What do you think?
Rate this book
Rogue Magic
While trapped in a stalled subway train on his morning commute, PR rep Byron Cole flirts with Levi, a young waiter with adorable curls. But Byron's hopes for romance crash and burn when Levi saves him from a brutal explosion—with outlawed magic.
When Levi is imprisoned, Byron begins to question everything he's ever believed. How can magic be evil when Levi used it to save dozens of lives? So Byron hatches a plan to save Levi that will cost him his job and probably his life. If he doesn't pull it off, Levi will be put to death.
Byron discovers that he isn't the only one questioning America's stance on magic. And he learns that Levi is stubborn, angry, and utterly enchanting. Time is running out, though. Byron must convince Levi to trust him, to trust his own magic, and to fight against the hatred that’s forced him to hide his true nature his entire life. The more Levi opens up, the harder Byron falls. And the more they have to lose.
When Levi is imprisoned, Byron begins to question everything he's ever believed. How can magic be evil when Levi used it to save dozens of lives? So Byron hatches a plan to save Levi that will cost him his job and probably his life. If he doesn't pull it off, Levi will be put to death.
Byron discovers that he isn't the only one questioning America's stance on magic. And he learns that Levi is stubborn, angry, and utterly enchanting. Time is running out, though. Byron must convince Levi to trust him, to trust his own magic, and to fight against the hatred that’s forced him to hide his true nature his entire life. The more Levi opens up, the harder Byron falls. And the more they have to lose.
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2017
About the author
Kit Brisby
1 book11 followersKit Brisby lives in Tampa Bay, Florida, with her two young sons and two rescue dogs. A graduate of the University of Florida, she's been writing professionally since 2002. Her career has taken her from writing think pieces on breastfeeding to writing erotica for the adult industry—and nearly everything in between. She works in digital marketing and helps businesses find and tell their stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 3, 2017
Levi and Byron
That was one powerful story about a system who misused and mistreated beautiful people who were capable of doing magical things.
It's about fear of the unknown, about abuse of power. About love and compassion, about healing and forgiveness. All strong put down on paper.
To be a mage was forbidden
Byron worked for his uncles Cole company who were against Mage and all magic.
Byron owes his life to Levi and after that he helped Levi from the inside, but he was absolute no hero. He was insecure about a lot of decisions.
To put the Cole system down there has to be a plan. With some allies they had a chance but a very small one.
The thing that worked so well in this story was that there was no superman, Byron was just a small pion in the big picture. He was the main character but also not...
There was a heavy blanket hanging over this story, you could feel the train come crashing any minute.
Suspense was killing I almost couldn't handle it.
Levi poor poor Levi running the green mile and Byron couldn't do anything.
It was written in a compelling way. Not shallow, it was a well developed story.
The romance was there, bright and delicate, but that was, in my humble opinion, not the main course.
That was one powerful story about a system who misused and mistreated beautiful people who were capable of doing magical things.
It's about fear of the unknown, about abuse of power. About love and compassion, about healing and forgiveness. All strong put down on paper.
To be a mage was forbidden
Byron worked for his uncles Cole company who were against Mage and all magic.
Byron owes his life to Levi and after that he helped Levi from the inside, but he was absolute no hero. He was insecure about a lot of decisions.
To put the Cole system down there has to be a plan. With some allies they had a chance but a very small one.
The thing that worked so well in this story was that there was no superman, Byron was just a small pion in the big picture. He was the main character but also not...
There was a heavy blanket hanging over this story, you could feel the train come crashing any minute.
Suspense was killing I almost couldn't handle it.
Levi poor poor Levi running the green mile and Byron couldn't do anything.
It was written in a compelling way. Not shallow, it was a well developed story.
The romance was there, bright and delicate, but that was, in my humble opinion, not the main course.
January 6, 2017
In an alternate universe to our current time, mages are considered threats to human population. They are required to be registered the Department of Occult Supervision and must use a band that suppresses their magic. If not they are considered rogues. Unsanctioned use of magic can result in prison sentence (or even death).
The idea felt familiar to me since I consumed hundreds of Merlin fan-fictions few years back; the ban of magic was one of the recurring theme. In fact I remember one of them had Merlin using a wrist-band like this himself. I didn't have any problem being immersed with the world-built. The premise wasn't difficult to understand.
I WOULD love to get some context into it though. Were mages considered threatening since the beginning of time? Or were there a significant event that turned the opinion against them? Like the Salem Witch Hunt? Why would they need to register and use the bands? What happened to mages before the bands were created? Were the laws different between the United States and the rest of the world? And so on...
It also drove me up to the wall when I read about terms that wasn't explained beforehand. Like CALM bands ... what does CALM stand for? My mind kept guessing the meaning (was it "Control and Lessen Magic?" or something?). Or how the character suddenly talked about AMID; only few chapters later, he explained that AMID is "AntiMagic Integrated Defense". See, I need these things explained, author!
Apart from that I found this book to be appealing. I thought Byron was a great and sympathetic protagonist. He started the journey being unaware about what horrible things his family's company, Cole Industries, really did to mages. I didn't think Byron was ignorant, but Byron was "wrapped inside a bubble" by his position as part of the Cole family. Byron didn't have enough friends who could open his eyes about what the mages were going through
After Byron was saved by Levi, he saw for himself the horrible treatment that Levi received. Only because Levi was an unregistered mage and used magic. Byron realized that everything was not completely black and white. Like I said, I thought Byron was sympathetic character. He had a kind heart. It was easy for me to see why his close friends were willing to fight with him, even if it was dangerous. Heck, even the "enemies", like Levi's ex-boyfriend or other mages would help him.
I felt like I didn't know a lot about Levi, though. While it was also easy to care for Levi -- considering that he spent the majority of his time in this book being tortured for his magic, then tried to control his fear and trauma in order to help bring down Cole Industries, so you couldn't help wanting him to be saved -- I still had questions about him. Was he close with his mother? Did all of his family members have magic? Why did he seem to stay away from the mages community? Why did he broke up with Sam? There was still a lot of Levi that I want to know more.
I guess, I couldn't say that the romance was stellar since I didn't felt myself rooting for Byron and Levi 110%. Personally, I felt Rogue Magic focuses more on the suspense/action part rather than the romance. But because that part was excellent for me -- it kept me on the edge of my seat -- this ended up as a satisfying urban fantasy read!!
I will keep eyes on Kit Brisby's next books for sure!
PS: Based from the tweet I received from Kit Brisby, apparently CALM stands for
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
The idea felt familiar to me since I consumed hundreds of Merlin fan-fictions few years back; the ban of magic was one of the recurring theme. In fact I remember one of them had Merlin using a wrist-band like this himself. I didn't have any problem being immersed with the world-built. The premise wasn't difficult to understand.
I WOULD love to get some context into it though. Were mages considered threatening since the beginning of time? Or were there a significant event that turned the opinion against them? Like the Salem Witch Hunt? Why would they need to register and use the bands? What happened to mages before the bands were created? Were the laws different between the United States and the rest of the world? And so on...
It also drove me up to the wall when I read about terms that wasn't explained beforehand. Like CALM bands ... what does CALM stand for? My mind kept guessing the meaning (was it "Control and Lessen Magic?" or something?). Or how the character suddenly talked about AMID; only few chapters later, he explained that AMID is "AntiMagic Integrated Defense". See, I need these things explained, author!
Apart from that I found this book to be appealing. I thought Byron was a great and sympathetic protagonist. He started the journey being unaware about what horrible things his family's company, Cole Industries, really did to mages. I didn't think Byron was ignorant, but Byron was "wrapped inside a bubble" by his position as part of the Cole family. Byron didn't have enough friends who could open his eyes about what the mages were going through
After Byron was saved by Levi, he saw for himself the horrible treatment that Levi received. Only because Levi was an unregistered mage and used magic. Byron realized that everything was not completely black and white. Like I said, I thought Byron was sympathetic character. He had a kind heart. It was easy for me to see why his close friends were willing to fight with him, even if it was dangerous. Heck, even the "enemies", like Levi's ex-boyfriend or other mages would help him.
I felt like I didn't know a lot about Levi, though. While it was also easy to care for Levi -- considering that he spent the majority of his time in this book being tortured for his magic, then tried to control his fear and trauma in order to help bring down Cole Industries, so you couldn't help wanting him to be saved -- I still had questions about him. Was he close with his mother? Did all of his family members have magic? Why did he seem to stay away from the mages community? Why did he broke up with Sam? There was still a lot of Levi that I want to know more.
I guess, I couldn't say that the romance was stellar since I didn't felt myself rooting for Byron and Levi 110%. Personally, I felt Rogue Magic focuses more on the suspense/action part rather than the romance. But because that part was excellent for me -- it kept me on the edge of my seat -- this ended up as a satisfying urban fantasy read!!
I will keep eyes on Kit Brisby's next books for sure!
PS: Based from the tweet I received from Kit Brisby, apparently CALM stands for
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
March 27, 2017
3.5 stars for this story with adorable MCs and magic in the air !!
In a futuristic world, magic is considered as evil and drastically fought against : all mages have to be registered, their powers neutralized by wearing wrist bands and with only hopes of low life.
Warren Cole built an empire controlling magic and recruited his nephew, Byron, as PR. On his way to a conference, Byron meets Levi, a beautiful young man who, despite trying to hide his magic, uses his powers to save Byron from a terrorist attack. To Byron’s shock, Levi is being imprisoned in one of Cole’s facility, awaiting to be used as an experiment by Cole’s scientists. And Byron starts to question everything he took for granted.
I was sucked in this futuristic world and the gripping plot to save Levi and the mages and make the society “unafraid” of magic. I rooted for Byron and Levi, so young, so afraid but so brave. My only (but big) niggle for this enjoyable story : the plot overshadowed the romance between these 2 adorable characters. Too bad, because a bit more between Byron and Levi would have made it a 5 stars for me !
Thank you, Melissa, for this very good rec and thanks you, Josy, for gifting me this book !!
In a futuristic world, magic is considered as evil and drastically fought against : all mages have to be registered, their powers neutralized by wearing wrist bands and with only hopes of low life.
Warren Cole built an empire controlling magic and recruited his nephew, Byron, as PR. On his way to a conference, Byron meets Levi, a beautiful young man who, despite trying to hide his magic, uses his powers to save Byron from a terrorist attack. To Byron’s shock, Levi is being imprisoned in one of Cole’s facility, awaiting to be used as an experiment by Cole’s scientists. And Byron starts to question everything he took for granted.
I was sucked in this futuristic world and the gripping plot to save Levi and the mages and make the society “unafraid” of magic. I rooted for Byron and Levi, so young, so afraid but so brave. My only (but big) niggle for this enjoyable story : the plot overshadowed the romance between these 2 adorable characters. Too bad, because a bit more between Byron and Levi would have made it a 5 stars for me !
Thank you, Melissa, for this very good rec and thanks you, Josy, for gifting me this book !!
August 7, 2017
3,5 stars.
A fast-paced, pleasant story with very sweet main characters. Romance was slow burn and maybe secondary to the plot but the pull between the main characters was there, you could feel them gravitating to each other. Both Byron and Levi were very cute.
I'm not sure what prevents me from rating the book higher. There's nothing in it I would complain about. It was written very pleasantly and there was nothing annoying about it. I just... didn't feel enough when reading it, I guess. Like, the MCs were very nice but I didn't fall in love with them. There was a lot of bad stuff happening but my heart wasn't breaking for them. I don't know, really. It was nice. But I like feeling a lot more passionate about the books I read - and here I didn't.
A fast-paced, pleasant story with very sweet main characters. Romance was slow burn and maybe secondary to the plot but the pull between the main characters was there, you could feel them gravitating to each other. Both Byron and Levi were very cute.
I'm not sure what prevents me from rating the book higher. There's nothing in it I would complain about. It was written very pleasantly and there was nothing annoying about it. I just... didn't feel enough when reading it, I guess. Like, the MCs were very nice but I didn't fall in love with them. There was a lot of bad stuff happening but my heart wasn't breaking for them. I don't know, really. It was nice. But I like feeling a lot more passionate about the books I read - and here I didn't.
August 1, 2023
I found this while obsessively trawling the sale offerings on Smashwords; it was very cheap and the sample was surprisingly good -- for one thing, the alt-NYC setting suggested that the author has, you know, actually set foot in the city, in that the version of it here isn't just a very big suburb -- so I snagged it. (Some of the book is set on North Brother Island! Which is accurately described! Go, Kit Brisby!)
Anyway the premise here is that some people, called mages, have, you guessed it, magic; they are hated and feared, have been largely stripped of their civil rights, and if they don't register with authorities and wear wristbands that prevent them from using their magic, they are executed -- sometimes, it's suggested, by burning alive. Think queer people if Ron DeSatan ran the country (in fact, Brisby surely had the mage/queer analogy in mind, though the villain-in-chief isn't DeSantis with mustachios to twirl).
MC1, Byron Cole, is the scion of the family whose company manufactures those magic-dampening bracelets; MC2, Levi Camden, is a mage who's been on the downlow all his life but who spontaneously uses his magic to shield a group of people from an explosion and fire, and who is of course then arrested and treated brutally. Among those he saves is MC1, who has always believed the official (and corporate) line about mages, but whose certainties start crumbling in a hurry when he sees his rescuer beaten by cops and later discovers that a new corporate initiative to create clean energy actually entails the torture of mages.
How much patience you have for Byron depends, I guess, on whether you have patience in general for people who aren't oppressed themselves and thus fail to notice that other people are. I have a good amount; when you're surrounded by bigotry and dissent is life-threatening, as it is in this alt-universe, it's not easy to work out that everything you've been taught to believe is actually a bunch of bollocks. To his great credit, once Byron's eyes are opened, he keeps them open.
It's hard to describe the plot without making it seem like Byron does all the masterminding for the good guys' eventual triumph -- which he does, in part, but a lot of what he does is hooking into an existing mage-rights undercurrent that then has Levi as a focal point. Oh, hell, I guess the story is, to an extent, something I'd call a white-savior narrative if the oppressed group were people of African ancestry rather than people with a fictional extra talent. Still, Levi's character -- brave, terrified, snarky, irritable, generous-spirited -- is fully realized, so he doesn't feel like a bit player in Byron's story. The secondary characters, in particular a scientist who turns against the anti-mage system; her girlfriend (also Byron's roommate) a teacher who gets fired for inviting her students to think aboutstructural racism the rights of mages; and Levi's ex-bf and dear friend Sam, all have their own conflicts and their own breaking points -- they're not stick figures.
I have to admit that the more closely I examine the worldbuilding and the plot, the more holes I find, but contrary to my usual attitude I'm disinclined to pick nits. Maybe that's because I got the book so cheaply, maybe because the quality of the writing and editing was a surprise (though, memo to Kit Brisby: lose the word "flutter" and all its variants tout suite, okay?), maybe because I just plain liked the characters and was surprised by a twist at the end ... Anyway, I enjoyed this. It falls shy of a 4-star read, but not by very much.
Anyway the premise here is that some people, called mages, have, you guessed it, magic; they are hated and feared, have been largely stripped of their civil rights, and if they don't register with authorities and wear wristbands that prevent them from using their magic, they are executed -- sometimes, it's suggested, by burning alive. Think queer people if Ron DeSatan ran the country (in fact, Brisby surely had the mage/queer analogy in mind, though the villain-in-chief isn't DeSantis with mustachios to twirl).
MC1, Byron Cole, is the scion of the family whose company manufactures those magic-dampening bracelets; MC2, Levi Camden, is a mage who's been on the downlow all his life but who spontaneously uses his magic to shield a group of people from an explosion and fire, and who is of course then arrested and treated brutally. Among those he saves is MC1, who has always believed the official (and corporate) line about mages, but whose certainties start crumbling in a hurry when he sees his rescuer beaten by cops and later discovers that a new corporate initiative to create clean energy actually entails the torture of mages.
How much patience you have for Byron depends, I guess, on whether you have patience in general for people who aren't oppressed themselves and thus fail to notice that other people are. I have a good amount; when you're surrounded by bigotry and dissent is life-threatening, as it is in this alt-universe, it's not easy to work out that everything you've been taught to believe is actually a bunch of bollocks. To his great credit, once Byron's eyes are opened, he keeps them open.
