Wizard's Bridge [Paperback]

Karen McCullough (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 9, 2004

When invasion by a coalition of unfriendly neighbors threatens her home town, Alsa knows the seed of their salvation lies within her. But her talent for wizardry won't help them unless she can learn how to use and control it, so she goes to the local wizard, who lives in a castle high on the side of a mountain. To reach his home, she must brave a bridge that appears to be made solely of light and the wizard's ferocious guard dragon. Neither the bridge nor the dragon is exactly what it seems. But then Alsa finds that a lot of things on the wizard's mountain are not what she expects, including the wizard himself. The bargain she has to make with him to get the lessons she needs shocks her, and the training itself bears no resemblance to what she anticipated. Alsa has a lot of adapting to do and not much time for it. It will take every bit of her intelligence, courage and compassion to master the magic, her home's enemies, the dragon, and even the wizard himself.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: ImaJinn Books (August 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0975965301
• ISBN-13: 978-0975965306
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,397,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Okay, I'll start with an admission. The picture isn't really me, except in the sense that it's the way I like to picture myself. You can see what I really look like, if you're so inclined, at my website, www.kmccullough.com.

I've been writing for a long time and I write across genres. I'm especially partial to mystery, fantasy, and romance. Most of my books contain elements of all of those.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast, January 15, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wizard's Bridge (Paperback)

Her village is in trouble from hostile neighbors so Alsa, who has elementary wizardry skills, decides she must save her town. However, though she has latent talent she has no training to focus her flair. Alsa knows her only hope for mentoring comes from the nearby wizard, who lives in a castle on the top of a mountain across a bridge of light particles guarded by a dragon.

Frightened by the rumors she has heard of the hermit wizard, Alsa crosses the bridge and meets face to face the dragon, who sends her onto the castle following her explanation. Inside the castle she meets her host who wears a mask to hide what Alsa assumes is his hideous face from her. The wizard listens to her plea without displaying any emotion. Instead he offers to train her if she bears his child. She agrees. As she learns how to use her talent under the tutelage of a difficult harsh instructor, Alsa falls in love with her teacher and the other castle minion, but believes she will be sent home once she gives birth because though she knows her wizard cares he hides his feelings from himself.

WIZARD'S BRIDGE is a beautiful retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story enhanced by fantasy elements. The lead couple is a delight as both will soon learn that they received much more than their original deal's considerations. The action starts right away when the "Little Mortal" meets the dragon and never slows down until Alsa finally learns the first rule of wizardry on what ingredient casts the most powerful spells. Adult fairy tale fans will want to read this delightful romantic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wizard's Bridge, January 10, 2005

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizard's Bridge (Paperback)

Hoping to turn her talent into power enough to save her people from raiders, Alsa dares cross the wizard's bridge and strike a bargain with its owner. The wizard will train her in his art and she will bear his child. To make the latter easier for her, he wears a handsome mask with such ease she must wonder if the hideous face she first beheld is the lie, or if both are. Despite the difficult monotony of her training and hard taskmaster, Alsa grows to love her new home and all of its occupants, yet believes that the wizard is incapable of returning that feeling, even after she gives birth. When the truth comes, it may be too late and too painful.

**** With all the wonder of Beauty and the Beast, a truly magical tale about the greatest enchantment of all will capture your heart. Truly, it is regretable it finishes so neatly that a sequel seems impossible. The most endearing character is not one of the protagonists, however. The dragon who guards the bridge makes it worth reading to meet him. ****

5.0 out of 5 stars With great power comes great responsibility., September 7, 2011

By 

Elysa Hendricks "Lady Romance" (Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wizard's Bridge (Paperback)

Wizard's Bridge by Ms McCullough is a lovely romance, but it's also an interesting look at what it means to possess power. When Alsa crosses the Wizard's Bridge and makes a devil's bargain with the wizard for training in the use of magic to save her people, she's naive about the responsibilities that come with her untapped power. The wizard, Korlen learned through painful experience that using his power to interfere in people's lives rarely turns out well. Though he refuses to use magic to save Alsa's people and his warnings about the consequences of her doing so fall on deaf ears, he agrees to train her. In return she promises him a child.

Ms McCullough's world building is simple, but well thought out, and provides a solid background for the difficult path Alsa and Korlen must travel toward love.