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owlish1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kappafrog's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book truly filled me with wonder. I loved the way magic was described in the book. The only negative of the book was that sometimes the dialogue was a bit clunky. But I thoroughly enjoyed the lyrical writing style when it came to magic and the way it interacted with the world. This book would perfectly suit a film adaptation by Hayao Miyazaki. The quiet power of elderly women to disrupt power hierarchies matches his films, as well as the magical wonders which would look gorgeous animated.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexism
Minor: War, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury
unicorn's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
The sign for the Od School of Magic sits in front of a cobbler's shop on a busy street in the ancient city of Kelior. Brenden Vetch finds the door under the shoe.
It is hardly the momentous entrance he envisioned upon receiving a personal invite from Od herself to come to the school where all wizards in Kelior must be tested and trained before serving the kingdom of Numis. But Brenden isn't there for magic. He's there to garden. Brenden is gifted with plants--the one refuge he has left after his parents' deaths and his brother's departure to seek his fortune--and the school needs a new gardener. Simple.
Except Brenden is more than a talented gardener. More than anyone except Od herself imagined. As Brenden is drawn into the school's secrets and intrigues he finds himself at the intersection of unrest that has been brewing for years and a crossroad that could change everything for the school and the kingdom in Od Magic (2005) by Patricia A. McKillip.
Od Magic is a standalone fantasy with shifting, close third person points of view between the principle main characters. McKillip's lyrical writing lends itself to this quiet, character-driven novel where the magic system and political situation in Numis slowly unfold.
Light romance, adventure, and plenty of intrigue will immediately draw readers into this story. Audiobook readers should also check out the audio production which is excellent narrated by Gabrielle de Cuir.
Od Magic is a thoroughly engrossing slice-of-life fantasy perfect for readers looking for a new quiet story to get lost in. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
It is hardly the momentous entrance he envisioned upon receiving a personal invite from Od herself to come to the school where all wizards in Kelior must be tested and trained before serving the kingdom of Numis. But Brenden isn't there for magic. He's there to garden. Brenden is gifted with plants--the one refuge he has left after his parents' deaths and his brother's departure to seek his fortune--and the school needs a new gardener. Simple.
Except Brenden is more than a talented gardener. More than anyone except Od herself imagined. As Brenden is drawn into the school's secrets and intrigues he finds himself at the intersection of unrest that has been brewing for years and a crossroad that could change everything for the school and the kingdom in Od Magic (2005) by Patricia A. McKillip.
Od Magic is a standalone fantasy with shifting, close third person points of view between the principle main characters. McKillip's lyrical writing lends itself to this quiet, character-driven novel where the magic system and political situation in Numis slowly unfold.
Light romance, adventure, and plenty of intrigue will immediately draw readers into this story. Audiobook readers should also check out the audio production which is excellent narrated by Gabrielle de Cuir.
Od Magic is a thoroughly engrossing slice-of-life fantasy perfect for readers looking for a new quiet story to get lost in. Highly recommended.
Possible Pairings: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar
jsmithborne's review against another edition
5.0
I just love Patricia McKillip. Her stories are so expectation-defying, in just wonderful ways. In this book, not every major character gets paired off, the bad guys are really more gray than black, and turn out to be redeemable, and the big climax is like the opposite of a fighting and killing or defeating sort of event. It's still so engaging and absorbing, though, that it's not until I was thinking about it afterwards that I realized that nothing had worked out the way I thought it would.
theaudioauditor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alsoapples's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
justfoxie's review against another edition
5.0
Patricia McKillip has the most amazing knack of creating characters and a story which are delightful and subtly beautiful. I particularly love the way she conceives magic and works it into her stories - it is a very organic thing, never really understood and always one step beyond human understanding. It is a mystical force as much as one that has physical effects. This is doubly true for Od Magic where the nature of what humans do, do not and refuse to understand is explored in the midst of a truly beautiful story. Highly recommended.
arkenst0ne's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pages_of_emery's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75