My Review of Wayward Magic

Like many multi-author collections of short stories, Wayward Magic has a huge variety of different stories and writing styles, although all the stories do concern magic and fantasy. I’ll admit that not all the stories are to my taste, but that’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of people who would enjoy them. I think the anthology is also complicated by the fact that many of the stories aren’t intended to be stand alone stories. Some clearly end on cliffhangers that I understand will be finished in the next book. I think it would be helpful to think of Hidden Magic, Wayward Magic, and Forgotten Magic as being installments, with each of the stories having a beginning, middle, and end in those books. Nonetheless, some of the “installments” I read in Wayward Magic really stood out to me as being very interesting, and I’m looking forward to reading the ends of them in Forgotten Magic when it comes out.

In particular, I loved Majanka Verstraete’s “The Lair of the Red God.” It was an engaging story set in an interesting world, and I liked the main character, Saleyna. The stakes felt high, the emotions felt genuine, and it was enjoyable to read. Likewise, I ejoyed Alesha Escobar’s “The Deh’Anin Unveiled.” Her world had plenty of interesting mysteries and an enjoyably selfish and villainous main character, and I would definitely be curious to see if she gets away with her nefarious deeds or gets a serious comeuppance. ”The Mouth of the Dragon” by Devorah Fox was another story that left me wanting to know the ending. It was written in a way that reminded me of the “Voyage of the Dawn Treader” or “The Phantom Tollbooth,” which is a type of fantasy I don’t see as often anymore, and I would like to read more. “Spirit Gambit” also had interesting characters, and I liked seeing the very different take on magic Leah W. Van Dinther depicts. Some other stories I enjoyed were “The Ones Who Fight” and “Aamira.”

A few stories, however, really didn’t speak to me. “Weather Witch Worries” felt like too much teenage wish fulfillment and not enough genuine drama (she’s super powerful! and has a hot, perfect boyfriend! and OMG, now she’s royalty, too!). A couple of other stories may have been better, but it felt as though they were too incomplete for even an installment. I couldn’t follow that much of the drama or really care about the characters because I felt like I was starting the middle of a bunch of action that made very little sense. Also, in general I’m not to fond of over-powered protagonists. Maybe it’s a personal preference, but I prefer magic that feels like effort and heroes/heroines that need to earn their successes instead of just being born at the right time/with the right gifts. I also like villains who have a more compelling drive than just be evil because, I don’t know, evil? Jealousy over the perfect protagonist?

Overall, I’d recommend this book (though maybe not every story in it) to anyone who enjoys fantasy. The nice thing about collections of short stories as ebooks is that if one story doesn’t speak to you, you can always just skip ahead to another one. So check out Wayward Magic! Right now it’s only $0.99.

Blurb for Wayward Magic

Wayward Magic (Magic Underground Book II) reveals stories of missing people, rescue, and most of all, magic. Our heroes will grapple with magic gone wayward in order to save themselves, their families, and often the world. This collection features:

Out-of-control magic that could destroy a young apprentice’s master and their world

A woman’s hidden magic leaving her with more freedom that she wanted

Sisters at the center of a black magic scandal must stop the city from falling to demons

Children separated from their mother must escape the castle on the most dangerous night in history

The ill are suddenly protected from death by an unlikely hero…a teenage physician

Famine-stricken subjects await precious cargo currently stranded on a ship

A holy order must save a town from a pretty poison most magical and most deadly

And more!

Fans of Patricia Briggs and Tamsyn Muir will love Wayward Magic, second of the Magic Underground trilogy of anthologies… Get it today!

Magical Mayhem Press: https://magicalmayhempress.com/

Authors:

Melinda Kucsera, Joynell Schultz, Lee French, H.B. Lyne, Raven Oak, L.C. Ireland, Alesha Escobar, Tiffany Shand, C.S. Johnson, Anela Deen, Erik Kort, Devorah Fox, Stephen Wallace, Gwendolyn Woodschild, Leah W. Van Dinther, Barbara Letson, C.K. Rieke, William C. Cronk, Majanka Verstraete, Toasha Jiordano, H.M. Jones  Krista Ames,  A.R. Johnston