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River Magic
Budding clairvoyant Lacey Moran seeks to understand her dreams and find her life’s purpose along the St. Lawrence River. If only her visions of silver arms and Cian O’Connor’s blue eyes were easier to understand! The pieces begin coming together when she encounters a mermaid in the river, joins a group of Druids, and opens herself to romance with an old friend.
Can Lacey overcome her doubts, or is she in over her head?
Can Lacey overcome her doubts, or is she in over her head?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
3 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Phillips
5 books26 followersM. A. Phillips is a writer in Northern NY. She lives with her husband, daughter, and two lazy cats. She fell in love with writing at a young age thanks to her encouraging, creative family. Mythology, folklore, and the landscape are her primary inspirations. Her writing has been published in The Ampersand, Oak Leaves, and Stone, Root, and Bone. Her debut novel, RIVER MAGIC, will be released by Shadow Spark Publishing in October 2020.
You can find examples of her writing and sewing in her portfolio.
You can find examples of her writing and sewing in her portfolio.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 18, 2021
I was so thrilled to see a book about the Alexandria Bay and Watertown area! My family is from, and remains in the area and it was a nostalgia filled reading experience!
A story of finding oneself as an adult, embracing life choices, one's faith, and reconciling new adult friendships. I loved how everyone worked together and supported one another
There is a great group of characters too. The romance is sweet and a slow build. I was not expecting to find mature physical content, so do be aware of that. The couples had a realistic relationship though which was refreshing, they were able to talk things through instead of losing their heads like many novels feature
One other theme I appreciated was how hard it can be to change and accept new viewpoints and changing culture, especially from a religious standpoint. The Catholicism vs Pagan conflict was handled realistically, and a lot of the novel is about embracing instinct and one's own path in life. It was interesting to learn some about Druidism and rituals!
I can't wait to read book two!
A story of finding oneself as an adult, embracing life choices, one's faith, and reconciling new adult friendships. I loved how everyone worked together and supported one another
There is a great group of characters too. The romance is sweet and a slow build. I was not expecting to find mature physical content, so do be aware of that. The couples had a realistic relationship though which was refreshing, they were able to talk things through instead of losing their heads like many novels feature
One other theme I appreciated was how hard it can be to change and accept new viewpoints and changing culture, especially from a religious standpoint. The Catholicism vs Pagan conflict was handled realistically, and a lot of the novel is about embracing instinct and one's own path in life. It was interesting to learn some about Druidism and rituals!
I can't wait to read book two!
November 24, 2020
River Magic is a book that surprised me in all the best ways. It took me a few chapters to get into the flow of this one, and then seemingly between one breath and the next, I was hooked and unable to stop reading.
This is a book that appealed to me on several levels, firstly was the use of folklore and mythology that permeated throughout the book, some of which I was familiar with through a fascination with Celtic mythology and folklore, although I liked the twists the author put on certain aspects to tailor them to the setting. In particular, I enjoyed the various aspects of the mermaid, and her role in the story, and how Phillips used this magical aspect to also explore a very real environmental concern, and how the river, which was as much a character as a location in this book had a voice through her.
Secondly, was the exploration of faith and beliefs, and how people can explore their paths and find their own one changing through new encounters and experiences. This was something that resonated very deeply with me. It was done beautifully here, and from various angles, and I enjoyed how Phillips looked not just at the challenges and conflicts, but at the quiet moments, the blossoming moments – and how it flowed out into each person’s wider life, such as Lacey’s inspiration to write growing as she found herself and her path. It felt very natural, very human and very relatable. River Magic is very much a story of life and change and growth, from personal growth with relationships and changing family dynamics, to the community, to the more natural sense with the passage of seasons, growing faith.
River Magic is a very character-driven story above anything else, and Phillips did an excellent job of creating a fascinating cast of unique voices that each brought something different to the story, even those who were in the background stood out as individuals. And as mentioned above there was a lot of growth, and this was particularly evident with the characters, and I enjoyed how we got to experience most of that growth and change alongside the characters as it happened, and for me that always helps to bring a story and characters to life. I particularly enjoyed Lacey and thought she made a fantastic protagonist, and I liked that her ability didn’t give her an unfair advantage, and indeed brought complications and conflict, but beyond that, she was a very relatable character. I also loved Lidia and their relationship, and how it shifted and changed throughout the book, and it was a genuine, believable friendship.
All in all River Magic was a delightful read that hit on a very personal level in places, and one that I would highly recommend. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more books in this series and by this author.
This is a book that appealed to me on several levels, firstly was the use of folklore and mythology that permeated throughout the book, some of which I was familiar with through a fascination with Celtic mythology and folklore, although I liked the twists the author put on certain aspects to tailor them to the setting. In particular, I enjoyed the various aspects of the mermaid, and her role in the story, and how Phillips used this magical aspect to also explore a very real environmental concern, and how the river, which was as much a character as a location in this book had a voice through her.
Secondly, was the exploration of faith and beliefs, and how people can explore their paths and find their own one changing through new encounters and experiences. This was something that resonated very deeply with me. It was done beautifully here, and from various angles, and I enjoyed how Phillips looked not just at the challenges and conflicts, but at the quiet moments, the blossoming moments – and how it flowed out into each person’s wider life, such as Lacey’s inspiration to write growing as she found herself and her path. It felt very natural, very human and very relatable. River Magic is very much a story of life and change and growth, from personal growth with relationships and changing family dynamics, to the community, to the more natural sense with the passage of seasons, growing faith.
River Magic is a very character-driven story above anything else, and Phillips did an excellent job of creating a fascinating cast of unique voices that each brought something different to the story, even those who were in the background stood out as individuals. And as mentioned above there was a lot of growth, and this was particularly evident with the characters, and I enjoyed how we got to experience most of that growth and change alongside the characters as it happened, and for me that always helps to bring a story and characters to life. I particularly enjoyed Lacey and thought she made a fantastic protagonist, and I liked that her ability didn’t give her an unfair advantage, and indeed brought complications and conflict, but beyond that, she was a very relatable character. I also loved Lidia and their relationship, and how it shifted and changed throughout the book, and it was a genuine, believable friendship.
All in all River Magic was a delightful read that hit on a very personal level in places, and one that I would highly recommend. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for more books in this series and by this author.
November 16, 2020
I found this book to be inviting and magical with a dash of mystery. Being familiar with the St. Lawrence, the writing truly paints a picture and made me feel connected to the story and it’s characters. I look forward to the continuation of this story.
December 16, 2020
Such a lovely book.
It's such a breath of fresh air to read a gentle romance from an authentic pagan perspective. It was the perfect way to relax and enjoy a bit of winter peace.
It's such a breath of fresh air to read a gentle romance from an authentic pagan perspective. It was the perfect way to relax and enjoy a bit of winter peace.
July 8, 2021
How much fiction involving #Brigit have I had the chance to read? Very little! SO imagine how excited I was when M.A. Phillips' River Magic came along!
Review of River Magic by M. A. Phillips, book one of The Rituals of Rock Bay (2020) Shadow Spark Publishing
First, what I like:
I want to say right from the start that I really like this book. It has a kind of ebullience and innocence about it that is really charming. The protagonist, though imperfect, as we all must be, has an integrity that guides her actions, and a passion for life that goes beyond herself and her friends, to the beings, sometimes familiar, sometimes frightening, that dwell in the world around her. It also deals with something I haven’t seen represented much in fiction: The coming of age of a modern Neo-Pagan woman.
Lacey Moran has explored Paganism with her friend Lidia since their school days, but she hasn’t really found her spiritual home. When Lidia opens a metaphysical store in their village of Rock Bay (situated along the beautiful Saint Lawrence River – a visit there is now on my bucket list), a group of modern Druids book the space for their Imbolc ritual. This ritual introduces Lacey to the goddess Brigit, and a connection is made immediately. (Hurrah! This is why I decided to read and review this book.)
Lacey has also had cryptic dreams of a mermaid in the river. Coming from a family with a talent for premonition, Lacey knows that many of her dreams foreshadow events to come. Do these?
Now, I have completely left out the other main theme of this book: the love that Lacey has for her longtime friend, Cian, and her conflicting feelings about becoming romantically involved with him. Cian is a feature of these dreams, making them more concerning to her. What do they mean?
I suppose this is a romance novel. I don’t read many such, so I won’t claim to be an expert in the genre. So, I can’t say for sure if River Magic would fall into that camp. The relationship is of great importance, but so is Lacey’s growth in her spiritual path, and in her chosen community. Important, as well, is protection of the land.
There are always difficulties along the path to love, in literature as in life, moments where everything seems possible, moments where nothing seems possible, and River Magic has all of these. But for me the most interesting part is the way the characters and their home town come to life, the obvious affection that the author has for both the characters and their setting, and how these relationships built on compassion, trust, and yes, integrity, move the action of the book.
I like the way Phillips approaches magic and religion and rituals. This is a novel about ordinary people having ordinary lives that are supported by their relationships with the deities. In other words, they are people like you and me, although a lot younger than I am, who go along living their lives to the best of their abilities. But although it isn’t a novel of Harry Potter-style magic, the deities are real, as is the mermaid, and this is gratifying to me. It just occurred to me that the only books I’ve read that have in this respect a similar sensibility are a couple of Christian romances I read years ago. Phillips’ book shares with those novels the sense of human relationships supported by their spiritual beliefs and the forces behind those beliefs, the gods, the goddesses, the spirits. And that can be powerful stuff.
Of course, the reason I am even reviewing this book is because of the presence of the goddess Brigit. So how do I like the way she is portrayed?
I quite like the tentative awareness that Lacey has of Brigit. She’s not the main focus of the story and yet her presence feels important even before she really manifests. I recognise the slow acquaintance with her that happened, though differently, in my own life. There is that first awareness, and then a whole bunch of life, and another moment of recognition, a desire to know more, and a whole lot of life happening all around that. Brigit herself doesn’t really engage in terms of holding conversations with Lacey, but she’s clearly aware of her and connecting with her.
It is really lovely to read a book about a devotee of Brigit who I could meet today, especially if I travelled over to the St. Lawrence and joined her in her small and lovely town. (Phillips clearly appreciates this piece of the world very much.) When we first meet her, of course, Lacey is not her devotee, but it doesn’t take long before she begins to be drawn to Brigit. What I like especially is that her relationship with Brigit is not written like a fantasy. I’ve met many people who have been drawn to her and who work with her in similar ways. For instance, when Lacey is about to go into a stressful situation, she asks Brigit to lend her eloquence to help her through. Phillips doesn’t point out that this is because Brigit is a patron of poets, but if you remember that from earlier then you will understand why she made this particular prayer. Her prayers are simple and plain and straight to the point, and they come to Lacey, herself a budding poet, whenever the need is there.
Now for the nitpicks.
The editor in me wished on a great number of occasions that I could scratch out a word or phrase and work with the author to find another way to say it. Words like smirk and gush, gasp and squeal, and so on got in the way for me because they frequently weren’t right for the situation they were describing; they were too much. her Ordinarily they might have put me off the book. I’m glad they didn’t. Phillips’ ability to tell a captivating story is already strong, and many of her similes and metaphors, turns of phrase and insights into a character or the language are surprising and fresh, and show a real ability that can only develop over time.
In fact, it may be her willingness to play with language that both leads her into trouble and allows that fresh and surprising imagery to emerge. Let me give an example that I think doesn’t work, and follow it with one that does.
“Lacey hummed. ‘I see you've maintained your reclusive reputation.’
He scoffed. ‘An interesting way to describe my anxiety.’”
Chapter Sixteen
“North Country winters tend to drag on through April. Fickle Mother Nature will cozy up, slap on a mud mask, bathe, then wrap herself in a thin robe of frost regardless of human calendars. Icy portraits still appeared on car windows some mornings, and Lacey begrudgingly scraped her windshield beside Cian before they went their separate ways.”
