Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Magic Escaping

SERIES: Carnival of Mysteries

AUTHOR: Kaje Harper

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 305 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 7, 2024

BLURB:

Alan

I didn’t think two cars slowing down behind me as I jogged along our country road were a problem. I’m just an ordinary third-grade teacher. Well, also a sorcerer, but I don’t really use my powers. Even when my familiar, Sunny, said, “I don’t like this,” and winged off to fetch my boyfriend, I wasn’t really expecting trouble. But then guys with guns jumped out and “arrested” me. Now I’m locked in a prison hours away from home, my magic is suppressed by a blocking bracelet, and they laugh when I ask to see a lawyer. Scary stuff, but Sunny’s no ordinary bird and Jason will never stop trying to find me. I just hope they arrive in time. I just hope they arrive…

Jason

As a small-town firefighter, I’ve had my share of terrifying moments, but watching Alan be grabbed and driven off in an unmarked car is high on that list. Especially when the agency that supposedly arrested him tells our lawyer they’ve never heard of Alan and have no idea where he is. That’s not an arrest, it’s an abduction.

I’m no superhero and Alan’s friends are two Healers, an elderly and confused sorcerer, and a small bird. But we’re not going to just sit around and let anything happen to the man we all love. And in a stroke of luck, Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries has appeared again. If Errante’s willing to help us, we’ll have a far better chance of rescuing Alan. But if the Carnival’s here, with its power and wild magic, that also means the stakes may be higher than any of us realized.

This sequel to Magic Burning features a kidnapped schoolteacher, a furious boyfriend, a mouthy bird, and a desperate mission to save far more than just one man.

Content warnings for abduction, violence, death and loss.

REVIEW:

Was he kidnapped or arrested? Either way, Alan was taken at gunpoint with his lover, Jason, as a witness. Thankfully, Alan has friends. Sunny, his familiar, hitches a ride with Alan while Jason calls everyone he knows to create hell. The question is, who will listen, who can act, and what the devil is going on?

Magic Escaping is part of the Carnival of Mysteries shared world series. Many novels in this multi-author group are standalone tales, but Magic Escaping is Kaje Harpers’ sequel to Magic Burning – both are recommended reading.

From page one, Magic Escaping was a dramatic, eventful, and captivating read – a thrilling and emotional ride from beginning to end.

The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Alan and Jason, and there is a lovely extra from Sunny at the end. The world-building was perfect for my reading tastes. There was enough to form a picture, balanced beautifully with the emotions and narrative between the characters. And OMG, what dialogue. I have rarely read anything so flawless, either characteristically or situationally.

The relationship between Alan and Jason was established in Magic Burning. In this instance, their connection is given even more depth and the levels they are prepared to go to in the name of love and protection were a pleasure to read.

Between the kidnapping, rescue, love, danger, the elusive Carnival of Mysteries, magic, bad guys, bullets, and a whole load of other drama is the beautiful dynamic between the band of friends and familiars that make up the group out to help Alan.

I loved all the characters (good and bad); they were so well-written. Roxi is utterly adorable, but besides Alan and Jason, the page lit up when Sylvester and Sunny were around. Sylvester has dementia. One minute, he was lucid, others not so much – but regardless of his state of mind, his character was sublime. Everything about him had me smiling one minute and in tears the next. As for Alan’s familiar Sunny, he is snarky, brave, blunt, and wise, all wrapped in feathers. There is so much I could say about these two, but I don’t want to spoil the discovery that awaits.

Magic Escaping ticked every element in my ‘I want’ box. Every ‘I’ was dotted, and ‘T’ crossed. For me, this book was a masterpiece and will proudly take a place in my favs of all time.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon