Card Magic Masterclass is a comprehensive workshop that aims to teach participants the art of performing card tricks and illusions. The workshop is designed for both beginners and experienced magicians who want to enhance their skills and knowledge in card magic. The masterclass is usually conducted by professional magicians or experts in the field of card magic. They share their expertise and teach various techniques and tricks that have been perfected over time. The participants get an opportunity to learn and practice these tricks under the guidance of the experts. The workshop begins with an introduction to card magic, its history, and its different variations.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder , zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. An executioner s apprentice, an embattled queen of shadows, and a royal hostage join forces toward a common goal-survival in a treacherous world of monsters and magic.
The workshop begins with an introduction to card magic, its history, and its different variations. Participants are taught about the basic principles of card magic, including sleight of hand, misdirection, and presentation techniques. They learn how to handle and manipulate the cards with precision and finesse.
Review: Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
Disney Hyperion, New York, 2016.
MG fantasy, 324 pages.
Lexile: 540L .
AR Level: 4.1 (worth 11.4 points) .
NOTE: First in a trilogy.
Thorn was just trying to find his outlaw father when he got caught by slavers and was sold to executioner Tyburn of House Shadow. Lilith Shadow was never supposed to rule Gehenna, but then her family was killed.
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
I picked this one up because of this review. Initially this series didn’t strike me as particularly diverse from reading the blurb, but the author’s commentary on the Middle Eastern inspiration as well as an #ownvoice Muslim reviewer’s thoughts quickly confirmed that this was a trilogy I wanted to read.
The white-guy-being a slave part made me nervous, but it was a small part of the overall story and not poorly done. I did also wish for the House of Shadow to have more skin tone variety, but some information about House Solar covered that to my satisfaction.
Khan invests heavily in three similarly-aged characters, but only two have viewpoints in this book, which was so smart. While K’leef is a main part of the trio and the plot, his motivations and actions ultimately have to be deduced, and the novel manages to be balanced. What I didn’t love, even though I understood it, is the whole arranged-child-marriage thing. Thankfully, Lilly was not afraid to repeatedly call out how ludicrous it was and exercise her own agency to change her situation (not always for the better).
Page 249 of Shadow Magic illustrates a dramatic moment in the book.The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
Khan does a good job of parceling out all this information without doing infodumps. He uses situations, like when Thorn angers the wrong noble and the other boys point out that he’s the outsider and they need to stay out of trouble. Of course, Thorn’s isolation combined with hidden heritage make him a good target for Lily’s friendship.
Lily finds that unexpected leadership comes with many more headaches and sorrows than desired. Her arc was all I could have desired, and I especially appreciated that Khan allowed her and Thorn (and K’leef) to be equal partners. Finding out that the character was inspired by Malala Yousafzai made so much sense.
The book is divided into three sections based on the location. Most is set at Castle Gloom, with the first and last sixth in another place. Chapters are kept short and the plot is always moving even when the characters are pinned down, to the very last page! Regular full page artwork is interspersed, which is mostly excellent with a few duds. Gehenna gets a full map with lots of interesting tidbits that don’t come in to this story, and I always appreciate that in a fantasy novel. This was still middle grade, but the plot was less MG-ish than most, which made it far more interesting to an adult fantasy fan.
Pages 128 and 129 of Shadow Magic show one of the full page illustrations as well as the flipbook bat in the upper right hand corner.
The interior pages made a little flipbook of a bat flying. The book as a whole had a interesting design and I appreciated that the letterer and cover designer got cover billing, even if they and the artist, were relegated to the back cover. It has a sturdy matte cover and acceptable pages and binding, which has me perplexed – Disney Hyperion is so inconsistent with paperback quality! I ended up buying a used softcover copy of this first book for expediency and cost efficiency, but maybe I’ll look at new for the others.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Yes, this had more death and gloom than I remember middle schoolers wanting in a fantasy novel. It’s not horror exactly, despite all the murders and zombies and so on. Those are all tied up in the magic and politics of this fantasy world. I think this would work well for kids who are into the School of Good and Evil series, or fans of Hoodoo. Simply because of said murders and horror trappings (plus very mild romance) I’d put this at the upper end of MG or a high-low read for teens.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Throughout the masterclass, participants are introduced to a wide range of card tricks, from simple beginner-level tricks to more advanced and intricate illusions. They learn how to shuffle, control, and force cards effectively, as well as how to perform tricks with multiple decks and card gimmicks. The masterclass also covers topics such as card flourishes and cardistry, which involve performing visually stunning and intricate maneuvers with cards. These techniques add a visual appeal to the performance and captivate the audience. In addition to teaching the technical aspects of card magic, the masterclass also focuses on the presentation and performance skills of the participants. They learn how to engage the audience, create a sense of wonder, and deliver a captivating performance. At the end of the masterclass, participants are encouraged to showcase their newly acquired skills by performing in front of their peers. This provides them with valuable feedback and an opportunity to improve their performance further. Overall, a Card Magic Masterclass is a comprehensive and immersive learning experience for individuals interested in the art of card magic. It equips them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and techniques to perform stunning card tricks and illusions that will leave the audience amazed and entertained..
Reviews for "The Art of Card Control: Secrets of Manipulation and Palming"
1. Samantha - 1/5 Stars - I was really disappointed with "Card Magic Masterclass." The tricks were not explained clearly and the instructions were confusing. I felt like the instructor was rushing through the lessons and didn't provide enough detail for a beginner like me to understand. I also found the tricks to be outdated and not very impressive. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this course for anyone looking to learn card magic.
2. Mike - 2/5 Stars - I had high hopes for "Card Magic Masterclass", but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While the instructor seems knowledgeable, his teaching style was quite dull and monotone, making it hard to stay engaged. The tricks covered were very basic and the explanations lacked depth. I was hoping for more advanced techniques and unique tricks, but this course seemed better suited for complete beginners. Overall, I didn't find this course to be worth the investment.
3. Jennifer - 1/5 Stars - I regret purchasing "Card Magic Masterclass." The instructor spent too much time talking about irrelevant anecdotes and not enough time actually teaching the tricks. The production quality of the course was also subpar, with poor lighting and sound quality. Additionally, the instructor used several outdated terms and slangs that made it difficult to follow along. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this course to anyone serious about learning card magic.
4. David - 2/5 Stars - I found "Card Magic Masterclass" to be underwhelming. The tricks and techniques taught were mostly basic and easily found in any beginner's card magic book. I had expected more advanced and unique tricks that would help me stand out as a magician, but this course didn't provide that. While the instructor seemed knowledgeable, his teaching style lacked excitement and charisma. I regret spending my money on this course and would suggest looking for other options if you're serious about becoming a skilled card magician.