The Revenge of Magic Series The Revenge of Magic is a captivating and thrilling fantasy series written by James Riley. It is set in a world where magic has disappeared, making way for advanced technology. However, when the magic returns unexpectedly, chaos ensues, and a group of young heroes must rise to the challenge. The series follows the main character, Fort Fitzgerald, a twelve-year-old boy whose father is a member of the governing council of United State magicians. Fort's father disappears under mysterious circumstances, leading him on a quest to find his father and uncover the truth behind the reappearance of magic. Throughout the series, Fort teams up with his friends and fellow apprentices, Cyrus and Rachel, as they navigate the dangerous and magical world they find themselves in.
Throughout the series, Fort teams up with his friends and fellow apprentices, Cyrus and Rachel, as they navigate the dangerous and magical world they find themselves in. They encounter mythical creatures, treacherous enemies, and discover the dark secrets that surround the return of magic. The Revenge of Magic series combines elements of magic, adventure, and mystery, making it an enticing read for both young and adult readers.
How to choose a tarot deck
I receive emails all the time from customers who want help with choosing the ‘ideal’ tarot. Like many of us, they are seeking that one deck that will be their ‘life partner’, a trusted ally who understands them and whom they understand. But it’s such a personal thing! What resonates deeply for one person may only elicit a ‘meh’ in somebody else. Images that leap out at you and tug at your soul-strings may be unpleasant or irrelevant to somebody else. Maybe you like thick, heavy cards, or oversized decks, or black-and-white, or animals…
You get the picture – it’s very personal! I find it is impossible to make solid deck recommendations. Instead, for those of you who are seeking a new deck, I offer a range of questions to consider when browsing the tarot shelves.
Does the artwork speak to me?
For most people, this is the key factor in choosing a deck. For most of us (not all, mind – some read without looking at the card, and there are certainly blind and visually impaired readers), tarot is a visual tool. It is in the images on the cards that we find the stories, the symbols, the clues to interpretation.
It’s important to feel that the images and general artwork style resonates for you. For example, I’m personally drawn to vivid colours, and I also enjoy quite abstract imagery, where pictures are more symbolic than figurative. You may find you like sparse line drawings, or watercolours, or digigtal collage, or some other style entirely.
If possible look at as many card images as you can, so you can get a real feel for the style and energy of the deck.
Does theme matter?
As you’ve no doubt noticed, there’s a tarot deck for pretty much any ‘theme’ you can think of. Unicorn tarot, Star Wars tarot, tarot of trees, of herbs, of different spiritual paths. Umpteen cat tarot decks, urban-themed decks, decks centred around steampunk, fey, mermaids, social justice… I even have an Emily Dickinson tarot in my collection!
The philosophy of a deck may take a little research, or it may be very obvious. Some decks – such as the nature-themed Brady Tarot, which has a strong ecological message – wear their philosophies clearly and proudly. Others reveal the driving ideas behind the deck in a guidebook or pamphlet (such as the Wanderer’s Tarot, which is rooted in deep feminine/goddess spirituality).
Themes can help us connect more deeply with our cards – for example, a herbal tarot combines the wisdom of plants with the message of a particular card, which may be helpful to a herbalist who can draw on existing knowledge of plants to help learn the cards’ meanings. Cristy Road’s Next World Tarot envisages a post-revolutionary world, and the archetypes she presents may be familiar to those working in social justice circles.
Does representation matter?
Plenty has been written recently about how white, cisgendered and heteronormative mainstream tarot can be, and the lack of body diversity shown in card images. Traditional decks like the Rider Waite Smith tarot leave little room for people of colour (POC), queer people and people with rebellious bodies to find ourselves represented. This may or may not matter to you (it’s okay either way!) but I encourage you to notice and be aware of who is visually represented in your tarot deck. Firstly, so you might choose a deck that feels like it represents you yourself, and secondly, if you plan on reading for other people (or already do), you’ll have a sense of which deck to reach for or whether your seeker is likely to see images of ‘themselves’ when you lay down their cards. It’s also just good to see different kinds of folks in a personal development tool.
There are a growing number of diverse decks out there (the Numinous Tarot is a favourite of mine, as is Thea’s Tarot), but it’s still not the norm to see a wide diversity of people in our cards. This is one reason some readers prefer ‘people-free’ tarot decks (for example, decks in which animals or other beings are the ‘characters’).
If you’re seeking decks with decent POC and/or queer/genderqueer representation, Asali’s Tarot of the QTPOC list is the best resource out there. In the Little Red Tarot Shop, you can explore collections of diverse tarot decks here.
What do I know about the creator/s?
Personally, I love to know about who created my tarot cards, and why. I like to have at least a small sense of a connection to the person or people who envisaged those cards and brought them into being. As a queer woman, I especially enjoy working with decks created by other queer women, and creators who talk explicitly about feminism, decolonisation, and other political topics that are important to me.
This is also where issues like cultural appropriation may arise. It’s not uncommon to find decks centred on culturally-specific themes that on closer inspection are created by people who do not belong to those cultures (often white people). For me, therefore, it’s important to feel that the deck creator has a personal and spiritual connection to the symbols and ideas they’re presenting (and profiting from).
Big cards or small cards?
Many people struggle to shuffle larger decks as the cards are too large for their hands! Others dislike smaller decks, preferring a larger format for aesthetic or other reasons. I’ve also seen a wide spectrum of likes and dislikes in terms of card-stock (the thickness and texture of the cards), lamination, gilded/not guilded edges, and so forth.
What about the price?
Some decks just aren’t affordable to lower-income folks. This can often be the case for self-published decks, where production costs are normally far higher, and are providing a (hopefully sustainable) income to the creator. If you can’t afford indie decks, there are a huge number of more affordable mass-market decks – the Rider-Waite-Smith, the Shadowscapes, and many many others are available for under £20 (see below for a where to buy mainstream decks).
Platforms like Instagram can also make us feel like we have to own loads of decks in order to be proper tarot readers. But many readers own and use just one single deck. As with all ‘hobbies’, there’s no limit to the money you can spend, and right now there is a growing and very gentrified ‘wellness’ industry ready to sell you all kinds of stuff you don’t need on the promise that owning such things will make you somehow more spiritual or a better tarot reader.
I really want to stress that one of the beauties of tarot is its affordability, its accessibility. With one cheap deck and internet access, anybody can read the cards – it needn’t be an expensive pursuit.
Most importantly: listen to your gut
There are no rights or wrongs in choosing a tarot deck. I offer these questions to help you ponder whether a deck may be right for you, but it’s like choosing a lover – only you can know, deep inside, if it is for you. Feel free to throw all of my questions out of the window and go on one thing only: whether you get a good feeling in your gut (or heart, or soul, or bones, or wherever you get *that feeling*) about the deck. If you do this, you can’t go wrong.
James Riley's writing style captures the readers' imagination, transporting them to a world where anything is possible. Each book in the series is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The character development is well-executed, with Fort and his friends evolving and growing throughout their journey. Their friendships are tested, and they learn the true meaning of bravery and sacrifice. Furthermore, the series explores themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked magic. It raises important questions about the ethical use of magic and the responsibilities that come with it. Fans of fantasy, magic, and adventure will enjoy the Revenge of Magic series. It is a well-crafted, engaging, and immersive story that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. With each book building upon the last, the series offers an exciting and satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader eagerly anticipating more. In conclusion, the Revenge of Magic series is a must-read for fans of fantasy and magic. James Riley has created a vivid and captivating world that will transport readers on a thrilling and magical journey. This series is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of fantasy literature. So step into this enchanting world and prepare to be spellbound!.
Reviews for "From Hogwarts to Eldervale: A Comparison of Magical Academies in Literature"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I really did not enjoy "The Revene of Nagic" series. The storyline seemed disjointed and confusing, with too many plot twists that didn't make sense. The characters were also poorly developed, making it difficult to connect with them or care about their fates. Overall, I found the series to be a disappointing and frustrating read.
2. Emma - 1 out of 5 stars - "The Revene of Nagic" series was a complete waste of time for me. The writing was amateurish and filled with cliches, making it hard to take the story seriously. The magic system was poorly explained and inconsistent, which only added to my frustration. The dialogue was also cringe-worthy, filled with cheesy one-liners that made me roll my eyes. I would not recommend this series to anyone looking for a well-crafted fantasy story.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Revene of Nagic" series, but it just didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of nothing happening and then sudden bursts of action that felt rushed and poorly executed. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions and a lack of understanding of the setting. Additionally, the romance subplot felt forced and unrealistic. Unfortunately, I found this series to be a disappointment overall.