torture that proved successful. I wanted to give this book up so many times but since I spent the money on it, I made myself finish it.
The writing is awful, the grammar is awful, the structure is awful…I think you can see where this is going.
There is no plot. This was a horrible attempt to recreate an adult fairytale—it was dragged out and repetitive.
There are four phases that will repeat in your mind over and over as you read this story: GAG ME!!!, DUH!!!, I AM SO BORED, GET TO THE POINT ALREADY!!! and I AM SO READY TO HIT DELETE ON MY NOOK!!! The two most common reactions throughout the book: EYE ROLLING and NODDING OFF.
I think I have sufficiently expressed my dislike of this book. No point in wasting any more time on it.
The cover is the ONLY thing good about this book. The story is a COMPLETE FAILURE!!!
Here's the Summary: Oh, do I know you-no couldn't be but wait I feel like I've known you all my life-you're my fate-I know you're lying to me but that's okay cuz I've been betrayed before- I won't let it happen to me again-why don't you move in with me-oh no, I'm falling for you-let's sleep together while you're so drugged you can barely sit up- damn that was awesome-damn that was a mistake-wow you've had a rough life, I've had a rough life blahblahblah-you still don't trust me-you're in danger-I'd help you through anything even though you're a fairy who will break my heart and steal my soul-it's cool-I love you, you can use me for anything you want----Gag reflex in overdrive at this point!!!
This book was ridiculous and pathetic. Again, one of my attempts at self torture that proved successful. I wanted to give this book up so many times but since I spent the money on it, I made myself finish it.
The writing is awful, the grammar is awful, the structure is awful…I think you can see where this is going.
There is no plot. This was a horrible attempt to recreate an adult fairytale—it was dragged out and repetitive.
There are four phases that will repeat in your mind over and over as you read this story: GAG ME!!!, DUH!!!, I AM SO BORED, GET TO THE POINT ALREADY!!! and I AM SO READY TO HIT DELETE ON MY NOOK!!! The two most common reactions throughout the book: EYE ROLLING and NODDING OFF.
I think I have sufficiently expressed my dislike of this book. No point in wasting any more time on it.
March 5, 2015
I went into reading Fairytale knowing what to expect from the story itself from fellow readers who recommended it to me. What I didn’t expect was the emotions that flooded from me towards the end of this book. When I was warned to have tissues close by I didn’t listen as I should have.
We meet the three main characters as young children each of them on a very different path. Adam Reid an adventurous child who is beaten into believing that his trip to Rush was a foolish dream. Brigit, a lost orphan believing in fairytales as a way to cope with being alone in the world. And Bridin, a prisoner living on a hope of a future where she is reunited with her sister and returning to their world. All with a destiny to fulfill.
Skip ahead to adulthood for these three individuals, and Adam and Brigit meet. Sparks fly!!! Brigit is hiding something and racing against time to save the only person she has ever loved. Adam knowing all about the myths and legends of fairies knows deep down what Brigit is and is fighting it. As we continue on in the story we follow with Adam and Brigit as they both fight with their childhood dreams of fairytales and the harsh world that has made them stop believing in the first place.
The beginning is a slow start but well worth the buildup because the end was amazing knowing what fate has in store for these 3 characters and asking yourself how is “happily ever after” going to happen for them and then seeing how it all comes together.
I was choked up twice during this book and found myself being whisked away into the emotional rollercoaster the last 3 chapters take you through.
Overall I was mesmerized by this story and I am dying to read the next in the series. The one thing I was missing was a little bit more about the world of Rush, but I have been promised by my fellow readers that book 2 will satisfy that need and that I will not be disappointed. So on to book 2 I go, can’t wait to read Bridin’s story!!!!
I give this book 4 ½ out of 5 stars and recommend it for any readers looking for a new spin on Fairytales.
Charity Costa~Bewitching Bella Emissary of Literal Addiction & Proud member of Maggie Shayne’s Official Street Team
We meet the three main characters as young children each of them on a very different path. Adam Reid an adventurous child who is beaten into believing that his trip to Rush was a foolish dream. Brigit, a lost orphan believing in fairytales as a way to cope with being alone in the world. And Bridin, a prisoner living on a hope of a future where she is reunited with her sister and returning to their world. All with a destiny to fulfill.
Skip ahead to adulthood for these three individuals, and Adam and Brigit meet. Sparks fly!!! Brigit is hiding something and racing against time to save the only person she has ever loved. Adam knowing all about the myths and legends of fairies knows deep down what Brigit is and is fighting it. As we continue on in the story we follow with Adam and Brigit as they both fight with their childhood dreams of fairytales and the harsh world that has made them stop believing in the first place.
The beginning is a slow start but well worth the buildup because the end was amazing knowing what fate has in store for these 3 characters and asking yourself how is “happily ever after” going to happen for them and then seeing how it all comes together.
I was choked up twice during this book and found myself being whisked away into the emotional rollercoaster the last 3 chapters take you through.
Overall I was mesmerized by this story and I am dying to read the next in the series. The one thing I was missing was a little bit more about the world of Rush, but I have been promised by my fellow readers that book 2 will satisfy that need and that I will not be disappointed. So on to book 2 I go, can’t wait to read Bridin’s story!!!!
I give this book 4 ½ out of 5 stars and recommend it for any readers looking for a new spin on Fairytales.
Charity Costa~Bewitching Bella Emissary of Literal Addiction & Proud member of Maggie Shayne’s Official Street Team
February 6, 2023
As a young boy, the hero ventured into a cave near his house and found himself in Rush, the land of the Fairies. There he meet a woman who told him about his fate to fall in love with a girl and bring her home. But his abusive father beat the nonsense of fairies out of his young mind and the hero know lives in denial of every meeting the woman. But he found this painting called Rush which had the face of a woman whom utterly captivated him to the point of obsession.
The heroine was dumped at the alter of a church as a baby and all she remembers of her life before the orphanage was the story the nun would tell her. A mythical fairy tale about twin girls and fairies. She grew up on the streets, pick pocketing and forging painting until she cleaned her act up and opened a flower shop. But her past is back to haunt her and she's forced to become a thief again to save the life of a loved one.
From the second they meet, the hero and heroine are drawn together like magnets. The heroine recognizes the man who haunts her dream instantly and she attempts to flee from him, knowing it will kill her to betray him by stealing his painting. The hero is slow to realize she's the woman in his painting but when he does he becomes obsessed with having her. Though he knows very well that she's not to be trusted, that she has secrets and that she's after something, he can't stop himself from falling for her. I did like his weakness as at first he's portrayed as a harsh joyless man but with the heroine it's clear that he's trapped. She is tortured by guilt for deceiving the man she cares for, especially when she's able to see how much pain his life has given him. Abusive father, thieving ex wife and voices in his head make the hero fear he's going crazy. He begins to suspect that the mysterious yet stunning heroines is a fae herself and he must wrap his head around everything he's denied for so many years. I thought this was by far the best Maggie Shayne novel I have read so far. The intensity and chemistry between the two characters was awesome. Though I thought the chick cried FAR too often, I enjoyed reading about her struggles with trying to save the hero while at the same time actually dooming him.
The heroine was dumped at the alter of a church as a baby and all she remembers of her life before the orphanage was the story the nun would tell her. A mythical fairy tale about twin girls and fairies. She grew up on the streets, pick pocketing and forging painting until she cleaned her act up and opened a flower shop. But her past is back to haunt her and she's forced to become a thief again to save the life of a loved one.
From the second they meet, the hero and heroine are drawn together like magnets. The heroine recognizes the man who haunts her dream instantly and she attempts to flee from him, knowing it will kill her to betray him by stealing his painting. The hero is slow to realize she's the woman in his painting but when he does he becomes obsessed with having her. Though he knows very well that she's not to be trusted, that she has secrets and that she's after something, he can't stop himself from falling for her. I did like his weakness as at first he's portrayed as a harsh joyless man but with the heroine it's clear that he's trapped. She is tortured by guilt for deceiving the man she cares for, especially when she's able to see how much pain his life has given him. Abusive father, thieving ex wife and voices in his head make the hero fear he's going crazy. He begins to suspect that the mysterious yet stunning heroines is a fae herself and he must wrap his head around everything he's denied for so many years. I thought this was by far the best Maggie Shayne novel I have read so far. The intensity and chemistry between the two characters was awesome. Though I thought the chick cried FAR too often, I enjoyed reading about her struggles with trying to save the hero while at the same time actually dooming him.
June 11, 2012
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
I've had Fairytale on my Kindle for quite some time. I had even started it once upon a time but was pulled away for something else and never ended up finishing it. I'm a huge Maggie Shayne fan and I can't say exactly why I hadn't finished reading it before now. Once I sat down and restarted it again though, I was kicking myself for not having done it sooner. I was thoroughly enchanted.
The YA tags for this book are completely misleading and I can't blame the reviewers who went in expecting a YA, got something completely different, and therefore gave it low ratings. It's not a young adult novel, it's a beautifully written adult fairytale. :)
Adam is one of those heroes that you can't help but love because while he's smart, sexy and confident, he's also a bit tortured. Plagued by memories and dreams that caused thoughts he was punished for having, he's made it his life's work to try and understand.
Brigit is a wonderful heroine. She's sassy, tough, and multi-dimensional. Torn between what she knows is right and what she's forced to do, she scrapes through life the best she can and overcomes some pretty hefty obstacles. She also deals with the fear that she might be a bit crazy, though in her heart she knows she's not.
The two of them together are amazing. A literal fairytale written by fate, it doesn't come easy for our leading couple. When they finally figure things out though, it's an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions.
When a book pulls you along, mesmerized, and ends with such emotion that it has your heart close to bursting & you close to tears, you know it was good!
While not the fastest paced read in the beginning, it was beautifully built, magically crafted, & wonderfully concluded. I can't wait to see what's next in the FAIRIES OF RUSH series.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Fairytale 4 1/2 Skulls and would recommend it to fantasy and paranormal romance readers who are searching for an emotional and action packed read.
I've had Fairytale on my Kindle for quite some time. I had even started it once upon a time but was pulled away for something else and never ended up finishing it. I'm a huge Maggie Shayne fan and I can't say exactly why I hadn't finished reading it before now. Once I sat down and restarted it again though, I was kicking myself for not having done it sooner. I was thoroughly enchanted.
The YA tags for this book are completely misleading and I can't blame the reviewers who went in expecting a YA, got something completely different, and therefore gave it low ratings. It's not a young adult novel, it's a beautifully written adult fairytale. :)
Adam is one of those heroes that you can't help but love because while he's smart, sexy and confident, he's also a bit tortured. Plagued by memories and dreams that caused thoughts he was punished for having, he's made it his life's work to try and understand.
Brigit is a wonderful heroine. She's sassy, tough, and multi-dimensional. Torn between what she knows is right and what she's forced to do, she scrapes through life the best she can and overcomes some pretty hefty obstacles. She also deals with the fear that she might be a bit crazy, though in her heart she knows she's not.
The two of them together are amazing. A literal fairytale written by fate, it doesn't come easy for our leading couple. When they finally figure things out though, it's an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions.
When a book pulls you along, mesmerized, and ends with such emotion that it has your heart close to bursting & you close to tears, you know it was good!
While not the fastest paced read in the beginning, it was beautifully built, magically crafted, & wonderfully concluded. I can't wait to see what's next in the FAIRIES OF RUSH series.
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Fairytale 4 1/2 Skulls and would recommend it to fantasy and paranormal romance readers who are searching for an emotional and action packed read.
November 18, 2023
https://celebrityreaders.com/2023/11/...
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
4 stars —
ON REREAD:
3.5 stars — Since this was one of my earliest indie Kindle reads, I really wasn’t sure how it was going to be rereading it over a decade later. And while I definitely didn’t get as sucked in or emotionally invested, it actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. I can definitely see reading Bridin’s book, though I doubt I will continue on with the series (which is a bummer, b/c I thought this was just a duology, and I’d be finishing the series with book 2).
Adam was an okay hero. He was a bit too cynical for me, not that I didn’t understand how he got that way, but it just was a bit too much up and down in his moods at times for me. Brigit was about the same. I enjoyed her magical ways, but she was a bit stuck in her own mire of who she thought she was (a bad person). It made for some frustrating characters to watch, but not unlikeable.
I was on the fence about their romance. Parts were great, but there was also such a bit feeling of enchantment to it, that I couldn’t help but wonder if they would have been drawn to one another on their own, without the magic. There was also a bit of dub con in one steamy scene that I was on the fence about too, so something to watch for if that’s a HUGE no box for you.
So yeah. I enjoyed my read, but I wasn’t blown away. And maybe because I’d read my previous review before starting, I wasn’t as emotionally invested by the time the end came. I’m still curious to read Bridin’s story, since I already have it.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
4 stars —
ON REREAD:
3.5 stars — Since this was one of my earliest indie Kindle reads, I really wasn’t sure how it was going to be rereading it over a decade later. And while I definitely didn’t get as sucked in or emotionally invested, it actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. I can definitely see reading Bridin’s book, though I doubt I will continue on with the series (which is a bummer, b/c I thought this was just a duology, and I’d be finishing the series with book 2).
Adam was an okay hero. He was a bit too cynical for me, not that I didn’t understand how he got that way, but it just was a bit too much up and down in his moods at times for me. Brigit was about the same. I enjoyed her magical ways, but she was a bit stuck in her own mire of who she thought she was (a bad person). It made for some frustrating characters to watch, but not unlikeable.
I was on the fence about their romance. Parts were great, but there was also such a bit feeling of enchantment to it, that I couldn’t help but wonder if they would have been drawn to one another on their own, without the magic. There was also a bit of dub con in one steamy scene that I was on the fence about too, so something to watch for if that’s a HUGE no box for you.
So yeah. I enjoyed my read, but I wasn’t blown away. And maybe because I’d read my previous review before starting, I wasn’t as emotionally invested by the time the end came. I’m still curious to read Bridin’s story, since I already have it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2017
Why did I make myself finish this
Ok I'm not going to argue there's anything significantly bad about this story, no gaping flaws of morality or story structure, but there was little good about it either
there were like one or two elements I liked (ART FORGERY! SO MUCH POTENTIAL!) but it all drowns under the weight of a narrative voice where a man casually keeps calling a woman's dark hair raven-colored, where we have like eight tragic backstories and none of them are very developed, and where the love is all instant and informed rather than developed. and where the Epic Romance seems to be more important to the author than character.
I'm a grump. Just didn't like it and forced myself to finish anyway. I should really dnf more often.
Ok I'm not going to argue there's anything significantly bad about this story, no gaping flaws of morality or story structure, but there was little good about it either
there were like one or two elements I liked (ART FORGERY! SO MUCH POTENTIAL!) but it all drowns under the weight of a narrative voice where a man casually keeps calling a woman's dark hair raven-colored, where we have like eight tragic backstories and none of them are very developed, and where the love is all instant and informed rather than developed. and where the Epic Romance seems to be more important to the author than character.
I'm a grump. Just didn't like it and forced myself to finish anyway. I should really dnf more often.
October 16, 2011
Loved it, but moved rather slowly. Although effective in developing the characters and the relationship between Adam and Brigit, not much else was going on for much of the story, so there was no undercurrent of suspense to carry the story tbrough. That being said, it was a thouroughly enjoyable story.
January 2, 2020
Love is the true magic that heals and saves.
Brigit Malone has been searching for the truth of her identity all of her life. She has never felt like she belonged any where, that is until she moved into Adam Reid's home as a boarder. The only problem is, he's the man she must deceive and destroy in order to save another.
Adam Reid has been betrayed by every person he has ever loved. First his father and even his ex-wife. He has vowed to never, ever trust or love again. Then he met Brigit. He knows she is lying to him, but still he can't deny her anything, even his heart.
By Magic Beguiled by Maggie Shayne is a stand-alone paranormal romance set in contemporary times. I liked the overall story and the intricate plot, but some of the repetitive musings could have been edited out. The dialogue was interesting and eventually helped to define the characters and balance the musings. The pace of part one and the first half of part two was slow at first, to the point that I put it aside. However, as I continued to read, the pace picked up through to the ending. I appreciated the epilogue, which made for a perfect ending. I also appreciated that Ms. Shayne writes clean books with intimate details left to the readers imagination.
All in all, for me, this was a 3.5 read. However, because of the sigh-worthy ending, I'm giving it a 4.0.
Brigit Malone has been searching for the truth of her identity all of her life. She has never felt like she belonged any where, that is until she moved into Adam Reid's home as a boarder. The only problem is, he's the man she must deceive and destroy in order to save another.
Adam Reid has been betrayed by every person he has ever loved. First his father and even his ex-wife. He has vowed to never, ever trust or love again. Then he met Brigit. He knows she is lying to him, but still he can't deny her anything, even his heart.
By Magic Beguiled by Maggie Shayne is a stand-alone paranormal romance set in contemporary times. I liked the overall story and the intricate plot, but some of the repetitive musings could have been edited out. The dialogue was interesting and eventually helped to define the characters and balance the musings. The pace of part one and the first half of part two was slow at first, to the point that I put it aside. However, as I continued to read, the pace picked up through to the ending. I appreciated the epilogue, which made for a perfect ending. I also appreciated that Ms. Shayne writes clean books with intimate details left to the readers imagination.
All in all, for me, this was a 3.5 read. However, because of the sigh-worthy ending, I'm giving it a 4.0.
February 4, 2018
I probably should not have waited so long to write this as the details are getting a little fuzzy, but in all fairness, it was one of those that was middle of the road for me. Mostly because parts of the story feel old to me...2 siblings, one adopted and raised in luxury, but a prisoner and the other left in an orphanage who eventually lands on the streets and falls in with the bad seeds. The only twist being the girls are actually fairies, and one ends up with someone who is destined to eventually lead her back home. But then there is the cliched mistrust, but let me continue to leave you in my home to see where it all is going storyline, and the fact that the bad guy is the one pulling their strings.
It wasn't a struggle to read, most of the time, but not one of my favorite reads this year.
It wasn't a struggle to read, most of the time, but not one of my favorite reads this year.
September 22, 2017
Wonderfully written
I'd like to know more about RUSH, hope that more is given along the way in the rest of the series. But, for the mortal world and the struggles of the Princesses there, it is quite nice. Maggie fills you in with details, weaves a beautiful tale without it being overly tiring. This is one series that will be a joy to have. Recommend this to all who love Fairytales!
I'd like to know more about RUSH, hope that more is given along the way in the rest of the series. But, for the mortal world and the struggles of the Princesses there, it is quite nice. Maggie fills you in with details, weaves a beautiful tale without it being overly tiring. This is one series that will be a joy to have. Recommend this to all who love Fairytales!
May 24, 2019
Interesting that the title here is "Fairytale". My kindle copy is titled "My Magic Beguiled". It started out a little slow and I almost didn't continue, but, was glad I did. Once it got going, it was a page turner, but, I felt it needed a little more meat on the bones of the story. The story line is why I gave it 5 stars, but I wish there had been more depth to the story. Not sure I'll continue the series.
March 23, 2020
Fairy princess unaware
Maggie Shayne's writing is magick. In this, she brings to life two young people destined to come together. Neither have an easy childhood and both have seen betrayal. One, a full mortal who is destined to show the other the way home. The other, an orphan who does whatever is needed for her and the man she loves as a father to survive. A magical painting brings them together and sets the stage for rulership of the land called Rush.
Maggie Shayne's writing is magick. In this, she brings to life two young people destined to come together. Neither have an easy childhood and both have seen betrayal. One, a full mortal who is destined to show the other the way home. The other, an orphan who does whatever is needed for her and the man she loves as a father to survive. A magical painting brings them together and sets the stage for rulership of the land called Rush.
November 10, 2022
Transported
I liked that the story had overlapping time elements that made you feel like it was completely possible and believable. The element of danger just enough to hate the bad guys and of course the anticipation of whether or not they would get their happily ever after or if it would end on a cliffhanger. So glad it didn't. I was truly transported to another place and time
I liked that the story had overlapping time elements that made you feel like it was completely possible and believable. The element of danger just enough to hate the bad guys and of course the anticipation of whether or not they would get their happily ever after or if it would end on a cliffhanger. So glad it didn't. I was truly transported to another place and time
October 11, 2017
A unique love story
It’s been a while since I read a story centered around love. Written in the mid 1990’s, I would call this Magical Realism rather than Romance.
However, this great storyline was hampered by too many words trying to define how much they loved each other. It got tedious at times, thus 4 stars.
It’s been a while since I read a story centered around love. Written in the mid 1990’s, I would call this Magical Realism rather than Romance.
However, this great storyline was hampered by too many words trying to define how much they loved each other. It got tedious at times, thus 4 stars.
July 30, 2020
By Magic Beguiled by Maggie Shayne
This book is difficult to read. It is a great story with good, solid characters, but it switches POV without any designation or segue. At the beginning, there are short page breaks, even occasional artistry, but by Chapter 10, nothing. It just slides from on to another, leaving me mostly confused.
This book is difficult to read. It is a great story with good, solid characters, but it switches POV without any designation or segue. At the beginning, there are short page breaks, even occasional artistry, but by Chapter 10, nothing. It just slides from on to another, leaving me mostly confused.
August 8, 2017
Magic Beguiled
It's definite magic, I was almost instantly captured by this "fairy tale" unable to put it down after I started it. I will have to get the rest of the series to find out if the magic continues!!
It's definite magic, I was almost instantly captured by this "fairy tale" unable to put it down after I started it. I will have to get the rest of the series to find out if the magic continues!!
September 30, 2017
An interesting concept
There were some really cool moments in this book. I love it when fairy tales come to life. But there were some cheesy moments too. and the quicklime POV changes confused me.
There were some really cool moments in this book. I love it when fairy tales come to life. But there were some cheesy moments too. and the quicklime POV changes confused me.
June 30, 2018
A story of fae.
I love reading about fae and this story really hits the mark. It tells how a mother tries to save her twin children and how they grow without being with each other. They have to go through alot to find each other and try to get back to their world.
I love reading about fae and this story really hits the mark. It tells how a mother tries to save her twin children and how they grow without being with each other. They have to go through alot to find each other and try to get back to their world.
February 14, 2019
Could not put it down
I started this book just this evening and could not stop reading. The characters were compelling the setting was believable and if you ever believed in fairies you will be lost in this book. Cannot wait to start next book in series.
I started this book just this evening and could not stop reading. The characters were compelling the setting was believable and if you ever believed in fairies you will be lost in this book. Cannot wait to start next book in series.
October 9, 2019
Fairytale: I have the original first edition that has the same ISBN #
This book has been re-titled "BY MAGIC Beguiled". New series title is "MAGIC OF RUSH" or "BY MAGIC".
This book has been re-titled "BY MAGIC Beguiled". New series title is "MAGIC OF RUSH" or "BY MAGIC".
April 2, 2023
The Fae Are Real, maybe
A little boy finds a magic world of fairies. He never forgets what he saw there. An orphan girl discovers a knack for copying great art. How are these things related? If you enjoy fantasy and romance, you’ll enjoy this book..
A little boy finds a magic world of fairies. He never forgets what he saw there. An orphan girl discovers a knack for copying great art. How are these things related? If you enjoy fantasy and romance, you’ll enjoy this book..
June 19, 2017
Magical
Very interesting plot. Well interwoven with 2 sister's stories. Yet get a taste of the second storyline yet there could still be more to come of the first tale.
Very interesting plot. Well interwoven with 2 sister's stories. Yet get a taste of the second storyline yet there could still be more to come of the first tale.
August 9, 2017
Wonderful fantasy/mystery
This is a wonderful story with great characters. It will keep you guessing all the way to the end. If you like fantasy and mystery this series is for you.
This is a wonderful story with great characters. It will keep you guessing all the way to the end. If you like fantasy and mystery this series is for you.
August 18, 2017
Beautiful
Almost didn't read this because the cover looked too foofoo. But glad I did, lovely tale as old as time. Magical indeed.
Almost didn't read this because the cover looked too foofoo. But glad I did, lovely tale as old as time. Magical indeed.
August 25, 2017
Maggie Shayne is a gifted storyteller, and has woven another enchanting world for us to enjoy. I sometimes want to slap the characters for their stubborn and foolish behavior, but that's just a tribute to Ms. Shayne's ability to craft characters we can care about.
September 29, 2017
Enchanting story-Well worth reading for all ages
February 5, 2018
New author to explore
Being the first book in the series, I am wanting to read the next. Kept my attention through the whole book, congratulations!
Being the first book in the series, I am wanting to read the next. Kept my attention through the whole book, congratulations!
February 17, 2018
An enjoyable bit of escape with well drawn characters. I had no problem getting through it quickly :)!
February 23, 2019
On edge of seat
Book was very well written. Kept involved you on the edge of your seat and as ting more. Couldn't put down until finished.
Book was very well written. Kept involved you on the edge of your seat and as ting more. Couldn't put down until finished.
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