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The Magdalene / Terazin stories
Stealing Magic
Take the magical journey of a lifetime with Magdelene as she sets out to prove that she is the most powerful wizard of all. In Stealing Magic, celebrated fantasy author Tanya Huff, best known for her Blood novels, brings together her collection of all three Terazin stories and Magdelene stories in one volume. This is a must for all fantasy readers.
201 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 1999
380 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
151 books2,451 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 7, 2007
This book consists of 2 separate sets of fantasy stories, with different back-to-back covers (reminiscent of the old Ace Doubles).
On one side are stories of Terazin, top-notch thief. To join the Thieves' Guild, one does not simply knock on the front door and ask for an application. It is necessary to break into the building and make it to the inner sanctum deep underground, avoiding the traps set up along the way. Terazin does so, and is given an initiation test. She must bring the braided hair of Swan, a famous female warrior who will not take kindly to getting a sudden haircut. Other stories feature Terazin finding herself in the middle when it comes to internal Thieves' Guild politics.
Going the other way are stories of Magdalene, the world’s most powerful (and laziest) wizard. She is an apprentice to Adar, a castle wizard. She unknowingly dismantles his most powerful spells like they don’t even exist. She gains Adar’s powers, just before he is turned into a pile of gray ash, and decides to leave the castle. Traveling with H’sak, a demon trapped inside a mirror, she finds that the most bucolic villages have the most unique customs concerning wizards, like welcoming them with axes or chains and manacles. It doesn’t help that Magdalene, a redhead with a very healthy libido, doesn’t wear a pointy hat like normal wizards. She is summoned to various kings and wizards, and her attitude is like, "Yeah, yeah, let’s get this over with."
I really enjoyed these stories. They’re lighter, fast reading, and they show that Huff is a veteran fantasy author. The reader won’t go wrong with this strong, well done group of stories.
On one side are stories of Terazin, top-notch thief. To join the Thieves' Guild, one does not simply knock on the front door and ask for an application. It is necessary to break into the building and make it to the inner sanctum deep underground, avoiding the traps set up along the way. Terazin does so, and is given an initiation test. She must bring the braided hair of Swan, a famous female warrior who will not take kindly to getting a sudden haircut. Other stories feature Terazin finding herself in the middle when it comes to internal Thieves' Guild politics.
Going the other way are stories of Magdalene, the world’s most powerful (and laziest) wizard. She is an apprentice to Adar, a castle wizard. She unknowingly dismantles his most powerful spells like they don’t even exist. She gains Adar’s powers, just before he is turned into a pile of gray ash, and decides to leave the castle. Traveling with H’sak, a demon trapped inside a mirror, she finds that the most bucolic villages have the most unique customs concerning wizards, like welcoming them with axes or chains and manacles. It doesn’t help that Magdalene, a redhead with a very healthy libido, doesn’t wear a pointy hat like normal wizards. She is summoned to various kings and wizards, and her attitude is like, "Yeah, yeah, let’s get this over with."
I really enjoyed these stories. They’re lighter, fast reading, and they show that Huff is a veteran fantasy author. The reader won’t go wrong with this strong, well done group of stories.
October 7, 2021
Really good, funny and cool stories who are diffirent from most wizard or thief stories I've read. Now when I'm done I'll be missing them. The stories are in big contrast if you do the funny one: the wizard who are laxy and funny or the thief who are serious and wellplanned. The thief stories reminding me of Thieves World settings.
Liked Magdalene: the world's most powerful and laziest wizard in the world who really don't want to do anything if she can avoid it, and Terazin, top notch thief reminding me of Thieves world stories. I'll miss them. Funny and interesting characters.
Liked Magdalene: the world's most powerful and laziest wizard in the world who really don't want to do anything if she can avoid it, and Terazin, top notch thief reminding me of Thieves world stories. I'll miss them. Funny and interesting characters.
August 10, 2009
Eh. The stories in this book were amusing, but not much more than that. I had read several of them before in Huff's other collections, and I frankly liked them better then. This might have been because I'm not terribly enamored with either the Magdelene or Terazin characters and reading a whole book of their stories was a bit much for me.
I love Huff's tendency of prefacing the stories in her collections with information specific to each of them, and that tendency was regrettably absent here. Instead, Huff wrote a short Author's Afterward and stuck it at the end of each of the character sections. This could have been nice way of slipping in that information in a slightly different manner, but the two Afterwards were word-for-word identical and this was pretty disappointing.
I also thought the tête-bêche format of this 2005 edition was gimmicky and distracting and all together unnecessary. This edition, however, included two additional stories than did the 1999 edition, so it's still the edition I'd recommend reading if you were so inclined.
I love Huff's tendency of prefacing the stories in her collections with information specific to each of them, and that tendency was regrettably absent here. Instead, Huff wrote a short Author's Afterward and stuck it at the end of each of the character sections. This could have been nice way of slipping in that information in a slightly different manner, but the two Afterwards were word-for-word identical and this was pretty disappointing.
I also thought the tête-bêche format of this 2005 edition was gimmicky and distracting and all together unnecessary. This edition, however, included two additional stories than did the 1999 edition, so it's still the edition I'd recommend reading if you were so inclined.
May 5, 2014
A collection of Tanya Huff's short stories with recurring characters.
Magdalene is the world's most powerful wizard. Demons cower and run from her. But really all she wants is to lie sunbathing in her garden and hook up with hunks. Many magical adventures are had, hilarious encounters and flying carpets! What more is needed?
Terazin is a thief, driven to join the Thieves Guild after a near-death experience. Too bad the Thieves Guild keeps taking jobs that are not in her best interest. Good thing she has Swan, the captain of the Wings, as her girlfriend :D More hilarious adventures of a different sneaky sort.
Magdalene is the world's most powerful wizard. Demons cower and run from her. But really all she wants is to lie sunbathing in her garden and hook up with hunks. Many magical adventures are had, hilarious encounters and flying carpets! What more is needed?
Terazin is a thief, driven to join the Thieves Guild after a near-death experience. Too bad the Thieves Guild keeps taking jobs that are not in her best interest. Good thing she has Swan, the captain of the Wings, as her girlfriend :D More hilarious adventures of a different sneaky sort.
June 16, 2008
This is a back-to-back collection of two series of fantasy stories in the format of the old Ace doubles. One features Magdelene, who happens to be the world's most powerful and laziest wizard, and the other concerns Terazin, who is the most accomplished thief. The stories are all well-crafted and lots of fun, the Magdelene stories being funnier and the Terazin being more realistic.
May 30, 2021
This was a collection of short stories divided into two books back-to-back.
The first collection (depending on which side you pick up first) featured Magdalene, the most powerful yet an extremely lazy wizard. The stories start from when she was a young teenager to centuries later. The stories don’t really delve into how or why she becomes powerful, it was just implied that she always was. Instead the stories featured Magdalene on various adventures helping strangers. There was a lot of humorous moments in these stories which made them really light and easy to read. By far she was my favourite character out of the two as her sexual exploits were hilarious.
The stories featuring Magdalene in order were:
The Last Lesson
Be It Ever So Humble
Mirror, Mirror, On the Lam
Third Time Lucky
And Who is Joah
Nothing Up Her Sleeves
We Two May Meet
The other collection featured Terazin, a great thief. Her short stories start from her introduction to the Thief Guild to successful missions that were harder and the consequences of failure more life threatening. These stories were more serious and helped explore the world more. I didn’t quite like the stories as much as Magdalene as I was more in the mood for light and fluff fantasy.
The stories featuring Terazin in order were:
Swan’s Braid
In Mysterious Ways
The Lions of al’Kalami
Sometimes, Just Because
I love Tanya Huff as an author and cannot recommend this novel enough, especially if you’re in the mood for light, fluff fantasy. Her characters were great and I loved how sexuality and sexual preferences weren’t an issue.
The first collection (depending on which side you pick up first) featured Magdalene, the most powerful yet an extremely lazy wizard. The stories start from when she was a young teenager to centuries later. The stories don’t really delve into how or why she becomes powerful, it was just implied that she always was. Instead the stories featured Magdalene on various adventures helping strangers. There was a lot of humorous moments in these stories which made them really light and easy to read. By far she was my favourite character out of the two as her sexual exploits were hilarious.
The stories featuring Magdalene in order were:
The Last Lesson
Be It Ever So Humble
Mirror, Mirror, On the Lam
Third Time Lucky
And Who is Joah
Nothing Up Her Sleeves
We Two May Meet
The other collection featured Terazin, a great thief. Her short stories start from her introduction to the Thief Guild to successful missions that were harder and the consequences of failure more life threatening. These stories were more serious and helped explore the world more. I didn’t quite like the stories as much as Magdalene as I was more in the mood for light and fluff fantasy.
The stories featuring Terazin in order were:
Swan’s Braid
In Mysterious Ways
The Lions of al’Kalami
Sometimes, Just Because
I love Tanya Huff as an author and cannot recommend this novel enough, especially if you’re in the mood for light, fluff fantasy. Her characters were great and I loved how sexuality and sexual preferences weren’t an issue.
October 4, 2018
This is a back to back edition where you read towards the middle and then flip the book over and read towards the middle.
I read about the thief first. Some of the stories I had read before and I enjoyed reading them all together. The character is a very talented and hard working woman.
The flip side is a woman blessed with an abundance of talent and not a bone in her body wanting to do any work. She is just fine since she has to power to make things happen. Her stories are delightful pieces of fluff.
I read about the thief first. Some of the stories I had read before and I enjoyed reading them all together. The character is a very talented and hard working woman.
The flip side is a woman blessed with an abundance of talent and not a bone in her body wanting to do any work. She is just fine since she has to power to make things happen. Her stories are delightful pieces of fluff.
May 21, 2020
Loved the humour in this book. A nice set of short stories that gets you knowing the characters so well during little snippets of their life. Always enjoy when I reread this book. *Sexual matters are referenced but are behind door, so this book may not be ideal for the young reader*
February 18, 2019
Tanya Huff = 5 stars
April 27, 2019
Just nice to have Tanya Huff's short stories in a collection.
July 13, 2019
A wonderful series of rollicking short adventures featuring two fascinating women. The entire collection is so fun no single story emerged to become an honourable mention.
August 23, 2021
I love this book. Magdalene has to be one of the best heroines around. Terazin is also pretty cool. Nobody beats Tanya Huff when it comes to pure fun.
September 13, 2016
I'm not always a fan of anthologies, since I find it jarring to spend several pages with one character and then move on to a completely different universe a page or two later. Stealing Magic was a little easier on me that way, since, as the subtitle indicates, it's "The complete adventures of Magdelene and Terazin," so all 9 short stories are centred around two characters.
Magdelene's stories are among Huff's very first; in fact, "Third Time Lucky" was the first story she ever sold. Magdelene herself is an unapologetically lazy woman, and the only thing she finds more enticing than a nap on a hot afternoon is a frisky romp with an athletic young man. Preferrably one who can sing. Oh, and she also happens to be the most powerful wizard in the world. As a heroine, Magdelene is perhaps more entertaining than engaging, but there is something endearing and altogether human about a woman who can stare down a demon... but would really rather not bother.
Terazin is a thief, and a very skilled one. Although not told with the same sense of humour as Magdelene's tales, Terazin is the more interesting of the two women. She's proactive in her adventures, and more than willing to go out and get what she wants. Of course, I have a distinct fondness for the stealthy thief/anti-hero type of character, so perhaps I'm a bit biased on that score.
One of the things I've always admired about Huff's writing is that she regularly writes gay and bisexual characters, and it's never treated as a big deal. It's never gimmicky or forced, the characters merely like who they like. Terazin sleeps with women, Magdelene sleeps with men, and nobody in either world seems to find their preferences strange.
The book itself was an enjoyable read, the stories entertaining, although a few of them left me with a slightly "unfinished" feel. Not that, by any means, it would stop me from picking up the book and reading it again. It is, after, all, characteristic Huff, and that's never a bad thing.
Magdelene's stories are among Huff's very first; in fact, "Third Time Lucky" was the first story she ever sold. Magdelene herself is an unapologetically lazy woman, and the only thing she finds more enticing than a nap on a hot afternoon is a frisky romp with an athletic young man. Preferrably one who can sing. Oh, and she also happens to be the most powerful wizard in the world. As a heroine, Magdelene is perhaps more entertaining than engaging, but there is something endearing and altogether human about a woman who can stare down a demon... but would really rather not bother.
Terazin is a thief, and a very skilled one. Although not told with the same sense of humour as Magdelene's tales, Terazin is the more interesting of the two women. She's proactive in her adventures, and more than willing to go out and get what she wants. Of course, I have a distinct fondness for the stealthy thief/anti-hero type of character, so perhaps I'm a bit biased on that score.
One of the things I've always admired about Huff's writing is that she regularly writes gay and bisexual characters, and it's never treated as a big deal. It's never gimmicky or forced, the characters merely like who they like. Terazin sleeps with women, Magdelene sleeps with men, and nobody in either world seems to find their preferences strange.
The book itself was an enjoyable read, the stories entertaining, although a few of them left me with a slightly "unfinished" feel. Not that, by any means, it would stop me from picking up the book and reading it again. It is, after, all, characteristic Huff, and that's never a bad thing.
January 17, 2012
This book was recommended to me by a friend who had recommended several other things, all of which I've enjoyed. I only read the Magdalene stories. I'm sort of ADHD about what I enjoy and why, and so something to which I only give 3 stars could really go either way. Depends on what day you catch me.
This one caught me on a lenient day. :)
The storie are mostly fluff. Enjoyable, well written fluff, but fluff nonetheless. The main character is the most powerful wizard in the world, and honestly the only barrier she faces of any significance is her own laziness (which adds an air of humor to the whole thing, I admit). Most of the conflicts she faces she can handle with a snap of her finger, which generally doesn't sit well with me (DAVID EDDINGS I'M LOOKING AT YOU). I like for there to be conflict; otherwise, what am I reading about? But these stories were well written and fun, and I enjoyed them for what they were. If you don't go into them expecting anything deep or insightful, and just want some fun reading, you will probably enjoy them too. Oh, but fair warning... some of the stories haven't been edited. It sort of made my brain bleed a little, but still worth reading.
This one caught me on a lenient day. :)
The storie are mostly fluff. Enjoyable, well written fluff, but fluff nonetheless. The main character is the most powerful wizard in the world, and honestly the only barrier she faces of any significance is her own laziness (which adds an air of humor to the whole thing, I admit). Most of the conflicts she faces she can handle with a snap of her finger, which generally doesn't sit well with me (DAVID EDDINGS I'M LOOKING AT YOU). I like for there to be conflict; otherwise, what am I reading about? But these stories were well written and fun, and I enjoyed them for what they were. If you don't go into them expecting anything deep or insightful, and just want some fun reading, you will probably enjoy them too. Oh, but fair warning... some of the stories haven't been edited. It sort of made my brain bleed a little, but still worth reading.
December 29, 2010
These S&S short stories are rather badly proof They are laid out like an Ace Double with stories about Magdelene at the front and you flick the book over to read the rather shorter collection of four Terazin Stories. Terazin is the best thief in Oreen, Which means she finds herself manouvered by the Guild into taking all the difficult job, The ones that are likely to involve magic.[return][return]Magdelene? She is the worlds most powerful wizard. Her interests are Hunky men and taking things easy. She does not seem to have adventures so much as deal with minor inconviences. Lets pause and listen to her dealing with a dragon. [return][return]"Well?"[return]Go on, Shoo![return][return]She never seems to break into a sweat though she would be the first to say sweat looks good on the right torso.
May 20, 2012
This is actually two sets of short stories about two characters. One side is about the most powerful but laziest wizard in the world, flip the book over and the other side is about the world's greatest thief.
The side about the Wizard Magdelene I give 5 stars. It was hilarious and fun.
The side about the Thief Terizan I give 4 stars. Loved the first one where she was literally breaking in to the Thief's Guild, but I wasn't as interested in Thief's Guild politics. I thought the stories were interesting--but because they were short stories there wasn't quite enough information in each one and I felt it could be easily expanded into a novella.
Still overall this is a great collection of short stories.
The side about the Wizard Magdelene I give 5 stars. It was hilarious and fun.
The side about the Thief Terizan I give 4 stars. Loved the first one where she was literally breaking in to the Thief's Guild, but I wasn't as interested in Thief's Guild politics. I thought the stories were interesting--but because they were short stories there wasn't quite enough information in each one and I felt it could be easily expanded into a novella.
Still overall this is a great collection of short stories.
June 7, 2011
There's something about Magdelene's cheerful lechery (and laziness) that I love.
This collection isn't big on things like coherent or intricate plots, or even making sense. It's more about the humorous situations and jokes.
I did enjoy the fun double edition format. One half of the book is about the wizard Magdelene, and you flip the book over to get to the other half about the thief Terazin. It's not something I'd want to see every day, but given the subject matter (two collections of related stories) the retro double-sided format worked very well.
This collection isn't big on things like coherent or intricate plots, or even making sense. It's more about the humorous situations and jokes.
I did enjoy the fun double edition format. One half of the book is about the wizard Magdelene, and you flip the book over to get to the other half about the thief Terazin. It's not something I'd want to see every day, but given the subject matter (two collections of related stories) the retro double-sided format worked very well.
August 15, 2012
Setting aside the irritatingly quirky format (this book contains two sets of unrelated stories, bound back-to-back and flipped upside down, which... no) this is a solid collection. I was slightly disappointed to figure out that the thief side consists of the four Terazin stories from Relative Magic, and one of the wizard stories I'd read... somewhere else, but the rest of the wizard set was charming and funny and entirely worthwhile.
October 22, 2014
I'm not normally a fan of short stories as they either leave me grateful they were short, or wanting more. However, this collection of short stories about the same characters was fun to read and kept my attention. It still left me wanting more, but in a good way. I'm a huge fan of this author and these short stories just reinforced that.
July 25, 2013
This is a book of short stories. I enjoyed both main characters and would like to see more of either. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because the last magdeline story really didn't fit with the rest of the book and wasn't as good as the rest of them. But overall I will probably read stories from it again.
September 25, 2009
I've read a little of Tanya Huff's Blood Ties series, and they are good, but the magical genre gives her a great forum to show off her humour and quick mind. These short stories are just yummy!
September 29, 2014
A fun collection of some of Tanya Huff's early short stories. Good, but I'm not sure I'd reread it.
September 23, 2015
This is one of those novels that I absolutely loved as a kid, but I don't dare go back to as an adult because I fear that it's going to be absolutely atrocious.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews