What do you think?
Rate this book
Nobody's Magic
“The magic here is not the supernatural kind, but rather an attention to the grace of the ordinary. It is the magic of watching these women come into their power.”— New York Times
“There's romance and a familial drama and examinations of identity, and though there's nothing quite supernatural, it creates a magic entirely its own.” – Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here
A GMA Buzz Pick! / A Most Anticipated Book by Essence · The Millions · Atlantic Journal Constitution · Bustle · BookPage · Nashville Scene · Ms. Magazine · Parnassus Musing / A Best Book of February by Washington Post · Nylon · BookRiot
In this glittering triptych novel, Suzette, Maple and Agnes, three Black women with albinism, call Shreveport, Louisiana home. At the bustling crossroads of the American South and Southwest, these three women find themselves at the crossroads of their own lives.
Suzette, a pampered twenty-year‑old, has been sheltered from the outside world since a dangerous childhood encounter. Now, a budding romance with a sweet mechanic allows Suzette to seek independence, which unleashes dark reactions in those closest to her. In discovering her autonomy, Suzette is forced to decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to make her own way in the world.
Maple is reeling from the unsolved murder of her free‑spirited mother. She flees the media circus and her judgmental grandmother by shutting herself off from the world in a spare room of the motel where she works. One night, at a party, Maple connects with Chad, someone who may understand her pain more than she realizes, and she discovers that the key to her mother's death may be within her reach.
Agnes is far from home, working yet another mind‑numbing job. She attracts the interest of a lonely security guard and army veteran who’s looking for a traditional life for himself and his young son. He’s convinced that she wields a certain “magic,” but Agnes soon unleashes a power within herself that will shock them both and send her on a trip to confront not only her family and her past, but also herself.
This novel, told in three parts, is a searing meditation on grief, female strength, and self‑discovery set against a backdrop of complicated social and racial histories. Nobody's Magic is a testament to the power of family—the ones you're born in and the ones you choose. And in these three narratives, among the yearning and loss, each of these women may find a seed of hope for the future.
“There's romance and a familial drama and examinations of identity, and though there's nothing quite supernatural, it creates a magic entirely its own.” – Kevin Wilson, author of Nothing to See Here
A GMA Buzz Pick! / A Most Anticipated Book by Essence · The Millions · Atlantic Journal Constitution · Bustle · BookPage · Nashville Scene · Ms. Magazine · Parnassus Musing / A Best Book of February by Washington Post · Nylon · BookRiot
In this glittering triptych novel, Suzette, Maple and Agnes, three Black women with albinism, call Shreveport, Louisiana home. At the bustling crossroads of the American South and Southwest, these three women find themselves at the crossroads of their own lives.
Suzette, a pampered twenty-year‑old, has been sheltered from the outside world since a dangerous childhood encounter. Now, a budding romance with a sweet mechanic allows Suzette to seek independence, which unleashes dark reactions in those closest to her. In discovering her autonomy, Suzette is forced to decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to make her own way in the world.
Maple is reeling from the unsolved murder of her free‑spirited mother. She flees the media circus and her judgmental grandmother by shutting herself off from the world in a spare room of the motel where she works. One night, at a party, Maple connects with Chad, someone who may understand her pain more than she realizes, and she discovers that the key to her mother's death may be within her reach.
Agnes is far from home, working yet another mind‑numbing job. She attracts the interest of a lonely security guard and army veteran who’s looking for a traditional life for himself and his young son. He’s convinced that she wields a certain “magic,” but Agnes soon unleashes a power within herself that will shock them both and send her on a trip to confront not only her family and her past, but also herself.
This novel, told in three parts, is a searing meditation on grief, female strength, and self‑discovery set against a backdrop of complicated social and racial histories. Nobody's Magic is a testament to the power of family—the ones you're born in and the ones you choose. And in these three narratives, among the yearning and loss, each of these women may find a seed of hope for the future.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
103 people are currently reading
12030 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
March 10, 2022
Nobody’s Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong is a 2022 Grand Central Publication.
This book is a trilogy of stories centered around three black women born with albinism.
The first story features Suzette, a young woman of some privilege whose parents are alternately overprotective, manipulative, and controlling.
Suzette is now in her early twenties, but has never learned to drive, has never held a job or seriously considered her future. But she’s becoming restless, ready to break free from her parent’s restraints and live a normal life.
The second story involves Maple who is reeling from the aftermath of her mother’s murder. She leaves her grandmother’s home, finds a part-time job and a place to stay, then meets Chad, a man struggling with his own tremendous loss. Through the sharing of his grief and pain, Maple is able to come to terms with her own.
The third story is centered around Agnes, who appears to live in the shadow of her sister and harbors intense resentment towards her family. She’s struggled to find her niche, barely scraping by- but then she meets ‘Prime’ who could be the person she’s been longing to find. But she does something that propels her to finally return home to confront the family she’s avoided for so long.
All three stories are set in the deep south along the ARK/TX/LA area- primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana-which is key in setting the stage and creating the atmosphere and undertones.
Of the three stories, the second one is the strongest and Maple was the character I was most connected to. The third story is the weakest and felt out of place compared to the first two.
Overall, I rarely read short stories- but this was a well-written collection, despite some unnecessary content and inconsistencies, and touches on a variety of topics and emotions. It was an enlightening change of pace for me, and I will certainly be keeping an eye on this author.
This book is a trilogy of stories centered around three black women born with albinism.
The first story features Suzette, a young woman of some privilege whose parents are alternately overprotective, manipulative, and controlling.
Suzette is now in her early twenties, but has never learned to drive, has never held a job or seriously considered her future. But she’s becoming restless, ready to break free from her parent’s restraints and live a normal life.
The second story involves Maple who is reeling from the aftermath of her mother’s murder. She leaves her grandmother’s home, finds a part-time job and a place to stay, then meets Chad, a man struggling with his own tremendous loss. Through the sharing of his grief and pain, Maple is able to come to terms with her own.
The third story is centered around Agnes, who appears to live in the shadow of her sister and harbors intense resentment towards her family. She’s struggled to find her niche, barely scraping by- but then she meets ‘Prime’ who could be the person she’s been longing to find. But she does something that propels her to finally return home to confront the family she’s avoided for so long.
All three stories are set in the deep south along the ARK/TX/LA area- primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana-which is key in setting the stage and creating the atmosphere and undertones.
Of the three stories, the second one is the strongest and Maple was the character I was most connected to. The third story is the weakest and felt out of place compared to the first two.
Overall, I rarely read short stories- but this was a well-written collection, despite some unnecessary content and inconsistencies, and touches on a variety of topics and emotions. It was an enlightening change of pace for me, and I will certainly be keeping an eye on this author.
January 13, 2025
❀ blog ❀ thestorygraph ❀ letterboxd ❀ tumblr ❀ ko-fi ❀
3 ½ stars
Nobody's Magic is a promising debut novel by a clearly talented author. Destiny Birdsong’s compelling and vibrant storytelling is certainly immersive. She also has a knack for rendering a strong sense of place as Shreveport, Louisiana almost functions as a character itself. The dialogues too flow easily and ring true to life. The novel is divided into a triptych structure, each one revolving around Black women with albinism. While they do share similar experiences, they each had their own distinguishing voice. We begin with Suzette, a sheltered 20 something who begins to bristle against her father’s domineering rule. She wants to learn to drive, go to college, work and do all of the things her peers are doing. Her father however is unwilling to let her grow into herself and goes out of his way to control her. Her mother is on her side but she too ultimately has no choice but to comply with her husband’s demands. When Suzette begins to experiment with her sexuality things come to head and she is forced to confront what she is willing to do for her own independence. I liked the author’s non-judgemental approach to Suzette’s sexuality and her desire for self-fulfilment (which could have easily been depicted as selfishness). While the author does underline the privileged existence that Suzette has led so far, she also includes scenes in which Suzette is discriminated against and or treated as other. Is she to blame for her own naivete when her father has kept her away from the world? The following narrative follows Maple who comes from a very different background than Suzette’s. Maple’s mother has recently been murdered and Maple is still reeling from this loss. Her grandmother is unwilling to accept that her mother was very much a ‘free-spirited’ individual who would go on to lead a ‘risqué’ lifestyle. Maple eventually gets to know Chad, someone who is also grieving a loved one. The last narrative is about Agnes, an older woman who becomes involved with a security guard. After a failed interview Agnes makes a dangerous choice that will lead her on the run with this security guard. She seems to be using him to protect herself from the consequences of her actions, he seems to believe that because she has albinism she is ‘magic’. I didn’t really get this last narrative nor did I find Agnes a particularly sympathetic character. I thought her behaviour somewhat irrational and didn’t find her to be a fully fleshed-out character. Still, out of these three stories I really liked the first two. They were engaging and thought-provoking and I appreciated how realistically imperfect the main characters were. But the third one tonally was just eeh…and had a rather meandering narrative. While the first two stories do follow a coming-of-age type of narrative this last one was just stale-ish. Still, Birdsong is certainly an author you should keep your eye on and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
3 ½ stars
Nobody's Magic is a promising debut novel by a clearly talented author. Destiny Birdsong’s compelling and vibrant storytelling is certainly immersive. She also has a knack for rendering a strong sense of place as Shreveport, Louisiana almost functions as a character itself. The dialogues too flow easily and ring true to life. The novel is divided into a triptych structure, each one revolving around Black women with albinism. While they do share similar experiences, they each had their own distinguishing voice. We begin with Suzette, a sheltered 20 something who begins to bristle against her father’s domineering rule. She wants to learn to drive, go to college, work and do all of the things her peers are doing. Her father however is unwilling to let her grow into herself and goes out of his way to control her. Her mother is on her side but she too ultimately has no choice but to comply with her husband’s demands. When Suzette begins to experiment with her sexuality things come to head and she is forced to confront what she is willing to do for her own independence. I liked the author’s non-judgemental approach to Suzette’s sexuality and her desire for self-fulfilment (which could have easily been depicted as selfishness). While the author does underline the privileged existence that Suzette has led so far, she also includes scenes in which Suzette is discriminated against and or treated as other. Is she to blame for her own naivete when her father has kept her away from the world? The following narrative follows Maple who comes from a very different background than Suzette’s. Maple’s mother has recently been murdered and Maple is still reeling from this loss. Her grandmother is unwilling to accept that her mother was very much a ‘free-spirited’ individual who would go on to lead a ‘risqué’ lifestyle. Maple eventually gets to know Chad, someone who is also grieving a loved one. The last narrative is about Agnes, an older woman who becomes involved with a security guard. After a failed interview Agnes makes a dangerous choice that will lead her on the run with this security guard. She seems to be using him to protect herself from the consequences of her actions, he seems to believe that because she has albinism she is ‘magic’. I didn’t really get this last narrative nor did I find Agnes a particularly sympathetic character. I thought her behaviour somewhat irrational and didn’t find her to be a fully fleshed-out character. Still, out of these three stories I really liked the first two. They were engaging and thought-provoking and I appreciated how realistically imperfect the main characters were. But the third one tonally was just eeh…and had a rather meandering narrative. While the first two stories do follow a coming-of-age type of narrative this last one was just stale-ish. Still, Birdsong is certainly an author you should keep your eye on and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
March 6, 2022
This book is an incredibly strong debut. The dialogue is fantastic. The ways Birdsong explores language, place, family, and grief are really good. The book is so Black and unapologetically or explanatorily so. It’s three novellas and not a novel (as stated on the cover) and the stories felt too long for me. Strong scenes but the interior stuff went on a bit.
March 20, 2022
Once I saw the characters talked like how I talked and how their dialogue danced on the page, I knew I was in a good place.
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs_xG...
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BHn...
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs_xG...
