Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Salt Magic, Skin Magic
AUTHOR: Lee Welch
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 217 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2018
BLURB:
Lord Thornby has been trapped on his father’s isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply can’t leave. His sanity is starting to fray.
When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magic–and love–are changed.
To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truths–and John must accept that the brave, witty man who’s winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic that’s as perilous as love?
REVIEW:
On his father’s estate, Raskelf Hall, magic is used to keep Soren Thornby captive. Lord Dalton has the power to free him, provided his son marries according to his wishes. Soren resists. John Blake, a visitor to the estate, is on a mission to help the latest Lady Dalton, but he soon discovers that Thornby is the one in need of his services. Mr Blake is a magician – the best in his field. To help Thornby, he must seek out the roots of the magic holding him. Unfortunately, it takes all concerned into realms only heard of in ancient books. Areas that are well outside Mr Blakes area of expertise.
The story beginning was one that drew me in – immediately giving me the impression that something wrong was afoot, also making me sympathetic towards Thornby. When the man is forcibly taken from London life, and returned to his childhood estate, his thoughts are understandably scattered. Continued incarceration gives him the reputation of being odd. The desolation that Thornby experiences comes through and so does the little dignity and fight he holds onto, to keep his honour. Not only does he keep needling his father, but he often gets lost in thoughts, questions, theories, and internal debating.
Interior oration is something that Mr Blake also does. Then again, the chap also senses and talks to objects and materials that surround him. They are as good as witnesses.
Told in the third person, present tense. I found the story to be one that completely immersed me in the world of magic, folklore, curses, and several other things. Many of them intertwine like a ball of octopus tentacles. This is a wordy novel, from the points of view of Soren and John and much of it is spent in the heads of the main characters, instead of verbal interaction. The imagery was superb, albeit the author was extremely fond of the word, very. Occasionally too, with a new paragraph, there was a jump in location and no lead into it. I found this a little disconcerting and re-read a few things, to ensure I hadn’t missed something vital. I’m not sure if the act was intentional, possibly to leaving the reader as in the dark or as unhinged as Thornby.
The weaving of the storylines though is something that I must congratulate the author on. One led into another, sometimes for dramatic effect, other times for clues. The end could not have been guessed of from the beginning – bravo.
Overall, Salt Magic, Skin Magic is an intricate tale involving several forms of magic to solve a mystery. The cast is not large, but effective. The drama was enticing, and I found myself wondering what dastardly deeds would be used next to keep Thornby from leaving the estate. An excellent read.
RATING:
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