Save Magic City [Paperback]

Rocsanne Shield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2010

Hurled into the time flow by a banishing spell, 13th century Edmund lands into the USA, 2007, in answer to Leona's fervent prayers for help to save her town.

The corporation employing the townspeople has left, the bank foreclosures have created whole streets of empty houses, people are leaving in droves... the town is slowly dying.

A black magician in his old time, Edmund is forbidden to do any magic if it is not for helping other people. He discovers and is fascinated by the magical powers of Internet and wants to bring instant relief to the townspeople, but Leona, who does not trust their dependency on magic, forbids him to do so.

Leo, Leona's adoptive son, and his friends, Squirrel and Raccoon, accept the magic with enthusiasm and do their best to help the town to survive.

When misfortune strikes, Leona gives her blessing for Edmund to use his magic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse.com (December 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1450264840
• ISBN-13: 978-1450264846
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good fantasy book for kids April 22, 2011

By Darlyn Rodzi

Format:Paperback

The book is totally adorable. I mean, what will happen if someone from 13th century travelled to your doorstep with a little magic come in handy? Well, I think I want one! With interesting plot like this, I grew wondering what's the story behind it and keep on reading to the last page. It started with a little introduction of how Leo and Leona met Edmund one day and the adventure begun. Although Edmund has magic, he can't use it on his will unless to help others. Leo always made Edmund use magic behind her mother's back (Leona) while she solves everything manually like any other normal human does. The children's characters are very enjoyable and really stand out. Leo, Raccoon and Squirrel (yes I know it's quite weird for names), are very adorable kids and sometime they are witty and funny too. They were like a trio that tried to save the town, as to help Edmund uses his magic to let Leona wins the election to be the mayor of the town. The book is very suitable to kids, and readers of all ages. The kids will able to learn some good like friendship, teamwork, confident, learning history of another century, as well as doing good deeds to others. Even though some where in the middle will has a slow pace, the book is worth reading and you'll find it enjoyable too. This is a wonderful book that I fully recommend for kids and teens.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The heroes are the children March 17, 2011

By Porascu

Format:Paperback

"Save Magic City" is based on realities around us. In Detroit, after the auto-industry debacle the situation was very much the same as the one described in this book -- City-hall took over 23,000 empty houses as a result of corporate business close-down.

Leona, a young woman who leaves with her adopted son, can see no way to get out of this situation and hopes her prayers for help will be heard in a higher instance than the earthly one. However, when she finds Edmund and discovers he might be able to do magic, she is afraid of the aftereffects.

Internet is a source of magic power for Edmund who cannot accept Leona's statement that magic does not exist. What better proof than the children themselves?

Leo, Leona's son, has accepted Edmund "as-is" and is thirsty to learn from him. Squirrel is ready to let everybody know of her talent to hear everyone's mind voice, and is grateful for Edmund's advent. Without the magician among them, her talent would have labeled her as weird. And Raccoon is a computer wizard -- a magician in his own power. Yet, they are still only kids and need help from the grown-ups around them.

I found it good reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique and thought-provoking take on the fantasy genre March 15, 2011

By Misha

Format:Paperback

Leona lives with her adopted son, Leo, in a dying town in USA in 2007. The corporation which was the main employer of the town has abandoned it, leaving the town's people unemployed with bank foreclosures looming on them. Soon more and more people are leaving the town to look for greener pastures beyond. Leona desperately prays for help to save her town and the help comes in an unexpected form. An evil wizard in 14th century England, Sir Edmund has been banished from his time by Lord Sloane and cursed by his brother-in-law to obey the orders of the one who finds him for good or else suffer from excruciating pain. As a result of the curse Edmund is found by Leona. At first reluctant to accept Edmund's magical help, Leona is encouraged by her son, Leo and his friends Squirrel and Raccoon to accept the help. Propelled by the town's growing desperation, Leon gradually starts accepting the need for magic.

Save Magic City is a book that reflects the adverse effects of capitalism and privatisation on our lives from the eyes of children and a stranger to our time. It reflects how easily an entire town can be devastated, if the main employing firm decides to quit the town and how utterly depended we are on that one corporation. All this has been weaved together with magical elements to make a unique story. In Save Magic City, we see the struggles of the people who are reeling under unemployment and bank foreclosures. Like we tend to do in our times of trouble, Leona too wishes for a miracle to save her town and her miracle comes in the form of Edmund. With him comes the magic. Something else that I liked about this book is the active role the children play in trying to save their city. It shows that if we take up the initiative, we too can play a role in the decisions of our city or town instead of leaving it all up to a select few. Some of the steps taken up by the people for the preservation of the town too were interesting, though I don't know if they would be really feasible in real life as I have a regretful lack of knowledge in this field.

I love reading fantasy books and this book surely offered a new story, but on the whole the book was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was because of the woeful lack of the type of magic that I am interested in- which for me includes lots of action, and the unsatisfactory execution of the story. Also, all the law talk that was included in the book was a bit boring and confusing even though their meanings were mentioned simultaneously. Of course, I understand that the topic with which the book deals with cannot do without law but it could have been put in a simpler way especially since the book is meant for children. Another thing that kept on bugging me throughout the book was the easy acceptance of magic by the characters of the book who were completely unaware of it before Edmund came. As for the characters of the book, I don't think that I especially liked the adults in the book. For me the children were the show stealers of the book because of their innocence, natural curiosity and eagerness to help. Leo, Squirrel and Raccoon are children with whom we will all connect to. Though they all are happy and jovial on the outside they too have their little disappointments hidden within them- Leo's is being teased because he is adopted, Raccoon's is his father's paralysis and Squirrel's is the lack of acceptance among her age group because of her ability to read and talk in minds. As for the adults, Leona may represent any citizen who wants to do something for her fellow citizens. Except that there was really nothing in her character that set her apart. I would have loved Edmund but because of his almost instantaneous transformation from an evil villain to a hero, he seemed a bit unrealistic to me.
Nevertheless, since the book is meant for the younger age group, I think it will be more appealing to them.

Save Magic City is a book which though not a memorable read but is definitely an eye-opening read because of the issues raised in the book and the who new take on a fantasy story.