Wayward Magic

by Melinda Kucsera, Krista Ames, William C. Cronk

Magical mayhem returns with the much-anticipated Wayward Magic, where the stakes are higher; the danger even more intense. Stay tuned for more details.

Genres: Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2020

About the author

Melinda Kucsera writes fantastic short stories, novels, and books when not being kidnapped by dragons or chased by armies of fictional characters demanding their stories be told. She leaves the running of her newsletter to a cast of loveable characters who are far better at engaging in magical mayhem than in effectively marketing the books they star in. They also run her website, https://melindakucsera.com.

Get the only 100% character-run newsletter of its kind. Fictional characters hijacked it and every week, they take readers behind and between the scenes. Add a dash of fantastic fun to your inbox, sign up at:
http://www.mkucsera.com/CharactersWel...

Reviews

[C.S. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey again!

The second book in the anthology picks up where I left off before, where Skyla and Aidan see the awful truth about their community's perfect lives. What do you do when you see evil and still feel helpless in the face of it?

I hope it's thought-provoking for you!

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joynell Schultz only.

The Mail-Order Witch, Episode 2 (Wayward Magic) - This episode starts a month after Episode 1 ends. While not a cliffhanger, the person behind the hamster infestation is still a mystery. This is a good way to relax, laughing at the townspeople and watching Ettie fall in love with the hamsters. There a little drama, a little laughter, a lot of suspicions wrapped into this episode, too. The townsfolk remind me of the people buying out all the TP, easily lead by emotions instead of logic. 4*

The Mail-Order Witch, Pilot Episode - A cute, sweet introduction to Ettie, a pure-blood witch, her Mail-Order Witch Facebook posting for pure-blood warlock and her discoveries. The characters are sweet and likeable. A touch of drama balanced with good humor. 4*

The Mail-Order Witch, Episode 1 (Hidden Magic) - This story starts about three months after the Pilot ends. This hard to put down story works for all ages, with good behavior winning out over bad. While not a cliffhanger, the story does continue in Episode 2. The storylines are well thought out and make sense. There is a gamut of characters ranging from sweet to raging meanies. This talented storyteller does well with her clear descriptions and has a good sense of humor.

One problem is solved but the main issue still needs to be resolved, the responsible person behind the troubles facing Ettie and Roman. I read both books to my five-year-old granddaughter and she is in love with the story. She wanted a foxtail, the little heifer. 4*

Magically Poisoned, Prequel - I always enjoy the stories by Ms. Schultz and this one I interesting. The good storylines and a variety of characters give plenty of who-could-have-done-it choices. Aubrey the BnB owner may be a bit paranoid but she still came across as a nice witch. There's touches of romance, match making and some humor. A quick flowing, easy to read with bits of magic. 4*

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excited to read another magical collection!

Several favorite authors brought new stories to the table- and I loved meeting more new awesome authors!

One story I was particularly moved by was a new Mail Order Witch story from Joynell Schultz. In addition to the nifty magical elements in her stories, I really appreciate how these stories embrace the challenges and positive moments faced by many religious and ethnic groups

Is there more to the arrival of her husband’s father? He seems to be hiding something. What and how many agendas does Joe have?

Ettie’s plans to donate an enchanted wardrobe to a children’s club charity auction have mixed results

A sudden appearance of hamsters at the shop seems a deliberate infestation. Who and why? Really seems like re-keying would be a good idea.

The power of real life friends and social media seems to be a double edged sword

As their family changes, Ettie and Roman meet many challenges young couples face - as well as a host of prejudices too many couples face.

If they are lucky, they will continue to face misconceptions and prejudices from various sides together- with each other as a couple, and with the help of their growing network of friends and contacts

Can’t wait to read the next new story in this mega collection!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual trilogy of anthologies. The idea is, each author involved wrote a trilogy of interconnected or continuing stories, with the first found in Hidden Magic [review], the second found in Wayward Magic (Magic Underground Anthologies Book 2), and the third found in Forgotten Magic. Back when trilogies of novels were more common, it wasn’t unusual for their to be a second-act slump in the middle book. Unfortunately, a lot of these short story trilogies also suffer from a second-act slump, so I’m giving this book a 3/5 instead of the 4/5 of its predecessor.

Don’t worry though; there are still some excellent stories in here. Raven Oak’s “Pretty Poison” picks up with Shendra and her brother ten years after the first installment. They’ve been sent by their order to kill a man, only things get complicated. In Majanka Verstraete’s “The Lair of the Red God,” Saleyna, a mage who has the ability of Empathy, tries to settle into her new role pretending to be a follower of the Red God. I love this story and setting just as much as I did in the first book; it’s tense and intriguing. “The Mail-Order Witch: Episode II,” by Joynell Schultz, is an adorable story of a witch and a warlock who are trying their best to fit in amongst the non-magical while being “out of the closet.” This time someone seems to have set an awful lot of hamsters loose in Ettie’s magic shop to wreak havoc!

In H.B. Lyne’s “The Watcher,” former military man Felix Jones is one of a very few people who seem to realize that part of the city has gone missing, and he’s determined to find his sister Julie, who disappeared with it. Anela Deen’s “When Day Fades Into Night” continues the story of pixie knight Simith and human Jessa, who now share a single life-force. Simith is being forced to enable the continuation of a war between faeries and trolls, while both he and Jessa suffer from being separated. Finally, Lee French and Erik Kort bring us “The Greatest Sin: A Sacrifice of Body,” in which Algernon and his parents and grandmother have fled to a sanctuary. Their enemy Miru is already there, but he can’t attack them while they’re within the sanctuary. There seem to be other secrets afoot, however, and poor traumatized Algernon can’t figure out how to tell his parents that he had to kill people in order to save himself and his grandmother.

Some of the stories involve too much navel-gazing. Others really don’t stand on their own at all; the stories I mentioned above have their own story to tell, while some of the rest are just interludes in the middle. At least one story is very overwrought, and contains no less than six characters whose names start with the same letter–some of which are very similar to each other–so good luck keeping the characters straight (Braxton and Baxter in particular are both boyfriends of teenage girls, so it’s very easy to confuse them). One story is quite short and confusing.

In general S. Wallace’s “Better the Devil You Know,” with its main characters being the married centaur and minotaur warriors, was good except that the Baron of Wings seemed to behave inexplicably oddly at points. Also there was so much blow-by-blow action that it actually got a little boring. One story was so out-of-touch with its first part from the first anthology that I had to go back and read the other story to figure out which one it was, and even then they had only the most tenuous of connections. Another tale is pretty much just a repeat of its first installment–a princess is whisked away to the fae realm for safety, spends time seeing the wonders and wishing she could go home. Not much actually happens.

My least-favorite story is based on the work of a philosopher, and boy does it show it. Towns have names like “Here” “There” and “Near,” and we’re told straight out what trait each town embodies. I prefer to read my genre fiction, not be hit over the head by it.

“Aamira: Healer,” by Barbara Letson, is somewhat interesting; a girl who can heal people encounters a mysterious dark figure who may be Death. In C.S. Johnson’s “The Ones Who Fight,” a settlement remains happy and healthy by shifting all of their pain and damage and unhappiness onto a mysterious boy, and in this installment the main characters who found out about him decide to free him. (Not as heavy-handed as the other story with a philosophical bent, and the surrounding story is more interesting and better-written.)

A story about a ghostly Viking takes an intriguing turn. Another story about two young men on the run from their family and town is good, but I still find myself wondering how so many people in the first installment could have turned on the boys so rabidly. Melinda Kucsera’s “Spell of Bone & Ash” involves dark magic, weird owl-monkey-cats, and a comatose mage fighting off evil. The critters are weird, but this is an interesting story and I look forward to seeing what happens.

This isn’t the high point of the trilogy, but I’m still going to read volume three because there are stories in here that I really care about.


Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/r...

[Alexis Lantgen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many multi-author collections of short stories, Wayward Magic has a huge variety of different stories and writing styles, although all the stories do concern magic and fantasy. I’ll admit that not all the stories are to my taste, but that’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of people who would enjoy them. I think the anthology is also complicated by the fact that many of the stories aren’t intended to be stand alone stories. Some clearly end on cliffhangers that I understand will be finished in the next book. I think it would be helpful to think of Hidden Magic, Wayward Magic, and Forgotten Magic as being installments, with each of the stories having a beginning, middle, and end in those books. Nonetheless, some of the “installments” I read in Wayward Magic really stood out to me as being very interesting, and I’m looking forward to reading the ends of them in Forgotten Magic when it comes out.

In particular, I loved Majanka Verstraete’s “The Lair of the Red God.” It was an engaging story set in an interesting world, and I liked the main character, Saleyna. The stakes felt high, the emotions felt genuine, and it was enjoyable to read. Likewise, I ejoyed Alesha Escobar’s “The Deh’Anin Unveiled.” Her world had plenty of interesting mysteries and an enjoyably selfish and villainous main character, and I would definitely be curious to see if she gets away with her nefarious deeds or gets a serious comeuppance. ”The Mouth of the Dragon” by Devorah Fox was another story that left me wanting to know the ending. It was written in a way that reminded me of the “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” or “The Phantom Tollbooth,” which is a type of fantasy I don’t see as often anymore, and I would like to read more. “Spirit Gambit” also had interesting characters, and I liked seeing the very different take on magic Leah W. Van Dinther depicts. Some other stories I enjoyed were “The Ones Who Fight” and “Aamira.”

A few stories, however, really didn’t speak to me. “Weather Witch Worries” felt like too much teenage wish fulfillment and not enough genuine drama (she’s super powerful! and has a hot, perfect boyfriend! and OMG, now she’s royalty, too!). A couple of other stories may have been better, but it felt as though they were too incomplete for even an installment. I couldn’t follow that much of the drama or really care about the characters because I felt like I was starting the middle of a bunch of action that made very little sense. Also, in general I’m not to fond of over-powered protagonists. Maybe it’s a personal preference, but I prefer magic that feels like effort and heroes/heroines that need to earn their successes instead of just being born at the right time/with the right gifts. I also like villains who have a more compelling drive than just be evil because, I don’t know, evil? Jealousy over the perfect protagonist?

Overall, I’d recommend this book (though maybe not every story in it) to anyone who enjoys fantasy. The nice thing about collections of short stories as ebooks is that if one story doesn’t speak to you, you can always just skip ahead to another one. So check out Wayward Magic! Right now it’s only $0.99.

[Lauren loves llamas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for Anela Deen's "When Day Fades Into Night."

After the cliffhanger ending of “A Veil is Parted,” I was absolutely chomping at the bit for the next story! This is a continuation of the story in Hidden Magic, so there will be major spoilers if you haven’t read it.

“This was a fate of his own making, and he would bear it alone.”

In the last book, Simith came through the portal into the mortal world, but in this one, it’s Jessa who must follow him back. When Simith healed Jessa, he inadvertently linked their life forces – but of course, no one realizes this until they’re separated in different realms and both start falling ill. While Jessa has Relle’s grandmother to explain what that means – that as long as they’re separated, they’ll continue to weaken and eventually die – Simith has no idea what’s going on. Betrayed by the fairies and accused of betrayal by the trolls, alone without allies, Simith fears that any chance of peace will die with him.

Part of the link between Simith and Jessa lets them dream each other’s memories. Jessa sees Simith’s life from when his hamlet was burned down by trolls, most of his family killed, and how, in his grief, he joined the fairy legion in order to get revenge. In return, Simith sees Jessa spending time with her family and writing poems. However, neither of them have seen the catalyst that led directly to their current events, though they are closer than can be explained by the small amount of time physically spent in each other’s company.

“Trust was more than sharing confidences. It was allowing others to be there in times of need.”

Continuing their parallel journeys from before, the main thread of the story is Jessa and Simith relearning how to trust and accept help from others. After the attack, Simith throws himself into vengeance against the trolls, even though the person he becomes is the polar opposite of who he once was. The only check on his ruthlessness is his dead brother’s fiancée, Rimthea, who is worried about the change in him and starts advocating for a treaty between the trolls and faeries, but Simith isn’t willing to listen until it’s too late. While Jessa doesn’t go as far as joining a fairy legion after her own personal tragedy, in her grief, she does her best to push away everyone around her. Only her friend Katie continues to make an effort to reach out to her and of course it’s Katie who got mixed up and hurt in the last novella. But even Jessa has to admit that entering a strange land in the middle of a war is best done with friends, especially if one of those friends is half-fae and can do magic. I really appreciated the emphasis in this novel on their friendship.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this part of the story, though it did end on a ridiculous cliffhanger. I’m very much looking forward to the final installment!

I received this novella from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[K.C. Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magic galore! Come and feast on 20 stories of magic gone wrong. Here’s a great new anthology which works well as a stand-alone, how I read it, but I’m pretty sure works even better as it’s intended, Book 2 of a 3 book anthology series. I think the idea is brilliant and hope to see more anthology series like this. I’m pretty choosy about who I’ll invest time in because there are so many good books out there, and even I found at least eight new authors I’m planning on tracking down more of to read.
The stories’ settings differ quite a bit from each other in well-crafted variety. There’s deserts, forests, urban dystopias, and temples. The casts of characters vary even more. There are Minotaurs, elves, dragons, dwarfs, centaurs, pixies, etc., plenty of humans, and even some owl-cat creatures.

Some of my favorite stories have plots where characters are:

• trapped undercover in a temple filled with their enemies
• fighting to save the life of a lord they’re magically bound to who has already betrayed them
• underlings to a powerful mage they are planning to betray
• healers in a hospital full of sick kids when death comes calling
• ghosts of Vikings stuck in an amulet made to serve the man who destroyed their village
• part of a pack of werewolves trying to figure out what happened when a large chunk of their city disappeared
• magical creatures trying to save the life of their companion processed by a demon trying to kill them
• bound to someone from another world because the two of them share one soul

Don’t those situations just sound delicious? There are lots more great stories of ghosts, children struggling with their magic while they try to figure out who they are, witches trying to figure out how they fit into a world unfriendly to magic, and many more. You’ll have to read to discover which are your favorites.
One of my favorite aspects of this anthology is that every story has at least one strong female character and most had at least one female main character. That’s refreshing for the fantasy genre. I did find some of the stories blaisé, but I don’t know how much of that can be attributed to not reading the beginnings of the stories in Hidden Magic, Book 1 of the series, and not reading the endings of the stories in Forgotten Magic, Book 3. The amazing part to me is that so many of these authors managed to knock it out of the park with just the middle section of the stories. Kudos to these writers. Though I do recommend reading all three books in the series. Personally, I’ll need to backtrack to read Hidden Magic, Book 1, so I can ramp up for the finale, Forgotten Magic, Book 3. Even though I said this anthology works as a stand-alone, I just have to know how some of the stories end, they’re that good. So I’ll first go back and find out how they started. With those plans, I’ve got a lot of good fantasy to look forward to!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayward Magic (Magic Underground Book II) reveals stories of missing people, rescue, and most of all, magic. The heroes of the stories will grapple with magic gone wayward in order to save themselves, their families, and often the world. Below is a quick review of two of the stories you will find inside!

*** Reviewing "THE MAIL ORDER WITCH - EPISODE 2" by Joynell Schultz ***
In Episode 1 of “The Mail Order Witch”, magic was dying out in the world because pure magic blood had been slowly diluted with mortal blood over time. So Ettie arranged to become a mail order bride to marry a pure-blood warlock in Watersedge so they could do their part to keep magic alive. Roman found a solution for Ettie’s jobless status when he purchased a small store for her to turn into a magic shop, “Ettie’s Enchanted Effects”. There she can interact with the community and give advice to help those in need.