It's hard to describe the plot without making it seem like Byron does all the masterminding for the good guys' eventual triumph -- which he does, in part, but a lot of what he does is hooking into an existing mage-rights undercurrent that then has Levi as a focal point. Oh, hell, I guess the story is, to an extent, something I'd call a white-savior narrative if the oppressed group were people of African ancestry rather than people with a fictional extra talent. Still, Levi's character -- brave, terrified, snarky, irritable, generous-spirited -- is fully realized, so he doesn't feel like a bit player in Byron's story. The secondary characters, in particular a scientist who turns against the anti-mage system; her girlfriend (also Byron's roommate) a teacher who gets fired for inviting her students to think about
I have to admit that the more closely I examine the worldbuilding and the plot, the more holes I find, but contrary to my usual attitude I'm disinclined to pick nits. Maybe that's because I got the book so cheaply, maybe because the quality of the writing and editing was a surprise (though, memo to Kit Brisby: lose the word "flutter" and all its variants tout suite, okay?), maybe because I just plain liked the characters and was surprised by a twist at the end ... Anyway, I enjoyed this. It falls shy of a 4-star read, but not by very much.
January 25, 2018
Bastante entretenido, me ha recordado a un merthur que leí hace mucho.
February 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. Lots of plot and a strong romance arc, it had me gripped throughout. I think the author did a great job with the world building and it's a very clever metaphor for some of the politics we're seeing in the present non-magical world.
Hats off to Kit Brisby for a thoughtful, intelligent piece of writing that's entertaining too.
Recommended for people who like plenty of plot with their romance and fancy something a little different (magic/alternate universe).
Hats off to Kit Brisby for a thoughtful, intelligent piece of writing that's entertaining too.
Recommended for people who like plenty of plot with their romance and fancy something a little different (magic/alternate universe).
April 24, 2017
Rogue Magic was a truly amazing read: I had so much fun with it, and cannot wait to see what else Kit Brisby offers us in the future.
The concept of Rogue Magic is such a simple one, and yet it is done in such a way that throughout reading it will fail to reach your notice just how simple the concept is. In truth, it’s something that has been done before – yet Kit Brisby puts a unique spin on the idea and turns it into something truly amazing. We’re given more than a simple tale of magic being banned and the revolution that comes about; what we’re given is a tale of love, the developments and changes of a world, of the way the simplest of acts can change a person’s mind, and how things are never quite the way they are imagined to be. Honestly, the story goes much deeper than being a simple world where magic is hated.
I could go quite in depth when it comes to the storyline, but I’m going to avoid doing such a thing. The story comes together so beautifully that I have no wish to ruin anything through accidental spoilers. Thus, I’m going to address the book in a somewhat abstract way. Hopefully such a thing will convince you the book is wonderful – but if not, know it is my fault and not the story.
First off, the magic system. The magical system in this book is so interesting to read. We never really understand it on a deep level, but such a thing works with this story. We understand the basics, and as the story progresses we find out more and more about the world. Most of the focus, in regards to the magic, is on how people feel towards magic and magic users. Such a thing works perfectly with this story, as the tale focuses upon the changes in views rather than the actual use of magic. We get to see some insight into the magic world, but we’re not held down by details of how each magical scene plays out. In short, we have a book of magic that does not force the magic upon us all that often, and even when it does the magic almost falls into the background.
Second, the development of the characters. The characters are wonderful in general: they’re all such fun, each with their own views and opinions. However, the development we see throughout overshadows how much fun the characters are to begin with. Honestly, we see such change throughout the book. It feels like the tiniest of things, but these things add up. These little things demonstrate a much bigger change, and these changes are linked to the larger revolution that is being attempted throughout the book. Without a doubt, the development is amazing. It is subtle and yet it is constantly there.
Third, the romance. The romance is a slow build, and I really enjoyed it. The romantic elements are constantly there, lingering in the background, and whilst sometimes it felt as if the romance seemed to be taking too much attention, it never overpowered the overall story. It really was a sweet read, and I was quickly in love with our two main characters and hoping for their happily ever after.
Forth, the twist at the end. It was such a great twist. It has been done many times before, and yet I did not see it coming. I should have been annoyed with such a twist, and yet I loved it. The way it came about, the fact I overlooked the suggestions, left me grinning despite it how it was not a twist to smile about. It caught me so off guard, and such a thing really surprised me. I really did enjoy the way things played out with the twist at the end – I could not have asked for a better turn around.
The one thing I found a bit hard to believe was the power handed over to social media. I accept that it is a powerful tool in the modern day world, and yet I feel as though too much power was handed over to it in this story. Of course, this is just a small thing. I appreciate the way social media was used, and yet I find it hard to believe just how much power it seemed to have in this story.
Overall, this was a wonderful read. Whilst I wasn’t pulled in deep at the start of the book, I quickly I found myself unable to put it down. It’s certainly worth a read, and I’ll be looking to read more of the author’s work in the future.
As a final note, I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to advance read this great story.
The concept of Rogue Magic is such a simple one, and yet it is done in such a way that throughout reading it will fail to reach your notice just how simple the concept is. In truth, it’s something that has been done before – yet Kit Brisby puts a unique spin on the idea and turns it into something truly amazing. We’re given more than a simple tale of magic being banned and the revolution that comes about; what we’re given is a tale of love, the developments and changes of a world, of the way the simplest of acts can change a person’s mind, and how things are never quite the way they are imagined to be. Honestly, the story goes much deeper than being a simple world where magic is hated.
I could go quite in depth when it comes to the storyline, but I’m going to avoid doing such a thing. The story comes together so beautifully that I have no wish to ruin anything through accidental spoilers. Thus, I’m going to address the book in a somewhat abstract way. Hopefully such a thing will convince you the book is wonderful – but if not, know it is my fault and not the story.
First off, the magic system. The magical system in this book is so interesting to read. We never really understand it on a deep level, but such a thing works with this story. We understand the basics, and as the story progresses we find out more and more about the world. Most of the focus, in regards to the magic, is on how people feel towards magic and magic users. Such a thing works perfectly with this story, as the tale focuses upon the changes in views rather than the actual use of magic. We get to see some insight into the magic world, but we’re not held down by details of how each magical scene plays out. In short, we have a book of magic that does not force the magic upon us all that often, and even when it does the magic almost falls into the background.
Second, the development of the characters. The characters are wonderful in general: they’re all such fun, each with their own views and opinions. However, the development we see throughout overshadows how much fun the characters are to begin with. Honestly, we see such change throughout the book. It feels like the tiniest of things, but these things add up. These little things demonstrate a much bigger change, and these changes are linked to the larger revolution that is being attempted throughout the book. Without a doubt, the development is amazing. It is subtle and yet it is constantly there.
Third, the romance. The romance is a slow build, and I really enjoyed it. The romantic elements are constantly there, lingering in the background, and whilst sometimes it felt as if the romance seemed to be taking too much attention, it never overpowered the overall story. It really was a sweet read, and I was quickly in love with our two main characters and hoping for their happily ever after.
Forth, the twist at the end. It was such a great twist. It has been done many times before, and yet I did not see it coming. I should have been annoyed with such a twist, and yet I loved it. The way it came about, the fact I overlooked the suggestions, left me grinning despite it how it was not a twist to smile about. It caught me so off guard, and such a thing really surprised me. I really did enjoy the way things played out with the twist at the end – I could not have asked for a better turn around.
The one thing I found a bit hard to believe was the power handed over to social media. I accept that it is a powerful tool in the modern day world, and yet I feel as though too much power was handed over to it in this story. Of course, this is just a small thing. I appreciate the way social media was used, and yet I find it hard to believe just how much power it seemed to have in this story.
Overall, this was a wonderful read. Whilst I wasn’t pulled in deep at the start of the book, I quickly I found myself unable to put it down. It’s certainly worth a read, and I’ll be looking to read more of the author’s work in the future.
As a final note, I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to advance read this great story.
November 30, 2016
Disclaimer: I beta read an unedited version of this book and it was already a 5-star read for me, so I imagine it's like a 100-star read now! :D
This exciting, well-paced, thoughtful, sexy, and intelligent book is chockfull of magic and timely social commentary that never feels heavy-handed. (Though feels more apt than ever, alas.) Byron and Levi are both instantly lovable and in such a terrible jam that it seems impossible for them to ever find their way. One of my absolute favorite reads for the year and I can't wait for it to become available for everyone. In the meantime, you can see a page for it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Magic-Ki...
To sum up:
Fantasy? Check.
Magic? Check.
Cute boys? Check.
Dramatic peril? Check.
EVERYTHING THAT IS MY CUPPA? CHECK.
This exciting, well-paced, thoughtful, sexy, and intelligent book is chockfull of magic and timely social commentary that never feels heavy-handed. (Though feels more apt than ever, alas.) Byron and Levi are both instantly lovable and in such a terrible jam that it seems impossible for them to ever find their way. One of my absolute favorite reads for the year and I can't wait for it to become available for everyone. In the meantime, you can see a page for it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Magic-Ki...
