The spell of the lost metropolis is a captivating phenomenon that has intrigued explorers, historians, and mystics for centuries. This enchanting spell is said to possess an ancient city, hidden away from the modern world and shrouded in mystery. Legends and tales passed down through generations speak of a once-thriving metropolis that mysteriously vanished, leaving no trace behind. The spell is said to have been cast upon the city, rendering it invisible to the naked eye and eluding all attempts to rediscover it. Many have attempted to break the spell and find the lost metropolis, but none have succeeded. Some believe that the city is protected by powerful forces, guarding its secrets and treasures from those unworthy or ill-intentioned.
Describe how your vampires fit into each of these categories:
The Café must have dozens if not hundreds of threads focused on what is the best and while best is highly subjective, the suggestions found in the magazine are hard to argue against. With that said the typical kitsune practices restraint during feeding to avoid permanent damage, mostly out pragmatism and occasionally out of sentiment or even true love.
Some believe that the city is protected by powerful forces, guarding its secrets and treasures from those unworthy or ill-intentioned. The spell is said to have been cast by a powerful sorcerer, who sought to protect the city and its inhabitants from impending doom. It is believed that the spell was meant to serve as a refuge, preserving the metropolis and its advanced civilization for future generations to discover.
Veritable magical vampire
Hey all, it's been a while since I've written a review. As John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I am living proof of that. Speaking of living, cue ham handed segue! This review focuses on the obsessive unliving - or more accurately, obsessive undead. There's a new journal out! I love me some journals and this one is, in a word, brilliant. Okay, well maybe two words: brilliant and quirky. The Café's own orchid666 (K Neill) is the mad man behind The Magic Vampire Magazine. Let's grab our garlic, holy water, and crucifixes and explore this dark, mad product of a brilliant yet rather disturbed mind, in other words, my kind of people.
The Magic Vampire we are told is "a strange and lonely creature who spends most nocturnal hours obsessing over 52 bits of cardboard." Talk about hitting the mark when talking about virtually all card folk. And this obsession is not limited to the masthead of this mag. The design of the journal reflects a beautiful madness throughout. If you're looking for high production values, glossy photos, and the latest piece of floating furniture and other magically domestic accouterments, you've come to the wrong place. The Magic Vampire Magazine, hereafter known as TMVM because I'm lazy, has, and I hate to use cliches, a very underground look. Imagine Cervon's Castle Notebooks but written and illustrated by someone who drank 30 cups of espresso and gorged on five boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal in 15 minutes. Sound fun? I can answer emphatically that it is!
The typeset of the TMVM is a good old font known as "handwritten." Every single page is handwritten, the paper stock is a riot of colors with each page having its own. Moreover, TMVM is literally crammed with information. Nobody told our friend about the use of white space and in this case we are better off for it. I think that the closest analogy is to imagine hand drawn posters from a punk or heavy metal club that you would see tacked on a pole. At first glance you might think that this is just too chaotic to read. I suspect that's the purpose. It's well known that P. Howard Lyons' classic Ibidem was designed such that Lyons wanted to limit readership. I don't think TMVM's writer wants to limit readership. Rather I believe that form follows function and this magazine invites you to engage in its beautiful deranged arcana on its own terms and is succeeds beautifully.
This journal is, at least with the first two issues, devoted strictly to card magic. There is a LOT of card magic crammed inside. It's in the margins, it's scrawled in glorious chaos with "editor" corrections, and fun little cartoons strewn about. Well, I don't want to spoil everything so enough about the design. How about the magic itself? Let's talk about it.
The first issue features excellent routines either original with the author or else brilliant variations of others' routines. I want to applaud the author for his superb crediting. He is just as obsessive about getting the credits and history of the routines right as he is about the magic itself. There are some "professional" authors who could learn something from this magazine. Anyhow, routines like Transylvanian Travelers, The Card of Nosferatu, The Leap of Death, and MANY more are superb routines. There is a very nice pass titled appropriately "The Borgo Pass" The mechanics of this pass are well explained and well illustrated. Even if you already have mastered a form of the pass, this is still worth exploring.
There is so much excellent magic just in issue one that I would end up breaking the Café's servers trying to describe each item. Rest (in peace) assured that you're getting your money's worth with this brilliant magazine. In addition to the magic there is a section titled "Ramblings From the Crypt that is a veritable treasure house of information that really is essential reading. Think of Harry Lorayne's "afterthoughts" in his books and Apocalypse and you have a general idea of what you'll find. I wish the section had been called "Crypt Notes" for obvious reasons.
Looking for magic from books you already own or books you want to purchase? TMVM doesn't disappoint. There is a page CRAMMED with book and routine suggestions from names like Walton, Bannon, Maven, Sadowitz(!), Swain and more. The Café must have dozens if not hundreds of threads focused on "what is the best" and while "best" is highly subjective, the suggestions found in the magazine are hard to argue against.
One of the many things I loved about Apocalypse is that Harry Lorayne would foot note what would be in the next issue and TMVM does the same! Issue three will features a section of do it yourself gaffs (as I write this, issue 3 is out) and there is an upcoming three card monte exploration, discussions about false deals with practical routine examples and again, so much more.
This review was a challenge to write simply because there really is SO much good stuff that this review would read like a latter day Potter Index. I should also add that this journal has the backing of Big Blind Media. Their products are among the best in magic. So while TMVM might LOOK like a hastily thrown together celebration of magic, it is in no way an amateur project. With great contributors and advisers like Liam Montier, Peter Duffie, Cameron Francis, and MANY more, you're getting a quirky but VERY professional product.
It's been a while since magic has had a monthly journal in the tradition of titans like Hugard's Magic Monthly, Apocalypse, and Richard's Almanac. I am overjoyed that there is a new one that for me is already a success with the very first issue. I do not give "scores" on reviews simply because I think they're stupid. So, I will conclude by stating that if you want a magazine crammed with great magic - and who doesn't? - I give The Magic Vampire Magazine the highest of recommendations.
N.B.: It is assumed that the purchaser has a firm grounding in sleight of hand. That said however, purchasers at every level of card magic will find something good here!
Hey all, it's been a while since I've written a review. As John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." I am living proof of that. Speaking of living, cue ham handed segue! This review focuses on the obsessive unliving - or more accurately, obsessive undead. There's a new journal out! I love me some journals and this one is, in a word, brilliant. Okay, well maybe two words: brilliant and quirky. The Café's own orchid666 (K Neill) is the mad man behind The Magic Vampire Magazine. Let's grab our garlic, holy water, and crucifixes and explore this dark, mad product of a brilliant yet rather disturbed mind, in other words, my kind of people.
The allure of the lost metropolis and the spell that encases it have inspired numerous expeditions, books, and films. The quest to unravel the mystery and find the hidden city has become a symbol of the human thirst for adventure and discovery. While the spell of the lost metropolis remains unbroken, it continues to captivate the imagination of people worldwide. It serves as a reminder of the vast mysteries that lie beyond our understanding and the endless possibilities that await in the unexplored corners of our world. So, the enchanting spell of the lost metropolis has become more than just a story or legend. It represents the enduring human spirit of curiosity and the quest for the unknown. The search for the lost metropolis is a testament to our innate desire to unravel the mysteries of the past and explore the uncharted territories of our world..
Reviews for "Captivated by the Lost Metropolis: The Spell That Lingers"
1. John - 2 stars - The "Spell of the Lost Metropolis" was a real disappointment for me. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me feeling like I missed out on a lot of potential character growth and plot development. The dialogue was clunky and forced, making it hard to connect with the characters. The ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I found the book to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't finish reading "Spell of the Lost Metropolis" because I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The writing lacked creativity and the characters felt one-dimensional and unrelatable. The plot was predictable and lacked any suspense or excitement. The pacing was slow and I struggled to stay interested. I would not recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted and engaging story.
3. Mike - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Spell of the Lost Metropolis" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The world-building was weak and the descriptions lacked detail, leaving me struggling to visualize the setting. The plot was unoriginal and filled with clichés, making it hard to stay engaged. The main character was flat and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with her journey. While there were some moments of potential, overall, I found the book to be lacking in originality and depth.