Chapter Seventeen
Now, the first one is not egregious by any means. Having Lacey hum her words is inventive, but it’s also a slightly weird word choice, and it catches me. I tried quickly to imagine her humming her words and it just doesn’t work. Having Cian scoff also catches my attention in a way it really shouldn’t. It throws me back to the tropes of melodrama. And this is the problem with a number of her word choices, they have the right dictionary meaning, but they are normally used in a different way, or even if not normally, enough so that they can trip the reader’s imagination up, distracting her into pondering the word choice instead of paying attention to the story itself.
In the second quote, Phillips is using her inventiveness successfully, as she does many times throughout the book. What I get tripped up by elsewhere is just a slightly awkward use of the same wonderful imagination that brings the story alive. In other words, I don’t see these quotes as failure versus success, I see a talent that is in the process of being strengthened. I think that, in time, M.A. Phillips will be an excellent writer indeed.
Allow me to give two more examples.
“…rocking her body right and left as she circumnavigated the fire with confidence…”
Chapter Twenty-One
“…the Adirondacks were equally stirring. The ancient mountains swept her further and further from the road – a road that would drag her back to loans and demanding schedules. Here she was one among the many organisms clinging to Mother Earth as they tumbled through the solar system. Here she was closer to the stars.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
This first one doesn’t work for me. It isn’t bad, but I can see what Phillips is trying to make me understand, and the words don’t do it for me. The first phrase isn’t pretty, it is awkward. But she is dancing – I want to see the beauty of the act, even if she isn’t the best dancer in the world (and it would be more to my taste if she isn’t). Words like circumnavigated exactly describe what is happening, but in an unemotional and distant way that doesn’t bring us into the person being described. Saying she is confident is also remote. I want Phillips to show it in her dance.
In the second quote, although more words are used and many more concepts are involved (a recipe, at times, for overdoing things in writing), the writing is tight, and I feel along with the protagonist what she is experiencing.
I notice, also, that the two randomly chosen quotes that I think work well concern Lacey’s relationship to the land. It would be interesting to see if this occurs throughout the book – if it is this theme where Phillips finds her greatest strength.
Conclusion:
This would be a great book to give to a fiction reader, especially a young one, who is just beginning to explore paganism or witchcraft. It’s a lovely, gentle primer at the same time as being an engaging story.
So, was this first novel perfect? No. Was it good enough to make me want to read Book Two? Oh, yes. I want to know more about Lacey, her friends, and the supernatural beings that people their world. And I want to watch M. A. Phillips develop in her craft. There is much to look forward to here.
Review of River Magic by M. A. Phillips, book one of The Rituals of Rock Bay (2020) Shadow Spark Publishing
First, what I like:
I want to say right from the start that I really like this book. It has a kind of ebullience and innocence about it that is really charming. The protagonist, though imperfect, as we all must be, has an integrity that guides her actions, and a passion for life that goes beyond herself and her friends, to the beings, sometimes familiar, sometimes frightening, that dwell in the world around her. It also deals with something I haven’t seen represented much in fiction: The coming of age of a modern Neo-Pagan woman.
Lacey Moran has explored Paganism with her friend Lidia since their school days, but she hasn’t really found her spiritual home. When Lidia opens a metaphysical store in their village of Rock Bay (situated along the beautiful Saint Lawrence River – a visit there is now on my bucket list), a group of modern Druids book the space for their Imbolc ritual. This ritual introduces Lacey to the goddess Brigit, and a connection is made immediately. (Hurrah! This is why I decided to read and review this book.)
Lacey has also had cryptic dreams of a mermaid in the river. Coming from a family with a talent for premonition, Lacey knows that many of her dreams foreshadow events to come. Do these?
Now, I have completely left out the other main theme of this book: the love that Lacey has for her longtime friend, Cian, and her conflicting feelings about becoming romantically involved with him. Cian is a feature of these dreams, making them more concerning to her. What do they mean?
I suppose this is a romance novel. I don’t read many such, so I won’t claim to be an expert in the genre. So, I can’t say for sure if River Magic would fall into that camp. The relationship is of great importance, but so is Lacey’s growth in her spiritual path, and in her chosen community. Important, as well, is protection of the land.
There are always difficulties along the path to love, in literature as in life, moments where everything seems possible, moments where nothing seems possible, and River Magic has all of these. But for me the most interesting part is the way the characters and their home town come to life, the obvious affection that the author has for both the characters and their setting, and how these relationships built on compassion, trust, and yes, integrity, move the action of the book.
I like the way Phillips approaches magic and religion and rituals. This is a novel about ordinary people having ordinary lives that are supported by their relationships with the deities. In other words, they are people like you and me, although a lot younger than I am, who go along living their lives to the best of their abilities. But although it isn’t a novel of Harry Potter-style magic, the deities are real, as is the mermaid, and this is gratifying to me. It just occurred to me that the only books I’ve read that have in this respect a similar sensibility are a couple of Christian romances I read years ago. Phillips’ book shares with those novels the sense of human relationships supported by their spiritual beliefs and the forces behind those beliefs, the gods, the goddesses, the spirits. And that can be powerful stuff.
Of course, the reason I am even reviewing this book is because of the presence of the goddess Brigit. So how do I like the way she is portrayed?
I quite like the tentative awareness that Lacey has of Brigit. She’s not the main focus of the story and yet her presence feels important even before she really manifests. I recognise the slow acquaintance with her that happened, though differently, in my own life. There is that first awareness, and then a whole bunch of life, and another moment of recognition, a desire to know more, and a whole lot of life happening all around that. Brigit herself doesn’t really engage in terms of holding conversations with Lacey, but she’s clearly aware of her and connecting with her.
It is really lovely to read a book about a devotee of Brigit who I could meet today, especially if I travelled over to the St. Lawrence and joined her in her small and lovely town. (Phillips clearly appreciates this piece of the world very much.) When we first meet her, of course, Lacey is not her devotee, but it doesn’t take long before she begins to be drawn to Brigit. What I like especially is that her relationship with Brigit is not written like a fantasy. I’ve met many people who have been drawn to her and who work with her in similar ways. For instance, when Lacey is about to go into a stressful situation, she asks Brigit to lend her eloquence to help her through. Phillips doesn’t point out that this is because Brigit is a patron of poets, but if you remember that from earlier then you will understand why she made this particular prayer. Her prayers are simple and plain and straight to the point, and they come to Lacey, herself a budding poet, whenever the need is there.
Now for the nitpicks.
The editor in me wished on a great number of occasions that I could scratch out a word or phrase and work with the author to find another way to say it. Words like smirk and gush, gasp and squeal, and so on got in the way for me because they frequently weren’t right for the situation they were describing; they were too much. her Ordinarily they might have put me off the book. I’m glad they didn’t. Phillips’ ability to tell a captivating story is already strong, and many of her similes and metaphors, turns of phrase and insights into a character or the language are surprising and fresh, and show a real ability that can only develop over time.
In fact, it may be her willingness to play with language that both leads her into trouble and allows that fresh and surprising imagery to emerge. Let me give an example that I think doesn’t work, and follow it with one that does.
“Lacey hummed. ‘I see you've maintained your reclusive reputation.’
He scoffed. ‘An interesting way to describe my anxiety.’”
Chapter Sixteen
“North Country winters tend to drag on through April. Fickle Mother Nature will cozy up, slap on a mud mask, bathe, then wrap herself in a thin robe of frost regardless of human calendars. Icy portraits still appeared on car windows some mornings, and Lacey begrudgingly scraped her windshield beside Cian before they went their separate ways.”
Chapter Seventeen
Now, the first one is not egregious by any means. Having Lacey hum her words is inventive, but it’s also a slightly weird word choice, and it catches me. I tried quickly to imagine her humming her words and it just doesn’t work. Having Cian scoff also catches my attention in a way it really shouldn’t. It throws me back to the tropes of melodrama. And this is the problem with a number of her word choices, they have the right dictionary meaning, but they are normally used in a different way, or even if not normally, enough so that they can trip the reader’s imagination up, distracting her into pondering the word choice instead of paying attention to the story itself.
In the second quote, Phillips is using her inventiveness successfully, as she does many times throughout the book. What I get tripped up by elsewhere is just a slightly awkward use of the same wonderful imagination that brings the story alive. In other words, I don’t see these quotes as failure versus success, I see a talent that is in the process of being strengthened. I think that, in time, M.A. Phillips will be an excellent writer indeed.
Allow me to give two more examples.
“…rocking her body right and left as she circumnavigated the fire with confidence…”
Chapter Twenty-One
“…the Adirondacks were equally stirring. The ancient mountains swept her further and further from the road – a road that would drag her back to loans and demanding schedules. Here she was one among the many organisms clinging to Mother Earth as they tumbled through the solar system. Here she was closer to the stars.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
This first one doesn’t work for me. It isn’t bad, but I can see what Phillips is trying to make me understand, and the words don’t do it for me. The first phrase isn’t pretty, it is awkward. But she is dancing – I want to see the beauty of the act, even if she isn’t the best dancer in the world (and it would be more to my taste if she isn’t). Words like circumnavigated exactly describe what is happening, but in an unemotional and distant way that doesn’t bring us into the person being described. Saying she is confident is also remote. I want Phillips to show it in her dance.
In the second quote, although more words are used and many more concepts are involved (a recipe, at times, for overdoing things in writing), the writing is tight, and I feel along with the protagonist what she is experiencing.
I notice, also, that the two randomly chosen quotes that I think work well concern Lacey’s relationship to the land. It would be interesting to see if this occurs throughout the book – if it is this theme where Phillips finds her greatest strength.
Conclusion:
This would be a great book to give to a fiction reader, especially a young one, who is just beginning to explore paganism or witchcraft. It’s a lovely, gentle primer at the same time as being an engaging story.
So, was this first novel perfect? No. Was it good enough to make me want to read Book Two? Oh, yes. I want to know more about Lacey, her friends, and the supernatural beings that people their world. And I want to watch M. A. Phillips develop in her craft. There is much to look forward to here.
December 16, 2020
A very enjoyable book. I found it to be well written, with engaging characters and a compelling setting. The magic realism of the plot certainly kept my attention. The subject of religion and the tension that can exist between them added a unique element to the story. The main character’s personal, social and emotional development was nicely portrayed. I look forward to the sequel.
September 13, 2021
River Magic Is A Magical Story Which Revolves Around Druids, Love, Friendship, Betrayal, Hatred, Tension Between Families And Religion, And Most Importantly Mysteries To Unfold. The Author Of This Book Is M.A. Phillips And This Book Has Been Published By Shadow Spark Pub. This Is The Second Time I Am Reading This Book. I Had Bought This Book From kindle Sometime In December 2020 For About INR 220. This Is A Very Enjoyable Book. It Is A Well Written Book And I Felt Really Good To Read a gentle romance from an authentic pagan perspective.i Found This Book To Be Magical With A Little Bit Of Mystery. The Friendship Between Lacey And Cian And How It Turned Into Romance Was A Very Blissful Read. The story is beautifully written and the characters are relatable and lovable. The book is filled with magical realism and real Pagan ritual as well as other real world problems and some lessons in integrity. It Was Worth Reading.
October 12, 2023
I went into this book knowing nothing, but bought simply because I had the absolute joy of sharing some words with this wonderful, helpful, and kind author. I thought it would be about a young woman's (Lacey's) self-discovery and coming into her own understanding of druidism as well as her taking a chance on love (with the guy is who is actually RIGHT for her, of course, an absolutely handsome and charming cinnamon roll named Cian). And it WAS that.
But it was so much more.
***MINOR BUT NOT COMPLETE SPOILERS AHEAD***
There's the first mystery from the get go: Is the mermaid real? Or did Lacey experience some sort of delusion when she hit her head and went through a sheet of ice?
There's the mystery that unfolds: Environmental poachers. Who is doing it and why? Is it Lacey's friend at the Willow Tree restaurant where she works? Or is it someone else?
And there's the ongoing question: Will Cian ever grow a pair and stand up to his family who are obviously close-minded to the thought of any other religion existing and thriving beyond Christianity?! This was my favorite plot-line...I was SO invested!
M.A. Phillips's River Magic brings us through a journey of religious discovery, solving mysteries, and answering the question of whether those magical creatures our grandparents tell us about are real. And perhaps more importantly, if they are real...what do they really want?
But it was so much more.
***MINOR BUT NOT COMPLETE SPOILERS AHEAD***
There's the first mystery from the get go: Is the mermaid real? Or did Lacey experience some sort of delusion when she hit her head and went through a sheet of ice?
There's the mystery that unfolds: Environmental poachers. Who is doing it and why? Is it Lacey's friend at the Willow Tree restaurant where she works? Or is it someone else?
And there's the ongoing question: Will Cian ever grow a pair and stand up to his family who are obviously close-minded to the thought of any other religion existing and thriving beyond Christianity?! This was my favorite plot-line...I was SO invested!
M.A. Phillips's River Magic brings us through a journey of religious discovery, solving mysteries, and answering the question of whether those magical creatures our grandparents tell us about are real. And perhaps more importantly, if they are real...what do they really want?
November 28, 2020
I went into reading this really eager for a fun, whimsical, magic story full of Irish Folklore and boy did River Magic deliver! We have a sweet, grounded main character named Lacey, whom we follow through the typical trials of finding yourself and purpose after college. We get a great bit of detail into her past and background that really helps round Lacey and Cian's characters throughout the story. I adored that it was set along the St. Lawrence River, being a Syracuse, NY native it really allowed me to relate to the small town vibes. I felt that the intertwining of Irish Folklore/Druidry and the judgement and acceptance of personal religious beliefs was well done, and really was a great underlying tone of the book. The growing up aspect was relatable and tasteful, but this really felt more YA or New Adult to me at times. Overall I loved this story, it was charming, eventful and endearing. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
April 22, 2022
A sweet romance (not particularly spicy though there are sex scenes, most are fade to black or focusing on emotions rather than physical details). I love a virgin hero.
This was gorgeous story about real witches and pagans, the trials modern witches deal with, and the spiritual insights viewed through the lens of magical realism.
Highly recommend for lovers of Practical Magic, The Last Keepers, and Witches of Eastwick who want a sweet small town romance.
This was gorgeous story about real witches and pagans, the trials modern witches deal with, and the spiritual insights viewed through the lens of magical realism.
Highly recommend for lovers of Practical Magic, The Last Keepers, and Witches of Eastwick who want a sweet small town romance.
December 27, 2020
The mermaids CANNOT wait! You need to read this now!
I loved every moment of River Magic! The setting was idyllic, the characters were charming and relatable, and the storytelling was magical. If you love magical realism and contemporary romance, this book is for you! This book made me so happy every time I sat down to read it. I highly recommend!
I loved every moment of River Magic! The setting was idyllic, the characters were charming and relatable, and the storytelling was magical. If you love magical realism and contemporary romance, this book is for you! This book made me so happy every time I sat down to read it. I highly recommend!
November 29, 2020
Excellent storytelling with a morality lesson
With the elements of romance, cozy mystery, witchlit, and morality play, River Magic offers readers a much needed escape from reality while helping them understand issues such as religious freedom and responsible behavior.
With the elements of romance, cozy mystery, witchlit, and morality play, River Magic offers readers a much needed escape from reality while helping them understand issues such as religious freedom and responsible behavior.
November 8, 2021
This is definitely a book that I couldn’t put down. There was surprising adult elements to it that were organic to the story. Also it is nice to have a pagan story be realistic for practices instead of pure fantasy. Definitely recommend this book.
December 27, 2020
An excellent book. My usual genre is not romance, but this is not just a romance. The author has crafted a story of a young woman looking to find herself, and a young man who has barely discovered himself. Throw in friends who advise, relatives who react badly, coworkers who plot, a mystery to be solved, and... a supernatural creature whose intentions are unclear. The author blends this all together in her debut novel. I highly recommend this book.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Yarn!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Yarn!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews