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si0bhan's review
4.0
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Legends is the fourth book in the Lily Singer Adventure series, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the future books in the series. I really do fear the wait will kill me. This is a series that is going from strength to strength, and my desire to know how everything comes together is at an all-time high. Honestly, it’s a wonderful series, a series that deserves so much more attention than it is getting. It’s a series I have only positive things to say about, it’s a series I’m going to follow until the end.
By book four, we all know what kind of magical story we are entering. We know that we’re going to be handed multi-layered story dressed up as a deceptively simple read. You enter thinking it will be a simple tale, and yet the deeper into the story you get the more intricate the story becomes. Never does it become overly complex, though. Everything comes together wonderfully, and you cannot help but adore the connections made.
Throughout the first three books, we’ve found ourselves with so many questions. These questions just keep piling and piling, slowly climbing higher until we fear we’re going to be buried under them all. The title of these books – the love, the lies, and the hocus pocus – truly are central throughout. We’ve been given magic from the very first chapter. We’ve been given more and more lies with every book. We’ve been given love in so many forms. This book takes these aspects and makes them even stronger. Whilst we finally get some answers to those big old questions we have, even more questions are added. It was a beautiful thing – whilst I could finally say ‘finally’ in regards to certain reveals, by the end I was asking ‘what if’ questions. Every time you think this series has brought about every possible twist, something more is added to the story.
Without a doubt, the development of this series is wonderful. As I’ve stated, the story keeps evolving. We go from one glorious thing to the next. Throughout, the characters are wonderful. I’ve said it in my review of book three that these characters have wiggled their way into my heart, but by this point I’m starting to believe they’re some of my favourite characters. I love the way they work off each other, I love how complex they are, and I love the way they continue to grow. This series has such a strong cast, and I cannot wait to see how everything comes together for each of the characters.
I really could say so much about this one, but I fear I’ll rant too much and slip into the realm of spoilers. Just know this book takes the series to all new heights. Questions are answered, new elements are added, and everything will leave you wanting more. I think it is safe to say that this is my favourite read in the series thus far – although I have no doubt the next book will blow my mind even more.
I’m now off to wallow in self-pity as I eagerly await the next book in the series. I have the short story to tide me over, but even that won’t be enough to calm my frazzled nerves. As always, if you’ve yet to start this series – do it.
By book four, we all know what kind of magical story we are entering. We know that we’re going to be handed multi-layered story dressed up as a deceptively simple read. You enter thinking it will be a simple tale, and yet the deeper into the story you get the more intricate the story becomes. Never does it become overly complex, though. Everything comes together wonderfully, and you cannot help but adore the connections made.
Throughout the first three books, we’ve found ourselves with so many questions. These questions just keep piling and piling, slowly climbing higher until we fear we’re going to be buried under them all. The title of these books – the love, the lies, and the hocus pocus – truly are central throughout. We’ve been given magic from the very first chapter. We’ve been given more and more lies with every book. We’ve been given love in so many forms. This book takes these aspects and makes them even stronger. Whilst we finally get some answers to those big old questions we have, even more questions are added. It was a beautiful thing – whilst I could finally say ‘finally’ in regards to certain reveals, by the end I was asking ‘what if’ questions. Every time you think this series has brought about every possible twist, something more is added to the story.
Without a doubt, the development of this series is wonderful. As I’ve stated, the story keeps evolving. We go from one glorious thing to the next. Throughout, the characters are wonderful. I’ve said it in my review of book three that these characters have wiggled their way into my heart, but by this point I’m starting to believe they’re some of my favourite characters. I love the way they work off each other, I love how complex they are, and I love the way they continue to grow. This series has such a strong cast, and I cannot wait to see how everything comes together for each of the characters.
I really could say so much about this one, but I fear I’ll rant too much and slip into the realm of spoilers. Just know this book takes the series to all new heights. Questions are answered, new elements are added, and everything will leave you wanting more. I think it is safe to say that this is my favourite read in the series thus far – although I have no doubt the next book will blow my mind even more.
I’m now off to wallow in self-pity as I eagerly await the next book in the series. I have the short story to tide me over, but even that won’t be enough to calm my frazzled nerves. As always, if you’ve yet to start this series – do it.
paperbacksandpinot's review
5.0
Lily’s adventures go international! Part one see’s Lily, Sebastian and Kipling make their way over to the UK, doing the best they can for Madam Barrington before they leave. Although in a bad way, she is able to impart a bit of knowledge to Lily to help her make a start when she arrives. Thankfully Kipling is able to join them on this leg of the series and provides the usual comedy relief, whilst Lily sets hard at work tracking down the people and places which can help her most in her quest to locate Morgan’s final resting place and hopefully before John Faust. Whilst in Revelations, Lily was able to reconnect with her family (good and bad) this is an opportunity for Sebastian to do likewise, although he does have to navigate the tricky waters of being a witch in a wizarding family! This books is pretty much UK based and as a Brit who has visited Oxford, I was interested about how this would be realised. Massive props to Lydia Sherrer have to be given, girl has done her research! I could picture the places spoken of as I was reading and I love the description of the old stone buildings taking up a different feeling as Lily traverses them at night; as it’s true that the old stone buildings and narrow streets do seem foreboding when the darkness draws in. I also enjoyed that our narrow “country lanes” got a mention and it’s likely that they would probably be quite the driving rollercoaster for someone used to the huge interstates of the US!
The interlude takes a different approach with both Lily and Sebastian together and the tale turns on it’s head as it becomes almost high fantasy with the fae realm taking centre stage. It gives amazing insight into Sebastian’s back story though and I was glad to see Lily return to her high spiritedness that she kind of lost in Allies.
The final part is a real payoff insofar as story arc goes. I really enjoyed how almost all of Lily’s discoveries and previous encounters help her in lots of ways with this part of her quest. It’s all very thoughtfully done and a real test of Lily and the others to track down Morgan’s final resting place. The explorations and puzzle solving are a joy to read and make me want to visit Tintagel even more than I already did! The showdown is nothing short of epic (i’m desperate to say more but you know, spoilers) but also quite emotionally fraught as Lily must hope for a perilous plan to go completely right, whilst secretly hoping for a potential defection from John Faust’s camp to aid her if there are any mishaps.
One of the many things I love about this series is that each section is tied off with an epilogue. I don’t mind cliffhangers but I like that even though there are unanswered questions in Lily’s world, things are still brought to a satisfying close. I found this even more of a necessity at the closing stages of the final part of book 4, there are some big things that are going on and I found this epilogue to be both particularly touching and hopeful. I hope that book 5 isn’t too far away.
The interlude takes a different approach with both Lily and Sebastian together and the tale turns on it’s head as it becomes almost high fantasy with the fae realm taking centre stage. It gives amazing insight into Sebastian’s back story though and I was glad to see Lily return to her high spiritedness that she kind of lost in Allies.
The final part is a real payoff insofar as story arc goes. I really enjoyed how almost all of Lily’s discoveries and previous encounters help her in lots of ways with this part of her quest. It’s all very thoughtfully done and a real test of Lily and the others to track down Morgan’s final resting place. The explorations and puzzle solving are a joy to read and make me want to visit Tintagel even more than I already did! The showdown is nothing short of epic (i’m desperate to say more but you know, spoilers) but also quite emotionally fraught as Lily must hope for a perilous plan to go completely right, whilst secretly hoping for a potential defection from John Faust’s camp to aid her if there are any mishaps.
One of the many things I love about this series is that each section is tied off with an epilogue. I don’t mind cliffhangers but I like that even though there are unanswered questions in Lily’s world, things are still brought to a satisfying close. I found this even more of a necessity at the closing stages of the final part of book 4, there are some big things that are going on and I found this epilogue to be both particularly touching and hopeful. I hope that book 5 isn’t too far away.
kristimb's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic Story Teller
I just finished the first four books in this series in a week and now I'm sad there aren't anymore out yet. Lydia is a fantastic story teller and I can't wait to see what's next!
I just finished the first four books in this series in a week and now I'm sad there aren't anymore out yet. Lydia is a fantastic story teller and I can't wait to see what's next!
stephbookshine's review against another edition
5.0
The stakes are up in this, the fourth installment of the adventures of Lily Singer (librarian wizard), Sebastian (rogue witch) and Sir Edgar Allen Kipling (talking cat and sarcastic supremo). Fans of previous novels will have seen the peril gradually increasing from localised hauntings and time slips, to the current full-on saving humanity from wizardly death or enslavement.
As the title suggests the enemy has also escalated, from generic curses and artefacts, through evil family members, to one of the most famous magic-users of legend. I was interested to see how Lydia Sherrer would handle Morgan le Fay in this series and this first introduction did not disappoint in terms of threat level or distinct personality.
Of course one of the main strengths in this series is the bonds between our main characters, and here also there is some nice development, along with even more lovable and/or unique side characters to add to the ever-growing cast of goodies (and even baddies) that I need to see more of.
I loved the development of the Fae side of the plot, with a bit more backstory about Sebastian and his magic. There is a lot of potential for further story in this enmeshment with the other realm, which I am quite excited about. Lily in England was fun too, as she was simultaneously out of her comfort zone, yet firmly amongst 'her people'!
To sum up, this is another great book for fans of light-hearted magical derring-do in a series that keeps getting better. Bring on Book 5!
Sebastian shrugged, giving her a silly grin. "Just excited, I suppose. I mean, come on, we're having an adventure. Anything could happen! Daring escapes from dastardly villains, life-and-death struggles with monstrous creatures, intrepid explorations of wild landscapes never before seen by the eyes of men__"
"You do realise we're going to England, right?" Lily asked dryly, smiling in spite of herself.
- Lydia Sherrer, Legends
As the title suggests the enemy has also escalated, from generic curses and artefacts, through evil family members, to one of the most famous magic-users of legend. I was interested to see how Lydia Sherrer would handle Morgan le Fay in this series and this first introduction did not disappoint in terms of threat level or distinct personality.
Of course one of the main strengths in this series is the bonds between our main characters, and here also there is some nice development, along with even more lovable and/or unique side characters to add to the ever-growing cast of goodies (and even baddies) that I need to see more of.
I loved the development of the Fae side of the plot, with a bit more backstory about Sebastian and his magic. There is a lot of potential for further story in this enmeshment with the other realm, which I am quite excited about. Lily in England was fun too, as she was simultaneously out of her comfort zone, yet firmly amongst 'her people'!
To sum up, this is another great book for fans of light-hearted magical derring-do in a series that keeps getting better. Bring on Book 5!
Sebastian shrugged, giving her a silly grin. "Just excited, I suppose. I mean, come on, we're having an adventure. Anything could happen! Daring escapes from dastardly villains, life-and-death struggles with monstrous creatures, intrepid explorations of wild landscapes never before seen by the eyes of men__"
"You do realise we're going to England, right?" Lily asked dryly, smiling in spite of herself.
- Lydia Sherrer, Legends
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