But now, in this Episode 2, Ettie’s little magic shop has hamsters! As before, Ettie has to close her shop down to find what is causing the hamster situation! Her father-in-law is not comfortable with her being so open about magic … but would he actually go so far to shut her down? Or is the sabotage coming from outsiders?

These are great stories that the reader will enjoy! Let the authors share their magic with you! You will definitely not regret that choice as you delve into the wonderful tales of magic gone a bit “wonky”!

*** “THE REBELLION” by Gwendolyn Woodschild” ***
The story opens with Brandur Berkson dealing with an old man who identifies himself as “the great, wise, and powerful Heliodoro Delgado". He claims that he and his family came to the village because it had a very high concentration of magic.

The old man is obnoxious and delights in upsetting Brandur, who finds himself not only dead, but under the power of this man who had killed him. In their clashes with each other that follow, anger and defiance don’t give Brandur the information he needs or the freedom he is craving. Now he must steel himself to do what he has to in order to get his revenge if his freedom truly is not possible.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Hidden Magic, Book I of the Magic Underground anthologies, our heroes faced the seen and unseen in order to save the day. These same characters now find themselves in a continuing world of trouble because as we know, life can be dangerous!
Wayward Magic (Magic Underground Book II) reveals stories of missing people, rescue, and most of all, magic. Our heroes will grapple with magic gone wayward in order to save themselves, their families, and often the world. This collection features:
Out-of-control magic that could destroy a young apprentice’s master and their world
A woman’s hidden magic leaving her with more freedom that she wanted
Sisters at the center of a black magic scandal must stop the city from falling to demons
Children separated from their mother must escape the castle on the most dangerous night in history
The ill are suddenly protected from death by an unlikely hero…a teenage physician
Famine-stricken subjects await precious cargo currently stranded on a ship
A holy order must save a town from a pretty poison most magical and most deadly
And more!

My review is for "The Watcher" by H. B. Lyne.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate cliffhangers but like I love them at the same time- heads up, this one is another cliffhanger but luckily they're released so frequently that we don't have to wait long. I received an arc of Anela Deen's segment of Wayward Magic in exchange for an honest review- this is my honest review.

Since this is a book of novellas, I'm reviewing only When Day Fades into Night, the story of Simith and Jessa. Simith is a pixie, not the cute small kind or the kind from Fairly Odd Parents, but an intense soldier pixie enslaved in a war that he has no real reason to be in. Jessa is a normal human who is struggling with an unexpected pregnancy and now the consequences of the battle of the last novella.

The shortness of it is great since you can easily read this in one sitting, but it's so frustrating because this world could go so much further. It kind of has A Court of Thorns and Roses vibes for me, a human journeys into the realm of magic in order to save someone she has an inexplicable bond with, though it's by no means a replica. I would recommend it for fans of that subset of books though. Another problem with the shortness is that I'm afraid to review any more elements of it without spoiling the intricacies of the plot. So I'll just say go and read this one and the first one for yourself, it'll be fast and you won't regret getting involved in the universe!

This review and all my others can be found at: https://aworldshapedbybooks.blogspot....

[Christina Morley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing The Mail-Order Witch Episode 2 by Joynell Schultz in the second anthology, Wayward Magic. It's a cozy magical mystery about a witch named Ettie who wants to help people. Her husband, Roman, wants to see her succeed and helps her at her store when he has free time. Roman's estranged father recently moved in with them. When there's a hamster infestation at the store, Ettie isn't sure who is behind it, but her father-in-law is among the suspects. He doesn't like magic being flaunted in front of non-magical humans, so there's a good chance that he isn't happy with her selling magical items to the community. There’s a resolution with the hamsters and we learn more about Roman's father, but the mystery regarding the saboteur continues in The Mail-Order Witch Episode 3 in the third anthology, Forgotten Magic.

I'm also reviewing the short narrative serial “The Ones Who Fight” by C.S. Johnson in Wayward Magic. This is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story about a girl named Skyla who lives in a utopian society that is hiding a dark secret. When she learns the horrific truth behind their perfect society, she decides to act. Her friend Aidan has agreed to help her attempt the impossible. Does her action help or destroy the community? The story will continue in “The Ones Who Choose” in Forgotten Magic.

I received ARCs of both stories. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for Anela Deen's "When Day Fades Into Night."

In “A Veil is Parted,” Simith goes through a portal to the human world, but in “When Day Fades Into Night,” Jessa travels to Simith’s world. Here we are introduced to a fantastical place of pixies. pookas, trolls, fairies, and more.

As the truth behind the wars between trolls and pixies emerges, Simith must reevaluate all he knows about the conflict and history of his world. He also must come to terms with his past.

This story delves more into the depth of loss that both Simith and Jessa feel. One consequence of their life forces being tied is that their dreams reveal the other person’s memories. Jessa sees the murder that led to Simith’s ruthlessness. She sees the war and death that Simith mercilessly inflicted upon the trolls as he fell into blood lust. She witnesses the loss of Simith’s best friend, the rejection of his family, and more.

Simith, in turn, sees Jessa’s lovely yet lonely childhood, and her grief-imbued world after tragically losing her entire family. He also sees how Jessa, a once gifted poet, has lost her ability to write and how she closed herself off from the world after tragedy fell.

Both characters have suffered and continue to suffer. I like that they are on a physical and emotional journey, and that they help each other with both. They are stronger together, and they seem to offer the wisdom, strength, and support that the other so desperately needs.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE PHENOMENAL WHIRLWIND!!!
Holy hell! This immensely talented and imaginative group of authors delivers one thrilling anthology with a kickass and take no prisoners approach, bringing the heavy artillery, heat and magic, melding this gem together flawlessly. A tumultuous whirlwind of stunning mishaps and baffling circumstances, blasts this jewel wide open. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this bad boy into a roaring tempest, thrusting it into a tailspin with a phenomenal, life-altering denouement. Sparks fly as drama, intrigue, tension, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and electrifying situations along with a boatload of chaos while dodging dastardly deeds, you have one mind-blowing masterpiece. Bumbling through the intimidating trials and challenging tribulations, along with a slew of shocking twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow smoothly transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Remarkable job guys, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[Satabdi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t read fantasy often, but whenever I do, I find myself falling headlong into the bewitching world of magical creatures, alternate worlds, and objects. I forget all about real life until I’m forced to come out to tend to some chore or the other. This anthology is no different!

I couldn’t read the first part in this anthology series so I didn’t understand much of the backstories. It was like reading an excerpt from a novel. However, the authors are so skilled at their characterizations and world-building that I didn’t really feel left out.

I was content to be absorbed into a world where anything is possible, where good and evil are in a constant tug-of-war, where various types of magical creatures abound who yield different kinds of magic.

This book has stories around magic gone rogue and the effects it has on the people and creatures in the magical worlds. The stories end abruptly and if you want to find out what happens next (which I’m sure you will) you’ll be reaching out for the third anthology.

I don’t want to recommend one story over another because I think they were all well-written but I particularly enjoyed The Mail-Order Witch by Joynell Schultz, No Sanctuary by Tiffany Shand, and When Day Fades into Night by Anela Deen.

Each author shares a preface about why they’re written the story, how they’ve tied it to the theme of magic gone haywire, and what their thoughts and motivations were. This section helped me pick the stories I wanted to read first.

I’d recommend fantasy lovers to begin with Book 1 and then read Book 2 – Wayward Magic to get the full experience.

(I received an ARC from Reeds & Reels Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.)

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies and love trying out new stories and authors.

