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Jordan Sanders #1
Terrestrial Magic
Most sensible people avoid fire-breathing carnivores that prey on humans. But Jordan has built a career out of studying such legendary animals, creatures thought mythological until their reemergence in the world three decades ago. She and researchers like her believe that knowledge is the key to reclaiming the land they'd lost back then, when humanity retreated into designated safety zones.
But when the humans moved out, the legends moved in. They were the descendants of mythical heroes, inheriting the powers of their ancestors, and they weren't afraid of the monsters. Jordan never expected to run into a legend, but when a field expedition turns into a trap for her team, she realizes that one deliberately tried to kill her. It's a diplomatic nightmare the Roman authorities might happily sweep under the rug. But if Jordan doesn't figure out who attacked her and why, they could try again. Yet even if she does solve the mystery, what could one stubborn scientist possibly do to stop a powerful legend?
But when the humans moved out, the legends moved in. They were the descendants of mythical heroes, inheriting the powers of their ancestors, and they weren't afraid of the monsters. Jordan never expected to run into a legend, but when a field expedition turns into a trap for her team, she realizes that one deliberately tried to kill her. It's a diplomatic nightmare the Roman authorities might happily sweep under the rug. But if Jordan doesn't figure out who attacked her and why, they could try again. Yet even if she does solve the mystery, what could one stubborn scientist possibly do to stop a powerful legend?
- GenresFantasy
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2019
42 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Marina Ermakova
8 books13 followersAdventure fantasy writer Marina Ermakova has degrees in genetics and history, and the heart of a lifelong geek. She loves writing about outsiders, loners, and thinkers.
Her young adult epic fantasy novel Chains Carried on Wings is about finding acceptance for who you are instead of who you're supposed to be, and her urban fantasy/post-apocalyptic novel Terrestrial Magic is about applying logic towards understanding the fantastical. (And about an awkward woman on the asexuality spectrum who doesn't know how to deal with a burgeoning relationship—especially not while dodging assassination attempts.)
She also blogs about fantasy and sci-fi media, occasionally weighing in on the representation of science.
Her young adult epic fantasy novel Chains Carried on Wings is about finding acceptance for who you are instead of who you're supposed to be, and her urban fantasy/post-apocalyptic novel Terrestrial Magic is about applying logic towards understanding the fantastical. (And about an awkward woman on the asexuality spectrum who doesn't know how to deal with a burgeoning relationship—especially not while dodging assassination attempts.)
She also blogs about fantasy and sci-fi media, occasionally weighing in on the representation of science.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 23, 2022
**ETA - having read, and really enjoyed, book #2 I would definitely recommend this series. Ideally you need to read the books in order to fully understand the setting/world.
I'm rating this as 3.5 stars, 4 on Amazon, as it fell between liked and really liked for me. There were some very good aspects but also some areas for improvement. The author had imagined a very intriguing world but parts of it needed a little more fleshing out. I believe that the author may have been trying to avoid an information dump, however some of the exposition came too late in the story, leaving me unable to build a clear mental picture, rather like trying to follow a TV show having missed one of the episodes.
I did find myself drawn quickly into this story, especially since it metaphorically started with a real bang. The story had plenty of unique features to it, and it didn't feel the need to rely on tired and cliched tropes. Overall the pace was good, and I did find myself invested in the story enough to want to finish it. The heroine, Jordan, doesn't come across as feminine at all, indeed at times I forgot I was reading a female character. She felt very genderless, which isn't an issue and I'm very happy to read diverse characters, but I was never sure if it was deliberate or poor characterisation. It just wasn't made clear enough.
In a similar vein, I also found Jordan difficult to relate to. Possibly she's meant to be socially awkward, autistic or just plain lacking empathy, and whilst some of her internal monologue was enjoyable, there were occasions where it made her seem immature or emotionally stunted. Too often when emotions were portrayed it was in a telling not showing manner. For me to believe a character is feeling something, I want descriptions of the psychological or physiological effects of them. I'm very character driven, and I think the fact that I was very impassive about Jordan is why this wasn't a better read for me.
On balance I enjoyed the writing, the author definitely has a pleasant "voice" and a good imagination, which she employed well in the creation of this book. Fleshing out of secondary characters was achieved to various degrees, though occasionally felt a touch repetitive - I got that Tony was grumpy the first half dozen times it was mentioned. It did feel as though this were the second book in a series, or a spin off book, because whilst the world building was colourful it was rather like a Turner seascape. You can see an amazing picture but none of the fine detail, however it is only the first book in a series, so I'm willing to allow that the author may have plans to paint in that depth of detail in future books.
I'm rating this as 3.5 stars, 4 on Amazon, as it fell between liked and really liked for me. There were some very good aspects but also some areas for improvement. The author had imagined a very intriguing world but parts of it needed a little more fleshing out. I believe that the author may have been trying to avoid an information dump, however some of the exposition came too late in the story, leaving me unable to build a clear mental picture, rather like trying to follow a TV show having missed one of the episodes.
I did find myself drawn quickly into this story, especially since it metaphorically started with a real bang. The story had plenty of unique features to it, and it didn't feel the need to rely on tired and cliched tropes. Overall the pace was good, and I did find myself invested in the story enough to want to finish it. The heroine, Jordan, doesn't come across as feminine at all, indeed at times I forgot I was reading a female character. She felt very genderless, which isn't an issue and I'm very happy to read diverse characters, but I was never sure if it was deliberate or poor characterisation. It just wasn't made clear enough.
In a similar vein, I also found Jordan difficult to relate to. Possibly she's meant to be socially awkward, autistic or just plain lacking empathy, and whilst some of her internal monologue was enjoyable, there were occasions where it made her seem immature or emotionally stunted. Too often when emotions were portrayed it was in a telling not showing manner. For me to believe a character is feeling something, I want descriptions of the psychological or physiological effects of them. I'm very character driven, and I think the fact that I was very impassive about Jordan is why this wasn't a better read for me.
On balance I enjoyed the writing, the author definitely has a pleasant "voice" and a good imagination, which she employed well in the creation of this book. Fleshing out of secondary characters was achieved to various degrees, though occasionally felt a touch repetitive - I got that Tony was grumpy the first half dozen times it was mentioned. It did feel as though this were the second book in a series, or a spin off book, because whilst the world building was colourful it was rather like a Turner seascape. You can see an amazing picture but none of the fine detail, however it is only the first book in a series, so I'm willing to allow that the author may have plans to paint in that depth of detail in future books.
January 16, 2019
TERRESTRIAL MAGIC has a very detailed Sherlock Holmes-ish mystery with a world that reminds me a cross between the InCryptid series meets Percy Jackson. I know it’s a lot to take in but somehow Ermakova takes all my favorites in my choice novels and mashes them into a something completely fresh and new.
First, there is Jordan who studies legendary animals, which they call a total awesome name of “legamals”. Then there is a reawakening or power play by the of families from the mythical demigods or past people with mythical powers called “legends” and a divide between them and the humans now facing a broken magical infused world.
The story starts out with Jordan and a crew of field scientist going out to a dangerous zone, outside of Rome, to see if they can find and study a reported legamal sighting. During this trip, they find themselves trapped by “something” magical and after a brief time fighting for their lives they know that one of the legend families is trying to kill them. Now its up to them to figure out what legend family is behind the attacks and why.
This story was everything I should love but something kept me from loving it. It was very detailed in some ways but then there were some major holes that were where I wanted to understand more. I liked the story. I would want to see more of this really original take on modern day myths come to life but I think too much was presented without enough to back up a character and/or plot connection. In the end, it was 3.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of TERRESTRIAL MAGIC from Marina Ermakova. This is my honest and voluntary review. TERRESTRIAL MAGIC is set for publication Jan. 17, 2019.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Written by: Marina Ermakova
Series: Jordan Sanders
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: Independently published
Publication Date: December 5, 2018
ISBN-10: 1790491592
ISBN-13: 978-1790491599
Genre: Mystery | Scifi | Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Terrestrial-Ma...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/terr...
First, there is Jordan who studies legendary animals, which they call a total awesome name of “legamals”. Then there is a reawakening or power play by the of families from the mythical demigods or past people with mythical powers called “legends” and a divide between them and the humans now facing a broken magical infused world.
The story starts out with Jordan and a crew of field scientist going out to a dangerous zone, outside of Rome, to see if they can find and study a reported legamal sighting. During this trip, they find themselves trapped by “something” magical and after a brief time fighting for their lives they know that one of the legend families is trying to kill them. Now its up to them to figure out what legend family is behind the attacks and why.
This story was everything I should love but something kept me from loving it. It was very detailed in some ways but then there were some major holes that were where I wanted to understand more. I liked the story. I would want to see more of this really original take on modern day myths come to life but I think too much was presented without enough to back up a character and/or plot connection. In the end, it was 3.5 stars.
I received this ARC copy of TERRESTRIAL MAGIC from Marina Ermakova. This is my honest and voluntary review. TERRESTRIAL MAGIC is set for publication Jan. 17, 2019.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Written by: Marina Ermakova
Series: Jordan Sanders
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: Independently published
Publication Date: December 5, 2018
ISBN-10: 1790491592
ISBN-13: 978-1790491599
Genre: Mystery | Scifi | Fantasy
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Terrestrial-Ma...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/terr...
April 3, 2021
Author Marina Ermakova offers up a twist to the usual fantasy stories that are all over the market. “Terrestrial Magic” captured my interest right from the start, and Ms. Ermakova’s talent shines through in several areas.
Most fantasy stories involve magic, with a focus on the hero or heroine’s prowess in this area. This alternate history story is different, in that a specific type of magic is present in certain families and has been for centuries. Jordan Sanders does not belong to those families (known more formally as Houses) and studies legimals (legendary animals) which appeared on Earth 30 years ago. An attempt to murder Jordan and her team kicks off the book, and she finds herself involved in a web of intrigue as she tries to determine which of the Houses are involved.
I enjoyed the characters in the book. Jordan is level-headed with a touch of snarkiness that is never overwhelming. Her best friend Hayley exudes that breath of fresh air that spices up any conversation. Luca is the newest member of Jordan’s team, and his actions in the story constantly cause her to reassess his skills. Tony and Carter round out Jordan’s team and co minor co be considered minor characters. Even so, when they appear in a scene, you know enough about them that you have a good idea what they might do in a given situation.
One item that I thought the book could do without was the occasional use of strong language, including the f-bomb. Ms. Ermakova is a talented writer, and I didn’t find that the use of coarse words added to the book. While I don’t take off stars for this I know some folks take offense to any vulgarities so consider this an fyi.
Overall, I was happily surprised with “Terrestrial Magic.” It is an inventive tale with good world-building and interesting characters that are different and don’t blend together. As the first book in the series, there is a definite end (no cliffhanger) and I will definitely be moving on to the next book in the series. Four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
Most fantasy stories involve magic, with a focus on the hero or heroine’s prowess in this area. This alternate history story is different, in that a specific type of magic is present in certain families and has been for centuries. Jordan Sanders does not belong to those families (known more formally as Houses) and studies legimals (legendary animals) which appeared on Earth 30 years ago. An attempt to murder Jordan and her team kicks off the book, and she finds herself involved in a web of intrigue as she tries to determine which of the Houses are involved.
I enjoyed the characters in the book. Jordan is level-headed with a touch of snarkiness that is never overwhelming. Her best friend Hayley exudes that breath of fresh air that spices up any conversation. Luca is the newest member of Jordan’s team, and his actions in the story constantly cause her to reassess his skills. Tony and Carter round out Jordan’s team and co minor co be considered minor characters. Even so, when they appear in a scene, you know enough about them that you have a good idea what they might do in a given situation.
One item that I thought the book could do without was the occasional use of strong language, including the f-bomb. Ms. Ermakova is a talented writer, and I didn’t find that the use of coarse words added to the book. While I don’t take off stars for this I know some folks take offense to any vulgarities so consider this an fyi.
Overall, I was happily surprised with “Terrestrial Magic.” It is an inventive tale with good world-building and interesting characters that are different and don’t blend together. As the first book in the series, there is a definite end (no cliffhanger) and I will definitely be moving on to the next book in the series. Four stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.
September 10, 2019
I had a hard time with this book. It was very hard to follow the plot for a lot of the book. The world building was a little lacking.
The redeeming point - the main female character Jordan, a take charge scientist and fighter. She was very likable as she actually had to fight against the current incarnation of Hercules and others of his line as well as legendary monsters. Jordan was smart and forceful and was able to ferret out spies and took charge of all the action. But one character is not enough to salvage the other flaws.
But there are better books out there.
The redeeming point - the main female character Jordan, a take charge scientist and fighter. She was very likable as she actually had to fight against the current incarnation of Hercules and others of his line as well as legendary monsters. Jordan was smart and forceful and was able to ferret out spies and took charge of all the action. But one character is not enough to salvage the other flaws.
But there are better books out there.
Did not finish
January 13, 2019 * An advanced reading copy was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
The concept of this book was really interesting. Mythical creatures and magic appeared out of nowhere. They called that event the Boom.
The legendary animals they called 'legimals'. Cute wordplay there.
Then we have the 'legends'. Which are magical people? or people that control magic? Who knows? They are not really explained! I got to 27% of this book and then I gave up. I don't like that I did but there were too many descriptions of useless things and not enough of the important facts.
As I've said, the plot was really intriguing. But I guess this book wasn't for me.
The concept of this book was really interesting. Mythical creatures and magic appeared out of nowhere. They called that event the Boom.
The legendary animals they called 'legimals'. Cute wordplay there.
Then we have the 'legends'. Which are magical people? or people that control magic? Who knows? They are not really explained! I got to 27% of this book and then I gave up. I don't like that I did but there were too many descriptions of useless things and not enough of the important facts.
As I've said, the plot was really intriguing. But I guess this book wasn't for me.
February 15, 2021
Marina Ermakova throws us into an apocalypse with fire breathing monsters and magic powers in Terrestrial Magic! The world has been taken over by dangerous creatures, forcing humanity to retreat to safe zones. But when researcher Jordan heads out into the wilds, she discovers there’s more than just monsters roaming out there. Ermakova builds a really cool mythology and blends it with our world to make an intriguing post apocalypse! Jordan’s conflict with the Legends was also a great draw. If you love modern fantasy with a splash of post apocalypse and mythology, leave the confines of your Safe Zone for Terrestrial Magic!
added-it
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January 22, 2019
I tried really liking this book because writing was so skillful but I actually ended up DNFing this book halfway through. If someone asked what would I change in this story I would say- make it more interesting? Explain little bit more? I can admit that I was simply confused at some times.
I didn't feel any empathy to characters or wasn't interested into their story at all (like others didn't care about the 4th guy Luca that's how I didn't really want to know about all of them). It's true- adventures of our heroine might have been interesting but overall I just didn't love it. Maybe I was reading this book in the wrong time of my life but I know one thing- I wasn't hooked like I was hoping for.
2 stars just for the writing,
Thank you NetGalley for sending em a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't feel any empathy to characters or wasn't interested into their story at all (like others didn't care about the 4th guy Luca that's how I didn't really want to know about all of them). It's true- adventures of our heroine might have been interesting but overall I just didn't love it. Maybe I was reading this book in the wrong time of my life but I know one thing- I wasn't hooked like I was hoping for.
2 stars just for the writing,
Thank you NetGalley for sending em a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2019
I thank NetGalley for giving me this ARC, in exchange of a honest review.
Terrestrial Magic had the potential to become a really enjoyable book. It had a really interesting premise, with a hint of Greek Mythology in it and emergence of mythological creatures. The book cover was beautifully designed. The synopsis and book cover made me pick up this book. However, Terrestrial Magic didn't manage to please me.
The characters felt really flat. Their personalities didn't manage to shine through and at one point, they felt so similar, that they basically seemed carbon copies of each other. There were enough characters in the story, but none of them were explored in depth. Nothing from the characters' own past was revealed, and even if it was revealed, it felt quite underwhelming. 80% of the book just revolved around the thoughts which went through Jordan's mind, which didn't give enough time for other characters to show up in the book, ultimately making me feel detached from them. Even though we got to explore Jordan's character thanks to first POV, she didn't manage to catch my attention either, because some of her thoughts were repetitive to the point I started to skip paragraphs.
Secondly, nothing really happened in the plot. It was too slow, except the first few bits in the beginning of the story. Most of the plot happened in Jordan's mind, with her overthinking everything she did. Most of the things were too predictable, and even one of the plot twist I read didn't really surprise me because it seemed too hurried. The romance had no chemistry either, I didn't understand why it existed at first place.
Another thing that bugged me was how the world wasn't explored to its fullest potential. I waited till the end to see the legend societies to be explored in depth, but I never really got to see that. It also made me wonder how humans were still kind of powerful against legends, when they exposed their technology so blatantly to the legends. I never got to witness any technology which had potential to harm legends, which was mentioned as the strength of human society. What surprised me even more was how some legend societies even used this same technology, yet they didn't lay a finger on humans. Despite the synopsis mentioning how mythological creatures are taking over the world, I didn't see any humans in particular dying or suffering thanks to them. Surprisingly,only two such creatures were mentioned in the book, which kind of ruined the high expectations I had got after I read the blurb and the book title itself.
What I did like about this book was the writing and the setting. I would had loved if the writer had explored Italy more and had taken a break from Jordan's mind and explored the actual plot. This book would have been great, but it didn't manage to impress me.
Terrestrial Magic had the potential to become a really enjoyable book. It had a really interesting premise, with a hint of Greek Mythology in it and emergence of mythological creatures. The book cover was beautifully designed. The synopsis and book cover made me pick up this book. However, Terrestrial Magic didn't manage to please me.
The characters felt really flat. Their personalities didn't manage to shine through and at one point, they felt so similar, that they basically seemed carbon copies of each other. There were enough characters in the story, but none of them were explored in depth. Nothing from the characters' own past was revealed, and even if it was revealed, it felt quite underwhelming. 80% of the book just revolved around the thoughts which went through Jordan's mind, which didn't give enough time for other characters to show up in the book, ultimately making me feel detached from them. Even though we got to explore Jordan's character thanks to first POV, she didn't manage to catch my attention either, because some of her thoughts were repetitive to the point I started to skip paragraphs.
Secondly, nothing really happened in the plot. It was too slow, except the first few bits in the beginning of the story. Most of the plot happened in Jordan's mind, with her overthinking everything she did. Most of the things were too predictable, and even one of the plot twist I read didn't really surprise me because it seemed too hurried. The romance had no chemistry either, I didn't understand why it existed at first place.
Another thing that bugged me was how the world wasn't explored to its fullest potential. I waited till the end to see the legend societies to be explored in depth, but I never really got to see that. It also made me wonder how humans were still kind of powerful against legends, when they exposed their technology so blatantly to the legends. I never got to witness any technology which had potential to harm legends, which was mentioned as the strength of human society. What surprised me even more was how some legend societies even used this same technology, yet they didn't lay a finger on humans. Despite the synopsis mentioning how mythological creatures are taking over the world, I didn't see any humans in particular dying or suffering thanks to them. Surprisingly,only two such creatures were mentioned in the book, which kind of ruined the high expectations I had got after I read the blurb and the book title itself.
What I did like about this book was the writing and the setting. I would had loved if the writer had explored Italy more and had taken a break from Jordan's mind and explored the actual plot. This book would have been great, but it didn't manage to impress me.