To sum up:
Fantasy? Check.
Magic? Check.
Cute boys? Check.
Dramatic peril? Check.
EVERYTHING THAT IS MY CUPPA? CHECK.
February 10, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Wow. I’m going to start by saying that this book is….incredibly timely. This story is built in a contemporary world, where those who can use magic are forced to register and have their magic bound so that they can never use it. Mages are ridiculed and hated, beaten, can’t get jobs, are denied entrance to college, and are shunned. It’s impossible to read this book and not compare it to our current affairs. But this book ends with hope, and it is sorely needed.
I loved it. From start to finish, I was drawn into the story and utterly entranced. In Byron, Brisby gives us a truly naïve character. He’s actually ignorant, completely unaware of the truth and simply believing what he’s been told all his life. But the moment magic touches his life, saves his life, Byron’s eyes are opened. And as he begins to think about his world, he realizes just how wrong he’s been. He’s young and guileless, and the reader immediately gets the sense that because of his upbringing and the propaganda, he truly doesn’t know any better. He’s also awkward and adorable and weird, in the best possible ways, and is incredibly relatable. And the best part is that when he does realize something is wrong, he immediately tries to figure out how to fix it. First for Levi, who he feels deep down isn’t what “they” say he is, and then for the greater good. He goes above and beyond, puts his life on the line, and intends to make a real difference.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Wow. I’m going to start by saying that this book is….incredibly timely. This story is built in a contemporary world, where those who can use magic are forced to register and have their magic bound so that they can never use it. Mages are ridiculed and hated, beaten, can’t get jobs, are denied entrance to college, and are shunned. It’s impossible to read this book and not compare it to our current affairs. But this book ends with hope, and it is sorely needed.
I loved it. From start to finish, I was drawn into the story and utterly entranced. In Byron, Brisby gives us a truly naïve character. He’s actually ignorant, completely unaware of the truth and simply believing what he’s been told all his life. But the moment magic touches his life, saves his life, Byron’s eyes are opened. And as he begins to think about his world, he realizes just how wrong he’s been. He’s young and guileless, and the reader immediately gets the sense that because of his upbringing and the propaganda, he truly doesn’t know any better. He’s also awkward and adorable and weird, in the best possible ways, and is incredibly relatable. And the best part is that when he does realize something is wrong, he immediately tries to figure out how to fix it. First for Levi, who he feels deep down isn’t what “they” say he is, and then for the greater good. He goes above and beyond, puts his life on the line, and intends to make a real difference.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
September 2, 2018
This was a nicely written, engaging adventure romance.
Why would I call it adventure romance? It's not about the characters, it's about oppression/registration of magic wielding people. It reminded me of x-men. This is not a bad thing, but I like my tension to come from the characters and relationship in romance.
Why would I call it adventure romance? It's not about the characters, it's about oppression/registration of magic wielding people. It reminded me of x-men. This is not a bad thing, but I like my tension to come from the characters and relationship in romance.
February 7, 2017
4 Stars
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This book was a surprisingly realistic look into what it might be like if we had magic in our modern-day world, complete with everything from Twitter stalking hot guys to prejudice and hate crimes against mages, and it was that realism that made the book so good. There were even support groups for bound mages (they had to wear magic-suppressing bands on their wrists) and all sorts of other details that really made the integration of mages into our society seem like a real thing.
But never fear, the book didn't slack on the plot or the characters either; both of those were believable too. I mean, ok, things may have been a bit on the extreme side on occasion, what with the mad scientists and greedy psychopaths, but just in the way that books are, not in a ridiculous way. Every book's gotta have a villain! (Well, that's not quite true, but that's not the point.) And there was actually some disturbing torture/experimentation/sedation-without-consent stuff throughout the book (it was supposed to be disturbing, so I'm not complaining, just warning anyone who might want to know). Back to what I was saying though, the two main characters in the story were just kind of... normal guys, but in a good way. Even the way they used modern words and colloquialisms in their thoughts gave them realistic but still unique voices as twenty-somethings and brought me deeper into the story and their POVs.
I also loved that the psychological effects of Levi's treatment (imprisonment, torture) were taken into account and not glossed over. Throughout the book he had emotional trauma and panic attacks, and the author did a good job of helping me understand what he was going through. And I loved the way the other characters were understanding and soothing whenever Levi started panicking, as well as they way they always made it a point to ask his permission before doing anything to him or that involved him, even something as simple as carrying him back to his room when he couldn't walk or staying in the room as he fell asleep. Really that should just be common human decency, but it was especially important with how out of control of his own life Levi felt, and I loved Byron and Victoria for it.
Oh, there was also romance, and it was nice, but it seemed like more of a secondary thing to the whole saving-Levi-and-starting-a-revolution plot.
So overall, this was a realistic urban fantasy that delved into the possible social and societal implications of magic in our modern world but still had likeable, just-like-you-and-me characters, and I enjoyed it!
Recommended For:
M/M urban fantasy readers who want something that has magic but is still modern and realistic and that deals with social issues.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This book was a surprisingly realistic look into what it might be like if we had magic in our modern-day world, complete with everything from Twitter stalking hot guys to prejudice and hate crimes against mages, and it was that realism that made the book so good. There were even support groups for bound mages (they had to wear magic-suppressing bands on their wrists) and all sorts of other details that really made the integration of mages into our society seem like a real thing.
But never fear, the book didn't slack on the plot or the characters either; both of those were believable too. I mean, ok, things may have been a bit on the extreme side on occasion, what with the mad scientists and greedy psychopaths, but just in the way that books are, not in a ridiculous way. Every book's gotta have a villain! (Well, that's not quite true, but that's not the point.) And there was actually some disturbing torture/experimentation/sedation-without-consent stuff throughout the book (it was supposed to be disturbing, so I'm not complaining, just warning anyone who might want to know). Back to what I was saying though, the two main characters in the story were just kind of... normal guys, but in a good way. Even the way they used modern words and colloquialisms in their thoughts gave them realistic but still unique voices as twenty-somethings and brought me deeper into the story and their POVs.
I also loved that the psychological effects of Levi's treatment (imprisonment, torture) were taken into account and not glossed over. Throughout the book he had emotional trauma and panic attacks, and the author did a good job of helping me understand what he was going through. And I loved the way the other characters were understanding and soothing whenever Levi started panicking, as well as they way they always made it a point to ask his permission before doing anything to him or that involved him, even something as simple as carrying him back to his room when he couldn't walk or staying in the room as he fell asleep. Really that should just be common human decency, but it was especially important with how out of control of his own life Levi felt, and I loved Byron and Victoria for it.
Oh, there was also romance, and it was nice, but it seemed like more of a secondary thing to the whole saving-Levi-and-starting-a-revolution plot.
So overall, this was a realistic urban fantasy that delved into the possible social and societal implications of magic in our modern world but still had likeable, just-like-you-and-me characters, and I enjoyed it!
Recommended For:
M/M urban fantasy readers who want something that has magic but is still modern and realistic and that deals with social issues.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
December 6, 2016
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley.
I LOVED this book! And that's basically where I leave you in my review because to say more will give away the story. :/
There is magic in the world, but instead of being treated with awe and respect, it's feared and outlawed. All mages (those with magic abilities) must register with the government and then are forced to wear these wrist bands which prevent them from doing magic. If you do not register, and are found out, you are arrested (and if you have DONE magic, you can be executed - publically).
The world is a scary place for Levi, an unregistered mage, but he has only done magic a handful of times, fearing what could happen if he really explored his magic side. Byron Cole - well, he's sweet and through unfortunate circumstances, had to be "raised" by his uncle who is like a complete sociopath. Cole Industries (which Byron's uncle owns/runs) is the creator of the magic-stopping wrist bands - and so, so much more evilness than I can't tell you about without spoiling the story.
As the blurb states, "Levi saves [Byron] from a brutal explosion—with outlawed magic," and then is arrested for his "crimes." Byron's eyes have been opened, and he starts to question everything he's been told to fear about magic and those who wield it. With the help of friends he devises a plan to save Levi. I can't say their plan is real world plausible (I saw so many holes that I'm surprised it all worked, but hey, it's fiction *shrugs shoulders*), but I was still anxious to see how it all unfolded.
I loved the world the author created and I really hope to see more books continuing the story. Yes, there is an HEA, but it's more on the cusp of HFN. Through Byron and Levi's efforts, the public opinion of mages has started to change, but it's not over yet. There are so many other characters I would love to see get their own book and see how they help continue the fight.
I highly recommend you read this. It's a very good story, well written, with characters I loved (or loved to hate). I was surprised by some of the events that happened, I was sad and angry about how Levi was treated once "captured" and I was ready to join the fight when they decided to rebel. I am going to keep an eye on this author; I've never read anything by Kit Brisby (first book that I am aware of), but I will certainly be following their career.
4.5 stars (for a non-headache inducing action/adventure story). :-D
I LOVED this book! And that's basically where I leave you in my review because to say more will give away the story. :/
There is magic in the world, but instead of being treated with awe and respect, it's feared and outlawed. All mages (those with magic abilities) must register with the government and then are forced to wear these wrist bands which prevent them from doing magic. If you do not register, and are found out, you are arrested (and if you have DONE magic, you can be executed - publically).
The world is a scary place for Levi, an unregistered mage, but he has only done magic a handful of times, fearing what could happen if he really explored his magic side. Byron Cole - well, he's sweet and through unfortunate circumstances, had to be "raised" by his uncle who is like a complete sociopath. Cole Industries (which Byron's uncle owns/runs) is the creator of the magic-stopping wrist bands - and so, so much more evilness than I can't tell you about without spoiling the story.
As the blurb states, "Levi saves [Byron] from a brutal explosion—with outlawed magic," and then is arrested for his "crimes." Byron's eyes have been opened, and he starts to question everything he's been told to fear about magic and those who wield it. With the help of friends he devises a plan to save Levi. I can't say their plan is real world plausible (I saw so many holes that I'm surprised it all worked, but hey, it's fiction *shrugs shoulders*), but I was still anxious to see how it all unfolded.
I loved the world the author created and I really hope to see more books continuing the story. Yes, there is an HEA, but it's more on the cusp of HFN. Through Byron and Levi's efforts, the public opinion of mages has started to change, but it's not over yet. There are so many other characters I would love to see get their own book and see how they help continue the fight.
I highly recommend you read this. It's a very good story, well written, with characters I loved (or loved to hate). I was surprised by some of the events that happened, I was sad and angry about how Levi was treated once "captured" and I was ready to join the fight when they decided to rebel. I am going to keep an eye on this author; I've never read anything by Kit Brisby (first book that I am aware of), but I will certainly be following their career.
4.5 stars (for a non-headache inducing action/adventure story). :-D
December 2, 2016
First off I'd like to say that this is one of those books I'm insanely thankful to have gotten a chance to read. So good, so awfully real and thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you for writing this special little gem, Kit Brisby.
Maybe this is your first book or maybe you're writing under a different name, either way, your book—Byron and Levi—made me a very happy puppy. It was a pleasure reading this story over the past couple of days, and I so wish they'd be back for more!
They'll always remain in my memory, that's for sure.
➷
While the main focus of the book is magic, with 'the bad guys' trying to find a way to use mages to harvest said magic for energy, it's all frighteningly real and felt more relatable than it should for a 'made up' story...
That's what made it so good in a sad and scary way.
I thoroughly loved the writing style. The characters (all the sidekicks too).
The New-Adult vibe.
It has that feeling of a good, interesting and well done TV show, or movie. Not overflowing with action scenes from beginning to end but dotted with highlights here and there, a great cast, an interesting story with steadily building suspense that defies any attempt to put it down.
And an ending that literally blows it all to hell and back.
➷
The romance between Byron and Levi is sweet, fun and tender. It's slow, very slow, and doesn't make up a lot of the book, but it's always there. It's essential to the story.
The events in the book kind of got to me.
The idea of using magic as energy source... the torturous reality of the fact that rich people will always make "us" believe their ideas and ideals are right even though they're wrong AF. It's all so real, it's frightening. Even without magic, our world is as already fucked up as the one in the book. (Think hate crimes alone, and how it's "all okay" apparently.)
It makes for a good story though, and that's all people want, right?
Doesn't matter how many innocent lives are ruined, how many people are killed because that's what the majority thinks is right.
Anyway. Great book is a great book :)
▽
Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
Thank you for writing this special little gem, Kit Brisby.
Maybe this is your first book or maybe you're writing under a different name, either way, your book—Byron and Levi—made me a very happy puppy. It was a pleasure reading this story over the past couple of days, and I so wish they'd be back for more!
They'll always remain in my memory, that's for sure.
➷
While the main focus of the book is magic, with 'the bad guys' trying to find a way to use mages to harvest said magic for energy, it's all frighteningly real and felt more relatable than it should for a 'made up' story...
That's what made it so good in a sad and scary way.
I thoroughly loved the writing style. The characters (all the sidekicks too).
The New-Adult vibe.
It has that feeling of a good, interesting and well done TV show, or movie. Not overflowing with action scenes from beginning to end but dotted with highlights here and there, a great cast, an interesting story with steadily building suspense that defies any attempt to put it down.
And an ending that literally blows it all to hell and back.
➷
The romance between Byron and Levi is sweet, fun and tender. It's slow, very slow, and doesn't make up a lot of the book, but it's always there. It's essential to the story.
The events in the book kind of got to me.
The idea of using magic as energy source... the torturous reality of the fact that rich people will always make "us" believe their ideas and ideals are right even though they're wrong AF. It's all so real, it's frightening. Even without magic, our world is as already fucked up as the one in the book. (Think hate crimes alone, and how it's "all okay" apparently.)
It makes for a good story though, and that's all people want, right?
Doesn't matter how many innocent lives are ruined, how many people are killed because that's what the majority thinks is right.
Anyway. Great book is a great book :)
▽
Many, many thanks to the publisher who kindly provided a free copy for an honest and impartial review.
February 7, 2017
I enjoyed the writing style and the blend of urban fantasy and science fiction. A few things held it back from more stars from me:
- The magic and pseudo-science was fun, but not as well-defined as I tend to like. I don't care much whether the magic in my stories is Vancian, New Agey, or other, but I do prefer a few more "rules" when it figures prominently in the story. Works like Game of Thrones get away with vaguely-defined magic systems because mystery is part of the point; when magic saturates daily life, it's a little odd that no one in-universe seems to know how the hell most of it works or what it can do, especially when there are industries built up around the concept of controlling and purposing it. While the lack of information about magic was somewhat justified and mostly lampshaded in the book, a little more structure might have been nice.
- I wasn't really feeling the romance. It wasn't bad, but the insta-love came on a little too strong, especially considering the skewed power balance that persists for the majority of the book.
- I would have loved more time to get to know Byron and Levi either before shit hit the fan or during the story's plateau. I thought that the way the story began was very compelling and a great hook, and I'm not sure I would want to mess with that, so I would have suggested maybe padding the middle events with more character development and interaction to help the romance pack a more potent punch.
- The magic and pseudo-science was fun, but not as well-defined as I tend to like. I don't care much whether the magic in my stories is Vancian, New Agey, or other, but I do prefer a few more "rules" when it figures prominently in the story. Works like Game of Thrones get away with vaguely-defined magic systems because mystery is part of the point; when magic saturates daily life, it's a little odd that no one in-universe seems to know how the hell most of it works or what it can do, especially when there are industries built up around the concept of controlling and purposing it. While the lack of information about magic was somewhat justified and mostly lampshaded in the book, a little more structure might have been nice.
- I wasn't really feeling the romance. It wasn't bad, but the insta-love came on a little too strong, especially considering the skewed power balance that persists for the majority of the book.
- I would have loved more time to get to know Byron and Levi either before shit hit the fan or during the story's plateau. I thought that the way the story began was very compelling and a great hook, and I'm not sure I would want to mess with that, so I would have suggested maybe padding the middle events with more character development and interaction to help the romance pack a more potent punch.
March 11, 2017
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
4.5 Stars, Rogue Magic was a delightful blend of fantasy and science fiction with a dash of romance. I loved the premise and the characters. This is my first book by Kit Brisby and I’m glad I took the risk on a new to me author. The story flowed well, kept my attention, and made me think.
There was plenty of tension and action, and I could totally see this as a movie. It had good strong female characters as well as sympathetic main characters. I really liked Levi and Byron. I bought the romance and rooted for their happily ever after.
I also liked the way the story shone a light on bigotry. Instead of towards gay people it was towards mages, only this hatred manifested in much worse conditions for the mages. I felt the change in values a little too easy but it is fiction after all.
I definitely recommend this book to lovers of the genre!
4.5 Stars, Rogue Magic was a delightful blend of fantasy and science fiction with a dash of romance. I loved the premise and the characters. This is my first book by Kit Brisby and I’m glad I took the risk on a new to me author. The story flowed well, kept my attention, and made me think.
There was plenty of tension and action, and I could totally see this as a movie. It had good strong female characters as well as sympathetic main characters. I really liked Levi and Byron. I bought the romance and rooted for their happily ever after.
I also liked the way the story shone a light on bigotry. Instead of towards gay people it was towards mages, only this hatred manifested in much worse conditions for the mages. I felt the change in values a little too easy but it is fiction after all.
I definitely recommend this book to lovers of the genre!
January 30, 2017
Rating B+
Review on www.allaboutromance.com/book-review/r...
Review on www.allaboutromance.com/book-review/r...
February 22, 2017
Repetitious with a bit of action at the end. Spends lots of time on the mistreatment of magic-users, but the romance isn't developed enough.
February 8, 2017
My Review:
I felt this was an excellent debut novel! It was so fun to read and I would certainly read it again.
Ms. Brisby has created a world where magic is outlawed and mages are controlled and registered. Each mage has a little bit different type of magic and their magic comes from within them without spells or chanting, just the force of their own will. Some mages are weak and some are very strong.
In any society where a segment of the population is controlled like this, there is abuse of the system. And this is so in this society. The silver cuffs that each registered mage must wear actually causes them pain. But no one seems to care. There is an energy shortage, so one company is using the magic from strong mages to produce electricity for cities. Remember I said that a mage's magic comes from within them, so basically this is sucking out their life force. No one really seems concerned with this. In fact, the average person seems to think the mages deserve this treatment. The population seems to have been brainwashed over time by some really good PR person. Who could that be?
Byron is the PR person for his uncle's company, which is experimenting with mages to produce electricity to make up for the energy shortage. Sound familiar? It takes a near death experience and having his life saved by a young and scared mage to change Byron's view of magic and what those of his world have been doing to mages. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm going to stop here. I recommend this to anyone who likes clean magic, the underdog winning and a sweet love story. Just a warning, this is LGBT, if that's an issue.
This eARC was provided to me by Riptide Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
I felt this was an excellent debut novel! It was so fun to read and I would certainly read it again.
Ms. Brisby has created a world where magic is outlawed and mages are controlled and registered. Each mage has a little bit different type of magic and their magic comes from within them without spells or chanting, just the force of their own will. Some mages are weak and some are very strong.
In any society where a segment of the population is controlled like this, there is abuse of the system. And this is so in this society. The silver cuffs that each registered mage must wear actually causes them pain. But no one seems to care. There is an energy shortage, so one company is using the magic from strong mages to produce electricity for cities. Remember I said that a mage's magic comes from within them, so basically this is sucking out their life force. No one really seems concerned with this. In fact, the average person seems to think the mages deserve this treatment. The population seems to have been brainwashed over time by some really good PR person. Who could that be?
Byron is the PR person for his uncle's company, which is experimenting with mages to produce electricity to make up for the energy shortage. Sound familiar? It takes a near death experience and having his life saved by a young and scared mage to change Byron's view of magic and what those of his world have been doing to mages. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm going to stop here. I recommend this to anyone who likes clean magic, the underdog winning and a sweet love story. Just a warning, this is LGBT, if that's an issue.
This eARC was provided to me by Riptide Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review
February 7, 2017
3.75 stars
This is a nifty debut from Kit Brisby, a story set in AU New York where people with magic were treated like pariah and using it could mean death sentence. The hero is not someone with physical power. Byron had a way with words though, and was considered a PR savvy. There's moral dilemma when he struggle what he saw with what he had been raised to believe. Making matter more tricky was his attraction to, Levi, the captive mage.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and how the chemistry played between Byron and Levi. The circumstances in the story somehow mirrored today's state of affairs where repression for minorities happened, where people questioned their own actions and - when their conscience called for it - trying to do the right thing. Told alternately from the MC's POVs in third person, the book conveyed the warring thoughts inside the characters quite well.
There was no mystery of who the bad guy here, the story was very clear on that from the get go. Not to worry though, there's the twist between the pages! ;-) There was also the anticipation of keeping secret and how the risky plan would reveal and the building tension as it neared the end.
Yes, I was a bit disappointed in how the big bad wolf came to their end. But it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the story. I'll be on the lookout for Kit Brisby's next book, that's for sure.
Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a nifty debut from Kit Brisby, a story set in AU New York where people with magic were treated like pariah and using it could mean death sentence. The hero is not someone with physical power. Byron had a way with words though, and was considered a PR savvy. There's moral dilemma when he struggle what he saw with what he had been raised to believe. Making matter more tricky was his attraction to, Levi, the captive mage.
I enjoyed the author's writing style and how the chemistry played between Byron and Levi. The circumstances in the story somehow mirrored today's state of affairs where repression for minorities happened, where people questioned their own actions and - when their conscience called for it - trying to do the right thing. Told alternately from the MC's POVs in third person, the book conveyed the warring thoughts inside the characters quite well.
There was no mystery of who the bad guy here, the story was very clear on that from the get go. Not to worry though, there's the twist between the pages! ;-) There was also the anticipation of keeping secret and how the risky plan would reveal and the building tension as it neared the end.
Yes, I was a bit disappointed in how the big bad wolf came to their end. But it didn't spoil my overall enjoyment of the story. I'll be on the lookout for Kit Brisby's next book, that's for sure.
Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2017
Ugh, I super hated this, which is not entirely the book's fault. I knew going in that it was a dystopia, which I don't like in general and really shouldn't have read right now, but I'd thought the description and first chapter seemed charming, so I read it anyway. My fault thus far.
Much worse... it contains one of my hardline squicks (detailed, on page, torturous medical experimentation on a prisoner), and while I finished the book and I suppose there was a happy ending at the end, I didn't really care, because I still was upset from the earlier parts.
Also... I agree with the character in the book who thought it was creepy and exploitative that the MC began a relationship with the Love Interest while he was incarcerated under the MC's authority. Why even bring that up, book, if you're going to merrily speed along and then try to tell me it isn't creepy? It is creepy. Ick. You knew it was gross, book.
And I know I could've just stopped reading, but I'd paid money for the book, and I hate not finishing books once I've actually started them, and I felt like I had to, so.
Much worse... it contains one of my hardline squicks (detailed, on page, torturous medical experimentation on a prisoner), and while I finished the book and I suppose there was a happy ending at the end, I didn't really care, because I still was upset from the earlier parts.
Also... I agree with the character in the book who thought it was creepy and exploitative that the MC began a relationship with the Love Interest while he was incarcerated under the MC's authority. Why even bring that up, book, if you're going to merrily speed along and then try to tell me it isn't creepy? It is creepy. Ick. You knew it was gross, book.
And I know I could've just stopped reading, but I'd paid money for the book, and I hate not finishing books once I've actually started them, and I felt like I had to, so.
February 6, 2017
Intriguing debut novel
Set in an alternate universe where the use of magic is outlawed, Byron has never questioned these laws until the day he is trapped on a subway only to be saved from an explosion by the magic of one of the other passengers.
Levi's selfless act in saving Byron and the other passengers forces Byron to take a hard look at what is really happening in the world and the answers he finds are worrying and dangerous.
As he uncovers the truth and gets to know Levi, he realises that he can't leave Levi in prison and must find a way to save him. He doesn't realise however how close to home the danger really is.....
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Set in an alternate universe where the use of magic is outlawed, Byron has never questioned these laws until the day he is trapped on a subway only to be saved from an explosion by the magic of one of the other passengers.
Levi's selfless act in saving Byron and the other passengers forces Byron to take a hard look at what is really happening in the world and the answers he finds are worrying and dangerous.
As he uncovers the truth and gets to know Levi, he realises that he can't leave Levi in prison and must find a way to save him. He doesn't realise however how close to home the danger really is.....
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
February 2, 2017
I received this book at no charge from NetGalley. Review first published on Nautical Star Books. All opinions are my own.
Rogue Magic by author Kit Brisby was truly an awesome story. Very light on the romance, which I was a bit bummed about, but the plot, character development and a few key twists and turns kept me reading even without the sexual tension I was hoping for.
This story is set in present day in a slightly altered universe than our own. Earth has magical beings on it, but those mages are strictly controlled. Laws prevent them from raising their own children, they are discriminated against, hated, and have their magic repressed through the use of CALM bands that they have to wear on their arms. They are expected to register with the government and if they don’t (and are discovered) there are severe consequences. As horrible as it sounds, I can sort of see our world spiraling into this type of behavior if magic actually ever was discovered.
Levi is a magical being. One that knows he has magic but refuses to use it and has no clue actually how to, even if he so chooses. He is unregistered and goes about his life quietly but always slightly fearful of discovery.
Byron Cole is the nephew of a very powerful man. Cole Industries is leading the anti-magic fight and developing anti-magic technology. Byron has pretty much been brainwashed like the rest of America about the evils of magic. He has an eye-opening experience when Levi accidentally uses magic to save his life. Unfortunately, Levi’s use of magic means imprisonment. And that is only the least of the atrocities he has to deal with. But Byron has a way to help him. It won’t be easy but he can no longer stand by and watch magical beings suffer due to fear and propaganda.
I don’t want to give away too much of this story because the plot really is engaging and creative and you need to discover the details for yourself. I will say that these two characters have amazing depth and the secondary characters were well thought out and played a major role in the story. The plot was well developed and the story flowed naturally with a great plot twist at the end that I really didn’t see coming. The only thing I really wanted was a bit more romance. You get a kiss midway through the book and one off page scene in the epilog. And there really isn’t even any romance or chemistry at all between Levi and Byron. But, despite the lack of romance, Rogue Magic by author Kit Brisby was an amazing book and I will definitely look for other books by this author!
Rogue Magic by author Kit Brisby was truly an awesome story. Very light on the romance, which I was a bit bummed about, but the plot, character development and a few key twists and turns kept me reading even without the sexual tension I was hoping for.
This story is set in present day in a slightly altered universe than our own. Earth has magical beings on it, but those mages are strictly controlled. Laws prevent them from raising their own children, they are discriminated against, hated, and have their magic repressed through the use of CALM bands that they have to wear on their arms. They are expected to register with the government and if they don’t (and are discovered) there are severe consequences. As horrible as it sounds, I can sort of see our world spiraling into this type of behavior if magic actually ever was discovered.
Levi is a magical being. One that knows he has magic but refuses to use it and has no clue actually how to, even if he so chooses. He is unregistered and goes about his life quietly but always slightly fearful of discovery.
Byron Cole is the nephew of a very powerful man. Cole Industries is leading the anti-magic fight and developing anti-magic technology. Byron has pretty much been brainwashed like the rest of America about the evils of magic. He has an eye-opening experience when Levi accidentally uses magic to save his life. Unfortunately, Levi’s use of magic means imprisonment. And that is only the least of the atrocities he has to deal with. But Byron has a way to help him. It won’t be easy but he can no longer stand by and watch magical beings suffer due to fear and propaganda.
I don’t want to give away too much of this story because the plot really is engaging and creative and you need to discover the details for yourself. I will say that these two characters have amazing depth and the secondary characters were well thought out and played a major role in the story. The plot was well developed and the story flowed naturally with a great plot twist at the end that I really didn’t see coming. The only thing I really wanted was a bit more romance. You get a kiss midway through the book and one off page scene in the epilog. And there really isn’t even any romance or chemistry at all between Levi and Byron. But, despite the lack of romance, Rogue Magic by author Kit Brisby was an amazing book and I will definitely look for other books by this author!
March 23, 2017
That is a pretty good book by a new author.
What if magic powers were real? Hm, let me think. A powerful majority of non-gifted people - a potentially powerful minority of gifted people. What to do, what to do...
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man... gets stoned to death.
Action, magic, romance. My kind of book. Highly recommended.
What if magic powers were real? Hm, let me think. A powerful majority of non-gifted people - a potentially powerful minority of gifted people. What to do, what to do...
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man... gets stoned to death.
Action, magic, romance. My kind of book. Highly recommended.
October 11, 2017
3.75 stars
Very nice debut from rookie author Kit Brisbane. A respectable piece of urban fantasy set in AU New York that was fast paced, imaginative, populated with interesting characters, with an engaging storyline and some heart-pounding scenes.
Very nice debut from rookie author Kit Brisbane. A respectable piece of urban fantasy set in AU New York that was fast paced, imaginative, populated with interesting characters, with an engaging storyline and some heart-pounding scenes.
July 11, 2018
I don't know if my problem with this book was me, the book, or the climate in which I find myself reading it. Ultimately I really, really didn't like reading about Levi was tortured and denied all rights because of a category that he fit into. It was too much. I also wasn't able to get into the idea of Levi and Byron having a relationship, considering how much power Byron had over Levi and the power differential. It would have been one thing if Levi had been presented as strong and secure in himself throughout and despite his oppression (and while Byron and Levi were forming their relationship), but Levi was clearly in a situation of severe trauma, trauma that Byron was related to.
So this book wasn't my cup of tea.
So this book wasn't my cup of tea.
February 9, 2017
This is the spoiler-free version of a critique originally posted on Hey Ashers! You'll find the full, spoilery review here!
Hey Katie,
Check it out, my second ARC! This one has magic and gay guys and super important anti-bigotry messages. And—check it out—a good rating from me, holy heck.
It's Rogue Magic by Kit Brisby (whom I erroneously assumed was a gay male author, whoops), and will be released for purchase tomorrow, January 30. I received my advanced reader copy from Riptide Publishing, who graciously smiled upon my NetGalley request. Thanks, Riptide! Of course, no matter how much I appreciate them, even the most gracious smiles won't affect my review or rating.
Let's make this quick, starting with the good stuff:
1) It's a story featuring gay men and magic, heck yes.
2) The romance isn't instalove, is treated with care and respect, and doesn't overwhelm the plot.
3) The world it's set in is a fantastical, alternative America in which mages (people with magic) are treated as sub-human. This version of America felt all too realistic and terrifying, and I was instantly emotionally engaged with Levi and the nameless, subjugated mages across the US.
4) The stakes (for the protagonists specifically and American mages as a whole) are both clear and very high throughout the novel, which kept me reading (too) late into the night.
5) The story's message, its heart, is incredibly important—especially now, as leadership of the US has been taken over by a host of upper-class white bigots who care more about businesses than people.
1) The pacing was wonky; it started off much too fast, which had serious, negative repercussions for the strength of the story as a whole.
2) There was very little world-building, and the story's realism and the message's power both suffered as a result.
3) The characters were stereotypes who stayed obediently within their stereotypical roles, and some important characters were eye-rollingly one-dimensional.
4) The story was predictable throughout; the events, characters, romance, even the bit of info that was supposed to be a surprise, all unfolded exactly as I expected them to.
I'll elaborate a little bit on both my praise and criticism on my blog, for those who don't mind reading spoilers.
Honestly, I don't read capital-M Message Books very often, and this is definitely one of those. I prefer my books to present quieter themes and messages while their protagonists, you know, flail swords from atop their dragons and whatnot. If I'd known that Rogue Magic was a Message Book, I might have been a little less inclined to read it.
So I'm glad I didn't know. I needed to read this, and I'll bet others need to as well. We need these call-to-action books, and we need them everywhere.
But I'm struggling to rate this book, guys.
It's somewhere between two and a half and three and a half stars, for sure. If I was rating it as a regular novel, I'd probably give it two and a half or three; it kept me engaged, but its shortcomings are significant and frustrating. But because it's a Message Book, and it's a message I'm especially invested in (and I've been in a heightened state of Horrified Fury since the election) . . . I don't know, guys. I think I'm going to go with three stars, and acknowledge that it might deserve an extra half star. This is a book with a heart of gold.
Love,
Liam
Hey Katie,
Check it out, my second ARC! This one has magic and gay guys and super important anti-bigotry messages. And—check it out—a good rating from me, holy heck.
It's Rogue Magic by Kit Brisby (whom I erroneously assumed was a gay male author, whoops), and will be released for purchase tomorrow, January 30. I received my advanced reader copy from Riptide Publishing, who graciously smiled upon my NetGalley request. Thanks, Riptide! Of course, no matter how much I appreciate them, even the most gracious smiles won't affect my review or rating.
Let's make this quick, starting with the good stuff:
1) It's a story featuring gay men and magic, heck yes.
2) The romance isn't instalove, is treated with care and respect, and doesn't overwhelm the plot.
3) The world it's set in is a fantastical, alternative America in which mages (people with magic) are treated as sub-human. This version of America felt all too realistic and terrifying, and I was instantly emotionally engaged with Levi and the nameless, subjugated mages across the US.
4) The stakes (for the protagonists specifically and American mages as a whole) are both clear and very high throughout the novel, which kept me reading (too) late into the night.
5) The story's message, its heart, is incredibly important—especially now, as leadership of the US has been taken over by a host of upper-class white bigots who care more about businesses than people.
1) The pacing was wonky; it started off much too fast, which had serious, negative repercussions for the strength of the story as a whole.
2) There was very little world-building, and the story's realism and the message's power both suffered as a result.
3) The characters were stereotypes who stayed obediently within their stereotypical roles, and some important characters were eye-rollingly one-dimensional.
4) The story was predictable throughout; the events, characters, romance, even the bit of info that was supposed to be a surprise, all unfolded exactly as I expected them to.
I'll elaborate a little bit on both my praise and criticism on my blog, for those who don't mind reading spoilers.
Honestly, I don't read capital-M Message Books very often, and this is definitely one of those. I prefer my books to present quieter themes and messages while their protagonists, you know, flail swords from atop their dragons and whatnot. If I'd known that Rogue Magic was a Message Book, I might have been a little less inclined to read it.
So I'm glad I didn't know. I needed to read this, and I'll bet others need to as well. We need these call-to-action books, and we need them everywhere.
But I'm struggling to rate this book, guys.
It's somewhere between two and a half and three and a half stars, for sure. If I was rating it as a regular novel, I'd probably give it two and a half or three; it kept me engaged, but its shortcomings are significant and frustrating. But because it's a Message Book, and it's a message I'm especially invested in (and I've been in a heightened state of Horrified Fury since the election) . . . I don't know, guys. I think I'm going to go with three stars, and acknowledge that it might deserve an extra half star. This is a book with a heart of gold.
Love,
Liam
January 30, 2017
My Review:
OMG, I was completely blown away by this book. And you should know up front...I'm not a huge paranormal reader, so I was thrilled that this is world is exactly like our own. The only difference is...there's magic that some people are born with (just like everyone is born with race or sexual identity). That magic is regarded with fear and bigotry in society. As a result, it's been outlawed, and the people who have magic have been repressed and tormented by unfair laws and treatments.
The book begins on a subway. Byron works for Cole Industries as their PR spokesman. He's on his way downtown for a press conference to reveal Cole Industries new endeavor...a Harvest Project where they will use the mage's outlawed magic and focus it to create energy for society's use. On the subway, Levi catches his eye and ultimately Levi saves all the riders on the subway when a bomb explodes. He used his outlawed magic to shield them all from sudden death...an act punishable by death. To make matters worse, Levi is immediately labeled as a terrorist who caused the death of 18 other people that day. He's a mage...of course he has to be evil.
Levi is anything but. He's simply a 21 year old waiter who reacted heroically. He's always hidden his magic, never even experimented with it because he never wanted anyone to know about it. His use of it was as surprising to him as everyone around him. But now he's in a heap of trouble.
And Byron is confused. He was there. He saw Levi's shock. He wasn't evil. He wasn't responsible for the other bombs. Byron is pretty positive about that and watching as Levi is branded as evil incarnate by the media, he suddenly starts questioning everything he's ever believed.
This book is so good, just because it's so believable in how it all unfolds. Watching society today, it's so easy (and so scary) to see how a world gets like this. Although they both felt the attraction on the subway, it takes a long time for things to develop between Levi and Byron. Between the circumstances and distrust, their relationship moves very slowly, but I did really love how Byron became Levi's safe place when he truly didn't have one.
The book and plan slowly unfolds. I was at 96% and still wasn't sure if everyone was going to survive. There are tons of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat...and I loved that. And one that I absolutely did not see coming. Total shocker!
So much about this book spoke to me and the scary crossroads we're at in our real world society. In this fictional society, magic was outlawed because media swayed them using fear tactics to enact hate and unfair change. It's just like what's being done today with rumblings of Muslim registry...it's such a scary, slippery slope just because people are afraid. It makes me sad that things can come to this so easily just based on fear.
From what I understand this is a first book by this author. Wow, I am impressed. It's a fabulous, thought-provoking read. I HIGHLY recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
OMG, I was completely blown away by this book. And you should know up front...I'm not a huge paranormal reader, so I was thrilled that this is world is exactly like our own. The only difference is...there's magic that some people are born with (just like everyone is born with race or sexual identity). That magic is regarded with fear and bigotry in society. As a result, it's been outlawed, and the people who have magic have been repressed and tormented by unfair laws and treatments.
The book begins on a subway. Byron works for Cole Industries as their PR spokesman. He's on his way downtown for a press conference to reveal Cole Industries new endeavor...a Harvest Project where they will use the mage's outlawed magic and focus it to create energy for society's use. On the subway, Levi catches his eye and ultimately Levi saves all the riders on the subway when a bomb explodes. He used his outlawed magic to shield them all from sudden death...an act punishable by death. To make matters worse, Levi is immediately labeled as a terrorist who caused the death of 18 other people that day. He's a mage...of course he has to be evil.
Levi is anything but. He's simply a 21 year old waiter who reacted heroically. He's always hidden his magic, never even experimented with it because he never wanted anyone to know about it. His use of it was as surprising to him as everyone around him. But now he's in a heap of trouble.
And Byron is confused. He was there. He saw Levi's shock. He wasn't evil. He wasn't responsible for the other bombs. Byron is pretty positive about that and watching as Levi is branded as evil incarnate by the media, he suddenly starts questioning everything he's ever believed.
This book is so good, just because it's so believable in how it all unfolds. Watching society today, it's so easy (and so scary) to see how a world gets like this. Although they both felt the attraction on the subway, it takes a long time for things to develop between Levi and Byron. Between the circumstances and distrust, their relationship moves very slowly, but I did really love how Byron became Levi's safe place when he truly didn't have one.
The book and plan slowly unfolds. I was at 96% and still wasn't sure if everyone was going to survive. There are tons of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat...and I loved that. And one that I absolutely did not see coming. Total shocker!
So much about this book spoke to me and the scary crossroads we're at in our real world society. In this fictional society, magic was outlawed because media swayed them using fear tactics to enact hate and unfair change. It's just like what's being done today with rumblings of Muslim registry...it's such a scary, slippery slope just because people are afraid. It makes me sad that things can come to this so easily just based on fear.
From what I understand this is a first book by this author. Wow, I am impressed. It's a fabulous, thought-provoking read. I HIGHLY recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
Mages are people who can do magic and at this time are a threat to humans because of the way they have been brainwashed against Mages. If you are a Mage you must register with the Department Of The Occult Supervision and must wear a wristband that will suppress the magic. The use of any magic no matter what the reason can result in prison or even death. Bryan believed as everyone else that magic was a bad thing that was how he was raised by his uncle who ran/owned Cole Industries. Bryan had no idea how his uncle's company treated or did to Mages which was his uncle ‘s company experimented on Mages to produce the electricity needed by cities. and Bryan was the PR man for said company as Byran has a way with words. Bryan’s uncle is against all forms of magic. Cole Industries is trying to use Mages to harvest energy as there is an energy shortage.Byran on the subway in a stalled subway car and there is an explosion and Levi uses his magic to save Byran's life as well as many others. Levi had not registered so did not have the wristband. Levi is arrested even though he had saved lives with his magic. Byran starts to rethink his beliefs on Mages and magic. But with the help of friends Byran has a plan to save Levi. then Byran and Levi take up the cause of educating people on Mages and magic and how it is not to be feared and can actually help and even save lives. This was to help the public change their opinion on Mages and it is starting to change.
I really liked this book. First off Levi knowing the consequences of using magic still uses it to save Byran and all the others he did save. It also angered me how Levi was treated after he was captured. This was well written. I liked the plot a lot. But I did get a little confused by some things in the story. I would have liked more information and background on Levi and how the United States came to fear or brainwashed it’s people to feel the fear fro Mages and magic. I did really like the suspense and action in this story. This story does keep you on the edge of your seat and your attention. I also loved the way the romance between Levi and Byran’s romance evolves very slowly I don’t really like the insta/romances. But I do believe there was also too much power given to social media in this story.also. But it was still a great read. So all and all a very good read and enjoyed. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
I really liked this book. First off Levi knowing the consequences of using magic still uses it to save Byran and all the others he did save. It also angered me how Levi was treated after he was captured. This was well written. I liked the plot a lot. But I did get a little confused by some things in the story. I would have liked more information and background on Levi and how the United States came to fear or brainwashed it’s people to feel the fear fro Mages and magic. I did really like the suspense and action in this story. This story does keep you on the edge of your seat and your attention. I also loved the way the romance between Levi and Byran’s romance evolves very slowly I don’t really like the insta/romances. But I do believe there was also too much power given to social media in this story.also. But it was still a great read. So all and all a very good read and enjoyed. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews