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The dragons have fled the skies.

A noble House is clinging to life.

The God of gods is rising.


As the Envoy of the Four Kingdoms, Wes has had his purpose decided since birth: sacrifice the treasures of the people to the dragon gods, and they will keep Kaveryth safe.

For five years, he’s been forced to watch his Kingdom fall into ruin while carrying an unbearable grief of his own. The Elders insist that they must continue to be faithful to the Dracodei, but Wes is beginning to doubt that their protectors are holding up their end of the bargain.

Despite his misgivings, he continues to fulfill his duty—until he meets a misunderstood dragon who offers him a choice for the first time in his life.

Will he have the courage to make the sacrifice that truly matters?

Storm & Spire is a young adult Christian fantasy series, perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced storytelling, fantastical lands, and devious dragons.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2022

114 people are currently reading
815 people want to read

About the author

Stefanie Lozinski

6 books155 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
Profile Image for Issabelle Perry.
Author 5 books221 followers
May 19, 2022
The world could change, men could do good and work evil, but as long as the High One held His creation together, the light would always come after the darkness.

The dragons have fled the skies. A noble House is clinging to life. The God of gods is rising.

Alright, it's review time! Y'all I can't stress enough how EPIC this read was!!! Like, I'm gonna be obsessing over this for a while.

Reasons why you should read this book

~THERE. BE. DRAGONS. This should literally be reason enough. Good books with dragons are so far and few, and not only does this book have plenty of dragon page time, one of our main characters IS a dragon!!

~This world is just cool. Nuff said. We've got dragons, dwarves, and elves thrown in here that I was getting some major LOTR vibes! And all the kingdom names were really cool as well (and that's important to point out because naming made-up kingdoms is SO HARD).

~WES. He's mah baby boy. Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking if you've been following my reviews for a while. I say nearly every dude I meet in fiction is mah boy. I know, I've got a lot of boys now. XD BUT WES IS DEFINITELY IN THE TOP TEN!!!!!! I could just feel for him and his character arc (and the rest of it that I feel is coming in book two) was perfection. His pain and desires were just so real. And I thought it was cool he had this special position in the world as the Envoy! It was a fun extra characteristic to explore!

~The Christian allegory! I've only read a small handful of books with a Christian allegory but this is by far, one of the best ones I've ever seen!!! Just... I don't even know how to describe it! Everything about this area was perfect. I'm excited for Wes and Celesyria to learn more about the High One!

~The plot was very well paced!! Which was such a great escape from all the more character-driven novels I've been reading. While it's not exactly a page-turner, it doesn't have any slow or very dry points! The action is sprinkled out very nicely and I could NOT put this book down!! Especially at the ending... *sniffs* I just wanted to give Wes and Celesyria a big ole hug.

~THE COVER!! Please tell me I'm not the only who reads books based on their covers. XD But seriously have you seen a more gorgeous cover??!!! *all da heart eyes* I've been in love with it from the first moment I saw it!! I NEED a paperback copy of this on my shelf!!

The Not So Great Stuff?

Um that the sequel isn't released yet. XD Seriously, y'all, I have no qualms to say about this book!!! The author did a FANTABULOUS job!!!

Overall

Stefanie Lozinski makes her debut with Magnify a thrilling read perfect for Christian fantasy fans and any reader looking for an exciting tale in a mystical world full of dragons, elves, and dwarves. Sure to leave readers on the edge of their seats and desperate for more. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us!

*Thank you to the author for giving me a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review*
Profile Image for Stefanie Lozinski.
Author 6 books155 followers
Read
June 29, 2022
My debut novel is finally out in the world! Yay! I’m so thankful to God that this childhood dream has finally come true. Thank you to all of my readers and future readers - I hope you enjoy reading Wes and Celesyria’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. =)

Update: You can now purchase Magnify in both paperback AND hardcover!
Profile Image for aria ✧.
922 reviews154 followers
February 18, 2024
The world could change, men could do good and work evil, but as long as the High One held His creation together, the light would always come after the darkness.


“Magnify” is the first book in the Storm & Spire series, a christian, young adult fantasy series. I discovered this author by pure chance but it being a christian fantasy with dragons, was enough to get me interested.

The spire stood at the center of the world, watching everything, presiding over the birth of babies and the death of old men.


In the realm of Kaveryth lies the Four Kingdoms: Silverfell, Galeharbor, Aridmoor and Boneshire. Every year, the chosen one known as the Envoy makes the journey to Umrym to offer sacrifices from all four kingdoms to their gods, the Dracodei. They are great dragons that protect the realm from their enemies, the elves from Nox but this year’s journey brings new perils.

In so short a time, she’d spoken more of her secrets to him than she’d ever entrusted to any other. And yet, there was so much she did not yet know about him. Behind his intense gaze was something more. There was a grace in him. There was a nobility that went beyond an accident of birth, beyond a glimmering old scar in the shape of a crescent moon.


Wes Cervos is the Envoy of the Four Kingdoms. Every year he has made the journey to Whitespire in Umryn to offer the people’s sacrifices but when treachery has him witness the death of his Witness and Deermaster, the weight of his position weighs on him. Born to the King and Queen of Silverfell, Wes should have been the second prince but when a scar marks him as the Envoy, his title is stripped away. All would be well if his family hadn’t all died leaving him with a kingdom he cannot inherit. Then he meets the dragon Celesyria, one of the servants of the Dracodei. She claims that the Dracodei are false and the true God, the High One, is preparing to make His return. And she believes Wes has a part in it. But speaking against the Dracodei is punishable by death, no matter your rank.

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.”
-G. K. Chesterton


I loved this more than I was expected. In the beginning, I wasn’t exactly enjoying it but then the political intrigue between the kingdoms started picking up and I felt myself getting more invested. I loved the characters but especially Wes, he’s a sweetheart and I can’t wait to get more from him. He has a lot in store and I know he’ll do me proud.

“Stripped of all help, stricken with thirst, he will come. His tongue will be as sharp as his antlers, his eyes cast down with grief. He will leave his token to the earth, he will set the hopeless little ones free. He will bestow a crown, he will reverse the oath. He will bring the bread of hope to all Kaveryth, even to a Kingdom long thought dead. The usurpers will be cast out, the mighty will be brought to lowliness, and the High One will rule forever.”


⤷ buddy read with faith and fantasy group
Profile Image for Kaytlin Phillips.
Author 17 books250 followers
July 25, 2022
4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book...It took me just a bit to get my bareings, most fantasies do, but once I did...wow! Mrs. Lozinski has created a unique fantasy world that was so enjoyable to read!

Characters:
Wes was not you typical hero and I liked that...his struggles and doubts were relatable. I mean a few months I did want to shake him and possible yell at him, but it was only because he was doing what I probably would I have done in the same situation.
The dragon, Celesyria I think is how you spell her name...the dragon aspect was neat. I would have loved more, just because I love dragons...lol...but she was very nicely done. I thought.
There are other side characters...I did enjoy them, but I honestly can't wait for book 2 so I can get to know them more! Especially Kessara.
Dorold...that's all I'm saying.

Plot:
Moved along at a nice pace for most of the time. I would have liked just a bit more descriptions...I've learned in the last year how important description is and I love getting that mental picture. But overall the story moved along nicely.

Romance:
Not really...to characters become betrothed and there's a fake kiss but nothing else.

Language:
Notta

Magic:
No.

Overall:
There are fake God's but some of our characters acknowledge that fact. Honestly, that part of the story was pulled off really well!
I really enjoyed this book and if you're looking for a YA Christian Fantasy I highly recommend you check this one out!
Profile Image for Sharon Loves to Read.
327 reviews102 followers
February 10, 2024
✨Reread Review✨

3.5⭐️ on reread, rounded up.

While I still felt it was paced too slowly in parts, and the book could have used some more editorial work, since I have already read the series and know the characters and plotline, I did not struggle to understand why certain things happened. (See original review below.)

Rounding up to 4⭐️ because I already know I love the characters and where this beautiful series is going.💜 This book is a great set-up for the rest of the series, which is one of my favorite Christian fantasy series.

Highly recommended, especially if you can be gracious toward the editorial issues in the first few books.

✨Original Review✨

(*A 3⭐️ rating means I liked the book.*)

I really liked the plot, the author’s writing style, and the spiritual themes. However, I can’t give it 4⭐️ because I was often confused about important aspects of the plot. I am all for an author building up to a big reveal, but this wasn’t that. It was more a matter of my confusion leading me to not understand the characters’ motivation for their actions. I did not begin to understand until past the 50% mark, and even then, I didn’t fully get it. I also felt the pacing was a bit slow, but at the same time, it suited the MC, so I can't be too picky about that.

Our protagonist, Wes, is not the confident, capable protagonist one usually gets in a good story, and at first I did not much care for him. However, I hung on because I could tell he had character growth in his future. I was correct, and I see even more growth for him coming in the next books.

I am looking forward to continuing on with the series—I feel like this is one of those series that probably gets better and better with each book.
Profile Image for EllieJellyBean :D.
70 reviews39 followers
March 27, 2024
Well, I finally finished it. Only took me a month and a half. 😅

I struggled with this one. It didn’t pull me in, the characters didn’t wow me, the plot was fine, and it was kinda slow.

I can see why people would like it, I just don’t think it’s for me.

I can’t think of anything else, so, byeeee! ✌️
Profile Image for Judgemental Toast.
166 reviews34 followers
May 6, 2022
When I began reading "Magnify" the first book in the "Storm & Spire" series by Stefanie Lozinski, I found myself almost immediately captivated by the story and the characters, especially the main character Wes.
The story follows Wes, a young man who is born into the role of Envoy for the people of Kavereth, fated to bring the sacrificial treasure of the people to the Dracodei (the Dragon gods). However, Wes has his whole world turned upside down after meeting Celesyria, and together they must face the biggest and most terrifying question imaginable... one that would potentially turn everyone they love against them, and change everything they've ever known. Is the truth worth the risk?
I highly recommend this book to not only fantasy lovers, but to anyone looking for a genuinely good book to read. It is easy to read; there wasn't a time where I felt bored or felt I knew for certain what was going to happen next. I also enjoyed the authors poetic writing style. For me personally, I found this book pretty similar to Taylor Marshall's "Sword & Serpent" trilogy and I'd say that fans of his work as well as "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" by Gail Carson Levine, and "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke would especially enjoy "Magnify".
Give this book a try! It might be your next favorite read! :)

NOTE: I received a free copy, and I was not asked to write a good review.
Profile Image for David’s old account S.S..
49 reviews5 followers
February 14, 2024
This is a 3.5 star review for me. The first half was a lot harder for me to get into but the second half I felt more connected to the characters and the overall plot started to be more interesting! I’m not sure if I am seeing this right but it felt like a book length prologue to the series 😄. I’m definitely curious where this is going now so I’ll definitely pick up the second book. I’d like to see a little more world building too. There are some characters introduced in the final chapters that seem to be super important!

My favorite part was the connection between Wes and Celesyria and how Wes character develops over the book. Wish I could say more but it would be Spoilery 😄
Profile Image for Charity.
605 reviews83 followers
September 20, 2023
Edited for audiobook: the narrator does a fantastic job!

This book. ~happy sigh~

Here are my thoughts as I read:

Stefanie's writing style reminds me somewhat of Tolkien's writing, but without all the unnecessary details (don't shoot me!). I much prefer this style. Upon further reading, she's kind of a cross between Tolkien and Lewis.

WOW. After reading what the prophecy said, I literally have goosebumps. I actually took a picture of my leg to prove it, but no one wants to see that. 😂

OH MY GOODNESS!!! It ends on a cliffhanger!! Stefanie, I'm BEGGING you to allow me to be on your ARC team for the next one!
5 reviews
June 4, 2022
For those who love medieval fantasy stories full of intrigue and narrative twists, 'Magnify' is a captivating tale that immerses the reader into a new world - Kaveryth - and plenty of secrets to uncover.

As the first book in what is planned to be a series, 'Magnify' introduces the reader to two likeable protagonists, Wes and Celesyria. The word likeable is extra-important here; unlike much of the twisted modern fare we see today, the protagonists in 'Magnify' are truly moral characters with values that you'd want your children to have. They consider the consequences of their actions. They feel guilty if they've harmed another (even inadvertently). They are duty-bound. They seek to do good. There is no "anti-hero" here: no hard-drinking street criminal we are duped into rooting for or an evil character that we're supposed to hope finds redemption. Like a good, classic, old-fashioned story should be - the good characters are good. You know why they're good and you know exactly why you should be rooting for them.

As someone who is very tired of our postmodern obsession with ethical ambiguity and muddled character morality, this was a breath of fresh air for me. A reminder of a time when our fiction was more noble. It allowed me to focus on the story with a clear mindset and invest myself in the plot comfortably.

While Wes is the center of the tale, Celesyria stole the show a bit for me. I've been waiting a long time for a "good" dragon character after watching Smaug terrorize the screen and Drogon do his thing. It was, again, a welcome change to see a creature that is traditionally portrayed as fearsome and evil in much modern art/literature suddenly be represented as - in many ways - the moral conscience of the story.

'Magnify' does read as somewhat of a set-up tale; there is more to come after all, but it was a very enjoyable story with a strong moral underpinning that, along with its narrative depth, was in my view its greatest strength.
Profile Image for Ellie Ann.
243 reviews10 followers
May 24, 2025
Wow. Wow. Wow.

This book is one of my new favorites!!! I got it on sale in November(on Kindle) and am so glad I did!

It started out a little bit slow and confusing, but once you get into it, it's really fast paced, which was a bad and good thing. The ending was desperate and crazy and then it ended and it was so good! I also loved the allegory element- it was really fun and unique, and something about it I just loved.

And Wes and Cellyseria(I think that's how you spell it, lol) were both awesome. Both of them would frustrate me occasionally, but a lot of the time they were such cool characters. Wes has been through so much and I loved watching his bravery in the book, no matter what happened. Cellyseria was such a cool character. One of the best aspects of both of them was watching their faith struggles- it's questions many Christians have had- and Cellyseria wondering about the High One's purpose for her was so relatable.

And then the themes of faith and courage were awesome- some of my favorite parts of the book!

Overall, this was a great read. It takes a little bit to get into(at least for me) and then it's fast paced and enthralling. There were some aspects of the story that felt like Lord of the Rings, which was really cool! It's such an enjoyable read that I HIGHLY recommend!
Profile Image for Havelah McLat.
Author 5 books114 followers
April 5, 2023
I read this in two days. Maybe almost three days. But this kept me on hooked. I love the author added faith elements and whimsical vibe with dragons and secrets. It make me want to go back and work on my own fantasy stories. But this is one of the kind and she did it well. I can't wait to read more of her series.
Profile Image for M.H. Elrich.
Author 9 books142 followers
November 11, 2022
What if everything you knew was a lie?
Wes and his dragon friend, Celesyria, slowly begin to realize that the yearly sacrifices that are made are made to false gods. As they come to this realization, they realize that they have to make a choice: they can either stand up for this newfound truth or continue to perpetuate a lie. Of course, not everyone wants the truth, and the cost for standing up could be their lives.
This is a compelling Christian fantasy, and I enjoyed it immensely. The plot is extremely fast-paced. Poor Wes experiences one bad thing after another, and the book doesn't pause that often from the action. The character development, especially for Wes, was compelling. Wes struggles with feeling like he is not good enough, and comparing himself to his family. His self-criticism was hard to read because I really liked Wes and wished I could've encouraged him. Celesyria didn't necessarily grow as a character because she stayed the same personality-wise, but she did learn how to have more faith.
The world-building was hard for me to understand at times because Lozinski drops names without much explanation and builds political systems without stopping to explain. However, her basic races (human, elves, dwarves, and dragons) did make it a bit easier to understand and she has a map at the beginning of the book that helps with discerning places. But I will say, even with that, I still had moments where I was like: who was that again? How do they relate to Wes? That being said, I still understood enough to enjoy the story, and I think fantasy readers would be able to keep up. Also, several betrayals and deaths made no emotional impact on me because they were not really build up enough for me to care (but I did care about poor Wes who had to suffer through them-so there's that).
Other than these two small complaints, this book is clean, without any sex, gore, or language. There also (currently) isn't any magic, so it is more of a kingdom adventure/historical fantasy book.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of Christian fantasy! It is very, very good.
Profile Image for Mary Emma Sivils.
Author 1 book63 followers
March 17, 2024
I had a lot of trouble getting invested in this book, and I'm not completely sure why. Part of the reason was that the first half moved pretty slowly, and I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters, but maybe I was also hoping...the plot would surprise me a little more?

I liked the main themes in the story, so that's a plus. And Wes did grow on me in the second half, so I think there's hope that I could start to care about more of the cast if I get to know them better.
Also I'm very curious about how the whole dragons/souls thing will be dealt with. 🤔

I've heard that the series gets better as it goes on, so I'll probably read the next book at some point. The end of this one does leave potential for an interesting storyline!
15 reviews
May 27, 2022
Wow!!! This book is such a good read. I did not want to put it down. I just never knew what would happen next. It’s written so well, that you are pulled into the story feeling what the characters are feeling, sympathizing with them. I am ready for book 2. I highly recommend this book. It’s a must read!
153 reviews
February 16, 2024
A little slow to get started, but well worth hanging in to the end. Full of political intrigue, world building that serves the story, and main characters to care about. Stefanie Lozinski is able to weave her faith throughout this fantasy tale while making it both relevant to the characters and the reader. By the end of her novel, I was sorry to see I was on last page and close the book.
Profile Image for Karen.
508 reviews43 followers
May 26, 2022
I absolutely love fantasy stories and was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to receive a free copy of Magnify in exchange for my honest review.
As much as I love fantasy, I am trying to stick to Christian books as much as possible as secular books are just not to my liking anymore. So, when I find a fantasy series that is also Christian, I get so excited. I love fantasy stories that introduce new worlds and include such creatures as dragons, elves, and dwarves. All three are included in this world. Though I wish they were included a bit more in the story, and not just mentioned by the main characters, Wes the Envoy, and Celesyria the dragon, in memories and learning about the history of the world.
I felt I got to know Wes and Celesyria pretty well. We get to learn a bit about their personalities and background and learn what the Envoy's importance is in their land, along with that of the dragons. Though even by the end of the book there is still a shroud of mystery regarding exactly why the dragons are disappearing. Though there ARE hints, there's mention of a codex and a prophecy, but not very many details revealed. I'm assuming (hoping) more will come out in the next book.
Months pass in this book, but it feels like an introduction to an adventure to come. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of action throughout the story. Starting at almost the very beginning and at different times in the story. But I wish we would have gotten a bit further in the story.
One thing that bothered me was how the author jumped ahead in the story without giving details of what happened in between. Though sometimes we got more details when Wes or Celesyria thought back on what happened. But it was a bit jarring to just jump ahead, especially when the point of view suddenly changed. I've gotten used to books told from multiple points if view, and am really starting to enjoy them. But most of the time the shift between POVs happens with the chapter break.
Though I did have some issues with the book, and it wasn't one I found hard to set down (except toward the end), I am very much enjoying the story, and love the biblical parallels. I live that Was and Celesyria are learning what it means to trust a God they are only just learning about and are being penalized for the blasphemy of trying to share about this God as opposed to the false gods who have been served for generations.
I'm very much looking forward to the continuation of the story, and hoping the author has multiple books in this series planned.
Profile Image for K.J. Burrage.
Author 6 books110 followers
August 11, 2022
In exchange for a fair and honesty review I received an ARC copy from the Author Stefanie Lozinski.

Magnify - Storm and Spire is the first book in Stefanie Lozinski's debut series and is Christian Fantasy. (Although I do feel that readers of other backgrounds can enjoy Magnify as well much in the same way they can also enjoy Tolkien and CS Lewis).

For me there are two clear protagonists. Wes the human envoy and Celesyria a dragon who fancies herself a little bit of a scholar. Wes and Celesyria both need to decide if they have the strength to stand up for what they know is truth against immense odds. Both feel that they are under qualified... both have moments when they are shaken.

Lozinski's world includes four human kingdoms who are bound by the service to the Dracodei - the mystical overlord who protect their lands. But even with the yearly sacrifices of gold and jewels the people are suffering. Dwarves and Elves are also mentioned in Lozinski's world and I can't wait to find out exactly what the dwarves are really up to behind the scenes and perhaps learn a little more about the elves that the humans see as a threat.

The overall tone and pace of the story was consistent and I didn't feel that their was any lag or parts I wanted to skim over.

If you like stories with political intrigue, dwarves and dragons and characters being tested give this story a read.
Profile Image for Sandralena Hanley.
Author 7 books72 followers
February 2, 2023
Wes is a second son of the king of Silverfell, never born to rule. But when his older brother Roven and his parents are killed, the weight of the kingdom falls upon him. His role as Envoy is to deliver the tithes of the Four Kingdoms to the Dragon Gods' city.

Celesyria is a young dragon who spends her free time in libraries (love her already). She finds pieces of the Codex Veritates which reveal the Dragon Gods are not real. The true creator is the High One. The prophecies say the realms will suffer and disappear if they do not turn back to him.

When Celesyria and Wes cross paths, their lives are altered forever. What does the High One want with them? How do they prove his existence to the citizens of the Four Kingdoms?

Wes was likable. He was pudgy and felt guilty for needing protection. He longs for his handsome brother's abilities with a sword and diplomacy. Celesyria is a great sidekick because she is willing to give her life if necessary to do the will of the High One. She inspires Wes when he is at his lowest.

Love the Christian vibes and high adventure.
Profile Image for Kjb.
98 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2022
I liked magnify. At times the story was bit lengthy, but it's Lozinskis first book (as I understand) and for that its ok. I really appreciate that it wasn't wishy-washy about whether it's a christian fantasy story or not. It's all about the High One and I really really want to know how the story will continue! Wes is not your mandatory super hero, who is super handsome and can fight like no other ond so on.. He is relatable and he's trying to grow and do the right thing even though it's nearly impossible. I like him! And I really do not like his antagonists. I think that's a good sign ;)
Profile Image for Jessica Gwyn.
124 reviews10 followers
May 16, 2022
Magnify is magnificent!

Stefanie Lozinski’s Magnify was an awesome read. High fantasy and even higher action were constant. I found myself there with Wes and cheering him along throughout his harrowing journey. I definitely recommend this one. It had some real Tolkien vibes.
I can’t wait to read the rest of the story. I’ll be on the edge of my seat until then.
Profile Image for Nicole.
137 reviews9 followers
June 13, 2022
Fantastic debut novel!

Magnify is an entertaining, clean YA fantasy that has a dragon as one of the main characters. What more do you need to know?! I’ve never read a book with a dragon’s POV so I really enjoyed that aspect. Looking forward to book 2!
Profile Image for Jillian Sevilla-Sales.
131 reviews12 followers
May 22, 2022
"...to die by the truth was better than to live by a lie."

Aaaannnnd I'm done! 😍
What can I say? I enjoyed reading this book!
Was feeling deeply sad/disappointed these past few days (because of the elections here in the Philippines) and couldn't read continuously.
Thanks to this book for keeping me entertained.
I might have entered a "new world" but the truths in the story can be applied to the christian life.
Reason why I didn't give this a 5 star is there are some parts that I wanted to know more but got cut off and started a new scene.
But overall, it was a great read!
You can also read it for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited.
Looking forward for the next book.

Now, where can I get my own Dragon, uhm, I mean a paperback copy? 😁
Profile Image for R.M. Archer.
Author 4 books152 followers
October 14, 2024
Let’s get my biggest difficulty with this book out of the way first: the pacing. All of my struggles with this book came down to how quickly things moved along, from character development to choices made and events unfolding to learning about the world, everything felt like watching the world pass through a car window while you’re driving down the interstate. Nowhere did it feel like we got to settle in one place and really learn about what was happening, get a solid feel for the world, or process things with the character. Even when the characters were forced to sit and think, their thoughts didn’t seem to have a believable flow but a rush toward the conclusion the author wanted them to reach. This book wasn’t given breathing room, and I think every aspect suffered as a result.

That said, I think this could have been a great book had it been given that breathing room. The characters are foundationally solid and their arcs could have been really impactful given more time to develop, it seems like the politics and other worldbuilding elements were well thought through and just needed more time to be clearly explained through the story, and the themes of doubt and faith could have been really strong with the character arcs drawn out to better complement them. All of the pieces were definitely there, and I wouldn’t go so far as to say I didn’t enjoy this book, but I wish that everything had been given time to be fully explored and smoothed out into something that flowed better and was easier to follow.

One thing I did particularly appreciate was the subject of arranged marriage in this book; it has clear reasons behind it within the world (one thing that was well-explained in terms of worldbuilding), the match is clearly a good one–and the characters admit as much, and the main character’s reasons for struggling with the arrangement are more reasonable than “I don’t love you” or even “I’m in love with someone else.” Both parties take their responsibilities to their people seriously and are willing to prioritize the well-being of others over their own convenience, and I love to see that–especially in the commonly self-centered YA category.

Overall, this was not a bad book, it just needed more space to grow more naturally.
Profile Image for C.E..
Author 7 books80 followers
March 15, 2023
An engaging, well-written read!

I really enjoyed “Magnify” by Stefanie Lozinski and it was one of the better stories I’ve read the last few years. “Magnify" follows two unlikely protagonists as they journey across a sprawling fantasy world. Yet their journey isn’t just physical, but spiritual. One MC survives an attack by Dwarves, only to be confronted with shocking revelations that challenge his very beliefs and identity. The other is faced with similar dilemmas, but also wrestles with a religion which claims she has no soul.