January 21, 2019
I liked the beginning of this - it is quite action packed - the direction of took overall was more on the ok side. I liked the idea of the legendary animals more than the legendary people and the plots and politics.
January 17, 2019
My first ARC from NetGalley, and it was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the setting (in and around Rome) and the new mythology surrounding it. Usually post-apocalyptic stories have their basis in sci-fi – something technological goes wrong – so having a fantastical apocalypse is actually pretty original. Which is impressive. You don’t see that many original ideas anymore. It was also nice to see the mix of the fantasy and the science, as Jordan and her team are scientists studying these creatures. Also a cool concept.
I enjoyed the “legendary animals” that have made their come back, although we don’t get to spend as much time with them as I would like. In the beginning of the book, we see them deal with a basilisk and a chimera, and later we get to see a pegasus, but other than that, we don’t see them much. I thought there would have been a bit more than that. I also wasn’t a fan of the term used for these creatures – “legimals.” I don’t, as a rule, like when people make these kinds of contractions, but this one just felt a bit too cutsey.
We do get to spend a fair amount of time meeting and talking about the legends, descendants and heirs (of a sort) to the legends of the area, like Remus, Hercules, and Aeneas to name a few. These people have powers of their original hero (for example, the people of the House of Hercules are unnaturally strong) and have taken over part of the world. There is a very tenuous truce between the legends and the regular humans, and this book is about the attempt at blowing that truce apart. The legends are also very interesting and it was cool how it all tied back into the ancient mythology that has magically come back to life in a way.
This book has a great hook at the beginning and a good, adventurous pace throughout. Jordan and her team of scientists are a really good bunch that have a good camaraderie, but also have some secrets. This book does not list itself as part of a series, and the author has only written one other book that does not look related to this one, but I definitely see series potential. The story was tied together at the end, but there were still plenty of questions that were left open, just in case. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading urban fantasy and enjoys a new take on mythology.
I enjoyed the “legendary animals” that have made their come back, although we don’t get to spend as much time with them as I would like. In the beginning of the book, we see them deal with a basilisk and a chimera, and later we get to see a pegasus, but other than that, we don’t see them much. I thought there would have been a bit more than that. I also wasn’t a fan of the term used for these creatures – “legimals.” I don’t, as a rule, like when people make these kinds of contractions, but this one just felt a bit too cutsey.
We do get to spend a fair amount of time meeting and talking about the legends, descendants and heirs (of a sort) to the legends of the area, like Remus, Hercules, and Aeneas to name a few. These people have powers of their original hero (for example, the people of the House of Hercules are unnaturally strong) and have taken over part of the world. There is a very tenuous truce between the legends and the regular humans, and this book is about the attempt at blowing that truce apart. The legends are also very interesting and it was cool how it all tied back into the ancient mythology that has magically come back to life in a way.
This book has a great hook at the beginning and a good, adventurous pace throughout. Jordan and her team of scientists are a really good bunch that have a good camaraderie, but also have some secrets. This book does not list itself as part of a series, and the author has only written one other book that does not look related to this one, but I definitely see series potential. The story was tied together at the end, but there were still plenty of questions that were left open, just in case. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading urban fantasy and enjoys a new take on mythology.
June 27, 2020
I really wanted to love this book. It has so much going for it. To start with, the setting. It’s so refreshing to come across a book of this type set somewhere other than America and in this case – Italy – a country I know well.
The concept is also amazing. The idea of the Boom and appearance of legendary animals and people in our world is unique and intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see where the author went with this!
Sadly this is a book which, for me, fails to deliver on its promise. The Italian setting feels superficial. The plot drifts. The action set pieces are well written and the story romps along at a pace, but the suspense is never quite there. The main character, Jordan, has difficulty connecting with her emotions and although this is an interesting aspect of her character it also makes her hard to relate to.
However this is merely one reader’s subjective opinion. Perhaps I was expecting too much. The writing is good and the author has gone to a great deal of trouble on the production side – a great cover and error free text.
As I’ve mentioned the action scenes are well written and pacey. The concept is very clever and interesting. I hope the author will work on the aspects of story structure and plotting and I look forward to seeing how she develops as a writer and reading more of her work in years to come.
The concept is also amazing. The idea of the Boom and appearance of legendary animals and people in our world is unique and intriguing. I couldn’t wait to see where the author went with this!
Sadly this is a book which, for me, fails to deliver on its promise. The Italian setting feels superficial. The plot drifts. The action set pieces are well written and the story romps along at a pace, but the suspense is never quite there. The main character, Jordan, has difficulty connecting with her emotions and although this is an interesting aspect of her character it also makes her hard to relate to.
However this is merely one reader’s subjective opinion. Perhaps I was expecting too much. The writing is good and the author has gone to a great deal of trouble on the production side – a great cover and error free text.
As I’ve mentioned the action scenes are well written and pacey. The concept is very clever and interesting. I hope the author will work on the aspects of story structure and plotting and I look forward to seeing how she develops as a writer and reading more of her work in years to come.
