The Essence of Magic

by Michelle Ermens

Hunted by strange creatures.

Desperate to protect her family.

Can obtaining magic help her keep them safe?

Thera has always known that she’s different from her wonderful, loving human family. However, that would mean that she’s one of the specials, beings of legends – but how could it be, when no human has seen them for hundreds of years?

A visit from a masked stranger who warns her of danger and an attack on her village shatter the life that she knew. Forced to flee with her mother and her younger siblings, Thera finds temporary shelter in special territory, in the home of a beautiful special named Raven.

She needs more than temporary shelter, though. She needs a way to keep her family truly safe. The Magic’s Source might help with protection, but will Thera dare to seek it out and try to get some magic of her own?

And if she does, what kind of magic will she receive? And what new dangers will she find herself in?

285 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.”

I read this Steinem quote many years ago and identified with it so much I’ve never been able to forget it. Writing is what I love most. Even when I’m not physically writing, I’m building worlds in my mind and working out character dialogues.
I love what I do, I love my characters, I wish I could live in the worlds I created and use the magic my characters have. I feel like I’m laughing, crying, loving, and fighting with them and if you give my books a read, I’m pretty sure you’ll feel that too!

I just debuted with my first fantasy adventure novel 'Lucky, The Last Traveler', and am currently working on a six-part epic fantasy series 'Magic’s Source'.
I always give it my all to write compelling works with incredible worldbuilding and humorous, interesting characters you can’t help but fall in love with!

I’d love to chat with all my readers, so feel free to contact me through email or social media.

You can keep up with what I’m doing and what’s coming next through my Newsletter:
https://sendfox.com/mestoriesanddesign

Or through Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/m.e.books/

Reviews

[Julia de B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so freaking much! Got a chance to read it before its release as an ARC reader and I’m so happy I did. I started it this Friday and couldn’t put it down, finished it within two days!

So what’s so good about the book? The characters are dynamic and lively. The main character is strong and brave while still having her own insecurities which makes her feel very human (Which might be kinda ironic haha).

I especially love the familial relations in the book. It was honestly very refreshing. While in most young adult books the family don’t play that big a part, in this book they are indispensable. The drive to protect her family plays a big role in the actions Thera takes throughout the book.

Anyways I definitely recommend giving it a read once it comes out!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta read for this book and I enjoyed the story so much that I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, and the ending was so exciting. Can’t wait for the next book!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm honestly in love with the premise of these books (I'm on the second book now), but Ms. Ermens needs to fire her editor. I habitually correct things as I read them, and I had several grammatical mistakes, typos, missing words, etc. highlighted by the end of this book. I actually came back to review it because in the second book, there was another missing word less than 100 pages in, and I bounced around the sentence for a while, confused.

Aside from that (admittedly harsh) critique, I think the book is fantastic. It's an easy read that never feels like a slog. The characters are interesting, if not always likeable. The magic system is interesting, and the world is unique. Kindle Unlimited didn't have the 2nd book, so I ended up buying the entire series in physical paperback form for my birthday.

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Essence of Magic by Michelle Ermens is a fantastic new fantasy read that will definitely blow your mind!

I loved reading this book from the first page to the last! This book had great characterisation, an amazing and very interesting plot, good world-building and brilliant execution of the story idea. I loved the ending and am totally looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

I enjoyed the writing style of the author - it was simple yet good and was easy which made reading this book a pleasure aside from making it a quick read. I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy readers and lovers of YA genre.

You can also read this review on thereadingbud.com

[Guusje · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC reader and was pleasantly surprised! The worldbuilding is amazing and it’s a very intriguing story. A must-read!

[David A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of strange books. This book is among the strangest. It barely held my interest and yet I could not set it aside.
For a strange book the ending was even stranger and yet fitting, but by then it had me hook-line-and-sinker. The strange ending was fitting for the strange book.
I guess that I really enjoyed it after all.