Stolen Magic (Guardian) [Kindle Edition]

M.J. Putney (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In bestseller Putney's spellbinding second romantic fantasy (after 2004's A Kiss of Fate), Earl of Falconer, Simon Malmain, chief enforcer of the Guardian Council, which oversees the use of magic in 18th-century Britain, has been turned into a unicorn by Lord Drayton, a renegade mage whom Simon charges with encouraging the Jacobite uprising; only a virgin can transform Simon back into human form. Luckily for Simon, animal-loving "Mad Meggie," Drayton's "servant," succeeds in doing so, while Simon breaks the spell that's kept Meg in the dark sorcerer's thrall. Allied in a "pretend" marriage, the pair pool their unusual talents in an effort to ruin Lord Drayton's plan to prevent the Industrial Age from revolutionizing England. Putney's skill as a historical romance novelist serves her well in the depiction of London and the subplot featuring a gifted developer of the steam engine. The love that grows between Simon and Meg, though pretty standard fare, includes some wonderfully steamy moments. While the final battle between good and evil offers few surprises, it's still entertaining enough to raise anticipation for the next installment. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Putney continues the tale begun in A Kiss of Fate (2004) about magically gifted Guardians in eighteenth-century Britain. Here the focus is on Lord Drayton, a Guardian who goes rogue, and Simon Malmain, the earl of Falconer, who must stop him. Lord Drayton transforms Simon into a unicorn, planning to murder him and increase his own power with the magic of the unicorn's horn. He uses Meg, his homely, simpleminded ward, as bait; but the virgin and the unicorn escape, and, lo and behold, when their blood mixes, Simon returns to his human form and Meg turns out to be neither homely nor simpleminded. Putney's fully imagined magical system, combined with Georgian detail, is a terrific setting for a tale of intrigue and danger. As Meg and Simon try to stop Drayton's ever-more diabolical plan, they must stay close together or Simon will turn back into a unicorn. Consequently, the sexual tension is high in this enchanting blend of fantasy and romance by M. J. Putney, an alter ego for romance star Mary Jo Putney. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 317 KB
• Publisher: Del Rey (May 31, 2005)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000FCK5WQ
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,241 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #51 in Books > History > Europe > Wales

More About the Author

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney was born in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. Her entire romance writing career is an accidental byproduct of buying a computer for other purposes.

Her novels are known for psychological depth and intensity and include historical and contemporary romance, fantasy, and young adult fantasy. Winner of numerous writing awards, including two RITAs and two Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, she has five times had books listed among the Library Journal's top five romances of the year, and three times had books among the top ten romances of Booklist, the magazine of the American Library Association.

Her favorite reading is great stories, but in a pinch she'll settle for the backs of cereal boxes. She's delighted that e-publishing can now make available books that have been out of print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, Magic & Power!, October 18, 2005

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen Magic (Hardcover)

Simon Malmain is a Guardian who protects against rogue mages and errant magic. The Guardians have special magical powers that are from nature. He is sent by the Council to deal with a rogue Guardian, Lord Drayton. But something goes terribly wrong. Caught by surprise, Simon is trapped by a transformation spell. Only Drayton can release him. With no hopes of returning to his human form, all seems lost until he meets an interesting and mysterious woman.

Meg is a simple young woman in Drayton's care. After unwittingly causing Simon to be captured, she helps him escape before Drayton can kill him. With Meg's help, Simon is able to return to his human form. He realizes that Meg is a victim of Drayton's magical manipulations as well. As he begins to heal her, Simon sees she is a beautiful woman full of powerful and wild magic. No wonder Drayton was so strong. He was tapping into Meg's energy. Because he is still vulnerable to the transformation spell, Simon needs to have Meg close to his side. What better way than to pretend that they are married? Together, they must find a way to break the spell and find out Drayton's plans before it is too late.

Stolen Magic is a multi-layered paranormal romance. For the first time in years, Meg is truly herself. Without Drayton's influence, she is a vibrant young woman who is eager to experience life. She is attracted to Simon, but in many ways she is still a child. He is the first man who doesn't covet her for her abilities. As they get to know each other better, Meg begins to see the differences between a girlhood crush and love. When she gains confidence in herself and her magic, she truly will be Simon's equal.

Simon leads a solitary life as an enforcer for the Guardians. His ethics and commitment have made him few friends. When he meets Meg, she opens up his emotions. He experiences jealousy, rage, pride and love. His first instinct is to protect Meg even at his own expense. She becomes his weakest link. Meg makes him believe that there is life outside of just being an enforcer, a future with the woman he loves. That is something he never thought could happen to him.

The secondary characters open up a larger canvas to the magical world. I even think that the magic is a character. It's influence is far reaching and stirs up things that are unexpected. Each time I think I understand the story, Ms. Putney introduces another character or magic that adds yet more layers to the story. It kept me glued to the pages. Stolen Magic is an absorbing story of love, power and magic that I very much recommend.

Lee

Reveiwed for Joyfully Reviewed

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Magical!, June 18, 2005

By 

G. Greene - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stolen Magic (Hardcover)

This is a wonderfully and imaginatively written novel. Putney does not disappoint in her sequel to A Kiss of Fate (also highly recommended). In this book, we have Guardians of magic, and we have Simon, enforcer of the Guardian Council, who becomes snared in a net of black magic which transforms him into a unicorn. And thus the tale begins. Simon's struggles to regain and maintain his human form, save the innocent, and defeat evil are aided by Meg, a magical woman who has been hidden in plain sight. They also manage to make England safe for the industrial revolution. Trust me: All of this weaves together wonderfully for a most satisfying read, with strong characterizations and plot.

Those who are looking for more a plain vanilla romantic tale may not enjoy Putney's foray into the realm of fantasy and magic; personally, I can't wait for the next installment.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Finish this Book, March 18, 2008

By 

Some Girl (Atlanta, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Magic (Mass Market Paperback)

I am familiar with M.J.P., and have enjoyed quite a few of her books. This one wasn't one of them. It was pedantic, and written in a lumbering style: I was always aware that I was READING; whereas I generally seek out authors good enough that I LIVE in the book. The sex was dull, the plot was unbelievable (I pretty much quit after the Council trial...PLEASE!) and I had no empathy or respect for the characters. All in all, a very disappointing M.J.P. book.