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BHn...
February 22, 2023
Vibrant, sexy and meaningful. Through the eyes of three black women with albinism, we see the uneven journey through grief, the tension of budding romance, and the courage to defy those who would gladly hold others back, whether through good or bad intentions. Each character is witty, fiery, and complex, reflecting their desires, their woes, and their ambitions with brilliantly burning determination. Nobody’s Magic is a gorgeously crafted ode to transformation and resilience, as life shapes us, we can just as quickly shape ourselves to meet the coming storms and come out to face the sunshine.
May 30, 2022
I am not sure why I didn’t realize this book it’s four separate stories. But it is. They’re all well written but I have a hard time with short stories.
May 5, 2022
3.5⭐️
These are three separate stories about women with albinism who are from Shreveport, Louisiana. The setting was almost like another character, it added so much dimension to the stories and provided context to their upbringings. I feel like I know so much about the town now, even though I've never stepped foot in Louisiana.
The author is clearly a very skilled writer. The dialogue DANCED off the page. The characters all had such unique voices, and the prose in each story felt distinct and different from the previous.
The first story is about Suzette, who is around 20 but has been overly sheltered by her parents. She goes on a journey of freedom, self expression, and sexuality.
The second story is about Maple, who suffers greatly after her mom is killed in a shooting.
The third story is about Agnes, who has left Shreveport, is highly educated, and finds herself in toxic relationships with men, just trying to get by.
All three stories focus on the women's relationships with new men in their lives. Sometimes I wish we got to know more about them as individual women without the presence of men, but I do think every single character was given full, realistic and distinct characterization. A few of the characters also had some sapphic relationships/experiences, but they were not brought to fruition in the way I ~wish~ they had been.
The representation of women with albinism is so needed and I'm so glad this book exists.
I did find myself feeling kind of disappointed at the end of each story. I guess this may just be the nature of a novella, but just as the stories started to get good, they ended. There isn't much of a driving plot for any of the stories, they are more about the characters and some big life changes/lessons they experienced. I felt so unsatisfied when as soon as I got to a point where I really felt like I cared about the character and the rest of their story, the novella was over.
I would have preferred these amazing characters where each given their own entire novel.
I suppose it's not a bad thing that the author was able to leave me wanting more, but it did affect my overall enjoyment of the book.
**Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review**
These are three separate stories about women with albinism who are from Shreveport, Louisiana. The setting was almost like another character, it added so much dimension to the stories and provided context to their upbringings. I feel like I know so much about the town now, even though I've never stepped foot in Louisiana.
The author is clearly a very skilled writer. The dialogue DANCED off the page. The characters all had such unique voices, and the prose in each story felt distinct and different from the previous.
The first story is about Suzette, who is around 20 but has been overly sheltered by her parents. She goes on a journey of freedom, self expression, and sexuality.
The second story is about Maple, who suffers greatly after her mom is killed in a shooting.
The third story is about Agnes, who has left Shreveport, is highly educated, and finds herself in toxic relationships with men, just trying to get by.
All three stories focus on the women's relationships with new men in their lives. Sometimes I wish we got to know more about them as individual women without the presence of men, but I do think every single character was given full, realistic and distinct characterization. A few of the characters also had some sapphic relationships/experiences, but they were not brought to fruition in the way I ~wish~ they had been.
The representation of women with albinism is so needed and I'm so glad this book exists.
I did find myself feeling kind of disappointed at the end of each story. I guess this may just be the nature of a novella, but just as the stories started to get good, they ended. There isn't much of a driving plot for any of the stories, they are more about the characters and some big life changes/lessons they experienced. I felt so unsatisfied when as soon as I got to a point where I really felt like I cared about the character and the rest of their story, the novella was over.
I would have preferred these amazing characters where each given their own entire novel.
I suppose it's not a bad thing that the author was able to leave me wanting more, but it did affect my overall enjoyment of the book.
**Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review**
Read
December 26, 2021Such a beautiful book with characters I'll be thinking about for a long time. The distinct voices of each woman impressed me the most. It really feels like being invited into the vivid, fully realized lives of three different women living with albinism. Also, as a Black woman living in the Ark-La-Tex area, the Shreveport setting was excellent and also made me feel seen in a way that many books don't.
February 24, 2022
I went to undergrad about a hour south of Shreveport at thee Grambling State. I spent mannnny weekends with a Taylor family off Inwood Road. It was nostalgic reading street names, restaurants and landmarks that I can place myself at. & Louisiana terms like “the boat”!
The writing is beautiful and smooth. Destiney O. Birdsong painted pictures filled with history, injustice and shared identities. It felt easy. I often smiled at the connections, nodded in agreement or laughed out loud.
The first two stories were great, the second being my favorite of the two. Maple’s story was the most engaging for me. I’m still curious about her & Chad’s grief journey. That story is relatable (I felt like I attended her mother’s vigil) and mind blowing (watching the sex tape of said deceased mother with a guy you just met). I was confused by the last story: what crime did Agnes actually commit and why the hell did Prime call Agnes, Sheree!? I think I got bored with Agnes’ story and my brain skipped over important parts of the story that made the smaller details come together.
Over all, the stories are written so well that the slow moving last story didn’t make me love the previous novellas any less!
The writing is beautiful and smooth. Destiney O. Birdsong painted pictures filled with history, injustice and shared identities. It felt easy. I often smiled at the connections, nodded in agreement or laughed out loud.
The first two stories were great, the second being my favorite of the two. Maple’s story was the most engaging for me. I’m still curious about her & Chad’s grief journey. That story is relatable (I felt like I attended her mother’s vigil) and mind blowing (watching the sex tape of said deceased mother with a guy you just met). I was confused by the last story: what crime did Agnes actually commit and why the hell did Prime call Agnes, Sheree!? I think I got bored with Agnes’ story and my brain skipped over important parts of the story that made the smaller details come together.
Over all, the stories are written so well that the slow moving last story didn’t make me love the previous novellas any less!
February 10, 2022
This book gave me so many emotions. The message of self-actualization, discovery, and empowerment is something we all need to hear!
March 1, 2022
Won in Instagram giveaway off @gmabookclub all my opinions are my own:).
---
3.25 to 3.5 stars 🌟
Enjoyed the first two parts but the third one was boring to me, didn't care for anyone in the story.. it wasn't terrible but *shrugs * it was a dud for me.
Gonna pass this on to a friend.
---
3.25 to 3.5 stars 🌟
Enjoyed the first two parts but the third one was boring to me, didn't care for anyone in the story.. it wasn't terrible but *shrugs * it was a dud for me.
Gonna pass this on to a friend.
June 17, 2022
You could probably go anywhere else in the continental United States, but if you come to the South you will find some magic. Destiny O. Birdsong’s triptych novel 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮'𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 definitely delivers a cast of Black female characters that entangle the webs of race, class, sexuality, and colorism. We are thus enriched in this novel by the representation of women with albinism because there is hardly any books or experiences that allows the perspectives of our main protagonists—Suzette, Maple, and Agnes—to take center stage.
From the synopsis, the novel is divided into three separate novellas focusing on Black women set in the deep south—primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana—featuring a unique set of possibilities for women to display the power of self-discovery, strength, and independence. Birdsong’s use of AAVE throughout 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮'𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 soothes me like rhythm and blues. I enjoy how she makes the characters, the atmosphere, and the issues unapologetically Black and Southern.
Of the three stories, I had a stronger connection to Maple in the second story “Bottled Water” and felt her arc and character development were the strongest. Dealing with the death of her mother’s homicide, Maple must reel in the pain of her grief and Chad is there to help sooth hers because he’s found loss hanging in his own monster’s den. Together they imperfectly attack the grief that hopes to make a fool of them both. However, I believe in them both. They can push past the pain and be happy.
Although this message comes in the second story, I think it is an adept point to consider for all the characters here as well as the readers alike. An overlooked character, Ms. DeeDee, warns Maple: “Real happiness is like trouble: you look for it long enough, it’ll find you. Even if you started out looking in the wrong places.” What I take that to me is don’t let nothing steal your joy and don’t give nobody your magic.
From the synopsis, the novel is divided into three separate novellas focusing on Black women set in the deep south—primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana—featuring a unique set of possibilities for women to display the power of self-discovery, strength, and independence. Birdsong’s use of AAVE throughout 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮'𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 soothes me like rhythm and blues. I enjoy how she makes the characters, the atmosphere, and the issues unapologetically Black and Southern.
Of the three stories, I had a stronger connection to Maple in the second story “Bottled Water” and felt her arc and character development were the strongest. Dealing with the death of her mother’s homicide, Maple must reel in the pain of her grief and Chad is there to help sooth hers because he’s found loss hanging in his own monster’s den. Together they imperfectly attack the grief that hopes to make a fool of them both. However, I believe in them both. They can push past the pain and be happy.
Although this message comes in the second story, I think it is an adept point to consider for all the characters here as well as the readers alike. An overlooked character, Ms. DeeDee, warns Maple: “Real happiness is like trouble: you look for it long enough, it’ll find you. Even if you started out looking in the wrong places.” What I take that to me is don’t let nothing steal your joy and don’t give nobody your magic.
August 2, 2022
Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one as much as I wanted to. This is a collection of three short stories about three black women with albinism living in Louisiana. Each story is about a different woman dealing with things such as grief, over protective parents and sibling rivalry. We also find these main characters in some sort of romance by the end of each of these stories despite the difficulties they each have had with relationships in their past.
I liked that the author wanted to highlight albino women and I wanted to learn more, but besides the first story Drive, I don't think that was the main focus of the other two stories like I wish that it was. I also felt like there stories seemed very incomplete. It seemed like they each ended right in the middle and we needed more. The last story in this collection was my least favorite. It was confusing as to the message the author was trying to get across until the end. I was really hoping for more from this collection than what I got.
I liked that the author wanted to highlight albino women and I wanted to learn more, but besides the first story Drive, I don't think that was the main focus of the other two stories like I wish that it was. I also felt like there stories seemed very incomplete. It seemed like they each ended right in the middle and we needed more. The last story in this collection was my least favorite. It was confusing as to the message the author was trying to get across until the end. I was really hoping for more from this collection than what I got.
July 31, 2024
Powerful story of overcoming difficulties
March 20, 2022
Solid 4.5 stars!
Two-Word Review: Beautifully Crafted
First, I was drawn to this book based on the gorgeous cover alone. But, there is so much more beauty between its pages. This triptych novel tells the story of three Black women (Suzette, Maple and Agnes) with albinism living in Shreveport, Louisiana.
There is a sense of effortless complexity in the way that the author tells each story. Each story contains a character that is authentic and unique and living a life that is in distinct contrast to the other. But, a common theme is that all three women are in search of something.
In Suzette’s case, it is the need for growth and understanding since she has lived such a sheltered and protected life. For Maple, she is just trying to exist in a space of acceptance and truth since the passing of her mother. For Agnes, well… I still can’t narrow it down as to what exactly she is looking for because she is a bit all over the place and looking for a lot of different things. I thoroughly enjoyed going on a journey with all three of these women.
Two-Word Review: Beautifully Crafted
First, I was drawn to this book based on the gorgeous cover alone. But, there is so much more beauty between its pages. This triptych novel tells the story of three Black women (Suzette, Maple and Agnes) with albinism living in Shreveport, Louisiana.
There is a sense of effortless complexity in the way that the author tells each story. Each story contains a character that is authentic and unique and living a life that is in distinct contrast to the other. But, a common theme is that all three women are in search of something.
In Suzette’s case, it is the need for growth and understanding since she has lived such a sheltered and protected life. For Maple, she is just trying to exist in a space of acceptance and truth since the passing of her mother. For Agnes, well… I still can’t narrow it down as to what exactly she is looking for because she is a bit all over the place and looking for a lot of different things. I thoroughly enjoyed going on a journey with all three of these women.
December 19, 2022
2✨
I had very different expectations for this novel going into it and what I thought I was getting, was not what I got. What I thought would be a novel about how three women's lives collide ended up being a collection of 3 novellas about 3 different women, and none of them made sense to me. But don't want to sit here and harp on this book, but I will say this -- I don't think this was for me and that's okay. Not everything will be.
--
✍🏽 Follow me on Goodreads for more reviews like this!
📚 Instagram: @whataprilreads
🐝 Keep tabs on me here, so you know when I start a new project! https://linktr.ee/whataprilreads
I had very different expectations for this novel going into it and what I thought I was getting, was not what I got. What I thought would be a novel about how three women's lives collide ended up being a collection of 3 novellas about 3 different women, and none of them made sense to me. But don't want to sit here and harp on this book, but I will say this -- I don't think this was for me and that's okay. Not everything will be.
--
✍🏽 Follow me on Goodreads for more reviews like this!
📚 Instagram: @whataprilreads
🐝 Keep tabs on me here, so you know when I start a new project! https://linktr.ee/whataprilreads
May 22, 2022
a book about the importance of learning you are capable of receiving love. triptychs are fun but somehow harder for me to care about than either one cohesive novel or a collection of short stories. three very strongly written characters with distinct voices (attempting reviews lol, this is probably 2.5 stars but that’s not an option!)
January 14, 2023
Brilliant . This story explored grief in a nuanced way. We often think about grief as the ones that physically transition from this earth. Grief can encompass this but it also can encompass the loss we feel from rebirth, the loss of innocence, the loss of friendships, and the loss of closeness to family. The three short stories that make up this work are beautiful. They are interconnected yet separate and I found myself loving each character for different reasons. It was easy to feel connected to each character.
I’m excited to see what else this author pens.
I’m excited to see what else this author pens.
February 14, 2022
2/14/22 Update:
Nobody's Magic introduces us to three different Black Albino women living in Shreveport, Louisiana and we follow them as they struggle with trauma, acceptance, relationships, and friendships.
Things I loved:
AAVE - the first book was FULL of it and I loved seeing how I speak in a story.
Black Albino women - I'm not sure if I've read stories about Black albino women before but I loved the first two stories in Nobody's Magic. I hope Birdsong will continue their stories because I was deeply invested in what was going to happen and they ended so abruptly.
Maple and her mother's relationship was so good. I loved how her mom wasn't ashamed of who she was and tried to instill those same values in Maple.
Things I wasn't a fan of:
The last story didn't really connect with me as much as the first two. I wished we could've just had more of the first two. Like other readers, I found myself flying through this one as opposed to the first two.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Destiny O. Birdsong for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Full RTC but the first two stories really had a hold on me but I flew through the last one 🥴
Nobody's Magic introduces us to three different Black Albino women living in Shreveport, Louisiana and we follow them as they struggle with trauma, acceptance, relationships, and friendships.
Things I loved:
AAVE - the first book was FULL of it and I loved seeing how I speak in a story.
Black Albino women - I'm not sure if I've read stories about Black albino women before but I loved the first two stories in Nobody's Magic. I hope Birdsong will continue their stories because I was deeply invested in what was going to happen and they ended so abruptly.
Maple and her mother's relationship was so good. I loved how her mom wasn't ashamed of who she was and tried to instill those same values in Maple.
Things I wasn't a fan of:
The last story didn't really connect with me as much as the first two. I wished we could've just had more of the first two. Like other readers, I found myself flying through this one as opposed to the first two.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Destiny O. Birdsong for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Full RTC but the first two stories really had a hold on me but I flew through the last one 🥴
March 17, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Wow! This book was great!
It’s centered around 3 separate ladies, living with albinism.
The story I liked best was the first, Suzette. I could really connect with her story of being overprotected, as well as now being an overprotective mother.
Maple’s story was also really well done. I didn’t like her flippant attitude with her grandma, but everything else was spot on.
Those were the two stories that left me yearning for more. Suzettes need to take control of her own life, and Maple’s grief following the loss of her mother were palpable. So, so good! I would’ve enjoyed a book devoted solely to each of them.
Agnes on the other hand was just lost. I can’t fully understand what her story tried to convey, but whatever it was- I aint like it! There were so many possibilities. I wanted her to rise up against her adversities and thrive, or something, but she remained, numb (imo). I couldn’t believe how things ended for her and it changed my outlook on her.
I thought there would be a connection between the three characters, which I feel would’ve made this so much more interesting. Nonetheless I’m interested in reading more from this author!
The narration was excellent!!
Wow! This book was great!
It’s centered around 3 separate ladies, living with albinism.
The story I liked best was the first, Suzette. I could really connect with her story of being overprotected, as well as now being an overprotective mother.
Maple’s story was also really well done. I didn’t like her flippant attitude with her grandma, but everything else was spot on.
Those were the two stories that left me yearning for more. Suzettes need to take control of her own life, and Maple’s grief following the loss of her mother were palpable. So, so good! I would’ve enjoyed a book devoted solely to each of them.
Agnes on the other hand was just lost. I can’t fully understand what her story tried to convey, but whatever it was- I aint like it! There were so many possibilities. I wanted her to rise up against her adversities and thrive, or something, but she remained, numb (imo). I couldn’t believe how things ended for her and it changed my outlook on her.
I thought there would be a connection between the three characters, which I feel would’ve made this so much more interesting. Nonetheless I’m interested in reading more from this author!
The narration was excellent!!
April 23, 2022
I need more. Each story had me transfixed for different reasons. We meet Suzette, Maple and Agnes, three women with albinism. That concept alone was intriguing enough. After listening to each story, I was hooked with the imagery and felt like I was in the story.
Suzette's story was my favorite. She was so sheltered and at 20 years old she was ready to finally experience life. As in real life, people like to keep us in a box and when we try to elevate ourselves or start questioning the status quo, problems arise. I cheered for Suzette when she found her voice.
If the author ever chooses to revisit these characters I wouldn't be mad at all.
Suzette's story was my favorite. She was so sheltered and at 20 years old she was ready to finally experience life. As in real life, people like to keep us in a box and when we try to elevate ourselves or start questioning the status quo, problems arise. I cheered for Suzette when she found her voice.
If the author ever chooses to revisit these characters I wouldn't be mad at all.
March 22, 2022
Finished Nobody's Magic yesterday. I hate to say it but I didn't really like this book. Every story seemed to drag and they all felt incomplete in the end. I didn't find myself connecting with these characters and I really didn't get what I was expecting. Ultimately, I don't think this book was for me.
May 14, 2023
If this wasn't my book club's chosen book and if I wasn't the type where I HAD to finish the books I start, then this would've been a DNF for me. The grammar of the first character was so difficult to read and there was a lot of crude scenes and descriptions. In all honesty, I was just not the right audience for this kind of story.
May 13, 2022
I'm really excited about this author. As someone who is not a big consumer of poetry, I wasn't aware of her previous work, but as a debut writer of prose, she's definitely someone to pay attention to. This book is comprised of three stories, connected only by the origin of the main characters (Shreveport, LA and its environs) and the fact that they are women with albinism. And there's also the clever but subtle implication in each of the stories that though these women haven't met, they've heard of each other, probably by virtue of sharing the same fairly rare genetic condition in a small community.
In the first story, 'Drive', Suzette is the much-loved, and also much-controlled daughter of an indulgent father (and a mother who goes along with it) who, after an early scare, keeps her close to home ostensibly for her safety. People have a lot of crazy ideas about albinism, and Suzette and her folks have found that out the hard way. But despite her condition, Suzette is feisty, fearless and knows she's fierce. As she turns twenty, and sees her friends begin to move on to college, relationships and the like, she begins to balk at her parents' overprotectiveness and push for more independence. That push takes the form of wanting to get a driver's license, something that for most people is a routine rite of passage but for someone with albinism involves special glasses, testing and specific licensure. Fortunately, her father owns a car shop, tricking out and repairing cars; so it should be easy enough to get a vehicle at least---after all, Suzette generally gets whatever else she wants from her dad. But .. not so fast. A budding attraction to one of her father's mechanics both hastens Suzette's desire to be her own woman and causes her father to try to block it, but she takes steps to get there, surprising both herself and people who love her most. This story was very engaging, from the language, to the culture, to the mood and spirit of both Suzette and her extended circle of loved ones. I also loved the way the author showed Suzette's evolution from spoiled, sheltered and somewhat bratty princess to a woman on a mission to discover herself. The sense of Shreveport as a place was so strong here, it was like its own character. You could see, smell and taste it in a way that's pretty tough to accomplish. You can tell the author loves where she's from.
In the second story, 'Bottled Water', Maple is daughter to Brenda May Moffett, a stripper and sometimes "ho". Neither Maple nor Brenda have any shame about that fact---what matters most is their bond as mother and daughter, despite the disapproval of Nana, Brenda's mother who has pretensions that her family and daughter are more upstanding than they actually are. But when Brenda is murdered, Maple finds her solace not in her Nana, but in the extended community of dopeboys, strippers and hoes, all of whom form a patchwork support system. But their love and support may not be enough to compensate for Maple's loss of the only person in the world who loved her completely and just as she is. Until she meets Chad, who though carrying pain of his own, just might help her find a way to heal.
And finally, my least favorite of the stories in this book, 'Mind the Prompt'. This one was a little bit of a hiccup for me, because unlike the others it felt less like a complete novella than it did an abandoned attempt at a standalone novel. In this one, Agnes, a well-educated but solitary young woman reflects on the dead-end of her life while working a gig grading exams in Utah, rather than teaching at a college, which her PhD more than qualifies her for. Of the three protagonists in these stories, Agnes was the only one truly hamstrung by her albinism, and who accepted much less than she deserved because of it. She was also the only truly selfish of the three, pursuing a relationship for the purely mercenary purpose of improving her standard of living and outdoing her older sister. While unlikeable, Agnes was not a character with whom you couldn't sympathize. Yet the maltreatment she endured seemed less a product of her albinism than it was a product of what she told herself about her albinism. It was also interesting that of all the women, Agnes was the only one who took pains to conceal her condition. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, and seeking out the source of her underachievement. No surprise that it lies with her complicated family.
On the whole, this book was easy to consume. Not because the writing was facile or frivolous (believe me it was not... you see the poet emerge in the prose. I underlined and highlighted the hell out of this book) but because it was all so relatable and even when not (as in Maple's story for me), it made you relate anyway. I also love that the author doesn't judge her characters. Y'know what I mean? Their stories are not morality tales, they are slices of the inner lives of women, doing what all women---and men----try to do: figure it all out. I hope Destiny O. Birdsong (damn, even her name is a poem) writes more fiction. I'm here for all of it.
My rating: ⭑⭑⭑⭑
In the first story, 'Drive', Suzette is the much-loved, and also much-controlled daughter of an indulgent father (and a mother who goes along with it) who, after an early scare, keeps her close to home ostensibly for her safety. People have a lot of crazy ideas about albinism, and Suzette and her folks have found that out the hard way. But despite her condition, Suzette is feisty, fearless and knows she's fierce. As she turns twenty, and sees her friends begin to move on to college, relationships and the like, she begins to balk at her parents' overprotectiveness and push for more independence. That push takes the form of wanting to get a driver's license, something that for most people is a routine rite of passage but for someone with albinism involves special glasses, testing and specific licensure. Fortunately, her father owns a car shop, tricking out and repairing cars; so it should be easy enough to get a vehicle at least---after all, Suzette generally gets whatever else she wants from her dad. But .. not so fast. A budding attraction to one of her father's mechanics both hastens Suzette's desire to be her own woman and causes her father to try to block it, but she takes steps to get there, surprising both herself and people who love her most. This story was very engaging, from the language, to the culture, to the mood and spirit of both Suzette and her extended circle of loved ones. I also loved the way the author showed Suzette's evolution from spoiled, sheltered and somewhat bratty princess to a woman on a mission to discover herself. The sense of Shreveport as a place was so strong here, it was like its own character. You could see, smell and taste it in a way that's pretty tough to accomplish. You can tell the author loves where she's from.
