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Shadows of Magic
A war is igniting… An otherworldly lover of plants must make a choice between her destiny and her deadly fire mage brother. Kel builds her own safety after being abandoned in the woods at the age of six. Out of catastrophe and her own empathetic nature comes a gentle but unstoppable power, a deep connection to the natural world. Now all she wants is to stay in her cozy home with her plants and the animals she's befriended. An ancient conflict threatens to divide them… But the brother who shattered their family with a power he couldn't control needs her help. A war is igniting between the last of the mages and the people their forebears cruelly suppressed. Kel must choose between the brother she loves despite what he's done and the destiny calling to her in the forest. A new family. The other half of her lineage, long dormant, drawing her to them for a purpose she can't yet fathom. An enigmatic shapeshifter warns her from this other family, though, and will fight to keep her from them. Kel's love and innocence, which saved her once, and her deep yearning for the family she lost, now threaten to destroy her. Venture into the forest, hole up in a cottage while the rain thunders down outside, and curl up by the fire with Shadows of Magic, a dark, richly imagined adventure that explores the complexities of power and the strength and limits of love in a world where everyone has their own agenda. This epic fantasy adventure contains depictions of violence, infrequent profanity, and romantic relationships without graphic depictions (zero spice).
- GenresFantasy
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2017
136 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Sarah McCarthy
5 books6 followersSarah McCarthy lives in the woods on an island in a place with no cell service. Internet arrives by squirrel.
She grew up devouring everything by authors like Tamora Pierce and Stephen King, and spending hours filling notebooks with the beginnings of stories. Every week in summers she'd leave the library with a truly optimistically high stack of books.
There's nothing she likes more than getting lost in a well told story. Except maybe getting actually lost on a walk. Temporarily.
She hopes her stories give you fond memories, and that you find yourself uncomfortably rooting for her villains.
She grew up devouring everything by authors like Tamora Pierce and Stephen King, and spending hours filling notebooks with the beginnings of stories. Every week in summers she'd leave the library with a truly optimistically high stack of books.
There's nothing she likes more than getting lost in a well told story. Except maybe getting actually lost on a walk. Temporarily.
She hopes her stories give you fond memories, and that you find yourself uncomfortably rooting for her villains.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 8, 2018
It is a great book to read
February 3, 2018
Great story, great plot, just took so long to get thru.
Kel was my favorite character and the relationship between Isabelle was confusing, but fitting. I really hoped that Erildar woild be there to open the school with them and that Ronan would come to his senses and do the right thing.
Kel was my favorite character and the relationship between Isabelle was confusing, but fitting. I really hoped that Erildar woild be there to open the school with them and that Ronan would come to his senses and do the right thing.
October 16, 2017
Had a hard time putting it down
Has been a long time since I've read a fantasy. Intended to savor this one a little bit at a time but couldn't put it down for long and whizzed through. What a great story. Loved all the characters and their developing relationships and they were believable in the midst of some very intriguing, creative magic which kept surprising me. Lots of action and vivid description which carried me along. I think this could make a very entertaining movie, both scary and uplifting with numerous opportunities for humor.
Has been a long time since I've read a fantasy. Intended to savor this one a little bit at a time but couldn't put it down for long and whizzed through. What a great story. Loved all the characters and their developing relationships and they were believable in the midst of some very intriguing, creative magic which kept surprising me. Lots of action and vivid description which carried me along. I think this could make a very entertaining movie, both scary and uplifting with numerous opportunities for humor.
October 20, 2017
A good read
This is a good read, enjoyed the story. Had a great character development and excellent storyline. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.
This is a good read, enjoyed the story. Had a great character development and excellent storyline. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.
October 16, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed and consumed voraciously.
September 6, 2018
The magic system in this book was very interesting. I liked how magic wasn’t natural to humans, and how that shaped this society - both in the past, and in the present. It gave this book a very different feel than most fantasies since there really wasn’t an ancient magic tradition among the humans - merely a single civilization that lasted for a couple hundred years, that fell less than a century earlier.
I liked Finn in this story because he didn’t want to be a mage, or a leader, or a killer, or any of the other various responsibilities that he assumed, but he assumed them all knowingly and with choice. Nothing was thrust upon him for him to complain against, but rather, he recognized a need and filled it time and time again. This made him a much stronger character and it became easy to understand the respect that the other’s all had in him.
My one issue with this book is that it ended in a very precarious manner. While some villains were defeated, the big bad was merely pacified and his plans for domination delayed. If this is intended to be the first in a series, then that’s ok, but everything I’ve seen indicates that its a stand-alone, which makes this ending odd. In a romance book, I’d call this ending an HFN (happily for now) rather than an HEA (happily ever after) which I”m not really a fan of in a stand-alone fantasy story. I’d have preferred to have a bit more certainty in the future of these characters if this is all that I will ever see of them.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I liked Finn in this story because he didn’t want to be a mage, or a leader, or a killer, or any of the other various responsibilities that he assumed, but he assumed them all knowingly and with choice. Nothing was thrust upon him for him to complain against, but rather, he recognized a need and filled it time and time again. This made him a much stronger character and it became easy to understand the respect that the other’s all had in him.
My one issue with this book is that it ended in a very precarious manner. While some villains were defeated, the big bad was merely pacified and his plans for domination delayed. If this is intended to be the first in a series, then that’s ok, but everything I’ve seen indicates that its a stand-alone, which makes this ending odd. In a romance book, I’d call this ending an HFN (happily for now) rather than an HEA (happily ever after) which I”m not really a fan of in a stand-alone fantasy story. I’d have preferred to have a bit more certainty in the future of these characters if this is all that I will ever see of them.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
September 16, 2018
There are a large number of coming to age / coming to power novels and they vary widely in quality. Sarah McCarthy’s Shadows of Magic is on the very good end of this spectrum. It’s a lot of fun following along as her lead character Finn first discovers he’s one of the very mages he despised, learns the costs of magic gone wrong, flees and eventually is on the way to learning the key lesson that it isn’t power that defines a person it’s how that person choosers to wield it. True for magic. True for so much in life. And the fact that this is embedded in a story that’s fun to read, with a neat plot and well crafted cast of characters makes it total enjoyment. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to highly recommend.
October 15, 2019
Pace, plot, world and character development - all good!
The only reason it's not five stars is there were a few bits of violence and darkness that rang my squeamish radar (I'm pretty sensitive to violence and darkness so it probably wouldn't bother most people).
Loved the world, the characters. The interpretation of magic and the way it works is great, the character development is great and the characters were relatable. The good guys were good guys, with flaws but fundamentally good. The bad guys were clearly bad guys. In some parts it felt like the fast-forward button had been pushed and things seemed to develop a little disjointed but the plot held together well. Really enjoyed this and will be looking out for others by this author!
The only reason it's not five stars is there were a few bits of violence and darkness that rang my squeamish radar (I'm pretty sensitive to violence and darkness so it probably wouldn't bother most people).
Loved the world, the characters. The interpretation of magic and the way it works is great, the character development is great and the characters were relatable. The good guys were good guys, with flaws but fundamentally good. The bad guys were clearly bad guys. In some parts it felt like the fast-forward button had been pushed and things seemed to develop a little disjointed but the plot held together well. Really enjoyed this and will be looking out for others by this author!
September 14, 2018
My first read by Sarah McCarthy. She has created an exception story with wonderfully developed characters. Loved both Finn and his sister Kel. The grumpy old horse is an added bonus. This is a page turned from the first page as you want to know what's coming next. Hopefully there will be more stories with these character and this world in the future. Do yourself a favor and read it -- you won't be sorry.
March 22, 2021
This is a book book! Finn snd his sister (Kel) are on the run because Finn has magic which is forbidden. Finn does not know how to control his gift and is afraid of it. Kel starts manifesting her gift. The two siblings met another pair of mages and the the adventure really starts l. This book deals with responsibility and self acceptance. I really enjoyed it.
September 16, 2017
Fascinating story and take on magic that fell slightly short of an amazing deliverance. The characters were likable enough and the world and history was interesting! Not sure if there will be another story to follow, but would be nice to see how things transpire!
May 15, 2018
Wonderful Very Original
Fantastic Ideas and charming characters . Recommend for lovers of fantasy books. I love the relationship between Finn and his little sister each trying to help the other while completely unprepared to do so
Fantastic Ideas and charming characters . Recommend for lovers of fantasy books. I love the relationship between Finn and his little sister each trying to help the other while completely unprepared to do so
July 5, 2020
Magic
Of you have ever wish you had magic or wished it actually existed this is a book you will want to read. Not only is it written really well but you forget your reading a fiction of fantasy.
Of you have ever wish you had magic or wished it actually existed this is a book you will want to read. Not only is it written really well but you forget your reading a fiction of fantasy.
December 11, 2017
Overall the book was alright but the story would be better suited to young adult readers or new comers to the fantasy genre.
March 30, 2020
Shadows of magic
Well written, full of twists and suspense , enough to keep reading long past bedtime. I am looking forward to reading a sequel
Well written, full of twists and suspense , enough to keep reading long past bedtime. I am looking forward to reading a sequel
February 28, 2022
Great book
I enjoyed the plot, and the characters were well planned. I recommend this book to those who also enjoy magical stories.
I enjoyed the plot, and the characters were well planned. I recommend this book to those who also enjoy magical stories.
January 25, 2025
Loved it!!
Amazing book full of adventure, magic, fun and entertainment! I had a great time reading it and love the many different characters!!
Amazing book full of adventure, magic, fun and entertainment! I had a great time reading it and love the many different characters!!
August 16, 2025
Different!
It’s a keep reading book. So much going on and great characters, good and bad. Off to read No. 2 now.
It’s a keep reading book. So much going on and great characters, good and bad. Off to read No. 2 now.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews