Forgotten Magic

by Krysten Mountain

What would you sacrifice to find love that would follow you through the centuries? For Ana, she must figure out just that. She is an average American teenage gypsy girl who lives and works in the Renaissance fair. Her whole life is based on reliving her gypsy heritage for avid fairgoers until one day, her heritage starts reliving through her. In an untimely battle, Kezia releases a curse on her family that will follow them for the rest of their lives, cursing them in this life and the next. As Ana starts to discover the curse and its ramifications, she must choose what is the best course of action to alter the path that her clan will take. She must be cunning and not only outsmart Kezia but also the brutal Queen "Bloody" Mary. The gypsy decree is upon them. Can she act in time? Will her actions change anything? It's up to Ana to save the people she loves, especially Tigan, so they're not cursed to keep reliving the tragedies of their past. Can Ana break through the curse that's been on her family for centuries and start their new timeline? Can she balance her duty to family while also saving Tigan from his curse? Will Ana's new gypsy powers help her change her past?

196 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2022

Reviews

[Abigail Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to talk about that ending because I am not okay. Without spoiling anything the last few chapters had me on the edge of my bed literally holding my breath. The way everything connects back to the prologue is so satisfying and clever. Ana discovering her fire magic when she thought she had no powers at all was such a great character moment. The title Forgotten Magic makes so much sense after you finish the book and think about it. I love when a title has double meaning like that. This whole series is going to be legendary I can feel it.

[Alice Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place. Sometimes you just need a story about soulmates across different lifetimes to make you believe in love again. Kezia and Merival broke my heart in the prologue and then Ana and Tigan slowly put it back together. The scene where Ana dances by the bonfire and feels the fire calling to her gave me actual goosebumps. I also loved how the mark appeared on her skin because that was creepy and interesting at the same time. This is the kind of book you want to read again the moment you finish it.

[Zachary Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved Twilight and ACOTAR then you need to read this book immediately. It has that same feeling of forbidden love that makes your chest hurt in a good way. Ana and Tigan have this pull toward each other that you can feel through the pages. The bonus is that this book has time travel which neither Twilight nor ACOTAR has. Going back to 1554 was so cool and the historical details felt accurate and well researched. The magic system with wind and fire elements is simple but really effective. I already recommended this to all my book friends and they all loved it too.

[Arthur Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krysten Coldsmith has a gift for writing emotional scenes that hit you right in the gut. When Merival told Kezia he would love her in this life and the next I had to put the book down and take a breath. That line alone shows how talented this author is with words. The entire book is filled with moments like that where the writing just grabs you. The world of the Chivonni and their magic is so fascinating and I wanted to learn more about it. The pacing is perfect and there is never a dull moment.

[Corinne Tofanelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and following along on Ti and Ana’s story!! The ending had me heartbroken and yet SO ready for the next book!!! I’ve never been to a Ren fair nor do I know anything of the lifestyle so I was worried about following along but Mountain wrote it so perfectly and simply that it was so easy to picture and follow along. 4 stars just because of the spelling and grammatical errors all through out the book but I absolutely adored this story!!

[Lori Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister kept telling me to read this for months and I kept ignoring her. Finally I gave in and now I owe her an apology because this book was incredible. The Renaissance fair setting is so creative and different from anything else out there right now. It made me want to visit a Ren fair so badly after reading. Ana living in a trailer and performing dances while dealing with family pressure felt very authentic. The romance builds slowly which I appreciate because instant love stories annoy me. By the time Ana and Tigan hold hands on the bridge I was fully invested. Thank you to my sister for not giving up on me about this one.

[Stephen Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to appreciate the author for including Romani representation that feels respectful and researched. So many fantasy books treat Romani people as stereotypes or magical props but this book actually centers their culture and history. The detail about the vardos and the coins on the hip skirts and the Chivonni people felt genuine and thoughtful. Ana being proud of her heritage while also feeling trapped by it is a complex and realistic struggle. Krysten Coldsmith clearly put a lot of care into writing this world and it shows on every single page. More authors should take notes on how to do cultural representation right.

[Evelyn Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look I am a 34 year old mom and I know this is tagged as YA but I do not care at all. This book pulled me in from page one and did not let go until the very end. The themes of family duty versus following your heart really resonated with me. Ana feeling trapped in her life at the fair even though it looks amazing from the outside is something I think many people can relate to. The reincarnation aspect adds so much weight to the romance because you know these two souls have suffered before. Krysten Coldsmith wrote something special here that works for all ages honestly. Do not skip this just because it says young adult.

[Arthur Gabrial · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of book I search for on Goodreads and rarely find. Magical romance that actually has a good plot and not just kissing and drama. The time travel element is handled so well and the transition from modern day to 1554 felt natural not forced. I loved learning about Romani culture and magic through the story instead of through boring info dumps. The side characters like Viola and her tarot readings added so much to the atmosphere. Lady Aurania is mysterious and scary in the best way possible. I am starting book two tonight and I am so excited.

[Linda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so I am going to be honest here. I judged this book by its cover and thought it would be another basic vampire romance clone. I was wrong. This story has so much depth and the Romani culture representation made me feel things I did not expect. The past life connection between Ana and Tigan gave me chills especially the scene by the bridge at midnight. I cried when Merival stayed behind to fight in the prologue and that was only the beginning. The tarot reading scene was spooky and amazing at the same time.

[Amber Heberlig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4.5 ⭐️

Nice light read. Loved the story line and the theme of the entire book. It leaves on a good cliffhanger setting up for the next book in the series and I cannot wait until I get my hands on the next book to see where this story continues.

It’s a multiple pov third person book, I normally am not a multiple pov person but that wasn’t too bad.

There were some errors that could’ve been picked up in editing like using the wrong sister’s name here and there or some grammatical errors but that was not entirely distracting from the overall story.

[Heather Shower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books entertain you. Some books completely consume you. The Forgotten Magic Chronicles did the latter.
From the very first chapter, I was swept into a world filled with Renaissance fairs, ancient magic, time travel, curses, multiple POVs, fated mates, and unforgettable characters. Ana is a 16 year old Romani girl who has spent her life traveling with her family, performing at Renaissance fairs, never realizing that destiny has been waiting for her all along. When her powers awaken and she's pulled centuries into the past, she finds herself tangled in a mystery and a curse that's been haunting generations for thousands of years.
The blend of history, fantasy, romance, and magic was absolutely addictive. Every chapter peeled back another layer of the mystery, and I found myself constantly saying, "Just one more chapter," until suddenly it was way past bedtime. The time travel was woven together so beautifully, and the fated mates storyline had me kicking my feet and completely invested.
I loved how the multiple POVs added depth to the story, letting you experience the emotions, heartbreak, and secrets from every angle. The world-building felt immersive without ever slowing the pace, and the characters quickly became people I genuinely cared about.
And then... THAT ENDING.
That cliffhanger should honestly come with a warning because it left me staring at the final page in complete disbelief. I immediately needed Book 2. There was absolutely no way I could leave these characters there.
If you love fated mates, time travel, Renaissance fairs, ancient curses, magical destinies, family secrets, and fantasy that keeps you glued to the pages, this book deserves a spot at the very top of your TBR.
This was an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me, and I'm already running to grab Book 2 because I have to know what happens next! 📚✨

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Ana and Ti, well well where to begin…

I found the story initially confusing to begin with, sometimes it was the sentence structure or wording that didn’t seem to make sense to me, occasionally in the book. That being said the story grew on me over time. The characters are very well written and the descriptions and world building are really good. They felt very realistic. You can imagine being right there. The twists and turns, going back and forth in time, love, family, curses and magic you really feel entranced by the story. I loved the Renaissance aspect of the story. You find out how and when the curse began which I really enjoyed. This didn’t feel like a ‘standard young adult book’ it felt more real.

If you enjoy these stories definitely give this a read!

[Becca Epling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute little story! That cliffhanger had me about ready to drive into something (#audiobook listener/review). Having gone to multiple Renaissance festivals, this story brought one to life. With all of the imagery I felt like I was right beside them following along with their love story.

The ONLY reason I'm marking it a 4 and not a 5 star was the switch to the past had me confused for a second and having to backtrack for it all to make sense. Once I did understand though, it made the story 10x better!

[Judy Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krysten Coldsmith is going to be a huge name in romantasy I swear. This is her first book in this series and honestly it reads like she has been writing for years. The world building is so detailed without being boring or overloaded with descriptions. Every character feels like a real person even the side characters like Viola and Tish. The Renaissance fair setting is so unique and I have never seen anything like it in a YA book before. I cannot wait to read the next book because that ending left me speechless. This author deserves way more attention than she is getting right now.

[Jayla_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m only marking this as finished because I’m DNFing it as of now due to my reading mood. I haven’t been in a fantasy type mood, I’m more so into a contemporary fiction at the moment. Once I feel I’m more in the mood to read this type of book I’ll get back started. As of now I’m putting the rating at a 3 because although I’m not in the mood, so far this book has been pretty decent. Can’t wait for the time I’ll be more into this story and then I can give and in-depth review!

[William Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this because it I had nothing else to read. Best random purchase I have ever made in my life no joke. The writing style is so easy to follow and the chapters fly by so fast. Ana is funny and real and not one of those annoying perfect YA heroines. Tigan is swoon worthy without being toxic which is rare these days in romantasy. The plot twist about Ana being the reincarnation of Kezia blew my mind completely. Five stars all the way and I rarely give five stars to anything.

[The Forgotten Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omygosh! This took my breath away, I got lost in Ti and Ana's story, their love spanned thru time and each time ended in heartbreak.

The writing is so descriptive that I felt I was right alongside Ana trying to make every last decision be the correct one.

I am so excited to read book 2 and see where it leads us...Can they Finally be together??

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time travel

I really like the story line although there are a few misprint for names. It's not my usual read but I did still enjoy it. The story takes a bit to get going but definitely picks up towards the end. I am intrigued to see how it goes in the next book but may find it drawn out too much if series is too long.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty great story. I enjoyed the journey Ana went on to try and break the curse and help her family. I had a really great time reading this story. Aside from grammatical errors, the storyline was wonderful.

[Brooke Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. If you love time travel, past life connection, forbidden love this book is for you. It ends on a cliffhanger and has sone grammatical errors but over all a great story. Can't wait for the next book

[Angel Borders young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put it down, i fell in love with Ti and Ana. The ending left me wanting more.

[The Spicy Cafe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well made. I loved that it has a ren Faire setting and the aspects of gypsy magic and ancestral healing. Watching the fmc come into her power was beautiful.

[Tandem Klauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a pretty story with characters you love and some you can’t make yourself completely hate. The family connections and love and loyalty in of itself is worth the story but then it’s written in such a way you can imagine yourself as Ana. The cliffhanger is killing me and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one.

[Kristie Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magically woven tale of family, love, and struggle, Forgotten Magic is a story I won't soon forget!

Ana is an average teen, living her life at the Renaissance Fair in homage to her gypsy ancestry. Everything seems normal, including conflict and strife, until Ana starts seeing memories of her past. It soon becomes clear that it's more complicated than that - it's a past life, with people she's familiar with who are also a part of it.

Through learning about love, family and prejudice of her kind, Ana discovers that her family is cursed. Can she survive the Queen's Gypsy Decree and save her love? Can she save herself? Will she figure out a way to break the curse in time to save everyone involved, or will she lose someone important?

Torn between past and present, both celebrating and fearing what she is, Ana will embark on a journey across time to fight for her future. She will make new friends and enemies alike, and remember what's been forgotten to save herself and her friends.