The "Magic or Madness" trilogy is a series of young adult fantasy novels written by Australian author Justine Larbalestier. The trilogy consists of three books: "Magic or Madness" (2005), "Magic Lessons" (2006), and "Magic's Child" (2007). The story follows the life of fifteen-year-old Reason Cansino, who discovers that she comes from a long line of magic users. However, her mother has always warned her about the dangers of magic, saying that it is madness. When Reason's mother goes missing, she is forced to confront the truth about her heritage and the existence of magic. Throughout the trilogy, Reason learns to navigate the world of magic and deal with the consequences it brings.
Throughout the trilogy, Reason learns to navigate the world of magic and deal with the consequences it brings. She meets others like her, including Jay-Tee, a girl who can see the future, and Tom, a boy who can manipulate time. As Reason delves deeper into her magical abilities, she must also face the dark side of magic, which threatens to consume her and those she cares about.
Magic or Madness Trilogy Books In Order
Magic or Madness series narrates the story of a 15-year-old Reason Cansino who is the main character in the series. All her life Cansino has lived in the Outback with her dearest mother, Sarafina. The duo is on the run from their sinister grandmother named Esmeralda who believes in magic and lives to practice bizarre dark rituals. However, when Cansino’s mother experiences a mental breakdown, Cansino is taken to the one place that she fears the most- her grandmother’s house in Sydney.
The author of Magic or Madness series, Justine is an American-Australian author who majors in YA fiction. Justine was born and raised in Sydney Australia but now lives New York City alternatively. Some of her work includes the Magic or Madness series that entails books such as Magic or Madness as well as Magic’s Child. She is also the writer of The Battle of the Sexes (Best Related Book, 2003), which is an adult non-fiction book and is Hugo –nominated as well. She also edited the Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century. In 2001 the author married Scoot Westerfeld who is a fellow writer.
Magic or Madness (2005)
Published in 2005, the Magic or Madness work of fiction is about Reason who is the heroine of the book and telling her story in the first person. Reason Cansino is a resident of the Australian outback where she has been living with her mother Sarafina for fifteen years. The two are hiding from her grandmother who is a magician and is involved in dark, horrifying rituals.
The status quo, however, changes when Sarafina starts suffering from a mental breakdown and the teenager, is sent to live with her magician grandmother in Sydney. On arrival to the house in Sydney, she finds her grandmother Esmeralda, but nothing about her or her house is what the young Reason had envisioned. In her mind, she had conjured up images of animal sacrifices and bubbling cauldrons to be in the home of Esmeralda. Something strange, however, happens when she goes through the back doors of her grandmother’s house only to find herself in a New York City street, and she has to admit that magic is real because she does not know how she ended up in the city, barefoot and freezing.
With each answer, Reason only finds questions which help to maintain the suspense throughout the story. Although she does not know how she ended up in the city, Reason is rescued by Jay-Tee who is just a friendly passer-by or is she? The first-person narration of the heroine allows the reader to get new revelations as soon as they happen. The addition of Jay-Tee and Tom who is Esmeralda’s neighbor makes the book more interesting when they offer cross-cultural viewpoints that round out the happenings in New York and Sydney. The different aspects of magic have also been shown in the book, and a good example is Reasons magic that manifests like a preternatural feel for math and numbers while Jay-Tee is about crowds and relational connections while Tom’s kind of magic revolves around fabric and clothing.
Magic Lessons (2006)
Magic lesson is the sequel book after Magic and Madness. The heroine who was introduced in the first book has to confront the truth that is she is just like her mother Sarafina, grandmother Esmeralda and friends Tom and Jay-tee whom a have magic in their blood. She has to make the terrifying choice of using her magic and risk losing her mind or start using the magic and die young. Stranded in New York City thanks to a new threat, she has to struggle to control this new power that she does not understand.
At this point, Reason has so many questions and among them is whether to accept any lessons from her grandmother Esmeralda whom she does not trust. She also desires to find a way of changing things so that magic does not have to be a curse. Before going through the door, it had also started warping, making terrifying noises and spitting weird creatures that attack the people living in the house.
In New York, she is the only person who can see what is happening on the door where an old, magic man stands guard. She cannot tee, on whose side the old man is and with the help of Danny, who is Jay –Tees’s brother, she investigates from her side while Jay-Tee Esmeralda and Tom investigate from their others. There is also the threat of her grandfather Jake is also very dangerous. Could the imminent danger be what she needs to solve her problems? Reason is one who values family as seen by her efforts to save her mother. She is also adaptable as faster the shock she gets down to the business of the magic world to get a solution to the problem.
Magic’s Child (2007)
In the third book of the trilogy Magic’s Child, our heroine Reason Cansino is facing a difficult time as everyone she loves is in danger. Her mother, Sarafina is nowhere to be found after disappearing from the mental hospital where she had been admitted after suffering a mental breakdown. She disappeared with Jake, Reason’s grandfather while Jay-Tee, who has now become her best friend has used all the magic she had and can die at any time.
It is only Reason who can save them by finding the answers to her magical family. She finds herself falling into an ancient, strange and inhuman power that she got from Raul Cansino and while she is becoming more powerful, it means that she is giving up her humanity and that of her unborn child as well. Reason is not going to die young like other people who wield magic powers and use them unwisely and neither will she go crazy like her mother. However, is all these enough to make her lose her humanity? Reason character is robust and ready to help her family. The characters in the book are also layered is such a manner that they will make you will want to read the novel from the first to the last page.
Book Series In Order » Characters » Magic or Madness Trilogy
She discovers that there is a fine line between magic and madness, and she must learn to control her powers before they drive her insane. The trilogy explores themes of identity, family, and the balance between magic and reality. Larbalestier's writing style is engaging and fast-paced, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. Overall, the "Magic or Madness" trilogy is a thrilling and thought-provoking series that will captivate readers with its blend of magic and madness. It is a must-read for fans of young adult fantasy who enjoy stories with strong, complex characters and intricate world-building..
Reviews for "The Price of Power: Exploring Magic and Madness in the Trilkogy Trilogy"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars
I found the "Magic or Madness Trilogy" to be a disappointing read. The plot seemed interesting at first, but as I delved deeper, I found that the story lacked depth and development. The characters felt one-dimensional and their motivations were unclear. The magic system also left much to be desired; it was not well explained and seemed to conveniently solve problems without any real consequences. Overall, I couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and was left feeling underwhelmed.
2. Jacob - 2/5 stars
While I had high hopes for the "Magic or Madness Trilogy", it unfortunately fell short of my expectations. The pacing of the story was inconsistent, with long stretches of mundane events and sudden bursts of action that felt disconnected from the main plot. The writing style was also a letdown, lacking the descriptive elements needed to truly immerse oneself in the magical world. Furthermore, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to form any emotional connection to the characters. Overall, I felt let down by this trilogy and wouldn't recommend it to those seeking a captivating and well-developed fantasy series.
3. Samantha - 1/5 stars
I couldn't finish the "Magic or Madness Trilogy" as it failed to captivate my attention right from the start. The story lacked cohesion and clear direction, leaving me confused and disengaged. The characters were forgettable, with no real growth or development throughout the series. The world-building was also poorly executed, leaving many questions unanswered and the magic system feeling arbitrary. It pains me to say this, but I would not recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a satisfying and immersive fantasy read.
4. Alexander - 2/5 stars
As a fan of fantasy novels, I was disappointed by the "Magic or Madness Trilogy." The plot lacked originality, following the tired trope of a chosen one with magical abilities. The pacing was uneven, with slow and uneventful sections dragging the story down. Additionally, I found the writing to be lacking in depth and complexity, which made it difficult to become invested in the characters or the world they inhabited. Overall, this trilogy was a missed opportunity to create a captivating and unique fantasy series, and I wouldn't recommend it to fellow fantasy enthusiasts.