In the second story, 'Bottled Water', Maple is daughter to Brenda May Moffett, a stripper and sometimes "ho". Neither Maple nor Brenda have any shame about that fact---what matters most is their bond as mother and daughter, despite the disapproval of Nana, Brenda's mother who has pretensions that her family and daughter are more upstanding than they actually are. But when Brenda is murdered, Maple finds her solace not in her Nana, but in the extended community of dopeboys, strippers and hoes, all of whom form a patchwork support system. But their love and support may not be enough to compensate for Maple's loss of the only person in the world who loved her completely and just as she is. Until she meets Chad, who though carrying pain of his own, just might help her find a way to heal.
And finally, my least favorite of the stories in this book, 'Mind the Prompt'. This one was a little bit of a hiccup for me, because unlike the others it felt less like a complete novella than it did an abandoned attempt at a standalone novel. In this one, Agnes, a well-educated but solitary young woman reflects on the dead-end of her life while working a gig grading exams in Utah, rather than teaching at a college, which her PhD more than qualifies her for. Of the three protagonists in these stories, Agnes was the only one truly hamstrung by her albinism, and who accepted much less than she deserved because of it. She was also the only truly selfish of the three, pursuing a relationship for the purely mercenary purpose of improving her standard of living and outdoing her older sister. While unlikeable, Agnes was not a character with whom you couldn't sympathize. Yet the maltreatment she endured seemed less a product of her albinism than it was a product of what she told herself about her albinism. It was also interesting that of all the women, Agnes was the only one who took pains to conceal her condition. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, and seeking out the source of her underachievement. No surprise that it lies with her complicated family.
On the whole, this book was easy to consume. Not because the writing was facile or frivolous (believe me it was not... you see the poet emerge in the prose. I underlined and highlighted the hell out of this book) but because it was all so relatable and even when not (as in Maple's story for me), it made you relate anyway. I also love that the author doesn't judge her characters. Y'know what I mean? Their stories are not morality tales, they are slices of the inner lives of women, doing what all women---and men----try to do: figure it all out. I hope Destiny O. Birdsong (damn, even her name is a poem) writes more fiction. I'm here for all of it.
My rating: ⭑⭑⭑⭑
May 21, 2022
Michaela says: "Nobody’s Magic" contains three works, each of about 100 pages. Connecting them are the location, Ark-La-Tex (the tri-state region where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet), and the protagonists, all of whom are Black women with albinism.
The first two stories in the book were highly successful for me. In "Drive," 20-year-old Suzette is struggling to find independence while dealing with her extremely protective, to-the-point-of-controlling, parents. After a bad experience in her childhood, Suzette spends almost all of her time at home, interacting with very few people, mostly her parents and best friend from childhood, Drina. This story is written in a conversational tone, giving insight into not only the thoughts of Suzette but also her vivid personality. The second story, "Bottled Water," follows Maple as she deals with grief. This nuanced story shows the complicated and often messy side of losing a loved one and gave me chills.
The final story, "Mind the Prompt," was not as successful for me. I found the actions and motivations of the protagonist, Agnes, to be unrelatable, so it was a more challenging read. However, that is the good thing about books -- they give us different perspectives into different lives.
This book is good for readers who like conversational storytelling, stories of resilience, and works that explore family dynamics, the good and the bad.
The first two stories in the book were highly successful for me. In "Drive," 20-year-old Suzette is struggling to find independence while dealing with her extremely protective, to-the-point-of-controlling, parents. After a bad experience in her childhood, Suzette spends almost all of her time at home, interacting with very few people, mostly her parents and best friend from childhood, Drina. This story is written in a conversational tone, giving insight into not only the thoughts of Suzette but also her vivid personality. The second story, "Bottled Water," follows Maple as she deals with grief. This nuanced story shows the complicated and often messy side of losing a loved one and gave me chills.
The final story, "Mind the Prompt," was not as successful for me. I found the actions and motivations of the protagonist, Agnes, to be unrelatable, so it was a more challenging read. However, that is the good thing about books -- they give us different perspectives into different lives.
This book is good for readers who like conversational storytelling, stories of resilience, and works that explore family dynamics, the good and the bad.
January 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
upon picking this up, i thought all of these stories were going to intertwine so i def was a bit disappointed when they didn’t, but this was still an enjoyable read with unique characters i enjoyed learning about. further, i rlly liked how well birdsong acquainted us with the environment/setting throughout the 3 stories! the stories passed quickly, making it overall a fast-paced read.
i think that the last story was the best! this is funny bc it seems it didn’t really resonate w other readers. i feel like birdsong fit a lottt into ~120 pages and it kept me the most entertained. i liked how well agnes’s complex relationship of detachment/longing for escape with prime was written and how she ended up choosing her family at the end. i found her to be such an interesting character who was fun to read.
suzette’s story fell the most flat for me and i think it’s because its ending wasn’t what i wanted. though i liked the idea of suzette and drina ending up together, i thought we would learn more about what happened to the woman who said she would take her eyes—i was expecting a twist related to that at the end and so i was kind of let down. like i get it contributes to why suzette was “rapunzled,” but i feel like the end fell flat.
maple’s story was also a touching read. i like how she found chad and the way they connected in their grief. i especially thought the way they watch maple’s mom’s porn and then chad’s ex’s videos together to be such a great depiction of grief. i really liked how devoted maple was to her mothers legacy being accurate and not washed over like her nana wanted it to be. the only thing i felt was missing here was confirmation of who killed maple’s mother.
overall, i def will be looking out for more works from this author and would love to see how she handles longer narratives!
upon picking this up, i thought all of these stories were going to intertwine so i def was a bit disappointed when they didn’t, but this was still an enjoyable read with unique characters i enjoyed learning about. further, i rlly liked how well birdsong acquainted us with the environment/setting throughout the 3 stories! the stories passed quickly, making it overall a fast-paced read.
i think that the last story was the best! this is funny bc it seems it didn’t really resonate w other readers. i feel like birdsong fit a lottt into ~120 pages and it kept me the most entertained. i liked how well agnes’s complex relationship of detachment/longing for escape with prime was written and how she ended up choosing her family at the end. i found her to be such an interesting character who was fun to read.
suzette’s story fell the most flat for me and i think it’s because its ending wasn’t what i wanted. though i liked the idea of suzette and drina ending up together, i thought we would learn more about what happened to the woman who said she would take her eyes—i was expecting a twist related to that at the end and so i was kind of let down. like i get it contributes to why suzette was “rapunzled,” but i feel like the end fell flat.
maple’s story was also a touching read. i like how she found chad and the way they connected in their grief. i especially thought the way they watch maple’s mom’s porn and then chad’s ex’s videos together to be such a great depiction of grief. i really liked how devoted maple was to her mothers legacy being accurate and not washed over like her nana wanted it to be. the only thing i felt was missing here was confirmation of who killed maple’s mother.
overall, i def will be looking out for more works from this author and would love to see how she handles longer narratives!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
I picked up this book because the cover caught my eye and the title felt like a promise. What I found inside was a trilogy of interconnected short stories that left me wanting more, because short stories always do.
Suzette, Maple, and Agnes are three Black women born with albinism, each navigating her own journey of grief, desire, rage, and self-discovery. Birdsong’s prose is lyrical and unflinching, weaving intimate portraits of identity and resilience against the backdrop of complex racial and familial histories.
There are no tidy resolutions here. Instead, Birdsong offers the ache and beauty of becoming, of choosing yourself even when the world doesn’t know what to do with you. The stories linger long after the last page, haunting and transformative in their honesty.
If you love short fiction that explores family, identity, and resilience with depth and tenderness, Nobody’s Magic is worth the read. Just be prepared for that familiar longing when the stories end.
Suzette, Maple, and Agnes are three Black women born with albinism, each navigating her own journey of grief, desire, rage, and self-discovery. Birdsong’s prose is lyrical and unflinching, weaving intimate portraits of identity and resilience against the backdrop of complex racial and familial histories.
There are no tidy resolutions here. Instead, Birdsong offers the ache and beauty of becoming, of choosing yourself even when the world doesn’t know what to do with you. The stories linger long after the last page, haunting and transformative in their honesty.
If you love short fiction that explores family, identity, and resilience with depth and tenderness, Nobody’s Magic is worth the read. Just be prepared for that familiar longing when the stories end.
April 20, 2022
Book Review: Nobody's Magic is a great novel containing 3 short stories about black women with albinism.
Suzette, Maple, and Agnes are the 3 protagonists we meet in Nobody's Magic, and they're all women struggling with self-discovery, finding their inner strength, and navigating relationships with their families and with men. Each of the women are also struggling with finding identities as black women in a society that doesn't know how to also "accept" their light skin and features.
Nobody's Magic is just shy of 5 stars for me, and I really thought Suzette, Maple, and Agnes were well written characters whose journeys highlight the complexities of race, identity, and family.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Suzette, Maple, and Agnes are the 3 protagonists we meet in Nobody's Magic, and they're all women struggling with self-discovery, finding their inner strength, and navigating relationships with their families and with men. Each of the women are also struggling with finding identities as black women in a society that doesn't know how to also "accept" their light skin and features.
Nobody's Magic is just shy of 5 stars for me, and I really thought Suzette, Maple, and Agnes were well written characters whose journeys highlight the complexities of race, identity, and family.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 7, 2022
"Nobody's Magic is a set of three novellas that follow three Black women as they manuveur life in a small town.
Suzette is a sheltered 20 year old who had hopes of going to Xavier University, but her father Curtis, feels she will be exploited by boys if she goes away.
Suzette's father is a mechanic in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Doni is a younger man who works with him. Suzette's best friend Drina helps her navigate life as an albino.
In the second story Maple Christine and Chad connect over family grief and tragedy. Maple tries to overcome her mother's (Brenda May) recent murder and Colin is dealing with the death of his baby's mother.
The last story takes the reader to Tyler, Texas, where Agnes Kirkkendoll is considering settling with her boyfriend, Prime. Agnes also goes back to Shreveport, to address issues she has with her estranged sister, Bernice.
Out of the three stories, the last one was my least favorite because the story line seemed to drag a bit. Overall I felt a Luke warm likeness to this book.
Suzette is a sheltered 20 year old who had hopes of going to Xavier University, but her father Curtis, feels she will be exploited by boys if she goes away.
Suzette's father is a mechanic in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Doni is a younger man who works with him. Suzette's best friend Drina helps her navigate life as an albino.
In the second story Maple Christine and Chad connect over family grief and tragedy. Maple tries to overcome her mother's (Brenda May) recent murder and Colin is dealing with the death of his baby's mother.
The last story takes the reader to Tyler, Texas, where Agnes Kirkkendoll is considering settling with her boyfriend, Prime. Agnes also goes back to Shreveport, to address issues she has with her estranged sister, Bernice.
Out of the three stories, the last one was my least favorite because the story line seemed to drag a bit. Overall I felt a Luke warm likeness to this book.
February 19, 2022
I’d give this book a solid 3.5 stars. The writing is solid and several of the characters sit right next to you as you read. The book is made up of three stories, each featuring a woman who identifies as albino. The first of the three is by far the best. Worthy of a novel on its on. For me, the remaining two didn’t make the cut.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews