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malissac's review against another edition
5.0
Where to begin with this book, except to say that I have enjoyed this series immensely. I know some of you are looking at this and saying UGH, Middle Grade Fantasy but this is so much more than your run of the mill Middle Grade anything. This book will have you completely enamored with the world and the characters, even down to the heroic, lovable, gigantic bat Hades.
Dream Magic is the second book in the Shadow Magic series and is a fantastic addition to the Shadow Magic realm. I am absolutely lost enthralled with this world and these characters. Lily's strength, her wit, her desire to do what is right for her land and people. She's a 13 year old girl thrust into an almost impossible situation but she faces each new challenge with her head held high and the knowledge that while she may fumble things every now and again she is doing all she can to be everything her people need. She is putting aside her childhood to lead and to lead with grace, honor, and dignity...or at least as much of all that as a 13 year old girl can. Thorn...oh Thorn, he is the epitome of a hero. He comes from nothing (though I have to wonder how true that will be in the end), he is brave, he is a bit brash, he is daring and more than occasionally reckless. He jokes of things like honor and station but he continually proves his honorable traits by caring for a land that is not his home, a people that do not always acknowledge his worth, and saving time and time again those that are well above his 'station' in life because he cares.
I love Lily and Thorn together as well, they are clearly still children yet we watch them battle with more than monster, we see them battle with growing 'teenage' feelings and Joshua writes it in such a way that while it is simple looks, jokes that aren't really as much of a joke as the parties might want the other to believe, and deep concern for each other. The friendship and possible budding 'relationship' between Lily and Thorn is not a huge part of the book and yet it is, it's this little teaser that readers will love because we so want these two to be happy and in the end we want them to be happy together. It is a beautiful bit of romance for a young reader who is just now finding that maybe boys and girls aren't so gross after all.
As if Lily and Thorn aren't enough I dare you to not fall in love with Mary, Tyburn (though you really need to go back to Shadow Magic for more of him), Wade, Hades (gah, that lovable bat who reminds me of Toothless!), the zombies...yes ZOMBIES, and all the secondary characters, even the evil ones. Joshua's world and character building are fantastic and will have you wanting to live in Castle Gloom even with Jewel Spiders and a villain that you can't help but hate and feel a bit sad for terrorizing Gehenna. The action and adventure are constant, making you keep turning pages until you realize that you haven't moved for three hours and you're almost done with the book, which means of course you have to stay there until you are done. It kept me...MOM, completely engrossed and younger readers will be absolutely enthralled. This may be a Middle Grade book, but it is a fantastic read for any Fantasy book lover. I suggest reading from book one, as I always do, but it isn't a must. You won't be completely lost, but you will have missed out on a bit of history about the characters and you won't have met Tyburn properly, which everyone must do to understand Thorn better. I am so excited that there will be a book three, I have so many hopes for this series and I can't wait to see if they work out and what happens next because honestly in this world, anything could happen! These books are a must for any middle grade class room in my opinion. You will have so many of your readers scrambling to get these books in their hands you may even want two sets. My 11 year old who is a huge Lord of the Rings and Hobbit reader (I can't even tell you how many times she has read those now...they are her version of my Pride and Prejudice addiction) is in love with this series, so I know if you have any fantasy reader in your house you will want these on your shelf!
~ HAPPY READING ~
http://www.readsallthebooks.com
Dream Magic is the second book in the Shadow Magic series and is a fantastic addition to the Shadow Magic realm. I am absolutely lost enthralled with this world and these characters. Lily's strength, her wit, her desire to do what is right for her land and people. She's a 13 year old girl thrust into an almost impossible situation but she faces each new challenge with her head held high and the knowledge that while she may fumble things every now and again she is doing all she can to be everything her people need. She is putting aside her childhood to lead and to lead with grace, honor, and dignity...or at least as much of all that as a 13 year old girl can. Thorn...oh Thorn, he is the epitome of a hero. He comes from nothing (though I have to wonder how true that will be in the end), he is brave, he is a bit brash, he is daring and more than occasionally reckless. He jokes of things like honor and station but he continually proves his honorable traits by caring for a land that is not his home, a people that do not always acknowledge his worth, and saving time and time again those that are well above his 'station' in life because he cares.
I love Lily and Thorn together as well, they are clearly still children yet we watch them battle with more than monster, we see them battle with growing 'teenage' feelings and Joshua writes it in such a way that while it is simple looks, jokes that aren't really as much of a joke as the parties might want the other to believe, and deep concern for each other. The friendship and possible budding 'relationship' between Lily and Thorn is not a huge part of the book and yet it is, it's this little teaser that readers will love because we so want these two to be happy and in the end we want them to be happy together. It is a beautiful bit of romance for a young reader who is just now finding that maybe boys and girls aren't so gross after all.
As if Lily and Thorn aren't enough I dare you to not fall in love with Mary, Tyburn (though you really need to go back to Shadow Magic for more of him), Wade, Hades (gah, that lovable bat who reminds me of Toothless!), the zombies...yes ZOMBIES, and all the secondary characters, even the evil ones. Joshua's world and character building are fantastic and will have you wanting to live in Castle Gloom even with Jewel Spiders and a villain that you can't help but hate and feel a bit sad for terrorizing Gehenna. The action and adventure are constant, making you keep turning pages until you realize that you haven't moved for three hours and you're almost done with the book, which means of course you have to stay there until you are done. It kept me...MOM, completely engrossed and younger readers will be absolutely enthralled. This may be a Middle Grade book, but it is a fantastic read for any Fantasy book lover. I suggest reading from book one, as I always do, but it isn't a must. You won't be completely lost, but you will have missed out on a bit of history about the characters and you won't have met Tyburn properly, which everyone must do to understand Thorn better. I am so excited that there will be a book three, I have so many hopes for this series and I can't wait to see if they work out and what happens next because honestly in this world, anything could happen! These books are a must for any middle grade class room in my opinion. You will have so many of your readers scrambling to get these books in their hands you may even want two sets. My 11 year old who is a huge Lord of the Rings and Hobbit reader (I can't even tell you how many times she has read those now...they are her version of my Pride and Prejudice addiction) is in love with this series, so I know if you have any fantasy reader in your house you will want these on your shelf!
~ HAPPY READING ~
http://www.readsallthebooks.com
cathyo's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the world built and the characters we met in Shadow Magic well enough to pick up this second book, but I wasn't overly impressed with it. Overall, ok.
lu_blackk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
alexalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely thought this second novel was stronger in terms of story, though in terms of characters and character moments it was about equal to the first.
bookishoutsider's review against another edition
5.0
Ah Gehenna, how good it is to be back! After falling in love with all things Gehennish in Shadow Magic I was utterly thrilled to be back in the world of Lily, Thorn, Tyburn and Hades, and what a ride it turned out to be!
Having saved the Kingdom Thorn thinks it's time for a rest but unfortunately things don't quite work out that way. The troll clans are massing and threatening war, there's a much-unwanted guest in the form of Gabriel Solar, and villagers are going missing in large numbers. Turns out that there's much more work for Lily, Thorn, squire and friend Wade, new troll maid Dott and the castle's very own zombie army.
If you like magic, giant friendly bats, princesses who are just a teeny bit Goth, squires who don't know their place but will do anything to save the girl, troll girls who think Gabriel Solar is 'bootiful' then Dream Magic is definitely for you. Thanks to unforeseen events the secret is out that Lily can do magic, forbidden thanks to an ancient curse it might be the only thing that saves Gehenna.
Tyburn is missing, there's an evil wizard intent on destroying both Lily and Castle Gloom, but worst of all? There are spiders... Beautiful crystalline spiders but all the same, spiders! They're incredibly venomous and one bite sends you into the Dreamtime where Weaver, the evil wizard, is using the power the dreams create to take revenge on Lily and her family.
Dream Magic is better than Shadow Magic, I didn't think that was possible but it is. I adored everything about it, the way that Lily steps forward with her magic knowing that she may be executed just for knowing never mind doing, the interaction with Lily's family from her father in the Library, the only place he appears to be able to manifest, to her mother and brother in the Dreamtime, beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Thorn is just as grumpy as ever but his feelings for Lily are so sweet and sometimes it's hard to remember he's still only a twelve-year-old boy. His relationship with Hades is wonderful to see, you'd never think a giant bat would be the perfect companion for a boy but he most definitely is.
Both Shadow Magic and Dream Magic go beyond the standard middle-grade novel, the friendship between Lily and Thorn, the world-building and the page-turning writing will hook any reader who loves fantasy. I know I picked up Dream Magic at 11pm intending to read a couple of chapters and didn't pit the book down until I had finished, 4 hours later... Joshua Khan has an amazing way with words, and the world he has created leaps off the page thanks to this.
Now starts the long wait for Burning Magic, where a certain young K'leef hopefully makes a welcome return and Lily and Thorn (and Hades, naturally) must team up yet again for another epic adventure!
Having saved the Kingdom Thorn thinks it's time for a rest but unfortunately things don't quite work out that way. The troll clans are massing and threatening war, there's a much-unwanted guest in the form of Gabriel Solar, and villagers are going missing in large numbers. Turns out that there's much more work for Lily, Thorn, squire and friend Wade, new troll maid Dott and the castle's very own zombie army.
If you like magic, giant friendly bats, princesses who are just a teeny bit Goth, squires who don't know their place but will do anything to save the girl, troll girls who think Gabriel Solar is 'bootiful' then Dream Magic is definitely for you. Thanks to unforeseen events the secret is out that Lily can do magic, forbidden thanks to an ancient curse it might be the only thing that saves Gehenna.
Tyburn is missing, there's an evil wizard intent on destroying both Lily and Castle Gloom, but worst of all? There are spiders... Beautiful crystalline spiders but all the same, spiders! They're incredibly venomous and one bite sends you into the Dreamtime where Weaver, the evil wizard, is using the power the dreams create to take revenge on Lily and her family.
Dream Magic is better than Shadow Magic, I didn't think that was possible but it is. I adored everything about it, the way that Lily steps forward with her magic knowing that she may be executed just for knowing never mind doing, the interaction with Lily's family from her father in the Library, the only place he appears to be able to manifest, to her mother and brother in the Dreamtime, beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Thorn is just as grumpy as ever but his feelings for Lily are so sweet and sometimes it's hard to remember he's still only a twelve-year-old boy. His relationship with Hades is wonderful to see, you'd never think a giant bat would be the perfect companion for a boy but he most definitely is.
Both Shadow Magic and Dream Magic go beyond the standard middle-grade novel, the friendship between Lily and Thorn, the world-building and the page-turning writing will hook any reader who loves fantasy. I know I picked up Dream Magic at 11pm intending to read a couple of chapters and didn't pit the book down until I had finished, 4 hours later... Joshua Khan has an amazing way with words, and the world he has created leaps off the page thanks to this.
Now starts the long wait for Burning Magic, where a certain young K'leef hopefully makes a welcome return and Lily and Thorn (and Hades, naturally) must team up yet again for another epic adventure!
chymerra's review against another edition
4.0
I really, really, really wish that I had read book one of this series. Not that I didn’t like the book (I did) but I felt kinda lost during the first couple of chapters. But, besides feeling lost, which really only lasted a couple of chapters, I loved the rest of the book. Like I had mentioned in another blog, I have reviewed a fair amount of middle-grade books lately. Like I also mentioned in that blog, my two oldest children are in 3rd and 5th grade. I am always scouting out new books for them to read and again, with this book, I have found a book that I think that they would like. Scratch that, I know my son, the 3rd grader, would love it. This book is right up his alley. My daughter, the 5th grader, is difficult to find books that she would read.
While this book has some darker elements in it, they weren’t completely dark….if you know what I mean. Zombies are featured predominately in the book. While they are scary and they do want to eat brains, they aren’t typical zombies. They can communicate, they can work. Their other urges are nulled by being in Lily’s general area of power. Which I thought was very cool and it toned down on the creepiness factor.
I liked Lily a lot. She was dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ and brother’s murders by her uncle, trying to run a country at 13 and trying to keep her magic (necromancy) under wraps because of superstitions of her people about a woman doing magic. On top of it all, she has to deal with an arranged marriage to a boy who is the total opposite of her, she is trying to find out who is behind the abduction of her people and the trolls have amassed an army and is marching on Castle Gloom. She also found out that using her magic, a lot, can cause some unforeseen issues with her body. Poor kid was dealing with a lot and she was dealing with it the best that she could.
Thorn, I loved. He was exactly what Lily needed. He was trustworthy, loyal to her and he was willing to do whatever he could to protect her and to protect Castle Gloom. Plus, he had a pretty cool bat mount named Hades. He was the one who found out where the crystal spiders were coming from and he was part of the group that stayed at Castle Gloom when the rest of the army went to fight the trolls.
Now, I will say that the storyline surrounding Weaver, the bad guy, was very dark and I actually felt bad for him….which is rare for me. It was a tragic story and I did like the small plot twist that took place when his story was revealed. I was shocked, along with Lily, when it was revealed who Weaver was. But my feeling bad for him lasted exactly two chapters and then I didn’t like him again….lol. The crystal spiders were an interesting aspect of the book too.
All of the storylines were merged beautifully and there was no lull in the chapter between the author doing that and the ending chapters. I will say that the couple of plot twists in the book (one that was mentioned) got me. The one at the end absolutely had me fooled and I was surprised when it ended up not being what I thought (and feared) it was. I also liked how the author left the book open for a book 3.
How many stars will I give Dream Magic: 4
Why: I think that this will be a great book for kids in 3rd grade through 7th grade (as mentioned above). The characters were fleshed out and likable (or unlikable…depending on who you were reading), the potential scary characters were made not so scary by humanizing them and I really liked that the book had a strong female main character. I would be very comfortable letting my 3rd and 5th graders read this books
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Child
Why: Mild violence. Potentially scary characters for younger readers (trolls and zombies)
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
While this book has some darker elements in it, they weren’t completely dark….if you know what I mean. Zombies are featured predominately in the book. While they are scary and they do want to eat brains, they aren’t typical zombies. They can communicate, they can work. Their other urges are nulled by being in Lily’s general area of power. Which I thought was very cool and it toned down on the creepiness factor.
I liked Lily a lot. She was dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ and brother’s murders by her uncle, trying to run a country at 13 and trying to keep her magic (necromancy) under wraps because of superstitions of her people about a woman doing magic. On top of it all, she has to deal with an arranged marriage to a boy who is the total opposite of her, she is trying to find out who is behind the abduction of her people and the trolls have amassed an army and is marching on Castle Gloom. She also found out that using her magic, a lot, can cause some unforeseen issues with her body. Poor kid was dealing with a lot and she was dealing with it the best that she could.
Thorn, I loved. He was exactly what Lily needed. He was trustworthy, loyal to her and he was willing to do whatever he could to protect her and to protect Castle Gloom. Plus, he had a pretty cool bat mount named Hades. He was the one who found out where the crystal spiders were coming from and he was part of the group that stayed at Castle Gloom when the rest of the army went to fight the trolls.
Now, I will say that the storyline surrounding Weaver, the bad guy, was very dark and I actually felt bad for him….which is rare for me. It was a tragic story and I did like the small plot twist that took place when his story was revealed. I was shocked, along with Lily, when it was revealed who Weaver was. But my feeling bad for him lasted exactly two chapters and then I didn’t like him again….lol. The crystal spiders were an interesting aspect of the book too.
All of the storylines were merged beautifully and there was no lull in the chapter between the author doing that and the ending chapters. I will say that the couple of plot twists in the book (one that was mentioned) got me. The one at the end absolutely had me fooled and I was surprised when it ended up not being what I thought (and feared) it was. I also liked how the author left the book open for a book 3.
How many stars will I give Dream Magic: 4
Why: I think that this will be a great book for kids in 3rd grade through 7th grade (as mentioned above). The characters were fleshed out and likable (or unlikable…depending on who you were reading), the potential scary characters were made not so scary by humanizing them and I really liked that the book had a strong female main character. I would be very comfortable letting my 3rd and 5th graders read this books
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Child
Why: Mild violence. Potentially scary characters for younger readers (trolls and zombies)
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**