The Magic Hour is a novel written by Kristin Hannah, an acclaimed author known for her ability to draw readers into emotional stories. This particular novel explores the themes of family dynamics, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Set in the picturesque town of Rain Valley, The Magic Hour follows the journey of Dr. Julia Cates, a renowned child psychiatrist. Julia is haunted by a tragic incident from her past and feels as though she may never move on from the guilt she carries. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a young girl mysteriously appears in Rain Valley.
Polygon Recommends is our way of endorsing our favorite games, movies, TV shows, comics, tabletop books, and entertainment experiences. When we award the Polygon Recommends badge, it’s because we believe the recipient is uniquely thought-provoking, entertaining, inventive, or fun — and worth fitting into your schedule. If you want curated lists of our favorite media, check out What to Play and What to Watch.
The Hive, enemies I ve been battling for nearly a decade, suddenly have the same magical space powers that I do, including the most video-gamey of all powers the ability to respawn. The campaign fashions years of lore into an enthralling plot that doesn t require a video essay explainer, and it has clearer stakes and stronger momentum than any previous storyline.
However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a young girl mysteriously appears in Rain Valley. The girl, whom Julia names Alice, has been found living in the wild, raised by wolves. Julia is determined to help this girl, who seems to have no memory of her past or the ability to speak.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen finally fulfills the series’ dormant potential
Ryan Gilliam (he/him) has worked at Polygon for nearly seven years. He primarily spends his time writing guides for massively popular games like Diablo 4 & Destiny 2.
Bungie’s sci-fi shooter series Destiny has always been good, but loving it hasn’t always been easy.
The games have seen a lot of turbulence, with a rocky launch in 2014, a rocky sequel in 2017, and design hiccups throughout. There have also been glowing periods, but they’ve all been in service of fixing past mistakes, rather than building something better down the line. So Destiny has always been a series about potential, and faithful players who continually hoped for something genuinely great around each corner.
Polygon Recommends is our way of endorsing our favorite games, movies, TV shows, comics, tabletop books, and entertainment experiences. When we award the Polygon Recommends badge, it’s because we believe the recipient is uniquely thought-provoking, entertaining, inventive, or fun — and worth fitting into your schedule. If you want curated lists of our favorite media, check out What to Play and What to Watch.
Nearly eight years, two full games, and six expansions later, Destiny 2 is finally living up to that potential.
The Witch Queen starts with a new and intriguing mystery. A longtime villain — Savathun, sister of Oryx, the villain from the original Destiny’s beloved Taken King expansion — has somehow acquired the Light, the force that gives Guardians their power. The Hive, enemies I’ve been battling for nearly a decade, suddenly have the same magical space powers that I do, including the most video-gamey of all powers: the ability to respawn. The only way to keep them down is to rush their bodies on the battlefield, crushing their spiky Ghosts — the living machines that supply Guardians with the Light — in my hand.
Killing these evil Guardians and their Hive Ghosts is a foundational gameplay mechanic in The Witch Queen, but it comes with a moral quandary as well. Since Destiny’s beginning, the Light has only blessed humanity with Ghosts. There’ve been some bad-egg Guardians in the lore, but we’ve never seen enemies wield the Light against us in game. Bungie is clearly pulling at a classic thread here, asking “What makes the good guys good, and the bad guys bad?”
But as trite and nonsensical as the Destiny story has been in the past, I got deeply invested in the tale Bungie is telling with The Witch Queen. With this story, Bungie has bridged a massive gap. After years of working to establish surrounding lore and make up for the first game’s poor storytelling, it feels like the studio is finally free to tell a compelling narrative. For example, Guardians are finally questioning mysterious beings like the Traveler in-game (rather than on a Grimoire card), and we have great characters on both sides of the debate.
The story is just one piece of Bungie’s magnum opus — the first link in a chain that connects the entire expansion. The central mystery — how the Hive got the Light — centers around the new Throne World location, letting players dive into the mind of the most interesting villain in the series’ history. Secrets that players find in the world grant new currencies, which in turn lead to new weapons, which then play into the new weapon-crafting system. I’m constantly using new weapons so I can add them to my crafting repertoire, or leveling up weapons I’ve already crafted to improve them further.
The new evidence board found in-game on Mars — one of those classic detective boards with string tying loose ends together — becomes its own metaphor for what the expansion does so well. The additions, from the new glaive weapon type to the Void 3.0 ability overhaul to the weapon-crafting system, don’t exist to fix past problems. Instead, they help breathe new life into activities I’ve been playing with since 2017. It’s Destiny with the baggage stripped away, and every piece flows together beautifully.
Every other major Destiny success — The Taken King for the original Destiny and Forsaken for Destiny 2 — was born from catastrophe. After the original Destiny launched as a hodgepodge of boring campaign missions and bad gearing systems, The Taken King showed players the series’ potential. Bungie fixed the gearing system and built the Dreadnaught, a foreboding location laced with secrets. After Bungie made all-new mistakes with Destiny 2 (such as PvP-focused changes that hamstrung PvE players), Forsaken came along to put the series back on track with a new weapon system and an excellent campaign. Both expansions were major steps forward for the franchise, yes, but primarily because they fixed the game in a crucial make-or-break moment.
The Witch Queen, on the other hand, follows one of Destiny’s quietest years. (2021 was the first year without a major expansion since the original Destiny’s launch.) The seasons that followed Beyond Light and proceeded The Witch Queen all told compelling stories, offered awesome rewards, and even gave players a few surprises. Which is all to say that Destiny doesn’t need saving in 2022, so Bungie focused on quality and quantity over bandages and salves. The Witch Queen is the first major expansion to feel less like a reaction, and more like a proactive step forward.
This isn’t Bungie reinventing the wheel — it’s watching it evolve from spokes and wood to metal and rubber. It still adds a new campaign, new location, and new weapons — but all of its offerings reach series highs, with the campaign being a particularly excellent standout. It’s like if Blizzard dropped a World of Warcraft expansion so good that it easily blew The Lich King — which many view as the “golden age” of WoW — out of the water. The Witch Queen demolishes the quality bars set by The Taken King and Forsaken, and have left me even more excited for the upcoming Lightfall and Final Shape expansions.
As a longtime Destiny player, I had an emotional experience with The Witch Queen. I’m feeling something akin to pride. Like watching a toddler taking their first steps, I’ve seen Destiny succeed and stumble for years now. But The Witch Queen is like watching that toddler run for the first time on their own. Destiny 2 will almost certainly lose its footing again, but my timid hope has turned to exuberant confidence, and I know Bungie will pick itself back up, dust itself off, and keep moving forward.
Eight years after those first clumsy beginnings, the series isn’t about Hope for the Future anymore. The Destiny I’ve always wanted is here.
Any season that offers a wave-frame grenade launcher is OK by me.
As Julia delves deeper into Alice's story, she begins to understand that this young girl may hold the key to her own healing. Throughout the novel, Hannah skillfully weaves in elements of suspense and mystery, keeping the reader captivated until the very end. The small-town setting serves as a backdrop for the complex relationships and interconnectedness of the characters. As Julia spends more time with Alice, she begins to question her own beliefs and confront the demons of her past. Through her journey with Alice, Julia finds a renewed sense of purpose and a pathway to forgiveness. The Magic Hour explores the notion that healing can come from unexpected sources and that sometimes, the people who need our help the most are the ones who end up helping us in return. Hannah's writing style is emotive and thought-provoking, enabling readers to deeply connect with the characters and their struggles. The Magic Hour is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of love and compassion. In conclusion, The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah is a captivating novel that navigates the complexities of family, guilt, and forgiveness. Through the story of Dr. Julia Cates and the mysterious girl named Alice, Hannah creates a poignant narrative that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page..
Reviews for "Unraveling the Secrets of Kristin Hannah's "The Magic Hour"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah to be quite disappointing. The plot was promising at first, with its intriguing premise of a small town doctor dealing with a mystery patient. However, as the story progressed, I couldn't help but feel that it lacked depth and originality. The characters were undeveloped and lacked complexity, making it difficult for me to connect with them on any level. Additionally, the writing style felt forced and cliché, making the book a struggle to read. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-executed story.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah was a major letdown for me. The story started off with a promising concept, but quickly got lost in a sea of predictable clichés and stereotypes. The characters were shallow and one-dimensional, and the plot was incredibly predictable. There were no twists or surprises that kept me engaged, and the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I also found the writing style to be lackluster, with frequent repetitions and unnecessary details that added nothing to the story. In conclusion, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
3. Mark - 2 stars - "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah fell flat for me. The initial concept had potential, but unfortunately, the execution was lacking. The pacing felt off, with long stretches of little action followed by rushed and underdeveloped resolutions. Additionally, some of the character interactions felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to emotionally invest in their stories. The book also delved into predictable and overdone tropes, leaving me hoping for more originality. Overall, while it had its moments, "The Magic Hour" failed to leave a lasting impression.
4. Emily - 3 stars - "The Magic Hour" by Kristin Hannah had its strengths but ultimately didn't deliver for me. The setting and atmosphere were beautifully described, and there were moments of emotional depth that touched me. However, I found the pacing to be inconsistent, with certain sections dragging on while others were rushed. Additionally, I felt that some of the plotlines were resolved too easily, taking away some of the tension and anticipation I had built up. While it wasn't a terrible read, "The Magic Hour" lacked the substance and complexity I had hoped for.