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Odd Magics: Tales for the Lost
Odd Magics
This is a very strange collection of fairytales, recast for modern life. In it the prize isn’t always to the fairest, the
magic is rarely to the strongest.
But lonely introverts do find love, women who never gave it a thought find themselves at the center of romance.
Doing what's right will see you to the happily ever after.
And sometimes you have to kiss an accountant to find your prince.
This is a very strange collection of fairytales, recast for modern life. In it the prize isn’t always to the fairest, the
magic is rarely to the strongest.
But lonely introverts do find love, women who never gave it a thought find themselves at the center of romance.
Doing what's right will see you to the happily ever after.
And sometimes you have to kiss an accountant to find your prince.
- GenresFantasy
105 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2022
9 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Hoyt
202 books175 followersSarah A. Hoyt was born (and raised) in Portugal and now lives in Colorado with her husband, two sons, and a variable number of cats, depending on how many show up to beg on the door step.
In between lays the sort of resume that used to be de-rigueur for writers. She has never actually wrestled alligators, but she did at one point very briefly tie bows on bags of potpourri for a living. She has also washed dishes and ironed clothes for a living. Worst of all she was, for a long time, a multilingual scientific translator.
At some point, though, she got tired of making an honest living and started writing. She has over 30 published novels, in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, historical mystery, historical fantasy and historical biography. Her short stories have been published in Analog, Asimov's, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, and a number of anthologies from DAW and Baen. Her space-opera novel Darkship Thieves was the 2011 Prometheus Award Winner, and the third novel in the series, A Few Good Men, was a finalist for the honor. She also won the Dragon Award for Uncharted (with Kevin J. Anderson.)
a.k.a. Sarah D'Almeida
a.k.a. Elise Hyatt
a.k.a. Sarah Marqués
In between lays the sort of resume that used to be de-rigueur for writers. She has never actually wrestled alligators, but she did at one point very briefly tie bows on bags of potpourri for a living. She has also washed dishes and ironed clothes for a living. Worst of all she was, for a long time, a multilingual scientific translator.
At some point, though, she got tired of making an honest living and started writing. She has over 30 published novels, in science fiction, fantasy, mystery, historical mystery, historical fantasy and historical biography. Her short stories have been published in Analog, Asimov's, Amazing Stories, Weird Tales, and a number of anthologies from DAW and Baen. Her space-opera novel Darkship Thieves was the 2011 Prometheus Award Winner, and the third novel in the series, A Few Good Men, was a finalist for the honor. She also won the Dragon Award for Uncharted (with Kevin J. Anderson.)
a.k.a. Sarah D'Almeida
a.k.a. Elise Hyatt
a.k.a. Sarah Marqués
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 26, 2022
Not a good book. Not only lacking imagination but also very disturbingly sexist and right-wing. Every single story centers around the premise that a woman can only be happy if she is married and has children, and also doesn't wear makeup. Also nauseating - the premise of her story Blizzard is that a person only cares about social justice and is aware of white privilege because they've been poisoned by a shard of ice placed in their eye by the college counselor. (As in, poisoned by the Snow Queen.)
A few charming excerpts:
"I thought of a way this couldn't be claimed to be sexual harassment. Us ugly guys can be accused just by staring vacantly in a woman's direction."
"Because that was always the way. Women left you holding the short end of the stick after taking all you were willing to give."
A few charming excerpts:
"I thought of a way this couldn't be claimed to be sexual harassment. Us ugly guys can be accused just by staring vacantly in a woman's direction."
"Because that was always the way. Women left you holding the short end of the stick after taking all you were willing to give."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
A Staggeringly Beautiful Book
I have read a lot of Sarah Hoyt. She is a solid, accomplished author with a large body of quality work. None of that prepared me for this book, which is full of stories that are deeply moving and simply wonderful. A few of these tales are modern updates of old stories, but many are completely fresh. All of them should be made a permanent part of our cultural lore. The characters are well-drawn and realistic, and every tale fills you with hope and love. If you read this book, you will be very glad you did.
I have read a lot of Sarah Hoyt. She is a solid, accomplished author with a large body of quality work. None of that prepared me for this book, which is full of stories that are deeply moving and simply wonderful. A few of these tales are modern updates of old stories, but many are completely fresh. All of them should be made a permanent part of our cultural lore. The characters are well-drawn and realistic, and every tale fills you with hope and love. If you read this book, you will be very glad you did.
December 27, 2023
Not Quite Fairy Tales
These short stories are based on familiar fairy tales, but set in the modern world. The characters have real world problems—marriage, divorce, kids, find true love (which isn’t the same, necessarily, in the real world as in Fairyland).
Definitely not for kids, but enjoyable reads, the stories short enough to fit into a few minutes of free time.
These short stories are based on familiar fairy tales, but set in the modern world. The characters have real world problems—marriage, divorce, kids, find true love (which isn’t the same, necessarily, in the real world as in Fairyland).
Definitely not for kids, but enjoyable reads, the stories short enough to fit into a few minutes of free time.
April 6, 2022
Wonderful stories!
I've never been a big fan of fairy tales but these stories really reached me. Several brought tears to my eyes.
More, please!
I've never been a big fan of fairy tales but these stories really reached me. Several brought tears to my eyes.
More, please!
April 12, 2025
Didn't know what to expect, but knew I could trust Sarah. It was very enjoyable, even if the air did get awful dusty every now and then! Come and get some!
September 28, 2025
Fairy stories with a more or less realistic twist set in Colorado. First story with the accountant frog was one of my favorites
April 14, 2022
A number of lovely little retellings of fairy tales in the modern day. Sometimes with the magical elements all rationalized, but most are still fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews