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Academic Magic
Zoe O'Brien has found her dream job at a small liberal arts college teaching the history of Medieval witchcraft and magic. Academic life is exactly what she expected it to be…until the squirrels stop by to talk with her and her department chair and best friend turn out to be mages.Zoe discovers a world of magic and power she never knew existed. She and other faculty mages race to stop a coven from raising a demon on the winter solstice while simultaneously grading piles of final exams and reading the tortured prose of undergraduate term papers. Can Zoe master her new-found powers in time?
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 26, 2020
There is a more extensive (and funnier) version of this review on my blog, Papa Pat Rambles.
Zoe O’Brien, Ph.D., is a relatively new hire in the history department at Summerfield College, a smallish liberal arts institution located in metro Philadelphia. As such, she has the standard concerns of junior faculty everywhere: committee assignments; teaching freshman level survey courses; cranking out research papers; living without tenure; no romantic life ; and two cats for company.
All normal, until she sees a group of squirrels sitting in a circle, and one of them waves at her.
Zoe’s concentration in Medieval European history gave her a strong foundation in the types of behaviors termed magical, as well as the reaction of surrounding societies. She also has a scholarly skepticism and a modern view of Life. However, her confidence already shaken by what she THINKS she saw, she is further challenged by her closest friend Mark, and his husband David, who tell her that just because the belief is medieval, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Thus, when she discovers two squirrels waiting for her when she goes to work the next day, she braves the unknown, and speaks politely to them. They return the courtesy, and meet with her, in her office.
That evening, but her cats talk to her that evening.
All of this inter-species communication has a point: there is something that feels nasty about the main administration building, and the squirrels need her help. And so they come to a junior member of the faculty, non-tenured, and ask her to speak to her department head, and mentor, on their behalf; a person who will certainly have a significant role to play on whether she is offered a tenured position.
Thus develops a lovely fantasy, spread over a very true-to-life depiction of a college campus, something I know about. Jones is spot-on with her descriptions of mind-numbing committee meetings and office politics.
Even those who haven’t spent much time in the ivory towers can find much to appreciate about this tale of an intelligent young prof, confronted by the impossible. Her conversations with her cats alone make it worth the read. Add in wicked witches, winos, wise wizards, and a whining woman-parent, and the alliteration will take you home.
Zoe O’Brien, Ph.D., is a relatively new hire in the history department at Summerfield College, a smallish liberal arts institution located in metro Philadelphia. As such, she has the standard concerns of junior faculty everywhere: committee assignments; teaching freshman level survey courses; cranking out research papers; living without tenure; no romantic life ; and two cats for company.
All normal, until she sees a group of squirrels sitting in a circle, and one of them waves at her.
Zoe’s concentration in Medieval European history gave her a strong foundation in the types of behaviors termed magical, as well as the reaction of surrounding societies. She also has a scholarly skepticism and a modern view of Life. However, her confidence already shaken by what she THINKS she saw, she is further challenged by her closest friend Mark, and his husband David, who tell her that just because the belief is medieval, that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
Thus, when she discovers two squirrels waiting for her when she goes to work the next day, she braves the unknown, and speaks politely to them. They return the courtesy, and meet with her, in her office.
That evening, but her cats talk to her that evening.
All of this inter-species communication has a point: there is something that feels nasty about the main administration building, and the squirrels need her help. And so they come to a junior member of the faculty, non-tenured, and ask her to speak to her department head, and mentor, on their behalf; a person who will certainly have a significant role to play on whether she is offered a tenured position.
Thus develops a lovely fantasy, spread over a very true-to-life depiction of a college campus, something I know about. Jones is spot-on with her descriptions of mind-numbing committee meetings and office politics.
Even those who haven’t spent much time in the ivory towers can find much to appreciate about this tale of an intelligent young prof, confronted by the impossible. Her conversations with her cats alone make it worth the read. Add in wicked witches, winos, wise wizards, and a whining woman-parent, and the alliteration will take you home.
April 16, 2021
Enjoyable read
First, the good: I enjoyed the characterizations of various characters and look forward to further character development. Put another way, I look forward to
book 2. As a long term GURPS fan, the implications of the Mage powers were interesting as well as comprehensible. The writing style was not stilted, and engaged the reader's interest.
The less than good: there seemed to be a few missed implications in the acquisition of capabilities/powers - but is more or less a function of logic. The protagonist discovers a talent she possesses by accident, yet this seemingly has never happened before. This uncontrolled manifestation of an ability seems like an oddity that either should have happened more often, or should not have happened at all. Just a "minor nit", nothing to detract from the story itself.
In all, a GOOD and enjoyable read. Looking forward to book two now.
First, the good: I enjoyed the characterizations of various characters and look forward to further character development. Put another way, I look forward to
book 2. As a long term GURPS fan, the implications of the Mage powers were interesting as well as comprehensible. The writing style was not stilted, and engaged the reader's interest.
The less than good: there seemed to be a few missed implications in the acquisition of capabilities/powers - but is more or less a function of logic. The protagonist discovers a talent she possesses by accident, yet this seemingly has never happened before. This uncontrolled manifestation of an ability seems like an oddity that either should have happened more often, or should not have happened at all. Just a "minor nit", nothing to detract from the story itself.
In all, a GOOD and enjoyable read. Looking forward to book two now.
April 15, 2021
Fun tale
That I found more amusing because I grew up in a college town! The insider jokes about tenure etc were so true and so funny! The main character sometimes annoyed me, but again that was probably because she was so true to life for a graduate teacher. Insecure and overly analytical, but it was addressed by another character- act faster! Good beginning to an interesting world, I'm off to get the next one.
That I found more amusing because I grew up in a college town! The insider jokes about tenure etc were so true and so funny! The main character sometimes annoyed me, but again that was probably because she was so true to life for a graduate teacher. Insecure and overly analytical, but it was addressed by another character- act faster! Good beginning to an interesting world, I'm off to get the next one.
June 25, 2020
Loved this book!
well written, magical experience! The story sucked me in as it gained traction ! Really enjoyable read! And the promise of more to come!
well written, magical experience! The story sucked me in as it gained traction ! Really enjoyable read! And the promise of more to come!
February 1, 2021
Very well done
There were few typos & punctuation, but far fewer than many books, both trad & e-publish. Tight story, works well in flow & good characters.
There were few typos & punctuation, but far fewer than many books, both trad & e-publish. Tight story, works well in flow & good characters.
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February 21, 2023ebook
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews