The New Improved Sorceress

Wayward Mages #2

by Sara Hanover

The second book in this contemporary fantasy series returns to the life of Tessa Andrews as she balances the magical and mundane worlds.

Tessa didn't believe in magic, but magic believed in her, and that started a fight for her life.

An ancient artifact known as a maelstrom stone has embedded itself in her left palm. It thrives on chaos, which describes her new life perfectly. She battles to find a balance between the ordinary world and the magical one, all while freeing her father from his ghostly state, helping a phoenix wizard restore his rejuvenation ritual, and retrieving the stolen Eye of Nimora for the Broadstone clan. Tessa must also help her mother navigate the rocky road of academia and single motherhood finances, fall in love herself, and steer her college teammates to a divisional championship. She needs friends, both ordinary and magical, by her side.

Then a strange and forbidding book of the Dark Arts strikes her with actual power...and Tessa realizes more than ever that there is no I in team--unless it's the one in new, improved sorceress.

Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 14, 2020

About the author

Sara Hanover is a pen name. She lives with a hoard of books, rather like a dragon, and works on improving her imagination daily. She loves plot twists and cats, family and crispy autumn leaves, traveling and good food. She thanks her parents for supporting her first efforts in writing, and her husband for continuing to encourage her, along with the many good people at DAW Books.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanover weaves a tale of a young woman, ignorant of magic, thrust into a magical world. Talk about trying to swim upstream and learning to swim on the way.

Tessa had no idea that there was magic in the world until a magical gem embeds in her hand. The gem, an ancient artifact, gives her the ability to call on its powers erratically, because she has no idea what she’s doing. Finding balance in a world completely unknown to Tessa, she discovers that relying on her closest friends might be the key to her and those she loves survival.

I found The New Improved Sorceress a fun frolic into a world where magic exists but so does the basic everyday family and friend dramas that surrounds us all. Hanover provides a strong plot, delightful heartfelt characters and a highly creative twist to Arthurian Fantasy.

I received this copy of The New Improved Sorceress from Berkley Publishing Group - DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Sara Hanover
Series: Wayward Mages (Book 2)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: DAW (January 14, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0756414377
ISBN-13: 978-0756414375
Genre: Fantasy | Scifi

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/New-Improved-S...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

The Wayward Mages is an urban fantasy series by author Sara Hanover. The series follows Tessa Andrews as she becomes embroiled in magical mysteries in her quest to find her father. Tessa has a boat load of issues to deal with in this sequel to The Late Great Wizard. An ancient artifact known as the maelstrom stone has embedded itself in her left palm. Her father is an interdimensional ghost living in her basement. Professor Brandard, the so called Phoenix Wizard, still hasn't found a way to do the rejuvenation ritual correctly, and is now stuck in the body of Brian until he can.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Julie Czerneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say this is even better than the first book, but that's right. It's equally as good, but the characters have grown immensely, as has the plot. Wow. I love how secrets are revealed and each time you're nodding YES YES!
Don't miss this one!

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tessa Andrews helped the The Late Great Wizard (paper) whose resurection had gone wrong when his house burnt down and ended up with a magical Maelstrom stone in her palm. Now she decides to help the Broadstone clan of trolls find the missing, or stolen ruby called the Eye of Nimora which can determine whether someone is lying. Along the way, with the help of the Maelstrom stone, she becomes The New Improved Sorceress (paper from DAW). Sara Hanover has more adventures coming because Terssa’s father is still a ghost trapped in the basement.Review printed by Philadelphia Free Press

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC copy of The New Improved Sorceress from Berkley Publishing Group - DAW. This is my honest and voluntary review. The New Improved Sorceress is set for publication Jan 14, 2020.

[Tim Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lightweight teen urban magic, it's a four.

It's clearly written to be part of a series that might go on a LONG time, so if you like all your plot points resolved, this might not be for you.

Tessa's a good character. Not too capable, not too grown up for her age, but reasonably smart and clearly capable of intense focus.

I liked Hiram, too even though he's sitting in a normal chair one minute and shaking the house another. Carter is too much of a Stephanie Plum Handsome Male, and he's too restricted to be interesting; hope that changes. Steptoe's development is a good plot piece. The dog has possibilities, and Evelyn turned out to be a good part of the team. The professor is a dick, Brian's OK. I allow Tessa's mom only because she also has a career outside baking, breakfast-making and tea.

Malender, somehow, takes about two appearances before we know he isn't going to be explained till about Volume Six. Sigh.

You have to be prepared to deal with repeated entrances of characters whose shtick is "I'm immensely powerful, but it suits me not to kill you just yet, bwah-hah-hah."

The plot developed decently, with occasional moments of excess tea and baking, although as I neared the end I thought, "not enough pages left, she's gonna leave us hanging," but somehow Hanover DID wrap it up, mostly, if a bit too conveniently.

Even though I'm way outside the target audience, I'll probably read the next one.

[Stephanie Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa’s life keeps getting more complicated. While still struggling to learn how to use the Maelstrom Stone it absorbs a book of the Dark Arts making her a sorceress albeit a sorceress without training. When Hiram Broadstone asks her to find the lost Eye of Nimora she cannot turn him down, the fee he offers will solve so many of Tessa and her mom’s mundane problems. Hiram’s late father gave the Eye to his wife, a harpy, who disappeared before Hiram’s father died along with the Eye. Of course, things are more complicated than expected as Tessa has to find Germanigold before she can begin to track down the Eye. Then there are still the problems of the Professor who still has not performed his phoenix ritual, Tessa’s dad is still a ghost in the basement and mundanely, Tessa’s mom is being told to finish her dissertation or look for another job and Tessa’s hockey team is on track for the championships if Tessa can avoid her opponents being inhabited by demons out to get her. There are also elves to fight and a new dog to help Tessa in her magical quests.

A great second outing in this series. Things are coming to a head on several fronts, we have a cliff hanger ending and I can hardly wait for the next book. Highly recommended.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group - DAW in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I read this book I was immediately drawn to it because the main character Tessa reminded me of the main character Zoey in the House of Night series but instead of being a vampire, Tessa is a sorceress or at least until she knows. Getting through high school and the complications that come with it including making friends is very complex to handle especially when your power and well being depends on it and not only do you have to get human friends, you have to make magical friends as well. A lot of our YA patrons will appreciate this book and will be fascinated with Tessa's journey. Can't wait to pitch this to our Teen Book Club.

We will consider adding this title to our Fantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Heather Kirkpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little romp. I liked the characters a lot. Will have to go back and read the 1st one!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great story, loved being in this world again, lots happens, I enjoyed the quest in this book! And that ending!

[Angela]

Another one that just fizzled out on me. Realized that I don't care anymore if I finish it; so, I'm officially deciding that I'm done.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this series! Takes place in modern day, and expands on the story from the first and sets up more world storyline and lore!

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventurous read

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I had mixed feelings here. I really enjoyed the Late Great Wizard and was extremely eager to dive into the second book in the series the New Improved Sorceress. For the bulk of the book, I was pleased to return to the world of Tessa, her interesting group of friends, and their adventures. I was happily immersed in the same sense of intrigue I felt from the first book as Tessa works to unravel more secrets about the magical world. However, I struggled with the way the events from the first book were recapped in the beginning of this book. It really lacked the charm I associate with the characters from this series. I was also underwhelmed by the ending. The first book gave me some sense of closure while leaving enough loose ends to keep me wanting more. That was not the case here. It felt very abrupt and awkward. It definitely left me looking for more from the story. However, I felt a little cheated. Still an enjoyable read considering how much I like the characters. Will definitely be on the lookout for the next addition to the series.