Everyone knows magic isn’t real … But what if it was?
Nine tales, each one a snapshot of what happens to those who suddenly find themselves entangled with magic. From the wish that grants one sudden, unimaginable power, to a dark hex upon a wood, to faeries with nefarious intentions and hunters seeking blood, this anthology showcases the intricate web of adventure that comes from messing with magic.
A big thank you to the ARO program for the opportunity to read this book.
Nice collection of stories featuring different aspects of magic. Loved Hex Woods and The Fish, The Wish and Vinny. Enjoyed all 9 stories but those 2 were my favorites.
Okay, so, cards on the table, I am friends with at least two of the authors included in this wonderful wee collection, but I believe in honest reviews so I promise not to be bias or go easy on them 😉
Magical is more than just the topic of each story in this anthology, it’s a description of how joyful this book is. Several of the stories left me wanting more, and each one is entertaining in it’s own right.
My particular favourites were ‘Hex Wood’ by Sara Coates, a wonderful little tale of mystery and a young witch’s search for answers; ‘Faetality’ by Meredith Anderson, a rather somber, yet beautiful faery tale; ‘Crow Song’ by Alyssa Corbett, the story of a young witch receiving her familiar; and ‘The Man and the Crow’ by Rebecca Crunden, a fantastic fable about a warlock and his companion.
Don’t get me wrong, every story in this little collection is a fantastic read and I applaud the imaginations and hard work of each and every author. I would definitely recommend this to all magical enthusiasts, particularly Supernatural and Shadowhunters fans!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Short stories about spells and witches? Yes please! These nine tales are brilliant, starting with a hexed wood and that creepy little song about going down to the woods today. My favourite was 'Waiting' about a hospital waiting room, the author of this one captured obsessive-compulsive anxiety beautifully with what I thought was actually an uplifting meaning. The Wish I also really enjoyed, Guinevere is as alive as her husband's legend. I thought Crow Song was awesome - the crow knew a spell about hair dye (I could totally do with that right now). The anthology ends with The Man and the Crow, which I think is the creepiest. Great setting, woman advertises for a flatmate (nothing can go wrong there, right?) I couldn't put this book down.
A wide variety of different tropes and writing styles in this book. The last three stories are my favorites! They have some really spooky set-ups, and strong protagonists. And the last story features a badass m/m pairing!
The author gifted me a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review.
As others have stated, this is a collection of nine short stories. Very entertaining, adventurous, magical, a little scary but nicely done. It was different and unique. The characters were refreshing and not what I expected. Each story was very worthy to be read and I recommend not just reading the book but actually purchasing it. Each story is just long enough that I had time to enjoy it during my commute. There is a witch, faeries, a banshee, hexes, wishes, action and romance. Give these authors a chance and you just might become a fan.
This is a collection of short stories involving magic. The authors are from around the world thus some of the storylines correspond to myths in their countries. There are 9 stories that are all very entertaining. Just on their own merits, each would receive a 5- star rating from me. I will just highlight a couple in this review.
Hex Woods by Sara Coates was good because of the creepy woods that no one ever entered. The ending was rather odd and different from what I was expecting.
Waiting by Kristina Decker was just plain creepy. It is about a Banshee which was interesting because not many stories include those fabled monsters. This author portrays her in a different light. Loved it.
Crow Song by Alyssa Corbett was a favorite. A witch conjures up a crow as a familiar. Her mother doesn’t feel that she will ever be a successful witch and constantly berates her. Now she has a crow as a familiar. What more can go wrong. I’m not telling.
The Fish, the Wish, and Vinny is my absolute favorite. It was a story I could relate too except for the part about having wishes granted instantly. We have all experienced the fun of “Secret Santa” parties and the game. I was laughing all through this story.
I highly recommend this book as light and fun reading for an afternoon. Good luck to these authors and Thank You for sharing these short stories.
An eclectic collection of magical short stories. Each one a perfect length to read on the train during commuting or during lunch hour. Stories that are very thought provoking, leaving you to wonder what happens next. Each one with its own form of paranormal magic to explore. A great introduction to various authors. Several of whom I will now look for when selecting new reads.
This collection of nine tales of magic was a very entertaining read. While the stories all had an urban fantasy feel, the magic in each story was quite unique. The stories ranged from thoughtful to just a bit creepy. I enjoyed reading all of them and would definitely be interested in reading more stories like these from these authors.
I had recieved this book for free for a honest review. So this is my very first time reading an anthology so I wasn't sure what to expect. There is 9 short stories of different magic events by different authors . the first story took me in and wanting more so I knew I wanted to read the rest to see if I got the same effect. Again I was not disappointed they were all well written and drew you in. I do reccomend this to someone who enjoys magic and world of mysteries .