Black Magic Folly Beach is a phenomenon that has taken on an air of mystery and intrigue. Located in Folly Beach, South Carolina, this stretch of coastline is known for its eerie and supernatural occurrences. The origins of Black Magic Folly Beach can be traced back to the Gullah culture, a unique blend of African and American traditions that has thrived in the lowcountry for centuries. The Gullah people have long believed in the power of magic and the presence of spirits in their daily lives. It is said that Black Magic Folly Beach is a manifestation of this belief, a place where the spirits roam freely and exert their influence on the living. Visitors to Black Magic Folly Beach have reported a variety of strange phenomena.
Mirrors have an almost essentially Fae nature in that they are portals to Faery and hold great natural magical abilities and like much we know of Fae, they can be symbolic of great positive and also great negative energy! Just as Faery and Fae-beings must be respected above all else, the innate magic of mirrors must be approached respectfully. With respect for yourself (and inner development and shadow work) and with respect for the mirror itself!
Indeed, the book went on to win a Schneider Family Book Award given annually to books that embody, an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences. Since Margaret has a physical disability a foot and leg injured long ago that were never set correctly there is a brief suggestion at one point that there might be a magical remedy to her problem.
Visitors to Black Magic Folly Beach have reported a variety of strange phenomena. Some claim to have seen apparitions of long-deceased Gullah elders, while others have heard disembodied voices whispering in their ears. The beach itself has a strange energy, with some visitors reporting feelings of unease or being watched.
Review of the Day: The Magic Mirror by Susan Hill Long
The Magic Mirror: Concerning a Lonely Princess, a Foundling Girl, a Scheming King, and a Pickpocket Squirrel
By Susan Hill Long
Knopf (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
$16.99
ISBN: 978-0-553-51134-2
Ages 9-12
On shelves May 10th What do you want from a fairy tale? Magic? Romance? Derring-do? Despicable villainy? Academics and scholars have puzzled and puzzed until their puzzlers were sore over what it is about the European fairy tale genre that so enthralls us. Recently fairy tale lovers have seen the entertainment industry discover that fairy tales are still a primo source of capital. On the book side of things, I’ve seen a distinct uptick in retellings of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and more in the last five years. Classic fairy tales have it easy. It’s the newbies that have a hard time going. How do you get a foothold in a genre that’s been in existence for centuries? In The Magic Mirror by Susan Hill Long, the author decides to simplify. Merely take the elements that suit the story best (highway robbers, princesses, and just a smidgen of magic) and then weave in some surprisingly stellar writing. The result is fairy tale fare that reminds one of nothing so much as the best of Gail Carson Levine. Funny, friendly, witty and sly, this makes for perfect bedtime reading.
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Margaret (or Maggot, depending on who’s talking about her) should technically be grateful for her life. Though she sports a lame foot (an “accident of birth” she’s been told) and is an orphan, she has a roof over her head, food in her belly, and aside from avoiding Thomas, the local bully, not too much trouble in life. But of course she’s desperately lonely, and that’s a problem that’s hard to cure. When she makes the acquaintance of a man with a wooden leg, she receives in a trade a mirror capable of showing anyone their heart’s desire. But what she sees when she peers into it is a strange wild-eyed man she’s never laid eyes on before. When Minka, the woman who cares for Margaret, decides to marry her off, our heroine decides that leg or no leg she is not going to have her life decided for her. And in the course of her adventures she’ll little suspect there are royal mix-ups, a king with little in the way of fatherly feelings, a boy with a bagpipe, and a light-fingered squirrel in her very near future. Is anyone going to challenge me when I say that comparing a book, any book, to The Princess Bride is never a good idea? The Princess Bride inspires a loving fandom that jealously guards its unique storytelling. Still, there are many familiar tropes in that book/film. A princess, a pirate, giants, swordplay, you name it. When writing a new fairy tale you Harry Potter it. You take those familiar elements and weave them into something new. So when Ms. Long wrote The Magic Mirror she did exactly the same thing. Additionally, by splitting her narrative into an increasingly large cast of characters, she gives it a distinctly Princess Bride-like feel. It has humor and fights and baddies in all the same ways. When Kirkus reviewed this book they said that it was predictable and unbelievable (because of the coincidences in the plot). I’d counter that there’s nothing any more predictable or unbelievable here than you’d find in any modern fairy tale, be it Ella Enchanted or Frozen, and just as much joy. In this particular case it’s Long’s descriptions and characters that stay with a reader long after the book has been put down. Even the foulest villain has an emotional weak spot, and characters that are set up to seem like baddies at the beginning (like Minka) turn out to be pretty soft in the end. Plus you really root for these characters. Some authors think it necessary to drown their villains in a thick sauce of sadism so that when the heroes triumph it’s an even keener victory. But when writing books for 9-12 year olds there’s no need to pile on the bloodshed. In the right writers’ hands, as long as the antagonist is preventing the heroes from their happy ending, that’s all you really need to do to keep the plot moving at a sharp clip. I liked the people I met in this book, but the descriptions were probably my favorite aspect of the novel. Lines like, “Her voice climbed up the sentence like a ladder, and quavered at the top,” make me happy. Ditto wisdoms like “It’s all in the angle of the squint.” Or a description of a cathedral’s shadows where a character “shuffled away from the creeping dark so that she might escape God’s notice.” I did experience a palpable sense of relief that it was written today, though. Since Margaret has a physical disability (a foot and leg injured long ago that were never set correctly) there is a brief suggestion at one point that there might be a magical remedy to her problem. I was reminded of a similar middle grade novel Handbook for Dragon Slayers which also starred a girl with an injured limb. In that book a cure for her disability is bandied about and ultimately rejected in an excellent manner. Indeed, the book went on to win a Schneider Family Book Award given annually to books that embody, “an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” Reading The Magic Mirror I had the very clear sense that if this book had been written in the past an easy cure for Margaret’s leg would have been part of the story’s happy ending and that would be that. These days such endings are mildly insulting answers to what, in truth, are very real problems. Happily The Magic Mirror does not fall into such a trap (though sadly the heroine does have some unfortunate thoughts about a successful man with a hunch on his back that did not gel well with the book’s otherwise positive embrace of disability). As it happens, I did find one particular aspect of the book problematic. This is Ms. Long’s second novel so while the bones of this story are strong there are aspects to the writing that will need a bit of strengthening in the future. Specifically, the exposition. Now the art of exposition is learned, not born. Filling the reader in on a hitherto unknown back-story is no easy task. At best, back-story is woven into the dialogue so naturally the reader is hardly aware that they’re learning about what’s come before. Clunky back-story, in contrast, places huge chunks of it en masse in the same general vicinity of the novel. Alas, near the end of The Magic Mirror the author has set herself up to reveal not just the back-story of our heroine, but of at least three to four other people as well. The result is ultimately somewhat confusing, with new characters popping up (a midwife, a thief’s wife) to fill in the details out of the blue. Without a character guide (which would, admittedly, give away some of the plot) there is little to help kids distinguish between Petra vs. Minka vs. Margaret.
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell
- The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
"History, usually taught in the classroom, comes to life from the ground. A pupil who uncovers a find during an excavation will never forget the experience. There is no better way to attach the youth to the country and the heritage," Escusido said.
Legend has it that Black Magic Folly Beach is a gateway to the spirit world, a place where the living can commune with the dead. Many people come to the beach seeking answers or guidance from the spirits, engaging in rituals and ceremonies to connect with the supernatural. Some believe that the beach's strong spiritual energy can enhance their own magical abilities. Despite its reputation, Black Magic Folly Beach remains a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The allure of the supernatural draws in curious visitors who are eager to experience the mysterious atmosphere for themselves. Whether it is the power of suggestion or a genuine connection to the spirit realm, Black Magic Folly Beach continues to captivate the imaginations of those who seek the unknown. In recent years, there have been efforts to preserve and celebrate the Gullah culture and traditions that have shaped Black Magic Folly Beach. Local organizations and individuals have worked to educate the public about the rich history and beliefs of the Gullah people, ensuring that their cultural heritage is not forgotten. In conclusion, Black Magic Folly Beach is a unique and enigmatic location that has captivated the minds of many. Its origins in Gullah culture and the supernatural occurrences reported by visitors add to its mystique. Whether one believes in the power of magic and the spirit world or not, there is no denying the intrigue and allure of Black Magic Folly Beach..
Reviews for "Cursed Objects: Black Magic Artifacts at Folly Beach"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Black Magic Folly Beach". The story was incredibly slow-moving and lacked any real excitement or intrigue. The characters were one-dimensional and I had a hard time connecting with any of them. The author's writing style felt forced and awkward, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found the book to be incredibly underwhelming and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Black Magic Folly Beach". The plot was all over the place and the pacing was incredibly slow. It was hard to stay engaged with the story as nothing seemed to be happening. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their struggles. Additionally, I found the writing style to be bland and uninspiring. I was expecting so much more from this book and ended up feeling incredibly let down.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Black Magic Folly Beach" was a major disappointment for me. The story had so much potential but failed to deliver. The pacing was sluggish and the plot lacked any real depth or originality. The characters felt flat and their motivations were unclear. The writing style was also a letdown, lacking the descriptive language and vivid imagery that could have brought the setting to life. Overall, I found this book to be a forgettable and unsatisfying read.
4. David - 2.5/5 stars - While "Black Magic Folly Beach" had some interesting elements, it ultimately fell short for me. The story had promise, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was uneven and the plot felt predictable and cliché at times. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, as they often felt unrealistic and poorly developed. The writing style was adequate, but nothing particularly stood out. Overall, this book failed to leave a lasting impression on me.