The Chronicles of Dark Magic by Nora Roberts is a captivating series that delves into the realm of the supernatural and explores the power of dark magic. This series follows the journey of a young witch named Sophia as she navigates through a world filled with mystery, danger, and ancient secrets. The main idea in this series centers around the concept of dark magic and the consequences that come with wielding such power. Through the character of Sophia, the reader is taken on a thrilling adventure where she must learn to harness her abilities and make choices that will ultimately determine the fate of the magical world. Nora Roberts skillfully weaves elements of romance, fantasy, and suspense into her storytelling, creating a captivating narrative that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The Chronicles of Dark Magic takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as they follow Sophia's journey of self-discovery and find themselves immersed in a world filled with witches, warlocks, magical artifacts, and ancient prophecies.
Praise for Magic for Beginners
“A sorceress to be reckoned with.”—The New York Times Book Review
“[Kelly] Link’s stories . . . play in a place few writers go, a netherworld between literature and fantasy, Alice Munro and J. K. Rowling, and Link finds truths there that most authors wouldn’t dare touch.”—Lev Grossman, Time
“She is unique and should be declared a national treasure.”—Neil Gaiman
“Funny, scary, surprising and powerfully moving within the span of a single story or even a single sentence.”—Karen Russell, The Miami Herald
“This is what certain readers live for: fiction that makes the world instead of merely mimicking it.”—Audrey Niffenegger
“[These] exquisite stories mix the aggravations and epiphanies of everyday life with the stuff that legends, dreams and nightmares are made of.”—Laura Miller, Salon, Best Books of the Decade
“A major talent . . . Like George Saunders, [Link] can’t dismiss the hidden things that tap on our windows at night.”—The Boston Globe
“The most darkly playful voice in American fiction.”—Michael Chabon
“I think she is the most impressive writer of her generation.”—Peter Straub
“Link’s world is one to savor. [Grade:] A”—Entertainment Weekly
“Intricate, wildly imaginative and totally wonderful . . . will fill you with awe and joy.”—NPR
This proves just one of several benign but inexplicable phenomena that begin to pull apart the family newly moved into the house as surely as a more sinister supernatural influence might. Also very good was The Stone Animals , about a family who leaves Manhattan and moves into a country home upstate, only to discover that, slowly but surely, all of their possessions have become haunted.
The Chronicles of Dark Magic takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as they follow Sophia's journey of self-discovery and find themselves immersed in a world filled with witches, warlocks, magical artifacts, and ancient prophecies. One of the strengths of this series is Roberts' ability to create vivid and complex characters that resonate with the readers. Sophia is a relatable and strong-willed protagonist who undergoes immense character development as she learns to control her powers and face the challenges that come her way.
Book Review: Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
After finally putting down the borrowed copy of Magic for Beginners which I’d been reading on and off for the past week, I can make two definitive statements:
1) Kelly Link is a very gifted writer.
2) I suck at short stories.
I really gave it my all, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to read all eight stories in this collection. I managed to get through six (although for two, my reading might better be described as skimming). If you read my blog post from a few days ago (see it here), you’ll know that I pick up short story collections rarely and reluctantly, but in this case, I’d heard enough high praise for Kelly Link to decide to give it a go.
I absolutely loved the first story in the collection, “The Fairy Handbag”, narrated by a teen girl whose recently deceased, oddball grandmother has appointed her the guardian of a magical handbag. According to Grandmother Zofia, the people in her little village of Baldesziwurlekistan all picked up and moved into the handbag hundreds of years ago in order to escape a terrible invasion, and have lived there happily ever since. “The Fairy Handbag” is weird and wonderful, and I was thoroughly enchanted.
Also very good was “The Stone Animals”, about a family who leaves Manhattan and moves into a country home upstate, only to discover that, slowly but surely, all of their possessions have become haunted. I’m not sure what any of it actually meant, but I love some of the imagery used, especially this brief glimpse of the pregnant wife who can’t stop painting and repainting the rooms in the house:
He found Catherine standing on a ladder in the kitchen, one foot resting on the sink. She was wearing her gas mask, a black cotton sports bra, and a pair of black sweatpants rolled down so he could see she wasn’t wearing any underwear. Her stomach stuck out so far, she had to hold her arms at a funny angle to run the roller up and down the wall in front of her.
The story entitled “Magic for Beginners”, equally weird and oddly touching, is the tale of a fifteen-year-old boy and his friends who are obsessed with a mysterious TV show called The Library. Or is this story about characters on a TV show called The Library who are obsessed with a TV show called The Library? At one point, main character Jeremy wonders “about what kind of television shows the characters in television shows watch.” Kind of made my head spin.
Kelly Link’s writing is lyrical and full of unconventional images and similes. Just two of the many that made me smile:
He feels like a tennis ball in a game where the tennis players love him very, very much, even while they lob and smash and send him back and forth, back and forth.
The disco ball spins and spins. It makes Jeremy feel kind of carsick and also as if he has sparkly, disco leprosy.
Kelly Link has great talent, and I truly enjoyed the stories I read. The fact that I couldn’t get through all of them certainly has more to do with me as a reader rather than with the quality of the book. If you enjoy short stories, and get a kick out of worlds weird and twisted, I’d definitely suggest giving this collection a whirl.
Praise for Magic for Beginners
“A sorceress to be reckoned with.”—The New York Times Book Review
“[Kelly] Link’s stories . . . play in a place few writers go, a netherworld between literature and fantasy, Alice Munro and J. K. Rowling, and Link finds truths there that most authors wouldn’t dare touch.”—Lev Grossman, Time
“She is unique and should be declared a national treasure.”—Neil Gaiman
“Funny, scary, surprising and powerfully moving within the span of a single story or even a single sentence.”—Karen Russell, The Miami Herald
“This is what certain readers live for: fiction that makes the world instead of merely mimicking it.”—Audrey Niffenegger
“[These] exquisite stories mix the aggravations and epiphanies of everyday life with the stuff that legends, dreams and nightmares are made of.”—Laura Miller, Salon, Best Books of the Decade
“A major talent . . . Like George Saunders, [Link] can’t dismiss the hidden things that tap on our windows at night.”—The Boston Globe
“The most darkly playful voice in American fiction.”—Michael Chabon
“I think she is the most impressive writer of her generation.”—Peter Straub
“Link’s world is one to savor. [Grade:] A”—Entertainment Weekly
“Intricate, wildly imaginative and totally wonderful . . . will fill you with awe and joy.”—NPR
Another notable aspect of The Chronicles of Dark Magic is the rich and detailed world-building. Roberts paints a vivid picture of the magical realm, complete with its own rules, traditions, and history. The magical artifacts and creatures introduced in the series add an element of mystery and wonder, making the world of dark magic come alive. Overall, The Chronicles of Dark Magic by Nora Roberts is a captivating series that combines elements of romance, fantasy, and suspense into an engaging narrative. The exploration of dark magic and its consequences adds depth and intrigue to the story, while the well-developed characters and rich world-building keep the readers hooked. This series is a must-read for fans of the supernatural genre who enjoy a mix of romance and adventure in their stories..
Reviews for "The Intense Battle Between Good and Evil in Nora Roberts' Dark Magic"
1. Jane - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with "The Chronicles of Dark Magic" by Nora Roberts. I found the storyline to be confusing and poorly developed. The characters lacked depth and I struggled to connect with any of them. The writing style felt clunky and rushed, with too many unnecessary descriptions and dialogues. The constant use of clichés and predictable plot twists was also a major turn off for me. Overall, I just couldn't get into this book and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Tom - 1 star: I have read several books by Nora Roberts and enjoyed them, but "The Chronicles of Dark Magic" was a huge disappointment. The fantasy elements felt forced and out of place, and the world-building was lacking. The romance between the main characters was predictable and lacked chemistry. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow parts that dragged on and sudden jumps in time that left me confused. I found myself forcing myself to finish this book, hoping it would get better, but it never did. I wouldn't recommend it to fans of Nora Roberts or anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.
3. Emily - 2 stars: I had high expectations for "The Chronicles of Dark Magic" as a fan of Nora Roberts, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, with too many subplots that didn't add much to the overall story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to feel invested in their journeys. The romance felt forced and unnatural, with little development or chemistry between the main characters. Overall, this book didn't live up to the standards I expect from Nora Roberts, and I would recommend looking elsewhere for a captivating fantasy novel.