The premise of “Magnify” is thus complex and well thought-out. The world is rich and Tolkienesque. The characters struggle with realistic issues and solutions aren’t easy. The faith aspect permeates this entire book and I LOVED it. The editing was good, with a minimum of grammatical errors. Definitely a book I recommend. Also, it ends with several loose threads, so be sure to read the next one!




Profile Image for Ruth "CowgirlMama " Williams .
73 reviews2 followers
May 29, 2022
This review is sadly behind schedule... life has been crazy, what can I say?!?

I had the privilege of reading a new author’s book the other day and was much impressed. Magnify is a fantasy, which isn’t my usual genre but I quite enjoyed this one. I found the story woven through of men (and fairytale creatures) discovering that the religion they had followed for generations was a sham and the One True G-D was calling them back to HIM to be very relatable as thats been the theme of my life the last several years. I don’t know that the author meant to make that theme so strong but its what I picked up.

Lots of adventure, a tinge of romance, and a bit of an allegory - all in all I give it a 4/5

I look forward to seeing future books from Stefanie Lozinski !

I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
274 reviews10 followers
July 15, 2022
Magnify is a solid Christian fantasy by debut author Stefanie Lozinski. It’s the first book in a series. (I’m not sure how many books are planned for this series, but I know there’s at least a second book that the author is currently working on.)

What I liked:

DRAGONS. Yep. There be dragons in this here book. And one of the two main POVs is of Celesyria, who happens to be a dragon. Very cool. And I also love how the author did a good job of world-building and introducing us to the various races and lands.

The other character POV is from Wes. He has some character development during this story, and I hope to see even more growth/change in him in the sequel.

The story itself was enjoyable and I really liked the faith themes. False-religion and covered up truth make for a really intriguing tale. There are one or two things in her characters’ beliefs that I believe reflect her Catholic faith (which differs a little from my Protestant faith), so keep that in mind if you’re not a Catholic reader. The story is, of course, set in a fantasy world, so it might not be as readily recognizable by someone who hasn’t studied the differences between Christian denominations as I have.

Things that could have been better:

For me, this story was hard to get into at first. It’s possible that I just was trying to read (as per my usual) too many books at the same time and the others were more enticing.

I also felt that the majority of the story’s pacing was a lot slower than I like. It reads sort of like an epic fantasy, but doesn’t quite have the proper feel of a true epic story. That being said, the last 15% of the book did pick up pace nicely, and I didn’t want to put it down while reading the ending climax.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the story and am looking forward to reading book 2 to find out what happens next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

I was given an ebook of Magnify from the author to read in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for The Book Bunch (Sam).
123 reviews42 followers
January 30, 2023
It took a bit to get into but before I knew it I was furious at the injustice that was happening to our main character and the situation he found himself in. So needless to say I was hooked and read the whole thing at once.

A great Christian Fantasy. Keen to read the other books in the series as well.

We follow a 17yr old boy, orphaned and left with the responsibility of a kingdom he is not allowed to rule and the burden of acting as intercessor between his people and their gods. He is miserable and all those around him seem to die. Making matters worse an encounter with a dragon turns everything he's ever known and believed on it's head. Will the kingdom believe his knew found knowledge or will he be executed for blasphemy?
Profile Image for Joanna Alonzo.
Author 38 books118 followers
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August 23, 2022
overall thoughts: unpredictable and full of surprises

This book is anything but predictable. At any point I might feel like I know where this is going, it doesn't go there.



Lozinski skillfully paints a realm about to encounter a massive shift, and you get a distinct feeling of lines between good and evil being drawn throughout the entire story. It very much parallels our world where as the coming of Jesus draws near, there is a sifting happening between sheep and goats, wheat and chaff. It can be a painful process and one can definitely feel this undercurrent of significant change happening throughout the book.



With it, there is an undercurrent of hope that keeps this book in the #noblebright category (phew!) despite some very dire — sometimes, depressing — circumstances.



There are light moments in the book — I want more Holga! — but this is far from a light read. Both protagonists are put through the ringer from start to end, and you could almost watch them grow throughout the book.



I'm glad it had a satisfying conclusion. There's more story to unfold, sure, but this book is a complete story in and of itself, dedicated mostly to how Wes and Celesyria discover each other and the High One amidst a realm being ruled by a lie as it comes to terms with an emerging Truth.

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