My lovely readers and followers. :3
I hope you’ve hada great day so far. 🙂
Today I wanna celebrate the release of Isabelle Adler’s A Touch of Magic, book 1 in her new Fae-Touched series.
Fae? Magic? Well, if those things are your thing, read further for an excerpt, read my review.
I’m also thrilled to share a small guest post by Isabelle Adler with you, she’s talking about her songs for the books and created an amazing playlist. :3
Also don’t miss your chance to win a really cool price in the giveaway. 🙂
Happy reading. 🙂
A Touch of Magic by Isabelle Adler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
If you’d ask me if my favorite genre is fantasy I would say: no, not really. But over the time I started to adore especially those books I’d call urban fantasy or those which aren’t particularly high fantasy.
Isabelle Adler’s book caught my attention when I was scrolling through my twitter timeline and followed the hashtag #1lineWed (in short: a hastag to follow shared lines of a WIP on Wednesday). The small snippets were amazing and when I had the possibility to read the book I devoured it.
The tension is perfectly balanced, the suspense is right there from the start, the moment Cary and Ty meet each other. It getting more and more interesting when they are forced to form a partnership – something which isn’t what they’ve expected but soon something they won’t miss anymore.
The relationship between those two is tentative growing, it’s mixed with the new events, especially severe changes in Cary’s life, but although they appear unlike and have other values and beliefs they make a good team and complete each other on a fundamental level.
The revealings within the book are suprising, one peak of tension is followed by another, there is rarely time to take a breath, to pause or to enjoy the shared time. In fact with having so many things connected to each other, you’re highly anticipating the end of the book as reader – and the HEA which is provided is sweet but also – with being the first book in the series – a promising start of what’s coming next for Cary and Ty. :3
The book contains – as the genre and tropes say – magic, paranormal activities; you’re invited into a magical world, where magic power and abilites are mixed with daily events, jobs and “ordenary” people. I liked how rarely someone is batting an eye when magic is used, and the way the sorcerers, those who are powerful magicians and who are able to ignite the magic in things and special chosen people or change ordenary stuff in magical tools, were displayed is pretty interesting and… I dare say diverse. We have three sorcerers in the book and I was especially fond of Ty’s friend Sebastian, nickname Bas, and his unconventional way of clothing, acting and had to laugh a lot about his unique attitude. :3 I actually hope that we see him in book 2 or that he maybe gets his own book? :3
Cary, as someone who isn’t tought as a sorcerer but inherits a great deal of magic, deeply slumbering inside him, is a person who’s learning how to deal with the new powers, to trust and use the new abilities.
Between Ty and Cary is a bond which is growing stronger and stronger and both get something out of their forced and unlikely partnership; it’s emotional and sweet without being too cheesy. I really adored the scenes and the mutual feelings, first shown pretty hesitant – though some scenes are fueled with sexual tension – and tentative. :3
For this book, which is the first I’ve read by the author, I give 5 full stars. Great magical, paranormal adventure with an amazing balance of emoitional parts, suspense and quirky, totally adorable characters you really want to meet again. :3
RELEASE BLITZ
Title: A Touch of Magic
Series: Fae-Touched book 1
Author: Isabelle Adler
Genre: M/M Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal
Release Date: May 28, 2018
Publisher: Nine Star Press
Lenght: 68.800 words / 182 pages
Cover artist: Natasha Snow
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PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE
NineStar Press
Smashwords | Kobo
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Blurb
After returning to the straight and narrow, Cary Westfield hopes to rebuild his life as a stage magician. Only thing is, the success of his new show is entirely dependent on a strange medallion inherited from his late grandfather—an amulet that holds a rare and inexplicable power to captivate the wearer’s audience.
Ty prides himself on his ability to obtain any item of magical significance—for the right price. When a mysterious client hires him to steal a magical amulet from a neophyte illusionist, he’s sure it will be a quick and easy job, earning him a nice chunk of cash.
As it turns out, nothing is sure when greed and powerful magic are at play. When a mob boss with far-reaching aspirations beats Ty to the snatch, Cary and Ty form an unlikely partnership to get the amulet back. The unexpected spark of attraction between them is a welcome perk, but each man has his own plan for the prize.
All bets are off, however, when it is revealed the magical amulet holds a darker secret than either of them had bargained for.
Excerpt
Chapter One
Cary Westfield wasn’t a terribly catchy name for a magician, so the playbill read The Incredible Mr. Mars.
Ty studied the vintage style poster near the theater’s entrance, which depicted said Mr. Mars pulling a bewildered-looking white rabbit out of a hat. Despite the old-fashioned font and style, the poster was brand new. Mr. Mars was a relative newcomer to the live entertainment scene and had only been performing at the Garland Magic Theater for two weeks, but the shows had been consistently sold out. Granted, this wasn’t the largest or the most prestigious venue in San Francisco; however, considering the act in question wasn’t at all original or shocking, consisting of run-of-the-mill stage illusions and a bit of mind reading, it was quite a feat.
The mass appeal would have been something of a mystery had Ty not known exactly what was behind it. That was too bad for poor Cary Westfield—sudden and unwarranted success tended to draw the wrong kind of attention.
Ty followed the line inside. The usher took a look at his ticket and directed him to the back row. Ty took the aisle seat and waited as the lights dimmed. The darkness sharpened the smell of dust coming from the old upholstery, the whispers of the spectators, and most annoyingly, the glare of their cell phone screens. It would seem even the promise of magic couldn’t tear some people away from their social media. The emcee announced the magician, and the show began.
Contrary to tradition, Mr. Mars didn’t have an assistant. His tricks weren’t all that complicated, but Ty had to give him credit for showmanship. He supplied a running commentary for the performance, which was both witty and charming and elicited laughter from the crowd. Smart. People always loved it when a show made them laugh, so they were more likely to forgive the lack of surprise and excitement. Not that Ty was in any way an expert on magic shows, but he was, in a manner of speaking, an expert on excitement.
The magician’s looks didn’t hurt either. His smooth tan skin and fine features made the gaudy stage costume appear elegant. Ty absently noted the lean figure and the fluid movements, but he wasn’t there to admire Westfield’s form.
As Mr. Mars struck another impressive pose, pretending to strain to recite the contents of some woman’s purse, Ty slipped quietly into the shadows, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. Thankfully, the small theater had an appropriately small staff, even on a busier Saturday night, and no one spotted him as he made his way to the backstage passage. There was only one dressing room, and the lock on it was a joke. He let himself inside and closed the door softly. The runes tattooed into his fingertips with invisible ink prevented him from leaving fingerprints, so he could rummage freely without being encumbered by gloves. That shit always came in handy—bad pun intended.
The small room was cramped, serving both as a makeup nook and a storage space for various costumes and stage props. There was a vanity with a large backlit mirror. Ty looked it over, but saw nothing of interest besides a kohl eyeliner and a few mini-sized bottles of flavored vodka scattered all over the tabletop. Either the Incredible Mr. Mars needed some liquid courage before facing the crowd, or Mr. Westfield had a bit of a drinking problem.
It was more force of habit than curiosity. Ty didn’t really expect to find anything of value lying around. He retreated to a far corner, where he spotted an oversized armchair under a pile of old sequined jackets, and settled there, taking out his SIG. The show was supposed to run for at least forty more minutes, but that was okay. He could wait.
GUEST POST
You’re curious what Isabelle was listening to the book and what songs are capturing the mood? Read further for the amazing playlist. :3 Maybe you’ll find your perfect song among them. :3
Isabelle said:
A Touch of Magic is a romance, but it is also quite heavy on action. This is why the playlist I’ve compiled to accompany it is generally dynamic and upbeat.
Rather than starting with a playlist to create a certain mood, I usually choose appropriate tracks when the book is close to its final form. By this time I already have a better understanding of the characters, their vulnerabilities, goals, and inner struggles, as well as a clear vision of where they will end up at the final chapter of the story. This makes it easier to find a perfect musical match for the important points of the characters’ arcs, both in overall mood and in lyrics. I believe that after reading the book, it would be easy to recognize how each song ties into each character and their pivotal moments in the narrative.
I hope you enjoy it!
- Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes
https://youtu.be/gOsM-DYAEhY
- LP – Lost On You
https://youtu.be/hn3wJ1_1Zsg
- Calvin Harris – Let’s Go ft. Ne-Yo
https://youtu.be/LYZ6gXWZfZM
- Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
https://youtu.be/UqyT8IEBkvY
- Imagine Dragons – Demons
https://youtu.be/mWRsgZuwf_8
- Lady Gaga – Poker Face
https://youtu.be/bESGLojNYSo
- David Guetta – She Wolf (Falling To Pieces) ft. Sia
https://youtu.be/PVzljDmoPVs
- Kovacs – The Devil You Know
https://youtu.be/C-Gyl_Gf0Xo
- Chris Cornell – You Know My Name
https://youtu.be/YnzgdBAKyJo
- Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out
https://youtu.be/WbN0nX61rIs
- ZAYN – Dusk Till Dawn ft. Sia
https://youtu.be/tt2k8PGm-TI
Author bio – Isabelle Adler
A voracious reader from the age of five, Isabelle Adler has always dreamed of one day putting her own stories into writing. She loves traveling, art, and science, and finds inspiration in all of these. Her favorite genres include sci-fi, fantasy, and historical adventure. She also firmly believes in the unlimited powers of imagination and caffeine.
Author links / get in contact
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GIVEAWAY
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Your chance to win *click*
Please note: the giveaway is not sponsored, administered or endorsed by Mikku-chan / A World full of Words.
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