Reverse magic is a term used in the young adult fantasy novel "Shine" by Lauren Myracle. In this book, reverse magic refers to the idea of using the power of love and kindness to counteract the negative effects of a spell or enchantment. The story centers around a teenage girl named Cat, who lives in a small town in North Carolina. Cat's best friend, Patrick, is brutally attacked and left for dead. The incident is brushed off by the local authorities, leading Cat to believe that there is a cover-up happening in her town. Motivated by her love for Patrick and her determination to seek justice, Cat embarks on a quest to uncover the truth.
With their magic being unpredictable, Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are sent to the upside-down magic room at Dunwiddle Magic School.
Maybe if this reader had been middle grade when reading this, they would have enjoyed it more, as an adult it felt like a lot of stretching of the imagination had to happen. Nory is distraught to learn she will attend Dunwiddle Public School, where she ll be part of a special education-type program called Upside-Down Magic UDM.
Motivated by her love for Patrick and her determination to seek justice, Cat embarks on a quest to uncover the truth. Along the way, she encounters a series of challenges, including dealing with her own inner demons and facing the potential dangers of stepping into unknown territory. Throughout the novel, the concept of reverse magic is introduced as a central theme.
Review: The Backward Season
Hi friends, happy Monday; I hope you are all well! Today I’m posting my review of the final book in the Wishing Days trilogy, The Backward Season by Lauren Myracle.
You can read my review of book one: The Wishing Day
You can read my review of book two: The Forgetting Spell
The Backward Season by: Lauren Myracle: Ava’s wishing day is upon her and she knows that in order to get her family back together, she must use her wishes on them. But first she must determine what exactly it is to wish for, how can she fix a mistake her mother made on her own wishing day to reverse it all. Ava must use her smarts to see if she can go back in time to create a do-over for her mother and family. A tall order, with a lot at stake because if she fails, all is lost. This was the third and final novel in this trilogy and for the most part, it ended everything nicely. This trilogy took a nosedive in the second book, this didn’t quite redeem itself, but this was a step above. The plot continued to follow the three sisters, this time our point of view shifted to the youngest sister, Ava, but we also were given a second smaller point of view from a character who has been very mysterious from the start. This gave that character more depth, but she still felt very one dimensional because even though we saw from her younger point of view, it felt too late in the series to be getting it. We should have been dabbling in it from book one, but Mryacle kept leaving the reader in the dark, not sure why, for dramatic effect? It didn’t end up really working. There was another character who the reader thought we’d get more from after the first book and we only saw bits of her and she was only used to move the story along, but that made it more confusing because the reader couldn’t figure out how she actually fit into the overall story. Even in this novel, we still have no reference as to where she came from, why she was in these girls’ lives and why she had all this knowledge, she just appeared and disappeared without any real context. The rest of the main characters were developed, we barely saw from Ava’s two sisters, but it was nice to get to know Ava and all of her interests and hobbies. The adults all continued to feel a little flat and very background noise; even Ava’s mom, who this trilogy basically centres around, felt barely around. The plot to this one felt very fast-paced and it jumped a bit, but not as bad as the last book. The reader could see where the author was trying to go, even if stories weren’t fleshed out as well as they could have been. Overall, this trilogy at its core had heart and magic; at times it was fun to read. Maybe if this reader had been middle grade when reading this, they would have enjoyed it more, as an adult it felt like a lot of stretching of the imagination had to happen.
Nory’s father refuses to take her calls. Hawthorn and Dalia phone Nory secretly and urge her to practice her magic harder so she can come home. Nory decides she will train herself to be normal and test out of UDM. She apologizes to Elliot for the spraying incident and invites him to join her in her quest to get back into traditional classes.
As Cat learns more about the dark forces at play in her town, she also discovers that there is a hidden power within her. This power lies in her ability to show love and kindness, even in the face of adversity. In a pivotal moment in the story, Cat realizes that she can use this power of reverse magic to combat the negative energy that has plagued her town. She understands that by spreading love and kindness, she can counteract the effects of the spell that has caused harm and turmoil. By embracing the power of reverse magic, Cat becomes a beacon of light in a dark world. She inspires others to follow her lead and work together to bring justice to her town. Through her actions, Cat demonstrates the transformative power of love and the ability to overcome darkness. Lauren Myracle's "Shine" is a powerful exploration of the impact individuals can have when they choose to fight against injustice with love and kindness. The concept of reverse magic serves as a reminder that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times..
Reviews for "The Role of Reverse Magic in Challenging Traditional Gender Roles in Lauren Myracle's Stories"
1. Amanda - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Reverse Magic" by Lauren Myracle. The story lacked depth and the characters felt incredibly one-dimensional. The plot was predictable and I felt like I had read a similar story before. The writing style was also very simplistic, which made it hard for me to get engrossed in the story. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. John - 2 stars
"Reverse Magic" by Lauren Myracle was an average read for me. While I appreciated the concept of a world where magic is reversed and its consequences, I found the execution to be lacking. The pacing was slow, and it took a long time for the story to gain momentum. The characters were forgettable and their actions often felt forced. Additionally, the climax and resolution were underwhelming, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. I had high hopes for this book but ended up feeling let down.
3. Melissa - 2 stars
I had high expectations for "Reverse Magic" by Lauren Myracle, but unfortunately, it didn't meet them. The plot felt disjointed and the world-building was lacking. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary. The writing style also didn't captivate me and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.