Scan barcode
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to my post on the blog tour for Dream Magic, the second book in the Shadow Magic series by British author, Joshua Khan, a series that Rick Riordan has quoted on the covers: "I defy you not to love this story." Well, with an endorsement like that, what else could I do but read it? I read the first book, Shadow Magic recently, check out my post HERE and definitely recommend reading the series in order to get the back story of the characters and an introduction to a beautiful fantasy world that I just loved.
So, as mentioned in the synopsis, this world involves a number of different lands, ruled by six Houses of Magic. In the first story, it focuses on the House of Shadows and the thirteen year old ruler, Lilith Shadow who takes up the mantle of ruler after her parents and brother were murdered. She makes friends with Thorn, a peasant boy who is currently a squire at Castle Gloom and along with his giant bat, Hades, helps her deal with an attempt on her own life shortly after ancient enemies, the Solars from Lumina come to Gehenna after she becomes engaged to their heir, Gabriel. Here's where we are now. Lily is no longer engaged to Gabriel and is somewhat weakened after the surprising events at the end of the last story but is gradually growing stronger with the help of her father, now a ghost but managing to appear to her in the library of Castle Gloom and helping her amass the skills she needs to defend her land and her people.
For there is a new threat in Gehenna. The trolls have started marching, determined to create a war as their people have started disappearing and they blame the House of Shadows. However, villagers from all over the lands, inside and outside Gehenna are going missing, including Lily's protector and faithful executioner, Tyburn. When Lily and Thorn investigate, they uncover a strange plague of jewel spiders that put everyone they bite into a seemingly endless sleep. After many frightening incidents, they discover that a powerful sorcerer is controlling these jewel spiders for his own dastardly reasons. What is his connection with the House of Shadows and why is he so hell-bent on revenge? Can Lily and Thorn solve the puzzle of what's going on before they lose any more of her people or become embroiled in a bloody war with the trolls?
Once again, Joshua Khan knocks it out of the park with an amazing fantastical world that was so exciting to read about and was a genuine roller-coaster of a reading experience. He has a huge, seemingly endless imagination for creating new worlds and it was another magical story that I thoroughly enjoyed. We learn a lot more about the characters back stories, especially Thorn and his family in this book which I appreciated and even a tid-bit into the stoic Tyburn's past which only made me hunger for more! Of course, it was wonderful to see the return of Hades the giant bat who has to be one of my favourite non-human characters and I hope to see lots more of him in future books in the series. Finally, I also love that the author doesn't shy away from using potentially scary creatures, like zombies and massive spiders, which is exactly what I wanted from authors I chose to read when I was younger. I would suggest that because of this it might not be suitable for much younger children but if you have a particularly precocious reading child - go for it, it's certainly a wonderful series to read!
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
So, as mentioned in the synopsis, this world involves a number of different lands, ruled by six Houses of Magic. In the first story, it focuses on the House of Shadows and the thirteen year old ruler, Lilith Shadow who takes up the mantle of ruler after her parents and brother were murdered. She makes friends with Thorn, a peasant boy who is currently a squire at Castle Gloom and along with his giant bat, Hades, helps her deal with an attempt on her own life shortly after ancient enemies, the Solars from Lumina come to Gehenna after she becomes engaged to their heir, Gabriel. Here's where we are now. Lily is no longer engaged to Gabriel and is somewhat weakened after the surprising events at the end of the last story but is gradually growing stronger with the help of her father, now a ghost but managing to appear to her in the library of Castle Gloom and helping her amass the skills she needs to defend her land and her people.
For there is a new threat in Gehenna. The trolls have started marching, determined to create a war as their people have started disappearing and they blame the House of Shadows. However, villagers from all over the lands, inside and outside Gehenna are going missing, including Lily's protector and faithful executioner, Tyburn. When Lily and Thorn investigate, they uncover a strange plague of jewel spiders that put everyone they bite into a seemingly endless sleep. After many frightening incidents, they discover that a powerful sorcerer is controlling these jewel spiders for his own dastardly reasons. What is his connection with the House of Shadows and why is he so hell-bent on revenge? Can Lily and Thorn solve the puzzle of what's going on before they lose any more of her people or become embroiled in a bloody war with the trolls?
Once again, Joshua Khan knocks it out of the park with an amazing fantastical world that was so exciting to read about and was a genuine roller-coaster of a reading experience. He has a huge, seemingly endless imagination for creating new worlds and it was another magical story that I thoroughly enjoyed. We learn a lot more about the characters back stories, especially Thorn and his family in this book which I appreciated and even a tid-bit into the stoic Tyburn's past which only made me hunger for more! Of course, it was wonderful to see the return of Hades the giant bat who has to be one of my favourite non-human characters and I hope to see lots more of him in future books in the series. Finally, I also love that the author doesn't shy away from using potentially scary creatures, like zombies and massive spiders, which is exactly what I wanted from authors I chose to read when I was younger. I would suggest that because of this it might not be suitable for much younger children but if you have a particularly precocious reading child - go for it, it's certainly a wonderful series to read!
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Slavery, and Xenophobia
The crystal spidersliterallyjane's review against another edition
5.0
This series is one of those hidden treasures that absolutely delights. It’s exactly the type of whirlwind adventure I want from middle grade stories and it delivered tenfold. I can’t wait to read book three!
librosyalgomas's review against another edition
4.0
Muy bueno!! Me encantan Lily y Thorn!!! Ya quiero saber que pasa en Magia Ignea!!
scostner's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps thirteen really is an unlucky number, or maybe your thirteenth year is unlucky if you happen to be Lady Lilith Shadow, ruler of Gehenna. (Don't read this next bit if you haven't already finished Shadow Magic.) In the first book of the series we learned that Lily's family had been killed by her uncle, who used magical artifacts in an effort to seize the kingdom. Now, as the lone survivor, she is the queen of the land and only thirteen years old.
In this second volume of her tale, Lily has still more problems to deal with. Her faithful nursemaid and companion has left the castle. The executioner Tyburn is missing. The trolls are on the march and heading towards Castle Gloom. Villagers are disappearing. A strange wizard attacks the castle and steals a magical key. Eerie crystalline spiders seem to be coming from nowhere and attacking people. Rumor has it that other kingdoms are sending assassins after Lily, because they fear her magic. How much can one girl handle?
At least she has a few trusted friends to help out. Thorn, the squire (and former poacher), is ready to do whatever Lily needs from him - even take lessons with the dancing master. Hades, the giant bat, still comes when Thorn needs him and can help with the search for the missing. Lily has befriended a young troll named Dott who was found alone in the Spindlewood. And, of course, there are all the undead. So, can a young queen, a squire, a misplaced troll, and some zombies manage to save the day?
Author Joshua Khan continues the world-building of Gehenna and the other realms in his fantasy series. We find out more of Lily's family history, more of the background of each of the other royal houses, and more of the Gehennish people and customs. Some things they have in common with us, including tales of a boy with wings made of feathers and wax or a princess who can be awakened with a kiss. Other things are very different; a doctor who sews zombies back together, royalty who become living flames if they indulge their magic too much, and flying ships, for example.
Readers who enjoy fantasy with swords, sorcery, and similar elements will find the Shadow Magic series an entertaining read. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
In this second volume of her tale, Lily has still more problems to deal with. Her faithful nursemaid and companion has left the castle. The executioner Tyburn is missing. The trolls are on the march and heading towards Castle Gloom. Villagers are disappearing. A strange wizard attacks the castle and steals a magical key. Eerie crystalline spiders seem to be coming from nowhere and attacking people. Rumor has it that other kingdoms are sending assassins after Lily, because they fear her magic. How much can one girl handle?
At least she has a few trusted friends to help out. Thorn, the squire (and former poacher), is ready to do whatever Lily needs from him - even take lessons with the dancing master. Hades, the giant bat, still comes when Thorn needs him and can help with the search for the missing. Lily has befriended a young troll named Dott who was found alone in the Spindlewood. And, of course, there are all the undead. So, can a young queen, a squire, a misplaced troll, and some zombies manage to save the day?
Author Joshua Khan continues the world-building of Gehenna and the other realms in his fantasy series. We find out more of Lily's family history, more of the background of each of the other royal houses, and more of the Gehennish people and customs. Some things they have in common with us, including tales of a boy with wings made of feathers and wax or a princess who can be awakened with a kiss. Other things are very different; a doctor who sews zombies back together, royalty who become living flames if they indulge their magic too much, and flying ships, for example.
Readers who enjoy fantasy with swords, sorcery, and similar elements will find the Shadow Magic series an entertaining read. I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
hsquared's review against another edition
4.0
Readers who loved Shadow Magic , Kahn's hero's journey featuring a peasant hero, goth princess, zombies, and giant flying bats, will want to read this sequel. Now that Lilly and Thorn have saved her kingdom from her evil uncle, there's still plenty of work to do--especially with troll attacks on the rise and Tyburn, the royal executioner, missing. Unsure of herself and what others will think of her magical abilities, Lilly spends much of her time consulting the ghost of her father, until someone steals the key to the library where she meets him. It soon becomes apparent that someone is manipulating the various kingdoms to fight against each other. With the help of the Solar executioner (who's trying to rescue the spoiled Gabriel Solar), Thorn and Lilly take the lead in saving the kingdom from this new, extremely dangerous, threat. Kahn's ability to turn the traditional fantasy types on their head continues to make this a world readers will want to return to. Besides being a lot of fun, there are rewarding and complex examinations of worthwhile themes such as good vs. evil, courage, and redemption.
*digital review copy from NetGalley
*digital review copy from NetGalley
reddjena's review against another edition
5.0
Just as good as the first book, Joshua knows how to tell a great story! Super creepy crystalline jewel spiders put together with an angry sorcerer makes for a terrifying tale of suspense and fantasy, revenge and understanding. This builds the characters of Thorn and Lily through shared experiences.
Full review to come soon on Redd's Reads with my interpretation of crystal spiders!
Full review to come soon on Redd's Reads with my interpretation of crystal spiders!
syrinx12's review
4.0
La verdad es que es un libro que me ha gustado bastante, no hay nada que recuerde que me disgustase, pero tampoco siento que se merezca las cinco estrellas, aunque si pudiera le pondría cuatro estrellas y media. Los personaes me siguen encantando, y Hades sigue igual de mono que siempre. Es una segunda parte que no me ha decepcionado pero que tampoco ha superado mis expectativas, aunque no me acuerdo muy bien.
maddyd51's review against another edition
4.0
{Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an eARC of Dream Magic free of charge.}
It's not often you come across a middle grade fantasy series with death and destruction, but enough humor to keep the mood light.
Dream Magic picks up the story of Lily, who recently became Lady Shadow and the rule of Gehenna. Her ancestral home, Castle Gloom, is windowless, full of zombies, and haunted by ghosts. But none of this is scary in Gehenna, where death is embraced and honored.
We also pick up with Thorn, whose mysterious connection to the nation's Executioner, Tyburn, continues. I am anxious to read the third book in this series mostly because of the underlying suspense concerning Thorn and his future.
The plot of Dream Magic was a bit more convoluted than that of Shadow Magic and a few of the jokes here were a little too explicit for a middle grade book (mostly double entendres that many kids will not understand and talk of kissing), but this is otherwise a solid middle grade fantasy read.
It's not often you come across a middle grade fantasy series with death and destruction, but enough humor to keep the mood light.
Dream Magic picks up the story of Lily, who recently became Lady Shadow and the rule of Gehenna. Her ancestral home, Castle Gloom, is windowless, full of zombies, and haunted by ghosts. But none of this is scary in Gehenna, where death is embraced and honored.
We also pick up with Thorn, whose mysterious connection to the nation's Executioner, Tyburn, continues. I am anxious to read the third book in this series mostly because of the underlying suspense concerning Thorn and his future.
The plot of Dream Magic was a bit more convoluted than that of Shadow Magic and a few of the jokes here were a little too explicit for a middle grade book (mostly double entendres that many kids will not understand and talk of kissing), but this is otherwise a solid middle grade fantasy read.