February 26, 2019
I really enjoyed the premise of Terrestrial Magic--it has all my favorite hallmarks of urban fantasy, with a bit of survival action thrown in. The lack of romance was refreshing--I believe Jordan is asexual, and it's great to see more ace rep! The addition of fieldwork served as a great introduction as we're first dumped into Jordan's world.
My main issue with the book was writing. It read a bit like YA, which is totally fine, but it's not marketed or categorized as such. I didn't feel like I was in Jordan's head nearly enough, especially given that it's written in 1st person. Part of this was due to telling vs. showing, particularly in a few high-action parts, and not trusting the readers to understand what she meant the first few times and over-explaining, which pulls me out of the story. Overall, I think a round of line-edits would fix most of these issues.
I loved the world-building, and the pacing, especially at the end--the final third of the book I read in a single sitting. The interactions between Jordan and her team as they learn the truth about their world are spot on. Recommended for fans of the Mortal Instruments world and Kim Harrison's Hollows series. I'll be checking out the second in this series for sure.
*Originally reviewed on amphibianpressbooks.com
My main issue with the book was writing. It read a bit like YA, which is totally fine, but it's not marketed or categorized as such. I didn't feel like I was in Jordan's head nearly enough, especially given that it's written in 1st person. Part of this was due to telling vs. showing, particularly in a few high-action parts, and not trusting the readers to understand what she meant the first few times and over-explaining, which pulls me out of the story. Overall, I think a round of line-edits would fix most of these issues.
I loved the world-building, and the pacing, especially at the end--the final third of the book I read in a single sitting. The interactions between Jordan and her team as they learn the truth about their world are spot on. Recommended for fans of the Mortal Instruments world and Kim Harrison's Hollows series. I'll be checking out the second in this series for sure.
*Originally reviewed on amphibianpressbooks.com
January 10, 2019
I received a free copy of TERRESTRIAL MAGIC by Marina Ermakova in exchange for an honest review. Jordan is a zoologist, a cryptozoologist. Jordan is living in a world where, following the Boom, magical people of old, legends, and legendary animals, legimals, have reappeared. The legimals are so dangerous that the humans have ceded most of the land to them. On an expedition to unprotected territory to examine a reported fire-breathing animal, Jordan and her crew face an unexpected challenge; it appears one or more legends is trying to kill them. In order to be safe again, Jordan must discover who was behind the attempted assassination and stop them. In doing so, she might just change the world.
I enjoyed this novel. I like post-magical-apocalypse books, and this definitely fit within the genre. I liked the world established and the relationships between the characters. I especially liked that, though hints of romantic potential were given, the author refused to warp the story to fit in mushy folderol when the characters were entirely absorbed in surviving their crises. The storyline was interesting and fast paced.
#TerrestrialMagic #NetGalley
I enjoyed this novel. I like post-magical-apocalypse books, and this definitely fit within the genre. I liked the world established and the relationships between the characters. I especially liked that, though hints of romantic potential were given, the author refused to warp the story to fit in mushy folderol when the characters were entirely absorbed in surviving their crises. The storyline was interesting and fast paced.
#TerrestrialMagic #NetGalley
February 2, 2019
I quite liked the book. It is well written and It took me only one day to read it even if english isn't my native language. The subject is interesting, plus the setting is Rome and I am Italian so I was pleased about this.
The main character, Jordan, is an american cryptozoologist working in Italy with a team that studies mythological animals that appeared on earth 30 years ago after an apocalyptic event called the Boom. Now humans have to share the planet with those legendary animals and also powerful clans of supernatural people who descended from mythical heroes. During a trip outside Rome to study one of these animals things go wrong and they have to face a lot of new dangerous situations. I think this story has a lot of potential and I hope that the author will explane in the next book more things like how the life was before the Boom(where did the legends live?) and what exactly happened during the event. Also I would like to know more about the characters that are now just a little sketchy. And of course there is all the romance to explore yet so I will definitely read the next book of the series. the only thing I didn't like at all was the cover
The main character, Jordan, is an american cryptozoologist working in Italy with a team that studies mythological animals that appeared on earth 30 years ago after an apocalyptic event called the Boom. Now humans have to share the planet with those legendary animals and also powerful clans of supernatural people who descended from mythical heroes. During a trip outside Rome to study one of these animals things go wrong and they have to face a lot of new dangerous situations. I think this story has a lot of potential and I hope that the author will explane in the next book more things like how the life was before the Boom(where did the legends live?) and what exactly happened during the event. Also I would like to know more about the characters that are now just a little sketchy. And of course there is all the romance to explore yet so I will definitely read the next book of the series. the only thing I didn't like at all was the cover
January 12, 2019
I received a copy of Terrestrial Magic by Marina Ermakova from the publisher through NetGalley.
I absolutely enjoyed this fast paced, action filled fantasy book. Fantasy is my favourite ganre so I am always on the lookout for new books. And when the story has some mythological aspect, all the more reason to read it.
The main character is Jordan. She is a scientist, a zoologist. She want to find out everything about the so-called legimals - mythical creatures, e.g. chimera- that reappereard after The Boom some 30 decades before. I am sorry that almost nothing is said about what exactly the Boom is. What we know is that after that happened legimals and legends - people who are descended from mythical heroes e.g. Hercules - reappeared.
The team she is leading goes on a trip outside Rome. But the field trip goes horribly wrong and they are almost killed. So there begins a frantic investigation into who tried to kill them and why.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is into post-apocalyptic stories topped off with magic and winged horses.
I absolutely enjoyed this fast paced, action filled fantasy book. Fantasy is my favourite ganre so I am always on the lookout for new books. And when the story has some mythological aspect, all the more reason to read it.
The main character is Jordan. She is a scientist, a zoologist. She want to find out everything about the so-called legimals - mythical creatures, e.g. chimera- that reappereard after The Boom some 30 decades before. I am sorry that almost nothing is said about what exactly the Boom is. What we know is that after that happened legimals and legends - people who are descended from mythical heroes e.g. Hercules - reappeared.
The team she is leading goes on a trip outside Rome. But the field trip goes horribly wrong and they are almost killed. So there begins a frantic investigation into who tried to kill them and why.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is into post-apocalyptic stories topped off with magic and winged horses.
January 25, 2019
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alright. I WANTED to love this book. However, it did not live up to my expectations, which I suppose is my own fault. I generally did not like the protagonist, Jordon. I found her unlikeable, rather selfish, horrendous at making decisions, and overall unbearable to read a narrative from. The 'plot twists' were the type that any decently intelligent reader could have figured out well beforehand, but that takes the protagonist far too long to discover. This, for me, took all of the mystery and excitement out of the story. The world building was also rather lackluster and left me confused, especially with the lack of descriptions of any of the 'legendary' animals (who were the main reason I was interested in this book). I'm giving this book three stars because it had some real potential but just didn't reach that level for me.
Alright. I WANTED to love this book. However, it did not live up to my expectations, which I suppose is my own fault. I generally did not like the protagonist, Jordon. I found her unlikeable, rather selfish, horrendous at making decisions, and overall unbearable to read a narrative from. The 'plot twists' were the type that any decently intelligent reader could have figured out well beforehand, but that takes the protagonist far too long to discover. This, for me, took all of the mystery and excitement out of the story. The world building was also rather lackluster and left me confused, especially with the lack of descriptions of any of the 'legendary' animals (who were the main reason I was interested in this book). I'm giving this book three stars because it had some real potential but just didn't reach that level for me.
November 21, 2021
What happens when legendary animals are in abundance?
This book was an interesting read. What would it be like to have legends walking throughout the world? People who have the strength of Hercules, the influence over water like Posiden or the many other legendary people and their powers.
What would it be like to have to stay in special areas that are considered safe because there are legendary animals wondering throughout the world. The human race is suffering because it has a limited amount of food and the best areas are overrun by creatures of myth.
So what happens when you have a team of scientists who are researching the behavioral patterns of the legendary animals and someone tries to kill them? Well that is where things start to get interesting and they have to prove they can find the culprit and can survive against all odds.
This book may not have been as exciting as others I have read but I would definitely like to read the next one in the series.
This book was an interesting read. What would it be like to have legends walking throughout the world? People who have the strength of Hercules, the influence over water like Posiden or the many other legendary people and their powers.
What would it be like to have to stay in special areas that are considered safe because there are legendary animals wondering throughout the world. The human race is suffering because it has a limited amount of food and the best areas are overrun by creatures of myth.
So what happens when you have a team of scientists who are researching the behavioral patterns of the legendary animals and someone tries to kill them? Well that is where things start to get interesting and they have to prove they can find the culprit and can survive against all odds.
This book may not have been as exciting as others I have read but I would definitely like to read the next one in the series.
October 14, 2021
🌐🗺🧭Original.
Jordan had left her parents and one of the most stable parts of the world.
She was going to study dangerous creatures that had appeared in a previous event, and her parents were worried.
But that day, she wasn’t worried.
Jordan was going on an expedition in search of a mysterious chimera...
------------------
A reading with an original universe that seemed rather promising, but ultimately the excess of descriptions got the better of my attention.
Although I was initially interested in the somewhat confusing story, the legendary beasts did not captivate me, nor the characters.
If the main character of Jordan is well imagined by the author, her lack of empathy and her oddity will have also got the better of my interest.
In short, it’s a Fantasy youth story to discover for its originality.
🌐🗺🧭
Jordan had left her parents and one of the most stable parts of the world.
She was going to study dangerous creatures that had appeared in a previous event, and her parents were worried.
But that day, she wasn’t worried.
Jordan was going on an expedition in search of a mysterious chimera...
------------------
A reading with an original universe that seemed rather promising, but ultimately the excess of descriptions got the better of my attention.
Although I was initially interested in the somewhat confusing story, the legendary beasts did not captivate me, nor the characters.
If the main character of Jordan is well imagined by the author, her lack of empathy and her oddity will have also got the better of my interest.
In short, it’s a Fantasy youth story to discover for its originality.
🌐🗺🧭
August 24, 2022
Our heroine is used to studying the new monsters out of myth that have taken over a large portion of the world. What she didn't expect was to get attacked by a legend as well.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is an urban fantasy story with a dystopian setting. The story is well written and easy to read, with a setting that is definitely out of the ordinary. We have a lot more to worry about here other than vampires and werewolves. The characters are well developed and act as our guides to this unique setting. And this is where our heroine shines. Along the way, we get a fast paced plot with plenty of action. Put it all together and you have a highly enjoyable story. I am definitel looking forward to the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
This is book one of the series, so a good place to start.
This is an urban fantasy story with a dystopian setting. The story is well written and easy to read, with a setting that is definitely out of the ordinary. We have a lot more to worry about here other than vampires and werewolves. The characters are well developed and act as our guides to this unique setting. And this is where our heroine shines. Along the way, we get a fast paced plot with plenty of action. Put it all together and you have a highly enjoyable story. I am definitel looking forward to the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.
September 23, 2024
I would give this book a 3.5-3.75 rating. I liked the idea. Mythology and mythological creatures in a post-apocolyptic society. I enjoyed that the FMC is older and not a little 17 year old girl taking on the world, though had it not been mentioned briefly, I would have thought she was in her early/mid-twenties. But I do wish we had been given more explanation of the Legends, similarities and differences to humans. Also, a little more vulnerable emotional interaction with the other characters, OR some more explanation on why that wasn't happening, why the FMC holds herself so closed off from those closest to her. I'm hoping future books will expand on those relationships and the unique world that the author has created. I intend to read further in the series as this really is an interesting world that I would like to dive into. So *fingers crossed* we get a little deeper in book 2.
January 16, 2019
I had such a hard time finishing this book, I literally had to force myself to finish it, come on one more page you can do it. My mantra this entire book. And this is the worst part of the book, that is was just so forgetful to me.
The main character Jordan, I really felt like I had no connection to her whilst reading. And truly I cannot remember any other of the characters, maybe one...
I do feel that there could have been more backstory, more about these legends and how they came to be in our world, I just felt confused whilst reading. This book had so much potential what with all the Greek mythology woven into it and I am a big sucker for mythology. This book just fell flat for me and the mythology felt really out of place.
The main character Jordan, I really felt like I had no connection to her whilst reading. And truly I cannot remember any other of the characters, maybe one...
I do feel that there could have been more backstory, more about these legends and how they came to be in our world, I just felt confused whilst reading. This book had so much potential what with all the Greek mythology woven into it and I am a big sucker for mythology. This book just fell flat for me and the mythology felt really out of place.
April 7, 2021
I am giving this book 3.5 stars. This was my first Marina Ermakova book. I loved the idea of the book, the blurb was interesting and I looked forward to starting with this book as it was a bit of fantasy which is my favourite genre.
The book was written beautifully but the story did not grab me as I hoped it would. Some parts were a bit to long. I would have loved to see more magic as well. I felt that I could not associate with the characters. This book may be a better fit for someone else.
The book was written beautifully but the story did not grab me as I hoped it would. Some parts were a bit to long. I would have loved to see more magic as well. I felt that I could not associate with the characters. This book may be a better fit for someone else.
July 3, 2022
DNF - quit at 10%
There’s no world building to help a reader understand what’s going on. I was lost & felt like I missed a book or that this was splintered off another series. That lost feeling just kept getting worse as I went, ending up losing my interest to the point of not caring what happened next. Deleting this from my Kindle library.
At my age (60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
There’s no world building to help a reader understand what’s going on. I was lost & felt like I missed a book or that this was splintered off another series. That lost feeling just kept getting worse as I went, ending up losing my interest to the point of not caring what happened next. Deleting this from my Kindle library.
At my age (60), life is way too short & my time is too important to force myself to read a book I'm not enjoying, especially when there are so many other books out there waiting to be read.
August 22, 2023
Not for me.
I don't really know why but I just couldn't get into this one, although the characters are well written and the storyline is fairly interesting I found the writing style somewhat pedestrian. Don't let this put you off its probably just my take on it, read it yourself and see what you think, Baz.
I don't really know why but I just couldn't get into this one, although the characters are well written and the storyline is fairly interesting I found the writing style somewhat pedestrian. Don't let this put you off its probably just my take on it, read it yourself and see what you think, Baz.
Read
November 24, 2021DNF
February 10, 2023
Started as 3 or 4 stars but got a little tiresome
March 19, 2023
This was interesting, but it felt like I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on. This was the first book in the series and read like it was the second.
March 20, 2023
I thought that this was an okay read. It starts reasonably well but I did not find the second half as engaging.
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