Customer Reviews

Magic's Design

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I find books like this one painful to read because of all the logical inconsistencies in the characters' behaviors. Mila, the heroine, was ostensibly memory-blocked, so cannot remember how to perform the healing that she was once trained to do by her "baba" (the Ukrainian sterotypes are pretty tiresome also), but immediately after she is told this she is able to heal someone without any instruction at all, and also recollects somehow that it is illegal in the world(s) she inhabits to block someone's memory in this manner. In addition, two strange men, dressed in inappropriate garb for Mila's world, arrive at her house in time to try to keep her roommate from being dragged away by a (sigh) Evil Wizard - and then all the ladies who belong there flounce off and leave the two intruders to snoop about all on their own after the attempt to save the roommate fails. Yes, that's something any rational person would do, leave ominous strangers to rifle through their personal possessions unsupervised. Oh, and Mila has been having seizures ever since her mother blocked her memory, evidently, and yet her so-powerful Baba didn't figure out it was the memory block causing this over a period of years? Say what? And this is all in the first 50 pages of the book!

The authors have facility with language and the rudiments of an interesting plot, so this could have been a decent read. The gaping holes in that plot, however, and the inconsistencies between the information given about the characters and the actions they take, make it impossible for me to suspend disbelief to the extent that would have been necessary in order to enjoy this book. Too bad.

I won't give a synopsis of this book as others have done so quite sufficiently. As to whether I liked it, it was okay. I liked the main characters, Mila Penkin, suppressed mage and egg artist, and Talos Onan an otherworld police officer. I had more of an emotional feel for Mila's character as she was strong and capable. Talos didn't come through as clear. I wasn't really drawn to him. The romance was nice and slow but there was entirely too much detail. One whole chapter is dedicated to Mila going to her job as a paralegal and filing a motion or brief and involved finding a computer and getting the brief typed and getting it signed and getting a partner to approve it and dictating changes and it was way too much. The story was bogged down too many times by infinite detail and pointless dialogue. I did finish it as I have read all of the other series, the Sazi and the Thrall, but this book did not excite me or give me any inclination to want to read more if there is more in this series. I can only say I was glad when I was through with it.

Talos Onan is a midlevel commander in the Overworld Police Agency (OPA). The agency is tasked with the duty of protecting Earth from all magicians intent on doing crime. Talos, born into the mage guild of firecrafters, is one of three officers who attempted to halt a secret underground prison break. When they fail, Grand Master Vegre escapes. Vegre is an infamous fire mage. He is the only Guilder known to control the Creeping Darkness. It is a spell that removes heat and light so completely as to achieve total darkness over an area. Vegre and his minions intend to totally change the world to fit his desires and rule over all people, whether they can utilize magic or not.

As for magic, it has become scarce. The Sacred Tree of Life is the source of all magic in the world and it is dying. The only guild house able to heal it is the Parask, the soul-conjurers. However, all magicians in this generation were told that those of the Parask Guild betrayed them and doomed millions of humans to death. The Parask were shunned, outcast. Many were executed.

Mila Penkin works for a law firm. New Year's Eve is approaching and she has booked the office party at the Palace Hotel. Mila has always had the gift of healing, but her memories have been blocked. She recalls nothing of magic or her training. With the help of her grandmother, Baba Nadia, Mila must somehow break the mental barrier and remember her soul-conjuring training. Then they and the attractive constable, Talos, must save the world and heal the Sacred Tree.

*** Lots of "verve" in this story. It has a wonderful plot, but the story does not flow smoothly at all. There is A LOT of background information that readers must wade through. (Magic history, Parask Guild history, Mila's history [before her mental block, as well as after it], the Sacred Tree... the list continues.) That does not leave much room for the trust to grow, romance to bloom, or for taking action. The trust and romance felt very rushed to me. Mila's block was overcome too easily, too quickly. I do not believe she should have been able to work magic at all, much less well, before her block crumbled.

If this is a stand alone tale, my opinion is that it is good and worth your time to read, but nothing special. If this is the first of a new series, my opinion is that the story makes a solid foundation, but all the background information did not have to be stuffed in the first book. It could have easily been spread out to the next couple of stories. I could find no "series title" listed at the web site of Cat Adams (a.k.a. C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp) or the online book stores I visited. ***

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

The writing team of C T Adams and Cathy Clamp, here writing as 'Cat Adams', have produced yet another book. Their speed of output is very impressive, as is the evident thought that they put into making their books something more than your standard paranormal romance.

'Magic's Design' is a standalone novel, as far as I could see, but I felt most of the time whilst I was reading it that I was missing rather a lot of information. It's set partly in our world but also in a magical world underneath the earth whose inhabitants worship four special trees but whose inbuilt magic is dying. When Talos, an agent sent to live in the normal world, discovers some strange goings on, he also runs into Mila, a woman with a gift of healing... but perhaps more.

This is where the book gets complex. The world created by the authors is very unusual, with painting of hens' eggs a significant step in a battle against evil. Who would have thought it? Mila as a heroine is a bit too unlikely - she suddenly finds herself thrust into a bizarre world of magic, painted eggs, special trees, etc, but seems to cope with it all marvellously - while also trying to do her normal job in a legal practice at the same time as saving the world.

The romance between Tal and Mila was fairly subordinate to the overall plot of the book, and for this reader the plot didn't quite work. I wasn't ever entirely sure what was going on as there were so many changes of direction and so much magic and other stuff that the reader couldn't predict. Although the authors' style is good, I was just too confused by the events of the book and didn't find it entirely satisfying.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009

Ukrainian egg artist Mila Penkin is concerned with the blackouts that have recently increased. Meanwhile Overworld Police Operative Talos Onan is assigned to recapture an escaped convict who broke out of a high security magical underground prison. When Mila and Talos meet he is severely injured; she psychically heals him to her amazement as she had no idea she possessed such a skill.

Mila and Talos team up to learn how she did what she did and to prevent Vegre's evil plan to destroy the Tree of Life. They learn she is a firecraft mage, whose mother took away her memories. Neither can understand why. Mila hopes her mom was protecting her from the danger, but she has doubts that it is so as her gut insists the reason was more selfish. As they work together, they fall in love, but Mila is the only hope to heal the dying Tree of Life if she can learn to focus her firecraft magic before doomsday strikes.

Cat Adams provides her fans with a wonderful romantic urban fantasy starring a heroine who takes to her role with honor and her soul mate who encourages her every step of the way while covering her back. Interestingly even with a world at stake, the theme seems narrower as the big picture doomsday never fully evolves. Still that small spotlight leads to a charming tense thriller as love blossoms while two intrepid warriors set out to save the world.

Harriet Klausner

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S Recommended Read!

Talos "Tal" Onan is a firecraft mage from the magical world of Agathia, hidden deep in the earth sworn to protect both the world of Agathia and the Overworld from the dangers of evil magicwielders. When the most dangerous of criminal held in Rohm Prison escapes, Tal must return to the surface to hunt down the villainous Vegre before he can wreak havoc on the humans.

Mila Penkin is an overworlder who holds the gift of healing deep inside, unaware of this ability until called upon to use it when two strange men appear in her home, just in time for Mila to see her roommate Sela get kidnapped. She is one of a long lost Agathian guild of healers, exiled long ago after a deadly magic wiped out many of the Agathian population.

Now with the help of her precious Baba (grandmother) and Tal, Mila must break down the barrier blocking her memories of her magic and restore her gifts in order to prevent yet another magical pandemic. The last thing she expected was that her abilities would be the stuff of legends, or that she would find love in the midst of evil.

Magic's Design is the first book under a new pseudonym for writing duo CT Adams and Cathy Clamp. I have thoroughly enjoyed both their Sazi series and their Thrall trilogy so I was excited about this new one that was to be so different from their other series that they had to use a different name! Magic's Design not only met, but exceeded my expectations! All the key components that make me a diehard fan of Adams and Clamp are found here. We have excellent world building, exciting plots and subplots, brave heroines who don't know their own strength until forced to use it, and sexy heroes who would die before allowing any harm to the women they adore.

While still at its heart, Magic's Design is an urban fantasy, the emphasis is on the "fantasy" more than the "urban." There is an exceptional romance between Tal and Mila that will have readers sighing. These two were meant for each other long before they met and I loved seeing them surpass all the odds to be together.

I was quite surprised by the final scenes, expecting something with a lot more "oomph" after all the buildup, but the ending works quite well for the story. I loved the use of pysanky (a type of artwork that is comprised of painting complicated designs on eggs) as one of the primary magic mediums, along with the focus stones used by the magicwielders to direct their power. The environmentalist in me absolutely loved the idea of trees being the center of all life and power for the magical race of humans found underground in Agathia. Also of note are the little bits of Ukrainian lore doled out by Baba and her dearest friend Victor.

One of the best things about Magic's Design is that the way it is set up, I can see more books set in this world if this one does well. Don't let that fool you though, almost all the plot points are wrapped up nice and tidy. There are at least two unresolved subplots I can see coming back to be worked into future books. Let's hope we get more opportunities to visit Agathia and all the residents of this magical, mystical world beneath the surface of ours!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, February 2009. All rights reserved.