NO Santuary - Tiffany Shand
Ann and Ed are back still running for their lives as I learn more about them as they were young and as they join the resistance. Of course there is some fighting and magic involved as expected as they save themselves from the bad guys or demons. And Ann must come to terms with what happened to her family.
Spell of Bone & Ash review: Melinda Kucsera
Things have gotten a bit grim in this chapter of what craziness is happening under the mountain and to Nulthir. Things have turned for the worse and Thing and his family try to figure out what is going on and how they can save Nulthir. The story and the intense tone of this one was amazing and kept me glued to the end just to see what would happen next. A fitting continuation to this story arc and so much fun to read. Plus the ending makes me crave for the next chapter.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read/reviewed "The Mail Order Witch #2" by Joynell Schultz

Ettie and Roman are settling into marriage. It's a bit complicated at home because Roman's father, Joe, is living with them - and he doesn't want people to know that he is a warlock. Most people are getting used to Ettie's magic shop and she is slowly building her sales. There are still a few people in town that seem to object to witches.

Suddenly, the shop is infested with gerbils - chewing power cables, chewing into walls, scaring the customers. The exterminator thinks that it may be sabotage. Ettie and Roman need to catch all the gerbils, find some personal time and work out who is causing the problems.

It's a cozy story. There's no violence or bad language. There are cuddles and some kisses but very light.

Entertaining story with enjoyable characters. Good fun

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[maria arcara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is specifically for Mail-Order Witch: Episode 2 by Joynell Schultz, as that is the only story in this anthology that I've had the pleasure of reading so far.
Such a cute plot! A great continuation of Ettie and Roman's story: after the kids with fox tails in Episode 1, we see Ettie's shop infested with cute, furry hamsters. Again, the main question is who is sabotaging Ettie and her shop; however, we also have to see how the situation gets resolved. Sweet Ettie doesn't want to harm the hamsters, her supportive husband Roman stands by her decision... yet they just keep multiplying. And, of course, the whole town is watching!
I always love, love, love Ms. Schultz's imaginative writing, her engaging plots, the wonderful characters she creates, and the interesting worlds she builds; so I have no problem highly recommending this story. And I'm super intrigued for Episode 3 - I want to see how everything gets wrapped up in the end!

[Shawnta · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Wayward Magic Anthology Tiffany Shand’s No Sanctuary is a great addition to this collection. In it we get to see when Ann and Edward decide to join the resistance. We get some good insight into their life on the run, the constant attacks and worry of danger around every corner. This short read full of action, adventure and danger really pulls you in to this world and leaves you wanting to read more. It provides a good start to the Rogues of Magic series and I look forward to reading more.
The Watcher by H.B. Lyne is another great addition to this anthology. In this short read Felix finds others who have missing loved ones from St. Catherine’s and when things finally start to look up the shocking discovery of his sister leads him down the rode of revenge. With a silver bullet in his pocket all shifters beware, I can’t wait to read what happens next.

[Nigel Perels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review applies to "The Hunter" by H. B. Lyne.

The fast-paced, carefully crafted, story continues - as with the other stories in this volume, this is the second part of the trilogy, so the reader needs to have read "The Hunter" in 'Hidden Magic' first. The characters are developed further and the mystery of Caerton's lost quarter deepens. Can the shapeshifters and their ancient magic reverse the mystery, and how will humanity respond? This trilogy of prequels sets the scene for H. B. Lyne's "Seeds of Autumn", so you will want to read this series next.
One quote in particular resonated with me, as I read whilst self-isolating during this pandemic: "Whenever tragedy strikes, you will always see people running in to help. Ignore the people denying the problem and look for those who are trying to help." Seems almost prophetic!

I am submitting this review as an Advance Copy Reader.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the dark powers finally win?

Nulthir is battling overtaking darkness that is fighting to turn him to evil. His creature friends, Thing and Amal, and their family, will fight to the death to defend him using mage skills and magic. Even as the battle rages, Iraine is trying to find the dark power behind the tunnel collapse. Without help from the Queen of All Trees the battles, and Mount Ereden, may be lost to the dark powers.

This is the second book of this captivating trilogy. It is well written and more interweaving plot lines are introduced in this story of magic and paranormal characters. This is an action-packed story but ends with a cliff hanger that sets the stage for the third book. I received a free copy of this book but my review is voluntary and honest.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of When Day Fades into Night through the author, Anela Deen, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. When Day Fades into Night is one of many stories in Wayward Magic (Magic Underground Anthologies, #2).

