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The Snowball Effect: A Fairy Tale
It is 1566. On the coast of Croatian Ardubia, Cynthia is content to live a quiet life as an innkeeper, serving guests, knitting, and catering to her cat. Cynthia is unaware that her best friends, Prophet and Precious, are waiting for the moment when Cynthia will become a wizard and save their nation.Cynthia will need to work fast when she becomes a wizard.Before Cynthia was born, Vitomir, the greatest wizard at the time, started working to seal away magic and usher in an age of reason. Vitomir's final work will banish those of great power from reality and Vitomir cares not that he, too, will be gone.Cynthia is unaware of her potential to become the greatest wizard of the day. Unaware that her hidden power dooms her, and she only has a few months left before reality rejects her and erases the memory of her existence.Cynthia's cat, Snowball, is making her own plans and does not care that her master will soon visit Hell, enter the Mirrorlands, and become a Queen of Fairy. Cynthia's cat, Snowball, has decided she wants kittens.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 13, 2020
This story tells of a cat-loving knitter who is an outcast in the real world. She transforms into a Wizard on a mission to create her very own Fairyworld, a world with mirror gateways and a male Wizard who will teach her more of the ways of magic. The psychological action takes place between the real world and other worlds, and Snowball, the familiar, is a mysterious presence in the tale who seems to understand and preside over the magic.
The world-building in this tale was good, and very detailed. The characters were magical and intriguing. Sometimes, it was confusing to have characters with more than one name. But characters were well-developed, and drawn with sensitivity and compassion.
This story is a very ambitious project, and I felt that the distinction between worlds was a little blurry at times because of the structure of the narrative, which I felt could have been edited for padding, and thus a little shorter and clearer. The middle of the book drifted a little, and it needs to be more clearly focused. This would also improve the pace. Occasionally, there was overwriting which did not leave enough to the reader's imagination.
As the narrative developed, things became clearer, but I feel that more foreshadowing might have been done, with the prophecy coming in a little earlier to guide the reader.
In sum, an entertaining and enjoyable story with great potential, that needs a little more clarity, space for the reader's imagination, and structure.
The world-building in this tale was good, and very detailed. The characters were magical and intriguing. Sometimes, it was confusing to have characters with more than one name. But characters were well-developed, and drawn with sensitivity and compassion.
This story is a very ambitious project, and I felt that the distinction between worlds was a little blurry at times because of the structure of the narrative, which I felt could have been edited for padding, and thus a little shorter and clearer. The middle of the book drifted a little, and it needs to be more clearly focused. This would also improve the pace. Occasionally, there was overwriting which did not leave enough to the reader's imagination.
As the narrative developed, things became clearer, but I feel that more foreshadowing might have been done, with the prophecy coming in a little earlier to guide the reader.
In sum, an entertaining and enjoyable story with great potential, that needs a little more clarity, space for the reader's imagination, and structure.
July 2, 2026
I have to admit the author hooked me with the humorous dedication of this book to his cat (who would leave him dead rodents as, clearly, he was unable to fend for himself) and to his wife, who also fed him. My daughter had a cat, Whiskey, who would bring dead birds to lay on my husband's pillow when we visited, tithe for the alpha, or perhaps to remind us how lethal he could be if he wanted to be. You know...cats; but I digress.
The Snowball Effect starts when low ranking royal, Lady Cynthia (AKA the Wizard) is out looking for her missing house cat, Snowball, and happens upon a floating array of cheese wheels being transported by fairies. Deciding not to get involved, other than rescuing the fairies from her marauding cat, she keeps their presence and activities to herself, which earns her their thanks as well as frequent return visits and their ongoing assistance going forward. It is assistance she'll need, especially if she is to become the Royal Wizard that her royal family expects her to be. The problem is, other than teaching her often sociopathic cat how to talk, she doesn't see herself as a wizard, and she has no idea what a wizard is supposed to do.
Oddly enough, it's a skill that seems to grow as she leaves her old life behind and begins her new role. It doesn't take long before she is rescuing her entourage from rampaging ghostly guards, communing with fairies and spirits, and convincing her royal family's fighting men that they should listen to battle strategy conveyed by her flock of talking animal familiars (forgive me for calling you an animal, Snowball; please don't leave dead rats or birds on my pillow).
She also begins to astral travel, for lack of a better phrase, falling through mirrors and the glint of coins, and ending up in places that she didn't intend to go. One of those places is a fairy world. Another is Hell. What she does there, who she meets, and what role she is destined to play in the future of several realities is the story you will find in this book.
I liked several things about the story, in addition to the humor which is pervasive throughout. One of these is the snippets of information and a brief history of the 1500s at the start of the book, the era the story is set in. I like history. Another was the unique, non-stereotypical characters. One of the devils is a nice guy. One of the murderous denizens of Hell was just lost and lonely. The cat may be a stone-cold murderer. 🐈😉 Cynthia takes them all under her wing.
It's a long book, but after all, if you want to hear what the talking cat, horse, ravens, rooks and crows have to say, it's going to take a while, no matter how fast you speed time up, or slow it down! Either way, this cozy, epic fantasy is well worth the read.
Post Scriptum: If you like cats, you should probably buy this book. Snowball says she has kittens to feed and expensive tastes.
The Snowball Effect starts when low ranking royal, Lady Cynthia (AKA the Wizard) is out looking for her missing house cat, Snowball, and happens upon a floating array of cheese wheels being transported by fairies. Deciding not to get involved, other than rescuing the fairies from her marauding cat, she keeps their presence and activities to herself, which earns her their thanks as well as frequent return visits and their ongoing assistance going forward. It is assistance she'll need, especially if she is to become the Royal Wizard that her royal family expects her to be. The problem is, other than teaching her often sociopathic cat how to talk, she doesn't see herself as a wizard, and she has no idea what a wizard is supposed to do.
Oddly enough, it's a skill that seems to grow as she leaves her old life behind and begins her new role. It doesn't take long before she is rescuing her entourage from rampaging ghostly guards, communing with fairies and spirits, and convincing her royal family's fighting men that they should listen to battle strategy conveyed by her flock of talking animal familiars (forgive me for calling you an animal, Snowball; please don't leave dead rats or birds on my pillow).
She also begins to astral travel, for lack of a better phrase, falling through mirrors and the glint of coins, and ending up in places that she didn't intend to go. One of those places is a fairy world. Another is Hell. What she does there, who she meets, and what role she is destined to play in the future of several realities is the story you will find in this book.
I liked several things about the story, in addition to the humor which is pervasive throughout. One of these is the snippets of information and a brief history of the 1500s at the start of the book, the era the story is set in. I like history. Another was the unique, non-stereotypical characters. One of the devils is a nice guy. One of the murderous denizens of Hell was just lost and lonely. The cat may be a stone-cold murderer. 🐈😉 Cynthia takes them all under her wing.
It's a long book, but after all, if you want to hear what the talking cat, horse, ravens, rooks and crows have to say, it's going to take a while, no matter how fast you speed time up, or slow it down! Either way, this cozy, epic fantasy is well worth the read.
Post Scriptum: If you like cats, you should probably buy this book. Snowball says she has kittens to feed and expensive tastes.
September 5, 2021
Great adventure for older children with fairies, wizards, other worlds, Kings, Queens and so much more. I think it would be a bit daunting for young children as there is lots going on at all times. That makes it a wonderful read for adults as well. If your looking for magic and adventure, look no further.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews