Budding Magic (The O'Byrne Daughters) [Kindle Edition]

L. S. Fayne (Author)

Book Description

Ireland - 1838
Aine's O'Byrne's gift of foresight showed her the coming famine in Ireland. She and her husband set up magical devices which would aid the Irish. Before these protections were finished, Keegan was murdered.

On the day her seventh daughter is born, Aine activates the magical devices with Birth magic, and then Death--her death magic.

Shocked, the six daughters find themselves orphanded with mysterious magic working around them.

They will have to learn now to deal with their own budding magic, the needy villagers, and the upcoming famine. They learn about freedom, life's ironies, and the bonding of sisterhood.

Product Details

• File Size: 623 KB
• Print Length: 296 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: B002E19LSA
• Publisher: Fayne Artists (October 8, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002SN9HA6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,671 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good clean fun May 24, 2012

By Sadie Forsythe

Format:Paperback

If I'm honest, the covers of Budding Magic almost put me off reading it. There isn't anything actually wrong with it. It just didn't particularly appeal to me, too many bright colors for my rather drab personality. The story did though, so I reminded myself of the old adage 'never judge a book by its cover,' and I'm glad I did. It's an engaging story that carries you along pleasantly. Or at least it does after chapter one of Budding Magic. I cried in the first chapter, yes the first chapter!

Each of the six sisters has a personality of their own, which can't be easy for a writer. You easily become attached and invested in their adventure. It is fun learning the Druadic lessons with them and seeing how Fayne describes all of the magical creatures. The language is distractingly modern for a story set in 1838, especially that of the O'Byrne sisters, but this is easily overlooked. If you like fairtale fare you'll like these books.

It is a testament to the O'Brynes that I enjoyed the story as much as I did despite having one of my number one literary pet peaves in it. This is when main characters are presented as more morally advanced than their peers because they adhere to normal modern civic mores. It comes through in little things like insisting on bathing regularly in a historical time period when hygiene was neither understood nor appreciated, or expecting fair labour (or gender) laws in what would otherwise be a feudal state. Express a desire to see change, sure, but surprise that others adhere to what would be the norm of the day, no. Like everyone else, the main characters would know no different. I generally find it smug and condescending, and Fayne's story is no exception. Despite this one major drawback for me, I really liked Budding Magic.

When all is said and done, the story of the Irish O'Bryne's is one worth the read for those who are 14ish and up. There are a few sexual references, more often than not when a baddie needs to be seen as especially depraved. But there is no explicit sex or violence. It is well edited and easy to follow.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing November 28, 2012

By Katherine Zimmerman

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is book one in a series that was highly recommended so I took a chance. I rarely pay for a book until I know if I like the author.

I hardly know where to begin. Let's start with the poor characterization. I really couldn't get a feel for the characters, other than how they looked physically and their ages. There are words in this book that don't exist, e.g. 'complexing'. I was also distracted by the poor punctuation and grammar as well as the fact that the writing style doesn't reflect that the story takes place in 1838. Overall, a complete waste of my time when there are many great authors to explore.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Budding Magic by L S Fayne is Blooming Beautifully August 19, 2012

By C. M. Truxler

Format:Kindle Edition

Budding Magic by L S Fayne, the first book in the fantasy fiction series, is a wondrous and beautiful telling of the tale of the O'Byrne Daughters. The children of Aine and Keegan O'Byrne have all inherited the magic that runs through their lineage; this novel explores their lives during and after the passing of their parents. The cover does not do justice to the content. It is a magnificent tale, which is wonderfully written.

The title of main character is passed from parent to child and then shared by the daughters themselves, much like the magic running through the characters' veins. Each character is painstakingly crafted with just enough description to create a vivid and elaborate image in the reader's mind of this beautiful portion of Ireland and its inhabitants. This novel enfolds the reader in the tale and builds its world around each to place him or her at the heart of the story. Fayne has created a storyline, and the telling there of, that not only gives the reader a front row seat to the happenings, but pulls each into the tale to feel and be transported by its words.

The plot is highly developed and beautifully written. Each movement of the characters affects his or her surrounding landscape as if Aine herself had charmed the very land. The tale is straightforward, but far from plain. Many writers would stumble trying to create such an intricate tale, but Fayne does so seemingly effortlessly and the reader is all the better for it. From the Emerald Isles to the reader's hands, this is magic not to be dismissed.

More About the Author

L. S. Fayne was born in Norwalk, California in 1960. She grew up in Santa Cruz California. At the age of ten, her family moved to Oregon.

Linda married her husband Darrel in June of 1984. They are still together and very much in love. Still happy and wanting more.

She and her husband created their own publishing company, Fayne Artists. In June of 2008, they published her first novel, Christmas in the House of O'Byrne. She was so taken with the storyline and characters of the book that she created a series for it called, Druantia's Children. In these books, they described the ancestry of their magical family. Linda was inspired to go back in time, and create stories for the original seven sisters who migrated to America. This series is called, The O'Byrne Daughters.

Linda creates all her own covers and artwork. She wouldn't mind someone else putting on the publishing hat, but for now, is satisfied to be so involved. She is excitedly writing her seventh novel, of which, her only hint is that it belongs to the Druantia's Children Series.

At book signings, Linda has been asked about her religion, or specifically, if she is a witch. Although that is a rather personal question, Linda answers, "I believe in a little bit of everything, and nothing of everything."

Although she believes in light and spirit, she does not follow any known religion. This means she is not a witch, since witches belong to Wicca and other established religions. She is intuitive, and is developing skills to Listen.

She fights with Fibromyalgia. She was asked to write about it, but declined. She doesn't know how that book would end, maybe later. For those fighting with Fibromyalgia, she stresses for them to pursue something they are passionate about! Something that will help them get up every morning! She has her husband, a big extended family, writing, and cats. She is passionate about all of them.

L. S. Fayne books to date: February, 2011

19th Century Series: The O'Byrne Daughters
* Budding Magic: Book One
* It's Just Magic!: Book Two
* Gathering of the Raven: Book Three


20th Century Series: Druantia's Children
* Christmas in the House of O'Byrne: Book One
* Druantia's Braids: Book Two
* There Can't Be Shadows Without Light: Book Three
* Book Four expected publication July of 2011