In When Day Fades into Night, Jessa and Simith are tethered by a unique sort of magic that, among other things, allows them to glimpse each other's memories in their sleep. Yes, it is exactly as cool as it sounds!

I can't get enough of these two. And this underground world?? *chef's kiss* Amazing. I finished this story in less than three days and eagerly await part three!

Do I recommend this novella? Yes.
Will I be reading part 3? Yes.

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for The Mail-Order Witch Episode 2 by Joynell Schultz.

I'm really enjoying this series. It has sweet, and cute, and magic, and bad guys! This time Ettie's shop is invested with...hamsters! She can't have the exterminator fix the problem so she starts live trapping them. Problem is, she's in love with all of them! She wants to keep every one of them. But who let the hamsters out? Is it her father-in-law showing that magic in the open doesn't work, or the church next door trying to get her shutdown? So many questions!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read Joynell Schultz's contribution to this anthology, and in my opinion, her story is sufficient reason to get the anthology. In her "The Mail-Order Witch, Episode 2", Ettie and Roman are experiencing an eventful time early in their marriage. Interfering in-laws, prejudiced neighbours, a new business – all of this is stressful enough. Adding swarms of rodents to the mix really tests their commitment to their relationship. Ettie’s ingenuity in getting rid of said rodents – priceless. I wonder if that would work in real life.

I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angel Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for The Mail-Order Witch Episode 2 by Joynell Schultz.
The story continues with hamsters making an unexpected appearance at the end of Episode 1. Seems a few were pregnant and had a boatload of babies! Ellie and Roman work together to conquer this next hurdle and work on family dynamics as well...and they still haven't gone on a honeymoon! A lively story with loads of twists and turns. Mean magic-haters and magic beings with the patience of Job once again clash as some of the townfolk hate magical beings and the others are easily led astray. A fun read that holds your attention with ease. Well written! I loved it!

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of magical mysteries. This review is based on The Mail Order Witch by Joynell Schultz.

Our heroine's establishment is overrun by hamsters. Should be an easy thing for a witch to fix, but if she can't figure out who caused this, things will only get worse.

This is a short cozy mystery of a witchy nature. The story is well written, easy to read and fun. We get a nice little mystery as well as a good dose of humor which makes to a very fun read. This alone is well worth the price of admission for me.

Highly recommended

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is regarding Better the Devil You Know by S. Wallace.

When a coup happen to take over a section of faerie from its ruler it is up to a Minotaur and a centaur to protect the ruler long enough for him to heal. This book is filled with fairy tale creatures, betrayal and lots and lots of action. If you are looking for an action packed fairy take done right this is your book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of No Sanctuary by Tiffany Shand.
Ann is a fugitive and hunted. After Ann’s father is murdered, people believe she did it and she and Ed are on the run. But Orla is tracking them somehow and sending demons to kill them. They take shelter with outcast who have formed the resistance. Can she gain their trust and create and army to take down Orla? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fill a family-friendly morning or afternoon with Spell of Bone & Ash by Melinda Kucsera which picks up where Spell of Wings & Glass left off in the Hidden Magic anthology.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Mail-Order Witch: Episode 2 by Joynell Schultz: Allow a couple of family-friendly hours for this episode of Ettie's continuing battle with whoever it is that just doesn't want her to have her own little business in Watersedge. I had an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.

[Jacy Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Customer Review

Verified Purchase
I love this series, and have really enjoyed the growth of Ettie and Roman. This latest book involves someone sabotaging Ettie's shop with hamsters. Roman and Ettie try to get to the bottom of the infestation, and learn more about Roman's father Joe.
There's a lot more to this story, but I don't like spoilers.
I haven't read any of the other books yet, but they are next.
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[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Ettie and Roman have their hands full with a town that mistrusts witches. Ettie is determined to make friends with the towns citizens, but someone is sabotaging her store’s future. Will Roman and Ettie find out who? This is a solid story line with great characters. The world building is well done and you feel like you know the characters and the town. Try this fun series, you will not be disappointed.